Skip to main content

10 Easy Ways to Go Green in 2022

Yes, friends, there’s no longer any point in denying the obvious fact we are faced with: Climate change is real and it’s about time we do something about it. Sure, most of us probably don’t have the resources to regulate the climate on our own (unless you’re Bill Gates, in which case, get to work), but we can all contribute something for the common good.

With all that being said, here are some simple ways to go green this year and beyond. Pick a few you like, substitute in others you already practice, and you’ll be well on your way to living a more environmentally friendly life.

water bottle go green
Averie Woodard

Precycle

So, you know what recycling is, but have you ever heard of precycling? It’s basically a concept in which you consider the “end life” of a product before buying it. If you’re grocery shopping, for example, you’d take note of how certain goods are packaged: Are they wrapped in multiple layers of plastic? Are they held together by rubber bands or zip ties? By taking stock of all these factors, you can better imagine what the recycling of that product would look like. Then, you can choose the one with the most minimal packaging.

Recommended Videos

Ultimately, it’s less waste for you to deal with and less pesky plastic going into the local landfill. Bonus points if you use your own personal shopping bags to tote these goodies home!

Pay Bills Online

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Talk about an easy fix. If you’re still paying your bills by mail, stop that sh*t right now and set up a direct transfer online. This will cut down on the paper mail you receive and will thereby cut down on the amount of paper you need to recycle. It’ll also give your junk drawer a much-needed break.

Decline Receipts

Another great way to eliminate paper waste is to refuse receipts when possible. If you’re running to the pharmacy for some Tylenol, let’s say, you probably don’t need them to print out a mile-long piece of paper detailing your $10 purchase. So, before they ring you up, ask that they not print a receipt. Simple, fast, and impactful. However, if they do print out a receipt, please make sure to recycle it.

Unsubscribe from Junk Mail

You already hate receiving junk mail, so why not put a stop to it? Though it might seem impossible to cease the ebb and flow of unwanted waste to your mailbox, it’s actually much easier to pull off than you might think. DMAchoice, for example, allows you to “give your mailbox a makeover” by choosing the mail you’d like to receive. And if you specifically want to stop getting credit card promotions, hop on over to OptOutPrescreen to, well, opt-out of ‘em.

Unplug Appliances

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Did you know that leaving your appliances plugged in when they’re fully charged can waste a ton of energy? Yeah, I was also unaware, which is why I was pretty shocked to find out that regularly clearing out your outlets could save you upwards of $200 a year on energy costs. That money also translates to big savings for the environment, so make sure to be intentional with how you charge.

Buy a Water Bottle

If you haven’t already invested in a reusable water bottle, now is the time to do so. You can find many different options on the internet, ranging from sturdy aluminum models to collapsible plastic ones. It’s an easy switch, but one that can do a lot to minimize the amount of waste you produce.

Get a Library Card

My dear, sweet bibliophiles, I know this next one is hard, but you’ve gotta stop buying new books. Yes, they look great on a bookshelf, but the toll all that paper production takes on the environment just ain’t worth it, especially when there are so many eco-friendly ways to read. Though you could switch to a tablet or buy used, my favorite option is to whip out the sweet old library card. That way, you can still experience the feel of reading a “real book” without the clutter or waste.

Do Less Laundry

Seriously, do less laundry. Though it may seem unhygienic, I am 100% giving you permission to give your washer a rest. In truth, you don’t actually need to wash your clothes that often, most of us have just been conditioned to toss clothes in the bin after a single use. By cutting down on how often you wash your clothes (like, say, wearing them three times before throwing in your favorite blue jeans in the wash), you can save a lot of water. And when you do wash, make sure to use cold water.

Thrift

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Speaking of clothing, consider incorporating some vintage items into your rotation. Personally, I find it difficult to thrift for all my clothing (especially for essentials like t-shirts, underwear, and socks), so I aim for a nice balance of store-bought and secondhand in my wardrobe. It may be impossible to totally escape the wasteful pitfalls of Fast Fashion, but thrifting makes it at least somewhat manageable.

Repair, Don’t Replace

But when you do need to buy something new, take the best care of it that you can. Get your shoes cobbled if the soles start wearing out. Learn how to darn socks. Take a broken laptop to a local computer shop before tossing it. Yes, it’s easy to replace items, but it’s so much more meaningful to put in the effort to make ‘em last.

Well, folks, that does it for this eco-friendly guide. For more green ideas, check out our guide to buying sustainable clothing.

Cody Gohl
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Cody Gohl is a Brooklyn-based writer who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, including travel, fashion, literature, LGBT…
10 must-watch music biopics that capture the soul of iconic musicians
Artists such as Elton John and Elvis have featured in the best musical biopics
elvis pompadour american crew presley getty images v2

Music touches the soul in a way that other mediums just can't. When a singer speaks to someone through a song, the people listening feel their lives change in unspoken ways. Because of this tremendous impact, musical artists have evolved into some of the most famous people in the world. The singers and songwriters of yesterday and today often have fascinating stories to be told, and the film industry has responded with an influx of music biopics.

The best movies about musicians dig deeper than what audiences already know on the surface about the artist. The actors portraying the musicians often research the subject's life and try to deliver an understanding of the person and what made them go on to change the world. These are the 10 best movies about musical artists you must watch immediately.

Read more
‘Emilia Perez’ leads all 2025 Golden Globe nominees with 10 nominations
The Golden Globes have been through a number of significant scandals in recent years.
Selena Gomez in Emilia Perez

The 2025 Golden Globe nominations have been unveiled, and they were very good for Netflix. The streamer's main awards contender Emilia Perez led all films with a total of 10 nominations. including nominations for best motion picture – musical or comedy, director for Jacques Audiard, supporting actress for Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, actress for Karla Sofia Gascón, screenplay, original score and several more.

The Brutalist, A24's drama about, was just behind it with seven nominations, including for best motion picture – drama, and for the film's two stars, Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. Conclave followed with six nominations, and Anora, A Real Pain, Challengers, and Wicked all notched four or more nominations.

Read more
Disney+ is going to start adding free ESPN content to the streaming service
The move is part of Disney's broader effort to consolidate its various streaming services
ESPN Plus logo on smartphone.

Disney is about to make a subscription to Disney+ even more enticing. Reporting suggests that Disney+ will add a new tile to the streaming service beginning in December that has content from ESPN. The company will reportedly add some live sporting events as well as some ESPN shows to Disney+, even for those who don't subscribe to ESPN+.

The change will be implemented on Dec. 4, and the new title will allow people who subscribe to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+  “full access to all of the ESPN+ sports content they love while inside Disney+, similar to the experience we offer bundle subscribers with Hulu on Disney+,” CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston said in commentary provided with the September quarterly results.

Read more