World Environment Day (5th June), like Earth Day, it's a day when we’re all encouraged to think about our impact on the environment, not just around us, but around the entire globe. Our actions all have reactions, and how we live our lives could influence places as far afield as Asia and Indonesia. 

The message from the organisers of World Environment Day is that there’s Only One Earth and they’re calling for “collective transformative action on a global scale to elevate, protect and restore our planet”. Count us in! 

Governments, decision makers and industry obviously need to be making monumental policies on the future health of the planet, but we can all play our part too - even the smallest of individual actions, collectively will have a huge impact. 

We Earthlings therefore need to do all we can to protect Earth today, and for the future and all its future inhabitants. 

Together, we can do that, so here’s five simple ways we can all help to protect the environment…

1. Consider single use plastics - these are the plastics that contain our shop-bought water, sandwiches and takeaways, those found in free toys stuck to magazines and in kids food boxes, the buy-cheap, wear-once clothes we buy (any fabric beginning with ‘poly’ contains plastic, such as polyester) and carrier bags. Yes, plastic can be recycled, but only a limited number of times, and it’s energy-intensive. Some will even end up in landfills in faraway places. It’s far better to use reusable water bottles, shopping bags and on-the-go cutlery and to mindfully purchase all the other things that contain plastic. 
2. Educate the future - our children are the eco-warriors of the future, and their little minds can be veritable sponges for new information. Talk to them about the planet and how important it is that we all do our bit to look after it. Try to encourage them away from single-use plastic toys and to foster a love of nature and the Great Outdoors.
3. Become a food waste saving hero! Food waste is a big problem, both in terms of wasting our money and harming the environment (rotting food releases methane in landfill, a harmful greenhouse gas). By rethinking food waste, we can save both our pennies and the planet. Our tips on cutting down food waste will help, then using council kerbside food waste collection bins will ensure the unavoidable waste gets put to good use. 
4. Consider switching to a green energy supplier - all our energy comes from the National Grid, so we can’t ask for green energy such as from wind or solar power to come directly to our homes. But the more people that opt for green energy, the more money can be directed towards creating more green energy, so it's a virtuous cycle.
5. Eat green - one of the most impactful things we can do to protect the environment is to eat less meat and dairy. Plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, soya, beans, peas, pulses, grains, nuts and seeds are plentiful, healthy and delicious, so indulge and go vegan or veggie once or twice a week (or more!).