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[@pearlp7264]

Actually it’s been proven that dishwashers use less water than hand washing. At least here in Finland. Dishwashers use the same water for most of the wash, not pushing in new water from the tap constantly like it can seem.

[@kwindie]

Rechargeable batteries are also a good option when they're unavoidable.

[@leonsvideos]

One thing that is important to know in my opinion is that the energy rating of a device is always based on the eco programme (dishwasher, washing machine etc.). This means you could buy a very energy efficient machine but some of the programmes aren’t energy efficient at all. The best thing you can do is buy the most energy efficient one that allows scheduled washing. Sometimes the 6 hour eco programme doesn’t fit your schedule but if you have one that allows scheduling, you can program it so it is finished when you come back from work. This has the nice side effect of using solar energy if you buy green energy because it is running during sun hours.

[@RachelTeeKae]

You can get a really good thermos and boil some water and then keep it in the thermos and use that throughout the day because it will stay hot.

[@blueollis]

That’s a great idea, especially for camping!

[@emmaandtheveg8861]

I’ve been putting extra boiled water in my Chilly bottle and using that for the next cuppa!

[@lassuelet5964]

I discovered World of Books a few months ago and I really recommend to everyone who loves reading! :) They sell used books for a really great price. So far I could find almost everything I wanted to read. You can save a lot of books from going to landfill ;)

[@blueollis]

Thanks for the tip!

[@intentionaldes2654]

Really great list that covered a lot of ground!

[@Anna-ms6fl]

Thank you so much for the video! Also really would like to know what your beauty routine is now and what DIY products you use for it

[@elizabethcooper9815]

I appreciate you and your videos so much. I do many of what you listed out but always wanting to learn more. Thank you much. 🥰🥰🥰

[@Kristaozola]

Great tips and glad I could tick most of them off!💚

[@meridethwelch2953]

Wow, thank you so much for sharing! some of these concepts I have never thought of, I will definitely be sharing to my friends and family!

[@blueollis]

I’m glad to have sparked the conversation with your friends and family and that you found value in this video :)

[@elvansenorer9878]

Congrats, new ideas and inspirational

[@valhrebens9836]

Great video, thank you. I am a greenie since 2007. Zero waste is the future:), be part of the growing trend!

[@gabriellenichole3445]

Thank you for the video! I’m trying to change my lifestyle to be more eco friendly and sustainable ☺️🦋💕

[@viktoriaberghoffer]

Great tips 🥰 thank you!!

[@cathylynnpietranton]

Hi Blue these are some good points. we do some of the things you've mentioned.❤

[@ClaudiaF3514]

They are all really good tips!!! I'll just add up the razor issue, since you've talked about shaving (mine is from naked necessities and i love it)!!! ^_^

[@ylo555]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@LinetteArroyo]

This was very informative. Very unique tips compared to other no waste videos 😊

[@blueollis]

Glad you found value in this video!

[@magesalmanac6424]

great tips, thank you. I double checked my local recycling rules to be sure! when it comes to air drying laundry though, how do you prevent the clothes from becoming stiff? I tried it with a few shirts and they don't soften like they do in the dryer.

[@leiaorgana8710]

What I also like is creating my own oil candles in old bulks, ypu can also put some essential oils in them and you don't have to buy new candles all the time. They just run on normal vegetable oils. If you are interestet, there are a lot of diy videos on youtube.

[@blueollis]

I love DIYing candles, too. They smell great, are simple to make and cost way less! I’ve been using soy wax I buy in bulk which is the most sustainable option I’ve found.

[@roseenglish7923]

I agree.

[@sonnetspring]

you're BEAUTIFUL, and these tips were great 💜

[@blueollis]

Aw thank you so much 😊

[@emeliasoderlund]

Informative, beautiful and calming x + if you do need batteries, there are rechargeable ones :)

[@blueollis]

Thank you 😊 I’m glad you liked this video. Yes, rechargeable batteries would be a better option than disposable ones.

