The pandemic has changed all aspects of our ‘normal’ daily lives. From an increase in remote working to wearing protective face masks in the supermarket. It’s safe to say that life as the global population once knew it shifted significantly in 2020, leaving many with more time to focus on improving new habits and skills during a worldwide lockdown. From DIY projects to online cooking classes, experts claim that the skills we picked up during Covid-19 have not only diversified the nation but made them more eco friendly.
With fewer of us eating out in restaurants and high street closures forcing people to make their favourite garments last, it could be argued that we have become a more eco-conscious population, taking a small step towards a reduction in waste and CO2 emissions.
In fact, the American Geophysical Union’s 2020 meeting revealed that the environment is quickly changing in response to the effects of the glocal pandemic. According to AGU, “Deforestation rates are changing, air pollution is diminishing, water quality is improving, and snow is becoming more reflective in some areas since the pandemic began.”
The question is, will we remain eco-friendly post-pandemic? As we navigate our way back into a post-Covid landscape, here are some of the zero waste habits we think are here to stay as we move towards a greener future.
Ethical Consumption
In the midst of the pandemic, new studies are showing that as a global population, we are making more ethical choices when consuming food, buying products and using plastics. In fact, a recent survey by consultancy firm, Accenture, stated that “60% were reporting making more environmentally friendly, sustainable, or ethical purchases since the start of the pandemic.”
Therefore, as we go forwards, it’s likely that we will see a change in consumption habits globally. With Covid-19 forcing many to step back and review their own sustainable footprint’s, small businesses have seen a rise in sales, with many people switching to homegrown and local sources in order to reduce supply chains and mass production. In fact, organic farming as a whole has seen a 9.5% increase in just one year, thanks to customers switching to ethical alternatives to supermarket brands.
As we navigate our way back towards normality, ethical consumption is here to stay, with more eco-conscious initiatives hitting the high street than ever before. As Bulk Food stores continue to multiply and small sustainable businesses continue to revolutionise the beauty industry, green shopping will only increase post-pandemic.
Reduced CO2 Emissions
One of the largest impacts Covid-19 has posed on the nation is a reduction in travel. With local lockdowns permitting the use of air travel and remote working conditions reducing the need to use both cars and public transport, experts have reported a significant drop in CO2 emissions in response to the pandemic.
(Source: Statista)
The numbers released from the International Energy Agency indicate that a fall in transportation-related oil-burning has contributed to a 1.2 billion tonne reduction in CO2 emissions across the globe, improving the future of global warming and the worldwide carbon footprint.
As levels of remote work continue to rise and post-pandemic travellers continue to explore their own country’s beauty, we are set to not only see a decrease in the need for public transport but a reduction in air miles too as holidaying attitudes continue to change.
WFH Warriors
With 84% of corporate commuters now switching to remote working conditions post-pandemic, it’s safe to say that the WFH warriors continuing to work away from the office will quite possibly have the largest impact on the future of the environment.
(Source: Statista)
With 65% of current WFH employees choosing to remain remote post-Covid, a reduction in commuting based CO2 emissions isn’t the only positive that environmental experts are seeing. In fact, experts predict that the future of a remote corporate landscape will reduce the power consumption and office-based waste that is currently adding to the world’s eco-crisis.
According to the World Economic Forum, power consumption fell dramatically during the first lockdown in response to many workers being sent to work from home. As office buildings closed their doors, electricity providers saw a drop in overall energy usage across brick-and-mortar workplaces.
On top of this, environmental experts predict that remote working conditions could digitalise the future of office practice, reducing wasteful paper consumption. Pre-pandemic, the average American used up to seven trees worth of paper goods annually. As we continue to use WFH technology, environmentalists claim that less deforestation will aid the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, by removing levels of carbon dioxide from the air.
Upcycling
Another trend that has taken off throughout lockdown is upcycling. Whether you’re reworking old garments into a thrifted dream or making a start on the newest DIY hack going viral on the internet. Covid-19 has taught us to be more resourceful. As high street shops continued to close during lockdown, fast fashion consumers took to upcycling as an alternative. Using spare time to turn older garments into new Gen-Z fashion trends has begun to inspire a new generation of eco-conscious consumers. As we head into a post-pandemic high-street, new vintage style trends are encouraging upcycling and sustainable shopping amongst younger people, suggesting that this new fashion wave is here to stay.
Opting for long-lasting alternatives to fast fashion also decrease overall production waste. With the average fast fashion garment made from polyester taking up to 200 years to decompose, it’s time to switch to sustainable alternatives such as upcycled clothing and long-lasting eyeglasses made from recycled plastic.
Less Waste
In response to a number of national lockdown measures, eating out has also decreased throughout the pandemic, with consumer spending in restaurants declining by 60% during the first lockdown period.
As more of us turned to remote working conditions and were forced to stay inside, learning to use produce to its best ability has improved cooking skills across the globe and more importantly reduced the average household’s food waste. Moving on from the pandemic, experts suggest that the agricultural sector will grow, as 30% of households have switched to obtaining food from local or homegrown sources in order to reduce mass production and food waste.
