Switch to eco
Set your dishwasher to eco and help save water
Your Challenge
We all need to reduce our water use, and running your dishwasher on its eco setting is a great place to start. Next time you put the dishwasher on, try switching to the eco setting. You can make an even bigger impact by waiting till you’ve filled your dishwasher (instead of running it half empty) and skipping a pre-rinse of your dishes in the sink before they go in!
Other tips include: always put food waste remnants in the food recycling bin; set your dishes out neatly in the dishwasher and make sure dishes or cutlery are not piled on top of each other to ensure the water jets can spray them efficiently.
Why you're doing this
Less than 1% of the world’s freshwater is available for people to use. It’s not just hot countries that struggle: water scarcity is an increasing problem in many parts of the UK. The average UK citizen uses roughly 152 litres of water per day[1], which may surprise you! Small changes in the way you use water in your home can add up to a big difference in your water footprint.
If you’re wondering whether it’s better to use a dishwasher or to wash dishes by hand, the answer is that the dishwasher is best. A recent review of global dishwasher vs hand-washing studies found that using a dishwasher can reduce energy consumption, emissions and costs by an average of 50-60%.[2]
How you'll make a difference
Using less water reduces the pressure on your local rivers and lakes, leaving more water in nature to support our precious wildlife. It also reduces the carbon footprint required to clean and process water. Choosing an eco setting uses less energy, saving emissions from being released into the atmosphere from energy production.
Track your progress
in the My Footprint App
Track your progress and discover many more challenges in the My Footprint app. Available for iOS and Android devices.
