The Eco-friendly thread

THEV1LL4N

• How are you being environmentally friendly?
• Have you made any changes to your lifestyle?
• Do you have any tips or ideas on how to be greener?
• Any ideas to reduce plastic wastage (easy-swaps are always a good shout)
• Anything else that anyone wants to add?

I would recommend the following easy steps (I’ll list the first 10 that come to mind)

1. Get yourself a stainless steel water bottle that can be reused
2. Look into refillable products (eco-refill). Carex, Detol, Air Wick, L’occitane, Naissance and other brands do refill packs,
3. Buy larger packs (if this won’t result in wastage)
4. Buy local produce
5. Ditch plastic teabags and go for a brand that uses paper or go for loose-leaf tea.
6. Swap out washing up liquid (plastic bottles) and sponge (non-biodegradable) for dish soap and a bamboo brush
7. Swap out shampoo and conditioner bottles for shampoo and conditioner bars
8. Swap out cling film or plastic bags for reusable sandwich bags
9. Make your own snacks at home such as hummous or crisps (hummous takes minutes and tastes much better)
10. Drink milk? Get your milk in glass bottles or a tetra-pack (e.g. UHT, Soya, Almond, Cashew, Oat).

VeganLois

Some great ideas there.  In addition, I use reusable kitchen roll....about 25 sheets on a roll, bung them in the washing machine and 3 years later, I am still using them 😊.  You can wash them up to 80 times apparently.  Ethical Superstore is the stockist.  

Also, the beeswax wraps instead of cling film.  Fun designs and have dropped significantly in price or you can make your own if you feel so inclined....I don’t 😉

Greenglockenspiel

If you have space, grow your own veg. I’ve found that a really cost-effective way to reduce my food packaging. I was getting a veg box but they can be pricy and still have plastic for things like spinach. 

Eat more vegan meals. Pulses, grains, fruit and veg are much cheaper than meat and dairy and have lower carbon emissions too. Yes, even imported fruit vs local meat. You might also be able to find an shop near you that sells unpackaged pulses and grains (take your own containers to fill).

Use a safety razor instead of disposables. Switch to a bamboo toothbrush. Ladies, switch to reusable pads or a menstrual cup. 

Compost as much as possible rather than throwing away peelings etc.

Switch to a green energy provider and follow the tips on this site to reduce your energy and water usage. You might benefit from solar panels or additional insulation - look at your home’s EPC report if you have one.

Cycle (or take public transport if it’s safe) instead of driving. If you live rurally and have to drive, try to combine trips so you can minimise driving. Look into electric or hybrid cars - some energy providers will also give you a special deal if you have an electric car.

Use natural cleaning products such as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda or eco-friendly brands rather than harmful cleaning products - look at the back of the bottle for the ‘harmful to aquatic life’ warning. Use cotton cloths for cleaning rather than microfibre or kitchen roll.

Wash synthetic fabrics in a guppyfriend bag to prevent microfibres being washed into the sea. Wash clothes at 30 degrees and dry on a line rather than using the tumble dryer -
vinegar instead of fabric softener will make towels soft. When buying new clothes, opt for natural fabrics (cotton, linen, bamboo etc).

Buy second hand or borrow something where possible.

Topical - get a reusable mask instead of single use ones! (Occupational PPE obviously excepted)

THEV1LL4N

Some really good ideas here.  Thank you for sharing.

I have also seen that you can get environmentally friendly toothbrush heads for your Oral-B electric toothbrush on Amazon.  Has anyone tried these?

What about bin liner for your household waste?  Is there a better option than using a black bag?

Greenqueen_2

I have never understand people who struggle to ditch cling film.  I bought a roll in my first ever shop after I got married/ got my own home. That is 35 years ago and it is still in a drawer!!   I simply put things in reusable boxes or between two plates. I rarely use cooking foil either. 

