10 little things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint

Want to do little things that help out the planet in a big way? Here are 10 things you can start doing today


We all have a carbon footprint, it’s really difficult not to when most things around us are powered by the burning of fossil fuels.

Did you know that as a nation Australians produce one of the highest per capita emissions of carbon dioxide in the world?

The good news? Making small changes to your lifestyle not only reduces carbon emissions locally - it reduces them globally.

Why is reducing our carbon footprint important?


Carbon dioxide is one of a number of gases referred to as ‘greenhouse gases’ and is currently the primary greenhouse gas generated by human activity.

Releasing excess gas into the atmosphere is trapping heat from the sun which is warming up the Earth. This is and will continue to have a chain effect on our oceans, weather patterns, plants and animals.   

Have you heard of the Carbon Neutral Charitable Fund?

The Carbon Neutral Charitable Fund (CNCF) is a WA-based, not-for-profit that plants native trees on degraded land in Australia to help reduce our carbon footprint.

ENJO Australia is supporting the CNCF as part of The Little Things campaign where we’re helping create cleaner homes and cleaner air by planting a tree with the CNCF for every ENJO Bundle sold this month.

A tree planted helps improve wildlife biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions from the atmosphere for years to come, making a long-lasting impact on the environment. A great way to start a sustainable cleaning routine and offset your carbon emissions.

Want to start reducing your carbon footprint today? Here’s how.

10 little things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint



1. Calculate your footprint


When it comes to reducing your carbon footprint, it’s good to understand what aspects of your lifestyle generate carbon emissions. You can do this using the CNCF’s carbon calculator. Simply answer a series of questions about your energy use and you'll receive a breakdown of your emissions so you know where to get started.

2. Help regulate the temperature of your home 

Heating and cooling our homes accounts for 40% of household energy use, helping regulate your home's temperature will help reduce emissions. In winter layer up, seal draughts, snuggle under a blanket and if you do need a little heat, only heat the rooms you’re using for a small amount of time. In summer, dress in light layers, draw blinds to block out direct sunlight and open the windows. Planting deciduous trees around your home will offer shade in summer and sunlight in winter.

3. Reduce your food waste


Food waste contributes to emissions owing to the energy used to grow, process, transport and store the produce, and then when it becomes waste the organic matter rots and releases methane, a greenhouse gas that's more potent than carbon. There are plenty of ways to reduce food waste from carefully considered shopping to composting and saving your leftovers. 

4. Consider green transport


Did you know that every litre of unleaded petrol consumed generates around 2.5kg* of greenhouse gas? If you need to drive think about carpooling, if you’re running errands save them up and do them in one hit, even making sure your tyres are properly inflated helps reduce emissions by increasing fuel efficiency. If you can, ride or walk manageable distances or opt for public transport (even if it’s just one day a week).

5. Green-up your diet


Did you know that the meat industry is a huge contributor to carbon emissions and that as much as 40% of the world’s surface is used for agriculture? Energy is embedded into all the food we buy, but fresh, local, organic vegetables require far less energy than livestock, so take a break from meat every now and again and support your local suppliers.  

6. Switch off household appliances


So many household appliances (fridge, freezer, washing machine, oven, TV etc) use electricity, but did you know that some items on standby are still using as much as 90% of their normal power? Switch appliances and lights off when they aren’t in use. You can conduct an energy efficiency audit of your appliances too, older appliances may need replacing, do your research and choose those with a 5-star energy rating.

7. Ditch single-use everything

Energy goes into the making reusable and single-use items, the big difference being the energy used to make reusable products isn’t immediately wasted. Whether it’s your morning coffee, lunch on the go, popping to the shops or even your cleaning products – choose reusable alternatives at every step and say no to disposable coffee cups, cutlery, straws, lunch containers and plastic bags.

8. Holiday nearer to home

When it comes to holidays, long-distance travel can very quickly increase your carbon footprint with air travel a significant contributor to emissions. Avoid the stress and hassle of the airport check-in and seek out holiday spots closer to home. Stay longer in one place to truly relax and utilise the public transport systems to experience life like a local. There are also eco-holiday options and retreats popping up all over Australia.

9. Offset your emissions

It’s really difficult to produce zero emissions, but the good news is offsetting your emissions is an option. If you calculate your emissions with the CNCF, they actually advise how many trees you need to plant to offset your total emissions. 

10. Clean without chemicals

Did you know that switching to a sustainable cleaning routine this month means

- Reducing your use of household chemicals (and improving your indoor air quality).
- Reducing your household waste (no wasteful packaging and products that are upcycled).
- Saving money with long-lasting products (reusable cleaning products that last 3 years).
- Cleaning with products produced at a carbon neutral headquarters.
- Planting a native tree to reduce your own carbon emissions.


Purchase an ENJO Bundle online or by holding a Demo and ENJO Australia will plant a native tree with the Carbon Neutral Charitable Fund.  

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