Oceans produce half of the world’s oxygen, and also act as the world’s biggest carbon store[1]. So it’s vital that marine life is protected and that climate change is addressed quickly, preventing the release of carbon from the deepest waters.
Single-use plastic and microplastics (tiny particles that are released from man-made fibres when they are washed) are now major sources of ocean pollution. Below, we’ve got suggestions for how you can minimise plastic pollution in the home.
Thinking about water use in the home, we also have suggestions for using water responsibly. In drought-prone areas this is essential, but the water system is under more pressure than you would think, even in wetter places like the UK. There’s also the energy used in pumping and treating water (Scottish Water is the largest user of electricity in Scotland!), so it makes sense to use less water where we can.
Here’s our Big Green Ideas List for protecting the oceans and saving water.
Protect the oceans
Make governments act on emissions, to prevent ocean acidification
Oceans are the world’s biggest carbon store[1], absorbing about 30% of our global CO2 emissions[7]. But as carbon dioxide is absorbed, it makes the water more acidic and increases the surface water temperature – which first reduces the amount of CO2 the oceans can absorb, and then, in the warmest oceans, causes the oceans to release CO2 back into the atmosphere – a disaster for the climate [7]. Simulations show that a tipping point will be reached if emissions are not curbed, after which an alkalinity-climate feedback loop will accelerate climate warming even further[8].
In the short term, ocean acidification is already impacting organisms, like coral and shellfish, which build their shells, skeletons and other structures from calcium carbonate – and impacting the industries that rely on them.[7]
So what can we do to prevent ocean acidification? The answer lies in all the other actions on this site, because ocean acidification can only be prevented by curbing carbon emissions.
However, you can take direct action on this issue by contacting your political representative so governments start taking meaningful action on climate change.
Stop using single-use plastics
Millions of tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year – experts say that, by 2050, there may be more plastic than fish in the sea[2]. Smaller pieces are eaten by sea creatures, causing fatal health issues and entering the food chain. Entanglement with larger pieces causes dolphins, turtles, birds and other animals to suffocate or starve.
So, unless you have a medical reason, avoid single-use plastics like grocery bags, straws, plastic forks, plastic water bottles, tampons with plastic applicators, and things wrapped in plastic packets.
Clean up after yourself at the beach
Take all your litter home, and ideally leave the beach cleaner than you found it.
Take part in a beach clean-up
Join a group for a day of thorough litter picking. Try Beach Cleans or local media for groups in your area.
Support marine protected areas and conservation groups by volunteering or donating
Join the Marine Conservation Society , the Ocean Conservation Trust or one of the many charities listed here in Coast magazine.
Stop eating fish
Fish are an essential part of a healthy ocean, so overfishing is a big problem. If you eat fish, only eat sustainably caught fish (e.g. line-caught, or using pots and traps). But please watch Seaspiracy, the hard-hitting documentary that might change your mind about eating fish altogether.
Support companies that recover and recycle ocean plastics
Support companies that recover and recycle ocean plastics into new products, like backpacks and jackets (Econyl) and sunglasses (Waterhaul). There are more examples of companies that recycle ocean plastic here.
Use reef-safe sunscreens
To protect aquatic creatures from the chemicals in sunscreen, choose a lotion that uses physical UVA and UVB filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. (But avoid mists and sprays containing these products as they are harmful if inhaled.) Save the Reef has all the information you could need about choosing a reef-safe sunscreen, advocating for bans on reef-harming sunscreens, and success stories from Hawaii and Key West.
Lobby for a change in the law
Write to your MP about the need to protect our oceans and the creatures within them
Greenpeace is pushing to get 30% of our oceans protected – about 70 million square kilometres, the size of South America, North America, Europe and Russia combined.
Stop microplastics from getting into the environment
The documentary “Blue Planet 2” opened our eyes to the problem of plastic pollution – birds feeding their chicks pieces of plastic, sea creatures killed by plastic waste in their stomachs, and plastic waste floating in the sea. Microplastics have been detected in salt, water and food consumed by humans. Even our clothes contribute to the problem – every time we wash man-made plastic-based fibres like polyester, nylon, acrylic and polyamide, they shed millions of plastic microfibers.
At home, you can prevent microplastics from entering the water system by:
- washing man-made fabrics in a guppy bag
- fitting a microplastic filter to your washing machine
- choosing clothes made from plant-based fabric instead of plastic-based fabric
However, we need legislation to force manufacturers to fit microplastic filters to washing machines as standard. Write to your political representative and sign Friends of the Earth’s petition for a new law to end pointless plastic pollution.
See our Influence page for more ways to influence companies, politicians and people you know.
