Eco Show and Tell

Welcome! So glad you’re here.

Let me start by saying thank you for being here. My guess is that you are either curious about how you can live more sustainably, or frustrated that being ‘eco’ can be so difficult sometimes! (ok, maybe I’m projecting a little here). I am passionate about our lovely planet, and it means a lot that you have taken an interest in living more sustainably too.

While I have tips to share, I am drawing on personal experience and always welcome others’ suggestions. Please treat this like a supportive community space, my intention is not to tell you what to do. When I set out to write this, I wanted the focus on the many many achievable actions we can all do to be more environmentally friendly. If you’re looking to take action but aren’t sure where to start, then these A-Z tips are for you. So, let’s get cracking!

Making a start…

Let’s say you’ve decided to start making more environmentally friendly choices in your life. You pop into your local supermarket to do your weekly shop with the best intentions. You start looking around and soon feel overwhelmed and confused as to what the right choice is; palm oil? is this recyclable? what is the carbon footprint of a pear?! Then you start to feel annoyed and frustrated about how much time this is taking. You have other things to do than spend ages in a supermarket so you either give up and buy the things you are used to buying and get out; or end up avoiding a bunch of things and leave with a half empty basket. Sound familiar?

Living a sustainable lifestyle can feel overwhelming, and it can be at first! But here is the good news, you can definitely get started as early as today. If you were to run a marathon you would start with short runs and build from there, the same principle applies here – change is easiest if we start small.

As consumers we have a lot of choice. Sure, some of the choices may not be as convenient, but the good news is that there is much more choice out there every day. If we frame our mindset from ‘this is too hard’ to ‘there are so many opportunities for me to make changes every day’ we might feel more excited, than daunted. 

So where do we begin? Take a moment to visualise the kind of world you want to live in. 

How does that feel? 

Now it might be helpful to make a pledge. Think about one step YOU can take to reach that goal of a better world. Is it reducing your carbon footprint? Or separating your recycling? Buying fewer clothes? Make sure it is something achievable and fun where possible. Write your pledge down and stick it somewhere you will see it often.

Advocacy & Activism

Individual actions matter. Think of it this way, if our collective actions have created climate change/pollution/biodiversity loss, surely, it’s our collective responsibility to fix it! So why not be an advocate for the environment?

You could write to your local businesses or MP expressing your desire to see sustainable change. You could also use your platforms (social media or otherwise) to make the case for living sustainably. Or you could start conversations with your friends and family on why this is so important to you (note I don’t mean aggressive arguments… those can be counterproductive). These can be relatively easy actions, and do not require you to change any habits overnight. 

Activism is another great way of getting involved. Activism does not have to be grand gestures either, while protests are the main thing that springs to peoples’ minds, you can start small by educating yourself further, campaigning on local issues, or creating an action group with like-minded people to carry out activities like litter picking in your neighbourhood. Donating money to a cause you believe in, or who you shop with can also be considered a form of economic activism. The aim here is to be as effective as you can be and do something positive to drive change. 

Here’s a thought…How might a business react if a significant number of their customers asked them to be more environmentally friendly? how do you think the world would benefit by your activism? 

Helpful resources: 

Explaining advocacy and activism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvl_2wmx2ko&t=518s 

Tools for changemakers https://projectinsideout.net/tools/ 

Banking

Ever wondered how our banks use the money sitting in our accounts? Switching banks is a great action as it is low effort and high impact. By moving away from banks that invest in fossil fuels you will be shifting the dial toward a more sustainable future and making a statement with your hard-earned cash. Some banks only invest ethically and often offer a range of products (savings, current and ISA accounts). Why not look these banks/building societies up and switch to one that sounds good to you? And if you’re up for it, tell your bank why you decided to move away. 

Here’s a thought… If you have any account that is generating interest, do you know how that’s being generated? How can you find out what your money is funding?

Useful resources:

Ethical money https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/money-finance 

Watch out for greenwashing https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/11/worlds-top-banks-greenwashing-their-role-in-destruction-of-the-amazon 

Hidden dirty money  https://www.ted.com/talks/charmian_gooch_meet_global_corruption_s_hidden_players

Baby

For such tiny beings, babies can sure end up ‘owning’ a lot of stuff. While sometimes convenient, you may find that many baby products on the market are not necessary. In my experience (mother of one), start with the bare minimum and see what you need as you go. Might sound scary, but trust me, more stuff equals more spending and (storage) problems eventually. Renting and buying second hand is another way of avoiding buying everything new. Let’s break it down into what you can do: 

Breastfeeding: without entering the whole breastfed vs bottle fed debate, from an eco perspective it’s a no brainer that breastfed babies create less waste. If it’s an option for you, go for it. 

Nappies: Newborn babies get through about ten nappies a day, so convenience in those early days is really welcome, and nothing is more convenient than disposable nappies. The good news is that going disposable doesn’t have to mean plastic sitting in landfill forever. There are now excellent biodegradable nappies made from bamboo, and as a bonus they are breathable so don’t give babies nappy rash (meaning you won’t need to buy nappy cream in a plastic bottle). 

Once they’re a little older and you have set into a rhythm why not consider cloth nappies? We did a mix of both from three months (cloth in the day, disposable at night and when travelling). Something that sometimes gets overlooked is the age at which you potty train. Stating the obvious here, but the sooner you potty train the fewer nappies you need! thus saving you money and being better for the environment. 

