Global warming, overpopulation, deforestation, pollution… there’s no hiding from the fact we humans are hurting our planet. Every action, every decision we make has an impact, which is why we all need to take steps to make sure our lifestyles are as sustainable as possible. When it comes to protecting the planet and reducing our carbon footprint, little changes make a huge difference. Just imagine the impact if every single person made a small, but positive change to the way they live? Reduce Your Footprint TODAY If you know GP, you’ll know we’re serious about protecting the environment. This is exactly why we’ve launched the Reduce Your Footprint campaign, which is based on three main principles: ●      Reduce. The less you use and throw away, the more you’ll reduce personal waste and waste sent to landfill. ●      Recycle. From batteries and clothes, to cardboard boxes and yoghurt pots, there are so many household items t...

Waving goodbye to summer also means waving goodbye to those beautiful, bright sunny mornings and long, light evenings. But darkness shouldn’t deter you from running in the great outdoors – you just need to take some extra steps as you clock up those miles. Here are ten of them, courtesy of Team GP: 1. Buddy up   Whether it’s your other half, best friend or a colleague, running as a duo will help to keep you both safe when it’s dark out there… or think about joining a running club. Having a running partner is also great for motivation... “Just one more mile!” 2. Bring doggo along   Pooches make perfect running buddies, but bear in mind their breed will dictate how long they like to run for. If you don’t have a furry friend of your own, you could ask to borrow a friend’s or neighbour's, or sign up to Borrow My Doggy . 3. Turn it down   If you need music to motivate you, run with just one headphone in so you’re still well aware of y...

The sun certainly had its hat on for us this summer, but now the kids are settled back into school, you’re back at work, and normality has been restored. But summer doesn’t have to be over just yet! With rumours of a ‘BBQ Autumn’ and the Met Office reporting we’re eight times more likely to have temperatures well-above average than well-below, here are some ideas on what you could get up to... Did someone say ‘beach’?!   Summer is synonymous with lazy beach days, so why not fit in one more before the colder temperatures kick in? Load up the car the night before so you can set off early, pack a simple picnic for lunch, then a portable BBQ for a seafront grill as the sun sets. It might end up being a late one, but with all that sea air you can guarantee the kids will doze off in the car! Here are some items for your packing list: ●      Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal BBQ (£79.99) to cook your sausages and burgers in next to no time. ● ...

We all love a long, relaxing holiday by the beach, but having a city break in our diaries guarantees us a couple of jam-packed days of excitement, culture and great food. City escapes always feel longer than they actually are, you can travel with just your hand luggage (check out our top packing tips here ), and at worst, you only need to take one or two days’ annual leave! We’re really lucky to be just a short flight away from some stunning European cities. The key question is: where to go? Prepare to be inspired… 1. Venice, Italy Venice is beautiful and beguiling in equal measures. Whether you’re cruising the canals by gondola, admiring the intricacies of the Basilica di San Marco, or clinking glasses whilst gazing out to the glistening Adriatic Sea, you’ll feel as if you’ve been swept back in time. The absence of cars within the Floating City means you can travel around by foot, exploring winding streets, secret passageways and quaint footbridges. 2. Amsterdam...

You’ve recently made some tweaks to your lifestyle to help protect the planet , but do these changes extend into your work environment? Seeing as we spend so much time there, we all need to make a conscious effort to ensure our working practices are sustainable and have as little impact on the environment as possible. So, whether you’re a business owner, manager or employee keen to go green, heed these top tips put together by the GP team: Hitch a ride Car pollution is a major cause of global warming, but for many of us, driving is the most practical way to get to work. If your colleagues also travel by car, why not ask them if they’d like to buddy up? As well as the environmental benefits, car sharing for two days a week could slash £500 off your annual fuel bill . Plus, you’ll have some company for the commute! For those of you lucky enough to live closer to the office, why not ditch the car for two wheels? Check out Bike2Work – the UK’s leading independent pro...

According to a recent study cited by the Mirror , 816,00 Brits will have their homes broken into while abroad this summer, so it’s really important to take the necessary steps to secure your humble abode. Team GP have put together eight simple tips that we hope will help burglar-proof your home... 1. Hide it Piles of post, loaded bins not put out for collection and dead flowers are ready signs that your home is unoccupied. So, hide all evidence – chuck out the flowers before you go, ask a trusted neighbour to put your bins out, and give them a spare key so they can collect your post and store it out of sight (remember, a burglar might peer through your letterbox to gauge whether you’re in or not). 2. Hold it If you’re jetting off for over a week and don’t want to bother your neighbours, sign up to Royal Mail’s Keepsafe service , which will hold all of your mail for 10 days for £14, or 17 days for £17. Just bear in mind that you’ll need to give them five w...