In 2026, I'm going green: taking concrete action to reduce my ecological footprint

At Pluxee, this issue is particularly close to our hearts. As a ESR certified company, sustainable development issues are an integral part of our business model, but also of our deeply held convictions. We have therefore decided to share some tips and advice with you to help make 2026 a little greener.

What is an ecological footprint? 

The ecological footprint is a calculation tool that measures the amount of natural resources required by your lifestyle and consumption habits.

Do you have any idea how many planets humanity would need if everyone lived like you? To find out, you can take the test at footprintcalculator.org. You will be asked to answer a few questions about your habits (diet, travel, etc.). At the end of the test, you will find out when your Overshoot Day falls, i.e., the date on which humanity would have consumed all of the Earth's resources if all of its inhabitants had the same level of consumption as you. 

Spoiler alert! Luxembourg's Overshoot Day falls around mid-February (in 2025, it was on the 17th). Our country is the first in Europe to reach it within the year. If everyone on the planet lived and consumed like the people of Luxembourg, we would need more than seven planets to meet global demand.

What is the difference between this and carbon footprint? 

We also often hear about carbon footprints. These focus specifically on the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. They are therefore a more limited concept than ecological footprints. If you would like to find out more about your greenhouse gas emissions, the Consumer Protection Directorate in Luxembourg has developed an online tool that allows you to calculate your own carbon footprint.

Yes, everyday actions have a real impact.

There are many factors that explain Luxembourg's poor environmental performance. However, when we talk about Earth Overshoot Day, the idea is not to point the finger at those who are performing poorly, but to encourage us all to reduce our impact on the environment.

In order to take concrete action to protect the environment, it is up to all of us, individuals, public authorities, and businesses, to do our part. It is by working together that we will make a difference.
As citizens, we have the power to reduce our ecological footprint by changing some of our habits. 

Eco-friendly actions: it's up to you!

Food 

Approximately one-third of the food produced worldwide for human consumption, or 1.3 billion tons each year, is lost or wasted. To push back your Overshoot Day, you can try to: 

• reduce your food waste
• encourage short supply chains (on Letzshop.lu, for example, you can shop online while supporting local producers and their “Made in Luxembourg” products. What's more, you can use your Pluxee Gift card to make your purchases)
• reduce your consumption of animal products, especially red meat

Energy 

Saving on heating costs is not only good for your wallet, but also for the planet. On your own level, if you have the opportunity, you can:

• improve the insulation of your home
• install a programmable thermostat
• lower the room temperature by 1°C
• heat your home using low-pollution natural resources (such as wood)
• choose an electricity supplier committed to climate and environmental protection

In Luxembourg, there are subsidies that encourage energy-efficient renovation of homes, particularly heating systems that run on renewable energy.

Transports 

Transportation, including cars, accounts for 24% of global CO2 emissions. In 2024, the transportation sector in Luxembourg accounted for 59.1% of the country's total emissions. This is therefore a critical issue that we can all take action on. Depending on what is possible for you, you can:

• take public transportation instead of your car (it's free in Luxembourg, by the way)
• walk or cycle for short distances
• adopt eco-friendly driving habits
• carpool whenever possible
• opt for teleworking
• travel less often by plane

Waste

Waste has become a major environmental problem. Every year, eight million tons of plastic waste ends up in the ocean. To overcome this scourge, action must be taken at source (production), but you can also do your bit by following these tips:

• reduce your plastic consumption
• reduce your daily waste
• repair instead of throwing away
• use reusable packaging
• compost your organic waste

Want to go further?

The few actions listed above are far from being the only ones that citizens can take. There are many reliable resources on the web dedicated to reducing your ecological footprint.

For example, on the French ADEME website nosgestesclimat.fr, you can calculate your carbon footprint in 10 minutes and discover a wealth of personalized advice based on your answers to the questions asked. Similarly, the WWF website wwf.be/fr/agissez-avec-nous/agir-au-quotidien is a gold mine of practical advice for taking action in your daily life.