Wet wipes: These can be a huge source of litter and pollution, and as parents we can get through quite a lot. If you prefer disposable please buy plastic-free ones and please NEVER flush them. We found that reusable ones were even better as we didn’t run out and can be quite versatile (as cloth nappy boosters, wiping hands after eating, wiping surfaces).

Toys, clothes and other ‘stuff’: We tend to give our children more things than they need. In addition to this, children get bored of their toys easily why not buy second hand, or join a local toy library, or organise a toy swap among friends? This is also key with newborn and pregnancy clothes and any other things you might need in this stage of life such as slings. And if possible, speak to all those lovely grandparents/friends/aunties who insist on buying your child things – explain that you are trying to stick to the principles of refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle. I’ve asked grandparents to send videos and share experiences like museum visits instead of gifts – nothing beats a happy memory! 

Here’s a thought… How did previous generations get by without all the stuff we have today as parents? What were the things that brought you joy as a very young kid? Was it having mountains of ‘stuff’? 

Helpful resources: 

These were the best disposable nappies I found https://www.mamabamboo.com/ 

These were the best reusable wet wipes I found due to their larger size https://www.thenappylady.co.uk/reusable-wipes/muslinz-bamboo-cotton-reusable-wipes.html 

Cloth nappies https://www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk/ 

Councils that give money/vouchers to new parents who buy cloth nappies https://www.thenappygurus.com/council-nappy-schemes.html https://www.thenappylady.co.uk/news/nappy-facts-statistics.html 

Barnet sling library https://www.highlivingbarnet.com/clubs/listing/barnet-sling-library 

Finchley toy library https://greenmancentre.org/ 

Birth

Giving birth is a personal experience and while things may not always go to plan on the day, we can make birth-plans that outline our preferences. When you stop and think about what a c-section involves, it stands to reason it would have a higher environmental impact as a direct result of the increased procedure complexity. Energy required for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, as well as the larger quantity of waste from surgical packs are all much higher for c-sections than vaginal births. If you’re thinking about your birth plan, why not take the above into account? 

Here’s a thought…Besides the environmental impact, do you think there is a difference in how much different births cost? 

Helpful resources: 

Life cycle assessments of infant delivery in the US https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969712003385?via%3Dihub 

Carbon footprint: Did you know that an email can produce more emissions than shipping a banana across the world? Yep. Our carbon emissions are everywhere, and they are not always obvious. The good thing is we have agency over our life choices, it just takes a little mindfulness. It can feel completely overwhelming to think about your emissions so here’s a step-by-step breakdown to help you take action:

1. As a rule of thumb, there are some quick wins that will have a big impact on your emissions:
   1. change to a renewable energy provider
   2. switch to an ethical bank
   3. eat less meat
   4. avoid ‘fast fashion’
2. Check out your own carbon footprint (see https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/) What actions can you take based on your results?

Here’s a thought… does being ‘perfect’ stop you from taking action in reducing your carbon emissions? 

Helpful resources: 

Learn more about climate change https://carbonliteracy.com/ 

The environmental impact of AI https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ai-has-environmental-problem-heres-what-world-can-do-about 

Children: When I saw this diagram my heart sank. If like me, you want kids but the guilt of bringing them into this world weighs heavily on you – you are not alone. I am not disputing that more people take up more resources. However, there is something to be said about how you parent which also makes a massive difference. As a parent is it up to you to model an environmentally conscious lifestyle and educate your children on its importance. So, if you choose to have kid(s) why not pass this attitude of caring for the planet on to them? Leading by example is the key to ensuring future generations act more sensibly than past ones. For the more practical day-to-day, here’s some ideas:

Arts and crafts: can be such a great activity for children, and it can certainly be eco-friendly by ensuring to recycle any paper and avoiding plastic (including glitter). You can also make your own dyes out of fruit and vegetable skins (see below).

If you already have children, make sure to check out the Baby section on ‘toys, clothes and other stuff’, and Xmas and other festivities section. 

Here’s a thought… What kind of ancestor do you want to be to future generations? 

Helpful resources: 

How one parent goes about being more eco friendly https://plasticfree.baby/blogs/all-about-plastics/meet-an-eco-parent-meet-raakhee 

Natural home made dyes https://www.east.co.uk/blogs/journal/home-craft-vegetable-dying#:~:text=Yellows%2C%20browns%2C%20ochre%20%26%20orange,your%20yellow%20and%20blue%20dyes. 

Being a conservation hero https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5W1QmSPxdXxGHhnzcnbryy6/how-to-be-a-conservation-hero 

Cleaning & Chemicals: Let me tell you a secret, making your own cleaning product is mega easy and you probably have everything you need at home already. You may ask… but why would bother? Store bought cleaning products can be full of (unpronounceable) chemicals that not only are toxic to the environment but also to us. In fact, they can be one of the main reasons for indoor air pollution and can lead to worsening respiratory conditions and allergies in the short term, as well as serious health problems such as cancer more long term. 

A really simple and effective all-purpose cleaner is: one part white vinegar, one part distilled water (I use the water from our dehumidifier). That’s IT. Put it in a spray bottle and you’re good to go. Not to mention it’s a fraction of the cost to make. It works on most surfaces, especially glass and mirrors, but best avoid hardwood floors and granite. 

The tools we use to clean can also be replaced for better alternatives, such as loofah sponges and biodegradable wooden brushes rather than plastic ones that release microplastics. At home, we repurposed our son’s reusable bamboo wet wipes to wipe surfaces. They go in the washing machine with each load instead of the bin when they get dirty. 

