10 things you could do to become more green and ethical

kittiwoz

rag_doll wrote:

In hard water areas use water from your filter instead of straight from the tap, never had to descale our kettle after 5 yrs, keeps kettle like new, boils efficiently & no need for nasty chemicals to descale.

Considering the energy and resources used in making filter jugs and filters which are non-essential products I don't think using one is particularly eco-friendly. I suspect the increased energy demand of a kettle due to scaling doesn't come close. Also you can descale a kettle quite efficiently using vinegar which is a pretty harmless chaemical. You can reduce scaling of your kettle element by using a scale collector which is a densely tangled stainless steel mesh which attracts the limescale and can be easily removed and cleaned.

If you are bothered by the chlorine in water you can fiil a bottle and leave it in the fridge for a few hours until the chlorine decomposes.

dolly_day_dream

If you are bothered by the chlorine in water you can fiil a bottle and leave it in the fridge for a few hours until the chlorine decomposes.[/QUOTE]

I try and put water into the fridge so that it is ready to drink without the tap having to be run to get to the 'cold' water. I didn't know that I was also decomposing chlorine - thank you.

Madmel

Most things I could think of have been covered, but I would add using washable sanitary protection if appropriate, like Mooncups, and cloth nappies.

When you shop, look at the packaging on everything you buy. I now refuse to buy overpackaged stuff, as it's my Council Tax that has to pay to get rid of it!

FlowerBob

jellycat40 wrote:

Thanks for the 10 tips but surely the farmers markets etc are very expensive. I am usually on Moneysaving OS or DFW threads so cash is an issue.

Louise

Hi Louise,

I know some farmer markets are aimed very much at higher incomes but it's also worth checking out any local veg. shops in your area. We live near a large council estate and in the local shopping center there is a greengrocer. It's not at all upmarket and doesn't stock 'exotic' fruit or veg but since I've started shopping there I've been really impressed. Because it's a family run business the owner takes the trouble to chat to his customers, and so I can ask him where everything has come from, what's in season and what he recommends this week. I avoid anything that's come from outside Europe and try to stick to local stuff as much as possible.

I take my own reusable shopping bag, walk there and back and even return my egg-boxes for reuse. (The eggs come aren't free range but the chicken farm is at least reasonably local so not too many food miles). Although it's a tiny bit less convenient than 24-hour supermarkets they do open at 8am, so I can get in a walk there and back before work which I count as exercise for the day.

What really surprised me is that nearly everything is cheaper than in my local tesco.

I'm sure it varies from area to area, but have a look at what's near you - I don't think local produce has to be expensive.

Bob

dutchie

kittiwoz wrote:

Considering the energy and resources used in making filter jugs and filters which are non-essential products I don't think using one is particularly eco-friendly. I suspect the increased energy demand of a kettle due to scaling doesn't come close. Also you can descale a kettle quite efficiently using vinegar which is a pretty harmless chaemical. You can reduce scaling of your kettle element by using a scale collector which is a densely tangled stainless steel mesh which attracts the limescale and can be easily removed and cleaned.

If you are bothered by the chlorine in water you can fiil a bottle and leave it in the fridge for a few hours until the chlorine decomposes.

I also do what kittiwoz recommends, I use vinegar to descale the kettle, expresso machine, shower screen, etc.

justin138

Go VEGAN! To find out why it's the responsible, greenest thing you can do, (it's really not that difficult in England today), check out the vegan website, in particular for greenies: http://www.vegansociety.com/html/environment/

[SIZE=+1]The Vegan Concept is not a fad that will pass with time. It is the birth of compassion, a concern for others, which is the single most important step in the next evolution of humankind. It's better for people, animals AND the environment.


[/SIZE]

freeloader

justin138 wrote:

Go VEGAN! To find out why it's the responsible, greenest thing you can do, (it's really not that difficult in England today), check out the vegan website, in particular for greenies: http://www.vegansociety.com/html/environment/

[SIZE=+1]The Vegan Concept is not a fad that will pass with time. It is the birth of compassion, a concern for others, which is the single most important step in the next evolution of humankind. It's better for people, animals AND the environment.


[/SIZE]

I could go vegetarian, and hardly notice, but I would find it quite difficult to give up dairy products and eggs. Also would not inflict a vegan or vegetarian diet on my cat, who is an innate carnivore and would soon complain.

justin138

Hi Freeloader, I too have cats (18) and they're not vegan. We did try to change their diet, but it really didn't work out well, bearing in mind some are ferals. That's not to say there aren't some excellent vegan catfoods on the market now - why not give one a trial, to try to replace SOME of their meat? Also, I find that vegan 'cheese' and egg replacement products, plus all the other vegan 'dairy' foods are superb - some are even superior to real dairy in my opinion. Just remember, each vegan meal you eat is of benefit to the environment. Perhaps you should take it slow and gentle and just get used to the idea - you don't need to change overnight.

Hope this helps a little,
Jo

jazzyjustlaw

justin138 wrote:

Hi Freeloader, I too have cats (18) and they're not vegan. We did try to change their diet, but it really didn't work out well, bearing in mind some are ferals. That's not to say there aren't some excellent vegan catfoods on the market now - why not give one a trial, to try to replace SOME of their meat? Also, I find that vegan 'cheese' and egg replacement products, plus all the other vegan 'dairy' foods are superb - some are even superior to real dairy in my opinion. Just remember, each vegan meal you eat is of benefit to the environment. Perhaps you should take it slow and gentle and just get used to the idea - you don't need to change overnight.

Hope this helps a little,
Jo

I have tried to be a vegan in the past. I could not do it without dairy products. I am a vegetarian though and its so easy.

justin138

I do find it quite strange that people won't even TRY veganism. People want to do the best for the world, and yet shun the one thing that would be of most benefit I've no offspring to worry about when this world goes t!tsup yet I try to do my best. Some of you really ought to think harder about what you're doing to the environment by eating meat/dairy, simply because you DO have children and grandchildren. Vegetarianism really doesn't help that much... to understand why, you'd have to learn about animal husbandry, water usage, etc. which is too long to go into here.

Not trying to preach - just sitting here sad that people won't even TRY it.