24 Jul 2024 It’s hard to buck convention. We don’t always realise that as consumers we have the power to break the shopping ‘rules’. But we do, especially if we depart from the norm with grace. Here are few subtle and easy-to-adopt tips on how to change the world one shopping trolley at a time. It doesn’t take a modern-day sustainability officer to tell us that every bit, no matter how tiny, makes a big difference. The great Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu already had this taped, back in about 571BCE, when he said: ‘Great acts are made up of small deeds.’ Please share your own small deeds with us, regardless of size. We’re here to swop ideas and not preach, and the aim is to get a conversation going, to encourage an exchange. Inherently we are all good; it doesn’t take the Extinction Rebellion Movement to tell us that it is human nature to want to protect what is ours for future generations to come. May #wecandoit prevail! So have a look at these suggestions, consult your copy of Seth Godin’s The Carbon Almanac: It’s Not too Late (Come Join Us), and then it’s over to you… Firstly… Throw any guilt into the recycling bin. It’s a poor motivator. Set achievable goals instead. Remember, even the miniscule can amount to a revolution. Let the good vibes get a lot stronger! There’s a reason radio DJs play feel-good music in rush hour. Apply the same principle for yourself when you’re shopping. Charge your pods with a positive playlist; it’ll make the errands fun, and your happy vibes will spill out to everyone around you. It’s all connected. This vs That Purchasing power is real, so sample and support brands that share your mission. When reaching towards the supermarket shelf, consider some alternative options: Choose paraben-free toiletries and cosmetics. Why: Parabens (the chemicals used as preservatives in these products) are linked to ecological harm, and even low levels in sea water kill coral. Pick the soap bar wrapped in paper vs liquid soap in a plastic pump-action bottle. Why: Liquid soap in a plastic bottle gives you about 10 x the plastic for less strength – liquid soap is 85% water as opposed to a bar of 100% soap. It’s not cheaper to buy, and it costs more to transport. Use chemical-free detergents and cleaning products. Why: There’s simply no need to bring harmful chemicals into our homes anymore. There are many cost-effective, eco-friendly alternatives on the market that won’t cause damage to your health. Bleach, for example, is toxic for people and animals. Thrift is the gift Many of us have been happily regifting giftbags and saving wrapping paper and ribbons for years to reuse them without causing any offense. Take the practice to the next level by thinking outside the shoe box, literally. Any packaging box can be given a glow-up and repurposed into a personalised gift box. Here are some super easy ways to do this: Paint the entire exterior a bright, fashionable colour using water-based paint. Use Washi Tape to stick on natty stripes. Cut images out of an old magazine and create a collage using a glue stick. Let your imagination dance. Anything made with love is received in the same spirit, so get crafting! Multi-tasking Those rolls of thin, filmy plastic sheaths in the fresh produce section are made from polyethylene. It takes lots of energy to produce polyethylene and leads to high emissions of carbon dioxide. It’s not worth it for the short working lifespan they have as they are not very durable and are generally single use. Let’s think of ways to decline, reduce consumption, and reuse the bag. Veggies can be weighed separately then all placed in the same bag, with the respective barcoded stickers added to the outside of that one bag. Only once you’ve filled a bag, ask the weigher (if it’s not DIY) to tie the bag loosely. That way it is easy to undo at home and reuse for things like: Picking up dog poo (please don’t buy poo packets) Scrubbing the loo instead of rubber gloves Keeping balls of wool separate and untangled Keeping less frequently used casserole dishes, etc. inside the cupboard dust-free Keeping fish moths away from that cashmere scarf Add yours here 😉 Once you’re done with reusing the produce bags, stuff them inside an eco-brick instead of adding to the recycling load. Better yet, don’t use them at all. There are some dedicated eco-shoppers who take their own cane baskets to add to the supermarket cart and gently place loose veggies inside that. Let’s take our hat, cap and anything else off to people who are already doing this. Some retailers have done away with these thin plastic bags entirely and are to be saluted. You put what you want straight into the trolley and at the till, they give you a cardboard box (recycled and reshaped from large packaging boxes they have received from suppliers) to stack everything into. It works, and even though the refolded carrier box is not always branded packaging, you carry their master brand in your heart. Refuse the refuse Back at home, make the most of organic waste wherever possible before resorting to sending it to landfill. Compost if you can and grow your own herbs and vegetables if you have a garden. If you don’t have any land to call your own, consider getting involved with one of the many community food projects and neighbourhood farms that will benefit from your time. Seeds Pumpkin seeds, for example, are good for you. Identified as a super food and dubbed ‘bariatric’ seeds (used as part of weight loss), you can dry and roast them, and enjoy as a snack – so don’t throw them away. Recycle your celery If you like celery, chop off the base of a bunch and use toothpicks or matchsticks to suspend the root end in a glass of water on your sill. You’ll have your own free celery sprouting in no time and lots of pretty, frilly leaves to cheer your space. The curse of convenience Yes, some of these interventions take more time and effort than others. It’s worth trying them out to discover what works for you and your world.