Here’s a thought…Would you still buy conventional cleaning products if they stated potential harmful health impacts?  

Useful resources: 

Eco cleaning essentials https://impactstore.co.uk/collections/cleaning/products/ecovibe-compostable-sponge-scourer-duo-pack 

Home-made bleach recipe https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/all-natural-bleach-alternative/ 

Understanding indoor air pollution and its effects on health https://atmotube.com/blog/understanding-air-pollutants-and-their-effects-on-human-health 

Cleaning products containing endocrine disruptors https://chemtrust.org/cleaning-products/ 

Dental care: Taking care of your teeth is clearly important, but it doesn’t need to be damaging to the planet. A range of plastic free toothbrushes are freely available in many shops now. Toothpaste can also be found in many re-fill shops. The action here is easy, simply replace your products for more environmentally friendly alternatives at your next shop. 

Here’s a thought... What’s your age in toothbrush years? A simple plastic toothbrush will sit in landfill for 500 years before it breaks down. It’s recommended that we replace these on average every three months. We start brushing our teeth around the age of 6 months. How many of your plastic toothbrushes are still out there? 

Helpful resources: 

Ethical toothpaste options https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/health-beauty/shopping-guide/toothpaste 

Sustainable electric toothbrush https://www.trysuri.com/ 

Diet: This is a change that has the potential for having a massive impact. What we eat is one of the biggest sources of emissions, with meat at the very top of that list. It is a real challenge to get this one right 100% of the time so be patient and start small. If you can’t live without meat, then do a meat-free day a week for a month. Likewise with dairy.  Remember that food also has a carbon footprint so aim to buy as much produce as possible that is organic, local and seasonal. 

This action might take a bit of planning ahead, but once the habit is set it will be second nature to you and doesn’t take any extra time. 

Here’s a thought…What makes a ‘sustainable meal’? is it meat free/dairy free/palm oil free/organic/local/seasonal/plastic free….? Is it all or nothing and how easy do you find it to accomplish?

Helpful resources: 

Seven reasons why meat is bad for the environment https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/why-meat-is-bad-for-the-environment/ 

A guide to home composting https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/actions/how-compost-your-waste?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAvdCrBhBREiwAX6-6UvB79ULpuRJGLSxnJOgimaI4PmZgjRr9ZgogpgIRnKBbkBTWGv-hDRoCQ-gQAvD_BwE

Education

Teaching future generations about sustainability is key. Not only is it important, but 70% of young people suffer from eco-anxiety so they need support and encouragement in taking positive planetary action. Fixating on bad news stories can be draining and demotivating, so learning how to tackle environmental challenges can make a difference in taking action and maintaining hope. 

Here’s a thought… Is there an environmental problem out there that you may have a good solution to? Who will you share it with? 

Helpful resources: 

Dealing with climate anxiety https://www.forceofnature.xyz/resources 

School resources for sustainability https://ecoshowandtell.org/schools/ 

Energy: The great thing about energy saving is that it tends to go hand in hand with money saving too. A lot of the actions you can take are also one-off’s, so they are easy. Why not consider: 

• Switching to a renewable energy provider 
• Switching to LED lighting 
• Fixing draughts 
• Lowering your thermostat by one degree
• Lowering you water tank temperature 
• Campaigning for community energy schemes
• Get into the habit of turning off lights and appliances when not in use

If you can afford to, or are eligible for council support, you could consider:

• Installing solar panels 
• Insulating your home by upgrading your windows and installing internal/external loft and wall insulation. 
• Installing a heat pump

Here’s a thought… The sooner you take action to save energy, the higher your long term financial returns.   

Helpful resources: 

Retrofitting your home https://www.barnet.gov.uk/sustainability-barnet-zero/sustainable-homes/retrofit-your-home-be-more-energy-efficient 

Campaigning for renewable energy that benefits local communities https://powerforpeople.org.uk/the-local-electricity-bill 

Fashion

Fast fashion is notoriously bad for the environment due to chemical pollution and water usage, but it is also known for labour exploitation, encouraging a disposable mentality, poor quality products that can’t be mended or recycled easily. Best avoid altogether if you can and go by the principles of shop quality over quantity and take good care of your clothes. If you love that feeling of owning new clothes why not try organising a clothes swap among your friends or shop second hand? 

Here’s a thought…What makes clothes attractive, is it the trend or how well they suit you?

Useful resources: 

More on fast fashion, what you can do and sustainable brands https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-fast-fashion/ 

Flying

Air travel is a biggie. We are all aware that carbon emissions caused by flying are really bad for the environment. If it can be avoided, it definitely should, but granted that is sometimes hard to do, especially when family members scattered across the world. And it’s not just long haul flight that are bad, short haul flights actually have higher emissions per passenger. 

What can be done? Well, not flying is the obvious answer here and I think staycations are underrated. When I speak to friends and family some admit to not really knowing what is right on their door step. They love being tourists but for some reason think they need to be somewhere exotic to have memorable experiences. Could you have a holiday closer to home? Is there someplace in the UK you could get that thing you are looking for (natural beauty, different food, culture)? 

Not flying can be a hard action to take, why not start by pledging a no-fly year? think about travel alternatives (trains, cycling). But if you must, make sure to fly economy and pack as light as possible.

Here’s a thought… What impact are you having on your destination by flying there? 

