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zerowastedoc

🌍Sustainability advice for busy people
🌱Realistic Zero Waste living
💛Social and environmental justice
🌿Climate Activist 🎓UK NHS Doctor ➕Christian

Ad Small Steps can add up to a Big Impact
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Using a reusable water bottle and mug, buying second hand clothes and furniture, composting, reducing food waste and eating more unpackaged plant based foods are just a few of the small steps we start to make when trying to reduce our waste. And over time if we make those changes, and then influence others to make similar changes, this adds up to a big impact.
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I was recently interviewed by @zannavandijk on the Small Steps, Big Impact podcast about ways we can make small changes that add up to a significant difference. We don’t just talk about individual waste, but talk about ways we can reach out to those in power to make a difference on a local, or national scale.
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If you’d like to have a listen to my episode, or any of the previous episodes with some amazing guests, I’ll share the link in my stories. The podcast is made in partnership with @dove who moved to using 100% recycled plastic in their bottles - because what’s the point in us encouraging infrastructure for recycling if that plastic isn’t being used?
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This weekend I’m going to again write to my local councillors about food waste collections. What one small step are you going to try this week?
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#beautifullyunique #Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

The problem with Instagram activism.
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The problem being for the vast majority of the time it isn’t activism!!
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Most of us feel like we learning things on Instagram, and we do, but quite superficially. We’re bombarded with so much information that we can feel overwhelmed. But given the size of captions or of an infographic, we often are getting only a tiny bit of information on a subject. And then many people share about the same things as it’s topical, so we get a very shallow, repeated discussion about something. Compared with a documentary, book or podcast, the depth of information is limited.
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We also tend to attract an echo chamber, where the people we follow and those who follow us tend to have similar views and knowledge. So we’re preaching to the choir, not sharing new information.
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And the risk is that when we create or share a post, we feel like we’ve done “activism”. Like we’ve done our part to help - when often it’s actually limiting our action in the real world. I’ve fallen into that trap - putting off writing to my MP in favour of writing an Instagram post, or feeling too information overloaded to listen to an educational podcast. Why read a book when Instagram tricks you into thinking you’re learning as much?
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So I’m trying to work out how to do this differently. To make sure what I’m sharing with you is educational and not just noise. But also leave you, and myself, margin to engage in real activism and educational work. I’m not sure what it will look like and I’m pretty sure it will go against the things Instagram likes, but who cares. We can do more good out there than on here!
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Have you found, like me, that you sometimes forget to do real learning as you’re too overwhelmed with “information” from Instagram?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste #lowimpactmovement

Ad| Nature, the climate and mental health 🌱 Lo

Ad| Nature, the climate and mental health 🌱

Lots of research has shown the benefit of nature on mood and mental health. @mindcharity has lots of information on its website about it if you’re interested in learning more. But sometimes getting outside in nature is hard, especially going into winter. However bringing nature inside still brings much of the same benefit, which is why we’re often drawn to filling our homes with plants. After spending the days in very clinical hospitals I love coming home to a house filled with plants.

The more we also connect with nature, the more it can change our behaviour, making us more cooperative (yup it’s been researched) and want to fight to protect it more. So actually protecting nature for others to spend time in can create a positive feedback loop of change. But taking away green spaces and access to nature can reinforce a negative one. This is why we need to push local councils to value and prioritise outside spaces with access for all!

How we choose to fill our homes can then hugely impact our wellbeing, and how we act! But like anything we buy, it matters how these plants are sourced and sold.

If you live in London, @thestem_uk is a sustainable online garden centre, with electric delivery vans and sustainable packaging. They are donating 100% of the profits made today to the @mentalhealthfoundation, so if you want to bring more nature inside then head over and grab something. But if you live outside London never fear! They are donating 50p for every Instagram post of plants in October with the hashtag #planthappiness and tagging @thestem_uk. So get sharing 🌿

Further reading: paper “Cooperation is in our nature: Nature exposure may promote cooperative and environmentally sustainable behavior”

Ad - PR sample
#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving

Inspiration vs. comparison
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It’s a fine line isn’t it? Between being motivated to do something new or better, to keep going when it gets tough, to start something you’ve always wanted to and being a better version of yourself, to a place where you feel worse, where everything you do isn’t good enough, where you’re never content, where you’re lead by anxiety instead of inspiration.
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And social media is so often part of the problem! Comparing your everyday to someone’s highlight reel (literally now!) is so easy.
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I follow some incredible climate activists in this space. Like seriously, they make me so much more hopeful for the future, but my job means I cannot do all the things they do. And trying to leaves me burnt out. But I follow them because they inspire me to do better, but to do better in a way that works for ME not for them.
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If social media leaves you feeling anxious or worthless instead of inspired and filled up, take a break. Analyse how long your spend on here and your feed and unfollow anyone that doesn’t encourage or inspire or teach. This isn’t at all a free pass to unfollow intersectional educators, especially those of colour who teach you things that aren’t always easy to hear. But it is to say that you also need to consider your mental health. You can, and should, do both.
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Conscious consumption doesn’t just include physical things. It can include information and social media too. And mindless consumption and comparison is a trap that benefits no one!