[@Stuffings00]

Love the tips, and had some additional thoughts based on some of my experiences and things I’ve learned recently: 1. Rechargeable batteries with eco friendly electric provider might be a good option. 2. I think energy efficient dishwashers are better for saving water than hand washing (as with so much, it depends). 3. essential oils aren’t very always sustainable (check out the Eco Well podcast for some info on that) to produce, and are resource intensive, so its worth all of us doing research on the specific oils we like versus artificial perfumes that might take far fewer resources.

[@blueollis]

Rechargeable batteries would be a better option than disposables for sure. The water and energy usage to run a dishwasher, even on eco, is immense. Heating wagers to such a high temp, using electricity to run the dishwasher and use litres of water each time is not comparable to using one bowl of warm water to hand wash a load of dishes. You’re right about essential oils, they still have a footprint, my point being they are less harmful than the toxic chemicals so many cleaning products are filled with. It’s a better option, not an ideal option.

[@AussieMaskedOwl]

I was also under the impression that most dishwashers use less water than hand washing your dishes.

[@joanaccmartins]

@@blueollis you have to check how much water do you spend washing your dishes... only 1min of the running water of the tap spent about 10liters of water. Well my dishwasher spent about 10 liters in one cycle... in my case i can't wash the same amount of plates and cups and everything in only 1 min of running water :D

[@lotttx]

If you have the choice between eco and quick on your washing/laundry machine, choose eco. Mine takes about 3 hours instead of the quick 30 minutes, but appearantly uses way less energy per wash than the quick mode.

[@nicolozss]

Yes, usually because it doesn't heat up water. But you have to check also how much water every cycle uses into the machine's instruction manual. And choose accordingly.

[@blueollis]

That’s good to know, thank you for sharing your tip!

[@annehowden7587]

Thank you for this lovely video, definitely taken tips. I came across a UK candle brand that is sustainable and organic - Luma Candles - they use soy wax. I used to buy Paraffin wax but came into knowledge they are not sustainable. Every little helps!

[@blueollis]

Thank you for sharing this recommendation :)

[@jobond3317]

Remember the order of 3 Rs Reduce Reuse and only then Recycl. Plus always wash plastic glass recyclable

[@letallbejust9998]

a really useful, great video! :)

[@blueollis]

Glad you liked it!

[@jobond3317]

I don't have a dishwasher but are investigating on. Over a year more water is used hand washing. However not all dishes are dish washable. Still it seems that water use is less in a dishwasher. I found this interesting

[@blueollis]

If you have a tap constantly running as you wash, perhaps. But using a washing bowl means only about 1 litre of water is used to wash by hand for a full load (less if it's just a few items). We must also consider the exceptionally hot water that is used in a dishwasher, the resources it consumes to heat water to this temperature each use, the resources used to manufacture an entire washing machine, the materials the washing machine is made from, the energy used to put it together, the electricity used to run it each wash... it's more than just water usage.

[@VampiresKisSs]

I am not sure about the one with the dishwasher. I read the dishwasher is much much more efficient since it cleans more dishes with less water since it just recycles the water more often in the machine. Since they often also come with an eco mode it would be much better to use the dishwasher than washing by hand

[@blueollis]

The energy used by dishwashers to heat waters to such a high temperature, run the dishwasher and used litres of water each time is immense. It takes a lot more water AND energy to run a dishwasher than it does to use one bowl of warm water for all your dishes.

[@Minfili86]

Thanks for the video and the great set of tips. Concerning the use of AC, do you see the increase of its presence there? As an architect I'm curious if new buildings are better adapted to climate changes in a passive way (being more ventilated, shaded etc). Do you notice it?

[@blueollis]

I’ve never seen AC used in the U.K. It’s not really something we have here as it’s always too cold anyway and even our summers are cool.