Helpful resources: 

Carbon offsetting https://www.green-providers.co.uk/carbon-offsetting/ 

An interesting travel alternative https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/virtual-reality-future-travel-virtual-reality-experiences-intern-mplbf/

Gadgets 

The main gadget we probably all use is our phone, the problem is as consumers we get pushed into owning the latest versions or find it impossible to fix them if they break. Not surprisingly, e-waste is a growing problem and can be very difficult to recycle. The good news is that there are options out there that are more ethical and environmentally friendly. These make use of recycled materials and can be fixed relatively easily. 

The best option of course, is to keep the phone you currently have in good condition for as long as possible. Try to charge your phone using renewable energy and be mindful of making you battery last by removing unnecessary apps. If your phone has seen better days, try to get it refurbished or replace it with a second hand one. This applies to all gadgets and appliances. 

Here’s a thought…do you know where to recycle e-waste and batteries in your area?

Helpful resources:

Ethical mobile phones https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/technology/shopping-guide/ethical-mobile-phones 

Best sustainable smartphones https://www.compareandrecycle.co.uk/blog/best-sustainable-smartphones 

How to recycle e-waste in Barnet https://www.barnet.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/reduce-reuse-and-repair-barnet/reuse-and-recycle-electrical-items 

Gardening

If you love to garden then why not do so in a way that is good for the planet? There’s lots of ways of reducing your carbon footprint and boosting biodiversity. Here’s some ideas:

• Growing your own fruit and veg – one sure way to ensure your food is local and seasonal
• Plant for local wildlife – boost biodiversity by planting a range of native and non-native plants that support a wide range of species
• Avoid pesticides, herbicides and artificial fertiliser – these are toxic to both wildlife and humans
• Harvest rain water – saves water, money and helps reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rain which can overwhelm drainage systems
• Plant a tree and dig a pond – this supports whole ecosystems from insects to birds and mammals 
• Be less tidy – mow less often and appreciate that ‘messiness’ is a necessary habitat for small creatures such as hedgehogs and hibernating insects like ladybirds
• Avoid leaf blowers – like the point above, messiness is good for wildlife. Leaf blowers are also a source of air and noise pollution. 
• Install bird and bat boxes – if you have adequate sites this would be a great asset to many species that are losing nesting sites
• Turn off unnecessary lighting – your garden is alive at night too, and many creatures rely on darkness for survival. 
• Shop peat free – or even better, make your own compost from kitchen and garden waste
• Speak to your neighbours – can you increase interconnectedness between your gardens to allow wildlife to move more freely?
• Avoid buying plants treated with pesticides – many plants are treated with chemicals before they are sold, it would be a shame to introduce these into your garden unknowingly! 

Here’s a thought…who spends more time in your garden, you or local wildlife? 

Helpful resources:

Pesticides in ‘bee friendly’ flowers http://www.sussex.ac.uk/lifesci/goulsonlab/blog/bee-friendly-flowers 

How to help pollinators https://www.youtube.com/@FinchleyPollinators 

Why extracting peat should be avoided https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/devastating-using-peat-uk-horticulture 

The importance of gardens for biodiversity https://www.britainsbiggestlivinggarden.org/discover/research-into-garden-biodiversity 

Sponge cities https://www.cprelondon.org.uk/news/the-new-london-mayor-must-make-london-a-sponge-city/ 

Rewild your street https://www.rewildmystreet.org/ 

Habit stacking and other hacks

If you’re anything like me, then there is a chance you intend to develop a new habit only for it to fizzle away after a few days/weeks. If you’re struggling to make more sustainable choices it might be helpful develop new habits by piggy backing off old ones. This is an idea taken from the book ‘Atomic Habits’ called habit stacking. The idea is simple, link a new habit onto an existing one until the new thing becomes habit too. Basically, before/after [current habit], I will [new habit]. 

For example:

When I’m making a cup of tea, I’ll check all lights and appliances that aren’t needed are turned off. 

When I charge my phone, I’ll place my water bottle next to it, so I remember to take it with me. 

Before I buy a new toy for my child, I’ll donate/sell one she’s not going to miss.  

Start small, think about frequency of old habit and be as specific as possible in what you want to achieve. 

Another good way of easily becoming more sustainable is to outsource some of the decisions. Say you struggle to remember to buy organic at your weekly shop, you could subscribe to a regular organic vegetable delivery box which quickly takes the hassle out of making that choice when you shop. Probably saves you time too which is a win-win. We get a veg box delivery that is plastic-free, seasonal and organic and it’s made our life so much simpler. 

Here’s a thought… What other ways have you found helpful in developing new habits in the past?

Helpful resources: 

How to habit stack https://jamesclear.com/habit-stacking 

Insurance

Chances are you have some sort of insurance in place (house, car, pet, travel, phone?) and it is worthwhile asking ourselves whether the insurance company we choose is investing addressing climate change and other unethical practices. Next time your policy is up for renewal, why not check if it’s been awarded Ethical Accreditation? 

Here’s a thought…How do insurance companies make money and how might this be affected by climate change?

Helpful resources: 

https://thegoodshoppingguide.com/subject/ethical-insurance/ and https://thegoodshoppingguide.com/ethical-insurance/ 

Jewellery

There is an ugly side to diamonds, gold and other precious stones and metals: conflict, dubious practices and environmental damage through mining. Luckily, there are jewellery makers out there who still want to create beautiful pieces without the negative cost. 

Here’s a thought… how rare are diamonds really? And is it worth the damage they cause? 

