Choose fresh produce carefully

• Buy organic produce. The cultivation of non-organic produce involves the use of damaging chemicals such as pesticides, which can pollute waterways and the rest of the environment.
• Buy fruit and vegetables that are in season to help reduce enormous transport costs resulting from importing produce and, where possible, choose locally produced food.
• Replace one meat meal per week with a vegetarian option. Land used for beans and vegetables produces 10 times as much protein as land used for raising beef.

Use your consumer power

• Don’t buy products with excessive amounts of packaging and, where possible, choose products with re-useable containers
• Buy pump-action sprays rather than aerosols – even alternatives to CFCs can contribute to greenhouse gases
• Buy recycled or recyclable products such as toilet tissue and stationery
• If you can’t see recycled or 'eco-labelled' products, ask the store manager to stock them

Reduce your personal impact

• If you are going to the supermarket by car, take a friend with you – one car journey is better than two
• Take your own bag or re-use plastic carriers when shopping
• Buy in bulk wherever possible – it saves packaging and money
• Environmental claims on labels don't necessarily make any difference to the environmental impact of a product. If you are not sure what a label means, ask the retailer or contact the manufacturer.
• Check the energy efficiency of electrical appliances before you buy.

Health

• Don’t buy head lice shampoos that contain pesticides. Use homeopathic alternatives or a fine-toothed metal comb instead
• Ask your vet to recommend or supply a flea killer for your pet that does not contain pesticides

Plan your holiday carefully

• Go on holiday during the off-peak period to prevent over straining resources – you’ll also avoid the crowds
• Find out about your destination before you go on holiday – it may be an environmentally sensitive area. Doing this will also ensure you are informed of what to see and any local customs
• Don’t travel by air if you can avoid it – air travel uses up large amounts of fossil fuels and creates greenhouse gases
• Avoid taking things on holiday that you will throw away
• Dispose of any rubbish responsibly – it can be hazardous to wildlife
• Ask your travel agent or tour operator what they are doing to be environmentally responsible

Be responsible in your accommodation…

• Turn off all lights, taps and air conditioning when you leave hotel rooms
• Re-use towels and participate in any green schemes run by hotels
• Dispose of sanitary waste properly. Don’t flush cotton buds, condoms, tampons and plastics down the toilet – or you might just find them on the beach next time you visit

…and when you are out and about

• Use public transport, cycle or walk instead of using a car
• Use facilities and trips run by local people whenever possible
• Don’t participate in hunting or fishing unless it can be shown to be part of an effective management plan
• Don’t be tempted to touch wildlife and disturb habitats whether on land, at the coast or under water
• Let the local people know that you appreciate pristine nature being there, so that they see its economic value
• Don’t eat shark’s fin soup or any dishes you suspect of containing endangered species
• Be careful what you choose to bring home as a holiday souvenir. Many species from coral and conch shells to sea turtles and crocodiles are endangered because they are killed for curios or souvenirs.
• Take all rubbish home from the beach – turtles are often killed by plastic bags they’ve mistaken for jellyfish and many items take years to degrade as well as being dangerous
• Boats and jet-skis create noise and chemical pollution which is disturbing to wildlife – don’t keep the engine running unnecessarily
• If you are sailing, surfing or windsurfing keep a distance of at least 100m from marine mammal and bird nesting sites to avoid disturbing them

When you get home

• If you are concerned about anywhere you have been to on holiday, contact WWF-Philippines.

Leisure pursuits

• Boats and jet-skis create noise and chemical pollution which is disturbing to wildlife – don’t keep the engine running unnecessarily
• If you are sailing, surfing or windsurfing keep a distance of at least 100m from marine mammal and bird nesting sites to avoid disturbing them
• Only participate in hunting or fishing when it can be shown to be part of an effective management plan
• When rock pooling, don’t disturb animals especially limpets as they can die if dislodged from the rock
• Don’t use lead weights for angling, this is now illegal as lead is a toxic metal
• Discard hooks, nets, lines and weights responsibly as they are a potential threat to wildlife
• Don’t damage or collect marine life when diving. A carelessly kicked fin can easily break coral that has taken 50 years to grow

Keep it beautiful

• Take all rubbish home from the beach and countryside – many items take years to degrade and are dangerous to wildlife
• Don’t let your dog disturb wildlife or foul the beach. If there are no disposal bins ask the local council to provide some
• Dispose of sanitary waste properly, not down the toilet – or you might just find it on the beach next time you visit
• Report anything unusual such as pollution or animal strandings to the local authority, coastguard or environment agency
• Voice concerns about planned development of environmentally sensitive areas to your local officials
• Never pick wild flowers, dig up wild plants or break tree branches