[@Shay45]

A lot of these tips are money saving tips as well

[@ashleym4084]

With the showering 2-3 times a week - do you exercise? I exercise 6 days a week for an hour at a time and I’m drenched with sweat. Sometimes I’ll just do a quick rinse.

[@TheNmet42]

Use a bidet instead of toilet paper. Even more sustainable !

[@blueollis]

Such a great option! Unfortunately the ones I’ve tried don’t fit my toilet system but I’d love to have one one day that I can use.

[@helenas.6383]

@@blueollis there's something called 'happy po' which is basically a bidet in a bottle and you can also travel with it

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Subscribing 🙂 Hello from another vegan Londoner (now living in Suffolk).

[@blueollis]

Hi 👋🏻

[@jobond3317]

I thought plants help purify the air but no if you check it out it's not significant. Open windows will. Of course, it depends on the place you live But opening the window and letting the house breath great idea

[@commonchick]

Which green energy supplier should I use in California?

[@pattricia1245]

Incrível seu canal! Brasil!!

[@davenadainton7712]

Great tips. Love davena from on instagram. By the way i love your muesli x

[@blueollis]

Glad your enjoying my muesli recipe!

[@cupidlover6451]

I love your natural cleaning product it makes my bathroom smell so good I really don't like using paper towels there so wasteful I barely even use them I want use a cloth to clean my bathroom

[@blueollis]

I’m so glad your enjoying them! And yes, reusable paper towels would be a great one to add.

[@cupidlover6451]

@@blueollis I will use reusable paper towels

[@christinekeller7435]

thanks for that! I hope more of you would start to talk about sustainable period products. I am trying to encourage people with periods to look at cups, reusable pads and undies.

[@blueollis]

I'm not sure who you mean by "more of you" but I frequently talk about menstrual products, especially on my Instagram page... everyone there knows I'm a MASSIVE fan of period cups!

[@emilyfrancombe6702]

The eco setting on my washing machine takes over 3 hours, is it better to use a shorter (non eco) wash or the long eco one? Thanks

[@blueollis]

You can check your specific machine’s water usage per wash in the manual or online. It may be that the longer wash uses less water so maybe be worth it but will also be using more electricity so you’ll have weigh up the costs!

[@kb2007xox]

I asked a tradesman about it... it may use slightly less water but it does use more power so it is eco on one hand but worse on the other...

[@LoveLeeMeJenny]

My washer uses twice the amount of water and four times the amount of electricity using the short cycle compared to the eco cycle.

[@catfish9539]

The only thing with not heating a room, when you do it takes more energy to heat it so your better to keep it on very low. Especially in cold weather.

[@blueollis]

It is better to keep it on low than to keep turning it on and off. But even better is to use blankets and a hot water bottle and forget the heating altogether!

[@catfish9539]

Lol not if the pipes freeze!

[@Charlotte1333]

Thank you for another great video. I have a question about the toilet paper. I live in Belgium. Do you think it’s more sustainable to buy regular toilet paper in a local store, or to buy eco friendly toilet paper like Who gives a crap, that needs to be shipped to me?

[@emeliasoderlund]

I'm also wondering about that! Where I live in Sweden I can now find partly recycled and unbleached paper that is packaged in plastic (that is however also partly recycled).

[@blueollis]

Have you checked to see whether there is more local company, perhaps a smaller company or one that needs funding, that makes sustainable toilet paper? You could also buy a b-day (you can get small ones that attach straight onto your toilet seat). Otherwise some supermarkets stock partially recycled toilet paper which would be a compromise but perhaps the best option for you.

[@neta565]

Hello daar, ik kom ook uit Belgie, maar woon in Engeland😀

[@Stuffings00]

Emelia Söderlund this makes most sense to me, aside from the charitable portion of what WGAC does, recycled toilet paper already exists. Shipping from China is a lot, but I haven’t seen a definitive answer based on everything. Not sure there’s a ‘wrong’ answer to this one.