Useful resources: 

Some ethical jewellers https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/shopping/ethical-jewellery-609238 

Knowledge

Understanding how to live sustainably may start with wanting to limit our impact on the natural world, but it helps to appreciate how different dimensions (economic and social) are in fact, interrelated. Each action or choice we make will inevitably have a knock-on effect on the natural world, society and the economy. Next time you are faced with a choice such as buying a product, ask yourself: 

• How will this impact the environment? 
• Who was involved in this and how might they be affected? 
• Who is profiting financially? 

Here’s a thought…Which of the three dimensions (environment, society, finances) motivates you the most? Do you think it makes a difference in attaining a sustainable future? 

Helpful resources: 

Three pillars of sustainability diagram https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/sustainability-society-and-you/0/steps/4618 

B corps, businesses that balance profit and purpose https://usca.bcorporation.net/about-b-corps/ 

Light pollution

Like all forms of pollution, excessive artificial light is damaging to the environment as well as human health. A recent study showed 52% fewer moth caterpillars found in hedgerows, and 43% fewer caterpillars in grass verges and hedgerows under LED street lights. This is terrible for our nighttime pollinators, and those who rely on them such as bats and plants. Nocturnal animals and migratory birds in particular have evolved with different senses to us and many require darkness for survival. 

Luckily, this can be solved with the literal flip of a switch. Look at your garden and outdoor lights, are they too bright? Could they be on a motion sensor and angled downwards? When indoors at night, draw your curtains so as not to confuse nighttime wildlife. And if your streets lights are too bright, could you contact your council about it? 

Here’s a thought…When was the last time you saw the stars really clearly?

Helpful resources: 

How light is confounding animal senses https://www.theatlantic.com/press-releases/archive/2022/06/july-august-cover-story-our-blinding-blaring-world/661258/ 

Light pollution map https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=6.90&lat=51.7448&lon=0.8352&state=eyJiYXNlbWFwIjoiTGF5ZXJCaW5nUm9hZCIsIm92ZXJsYXkiOiJ3YV8yMDE1Iiwib3ZlcmxheWNvbG9yIjpmYWxzZSwib3ZlcmxheW9wYWNpdHkiOjYwLCJmZWF0dXJlc29wYWNpdHkiOjg1fQ== 

Money – see also Banking

Your money can go a long way for the good of the planet. This is because how we spend and save our money has a direct impact on the world (nature and society). Let see what we can do:

• Spending habits – your day-to-day spending can make a really big difference in what you are ultimately supporting. Choose to buy from B-corps or other businesses with a track record of being environmentally friendly. Conversely, boycott or avoid spending money with businesses that cause environmental damage.
• Pensions and savings – Money that goes into your pension pot and savings account is making returns somehow. Check to see what these are funding and move away from fossil fuels etc. 
• Investments – If you are risk-tolerant then you might consider investing in innovative technologies or projects that seek to transition to a more sustainable future
• Philanthropy – supporting the good work of environmental organisations and charities through regular or one-off donations is an easy way of making sure they can continue their work 
• Wills – you can also gift money/assets to organisations that you support by including them in your will. 

Here’s a thought… we covered money going out, what about money coming in? who pays for your salary and where does this money come from?

Helpful resources:

Effective altruism for highest impact https://www.effectivealtruism.uk/effective-giving 

Green accountants https://thegreenaccountants.com

Green savings tips https://www.ecology.co.uk/hub/how-green-are-your-savings/ 

When your values and your money don’t align https://www.globalwitness.org/en/archive/arnold-schwarzenegger–public-face-tv-campaign-save-forests-and-climate–invests-companies/ 

Nature

Spending time in nature is known to benefit our physical and mental wellbeing, this came sharply into focus during covid lockdowns. Yet, 92% of land and 97% of rivers in England is covered by the ‘right to roam’. What’s worse is that white areas benefit from 144% more public footpaths than areas where ethnic minorities might live. If this affects you, you might consider joining a campaign group to advocate for better access to nature. 

For those of us living in cities with access to a garden or decent local parks/nature reserves have you considered taking part in citizen science to monitor biodiversity in your local area? There are several national yearly surveys, for example, Big Butterfly count and the Great Stag Hunt. If you like to monitor in your own time why not download identifying apps such as iNaturalist or Merlin and see what you can identify when you’re outdoors? I promise you it’s great fun, and slightly addictive! 

Here’s a thought…do you see yourself as separate from nature? 

Helpful resources: 

Ramblers campaigns for increasing access to green spaces https://www.ramblers.org.uk/what-we-care-about  

Why access to nature is important https://earth.org/data_visualization/uk-land-access-rights/ 

A few nature recording apps https://www.gigl.org.uk/2024/06/20/recording-apps-lets-get-specific/ 

Organic

It should come to no surprise by now that buying organic is better for the planet. By farming in a way that respects nature (no pesticides or artificial fertilizers) we encourage wildlife such as vitally important pollinators, support soil and water health and ultimately produce more nutritious food. In the UK, unfortunately, organic products can be a bit more expensive to buy. If you can afford organic, opt for it at your next shop. If you can’t, how about growing your own veg in your garden/allotment/balcony? And if gardening isn’t your thing – is there anything you can do to campaign for better agricultural practices that don’t destroy nature over profits? 

Here’s a thought… Is organic limited only to foods we eat? Does it matter?