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #lowimpactmovement #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

Oh, hi there burnout ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I

Oh, hi there burnout
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I turned off Instagram for a week of holiday and it just continued for three weeks. Honestly it could have been longer and I wasn’t sure whether to come back on today but I still think there’s value in this space. Hope, I guess. It turns out a lot of that stuff I “didn’t have time for”, I had time for, I was just using it to scroll Instagram and it was making me burnt out.
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Instagram can be such a powerful tool but only if you control it wisely, otherwise it controls you. There are some amazing people on here who inspire me, that I also now call friends. But I was following so many people that every time I went online I was overloaded with information. All valuable, but to the point where it meant I was so burnt out that I couldn’t do any learning for myself. I was trying to teach from an empty well. I also couldn’t work out what issues I personally cared about as I was overwhelmed by the noise of thousands of other people’s passions. All those causes are important but I’m only one person and I have limits. I’m finite. And I’m an individual. So I needed to spend my time focusing on the things I’m called to fight for. And I’ve realised these past week that that’s okay!
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So I’ve unfollowed a lot of people (mainly brands as I don’t need more advertising in my life even if they’re sustainable) and set limits on my time. I’m taking time off Instagram regularly. Most importantly I’m trying to work out what I want to share with you so that I don’t add to the noise of social media. I want to help you not hinder you. I want to encourage you, not be a source of comparison. I want to be compassionate, not judgemental.
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I’m building margin into my life to avoid burnout again, so let’s see what it will look like in this space.
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Has anyone else changed the way they engage with social media this year?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement

So it’s the end of zero waste week... but it’s

So it’s the end of zero waste week... but it’s also 2020, so I imagine it’s been different to previous years!
So how can you still live a zero waste life during a global pandemic?

Here are 10 tips!

1. Make your coffee at home
2. Look for packaging free produce - are veg boxes, co-operatives or community gardens available?
3. Make your own lunches
4. Reuse whatever you’re still allowed to
5. Reduce animal products in your diet
6. Find a new recipe for something you usually buy in packaging
7. Audit your food waste, and reduce it.
8. Buy in bulk (without a bulk shop)
9. Repair something you would have thrown away ordinarily
10. If you need something new, support a local small business - they’re struggling this year!

And bonus, take the time to write to someone in power to make changes that reduce waste on a national or global scale!

For more details and explanations, I’ve turned this post into a whole blog post on my website - link in my bio!

How are you finding being zero waste in a pandemic? What’s working well for you? 💛

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste #zerowasteweek

ALL of my zero waste bathroom products! After my p

ALL of my zero waste bathroom products!
After my post on Monday about ways to reduce waste in the bathroom I got messages about what I specifically use, so here’s a run down:

🛁Shampoo bar (2in1) by @zerowastepath
🧴Conditioner by @innocenthaircare - designed for Afro hair if anyone has been on the hunt and I use it on my ends
🧼Home made soap bar but refilled liquid hand soap
🪒Vintage stainless steel razor (with soap)
🧽Flannel for exfoliation
💅🏻Makeup by @zaomakeup
🧺Makeup remover by the Body Shop in a tin
🩸Menstrual products - @mooncupltd, @wukawear pants, @honouryourflow pads
💋Currently lip balm in plastic, but usually in a tin or cardboard tube
🛀🏿Bathbombs - Lush of course
🧖🏼‍♀️Dry shampoo - homemade
💪🏻Moisturiser bar by @ethiqueworld and face moisturiser by @upcirclebeauty
🧻TP by @greencanepaper
🕳And conventional anti-perspiration and toothpaste

These products won’t necessarily work for you as we all have different skin and hair types and lifestyles, but there are lots of different options out there. Look to try to support small businesses too if you can, as they’re likely struggling this year!

What zero waste products are you struggling to find?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

Low carbon holidays 💛 So holidays are a slightl

Low carbon holidays 💛
So holidays are a slightly taboo subject in 2020 but maybe we can say that staycations are definitely having a moment. Whether it’s a staycation in your own home, city or just in your own country.
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But local holidays are also a good way to reduce your waste too. Flying is a privilege that creates a lot of carbon emissions. For many with family around the world it may be impossible to stop flying completely, but we should be trying to minimise this - especially because if you’ve flown abroad recently, you have a privilege many don’t have. The people who contribute the least to climate change often suffer the most from the consequences of it.

