Everybody has to do their bit to keep our planet clean, green and safe. Two of the essentials for ensuring that the Earth remains a place you want to live? Saving water and recycling

The good news is that there are a few really easy ways to do both and they can make a big difference. Most of them are effortless, other are downright fun and at least one will put a smile on your face.

Chapter 1: Don't be a Water Waster

Conserving water during your morning routine is simple as pie. Fortunately so, because we’re running short of our most vital resource: According to the French Environmental and Energy Management Agency, the world’s supply of renewable water will have dropped from 7,500 cubic meters per person per year in 1995 to 5,100 cubic meters per person per year by 2015.

1.

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NO-BRAINER: TURN OFF THE SHOWER

NO-BRAINER: TURN OFF THE SHOWER

Once your hair is wet, turn off the shower and treat yourself to a long, guilt-free luxurious lather.

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DO THE MATH = DON'T TAKE A BATH

DO THE MATH = DON’T TAKE A BATH

Power to the shower, banish the bath. The numbers speak for themselves. The average bath consumes 150-200 liters of water while the average shower only takes 30-70 liters of water.

Superheroes of Planet Care

If you really want to go above and beyond: cold showers. You’ll conserve both water and energy, because your shower is bound to be shorter (!) and no gas or electricity will be needed to heat your H2O.

Before you start congratulating yourself for such selfless dedication to the cause, remember what’s in it for you: This tough-girl regimen has major beauty benefits. Cold showers are said to improve circulation, tone the skin and make your hair shiny. Do well by doing good, as they say.

Chapter 2: Make sure your bathroom hardware is eco-friendly

 

2.

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LEAKS: THE HAIR-RAISING STATS

LEAKS: THE HAIR-RAISING STATS

Leaks waste enormous amounts of water. Bad for your water bill and bad for the environment, so be sure to keep an eye out for leaks and inspect your bathroom regularly. Fear Factor: if you need motivation, check out the following stats.

- Leaky tap: wastes up to 120 liters per day

- Leaky toilet: wastes up to 600 liters per day, which is the average daily water consumption for a family of four.

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MORE AIR, LESS WATER

MORE AIR, LESS WATER

Attaching an aerator to your tap can reduce water consumption by as much as 50%. Simply put, by mixing in air, you get the same pressure with less water. Quite impressive for a little screen you screw on the tap in about 30 seconds.

Chapter 3: Recycling: not just for the kitchen

Most of us are now careful about recycling packages that live in our kitchen, but we should be just as conscientious when it comes to the bottles and cartons on our bathroom shelves.

3.

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PLASTIC: LOOK FOR THE TRIANGLE

PLASTIC: LOOK FOR THE TRIANGLE

All plastic packing marked with a triangle is recyclable, so make sure these items go in the right bin. The number in the middle of the triangle indicates the degree of recyclability and the type of plastic.

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CARDBOARD: SAVE A TREE

CARDBOARD: SAVE A TREE

All plastic packing marked with a triangle is recyclable, so make sure these items go in the right bin. The number in the middle of the triangle indicates the degree of recyclability and the type of plastic.

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UPCYCLING: BE CREATIVE

UPCYCLING: BE CREATIVE

Have some fun and express your creativity by giving your empty Ultimate Blends bottle a second life.

You can craft a cell phone holder, a pencil holder…. Under adult supervision, of course, this is an ideal activity for you and the kids when they’re stuck indoors on a rainy afternoon.