Useful resources:

Soil association https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/ 

Why farming practices affect pollinators https://wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk/news/food-farming-fairness-with-will-white-a-future-without-butterflies/ 

Palm oil 

It’s incredible to see just how many products contain palm oil. Unfortunately, the production of palm oil is very destructive as it is one of the main drivers of tropical deforestation. This not only drives greenhouse emissions but is catastrophic for wildlife. Next time you shop, have a quick look at the ingredients and you will more likely than not find it in soaps, biscuits, lipsticks, spreads…. The list is very, very long (note: it can be unhelpfully labelled ‘vegetable oil’ when mixed with other oils like Shea). You may think that switching to product has the ‘sustainable palm oil’ (RSPO) label is the solution, but please beware the greenwashing. RSPO, whose membership is voluntary, has been known to be ineffective in banning deforestation and forest fires. I personally steer clear from any palm oil but recognise that doing so can be very time consuming and not always possible. 

So as an action, could you replace some of your everyday products to palm oil free ones? Perhaps you could buy fewer baked goods (or make your own)? 

Here’s a thought… How would your consumer habits change if you could see their impact affecting your immediate environment? Is it harder to act when the effects are felt very far away?

Useful resources:

More on RSPO: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/rspo-criticisms-investigated#:~:text=The%20study%20claimed%20that%20areas,indicators%20of%20the%20scheme’s%20performance. 

Periods 

Did you know that on average one person can generate 200kg of waste from disposable period products in their lifetime? Luckily, there has been a massive increase in plastic-free and reusable period products in the last few years which means switching to more sustainable alternatives has never been easier. Hooray! 

Ready to switch? Here’s some options to try out: 

Moon cups: a good option if you are familiar with tampons already, make sure to check which size is best for you. 

Period underwear: really easy to use and a great option for nights. 

Reusable cloth pads: a bit like period underwear but easier to change as they are similar to pads. There are templates for how to make your own available online too. 

‘Plastic-free’ disposable pads and tampons: some plastic may be necessary (i.e. the lining) but make sure to try those with plastic free packaging and check the contents of the pad/tampon. A note on disposables, some are made of cotton which itself can be problematic due to pesticide use and agricultural practices, others are made of bamboo. Make sure to weigh up the pros and cons and choose what works best for you. 

Here’s a thought… Besides the environmental and economic benefits of reusable period products, how great is that feeling of not being ‘caught out’ because you’ve run out of pads? If you’re a man, how aware are you about the variety of period products out there?

Useful resources: 

Eco period products and where to buy them in the UK https://www.wen.org.uk/2007/05/21/environmenstrualresources/ 

A great place to shop reusable and get advice https://www.theperiodlady.co.uk/

Help choosing a cup that fits as well as a range of tips and advice on all things period wear https://putacupinit.com/quiz/

Plastic 

How do we solve a problem like plastic…? it pollutes, its production is a driver of climate change, when broken down into microplastics it ends up everywhere (including us), to name a few issues. While the problem is understandably huge, there are actions that we can all take that collectively make a big difference. Pay attention to what plastic you throw out over the course of a week, what are you using the most (i.e. take away boxes, toiletry bottles, food packaging)? That will give you the best clue as to the targeted action you can take to reduce your plastic usage. For example:

• Shop loose fruit and vegetables and take your own bags
• Invest in a reusable water bottle and coffee cup
• Buy soap and shampoo bars in cardboard packaging instead of liquid and gel form
• Make your own (bread, yoghurt, pickles)
• Make sure you recycle and reuse what you can

Here’s a thought…look around where you are now, can you spot five things that have plastic? Are they necessary?

Helpful resources: 

Microplastic exposure https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/10/air-drinking-water-dust-food-how-to-reduce-exposure-microplastics 

Reducing plastic waste https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/reducereuserecycle/reduceandreuse/reduce-plastic-waste 

Pets 

Most pet owners are animal lovers by default. If this is you then you probably love nature and wildlife already. Being an eco pet owner takes this into account and is usually fairly straight forward to do. Here’s some tips: 

• Beware of flea treatment. Vets recommend regular flea treatment as prevention for fleas and ticks. However, flea treatment is a blanket killer for all invertebrates and highly toxic if it ends up in waterways. If your dog loves going into rivers then keep them away from water bodies for a few weeks after you’ve given them flea treatment. 
• Buy planet friendly toys, food, poop bags and cat litter. Pay attention to materials and emissions associated with these, you can even have a go at making your own! For example, clay based cat litters rely on destructing mining practices so opt for compostable options like sawdust. 
• Put a bell on your cat’s collar to prevent them from catching wildlife (not applicable to indoor cats), and don’t let your dog disturb wildlife such as nesting birds and deer when out walking. 

Here’s a thought…What’s the carbon footprint of your pet? 

Helpful resources:

Pet owner tips https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-be-eco-friendly-pet-owner 

Carbon pawprint calculator https://www.agriacarboncalculator.co.uk/

Q-tips

Ok so I’ve struggled to find a good tip starting with Q 😉. But Q-tips (or cotton buds) are a good place to start if you want to make a small change first. You can ditch them altogether (use a tissue or flannel around your finger to gently clean your ear after a shower), or you can replace the plastic ones with an eco-alternative. 

Rubbish: see also Zero waste

It’s so easy to overlook the amount of rubbish we produce. Once it’s in the bin and out the house it immediately stops being ‘our’ problem. Remember there are many ways of tackling waste:

Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Replace, Recycle, Refill, Repair, Regift, Rent

Here’s a thought…what do you think is the best way to tackle waste? Is it through policy? Or perhaps companies that produce waste should be held more accountable? 