I don’t buy bin bags. For the kitchen bin I use the charity bags that come through the door regularly. (I don’t generally trust the companies intentions re their collections, so if I have any clothing to donate it gets taken directly to the shops). Then the bags go into the outdoor wheels bin.   If I finish a packet of cereal I will use the inner bag for rubbish also.

tracey241270

I've been an eco-bunny for years though fell away for awhile, but I'm renewing my efforts recently. All fab ideas. 

• Laundry - ecoeggs - I know they're plastic but they're a  one-off buy. No, my whites do not 'gleam' but they're clean. I buy the refills on the site on their frequent (often up to 50% off) sales . Also white vinegar & essential oils instead of fabric conditioner. And though I have a tumble dryer (for the days when you just have to!), I do try only to wash when the weather promises a 'drying' day. I know not everyone can do that but there's only 2 of us & we don't go out much, so I can.
• Takeaway tubs (plastic ones) - re-used for freezer meals until they crack. Replacing these & my tupperware / clip-its with glass slowly as it's more expensive.
• bought a e-cloth re-usable machine-washable washing-up pad instead of sponges. More hygienic, actually more efficient but whether it lasts the year it suggests, we'll see!
• and also trialling bamboo/cotton pads in my skincare routine (I won't call it a beauty routine!) instead of cotton wool. For removing makeup (though I don't wear much often), applying toner, general cleansing. Again reusable & machine washable - though the bag they send is a bit useless so I use a net bag I used to put my baby son's socks in (he's 22!). I suppose they could be used for first aid too.
• I bought a pack of silicone stretch lids to use instead of clingfilm but they're a pain to wash, dry, store & were rarely the right size for the job.   I remember I also have beeswax wraps - didnt get on with them but will try again.
• Also freezer paper - waxed on one side, paper on the other - like old fashioned butcher's paper. Great in the fridge & freezer & can be re-used for things like bread though maybe not so much for meat & fish.

del_mar

My new eco way is to use a small mesh 'jewellery' bag. Put old bars of soap in it and use it to soap in the bath or shower. Perfect, instead of throwing out an old bar just because it is too small to use. In fact any mesh bag would probably work. As good as any shower gel in a plastic container and much better for the environment. I hang my bag on the water controls.

ruthber

I have been doing the same with ends of soap and use a satsuma bag as a mesh to keep them in

PasturesNew

None of this is my lifestyle, most of that's alien to me.  
As a rule, whatever the "problem" is that people are highlighting ... it's not me, I don't do those things or use those things. 
I have such a miniscule/tiny footprint on any measure, I don't count.

buildersdaughter

• Hello again, I dropped off the board for awhile, no real reason,but popped back in to see what was going on!
• I use rags a lot - I wear clothes until they wear out and then they get recycled for rags. I'm a keen sewer (?sewist?) and use left overs to make beeswax wraps (local beekeeper lets me have wax) lavender bags, face cloths / make-up pads, and now face coverings.
• Arthritis prevents me from gardening as I might wish (was never much good at it) but I have a raised deep bed that I can manage and use mostly for salads, spinach and lambs lettuce, and that is a great help. It is fed entirely on our kitchen compost + a few grass cuttings from small lawn.

bit_by_bit

A thread after my own heart THEVILL4N.     I am always looking at ways to recycle, reuse and repurpose.
Recent wins: bricks rescued from a skip to make a fire pit from a friend.
Pallets - a pile remade into raised beds and a compost bin.
I have worked a way to grow carrots with minimum waste by sewing onto punnets and then planting out into neart rows. I hate thinning out both physically and mentally. It feels like thowing food away.
All veg is composted plus torn up cardboard from packets and shredded paper are also layered in.
Made reusable kitchen roll for DD to go back to uni with.
Refill hand soap dispensers from a bulk bought 5 litre bottle. The bottle is plastic and re used for various things.
I divide my charity shop stuff to go at the right time of year e.g. Christmas or winter and also send it to the shop most likely to sell those items.