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I am not
environmentally crazy. In fact, I have not even been much interested in this
subject previously.
Being
raised in a very small town I lived a life quite close to the nature, without
actually realising it. Together with friends, often we would be going for long walks,
cycle through the forests, visit the villages nearby or go to swim in the lake.
We used to eat fruit and vegetables grown by my grandmother, drink the milk delivered
by the cows she kept and eat the eggs from her chickens. We would not drink
Coke or other frizzy drinks usually but the home-made juice, made by our mums
from cooked fruits with a hint of sugar. If we had a plastic bottle, we
naturally, reused it. To bring fresh milk from my grandma, or to keep the juice
in it for long days spent outside with friends. I always had my lunch prepared
in my backpack ready to eat during the break between classes. We would go, with
friends and family, to pick wild berries, wild mushrooms or any other yummy
stuff that grows in the forest. We would help my grandparents in the
countryside to plant the crops and then afterwards to harvest what has grown.
This is how I remember my childhood to be. It was the time of freedom and
happiness, just before the reality of the adult life hit me.
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Living as
an adult in a big, busy and very dirty city made me think more about my life
choices. Piles of plastic bottles, crisps’ bags or chewed chewing gums stuck
everywhere made me feel seriously worried . Is this a world I would like to live
in? No, it is not. And so I have decided to do my bit. My small tiny,
unnoticeable part in making this city, country, continent … planet a better
place. A place I will like to live in.
1. I
DO NOT BUY BOTTLED WATER
Drinking water is good for your
body, leavening tones of plastic bottles behind … not so much. According to
postconsumers.com plastic bottle completely degrades in around 450 year (but some
plastic can take even up to 1000 years to decompose). Think for a moment, how
many sodas/water/juices in plastic bottles do you buy in a week? Now multiply
that by 52 weeks in a year. This is how much you will leave behind you after
just one year. Scary numbers, no? At home, we use BRITA jug filter, and if we
need to take some water away with us we just re-fill our reusable water bottles.
It is not just environmentally wise but also much, much cheaper than paying for
bottled water in the shop (BRITA cartridges last for roughly 4 weeks and if
bought in the pack cost around £4.00 per cartridge, so £4.00 per month). If I
really have to buy bottled water I will go for at least 1,5 or 2L capacity:
less plastic, cheaper as well as I can reuse the bottle afterwards.
2. I
TRY NOT TO WASTE FOOD
Seems easy and simple, but it is
not. In the UK
3. I
WEAR MY CLOTHES MORE THAN ONCE
Obviously, I change my lingerie
daily, and obviously I only apply this rule when it actually makes sense, for
example I try to wear my sweaters or jeans for at least few days. Before I used
to wash almost everything after only one day of wearing, but now I try to wear
my clothes wisely. Washing your clothes
not only releases nasty detergents into the world but also shortens the life of
your clothes. So, the rule is very simple, if it does not need washing it will
be worn until washing is obviously needed. Clearly we do not run washing
machine with one item inside only, we try to run the short cycles mostly as
well as we group the clothes prior to washing to enable its fullest efficiency.
4. I
BUY ITEMS THAT WILL LAST
It might seem like a cliché, but it
is not. Try to save money and buy stuff that will actually last for a period of
time. That concerns not only clothes, but also other accessories, furniture or
any other household items. It is not always easy, especially if we have no funds
for more expensive//better quality item and we want to buy it now. But think
about this… Do you really need this £20.00 pair of shoes that are made of
plastic and will be completely destroyed after 1 month or 2 of wear, or would
you prefer this good quality pair of shoes, worth £50, that will last you for
over a year. I try to be smart (read: I am not rich), so I
shop in shops like TK MAXX or HOME SENSE, where you can buy good stuff that
will serve you years. Charity or second hand shops are also a good idea,
especially when it comes to furniture.
5. I AM ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS
I recycle, as much as I can. I try
not to overproduce waste. I prefer to buy loose vegetables or fruit (less
packaging) and I bring my own shopping bag to the shop. I use biodegradable dog
poop bags. I switched to natural cosmetics, where I could (various oils, clays
for body, face and hair). I make sure I use my cosmetic products till the last
drop (I cut-open tubes to dig the product out). I try to save water (shower
instead of bath) and energy (switch off the lights when not needed, use
energy-saving light bulbs). I try to not to buy stuff I do not need (Do I
really need another pair of shoes?) and buy second-hand items, where possible.
I have my own tiny vegetable/herb garden behind the house. I cycle everywhere
(this one is major money-saver) I can, instead of using public transport. I do
not litter. If possible I fix stuff instead of replacing it.
It might seem like a
lot, but it is not. I do not do anything special, I just try to be smart. Also,
many of the above points really helped me to save serious money, so it is a double
positive. Obviously I commit some little sins now and there. A nice blouse that
I do not really need, a new pair of jeans, when I have five more in my
wardrobe, a long bath, when I need this extra bit of relaxation. Moderation is
a key here: do not over exaggerate. My everyday life is like everyone else’s,
there is no pressure to ‘’be green’’. It is a common sense. I meant, it is a
common sense for me.
Very interested post. I will definitely come back for more.
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