Mighty oaks from little acorns grow - 20 ways to live sustainably!

Looking to make a difference? The Acorns to Oaks Project, a collaboration between Canterbury Christ Church Creatives and the Academy for Sustainable Futures, is here to inspire collective action for sustainability.

From next week, more than 500 handmade acorns will be hidden across the Canterbury Christ Church University campuses.  The acorns have been crafted in lots of different ways – crocheted, knitted, sewn from felt, drawn by hand or digitally created, made using decoupage.

Each acorn carries a tag inviting the finder to contribute their individual actions towards sustainability, with one of the recommendations from the list below.

Keep an acorn, follow its advice, and together, our small efforts can grow into mighty oaks of change.

Here’s how you can contribute:

20 simple steps to live more sustainably

1. Flip the switch: Turn off lights when leaving a room – reduce energy use, carbon dioxide, and energy bills.
   
   
2. Go veggie one day per week: Look for meat-free options and you could save money, get healthy, and cut your carbon footprint.
   
   
3. Borrow rather than buy: From books to tools, borrowing supports the planet and your budget.
   
   
4. Power down: From TVs to mobile phones, from laptops to game consoles remember to turn off your tech fully when not in use and say goodbye to standby mode!
   
   
5. Get a keep cup: You can bring reusable coffee cups to University catering outlets and many local cafés - some even offer a discount if you do, preventing more disposable cups from going to landfill.
   
   
6. Refill, not landfill: Use a reusable water bottle. There are many water fountains around campus that are free to use, and you can use the Refill app to find places to refill for free when you are out and about.
   
   
7. Smart laundry: Wait for a full wash load and switch to 30°c. to save energy and water. Running one less weekly load can save 3,120 litres of water per year!
   
   
8. Bag it Right: Bring reusable bags to avoid plastic waste - plastic bags can take at least 500 years to biodegrade.
   
   
9. Choose products with sustainable palm oil: certified sustainable palm oil has a 36% lower carbon footprint than non-certified palm oil helping to protect the environment and halt deforestation.
   
   
10. Ditch Excess Packaging: buy loose fruit and veg, and choosing tins, cans, and jars over packets when you can and recycle what you can.
    
    
11. Share the story: Pass on books you've enjoyed.
    
    
12. Turn off the tap: Leaving the tap running whilst you brush your teeth wastes six litres of water per minute!
    
    
13. Plant some native wildflower seeds: Sow native wildflower seeds to support local ecosystems.
    
    
14. Use a sustainable search engine: Ecosia reinvests 100% of its profits in sustainable projects, Ekoru powers is activities through hydro-electricity and Give As You Live give money to good causes.
    
    
15. Give back: Check out volunteering opportunities organised by the University, lend a hand to someone in need or do something small for the community
    
    
16. Greener commutes: Walk, take public transport or car share – the University has negotiated a range of great public transport offers.
    
    
17. Plan Your Meals: Avoid food waste and save money with some meal prep. 16% of the food we buy never gets eaten!
    
    
18. Shop mindfully: Think before you buy and then consider shopping second-hand or opting for ethical brands. Try looking at sites like Depop, eBay, or Vinted, and you will see they sell many popular brands at a reduced price!
    
    
19. Avoid adding microplastics to the environment: Look out for single-use plastics, synthetic fabrics, and plastic cosmetics. Use alternative materials like glass, cardboard, or other recycled or biodegradable products instead of plastic.
    
    
20. Unsubscribe from unwanted emails: Did you know that emails have a carbon footprint? So, declutter your inbox!

About Canterbury Christ Church Creatives

Canterbury Christ Church Creatives is a group for staff and students of CCCU, which brings people together to craft and make art for enjoyment and wellbeing, to teach and learn skills, and to work on particular projects for those who wish to get involved.

All crafts and arts and all levels of crafting and art-making skills are embraced. New members are always welcome. It’s free to join and you can get involved as much or as little as you like, or even just follow what we do on Instagram.

Please email us to join our email mailing list, and don't forget to join us on Facebook and Instagram.