New Year's resolutions for a happy life that contributes to a healthy environment

Four New Year’s resolutions for a healthier environment

By Viniece Jennings

When many people think of New Year’s resolutions, they brainstorm ways to improve themselves for the year ahead. What if we expanded those aspirations to include resolutions that benefit our communities, society and the planet, too?

Image: Nick Fewings / Unsplash

Watch your steps – consider your carbon footprint and travel in eco-friendly style

By Jamie Venter

South Africans are becoming more conscious of the environmental impacts of their holiday trips. Likewise, the tourism industry is looking at ways to cater for travellers who care about the planet.

Photo: Unsplash

Coffin? Casket? Cremation? How to make your death more environmentally friendly

By Paola Magni and Edda Guareschi

Burial land is running low in certain parts of the world. It’s about time we started to consider the environmental cost of our final resting place.

Image: Vidar Nordli Mathisen for Unsplash

Sustainable solutions for a new generation of self-starters

By Julia Evans

Young entrepreneurs are coming up with sustainable and innovative businesses that are creating job opportunities and boosting the circular economy in South Africa. And they have no intention of leaving their communities behind.

Why biodegradable packaging might not be… biodegradable

By Malibongwe Tyilo

There’s a perception that product packaging labelled as ‘biodegradable’ will simply degrade in a matter of months, reducing litter and making for good compost. That is not always the case. In fact, it can be worse for the environment.

A shop assistant packs biodegradable bags. (Photo: Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Jaco Marais)

Understanding the climate crisis – YouTube channels, podcasts and free online resources

By Tevya Turok Shapiro

If you’re strapped for time or energy to engage with detailed written articles, try these instead and get quickly clued up on the science around our climate crisis.

Image: Kurzgesagt

We’re recycling potato skins to make prebiotics: here’s why that’s good for your gut – and the planet

By Eleanor Binner and Afroditi Chatzifragkou

It’s an unbelievable tragedy that a third of the world’s food is wasted. To put that in perspective, it would take an area the size of China to grow that much food – and if food waste were a country it would be the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter.

Potato peels. Image: jhenning / Pixabay