Small Sustainable Steps: A List.
It's easy to get overwhelmed by all of the information out there about what you should and shouldn't be doing if you want to help save the planet (and improve the lives of the people on it). It's easy to get mad at yourself if you slip up and do something that you know is harmful, even if it is just once. Sometimes I find myself getting mad at myself if a company doesn't indicate whether you can recycle their packaging, which is completely out of my hands. Every time I book a flight I curse myself, even if I carbon offset (there are no excuses when it comes to this by the way, if you have the option to CO when booking please do). No one is perfect, but small steps are better than no steps.
One thing I cannot stand though, is when people say "but if you listened to everything that people say about the environment/meat/dairy/fast fashion you'd never do/eat/buy anything", and then just continue to do all of the damaging things because if they can't do it all, they're going to do nothing. Some impact is better than no impact. I saw a great post the other day that said "if someone tells you they could go vegan if it wasn't for "x" then encourage them to do it. They'll have a huge impact by giving up all of those other things". There will be plenty of vegans and environmentalists out there that disagree, and until recently I probably would have been with them. However, you catch more flies with honey, and encouragement will get a better reception than a telling off.
Anyway, I wanted to put a list together of all of the things I've/we've done in the past year or so to help the planet. Being vegan is no doubt the biggest contributor for us both, but there are lots of other little bits, too. There are so many more things that we can and will do, but sometimes it's good to remind yourself of the progress you've made. Hopefully the people that read this will take note of at least one thing and make a small change. It all helps!
Home -
1. Detergent - we use Ecover (no more expensive than a branded detergent, available in Sainsbury's, not going to kill the world). Will be moving to laundry eggs soon though. (Google them).
2. Handwash - we use Method at the moment but will move to a bar afterwards to save on plastic.
3. Food waste - Sinead kindly sorted out the food waste bin for the house, but we have actually run out of bags so that needs fixing.
4. Recycling - Actually checking the packaging, and washing the stuff out properly. Lambeth council spent £90,000 separating recycling before it could be processed last year. Imagine what else could have been achieved with that money.
Food -
1. We've started paying more for food if it means we can recycle the packaging. Rice, we buy Tilda now. Salad, we buy Florette (if bagged salad is all that's available). Sure it's more expensive short term but plastic guilt is real.
2. If you start looking into how detrimental coffee can be to the planet and the people producing it you get into a hole. I buy Cafe Direct now, as 50% of their profits go back to their farmers, and the coffee is good.
3. Batch cooking - we've almost always done this since living together anyway but it really minimises waste and it's time saving and cost effective.
4. I recently bought a huge selection of storage containers and we'll now start shopping at the bulk food store to cut a lot of the plastic out of our weekly shop. It's nerdy how much I can't wait.
Beauty -
1. Our toothpaste now comes in a glass jar, and is all natural, so no contaminated water and no nasty plastic. We use Georganics Peppermint.
2. I've blogged about FitPit (glass jar, natural deodorant) before. Still using it, still loving it.
3. Love Beauty and Planet Shampoo and Conditioner. It does come in plastic bottles, but the product is so good and lasts ages. The bottles are recycled and recyclable so minimal guilt, I guess.
4. I already only buy cruelty free make up and skincare, but am actively looking for eco/natural replacements for everything, too. It's pretty hard to find plastic free cosmetics in the UK.
4. Soap - we use bar soap in the shower at home, no plastic and natural formulas!
5. Bamboo toothbrush, of course.
6. Reusable cotton pads.
7. Biodegrable baby wipes (Google what happens to normal wipes and you won't look back).
8. I use an Organicup now. I won't go into detail but it's a game changer. Periods can be really terrible for the planet, not just your social plans.
Clothes and Shopping -
1. I can list the clothes/accessories I've bought this year on two hands. (Vegan leather backpack, plant-based acetate sunnies, thrifted dress, organic cotton bra and pants, thrifted Uniqlo jumper, Otiumberg ethical gold hoops).
2. I've cut my wardobe back, and although it's not quite capsule, I am making the most of what I've got. I buy when I "need" to (and my definition of "need" has changed drastically).
3. I buy second hand where possible and am going to a clothes swap this weekend.
4. The only things I've bought from a so-called fast fashion retailer this year is a bra and pants from Arket, and they were organic cotton.
