How do I make my home environmentally friendly at zero cost?

Being environmentally friendly at zero cost is easier than you think. You don’t need to buy fancy eco-friendly products or invest in expensive sustainable solutions. Many of the changes you can make are simple, practical, and involve using things you already have at home.

This is not about the usual “switch to LED lights” or “turn off appliances when not in use” advice—let’s be honest, those tips barely make a dent. Instead, here are real, actionable tips that make a significant impact on the environment through daily life choices.

Don’t Waste Food

Food waste is a huge issue right now. Millions of tonnes of food end up in landfills every year, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and unnecessary resource use. But being environmentally friendly at zero cost starts with simple habits:

• Buy only what you need – Plan your meals, create a shopping list, and stick to it. This prevents food from going bad before you get a chance to eat it.
• Eat everything you buy – Get creative with leftovers! Turn veggie scraps into broth, blend overripe fruit into smoothies, and use stale bread for croutons.
• Learn to freeze food properly – Freezing extends the life of many foods, from bread and herbs to cooked meals. Label your frozen items so you remember to use them before they get buried in the freezer.
• Store food correctly – Many foods last longer when stored properly. For example, onions and potatoes should be kept in a cool, dark place, while leafy greens do well in an airtight container with a paper towel to absorb moisture.

How to Reduce Food Waste: 7 Simple Tips to Make a Big Difference

Sort Your Waste Properly

Recycling is great, but only if done correctly. Many areas in Melbourne have started collecting food waste for composting, which is fantastic for reducing landfill waste. To be environmentally friendly at zero cost:

• Follow local waste rules – Check what your council accepts in the recycling, compost, and landfill bins to avoid contamination.
• Rinse containers before recycling – A little rinse can prevent recyclable materials from being rejected.
• Compost food scraps – Even if your council doesn’t collect organic waste, you can compost at home. A simple bin in your garden or a bokashi bucket in your kitchen can turn scraps into nutrient-rich soil.

Highly recommend download Recycle Mate App: This app helps you identify the correct bin for various items. You can type in the item, and it will provide guidance based on your local council’s rules.

Ditch Single-Use Plastics

Single-use plastics are one of the worst environmental offenders, yet reducing them is one of the easiest ways to be environmentally friendly at zero cost:

• Bring reusable shopping bags – Keep a few in your car or handbag so you never forget.
• Use produce bags or none at all – Instead of plastic-wrapped mushrooms or fruit, choose the loose ones and put them in a paper bag or straight in your basket.
• Carry a refillable drink bottle – Skip bottled water and bring your own reusable bottle instead.
• Say no to plastic cutlery and straws – Many places now offer biodegradable or reusable alternatives, but even better, just carry your own set if needed.

Eat More Vegetables

I’m not saying you should stop eating meat entirely. As humans, meat remains an essential food source for many of us. However, a lot of us likely consume more than the necessary amount. Meat production is one of the most environmentally destructive industries, consuming vast amounts of water, producing greenhouse gases, and leading to deforestation. You don’t need to go full vegetarian, but simply eating more plant-based meals can significantly reduce your environmental impact at zero cost:

• Start with one or two meat-free days a week – Try delicious veggie-based meals like stir-fries, lentil soups, or chickpea curries.
• Use plant-based proteins – Beans, lentils, and tofu are nutritious and far more sustainable than meat.
• Support local produce – Local veggies have a smaller carbon footprint than imported meat or processed foods.

Another thing I often do is portion out meat right after buying it from the market and freeze it in meal-sized portions. This way, I only defrost what’s needed, helping to control how much meat we eat. It also saves money, reduces food waste, and encourages me to cook more vegetables instead.

Less Uber Eats

Ordering food delivery often means excess packaging, unnecessary plastic cutlery, and high carbon emissions from delivery vehicles. Cooking at home is a much more sustainable option.

• Plan meals ahead of time – So you’re less tempted to order in.
• Batch cook and freeze meals – Makes it easy to have quick, homemade food ready.
• If you do order, say no to plastic cutlery – Many apps let you opt out of extra packaging.

Reduce Chemical Cleaning Products

Commercial cleaning products are often expensive, filled with harsh chemicals, and packaged in plastic. Luckily, natural alternatives work just as well, and they’re a perfect way to be environmentally friendly at zero cost:

• Make your own cleaner – A simple mix of half water, half vinegar, and a few drops of essential oil can clean most surfaces.
• Use baking soda for tough stains – A paste of baking soda and water is great for scrubbing sinks, ovens, and grout.
• Reuse old rags instead of paper towels – Cut up old shirts or towels and use them for cleaning instead of disposable wipes.

Choose Sustainable Homeware and Decor

Every purchase we make has an environmental impact, but you can make better choices without spending extra money:

• Avoid plastic homeware and décor – Choose materials like wood, glass, or metal, which last longer and are easier to recycle.
• Repurpose or upcycle what you have – Instead of buying new, look at ways to refresh old furniture or décor items.
• Buy secondhand – Thrift stores, Antique market, Facebook Marketplace, and swap groups are great for finding unique and sustainable homeware at no cost.
• Turn trash into treasure – I can’t even count how many times I’ve picked up dry branches, rocks, and other bits from my garden and brought them inside as new props.

Simplify Holidays and Celebrations

Events like birthdays, weddings, and Christmas often lead to massive waste. But with a few simple changes, you can make your celebrations environmentally friendly at zero cost:

• Ditch balloons, confetti, and plastic decorations – These are wasteful and outdated. Instead, decorate with natural elements like flowers, greenery, and wooden ornaments.
• Give experiences instead of physical gifts – A meal, a fun activity, or a homemade treat can be more meaningful than store-bought presents.
• Use reusable dinnerware – Avoid single-use plates and cups; opt for reusable alternatives instead.

As an interior designer, I no longer use balloons, confetti, or fake plants in holiday decorations. Not only are they wasteful, but they’re also no longer trendy. Natural textures and materials are a much more stylish and sustainable choice.

Even at my own wedding, I eliminated wasteful decorations. Instead of one-time-use décor, I picked a location with a naturally stunning backdrop, skipped confetti (which is a nightmare to clean), and avoided excessive flowers that would just be tossed by the end of the day. Instead, I opted for dried flowers that guests could take home and enjoy for much longer.

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Being environmentally friendly at zero cost is all about making small, practical changes that add up to a big impact. You don’t need expensive eco-products or a complete lifestyle overhaul—just a few mindful habits can make a real difference. By wasting less food, sorting waste correctly, avoiding single-use plastics, eating more plant-based meals, using natural cleaners, making sustainable homeware choices, and simplifying celebrations, you can reduce your environmental footprint without spending a cent.

The best part? Many of these tips not only help the planet but also save you money in the long run. Start small, make gradual changes, and you’ll soon see how easy it is to live more sustainably without any added cost.

What are your favorite ways to be environmentally friendly at zero cost? Let me know in the comments!

Sustainable Interior Design: 9 Simple Guides to an Eco-Friendly Home