Ethicalise me

Maddie

In a similar fashion to diaries on other boards, I've decided to chart all the 'ethical' (enviromentally and otherwise) things I do, and plan to do in the future. The idea is that people post suggestions and I try to constantly improve my lifestyle.

Hopefully I will then motivate myself to carry on with current things, get round to doing new things & also those suggested as well as inspiring others to do the same.

I'll update my first post when I remember something else I do or start something new.

Current activities;

1) Recycle as much as I can using our green bins
2) Take glass to supermarket to recycle, and try to pick items made with colourless glass where possible as it has more uses.
3) Try to use public transport/walk where possible rather than driving
4) Try to buy organic food
5) Use freecycle rather than chucking stuff or buying new
6) Give to charity
7) Have just signed up to Ecotricity
8) Bank with smile
9) Use energy saving lightbulbs
10) Avoid leaving things on standby
11) When cooking in saucepans always use a lid and turn down heat
12) Only boil as much water as I need
13) Use reusable sanitary protection (mooncup & fairy hammocks)
14) Avoid flying and try to take holidays in the UK
15) Use ecover washing up liquid
16) Try to drive economically, eg resist going above 70mph on motorways, try to keep crawling in traffic jams and when coming up to red lights, check tyre pressure regularly.
17) Try not to eat too much meat, pad out meals with lots of veg and pulses.

Things I'm meaning to do;

1) Get a milkman
2) Get an organic veg box delivered
3) Buy meat from a local farm
4) Walk dogs from a local rescue centre
5) Invest at Triodos bank

ailuro2

Buy clothing and other goods from an ethically better source-preferably British as it supports our manufacturing base,and keeps down the 'food miles' on the clothes and other goods.

http://www.sandbag.biz/index.html is a good example.


Have a Navy shower in summer- this means putting it on to wet your body, switching off to do the soap and shampoo and scrubbing bits,then switching back on to rinse. Fine in summer, not so fine in winter when the heating is at the 'wear another jumper' setting on the thermostat, but it's all about balance and doing it when we can, eh?

Next time you buy tyres, buy British ( I work for a tyre manufacturer;) )and ensure you buy ones that save you energy-5% saving available on Energy Tyres. Keep them pumped up to the correct pressure.


Why do you want a milkman? He is using a lot of energy to bring one thing to your door. Can the organic box people bring milk/dairy produce?

Giving to charity is a sticky one for me- one has to choose carefully to make sure that 40%+ of our hard earned isn't paying for admin costs,and that the charity shop isn't keeping a local business off of your local High street with cheaper rates etc.- this helps supermarkets take over another little bit,imho.chosen wisely,though,it can be good for the soul to give something back.

beer2006

We get an organic box delivered, I am unsure if its a good thing or not, alot of the veg and fruit seems to come from abroad. Well alot of the fruit at this time of year anyway.

Try growing your own, I used to do alot, its just time now that beats me, I seem to have no time to do anything.

Justie

fruit and veg from abroad isn't necessarily unethical - most will be shipped to the UK which is less environmentally destructive than flying (there are some fruits such as strawberries that are flown but most organic box schemes would never offer these). There is also an argument that produce grown outdoors and then shipped has less environmental impact than that grown in polytunnels in the UK etc.

Maddie - what about water use? Do you have hippos in your toilets etc?

love_lifer

yep growing your own is a biggie and its fun (at my age, anyway)
dont buy dishcloths etc- use old knickers and clothes that arent good enough for charity.
water butt for plants etc
go veggie-theres lots of arguments that its better for the planet as well as animals

fairy hammocks eh? sounds fascinating...

Jonesya

Does your council take kitchen waste/peelings? If not you could get yourself a compost heap or wormery.

moonrakerz

ailuro2 wrote: »

Have a Navy shower in summer- this means putting it on to wet your body, switching off to do the soap and shampoo and scrubbing bits,then switching back on to rinse. Fine in summer, not so fine in winter when the heating is at the 'wear another jumper' setting on the thermostat, but it's all about balance and doing it when we can, eh?

A "submariners" shower is even better.

You stand in the shower, don't turn the water on (there probably isn't any) and shake a tin of talc over your head, then go through the same actions as if you had water.

Maddie

Thanks for all the replies so far!

I already have a 'navy' shower when at my parents as I find otherwise you just have to stand out of the way to get soapy. My shower at home tends to suddenly go cold just after its been turned on again, so can't really do it without waiting ages which defies the point.

I want a milkman for a few reasons, reusing bottles, supporting a local business, less food miles as it's local milk. Also I've heard a milkman going past so he wouldn't be just bringing one thing to my door. The veg box scheme does sell milk, but it'd be in plastic bottles and we'd probably need more than one delivery a week.

I used to get a veg box and yes it did include oranges etc that had been shipped in. However its mainly the stuff that could have been grown here but wasn't that I want to avoid. I also considered asking for stuff they'd grown only, as I know you can give preferences.

Unfortunately I live in a flat so there's not much I can grow. I do sprout my own beansprouts occassionally though. We've been in the flat for nearly 2 years and I'm really starting to miss having a garden, but the location is so convienient and means we can walk to the station etc so we're staying there for now.

I don't think we use much water. Mainly have showers, don't have a dishwasher. I don't use a hippo as our toilet is fairly new and has a small cistern.

I'm trying to start using dishcloths instead of disposable sponges. Shouldn't have to buy any more dishcloths anyway.

I don't think I could go veggie I'm afraid. However we try to reduce the amount we eat, eg one pack of sausages = 6 portions of sausage casserole, one pack of mince = 6 portions of spag bol. This way my boyfriend still feels he's had a 'proper' meal. I use lentils and pulses to make up the protein. I also try to fit in some meat free meals.

The council doesn't take kitchen waste and without a garden there's not a lot of point have a compost heap. This is frustrating as it's about all we end up putting in the normal bin. I did think perhaps when I get a veg box they might take it, which would produce a lovely cycle!

Cardew

We could all get rid of our Computers and internet;)

Maddie

Cardew wrote: »

We could all get rid of our Computers and internet;)

Knew you'd say that!

But personally I feel that the benefit of the knowledge I've learnt far outweighs the cost (in terms of money & carbon footprint).

Cardew

Maddie wrote: »

But personally I feel that the benefit of the knowledge I've learnt far outweighs the cost (in terms of money & carbon footprint).

Self education is, of course, is an excellent reason for having a PC and the Internet.

But personally, I must admit I have them primarily to entertain myself; but then that is also the main justification for my TV, DVD etc.