Helpful resources: 

Recycling tips https://www.recyclingbins.co.uk/pages/recycling-tips?srsltid=AfmBOorbNlVLUYbGGL71U9C1gVrAH8rLVY-dOFEQcaaR2e8YLF742lD9 

Second hand: 

If you’re a bit of a shopaholic and can’t quite get yourself to buy less stuff, why not try going second hand? It has never been easier to buy clothes, furniture and all sorts of things through apps such as Vinted, Depop, Olio and Gumtree. You will probably still get that buzz when finding an item you like, with the benefit of it being a greener choice.

Consider selling some of the things you no longer need (and won’t miss) in the spirit of going second hand. There might be some money to be made at the back of your closet!

Here’s a thought… have you ever wondered what’s the story behind some of the things in charity shops? 

Helpful resources: 

Tips on buying second hand https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/team-blog/2024/10/charityshopping-30years-prelovedbuyingtips/ 

Travel & transport – see also Flying

As someone who has lived in many different countries I’ve experienced my fair share of car-centric and bike/pedestrian friendly cities. It may be no surprise that the cities I enjoyed the most were not those filled with cars and traffic. There is something so liberating about enjoying your commute whether it’s through pleasant walking routes, safe cycle lanes or reliable public transport. These ways of getting around not only have a much smaller carbon footprint, but they are way cheaper than owning a car.

If you really can’t give up the car, how about car pooling with friends/family?

If you’re travelling as a tourist, how can you reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation? Can you choose accommodation that is eco-friendly?

Here’s a thought… what one thing would help you move away from regular car use?

Helpful resources:

Ethical and eco hosting options: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/jan/15/a-break-from-the-accommodation-mega-sites-the-best-alternative-booking-platforms

Build your cycling confidence https://lcc.org.uk/groups/cycle-buddies/

Upcycling

Giving new life to pre-loved furniture can be both fun and economical. It would also give you a unique piece of furniture that no-one else has. In addition, most old furniture is better quality than newer versions. So why not have a go and try it out as a DIY project? 

Here’s a thought… if you don’t have a piece of furniture to upcycle, where could you find some near you? (charity shop, car boot sale, friends and family)

Helpful resources: 

Tips on upcycling for beginners https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/renovate/upcycle/a1911/upcycling-beginners/ 

https://www.freecycle.org/

Volunteering:

There are opportunities galore to get involved in being green in your spare time. You can join an established group/charity or even do something on your own like go litter picking solo. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy connecting with other like-minded volunteers and communities.

Here’s a thought… How can your unique skills and hobbies play a part in being an eco friendly volunteer? For example, leading a nature walk in your local area, or creating social media content to raise awareness about climate change. 

Helpful resources: 

The benefits of volunteering https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm 

Barnet volunteering https://volunteeringbarnet.org.uk/ 

Water usage

Water is something most of us take for granted, but it is a vital resource that needs to be taken care of and protected. If you have a water meter, using less water = saving money. So here are some actions you can take to do this: 

• Take shorter showers. If you let the water run while it warms up, place a bucket to collect this water and use it to water plants/mop floors/flush toilets. 
• Be mindful every time you open the tap during day-to-day activities (brushing teeth, washing dishes, gardening etc)
• Limit your flushing or get a dual flush
• Fix any leaks

Here’s a thought…How do you feel when you’re around a clean body of water (river, sea, pool, bath)? How you feel if this water was dirty/polluted?

Helpful resources: 

More tips on saving water https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/households/conservingwater/watersavingtips/ 

https://www.affinitywater.co.uk/saveourstreams/tips

Websites

Perhaps not something for everyone, but if you have a website think about how you can make this more eco-friendly. This piece is purposefully written with no fancy bits or colourful pictures for the simple reason that they take up more energy. 

Helpful resources

Tips on designing an eco-friendly website https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/building-websites/make-website-eco-friendly/#:~:text=GreenGeeks%20has%20even%20been%20recognized,best%20green%20web%20hosting%20providers. 

Work

Have you considered being more environmentally friendly at work? I believe most jobs can be green jobs by making sustainability part of how we run processes. Perhaps there are opportunities to create a network of like-minded colleagues to bring about change to your organisation like planting pollinator friendly plants if your office has a garden/balcony, or using eco-friendly cleaning products. Many organisations offer volunteering days, could you take one up and give your time to an environmental cause?

Here’s a thought… what actions can you take to make your job ‘greener’?

Helpful resources 

Kit out your office/home office refurbished furniture and save money too https://www.officeresale.co.uk/ 

Xmas and other festivities. At the risk of sounding like Scrooge, Christmas (and other holidays) can be really wasteful; wrapping paper, presents you don’t want, excess food and drink. Somewhere along the way the meaning of Christmas has morphed away from baby Jesus towards hyper consumerism. But here’s some actions you can take to make it all about the love for family and planet:

Wrapping paper: Make/buy cloth wrapping bags with are reusable for life. You can also wrap presents in newspaper or brown paper, if the thought of ‘ugly’ paper sends you into a panic why not paint on it and call it ‘personalised artsy wrapping paper?’ I have also been known to reuse wrapping paper that is in good condition, so far I don’t think anyone has noticed! if you must buy wrapping paper then make sure its FSC & recyclable and not the one with shiny plastic as this can’t be recycled.

