1. Consume healthily and “sustainably”More than 80% of surface waters and more than 50% of underground waters contain crop-protec-tion products (pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc.) used in agriculture and gardening. These pro-ducts accumulate in the food chain and are highly toxic for man and the environment.

Household cleaning wipes generate 3 to 6 times more waste than traditional products.

➡ Favour local, seasonal and organic fruit and vegetables.

➡ Use environmentally-friendly cosmetics and products. 23 categories of productsalready benefit from the European eco-label.

➡ Avoid disposable products (wipes, razors, throw-away cutlery and crockery, etc.)and favour the durable, quality alternatives.

For more detail :

www.organic-farming.europa.euwww.globalecolabelling.net

The oceans, lakes and rivers – our water resources – are threatened by man.

Here are 9 “eco-friendly” actions that you can perform every day tolimit your impact on the environment.

4. Throw waste away in the appropriate placesMore than 50% of waste waters from places of residence are still disposed of in the natural environ-ment without prior purification treatment.

Countless small objects that are disposed of in toilets pass into streams and rivers (cotton buds, tampons,etc.) and end up in the sea.

More than 2/3 of batteries are still thrown away in normal, household-waste dustbins or in the naturalenvironment. A battery from a portable console pollutes 1 m³ of earth for 50 years.

➡ Don’t dispose of objects, medicines or detergents in toilets as they alter the ope-ration of waste-treatment plants.

➡ Avoid pouring used cooking oils down the sink. They should be taken to a refuse-collection centre.

➡ Do not contribute to unauthorised dump sites. Fly-tipping is irresponsible.

For more detail :

Operation of a waste-treatment plant in English on www.ademe.frwww.notre-planete.info

7. Limit your impact on the places you visit80% of the waste in the oceans comes from the land, according to the United Nations EnvironmentProgramme.

A European study shows that one fifth of the EU’s coastline is already seriously polluted and is beingpushed back in places by 0.5 to 2 metres per year due to human activity.

➡ Use existing tracks and paths and park your car in designated parking areas du-ring your outdoor activities.

➡ Be particularly vigilant (mechanical damage, noise) in sensitive areas like coralreefs or nesting and reproduction sites.

➡ Do not leave your litter and waste on site and pick up any that you find.

➡ Clean up after your pet.

For more detail :

Youth and Environment Europe: www.yee.ecn.czFrance Nature Environnement: www.fne.asso.fr

8. Save water and energyAn energy-saving light bulb uses 5 times less electricity and lasts 10 times longer.

A dripping tap can waste up to 120 litres of water per day and a running toilet flush, 600 litres per day.

Leaving electrical equipment on standby rather than switching it off completely can increase electricity consump-tion by more than 10%.

➡ Use energy-saving appliances and equipment, battery-less appliances and equip-ment…

➡ Reduce your daily water consumption (have showers rather than baths, do not leavethe tap running needlessly, use a dual-flush toilet system…).

➡ Do not leave electrical equipment on standby.

➡ Optimise your home’s insulation so that you consume less heating and air conditioning.

For more detail :

www.ademe.fr

9. Get involved and join us The Ocean Initiatives 2008 mobilised 15,000 participants throughout Europe and made it possi-ble to remove about 480 m3 of waste from our coasts and rivers.

➡ Take part in our operations like the Ocean Initiatives (clean-up of beaches).

➡ Make those around you aware of environmental protection.

➡ Get involved in your local area and join one of our local branches; become a“keeper of the coast”.

For more detail :

www.surfrider.euwww.initiativesoceanes.org

5. Sort your waste so that it can be recycledGlass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely.

Most plastics are 99% recyclable and can be used to make fleece clothing or construction materials

The European Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE Directive) now requires thatonly ¼ of the 16 kg/inhabitant/year be collected.

➡ Take your hazardous and bulky waste to a refuse-collection centre.

➡ Use the specific dustbins to sort waste and allow it to be recycled (glass, paper,cardboard, iron, aluminium, plastic).

➡ When buying or taking delivery of new electrical or electronic equipment, ask forthe old equipment to be taken away.

For more detail :

The European Recycling Platform websitewww.pro-e.org

6. Favour “clean” means of transportMeans of transport are responsible for more than 20% of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmos-phere (CO2, SO2 and nitrogen oxide) which, in the medium term, causes an acidification of rainwater

An oil leak equivalent to a volume of one litre is enough to pollute a water surface of 1000 m².

➡ Favour cycling, walking, public transport and car-sharing.

➡ Limit the number of motorised journeys you make.

➡ Monitor oil and fuel leaks from your vehicle and do not wash your car in the gar-den or in the street.

For more detail :

www.karzoo.eu

2. Reduce your waste and packagingEach European generates 520 kg of household waste per year.

Packaging represents about 50% of the content (in kg) of our dustbins.

72% of consumer goods are sold pre-conditioned and packaged.

➡ Buy products that are sold loose.

➡ Favour concentrated products and “eco-refills” (washing detergents, liquid soap,etc.). Family-size formats also generate less waste.

➡ Choose products with recyclable packaging.

For more detail :

www.pro-e.org

3. Re-use and repair Plastics are among the 12 items of waste that are most representative of the rubbish that is found inthe oceans. They have a direct impact on the marine flora and fauna.

Organic waste (vegetable peelings, etc.) represent about 17% of the volume of our waste.

➡ Repair your broken objects or transform them to give them a second life.

➡ Switch over to using durable bags and containers (basket, durable shopping bag, ruck-sack, jug, Thermos flask, etc.).

➡ Go and see charities like Emmaüs, who repair and redistribute objects (furniture,household electrical appliances, clothes, etc.).

➡ Make compost in your garden with your organic waste.

For more detail :

www.emmaus-international.org

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9 ACTIONSTO PROTECT OUR OCEANS,

LAKES AND RIVERS…

LIFE CYCLE OF RUBBISH

CIGARETTE END : with filter 1-2years / without filter 3-4 months

PLASTIC BAG : 450 YEARS

PLASTIC BOTTLE :100-1000 YEARS

GLASS BOTTLE : 4000 YEARS

ALUMINIUM CAN :200-500 YEARS

TIN CAN : 10-100 YEARS

HOUSEHOLD CARTONS PAPER : 3-4 MONTHS

Sources : ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency)

European Environment Agency www.eea.europa.euSurfrider Foundation “Rise above Plastics” campaign

EurostatFrance Nature Environnement

United Nations Environment Programme