It finally seems like the world has woken up to the need for massive changes when it comes to the environment. Over the last couple of years, the signs of climate change have become impossible to ignore, and it has become entirely apparent that everyone needs to start taking more responsibility. From individual consumers to big business owners, we are starting to see more and more proactive steps around the world. Of course, there is still a long way to go, and there has been a lot of scepticism around whether or not the world’s leaders’ promises about their environmental pledges will actually add up to anything. But it feels as though things are moving in the right direction.
But how much of a difference will you as an individual actually see, and what can you do to be a part of it? There are a lot of major shifts that need to happen that are beyond the reach of most of us, as industries try to decide what they can do to curb their carbon footprints. But there will be a lot that will be noticeable, and there will be a lot that you can get involved in. Here are some of the biggest eco trends that we can expect to see this year.
1. Delivery Companies Going Eco-Friendly
How often have you ordered something small off the internet only for it to arrive swamped in non-recyclable packaging? This has been a major issue for years now, but things are finally starting to turn around. More and more companies are making changes to their packaging, opting for recycled and recyclable materials instead of plastics and polystyrene. It surely helps that the UK government has introduced a plastic tax which should cut down on the amount of packaging that needs to go straight into the bin. Customers are also becoming more discerning about using companies which use non-recyclable packaging (we will talk more about this in a moment).
But we have also seen more delivery companies being more responsible with their transport options. Many firms are asking their customers to collect their items from lockers instead of having them delivered to their door. You will also have noticed that some companies ask if you would be happy to receive multiple deliveries in one go. It has also become increasingly common to see these businesses using electric vehicles, and it seems like they are finally starting to get the message. Which brings us to our next point.
2. Electric Cars Are Becoming More Accessible
Electric cars have been around for years now and have been heralded as the way of the future for even longer. But they have also been something that has been a lot easier for people with a lot of financial security to invest in for a long time. It was easy to dismiss them as something that would certainly be nice to have if you had a lot more money. However, times are changing, and electric cars are finally becoming more affordable as more and more manufacturers are offering their own models. You no longer have to think about how you can afford a Tesla when you could go with one of the more affordable models from brands like Fiat and Vauxhall.
As a result, more and more people are going to be going electric. And if you don’t want to purchase an electric car, why not think about leasing one instead? There are a lot of different companies that offer leasing options, and the LV ElectriX guide to lease an electric car breaks down everything that you need to know. They can help you decide whether an electric car is right for you and help you to find the best model for your needs.
3. More People Will Say No To Meat
It will not have escaped your attention that more and more people have decided to go vegan or vegetarian. In fact, you may well be one of them already. Experts have been talking about the impact that farming and eating meat has on the environment for years, but it seems like the public have started taking their words to heart over the last couple of years. You can see a lot more non-meat options on the menu when you go out to eat, and supermarket aisles are well-stocked with options from a wide range of brands.
Just as there are more brands of electric car, where they used to be just Linda McCartney and Quorn, now there are dozens of different veggie brands offering alternatives to beef, chicken, pork and much more. Because it is much easier to go vegetarian or vegan than it was previously, and because the product is getting better, we can expect to see this trend continue. It is especially true given how much the price of things like meat and dairy have been going up in the UK recently. It is often cheaper to go with a veggie option instead of splashing out.
4. Customers Will Keep Getting More Discerning
One of the results of the increased awareness of climate change is going to be that people will continue to be a lot more scrupulous about where they are spending their money. They will be looking for statements and promises from companies about what they are doing to keep their carbon footprint as low as possible before they click buy. The best example of this may be with the fashion industry.
There has been a lot written over the years about the environmental impact of fast fashion, and the amount of damage that it has already caused. Brands that have turned a blind eye in the past to the way that their clothes were made are now having to take a lot more responsibility. We can expect to see more and more promotional material from fashion companies of all shapes and sizes, as well as businesses across all sectors, about what they are doing for the environment as they attempt to keep their customers onside. Given the rising cost of living and how that has been affecting businesses, every company will be looking for ways they can stand out from the crowd and keep their clients and customers coming back.
5. Technology Will Keep Leading The Way
Even as the world ground to a crashing halt back in March 2020, technology kept moving forward. In fact, it started to rocket ahead at an incredible pace to address many of the new issues that we were all facing. And it wasn’t just about making sure that we could video conference without anybody losing signal. AI technology has changed the game in so many different ways across so many different sectors, but it is also being implemented in the fight against climate change.
It has helped the agricultural industry to work with more precision to keep waste and pollution to a minimum. It has helped to develop clean energy solutions and to predict weather patterns to help us to be better prepared for extreme weather events, of which we have certainly seen many over the last few years. It has also allowed companies to monitor their carbon footprints with a lot more accuracy so that they can see where they need to improve.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