Presents: Instead of buying everyone a gift how about a secret Santa this year? Or agreeing beforehand only to give gifts to children – they are allowed to have fun after all! Speak to your family/friends/colleagues, how do they feel about second hand good condition gifts? Re gifting is also a choice here if you feel comfortable doing so. And finally, food is a great gift, home-made jams and curds can be made in batches or if your cooking skills aren’t great then buying some really good quality food is more likely to be appreciated than that dreaded scented candle. 

Food: Try to avoid making so much food that it ends up going in the bin. Think also about the carbon footprint of your meal, can you make it using only local and seasonal ingredients?

Christmas trees: This can be tricky. A plastic tree, used for ten years+ can be considered an eco choice from an emissions perspective. However, what happens to it once it’s no longer usable? Landfill. Alternatives are to buy a locally sourced tree. The closer its grown to home, the less its transport emissions. Once Christmas is over, make sure to recycle it, most councils do this. Even better, buy a native potted tree that can be planted afterwards or rent a potted tree. This way it can continue to capture carbon long after the festivities are over. 

Decorations & cards: Try to avoid cards if you can (in fact this goes for most ‘disposable’ items) and avoid cheap plastic decorations. Invest in better quality things that can be reused, or if you’re up for it and love being creative; make your own! A friend of mine made Christmas decorations out of orange peels… beautiful, fun and 100% biodegradable.

For birthday parties in particular, challenge yourself to avoid balloons. I know the odd balloon can be incredibly fun for kids, but things like balloon arches are just excessive plastic that probably ends up getting eaten by wildlife.

Here’s a thought… How do traditions get started and what meaning do they hold for you? Could you start your own family traditions that revolve around being more environmentally friendly? 

Helpful resources:

Rent a Christmas tree https://www.londonchristmastreerental.com/ 

Cute orange peel decorations https://www.mudandbloom.com/blog/orange-peel-decorations 

Ballon alternatives for decoration https://greenecofriend.co.uk/eco-friendly-alternatives-to-balloons/ 

 Yes, we can! 

Adding a little post to encourage you because I know living sustainably can feel overwhelming at times. You are not alone in trying to be green! If you’re feeling alone in this journey reach out to your local community. Together we can make all the difference. 

The future can seem bleak after scrolling the news, but it’s important to remember that the future hasn’t happened yet. Your actions, and their consequences, start right now. We all have the power to influence our future, usually through small incremental changes and ideas. Imagine the future you want, and then think about how you can make that happen by what you accomplish today.

If you need extra motivation, remember there are usually multiple arguments FOR being green other than ‘it’s the right thing to do’ (physical and mental health, financial etc). 

Here’s a thought….Who inspires you to take action? 

Useful resources: 

The benefits of reverting rivers to a more natural state (check out the cost of flood management in the example) https://youtu.be/zkmJRJaPBXE 

Zero waste

Zero waste means, ultimately, not sending anything to landfill. While it may seem impossible at times, it can help to track your progress by measuring (such as weighing) your waste each week. There may come a point where you simply cannot eliminate waste completely but if you manage to reduce it that’s progress and you deserve a pat on the back! 

Here are some ideas on how you might achieve zero waste: 

Rethink – do I really need this brand new lamp/bowl?

Refuse – I can do without so many hair products in my life!

Reduce – I really do need hair products but may be applying too much…

Replace – I can easily replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo one

Recycle – cardboard, glass, aluminium are easily recyclable, plastic can be confusing so check out this guide and what your council collects. Composting is nature’s way of recycling, it’s really easy, satisfying and great for your garden/balcony plants.

Refill – seek out your closest zero waste shop or bulk buy.

Repair – mending clothes can be quick and easy and a really valuable skill, fixing some electric gadgets can be done at home, or taken to repair shops.

Regift – perhaps you were given something that isn’t ‘you’ but someone else might appreciate it

Rent – some places let you rent items such as tools or bikes at a fraction of the cost. A great way to save money and space at home for short term one-off needs.

Here’s a thought…Where does your rubbish ultimately end up? 

Helpful resources:

How some people have gone zero waste https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/06/zero-waste-warriors-meet-the-people-whose-household-rubbish-fits-in-a-jam-jar 

Finchley’s refill shop https://impactstore.co.uk/ 

Barnet repair café’s and furniture reuse centre https://ecoshowandtell.org/directory/ and https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/reducereuserecycle/reduceandreuse/repair-cafes 

Tips on how to recycle at home and at work https://www.recyclingbins.co.uk/pages/recycling-tips?srsltid=AfmBOorbNlVLUYbGGL71U9C1gVrAH8rLVY-dOFEQcaaR2e8YLF742lD9 

That’s all folks! I hope you found these tips helpful and informative. Did you take action? I’d love to know what worked (or didn’t) for you, as well as any tips of your own. Please feel free to reach out on ourecojourney@outlook.com 

Teresa is a Barnet resident with a passion for environmental sustainability and community action. She is the founder of Local Action for Mutton Brook (LAMB) and loves observing and learning about local wildlife. 

This page contains affiliate links for information only. No commission is received from sharing these links.

Copyright © 2025 A to Z Eco Tips by Teresa Due

Teresa is a Barnet resident with a passion for environmental sustainability
and community action. She is the founder of Local Action for Mutton Brook
(LAMB) and loves observing and learning about local wildlife.

This page contains affiliate links for information only. No commission is received from sharing these links.
Copyright © 2025 A to Z Eco Tips by Teresa Due

---