Many of us are trying to live more sustainably, but do we ever look to the past for tips?
"When I was growing up and in my young days we lived a green life without realising it," 81-year-old Anne Thompson says.
"It's just the way things were … you lived a lot more frugally and there weren't the disposable items available to buy at reachable prices, so you made do."
So what were our grandparents doing that we could learn from?
Little Green Pod interviewed several women about their past way of life to see what tips we might be able to use today. We've combined their thoughts here.
Reduce food waste by getting creative with leftovers
Food waste is a huge problem. One-third of the average Aussie household rubbish bin is full of it.
But not so long ago every bit of food was used.
Leftovers were always put to good use, such as using old bread to make bread and butter pudding.
"Leftover roast leg of lamb was minced in the mincer," Anne recalls.
"My mum used to clip it on the side of the table and mince the meat, and that would be made into a curry or shepherd's pie the next day."
Our nannas also recommend getting creative with what you already have in the fridge and cupboards.
"Have a look in your fridge today and see what's there and how you can make do with making something out of what you already have ... it's actually fun," Anne says.
"You don't need to be dashing to the supermarket all the time."
Growing your own food is also a great way to cut back on waste.
And if you've got too much of something, swap it with your neighbour to share the love!
Fix don't throw: repairing, sewing and revisioning clothing
Sock got a hole? Don't throw it out, say these nannas.
Dressmaking was a skill not all of us possess, but it was a necessity for previous generations.
Repairing items saves on waste and prevents more consumption.
Making your own clothes is also a way to have something unique.
"We made our own clothes if we wanted something a little different and pretty," Anne says.
There might be someone older in your family who can show you how, but we also have free online videos to help us these days.
Life before plastic proved we don't really need it all
We're getting better with our shopping bags, especially since supermarkets in many states banned their single-use options (as of December last year, there's been an 80 per cent drop in consumption nationwide).
But we're still offered plastic bags to put our fruit and vegetables in, something these grandmas say is unnecessary.
They used paper bags for their shopping and would like to see that option again today.
In the meantime, they suggest putting a few different vegetables in the one plastic bag and unpacking when you get to the checkout. Or avoiding them altogether.
"There's no need for a plastic bag for every fruit and vegetable," Anne says.
Walking more and driving less is good for you and the planet
Some of these women didn't have cars in the family until they were young adults, and even then, they would still walk or ride to school.
"When I got my first job I used to ride my bicycle nine or 10 kilometres to work in England in the freezing cold!" Anne says.
If that's not possible for you, these ladies suggest opting for public transport or carpooling!
Buying less stuff could bring you more happiness
The nannas say we're too focused on having things, rather than having relationships.
Ruth Holmes's tips for less consumption is only buying what you have the money for — and hand-me-downs.
"We never got anything unless we could afford to pay for it," she says.
Then you treated that purchase with care, mended it when needed and handed it down when you were done with it.
Use less water
Some of our grandmas touched on how they would just do a spot wash — sometimes in a bird bath! — each day, then taking a proper bath once a week.
Although you may cringe at that idea today, we can learn to take shorter showers and be more mindful of the water we use.
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Avoid chemicals and microplastics by cleaning with household items
Some of us are already harnessing the cleaning power of items like vinegar and bi-carb around the home, but did you know about using these items for cleaning yourself?
Anne's mother used to rinse her hair with vinegar which she says acted as a conditioner.