How to supercharge your sustainability during lock-down
One of the many things this lockdown has taught us is that maybe the environment needed the break it’s been given.
From clearer water in Venice to blue skies in Beijing, the world is seeing a positive benefit on the environment as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Whilst we've got a little bit of extra headspace during lock-down, it's the perfect time to make small changes to make your purchase decisions a bit more sustainable.
Now, it’s all very well us saying that we need to make better choices with our money, but one of the most common questions we get asked is ‘where do I start??'.
We suggest starting with ONE type of product that you buy regularly (for example, washing up liquid) and evaluate how sustainable that product is. If it's not ticking the boxes, maybe now is the time to find an alternative.
There are so many elements that make a product more or less 'sustainable'. So to make life a bit easier, we've put together this 5-step checklist so that you can easily research the key elements.
Packaging- Is it recyclable? Better still, is it compostable?
- Is there a zero-waste alternative that will do the same job?
Ingredients
- Will they cause harm to marine life when washed down the sink?
- Are they tested on animals?
- Will they potentially cause you harm?
- Are these ingredients depleting the world's natural resources?
Sourcing
- Where were your products made? How many air-miles were clocked up getting the product to you and is there a more local alternative?
- Were the workers treated fairly?
- Were the materials sourced sustainably?
Brand values
- Does the brand you’re buying from care about the environment?
- Are they giving back?
- Do you care if the profit they generate is used for good not for bad?
Quality
- Will this product work exactly as you need it to?
- Will it last as long as you need it to?
If you go through the products you buy all the time and do a bit of research, you’ll find that there are usually more sustainable versions of what you spend your money on.
Make that change. Vote with your money – if we all do, then those dolphins swimming in the canals of Venice? They might be there the next time you visit.
Next up on the blog, we'll be taking a look at a few of the big product categories and sharing the sustainable products and brands we love.
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