Small things you can do to make a big difference.
Growing up, I never heard my parents talking about plastic pollution, or needing to make changes to offset climate change. No one was talking about how the lack of snowfall might affect wildfires come summer. You put on sunscreen without wondering how it might affect the reefs. Well, things have changed. My partner and I have conversations about our impact on the planet regularly. We don’t get a coffee if we don’t have our reusable cups. We research companies and materials before purchasing an article of clothing, and so on and so forth.
As an advocate for nature, these important conversations and taking stock in my own actions has become a pretty regular occurrence in my life. It’s something I am incredibly passionate about and I am constantly trying to assess if I am living mindfully. I believe we as consumers have a lot of power, and that we can make conscious choices with our money. Which brings me to my morning walk a couple of weeks ago. I was listening to a podcast that was talking about the fashion industry [Sounds like a Cult podcast on The Cult of High Fashion]. The guest mentioned how “sustainability was in” and how a big brand was going to make a line of T-shirts out of plastic bottles. Great, right? Wrong. This company realised it was too labour intensive to collect and use existing plastic bottles, so they produced brand new plastic bottles to then turn into the material to make these T-shirts…
I won’t lie, this rattled me.
How are we supposed to make informed decisions when these big players make environmental decisions that impact all of us, and we’re not meant to know about them?
For a few days, I could not stop thinking about this podcast, so here it is, inspiring me to sit down and write this piece. Let’s talk about some daily actions that we can take, that in turn, can make a difference!
Are these actions small? Sure. But these conscious choices can grow into bigger ones, or perhaps they’ll start a conversation that will inspire another person to get started. On a grander scale these choices will force companies to change what they offer us consumers, and suddenly we’ve got a bigger thing going!
Don’t waste! I mean this in the simplest terms — turn off the lights when you’re not in a room, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and doing the dishes, use the entire bottle of product before snagging a fresh one, you get the picture.
Next time you’re in need of a toothbrush, check out the bamboo options. They’re becoming more readily available and affordable, and the best part, they’re biodegradable [unlike their plastic counterpart]! Pull out the bristles and compost that bad-boy at the end of it’s life.
Is there a bar or tablet alternative? Hand soap — grab a bar, shampoo — grab a bar, dish soap, same deal. For household cleaning products, check out concentrated cleaning tablets. I’ve been a fan of cleaning tablets for a while [they now sell them in our local supermarket - yay]. You simply reuse your existing bottles, pop in a tab and add water. Less waste and more often than not, cheaper than grabbing the bottled equivalent! Same great products but the only waste is a simple cardboard box that can be recycled.
Visit your local farmers market! Not only will you be supporting local, but you’ll likely be able to avoid a lot of unnecessary packaging. Farmers markets are also a great way to explore new seasonal fruit and veggies. You never know, you might just find a new favourite!
Bring your reusables! Keep a coffee cup in your bag, grab your metal water bottle before heading out, have your grocery bags in the car for the next time you need to swing by the shops.
Look for alternate forms of transit — walk, carpool, take your bike, dust off the rollerblades. My Mum and I were chatting the other day and we got talking about my nephew who rides his bike everywhere, I used to do the same. It was a good reminder to get the ol’ girl out more often.
Be aware of the materials that you’re buying and choose thoughtfully made garments where you can. It’s definitely becoming easier, but research is still necessary. Some of my favourite brands working to make a difference include TenTree, Cotopaxi, Prana Vida, Ecologyst, Patagonia, Boody, Indigo Luna, MATE the Label, the list is long and it feels great to have options! The Good on You directory can be a great tool for checking a brands ‘planet’ rating. What we wear, we wash, and what we wash goes directly into the ocean. The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in terms of microplastics ending up in our oceans, so this can be a very powerful place to make changes. Second to this, wash less! You likely don’t need to wash something that you’ve only worn once [undies excluded], so give ‘er the sniff test and see if it’s actually necessary. Your clothes will thank you!
Do your research and support companies that are trying to do good. Where to start? Look for companies that are B corp certified, use 1% for the Planet, are fairtrade or climate neutral, don’t test on animals. Lots of options to get started!
If you’re feeling really inspired to make some changes, look at some of the companies you use in your household. For example, what are your electric and gas companies investing in for the future? Are they working with renewables, or still solely funding the expansion of coal? The same goes for your bank and even retirement funds. If it’s an option for your household, move to a company who is trying to do better.
Upcycle, recycle, break the cycle. It can be tempting to buy new products along the way to becoming more environmentally conscious, but it’s not necessary, the best thing you can do is use what you already have, avoid jumping on the trending bandwagon, and refuse single use. We have to make choices that will eventually force new legislation and corporations to make changes in production. Recognise the power you have as a consumer to make that happen!
At the end of the day, I know that everyone is simply trying to keep up with the pace of life and are doing their best. There is zero-judgement here, I’m human and doing the exact same thing, and I know I mess up. I hope that these suggestions come in handy when you have the headspace for them. I am here to encourage and remind you how much power you and your dollar hold.
Please add any of your own suggestions below, I’m always looking for changes that I can make in my everyday that further support our incredible planet and every creature that calls it home!