5. I wash my clothes less frequently. I used to have a wear twice and wash habit. There are obvious exceptions but some things just don't need washing so much. It's damaging to your clothes and to the planet to wash them too often.
6. Please take a reusable shopping bag everywhere.
7. I buy second hand books and re-gift when I'm done. Less clutter, less paper, less spendy.
Fast fashion is killing the planet. There is no way around it, and no justification for it. Along with the meat and dairy industry, and transport, it is damaging the environment at an alarming level and is pretty hideous for the workers that are "paid" to make our clothes. By buying second hand, or from a sustainable, ethical brand, you are helping so much more than you know. Buying sustainable collections from a fast fashion retailer just isn't enough. Unfortunately, that recycled polyester dress on the highstreet is still an environmental mess. I know that sustainable fashion can cost more, but the point is to buy better and buy less, which is more cost effective long term (also if a tight budget is the reason you go to Primark, go thrifting instead, it's way more fun and you won't end up looking like everyone else). If retailers cared about the environment, their entire ranges would be sustainable, not just the token 1%.
Out and about -
1. Yes, it's not always practical to carry a water bottle but it's worth it when you don't have to buy a plastic bottle that you use for five minutes and lives for 50 years if it doesn't get recycled.
2. We no longer have cars, and rarely get taxis. This wasn't a conscious decision in terms of the environment, but one of necessity. We simply don't need a car in London. Even when we move away from London though, I'll make it more of a point to take public transport more often.
3. If you have the time to shop around, look for a coffee shop that uses compostable/biodegradable/recyclable cups. It will shock you how many paper cups can't be recycled because of the coating. A Starbucks take-out cup will live longer than you.
4. Say no to straws, duh.
Random -
1. I've started wrapping presents in magazine pages. It looks way more interesting anyway.
2. Speaking of gifts, I'm trying not to contribute to the whole "consumerist" thing and want to gift time and experiences instead of physical gifts, unless there is a particular thing that a friend one family wants or needs. I do see the irony in this, given that I'm a buyer, but I love my job and that is also important.
That was a much longer list than expected but it's actually given me a lot of ideas for more things we could be doing to help. I'd be so happy to hear about things you're all doing to contribute.
P.S. Please don't take this post as pushy, just nudgey...
Have an amazing weekend xo
One thing I cannot stand though, is when people say "but if you listened to everything that people say about the environment/meat/dairy/fast fashion you'd never do/eat/buy anything", and then just continue to do all of the damaging things because if they can't do it all, they're going to do nothing. Some impact is better than no impact. I saw a great post the other day that said "if someone tells you they could go vegan if it wasn't for "x" then encourage them to do it. They'll have a huge impact by giving up all of those other things". There will be plenty of vegans and environmentalists out there that disagree, and until recently I probably would have been with them. However, you catch more flies with honey, and encouragement will get a better reception than a telling off.
Anyway, I wanted to put a list together of all of the things I've/we've done in the past year or so to help the planet. Being vegan is no doubt the biggest contributor for us both, but there are lots of other little bits, too. There are so many more things that we can and will do, but sometimes it's good to remind yourself of the progress you've made. Hopefully the people that read this will take note of at least one thing and make a small change. It all helps!
 |
| via Conscious Life and Style |
Home -
1. Detergent - we use Ecover (no more expensive than a branded detergent, available in Sainsbury's, not going to kill the world). Will be moving to laundry eggs soon though. (Google them).
2. Handwash - we use Method at the moment but will move to a bar afterwards to save on plastic.
3. Food waste - Sinead kindly sorted out the food waste bin for the house, but we have actually run out of bags so that needs fixing.
4. Recycling - Actually checking the packaging, and washing the stuff out properly. Lambeth council spent £90,000 separating recycling before it could be processed last year. Imagine what else could have been achieved with that money.
Food -
1. We've started paying more for food if it means we can recycle the packaging. Rice, we buy Tilda now. Salad, we buy Florette (if bagged salad is all that's available). Sure it's more expensive short term but plastic guilt is real.
2. If you start looking into how detrimental coffee can be to the planet and the people producing it you get into a hole. I buy Cafe Direct now, as 50% of their profits go back to their farmers, and the coffee is good.
