7 Simple Ideas to Make a Big Difference
Creative businesses and individuals are being inspired to step up their green efforts and come together to achieve a more sustainable future as part of CLASH Action Fortnight – with sixty small but powerful pledges to choose from and try.
Taking place from 1st to 14th February, the change-making two weeks is a rallying cry from Creative Kernow and Cultivator to address the climate emergency and support creative businesses in treading lightly on the planet as they grow.
Businesses can head to cultivatorcornwall.org.uk/clash/ and pledge to make one, or multiple, changes from a rich and varied bank of ideas, from switching to a green energy supplier and unplugging electrical items when not in use, to lending and borrowing resources rather than buying new.
Once you’ve made a pledge, B Corp certified Do Nation will check back in with you over the next couple of months to see how you’re getting on with incorporating your day-to-day life, and at the end will total up the carbon reduction that we will collectively achieve by each doing our part.
For inspiration, here are the top 7 ideas businesses can pledge for a greener future:
- Voice up
If there’s anything we’ve learnt from the internet era, it’s that everyone has a right to a voice. So, if you’ve got a burning desire to voice your passion, draw attention to an issue, or talk about something you’ve learned, then do it!
Have a go at writing blogs, giving internal presentations, or recording podcasts- it doesn’t matter what form it takes, just get out there and express yourself!
- Clean your bills
Switch to a green energy supplier: it takes minutes and costs the same but the benefits will live on for years. It’s quick and easy to switch and doesn’t have to hurt your bank account.
- Digital diet
By tidying up our digital habits, we can improve our health, productivity, and even our carbon footprint. Top tips include deleting spam, scrapping the app, and minimising your screen time.
- Tea time
A watched kettle never boils… especially an overfilled one. 2/3 of us boil more water than we need each time, as a result 32 million litres of water are boiled every day in the UK only to go cold again! Fill your kettle with only the water you need- save time, money and energy.
- Optimise your computer power
Adjust your computer’s settings to improve its efficiency and life span- saving you a bit of cash in the meantime. What’s not to like?
- Stamp out standby
Switch our gadgets off at the socket to save yourself money and energy, while probably extending the lifespan of your appliances too. This one quickly becomes a habit.
- Sweet temptations
On average, we eat about three times the recommended amount of sugar each day- some of it unknowingly. It causes a wealth of health complications and sugar crops also drive deforestation and water shortages and pollution. Start cutting down on your sugar consumption today.
Stepping up your sustainability game can sound like a big challenge, especially for small creative businesses – but it doesn’t have to be. Simple changes and even a switch in mindset can trigger valuable green gains. This isn’t about overhauling your business or setting out huge green agendas, then letting good intentions wain because they’re unsustainable.
CLASH Action Fortnight encourages businesses to pledge to do things better in a way that suits them. Make just one small change or a couple if you can. Every action counts.
Creative businesses motivated to take things further and make a bigger green commitment, can also sign up to the Sustainable Creative Charter co created by 150+ creatives from all over the world at Goodfest '21.
Let’s be greener together. Make your pledge here.
