For the second instalment of my sustainable series, I wanted to talk more about the pollution side of things. Things that we've been doing everyday for years that, when you think about it, could be better. I know there's the whole debate that for a real impact, big companies need to start taking responsibility for the pollution and damage that they cause, but also, every little helps, y'know! And if together we start making small changes, in turn it will result in larger effects. Because if you've seen that video of the waves on the beach FULL of plastic that's been doing the rounds, then hopefully like me you're not wanting to feel like such a contributor. So here's what you can do relatively easily and relatively instantly!
1. Use a reusable water bottle and/or coffee cup
Coffee cups don't affect me because I drink neither tea or coffee, but if you're buying takeaway ones on the regular, why not buy a reusable cup? Anywhere can fill them for you and most places even offer a discount for taking your own cup! Single use ones are often not recyclable and if so, don't always get recycled anyway! KeepCups are a popular choice, but you can find a variation pretty much anywhere.
A big one for me is reusable water bottles. I'm that person that doesn't go anywhere without a bottle of water so making the switch to a reusable one (probably about 2 years ago?) made a big difference. If you're out and need more, it's not always the most convenient, but it saves you money and also helps you be more organised which is always a bonus.
2. Always remember your shopping bag
This is probably one that most of us do now anyway, since the 5p charge was introduced, but I thought I'd mention it anyway! Plastic carrier bags are not the recyclable plastic that you can put in your recycle bins at home, so it's best to just avoid them as much as you can really! I keep one in the boot of my car for whenever I pop into a supermarket, and I try and remember to take a canvas bag whenever I'm out shopping for other things. String bags are also a popular choice, but not always practical for small things!
3. Download the Forrest app
Beneficial not only for the environment, but also for getting you to put your phone down for half an hour, stop scrolling and do something productive! It's a simple theory, the less time you spend on your phone, the more tokens you earn in the app, and when you reach 2500 tokens they plant a real-life tree! You can set the timer for anywhere between 10 and 120 minutes, obviously this determines how many tokens you earn, but more trees is always a bonus isn't it!
Wearing: Dress, Zara - Bag, Topshop
4. Put down the plastic straws & face wipes
I know this isn't feasible for everyone, but a lot of us can quite easily do without the both of these! Reusable metal straws are a great alternative if you like having straws, or you can also get paper or silicone or a wide variety, but I know that for some disabled people, plastic is the only option at this time. If it's not an actual issue for you though, then think of the turtles! Face wipes, I have always said, should only ever be used in 2 situations: when in hospital or at a festival. (I did, at one point, always keep some in my gym bag but now I wear less makeup I don't bother). They block drains, they aren't degradable and most importantly, they aren't good for your skin. So switch to a cleanser and a muslin cloth!
5. Cut down your animal produce intake
I'm not saying everyone should go vegan tomorrow - I can't commit to being 100% vegan myself as I have a lot of food and drink restrictions already due to digestive problems. But Meat-Free Mondays are quite a big thing now, so give that a go? Try having oat milk in your coffee or having 5-bean chilli instead of the meat alternative. THE biggest contributor to greenhouse gases is slaughter houses. THE best thing you can do for the environment is eat less meat and dairy!
Loves. Emma.
