There are many ways in which one can make the best use of resources and reduce waste in daily life and in what one chooses to buy. The European Commission’s ongoing campaign Generation Awake provides a number of suggestions.

Anything we buy, including the packaging, impacts on the environment. In its ongoing campaign Generation Awake, the European Commission is suggesting a number of things consumers can do to address this situation.

Always use recyclable bags for shopping, cut down on food waste and choose product refills if possible, avoiding single-use containers.

A ‘no junk mail’ sticker on the letterbox and unsubscribing from paper mailing lists in favour of online or e-mail newsletters, holiday brochures and catalogues would help too. Consumers should choose online billing for their bills and bank statements.

A home compost system would eliminate fruit and vegetable waste.

When giving presents to loved ones, offering a service instead of a material item, like event tickets, or a course in a pastime they love, would help.

If a product is required and will be used only once – say, a book or a tool – borrowing rather than buying should be considered.

For families with babies, investing in reusable nappies would be advisable.

By the age of two and a half, a child using disposable nappies will have used about 6,500 nappies, that is, 1.5 tons of waste.

Easy tips to reduce waste

Recycle batteries

Mercury, lead and cadmium found in batteries can end up in the soil if they are put into landfill, poisoning water and wildlife.

A European directive encourages more recycling of batteries, so there should be special bins in certain places where to dispose of old batteries safely and responsibly.

Rechargeable batteries will save money in the long run.

Cut food waste

Cook only what you’re likely to eat. Then, if there is still food left in the pan or on the plate, save the leftovers to eat the next day. If you’re in a restaurant, ask the chef to omit an ingredient you know you won’t eat or ask for a doggy bag totake home your leftover food.

New phone

Before you rush out to get the latest mobile phone, consider the resources that were used to make it and ask yourself whether you can make do with your current phone for another year. New phones contain precious metals including gold, copper, silver and platinum as well as numerous rare earth minerals.

If you do decide to upgrade make sure you dispose of your old phone responsibly. Give it to a friend, sell it or recycle it. Don’t just leave it in a drawer.

Efficient fridge

Keep your fridge three-quarters full. This, not a full fridge, saves most energy. Defrost the freezer regularly to keep it running at maximum efficiency. Don’t leave the doors open too long as this allows cold air to escape and don’t put warm food into your fridge or freezer – let it cool down first.

Peat-free compost

Peatland soils are highly important, supporting rare wildlife and biodiversity, producing food and playing an important role in the water cycle. Those who like gardening should buy compost labelled as ‘peat free’ where possible because even compost labelled as ‘multi-purpose’ can contain between 70 per cent and 100 per cent peat.

Making one’s own compost would be even better. There’s no surer way to use resources efficiently than to compost food or garden waste and use it to grow more plants.

Many more examples can be found in the Generation Awake Consumption Guide at www.generationawake.eu/en/consumption-guide/.