SIMPLE WAYS TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE AT HOME
Image: Instagram/seedandsproutco
BY JESSICA BOSCO
In the wake of the recent bushfires that have devastated much of NSW and QLD and still continue to burn, now more than ever before we all need to be doing our bit to look after our environment.
Right now the firies, those people and animals directly affected and the charities on the ground need all our help and attention, and you can find out more about ways in which you can help them here.
But it also got us to thinking about what more we can, and should, be doing for the environment in our homes and our every day lives. While so often we have the best of intentions it can be all too easy to let our busy lives dictate our decisions, opting for convenience and getting caught up in thinking that we’re too small to make a difference. But the fact of the matter is, it really is the little things that count and anything is better than nothing. We’ve got to start somewhere.
Being more sustainable and making eco-friendly choices doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Sure you can choose to completely overhaul your life and embark on a zero-waste existence and that’s great if you can do it, but it also doesn’t need to be that complicated. Start small, start somewhere, but just start.
According to The Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average Aussie creates over 2,100kgs of waste each year - 53kgs of which is plastic - and according to Cool Australia, the highest wasters are, unsurprisingly, those with young families. And with Christmas just around the corner - the worst time of the year for waste - those numbers are only set to rise.
So here are some simple everyday swaps and tips that won’t break the bank and are totally achievable once you set your mind to them.
Ditch disposables and say no to plastic
Step into your kitchen and do a quick stocktake of all the single-use plastics and disposables you have there: paper towels, cleaning wipes and dishcloths, snack packets, yoghurt pouches, cling wrap, zip lock bags aluminium foil, straws, coffee pods, water bottles, shopping bags - the list goes on.
You don’t need to go and throw everything out, but when you finish them don’t replace them, instead opt for reusable alternatives wherever possible. There are great alternatives to cling wrap these days with silicone or beeswax options or invest in some new air-tight storage containers - ideally not plastic!
A great place to shop for gorgeous re-usable kitchen items is Seed and Sprout, a scroll of their Insta will give you serious fridge envy! They have a great range of products to help make the switch to plastic-free easy because that’s what we need - and they also have great bundles to make that eco-overhaul a little bit easier.
And remember to always carry your water bottle and re-useable coffee cup with you!
Recycle MORE
More than just our weekly kerb-side recycling pickups we need to be thinking how to recycle the rest of our waste - soft plastics like food wrappers and packaging, shopping bags, cereal box liners, pasta packets etc cannot go into the regular plastic recycling bins so that’s where REDcycle comes in. Located outside most Coles and Woolworths supermarkets (check for your nearest REDcycle bin here. Their general rule of thumb is if you can scrunch it up into a ball, then they’ll take it but jump on their website for a comprehensive list of what exactly can be recycled. The great thing about REDcycle is that they not only recycle these problem products but they have teamed up with a company called Replas to turn them into awesome recycled-plastic products.
Image: RedCycle
Coffee pods cannot be recycled in your council bins either and require you to take them to a designated drop off point, Nespresso has 22,000 collection points across Australia, do a search via recyclingnearyou.com.au to find your nearest drop off point.
Switch up your cleaning products
This can be a tricky one and can feel a little confusing, knowing what is safe for both the kids and environment whilst still getting your house and dishes clean can be hard. A recent Choice study found that many popular multipurpose cleaners are actually no more effective than water. Howvever when you do need a little more cleaning power what do you turn to?
One option is going old school and using bi-carb, vinegar, lemon and eucalyptus - there is pretty much nothing these babies can’t clean.
But if you’re into something that comes in a bottle, start by making sure they don’t contain ingredients such as ammonia, bleach, chlorine and phosphates. Be wary of “eco-friendly” labels and greenwashing when it comes to products in a store, look for products that are Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) certified. GECA is a not for profit that provides solutions for sustainable consumption and production.
Ditch the fast fashion
Fashion is one of the worst industries in the world for pollution and the fast fashion movement is further fuelling this. Buy less and buy quality (same goes for the kids’ clothes!). Know where, how and by whom your clothes are being made - GoodOnYou is a great resource to track how some of your favourite brands score when it comes to sustainability and ethics. Baptist World Aid also put together an annual report detailing top brands and how they are tracking and scoring.
With the rise of fast fashion and social media, clothing has reached a point where it has become almost disposable, we buy things to wear once - post them to the ‘gram - and then we’re done with them. Stepping away from this idea and investing in quality over quantity - but things you will love forever and wear over and over again.
128 Likes, 17 Comments - Baptist World Aid Australia (@baptistworldaid) on Instagram: "Kids...they grow up and out of their clothing so fast, don't they? We know that clothes are a popular..."
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Think about what you eat
When it comes to yours and your family’s diet it’s personal preference and what works for you and your current situation, but whether you choose to eat meat or opt for a plant-based diet, introducing meat-free and dairy-free days can help to do your part. According to WWF, “what we eat contributes around a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions and is responsible for almost 60% of global biodiversity loss” and farming animals for meat and dairy is a huge contributor to this. So cutting back is a start.
Also where you can eat seasonal produce, source it locally, and eat organic. Always remember your reusable shopping bags and don’t buy fruits and vegetables that come wrapped in plastic or mesh bags.
As well as what we eat, a huge problem is how much we don’t eat; more specifically the food we are wasting. WWF estimates that a third of all food produced in the world is lost or wasted so be conscious about what is coming into your kitchen and using it all up, and then composting what you cant. Have a designated “whatever’s in the fridge” night once a week to utilise leftovers and anything bits and pieces left and minimise what you toss and then compost anything that can’t be eaten.
And if you’re ready to give composting a go don’t forget many councils offer a rebate on the cost of purchase.
Switch up your TP
According to National Geogrpahic almost 270,000 trees are flushed down the toilet worldwide every single day. Think about that for a second. And toilet paper really is one of those non-negotiables (except for those really brave souls) you can do your bit here too.
Who Gives A Crap toilet paper is 100% recycled and is a social enterprise which donates 50% of profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world - and it comes in funky wrapping and let’s face it who doesn’t love cool wrapping?
And to take that one step further, they’ve just released a holiday range and the wrapping doubles as wrapping paper to help further reduce your holiday waste.
Leave your car at home
This seems too obvious but how often do we just run-up to the shops in the car when we could walk, or we load the kids up in the car to go to the park just around the corner. Sure it’s not always possible especially when kids are involved, but where it is, make a conscious effort to do it more. Not only is it good for the environment but getting in some more exercise for you and the kids is a double bonus - or take the bus or train or ride a bike.
Other quick tips:
Turn off lights
Turn off power points when they’re not in use
Only use the clothes dryer when you really have to - and wash clothes in cold water where you can
Minimise your use of air-conditioning
Take quicker showers/smaller baths
There are so many more things we can/should be doing, but this is a good starting point. Start making small changes in your home, get the kids involved and start talking about ways you can do more and put them into action. If you have any great tips or tricks share them below!