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With the world in mind

Small changes - that make a big difference

We know you're busy so, with the help of experts like the Carbon Trust, we've come up with small ways you can make a big difference to our planet. And you can even get Airmiles along the way.

AIRMILES Mobile Recycling

  • You can get up to 750 Airmiles by recycling an old mobile phone with AIRMILES Mobile Recycling.
  • We don't make any money from your recycling - all profits go towards environmental projects.
  • Your mobile recycling helps fund the same environmental projects as our carbon offsetting scheme - these are UN-approved for their carbon reduction standards and have social and economic benefits for local communities.
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At work

  • If you work at a computer, make it an office policy to turn off monitors, if not computers, at the end of the day.
  • If you normally drive to work, consider taking public transport one day a week, or start a car-share scheme with your colleagues, to save petrol and money.
  • Avoid buying overly packaged lunches. Better still, make a healthy lunch at home and bring it in to work in re-usable containers.
  • Start small. Recycle all paper, aluminium and glass.
  • Invest in water coolers and paper cups instead of bottled water and styrofoam.
  • Change kitchen habits to include non-disposable utensils.
  • Make sure that all printing/copying paper is 100 percent post-consumer recycled.
  • Invest in fax machines, copiers and printers that utilize both sides of paper.
  • Teleconference instead of travelling whenever possible.
  • Turn off overhead lights and use natural lighting, whenever possible.
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At home

  • Switch to energy-saving light bulbs. They last around 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs, and each bulb you fit could save up to £60 on electricity over the bulb's lifetime.
  • Insulate your hot water tank with a jacket - it only costs a few pounds and, with all the heat it traps in, it pays for itself within months. Fit one that's at least 75mm (3") thick and you could save around £20 a year.
  • Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by installing a cheap, easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors.
  • Floorboards and skirting boards often allow heat to escape in winter. Stop this waste by filling these gaps with newspaper, beading or sealant.
  • Insulating your loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy - and you can even install it yourself. Insulate your loft today and in a year you could save around £110.
  • Around 33% of the heat lost in an uninsulated house is through the walls. You could save around £90 on energy bills each year by insulating your wall cavities.
  • If your boiler is over 15 years old it's probably time to replace it. By law, new gas boilers in England and Wales must now be of the high efficiency condensing type, which can help you save up to a third on your heating bills, and possibly more.
  • When purchasing new appliances, always look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. Appliances showing this logo are the most efficient in their category and will save you money.
  • Double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by around £90 a year.
  • Only wash full loads, at a higher spin cycle and at lower temperatures.
  • Turn off electrical equipment when it's not being used, and especially when you go on holiday. Appliances on standby account for an average 8% of your total energy bill.
  • Re-use your plastic bags for your grocery shopping.
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Getting around

  • Walking and cycling have significant health benefits as well as environmental ones. You'll find you save money too.
  • If you're shopping for a new car, consider a hybrid electric car, or one that will take bio-diesel fuel. And remember, smaller cars generally emit less carbon.
  • Don't leave your car running when stationary, or in traffic jams - not only will you use less petrol, it means better air quality for congested roads.
  • Plan your journey in advance to reduce the chances of getting lost and driving extra distances.
  • Shop online for groceries, saving you driving to the supermarket.
  • Share the school run - a great way to reduce your emissions and free up your time
  • Or if your children's school is 2km away or less, try walking your kids to school a couple of days per week.
  • Share car-pooling on the way to work.
  • Don't use the car for short trips - walk or bike instead.
  • Take public transport to work instead of the car - you can use the time commuting for reading and relaxing, instead of getting frustrated with each red light.
  • If you can, avoid driving during rush hour, so you're less likely to encounter traffic jams.
  • Don't leave ski and luggage racks on the car when they're not needed - by making the car heavier, they bump up fuel consumption.
  • Where possible, avoid using your car's air-conditioning, which guzzles around 10% more fuel.
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On holiday

  • If your hotel or resort encourages you to hang up towels to dry instead of getting fresh ones daily, by all means do it - it's what you'd do at home.
  • Make sure you 'leave no trace' when trekking or picnicking.
  • Follow the same energy-saving principles in hotel rooms as you would at home. So in hotels without automatic card operated electricity, turn off lights when you’re not in the room.
  • Consider taking public transport instead of taxis - you'll see how local people live, and save money, too.
  • Buy locally-made souvenirs and keepsakes, rather than mass-produced items that have originated elsewhere and been shipped in.
  • If you're on a package holiday, spend time outside your resort, shopping and eating in small shops and markets in the local area.
  • Pack a cloth shopping bag to save using plastic bags while you're away.
  • Many airports and airlines, eg British Airways, collect left-over foreign change for charity on return flights. It's an easy way to give extra help.
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