The Great Big Green Week is one of the UK’s largest annual events dedicated to community-driven efforts addressing climate change and nature conservation.

From 10 to 18 June, countless individuals across the nation will come together in support of our planet’s preservation.

As part of our ongoing commitment to promoting sustainability and creating a greener future, TDi Sustainability is excited to participate in this year’s Great Big Green Week! To make a difference and help combat climate change, we’ve set out three easy challenges for our global, remote-working TDi team to try at home.

Discover this year’s challenges, along with some simple tips on how to tackle them that can make a big difference when we all act together.

It’s time to tackle the plastic problem head-on! Here are six ways you can reduce single-use plastics:

Switch to reusable water bottles and coffee cups: Ditch the disposable cups and bottles and opt for a reusable alternative.

Reuse your plastic carrier bags or opt for cloth bags for groceries: Say goodbye to new plastic bags and bring your own bags when shopping.

Choose loose fruits and vegetables: Avoid pre-packaged produce and select loose, fresh items instead.

Store food in reusable containers: Replace plastic wrap and disposable containers with reusable alternatives.

Support businesses that use eco-friendly packaging: Make a difference with your wallet – and buy from companies prioritising sustainable packaging.

Try your local plastic-free store: Most cities and many small towns now have plastic-free shops where you can take your own jars and tupperware along to fill up with everyday food essentials like pasta, rice, lentils and nuts, as well as cleaning and healthcare products. This is a great week to discover and support them.

Working remotely can help reduce travel emissions, but there are still more ways to make a difference:

Walk or cycle for short journeys: Opt for active transportation whenever possible.

Take public transport: Use buses, trams, or trains to reduce your carbon footprint.

Carpool with colleagues: If you need to travel for work, or to do the school run, why not share the ride with coworkers or others going the same way?

Combine errands: Plan your trips efficiently to minimise time spent driving.

Offset your carbon emissions: Consider supporting projects that neutralise your travel emissions through carbon offset programs.

Even our digital habits can have an environmental impact. Here are some interesting data estimates that you might like to consider when thinking about your own personal digital footprint:*

5.12 kWh of energy is used per GB of transferred data

600g of CO2 emissions are created for each kWh

The carbon footprint of 1GB data is 3kg (during download or transfer)

Here’s how you can reduce your digital energy use:

Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails: Have a clear-out of any old, unwanted emails and aim to keep your inbox clean. Reduce future energy consumption by unsubscribing from unwanted emails. (Good to know: one email with attachment (around 1 MB) represents 3.5 g of CO₂.**

Enable power-saving settings: Use power-saving modes on your devices to conserve energy. 

Use cloud storage wisely: Store only essential files online to minimise energy consumption from data centres.

Stream responsibly: Limit video streaming and consider downloading content to watch offline.

Reduce your monitor brightness: A simple but effective one to cut down energy wastage. Switching the monitor brightness from just 100% to 70% can save up to 20% of energy.

Unplug and switch off at the end of every day: Do you forget to unplug your devices? Or leave your extension cords plugged in without any equipment connected to them? If so, you’re wasting both your own money and the planet’s energy. A simple flip of the switch can add up to big savings when we all change our habits.

* https://8billiontrees.com/carbon-offsets-credits/carbon-footprint-of-the-internet/#:~:text=The%20estimates%20are%20as%20follows,3kg%20(during%20download%20or%20transfer)

** https://www.mailjet.com/blog/email-best-practices/email-carbon-footprint/