Lobby your government about microplastic filters in washing machines and wastewater treatment plants
Every washing machine cycle can cause up to 700,000 microplastic particles to enter the sewage system, and most wastewater processing plants aren’t equipped to remove them. Microplastics eventually reach the oceans, where they float at fish-feeding depths and are introduced to the food chain. A study in Nature[3] even found microplastics embedded in Arctic ice. With the long-term effects of microplastic particles unknown, but unlikely to be positive, action needs to be taken now to prevent more particles from entering the environment, and legislation is the only way to achieve it fast enough.
Write to your water company
A 2018 report by the National Infrastructure Commission found that water companies are allowing 2.9 billion litres of water per day to escape from old, leaky pipes[5]. That’s 20% of the water put into the public supply. The water companies have committed to reducing water loss by 50% by 2050[6], but we don’t think that’s fast enough. We want to see leak detection technology rolled out, and leaks fixed, much faster. Write, email or tweet at the CEO of your water company asking what they’re doing about it, and copy in your political representative.
Take action against abstraction
Most relevant to hot, dry places like California. Lobby your government to prevent excess water abstraction. That’s when private companies take more water from the land than can be replenished, leaving the land dry with no water for local people and farms. It shouldn’t be a thing, but it is.
See our Influence page for more ways to influence companies, politicians and people you know.
Washing yourself
Wash your hair less often
We’ve become accustomed to washing our hair every day or every other day, but it isn’t necessary once your hair adjusts. Dry shampoo is a useful product that can save water and reduce plastic waste by delaying washing by several days. To go one better, avoid the packaging and propellants altogether by using arrowroot powder instead (it’s a harmless white powder used in cooking, and works best on grey, white or blonde hair).
Take a shower or shallow bath instead of a deep bath
Waterwise says a short shower is best – it can use as little as 27 litres (6 gallons) of water. In comparison, a bath uses about 80 litres (17.5 gallons). You can save about 5 litres (1 gallon) by running your bath just an inch shorter than usual. Power showers use much more water than a bath, so use a shower timer (or listen to the radio for exactly 2 songs, say) to limit the time you spend in there. Washing your hair less frequently will also save water, and remember, you don’t need to be standing under running water to shave your legs. (You don’t need to shave your legs at all, unless you want to, but that’s another issue.)
Fit a water-reducing shower head
Aerated showerheads reduce the flow of water, without compromising on pressure, by mixing in air with water to produce a steady, even spray. This reduces the amount of water used.
Stop running the tap the whole time you’re brushing your teeth
According to Waterwise, a running tap wastes about 6 litres of water per minute, so that’s 24 litres a day per person (2 minutes, twice a day).
Washing your clothes
Wear your clothes more times before washing them
Frequent washing adds significantly to the energy footprint of a piece of clothing, as well as releasing microfibres that pollute the oceans. Washing also causes clothing to fade or wear out sooner. You can cut down on washes by airing your clothes outside to remove smells between wears.
Clothes that don’t touch your torso can be worn several times before they need to be washed. Depending on how sweaty you get, you can probably even wear bras or tops a couple of times before washing. Jeans can be worn five or more times before washing, unless perhaps you are the cook in your household, or your work involves getting dirty, or you have a greasy-haired dog. Underwear should, of course, be washed after every use.
Find out which washing machine cycle uses the least water
A 2019 study[4] showed that the amount of water used in a wash is the key factor in the number of microplastic particles reaching the oceans. “Delicate” cycles were the worst for microplastic pollution, as they use the most water. If you still have clothes containing man-made fibres (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) try to use a low-water wash. Check your owner’s manual, google it, or check your water meter before and after a wash to see how much each cycle uses.
Stop microplastics from entering the wastewater system
Retro-fit a microplastic filter to your washing machine, or use a “guppy friend” (a very fine-meshed bag that catches microplastics shed during the wash).
Wash at lower temperatures and shorter cycles
Most washes can be done cold (either 20 or 30 degrees C) with no difference in wash quality. You might want to do some washes, like underwear, at a hotter temperature for hygiene reasons. For clothes that are smelly rather than dirty, you could try airing them outdoors or just use a super-quick cold wash. You might need an extra spin to get the water out of heavy fabrics like denim.
Household plumbing
Are your pipes leaking?
Check by turning off your stop cock (usually found in your garage or kitchen) then check whether your water meter (at the edge of your property) is still ticking forwards. If so, you have a leak in your pipe. Get it fixed before it gets worse!
Insulate (lag) your pipes and hot water tank
Insulating your hot water tank (cylinder) and pipes is probably the cheapest and easiest way to improve the insulation in your home.
Read more about insulating your pipes and hot water tank.
Install a water recycling system
Water recycling systems collect rainwater for washing clothes and watering vegetables, or grey water (from your sink, bath, shower and washing machine) for toilet flushing and watering non-edible plants.
Use less water when you flush
Put a cistern displacement device (a “hippo”) in your toilet tank. According to Waterwise, about 30% of water used in households disappears down our toilets. Cistern displacement devices can save up to 5,000 litres (1,110 gallons) of water every year.
