When I was younger we used to talk of the 3 Rs of sustainability – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Now we often talk about the 7 Rs (or even 9 Rs) of sustainability.

So what are they? Here is a summary of the 7 Rs (There are several variations of this online). The order is important. If we want to live in a more sustainable way then we need to apply these 7 Rs to things that we use.

  1. Rethink
    Before you buy something, stop and think!
    Do you need it? Do I really need it or am I just wanting it because of an advert or because someone else has it?
    Is there too much packaging?
    If I need it, is there a better alternative made more sustainably or with less packaging or materials. Could someone you know have one and can share it with you?
    Stop and Think!
  2. Refuse
    Just say no!
    Say no to single use plastics.
    Say no to something you don’t really need.
  3. Reduce
    Use less. We often buy or take too much of something, maybe because of a special offer, or we think it works out cheaper. Only use what you need.
  4. Reuse
    Lots of the things that we buy could be reused. We too easily throw things away which someone could make use of. Reusing things gives them extra life
  5. Repair
    So many things end up being thrown away because they have been broken or damaged. Repairing them gives them extra life. Lots of Repair Cafes have started up in recent years who can help to repair things that you can’t.
  6. Repurpose
    Before you get rid of it, could it be used for something else? Could it be adapted or “repurposed” into something else?
  7. Recycle
    If you get to the point where you can no longer use it, make sure it goes for recycling, then it can be used to make something else. This reduces the amount of materials we use, reduces the energy used and reduces the amount of materials that go into landfill.