Making a Difference on World Environment Day

June 5, 2011 sees the 11th edition of the official World Environment Day, a United Nations initiative to raise awareness of environmental issues across the planet. Sustainability and environmentalism are at the core of the Servest Group's business ethic. We believe in building a business that not only sustains the future of our people, but also our planet. For us, protecting the environment is an obligation, not a choice. We promote environmental awareness among employees, customers, suppliers and communities by monitoring our environmental impact and using resources responsibly. The Servest Group are conscious of waste management, use environmentally friendly chemicals where possible, advocate indigenous plants and focus on reducing our Carbon Footprint as well as assisting clients in reducing theirs. So in light of these values, we want to suggest ways that individuals across South Africa can get involved and make a difference.

The week leading up to World Environment Day is World Environmental Week, and the focus of these two initiatives is not about trying to tackle large environmental issues, but rather to focus on small changes that individuals can make in their personal capacity that will make a large and lasting positive impact. Essentially the initiative strives to give a human face to environmental issues, thus empowering individuals to make a difference, and also to advocate cooperation between nations to make a global difference.

According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the theme for this year aims “to stress the importance of biodiversity for human well-being, reflect on our achievements to safeguard it, and encourage a redoubling of our efforts to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss.”

So in line with empowering individuals to make a difference to the environment in their everyday activities, here are a list of small and simple changes you can make, that will add up to a massive worldwide change…

- Recycle Household Waste

Every household generates tons of waste and refuse every year, and sadly a large portion of this can be recycled. Having separate bins for Plastics, Paper and Metals is just one small change you can make to prevent these materials becoming wasted landfill, and instead being recycled and reused.

- Conserve Water

Water is a valuable commodity, and even in countries with an abundance there is a need to conserve it. Simple changes such as ensuring taps and toilets don't leak can make an difference, as can monitoring your water bill to look for sudden rises in cost which could indicate a leaking pipe. Another way to conserve water is to only water your garden in the late evenings when evaporation by the sun will be minimized.

- Reduce Your Electricity Useage

The simple act of switching off lights, TVs and other devices when leaving a room can make a massive difference in terms of reducing electricity waste. A little know fact is that when appliances such as TVs and DVD players are in standby mode, they are still using electricity. By switching these devices off properly you can make a small difference that adds up to a big one.

- Use Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products

Many soaps and detergents contain chemicals that are damaging to the environment. By buying products that are are certified as environmentally-friendly, and haven't been tested on animals, you can lessen the impact of these toxins and unethical practices on the environment.

By implementing just a few small changes in your daily routine and habits, you can become one of billions of people whose small differences add up to big changes.