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•In 2018, 126.2 million [plane] passengers were British – totalling 8.6%, roughly one in 12, of all international travellers. The UK was followed by the US (111.5 million, or 7.6% of all passengers) and China (97 million, 6.6%).
•1% of English residents take one-fifth of overseas flights
•10% most frequent flyers in England took more than half of all international flights in 2018.
•However, 48% of the UK population did not take a single flight abroad in 2018.
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It’s interesting to think about the interest in staycations in the future. Will they be more popular or less so once we can travel more easily again? I honestly don’t know but I’m hoping it’s the former.
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What do you think will happen to the popularity of staycations in the future given the pandemic? I definitely am more excited about staycations than ever!

Photo from my staycation in January 💛

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

Oh the bathroom. Such a source of waste. But also

Oh the bathroom. Such a source of waste. But also one of the rooms where there are now so many alternatives to help you avoid waste.
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So my top tips for avoiding waste in your bathroom:
🧼 Go solid. Shampoo bars, soap, deodorant, perfume, bath bombs, moisturiser, foundation, toothtabs. If you can get it solid you can often avoid packaging but also save the fuel waste of transporting extra water around!
🧴 Refill it. If solid isn’t an option, then refills are a great alternative. Refill shampoo, conditioner, soap, cleaning supplies, makeup - great for liquid products you can’t get packaging free.
🪒 Invest in reusables. Metal razor, makeup rounds, glass nail file, menstrual cup, period pants or pads. Reusables cost more initially but often save you money long term.
🛁 DIY it. Dry shampoo to vinegar limescale remover. Do as many or as few as your time allows.
🧻 Choose better materials. Metal or glass containers can be reused and recycled more easily than plastic if needed. Compostable plasters. Bamboo toothbrushes. Recycled paper toilet roll. There’s always better options out there.
🧽 Buy less. Simplify your routine and you’ll end up wasting less overall.
🛁 Save water. Turn that tap off as you brush or shave. Cut showers short and reuse grey water for plants. Get adaptors for your taps and toilet to reduce water waste.
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So, there you have the most concise list of ways to reduce waste in the bathroom. Save it for when you need it 💛
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What have I missed? What’s your favourite way to reduce waste in a bathroom?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste #zerowasteweek

Sunday Sustainability Stories: Sustainable living

Sunday Sustainability Stories:
Sustainable living looks different for everyone so it’s important we hear different voices and stories.

Reposted with consent by @heyashleyrenne

“This lil’ baby has come a long way (SWIPE 👈🏽 to see its growth over time) from its humble beginning as a piece of food scrap from my fridge. Time to harvest!⁣
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👩🏽‍🌾 Initially I grew this scallion to a decent size simply by putting the roots in a glass of water on my windowsill and watching it regrow. After following the advice of @mint2grow, I transferred it to a pot of soil and observed it triple in size to get even more bang for my buck.⁣
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✂️ To harvest these, I use scissors to trim about 75% of the green from the plant. This allows the green shoots to grow back in over the course of about two weeks.⁣
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🌱 How is your food growing (or re-growing) going this season? Have you been able to harvest anything yet?⁣
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Stay green y'all 💚”

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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste #sundaysustainabilitystories

Ad PR sample So I tried out the new @loopstoreuk

Ad PR sample So I tried out the new @loopstoreuk package free food delivery for you!

Loop looks different in every country it’s in so far but in the U.K. they’ve partnered with Tesco so it’s available to basically all areas of the U.K. You can order your food online, placing a deposit for the containers and it arrives at your door the next day. Once you’ve unloaded the food you can get your containers collected and get your deposits back. Simple! Now I love a small independent zero waste shop, so what can Loop offer that’s different?

Benefits of Loop:
- Accessible everywhere in the UK, which may be benefit if you don’t have an unpackaged shop or have to drive far to one.
- May make unpackaged more appealing to those who always do online food shopping and so who would never go into a physical bulk shop.
- Hopefully will make unpackaged items more common!

The cost was roughly the same as my local bulk stores. I was hoping as partnered with Tesco that Loop would have comparable prices to the supermarket, but for now they are the same, and the deposits do add on a reasonable cost that can make it financially impractical for some, even though you get that money back. Hopefully it will get cheaper as use increases.

I’m not sure how I feel about brands like coca-cola being available when they’re still one of the largest plastic polluters in the world. I’m concerned that the responsibility will fall on the consumer not them, but then again, if someone routinely buys these products in packaging, then this is a better option.

Overall, it‘s still exciting to see initiatives like Loop starting around the world. Nothing that works within the economic system we currently have can ever be perfect, as the system itself is flawed, so its up to you to decide whether something like Loop works for your lifestyle, or if your local independent zero waste shop works best.