Better ways to water

• Avoid using a hose wherever possible – use a watering can for the garden and buckets of water for washing the car
• Try to water plants at sunset, rather than in the heat of the day – this will enable the water to soak through to the roots, rather than simply evaporate
• Collect rainwater for watering plants and cleaning your garage.
• Water plants more effectively by pouring water through an upturned plastic bottle with the bottom chopped off and the neck buried in the ground. This will ensure that the water reaches the roots more directly
• Let your grass grow a little longer – it will require less water

Recycle your rubbish, reduce your pollution

• Start a compost heap or wormery – these recycle organic waste, including food, and produce excellent compost
• Don’t burn rubbish – this can produce toxic chemicals, as well as releasing carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change
• Don’t use chemicals in the garden – as they will eventually end up in the sea and can upset the delicate balance of lifecycles
• Organic and environmentally friendly fertilisers and pesticides are available – organic gardening reduces pollution and is better for wildlife

Respect nature

• Don’t buy peat or plants grown in peat. It is irreplaceable. Alternatives are available
• Only buy garden bulbs from cultivated stocks
• Plant native wild flower seeds
• Encourage wildlife in your garden – put up nest boxes, build a pond and plant a wide range of native flowers and plants.

Public transport

• Walk, cycle or use public transport rather than a car whenever possible

Car drivers

• Car share whenever possible, especially for daily journeys such as going to work and school runs
• Drive smoothly and in the highest gear possible to reduce exhaust emissions
• Ensure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure – this can save up to 5% on your fuel bill
• Turn off the engine if you are going to be stationary for more than two minutes
• Drive off as soon as you start the engine – leaving it warming up on the drive creates pollution and mechanical wear
• Don’t carry unnecessary loads – extra weight adds to your fuel consumption

• Voice concerns about development of environmentally sensitive areas to your local officials
• Volunteer your time or services to a local conservation group
• Sign up as a WWF-Philippines donor (link to donate page)

Getting to work

• Use public transport, cycle or walk rather than using a car
• If you drive, find out if colleagues live near you or on your route and share lifts

Company policy

• If your company has an established environmental policy, consider applying for formal accreditation to an environmental management standard.
• Find out whether your place of work uses “green” or renewable energy. If not, encourage it to change
• Switch off lights in meeting rooms and turn off computers and electrical appliances when they are not being used
• Find out whether your company uses recycled paper, and if not, encourage it to change
• Encourage your company to invest ethically, but ensure that professional advice is taken first

Personal policy

• Print on both sides of the paper
• Use e-mail where appropriate, rather than faxing or writing
• Re-use envelopes
• Recycle paper after use

Save energy

• Switch off all lights and electrical appliances when not in use – your TV left on standby can still use a quarter of full power
• Choose energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs
• Let clothes dry naturally rather than using a tumble drier
• Keep lids on pans when cooking to prevent your cooker having to work extra hard
• On average using a gas oven costs a quarter of the price of running an electric one. Switch to gas if you have the option

Save water

• Fix dripping taps – they can waste up to 13 litres of water a day
• Don’t leave the tap running while you clean your teeth
• Take a shower instead of a bath

Save wood and paper

• Return unwanted mail and ask for your name to be removed from the mailing list
• Always use both sides of a sheet of paper
• Use e-mail to stay in touch, including cards, rather than faxing or writing
• Re-use envelopes
• Always recycle paper after use
• Share magazines with friends and pass them on to the doctor, dentist or local hospital for their waiting rooms

Reuse and recycle

• Use washable diapers instead of disposables if you can
• Recycle as much as you can – if there are no recycling facilities near you, contact your local council
• Give unwanted clothes, toys and books to charity shops or garage sales
• Use mains electricity rather than batteries if possible. If not, use rechargeable batteries
• Use a solar-powered calculator instead of one with a battery
• Instead of a plastic ballpoint, use a fountain pen with bottled ink, not plastic cartridges
• Store food and other products in ceramic containers rather than foil and plastic wrap

Reduce waste and pollution

• Dispose of old appliances – particularly refrigerators with units containing CFCs – responsibly. If in doubt, contact your local council
• Choose environmentally friendly cleaning products containing plant extracts that degrade quickly when washed down the drain
• Put sanitary waste and wrappings in the dustbin, not down the toilet.

• Volunteer or donate to WWF-Philippines
• Think about all your actions and what their consequences might be
• Encourage others to adopt a greener lifestyle
• Ask questions if you are not sure of something's environmental credentials
• Inform the appropriate authorities if you see something damaging to the environment