[@kellyvandiessen3488]

Shorter, cooler laundry sets.. I can do a quick one.... 40 degree or 40 degree eco modus ( wich takes more time). I always pick eco, but is this the best option?

[@blueollis]

You’d have to look at your particular machines manual to see how much water usage each cycle uses to compare them. You can probably also look this up online or contact the company directly to ask.

[@kellyvandiessen3488]

@@blueollis Ok thanks for the tip! I will check it out :)

[@laetitiaTestuda]

I don't think shorter laundry set is a good option because it requires more energy to reach the temperature faster. 30 degrees is also better than 40.

[@Batgirlinjapan]

What about reusable razor ?

[@cupidlover6451]

I take really quick showers

[@alexa500]

Plants aren't effective at purifying air anywhere near as much as an air purifier. I would say it's nice to own both.

[@melody7224]

the air purifying power of houseplants is negligible at best, and the volume of plants you would need for a home would basically be like living in a jungle, not that that wouldnt be lovely. just not practical. as someone with asthma and allergies to mold, I feel it's important to bust this myth

[@charleylouise3900]

Some great points - but just wanted to point out that washing dishes by hand isn’t normally more eco friendly! It takes more water and energy to wash up all the dishes as people have to rinse, boil lots of water and use several bowls. Using a full dishwasher, that you have loaded with scraped (not rinsed) plates is actually more eco friendly in terms of energy and water consumption - even if you’re using gas! If you can run it on an eco setting it’s even better! Fun fact :)

[@blueollis]

I’ve heard this argument before but doesn’t sound right to me. A dishwasher uses electricity, it heats water to extreme temperatures and uses a lot of water even on Eco mode. Using one bowl of warm water is far more economical. And if you use more than one bowl it’s still not using electricity or heating water up to boiling, let alone the resources used to make the machine.

[@charleylouise3900]

@@blueollis it is a really interesting one! I thought the same until seeing that my thoughts were only relevant for the first generations of dishwashers! Plus, with most washing up bowls - people will wash up two-three times a day or at least need to use two bowls to work through everything (not including the water needed for soaking and that most people use for rinsing - which is where a lot of the water saving comes from). Plus you do still need to heat the water to use to wash up, whereas dishwashers normally run on lower heat (especially eco settings) and have mini heaters that are not only more efficient, but also heat less water than the water tank used when washing up. When run on full a dishwasher can was about 12 place settings - which it will use a lot less water etc than hand washing these. I’m not sure about the resources to make - definitely an important point to consider - but the other factors do suggest that these are partly offset, especially as dishwashers are normally used for decades. I found these resources helpful for understanding this more - there is also an Oxford study that I can’t remember the name of which came to the same conclusion. www.greenchoices.org/green-living/at-home/is-it-greener-to-hand-wash-or-use-a-dishwasher

[@hibiscus-dreams]

@@blueollis I've heard (and lived) with this debate over 3-4 decades. My parents were from depression era. They hand washed everything but would run their new dishwasher once every couple months to keep water lines clean. My mom would also wash/air dry plastic sandwich baggies In High School my daily chore was washing dinner dishes. But in the interest of h20 conservation I was instructed to fill a large bowl filled with hot soapy water and fill another one with clean water to rinse My spouse has never believed handwashing is more ecofriendly...so dishwasher is utilized regularly.

[@bethvye2432]

i am just about to change my energy company, i would love to have octopus energy, i have tried the link below and it doesn't work , any ideas ?

[@blueollis]

Hmm, do you live outside of the UK?

[@bethvye2432]

@@blueollis , i live just outside of brighton in portslade

[@abigailhutchinson5487]

my town doesn’t even do recycling :(

[@blueollis]

What a great opportunity to advocate for sustainable change! You could petition to your government official to implement a recycling scheme.

