Your Morning Routine and the Planet: How Small Habits, Can Make Big Impacts

Every day, billions of people around the world engage in simple, seemingly innocuous morning routines—brushing teeth, brewing coffee, and commuting to work. However, these daily activities have far-reaching environmental impacts. By making more conscious choices in your morning routine, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier planet.

A simple act like brushing your teeth can have a surprisingly large impact on water consumption. If you leave the tap running while brushing, you could waste up to 8 liters of water each time . Assuming you brush twice a day, that’s 16 liters daily, or around 5,840 liters annually—enough to fill a small swimming pool! By turning off the tap while brushing, you can save over 5,000 liters of water each year. 

Coffee is a morning staple for millions, but each cup has a hidden cost. The global coffee industry is responsible for approximately 21 million tons of CO2 emissions annually . On average, one cup of coffee has a carbon footprint of about 0.28 kg of CO2 . If you drink two cups a day, that’s 204 kg of CO2 per year—equivalent to driving a car for about 513 miles. Choosing sustainably sourced coffee or reducing your daily intake can significantly lower your carbon footprint 

The commute to work is another significant contributor to environmental degradation. The average car emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year . A typical 10-mile commute five days a week can add up to around 2.6 tons of CO2 annually. Opting for public transport, carpooling, biking, or walking just two days a week can reduce your commuting emissions by up to 40% .  

 

Individually, these changes might seem minor, but when multiplied across millions of people, the impact can be substantial. For example, if just 10% of the U.S. population turned off the tap while brushing, the country could save more than 1.5 billion liters of water daily. Similarly, if more people switched to sustainable coffee or reduced their commuting emissions, the cumulative reduction in CO2 emissions would be significant. 

 So, what can you do to make your morning routine more eco-friendly? Here are a few simple steps: 

– Turn off the tap:  Save water by turning off the tap while brushing your teeth. 

– Choose sustainable products: Opt for sustainably sourced coffee, tea, and other products. 

– Reduce single-use plastics: Use reusable coffee cups and water bottles to reduce plastic waste. 

– Rethink your commute: Walk, bike, carpool, or use public transportation whenever possible. By making these small changes, you can start your day knowing you’re contributing to a healthier planet. Every action counts, and collectively, our morning routines can make a big difference.