How to Make More Eco-Friendly Purchases for Your Home

A 2024 report by PwC found that around 46% of consumers buy sustainable products to reduce their environmental impact. Of those 46%, 80% will pay more for what they buy. Whist l found that 96% of respondents in their survey buy eco-friendly products, with 34% doing so regularly.

It's easy to see that more and more consumers are waiting to do their part and reduce their environmental impact on the world and reduce their contribution to the destruction of the planet and reduce their overall consumption.

But what are the best ways you can do this, and does it even matter?

The truth is, even the smallest of changes matters. But it's the changes you can implement consistently that will make the biggest difference.While big gestures are good if you cannot keep them up, it's a wasted effort. So, if you're looking for a way to help you change how you shop, especially for the more expensive options you ended up purchasing, we have some tips that can help you.

Buy Preloved
Buying preloved is one of the easiest ways to shop sustainably. Instead of buying brand new furniture, bathroom fittings or even an entire kitchen, shop with retailers like Rehome to find preloved alternatives that can still offer you plenty of life but with a low price tag and the chance of diverting products or ending up in landfill.

Invest In Quality
Buying sustainably doesn't mean you cannot buy brand-new. It does mean, however, that you should aim to invest in the best quality products possible. Choosing higher quality pieces, not just more expensive ones, but ones built with better materials or craftsmanship, means they will last longer.

A solid dining table, for example, will last your family many years, decades, even, but a cheaper one made from flimsy materials might end up needing to be discarded after a few years. Buying more sustainably is about reducing your purchases and buying high-quality products once, which is better than buying cheap three times.

Choose Energy Efficiency
When it's time to purchase a dishwasher, washing machine, fridge, etc, you need to pay attention to the energy efficiency ratings. Ideally, you want to buy ones as close to A-rated as possible, as energy ratings go from A to G, with G being the least energy efficient. This means over the duration of their lifespan, they'll use less energy, making them more economical to own.
Buy With End of Life In Mind
​But why, you might think? Stick with us and don't discount this.

When you buy something, anything, consider what will happen to it once you no longer need it. Can it be resold, reused, or repaired? A sofa with removable covers can be updated with new materials. A modular kitchen means you can add or remove aspects rather than replacing the entire kitchen or an appliance with parts that can be repaired, meaning it has a longer lifespan. All important points to think about.

It's also a good idea to check out recycling options too. For example, can you use e-waste recycling option for old electronics? Do you have resources in your local area that collect old white goods to refurbish them or use parts for repairing other appliances? Or is there a mattress recycling scheme you can donate to? These considerations help you make better purchasing choices.