photo: Thaths

Now that we’re actually seeing the so predicted Climate Change, either we should be worrying or stepping into action.

But as freelancers, how do we go about that? how do we go green? what can we do?

Many would think that for us it’s just a matter gadgets and saving power with the tools that we use. Not that it isn’t true, but we’re already contributing by not using any transport at all to go to work because we stay home, right?

In reality, it’s not that easy. Buying green equipment doesn’t give you a “green freelancer badge”. Think of it this way: money doesn´t solve bad habits, does it?. Going green is rather about choosing a lifestyle that involves a bit more than purchasing trendy stuff.

If you’re concerned about your carbon foot print and you want to look after your planet, the best way to start is by adopting some new habits.

These are some of the things you can do to help:

At home

Photo: E. Marshall

• Replace all light bulbs for low consumption lights – It really made a difference at home. Needless to say, I don’t keeps all lights on at once.
• Don’t leave the telly on all day – Some freelancers enjoy having a show on while working. Fair enough, but there are times that you’re not really watching, like when you’re in the kitchen, bathroom or the phone. It does make a difference turning it off during those moments. Believe!
• Avoid taking ages while taking a bath – Ok, so you’re not gonna be late, but seriously, do we need to waste that much water?
• Don’t leave the water running if you’re not actually using it – If you’re washing your hands, plates or brushing your teeth, you don’t need water while scrubbing.

Shopping habits

Photo: TheGreenPages

• Switch to certified green cleaning products – If you’re lucky enough to find any of these available in your local supermarket, don’t think twice and go for them.
• Environment friendly packaging - I’ve switched to other brands just because they do have biodegradable boxes or containers. Now I can toss them in the bin with a clean conscience.
• Get refills instead of getting more bottles – This is convenient for cleaning products. For instance, let’s say disinfectants: you buy a first big bottle and refill it as many times as you need.
• Use reusable shopping bags instead of paper and plastic – Speaks by itself… Keeping plastic bags with the hope of future use, well it’s never gonna happen. I had accumulated so many, I could have built an Egyptian pyramid with them and still have a few left for something else.

Managing waste

Photo: M. Barros

• Separating and sorting rubbish into glass, papper, plastic, organic (don’t forget electronics) – This is one of the most important for me and it’s made quite a difference around the house. I’ve reduced my waste from 3 bags per week to 1.
• If you’re not sure how to classify your garbage – there are some great resources in the web: look for green communities, they can be really friendly and helpful. (check out takepart.com and zaproot.com)
• Keep separate bins for each kind – It’s cleaner and easier than piling things up in some corner.
• Recycling collection service – If there’s any in town find out where it is and how it works. Otherwise find out where your nearest recycling plant is and talk to them, they can give you a few choices or hints about where to find waste management providers or other similar services. I’ve done it, and I personally deliver all my recycling stuff to two different waste collection centres.
• Food! - This is tricky. Both preparing and eating a meal can produce a great deal of waste. For instance, all fruit and vegetable peelings, I put them in a little compost I’ve got in my backyard, where earthworms take care of the rest.
• Don’t mix meat, bones, and other cooked leftovers with your compost peelings or your place will be swarming with flies.

This is what I do: I try really hard to leave as little leftovers as I possibly can. But when there are a little, my dogs will gladly take care of them. They also love meat cuts and bones. Of course I feed them with proper dog food, but they like a small delicatessen from time to time. (My wife being an animal doctor, kind of helps too)

And if I end up having bread or biscuit leftovers, pigeons and other birds wipe everything in less than a minute. Oh yes, I live in the tropics and you wouldn’t believe the number of birds just on my block.
You could toss a pizza in the air and it would never come down again.
OK, so I’m exaggerating a bit.

Spread the green

Photo: A. Bahrudin (Babrosa)

You don’t have to be activist if it’s not your thing. It’s not like you have to gather in front of government buildings holding signs and everything.

But there is a lot we can do and a lot we can change by just paying attention to small details in our daily activities.

As freelancers, we get to interact with a lot of people, wether it’s colleagues or clients, we should take advantage of that and show off with pride our “green habits” and spread the word.

Don’t forget your gadgets of course, but keep this in mind: the things you do are far more helpful than the things you own.

What other ways do you think freelancers could help?