[@Lyssaq7]

Abigail Hutchinson mine use to and they canceled it cause no one would do it and it wasn’t working to help recycle because people only saw a second trash can and it was discontinued and I’m super sad cause no where in town recycles plastic or glass just metal n boxes n paper and I’m super sad

[@user-ii5jh2ch2i]

I shower daily but have very short ones.

[@blueollis]

Perhaps you could experiment with also showering less often.

[@user-ii5jh2ch2i]

@@blueollis Yes, I could. No water shortage of water here in Switzerland. With all our lakes, waterfalls and cooler climate, it has been said that one day CH, could be supplying other lands. Most citizens here are extremely concious of global warming and any wastage in general. Most people here shower using very little water as it has always been. Conservation here with most things in life is most surely key. At times even a bit extreme. All the best and have a wonderful week.

[@shibistars]

I tried washing my laundry in 30mins and it always comes out super wet.

[@blueollis]

Just pop it on a spin cycle afterwards 😊

[@kristaliaastari2856]

2 showers a week at 7 1/2 mins each.

[@blueollis]

That’s very specific!

[@hunniabdl9571]

Normally mom brings home toilet paper wrapped in paper 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@neta565]

Although bacteria don't get killed on a 30 degree wash...😯

[@blueollis]

If you need something to be decontaminated you can soak it in boiling water in the sink before the wash.

[@MissScarletTanager]

One caveat to the dishwasher one; whether hand washing or dishwasher is more eco friendly entirely depends on the dishwasher, the size of the family, etc. I only have one plate, one bowl, and a handful of silverware and some pots, so for me it is definitely better to hand wash. But say someone has themselves, a partner, and 2-3 children and/or maybe a parent they are caring for. Especially if they have an energy conserving and water conserving dishwasher, it is more eco friendly and sanitary to use the washer rather than handwash, largely because of the set water usage and the much higher temps washers can get their water.

[@blueollis]

I’ve always used just 1 bowl of water to wash dishes whether I’m washing up after a large family meal or just for me. The water usage is the same. Using a dishwasher would mean consuming electricity to run the machine, consuming energy to heat the water to unnecessarily scolding temperatures and using so much more water than a bowls worth. It’s always more eco-friendly to use one bowl of hot soapy water than a machine.

[@MissScarletTanager]

@@blueollis For a large load of dishes, even with hot soapy water, seems very unsanitary to me. You need at least 60 degree Celsius water to sanitize the bacteria and germs on dishes and most cookware, which is roughly 18 degrees above the human pain threshold for water scalding. However, because handwashing cannot sanitize dishes, handwashing lessens the development of allergies in children through exposure. Which one is more eco-friendly depends on the situation, especially with modern models of dishwasher. For reference, a UCLA study on the difference between the two: www.ioes.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/handwashing-vs-dishwashing.pdf as well as an Academy of Pediatrics study on the allergy difference: pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/135/3/e590 and, though it don't mean much here in a comment on YT, I do have a degree in Biology. I DO handwash my own because I only have, at most, four or five things to wash after a meal and do just use a bit of water, but it's not possible or necessarily safe for all to do.

[@elizabethb.3932]

Essential oils are not environmentally friendly, it takes pounds and pounds of plants to make the oil in those tiny bottles.

[@blueollis]

You’re right, essential oils have a footprint. They’re just a better alternative to the toxic chemical-laden cleaning and fragrance products that are most commonly used and frequently replaced in most homes. They’re not ideal but they’re a more sustainable option, like everything on this list.

[@pantelismouratoglou8142]

[@IggyPuff888]

⬆️ probably someone who will never understand the use of toilet paper (aside from blowing my nose). We use what we call “tabo” for that. It’s cheap and more sustainable.

[@blueollis]

I've just looked into that and it looks so much better than using toilet paper. Funny how we use things in different ways... I use a hanky to blow my nose, not paper! Thank you for sharing.

[@yvettevalmond2757]

Cover your chest please it's distracting and unprofessional

[@blueollis]

Update your antiquated mindset please, it's gross.