5 Eco-Friendly Financial Hacks to Try This Earth Day

Spring has officially sprung, which means flowers, showers, and warmer weather are on the way.

As we prepare to celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd, we’ve rounded up five eco-friendly financial hacks to try this year. Everyone can play a role in creating a greener, cleaner planet – including you.
 

Sign Up for Digital Banking

Online and mobile banking is an easy, convenient, and environmentally friendly way to manage your finances. Each time you choose to conduct transactions or account maintenance online, you are reducing one of the leading causes of climate change: carbon dioxide emissions. With online and mobile banking, you can deposit checks, transfer funds, automate your payments, and sign up for account activity alerts – giving you greater control over your banking. Managing your finances from home saves you time and money – and helps to save the planet.
 

Skip the Paper Statements

Enrolling in paperless statements is one of the easiest changes you can make to reduce your carbon footprint. In 2022, SouthState customers alone saved 1,190 trees by enrolling in eStatements. Not only does going paperless save the planet, it can save you money too. SouthState Checking account holders can save up to $60 a year with eStatements – and that’s just one account. Think of all the companies you receive paper statements from: your utility companies, other financial institutions, insurance agencies, etc. These companies might offer discounts or savings for going paperless too – we encourage you to look into it.

Focus on Sustainable Consumption

Going green doesn’t have to be life-altering. It’s really about making small, intentional changes during everyday tasks like grocery shopping, banking, etc. Next time you do your weekly shopping, consider these environmentally-conscious swaps for a greener planet – and wallet.

• Re-usable cloth paper towels – Paper towels are a pricy paper product. What if I told you there’s a workaround for spending hundreds of dollars on paper towels each year? Switching to re-usable cloths and washing them can save you a lot of money, and as a bonus, it’s a lot kinder to the environment.
• Lint dryer balls – If you love the scent of fabric softener, scent boosters, or dryer sheets, try making the switch to lint dryer balls. You can add your favorite essential oils to them to give your clothes a scent boost, and the dryer balls can last years before they need to be replaced. By opting for dryer balls, you’re reducing your consumption of single-use plastics and saving yourself quite a bit of money while doing so.
• Purchase produce at your local farmers market – Farmers markets are the heart of sustainability. There’s less plastic waste from packaging, less greenhouse emissions from fuel as the food is grown locally, and honestly – the food just tastes better.

Go Digital for Peer-to-Peer Payments

If you find yourself writing checks to your landlord, pet sitter, or for gifts, consider digital payments instead. Peer-to-peer money transfer services allow for payments to be sent to payees quickly and without the hassle of depositing checks. Going digital when you need to pay someone you trust is easy, secure, and convenient. No more pesky trips to the ATM for cash or spending your hard-earned money on checks. Digital transfers keep more money in your pocket, and less carbon dioxide emissions in the environment. To learn about sending money with Zelle, click here.

Choose a Socially Responsible Bank

Some banks really prioritize responsible and sustainable business practices to protect the planet, and SouthState is one of them. Our commitment to environmental resourcefulness includes ongoing investments in technologies that enable customers and team members to access digital solutions. Through these efforts, the bank has significantly reduced the environmental impact of our organization, including:

• 1,060,000 gallons of water waste reduction
•  893,000 pounds of CO2 emissions saved
• 58,500 pounds of solid waste reduction
• 1,190 trees saved by providing eStatements instead of printed statements

While small changes might not seem impactful from an individual perspective, great results happen when people work together for the greater good. A great way to honor Earth Day is to take a look at your personal habits and practices and decide where you might be able to make some changes to contribute to a greener, cleaner environment.

About the Author, Tiffany Metelsky: Tiffany joined SouthState in March 2020. She has 9 years of banking experience with a heavy passion and focus on customer experience, feedback gathering, education, and innovation.