This is particularly important in old-style toilets, which can use 13 litres (nearly 3 gallons) per flush. Modern dual-flush systems use 4 to 6 litres (0.9 to 1.3 gallons).
Most UK water companies will provide a “hippo” free of charge, but that just generates more plastic waste. You can do the same job with a plastic bottle filled with water and sealed tight.
Fit your taps the wrong way round
If you’re right-handed, ask your plumber to connect the taps the “wrong way round”, with the handle for the cold tap on the left. This makes it easier for you to turn the tap on and off when you’re brushing your teeth (without dribbling on your arm) so you’re less likely to leave it running. Of course, if you’re left-handed, you’re already set.
Outdoors
Minimise watering and plant loss
Choose plants that are adapted to your local environment, e.g. drought-tolerant varieties for dry areas. Always consider the amount of sun/shade, the likelihood of dry conditions or frost, and soil pH before deciding which plant to put where. Your plants will be healthier, you’ll spend less time and money watering them, and you’ll waste less money replacing them if they die.
Don’t water your lawn in a drought
The roots will get stronger as they search deeper for water, and your lawn will recover.
Use cooking and washing-up water to water your plants
When you wash your vegetables or boil pasta, save the water and use it to water your plants. There will be lots of nutrients in it that the plants can use. (Let the water cool first!)
Fit a water-butt
Water butts connect to your downpipe and collect rainwater that would otherwise soak into the ground or run into a drain. When it’s dry, they’re a handy source of water for watering plants.
Stop using your hosepipe to water your plants
Use a watering can, an automatic watering system or a hydroponic watering system instead. You’re likely to use a lot less water, either because you’re carrying every single litre of it, or because the systems are designed to minimise water use.
Plant native plants
Wherever you live, grow plants that are native to your area. They will be best suited to your local conditions, whether that’s surviving with very little water, or creating deep networks of roots that act like a sponge to soak up excess rainfall.
Wash your car less often
There’s very little point in washing your car in the winter. One trip and it will be filthy again anyway!
Lobby your homeowners’ association
This one is probably irrelevant to most UK readers, who would find it incredible that anyone can dictate what you can grow on your own land, but this is a thing in some parts of the US. If it affects you, lobby your homeowners’ association to permit a wider variety of lawn plants that are bee-friendly and drought-tolerant. See if you can gain the support of other residents, then lobby for a change in permissions. If you’re part of a free community, use your garden to demonstrate how attractive and useful gardens can be when they aren’t just laid to lawn.
[1] Greenpeace.org.uk. 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/ocean-protection-30-percent-2030/> [Accessed 18 June 2021].
[2] World Economic Forum. 2016. More Plastic than Fish in the Ocean by 2050: Report Offers Blueprint for Change. [online] Available at: <https://www.weforum.org/press/2016/01/more-plastic-than-fish-in-the-ocean-by-2050-report-offers-blueprint-for-change/> [Accessed 18 June 2021].
[3] Ross, P et al, 2021. Pervasive distribution of polyester fibres in the Arctic Ocean is driven by Atlantic inputs. [online] Nature.com. Available at: <https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20347-1> [Accessed 17 June 2021].
[4] Kelly, M., Lant, N., Kurr, M. and Burgess, J., 2019. Importance of Water-Volume on the Release of Microplastic Fibers from Laundry. [online] Pubs.acs.org. Available at: <https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b03022> [Accessed 17 June 2021].
[5] National Infrastructure Commission, 2018. Preparing for a drier future. p.11.
[6] Ofwat. n.d. Leakage – Ofwat. [online] Available at: <https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/households/supply-and-standards/leakage/> [Accessed 31 July 2022].
[7] CO2 and ocean acidification: Causes, impacts, solutions (2019) CO2 and Ocean Acidification: Causes, Impacts, Solutions. Union of Concerned Scientists. Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/co2-and-ocean-acidification#:~:text=The%20most%20effective%20way%20to,the%20harm%20to%20marine%20ecosystems. (Accessed: March 12, 2023).
[8] Chikamoto, M.O., DiNezio, P. and Lovenduski, N. (2023) Long‐term slowdown of ocean carbon uptake by alkalinity dynamics, AGU Advancing Earth and Space Science – Geophysical Research Letters. American Geophysical Union. Available at: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022GL101954 (Accessed: March 12, 2023).
Image credits:
Tropical island underwater – photo by Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash
Orange fish swimming above a coral reef – photo by Hiroko Yoshii on Unsplash
Fish swimming with plastic waste – photo by Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash
Bath – photo by Phebe Tan on Unsplash
Folding clothes – photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash
Water pipes – photo by Kate Spencer
Watering with a can – photo by David Ballew on Unsplash