Every day we are bombarded with climate change propaganda.
Articles, blogs, videos, documentaries; endless outlets expressing worries and concerns about the environment.
The problem seems overwhelming.
A few years ago, I started to think about the changes I could make to help. I realised that the small changes we make as individuals accumulate into collective change.
Start where you are, you don’t need to make drastic changes to help.
1. Ditch the car or bus for walking or cycling once a week
Make a rule to walk anywhere under a mile.
Get your step count up and cut down on carbon emissions.
2. Pick up three pieces of rubbish a day
Inspired by my summer in Orkney…
Can you imagine if we all picked up 3 pieces of litter up a day?! WE could pick up twenty-two billion five hundred ninety million pieces of rubbish A DAY!!!
3. Buy less fast fashion
This is something I have really been working on the last few years. Living in Orkney really helped me make the switch and stop buying random t-shirts. I started shopping Charity shops- it literally changed my life! When I was younger I always dismissed charity shops. I thought I will never be able to find things I liked. Turns out I could not have been more wrong!
<<Here is one of my incredible finds, a jacket I use almost daily cost £6! Yes, £6, I had to ask the sales assistant if it was a mistake.
Have a look in your local charity shops, or top tip travel to affluent areas and explore the charity shops! My friend does this whenever she needs some new clothes and ends up finding incredible things.
Edinburgh College has partnered up with Granton Goes Greener to run a swap shop at Granton Campus.
“There will be plenty of free clothes that you can take away with you...you can also bring in clothing that you don't want any more, so it can find a new home.”
Next event is on Wednesday 6th February 12-2pm .
Also check out the incredible Shrub (Swap and Reuse hub) in Edinburgh.
“Bring in an item and a lovely Swapshop volunteer will value it in Shrub-tokens, you can then look around the shop and spend your tokens on the great items that others in the community have swapped in! Easy!”
4. Be more conscious of what you are buying; food products, cleaning products, beauty products.
We don’t need to run out and swap everything we have in our cupboards or fridge. Start when your products run out or breakdown…
Consider how the product is made and how it impacts the environment.
What happens when the chemicals from our shampoo and soap go down the plug hole? Or when we through away plastic toothbrushes?
Maybe start by swapping your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one? OR reading what chemicals are in your beauty products. >> Blog I wrote on the impact of beauty products on our health and the environment.
Everything we buy generates money for businesses. This creates a demand for the product. Which means that they create more of this product to meet the demand.
If we start buying products that are better for us and for the environment, business will need to adjust to meet the demand.
This is already happening all over the world right now. New companies have been created and old companies are changing their products.
None of these ideas can work in separation. We need to work together to help save the environment. The small changes we make as individuals accumulate into collective change.
For the environment, for us, for the animals, for the future.
It feels really good to know you are making a difference, no matter how small, you can contribute to the change that is needed in the world.
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