3. Batch cooking - we've almost always done this since living together anyway but it really minimises waste and it's time saving and cost effective.
4. I recently bought a huge selection of storage containers and we'll now start shopping at the bulk food store to cut a lot of the plastic out of our weekly shop. It's nerdy how much I can't wait.
Beauty -
1. Our toothpaste now comes in a glass jar, and is all natural, so no contaminated water and no nasty plastic. We use Georganics Peppermint.
2. I've blogged about FitPit (glass jar, natural deodorant) before. Still using it, still loving it.
3. Love Beauty and Planet Shampoo and Conditioner. It does come in plastic bottles, but the product is so good and lasts ages. The bottles are recycled and recyclable so minimal guilt, I guess.
4. I already only buy cruelty free make up and skincare, but am actively looking for eco/natural replacements for everything, too. It's pretty hard to find plastic free cosmetics in the UK.
4. Soap - we use bar soap in the shower at home, no plastic and natural formulas!
5. Bamboo toothbrush, of course.
6. Reusable cotton pads.
7. Biodegrable baby wipes (Google what happens to normal wipes and you won't look back).
8. I use an Organicup now. I won't go into detail but it's a game changer. Periods can be really terrible for the planet, not just your social plans.
Clothes and Shopping -
1. I can list the clothes/accessories I've bought this year on two hands. (Vegan leather backpack, plant-based acetate sunnies, thrifted dress, organic cotton bra and pants, thrifted Uniqlo jumper, Otiumberg ethical gold hoops).
2. I've cut my wardobe back, and although it's not quite capsule, I am making the most of what I've got. I buy when I "need" to (and my definition of "need" has changed drastically).
3. I buy second hand where possible and am going to a clothes swap this weekend.
4. The only things I've bought from a so-called fast fashion retailer this year is a bra and pants from Arket, and they were organic cotton.
5. I wash my clothes less frequently. I used to have a wear twice and wash habit. There are obvious exceptions but some things just don't need washing so much. It's damaging to your clothes and to the planet to wash them too often.
6. Please take a reusable shopping bag everywhere.
7. I buy second hand books and re-gift when I'm done. Less clutter, less paper, less spendy.
Fast fashion is killing the planet. There is no way around it, and no justification for it. Along with the meat and dairy industry, and transport, it is damaging the environment at an alarming level and is pretty hideous for the workers that are "paid" to make our clothes. By buying second hand, or from a sustainable, ethical brand, you are helping so much more than you know. Buying sustainable collections from a fast fashion retailer just isn't enough. Unfortunately, that recycled polyester dress on the highstreet is still an environmental mess. I know that sustainable fashion can cost more, but the point is to buy better and buy less, which is more cost effective long term (also if a tight budget is the reason you go to Primark, go thrifting instead, it's way more fun and you won't end up looking like everyone else). If retailers cared about the environment, their entire ranges would be sustainable, not just the token 1%.
Out and about -
1. Yes, it's not always practical to carry a water bottle but it's worth it when you don't have to buy a plastic bottle that you use for five minutes and lives for 50 years if it doesn't get recycled.
2. We no longer have cars, and rarely get taxis. This wasn't a conscious decision in terms of the environment, but one of necessity. We simply don't need a car in London. Even when we move away from London though, I'll make it more of a point to take public transport more often.
3. If you have the time to shop around, look for a coffee shop that uses compostable/biodegradable/recyclable cups. It will shock you how many paper cups can't be recycled because of the coating. A Starbucks take-out cup will live longer than you.
4. Say no to straws, duh.
Random -
1. I've started wrapping presents in magazine pages. It looks way more interesting anyway.
2. Speaking of gifts, I'm trying not to contribute to the whole "consumerist" thing and want to gift time and experiences instead of physical gifts, unless there is a particular thing that a friend one family wants or needs. I do see the irony in this, given that I'm a buyer, but I love my job and that is also important.
That was a much longer list than expected but it's actually given me a lot of ideas for more things we could be doing to help. I'd be so happy to hear about things you're all doing to contribute.
P.S. Please don't take this post as pushy, just nudgey...
Have an amazing weekend xo
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