Blog

Our planet is our home, a home that is so generous to us. At the same time, the earth is the future of our children and we must protect it so that it can continue to give to future generations. Unfortunately, overexploitation of natural resources harms the health of the ecosystem. Overproduction and overconsumption lead to pollution, deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. But what can we do to prevent all this environmental damage and leave a healthy planet for our children? Our answer to this question is to reduce the ecological footprint. 

The ecological footprint is a method of measuring the area needed to meet human needs for natural capital, taking into account the resources that the ecosystem can provide. The ecological footprint measures the consumption of natural resources with the earth's ecological capacity to replenish them. The most important question that measuring the ecological footprint aims to answer is: How much of the planet's ecological capacity is consumed by a given human activity or population? In short, the ecological footprint compares supply and demand. A small supply-demand ratio is a good sign because it means that fewer natural resources are sufficient for a person. According to the report published by the Global Footprint Network in 2022, humanity's ecological footprint is 2.7 global hectares per person [1]. Additionally, a study that takes into account consumption levels in America found that the average American lifestyle requires four worlds of land to support humanity [2]. 

Although all of this research is a little depressing, fortunately we have the opportunity to create a sustainable world by making changes in our daily lives. Here are some ideas to reduce our environmental footprint on the future of our most precious fellow human beings.

To reduce the ecological footprint: Reduce plastic waste 

Plastic waste poses a major threat to nature because it takes hundreds or even thousands of years to biodegrade. Single-use plastic in particular accounts for a large proportion of plastic pollution as it is constantly consumed in daily life. You can prevent plastic from ending up in landfills by reducing your use of single-use plastics like plastic straws and plastic bags and opting for reusable water bottles and shopping bags instead.

To reduce environmental footprint: Switch to renewable energy

The most important sources of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide are electricity and heat [3].  Renewable energy, on the other hand, does not emit greenhouse gases into the air and has a much smaller ecological footprint than fossil fuels such as oil.  Consequently, you can avoid the environmental damage of non-renewable energy sources by opting for renewable energy such as solar energy in your home.

To reduce your ecological footprint: Use more environmentally friendly means of transport

Cars, planes, in short, transport causes carbon pollution and a large part of greenhouse gas emissions. You can make a good contribution to protecting the environment by cycling, walking or using public transport instead of driving, trying car sharing and traveling by plane as little as possible. Switching to an electric vehicle can also be a decision that causes less damage to the environment.

To reduce the ecological footprint: Save energy

Another way to reduce our ecological footprint is to use energy responsibly.  You can reduce carbon emissions by making some small changes in your daily habits. Air-drying your laundry instead of using a dryer, using a smart thermostat to set and control your heating, and opting for energy-efficient LED bulbs can help you reduce your energy consumption.

To reduce your ecological footprint: Buy environmentally friendly products

Every phase of the fashion industry, from production to distribution, consumes large amounts of energy. The fast fashion trend in particular multiplies this waste. However, brands that focus on sustainable fashion and use organic cotton can minimize the use of water, energy and chemicals. Choosing organic cotton instead of traditional cotton reduces the use of harmful chemicals and water consumption. At Walkiddy we try to reduce our ecological footprint as much as possible by making our products from organic cotton and pursuing a sustainable strategy. You too can contribute to this process by choosing sustainable brands for your child and yourself.

To reduce your ecological footprint: Eat less meat

According to some studies, a vegetarian and/or vegan diet produces 49.6% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, requires 26.9% less energy to produce food, and is 41.5% more environmentally friendly than a meat-based diet [4].  Even if you don't want to go completely vegetarian, you can significantly reduce your environmental impact by limiting your meat consumption.

To reduce your environmental footprint: Reduce your waste

It is very important to only buy what we need to avoid waste and thus reduce our ecological footprint. Being conscious of food and energy resources, trying to buy in bulk to avoid packaging waste, reducing consumption of self-care products, and even preparing home recipes can help reduce our impact on the environment.

To reduce the ecological footprint: recycle, upcycle, reuse

Recycling dramatically reduces the amount of waste entering the earth, conserves resources, reduces air and water pollution, and saves space in our overcrowded landfills. You can contribute to this process by learning about recycling regulations in your area. You can also recycle and repair unused items in your home and opt to purchase second-hand products.

To reduce your ecological footprint: Use less water

Water is precious, it is a basic human need and a valuable resource that can run out if we are not careful. Therefore, it is very important to balance our water consumption. Some of the measures we can take to avoid wasting water are: wasting less water when watering the garden, not using the tap unnecessarily, taking shorter showers and running the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full.

To reduce your ecological footprint: Shop locally and organically

Clothing, food and many of the products we buy travel more than we do and therefore leave a large environmental footprint. By choosing to buy local products, you avoid the environmental damage caused by transportation. Additionally, these products are often made in an environmentally friendly way. By visiting a farmers market and choosing locally grown products, you can significantly reduce your environmental footprint.