OH GRANDMA, WHAT A BIG CARBON FOOTPRINT YOU HAVE...
It shouldn’t be news to anyone that as a race we have been parasites to our planet. The Eco issue is one of the biggest we face and I am desperate to do my bit to help reduce this impact on the planet and hopefully rectify some of the damage already done. So here is a list of some of the things I’ve already achieved (and some i’m still intending to do) in an effort to be more Eco-conscious.
Habits
⦁ Eat more plant based foods. I’ve already been a vegetarian my whole life and would find it hard to be completely vegan, but cutting down on dairy would still help!
⦁ Stop throwing away things that can still be used just because it’s not new or fresh. If it’s still usable, use it!
⦁ Always carry a canvass or reusable plastic bag with me for shopping, and a muslin one for fruit and veg.
⦁ I no longer use a tumble dryer and just hang clothes up to air dry.
⦁ Avoid washing clothes after one use, unless actually dirty.
⦁ I don’t use plastic straws.
⦁ I have a reusable water bottle.
⦁ I don’t yet have a car and walk most places. (You should see the size of my calves!)
⦁ Be more mindful with how much I use of consumables.
⦁ Be more mindful with how much electricity and gas I use, also better for my bank balance!
⦁ Don’t get pulled in by sales and offers, only buy what I actually need.
⦁ Make an effort to recycle everything I can, even if that means walking a mile or so to the nearest recycling centre.
⦁ Reuse anything I can! I’m into a few crafts and am a bit of a hoarder so already keep many containers and materials for use in potential projects. Or just for organisation! I’m also a bit ocd.
Knowledge
⦁ Read up on exactly what my local recycling collection will and won’t take.
⦁ Check where products have come from and aim to buy UK made things over imported.
⦁ Look up the brands I use and their stance on being eco-friendly, avoid buying from brands that aren’t eco-conscious.
⦁ Gain knowledge on what materials and ingredients have a better/worse environmental impact.
⦁ Be aware of the ecological stance of politicians I am voting for.
Buying Products
⦁ Avoid buying fruit and veg that is imported, stick to seasonal UK grown produce.
⦁ Buy wonky fruit and veg! It all tastes the same.
⦁ I have almond and soya milk in my smoothies to cut down on my purchasing of milk. If I do buy it, I get free-range cows milk as it comes from better treated cows kept in more eco-friendly conditions.
⦁ Buy products in glass jars or tins/cans instead of similar in plastic eg, glass jar of mayo instead of squeezy bottle, can of pop instead of bottle.
⦁ Where possible I buy recycled toilet roll.
⦁ I now buy cleaning products from brands like Method and Ecover that don’t use chemicals damaging to the environment, and I never use bleach unless absolutely necessary (sometimes it just is).
⦁ Buying larger bottles/jars/packets of things means I get more product for packaging used and less environmental impact during transporting, plus I save money.
⦁ I’ve bought rechargeable batteries.
⦁ Where possible I buy tampons with a cardboard applicator, though I need to buy a menstrual cup and washable sanitary towels asap!
⦁ When the glasses I keep knocking off surfaces and smashing need replacing I buy bamboo cups. Not only is bamboo an incredibly sustainable material, it’s a lot harder for me to break!
⦁ I’ve bought bamboo washable pads for removing make-up, no more cotton wool!
⦁ Buy beeswax wraps instead of clingfilm and sandwich bags.
⦁ Spend more money on clothing that will last longer and avoid cheap ‘fast fashion’.
⦁ Buy clothing made from sustainable or recycled materials, or handmade from small, local fashion brands. I’ve already owned a lot of second hand clothing in life, half my wardrobe used to be my Grandma’s. She had impeccable taste!
So that’s the list so far. I’m sure there are more things I indirectly do that makes my carbon footprint lower than the next person, like I don’t ever use aeroplanes as I can’t ever afford to go abroad! But my personal quest to be more eco friendly has only just begun and much more will need to be done before I’m satisfied I’m doing my bit for this beautiful planet.
