1. Ditch the plane and take the train on your next European vacay. There are some incredible gems that you can reach within hours, avoiding the stresses of long airport transfers. Loco2 is a great website for helping you to discover the romance of Europe by train.

2. Do Nation is a bit like JustGiving, but as well as asking  friends and family to stump up cash for your latest 10k run,  you can give them the option of committing to an action instead.  Whether it’s a public pledge to volunteer or getting everyone in your workplace to print less and recycle more. Small changes by a connected group can make an even bigger difference than individual heroics.

3. Cut back on meat. You’ve heard it a hundred times before, but it’s true, chopping out the chops, banishing the beef at least 3 or 4 days a week is probably the single most impactful thing you can do to reduce CO2 and help protect millions of species endangered by deforestation. Plus you’ll save money, which you can then spend on buying free range, organic meat and dairy – a double treat! You can even get delicious plant-based meals delivered to your home now, with the amazing Allplants.com.

4. Here’s something EVERYONE can do. Save energy and time whenever you make a cup of tea by only boiling the amount of water you need. When making a brew, don’t overfill the kettle. Simple. Pukka Herbs and Do Nation have joined forces to launch the Tea Time Pledge, urging people to only boil the water they need. For the first 1,500 pledges made, Pukka will commit to sending herb-growing kits to schools with the Soil Association’s Food for Life programme to get families gardening this summer.

5. Cycle to work. Switching four wheels and an engine for two wheels and an energy bar for you commute to work might seem like a scary, sweaty commitment too far. But once you get into the routine, you’ll learn to love the morning buzz and wonder why you didn’t start doing it earlier. Apparently, cycling is now overtaken golf as the top sport for business networking, so join your work’s weekend road-riding club and you’ll boost your chances of promotion too. Cycle to Work Day is on 13 September and is an ideal time to get started.

6. Kick the plastic habit. Get a water filter, a sodastream (if you’re the bubbly sort) and a reusable bottle and banish plastic water bottles from your life for good. Planning your home-cooked meals carefully for the week ahead will not only reduce the amount of plastic packaged ready meals and fruit and veg you buy, but cut the amount you chuck out and help you eat more healthily too.

7.  If you’ve got your own green game totally locked down, then maybe it’s time to start looking outward to up your impact. Sign up to a climate leadership course, such as Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, and spread the eco message far and wide and use your influence to help save this beautiful planet of ours.

WHAT DOES BEING GREEN MEAN TO YOU?

LUCY DAY, 27: ‘I like to think I’m quite green in my approach to life. I eat less meat than I used to and I recycle. I don’t pick up products with palm oil in them and go for coconut oil based products instead. I try to eat a vegan diet Monday to Friday, then let loose on the weekend. I tend to choose more fast fashion on the high street over ethical brands, though. So that’s an area I fail in.’

ALEX GLOSSOP, 31: ‘To me, being green means making sure we all look after the environment we live in. I’d consider myself a very green person but I do have some limitations. Recycling at home is a big deal for my partner and I. We also eat organic meat and veg, and use reusable cups. We’ve also cut down on the plastic we use. We both walk to work to keep our carbon footprint low.’

DEESHA NANDRA, 34: ‘Although I drive to work, I share my journey with my dad and brother. I recycle at home and usually choose organic ingredients such as eggs, but they tend to be quite expensive so it depends on the price. I never really think much about my carbon footprint and I don’t buy ethical brands because I don’t know enough about them. I go to charity shops, though.’

Read more: The organic index