What do you think about initiatives like Loop?

[If you want to try Loop you can get 20% discount with code NATALIE20 until September 15th on your first order]

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #lowimpactmovement #lowwasteliving

Over £19 billion worth of food is wasted in the U

Over £19 billion worth of food is wasted in the UK every year.
Globally it’s a staggering $984 billion - 1/3 of all food produced, but yet 1 in 9 people go to bed hungry each night.
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UK households throw away 6.6 million tonnes of food waste, but by reducing this an average household could save £500 each year. And according to Project Drawdown reducing food waste is the 3rd most important solution to reverse climate change!
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So top tips for reducing food waste:
🍎 Buy odd, wonky and single fruit and vegetables so they don’t get thrown
🍊 Store food correctly and keep your fridge below 5°C
🍋 Use your freezer to preserve things easily
🍐 Ignore “sell by” dates
🍏 Make a meal plan
🍆 Know your portion size so you don’t over cook
🍇 Use up leftovers and food scraps
🥥 Audit what foods you often throw away - those are the ones you need to focus on!
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There are so many ways to reduce food waste and save yourself some money, and I’ve only just scratched the surface. What are your favourite ways?
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste #foodwaste

Zero waste doesn’t mean I produce zero waste. Fa

Zero waste doesn’t mean I produce zero waste.
Faaaaaaar from it!

Zero waste is a manufacturing term about a way of producing something where nothing is wasted; heat is repurposed, water reused, the product recycled at the end of life etc. It’s been co-opted to name a movement so let’s be honest it’s never going to be a perfect name, nothing ever is.

Except nature is zero waste. Before we disrupted it, everything was in balance - the carbon cycle, water cycle, nitrogen cycle and many more. So for me, zero waste is about replicating nature and trying to live in a more circular economy and world.

Where nothing is wasted, and landfills become pointless, and we live within our means as a planet and as people. Not driving ourselves to burnout seeking constant growth demanded by our GDP model.

It’s currently not possible due to the society we live in (so we need to fight and advocate for change to that society) so waste is unavoidable. Even when we’re trying!

These are some of my “zero waste” buys that obviously still create waste but generally worked toward reducing waste whilst I found long term circular solutions like refills.

If we want to move toward a circular, zero waste world, what in society needs to change? And who do you need to speak to to advocate for that change?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

Sunday Sustainability Stories: Sustainable living

Sunday Sustainability Stories:
Sustainable living looks different for everyone so it’s important we hear different voices and stories.

Reposted with consent by @tiffanyalex_
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“Over the weekend, my partner and I took a much needed trip to Mesilla, New Mexico! We ate at a Mexican restaurant and we really enjoyed our time together! (Swipe for a sight of the yummy virgin drinks we had & beautiful scenery) 😍😍⁣
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I also did some reflecting about switching my wardrobe to a more minimal one. I strictly shop secondhand & ethically made clothing. ⁣
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However, I tend to get clothing I don’t usually end up wearing and I know! I’m no where near perfect. I’m realizing day by day what I need to do to make my wardrobe as minimal as possible. For one thing, it takes A LOT of time to reconstruct your wardrobe. So here are tips I’ve stay committed to during my sustainable journey!⁣
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Simple ways to improve your wardrobe that will help to reduce your carbon footprint on the planet! ⁣
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👖: Opt for high quality plant based fabrics at your local thrift store (check out my blog post if you need to know what they are) ⁣
🌎: Donate unwanted clothes (please do not throw them away!) ⁣
🌎: Shop ethically and locally! ⁣
🌎: Repurpose your clothing! ⁣
🌎: Invest in seasonal clothing (clothing that you know you’ll wear all year long !)⁣
🌎: Buy better quality clothing so that they’ll last longer⁣
🌎: Buy secondhand, swap or rent clothing (especially if your going to an event and searching everywhere to find a dress that you may probably wear once or twice or maybe even a few times, try renting it!)⁣
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These tips have helped me remain eco-conscious when it comes to shopping for clothing. Just please remember to apply effort in your shopping habits so we can all aim for a better and healthier planet now and for future generations! ⁣
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Entire outfit thrifted”⁣
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #lowimpactmovement #sundaysustainabilitystories

Living zero waste when you’re busy is hard but i

Living zero waste when you’re busy is hard but it’s possible if you’re clever about it. I’ve had to learn this the hard way over the past few years, so here are my tips for trying to reduce your waste when busy are:

1. Set yourself up for success. Do tasks that make your life easier for when life throws you a curve ball. For me that’s having my bag stocked with reusables, meals in the freezer, shopping for a month of dried food at a time, getting a vegetable box delivered and making a meal plan. So no matter what the day throws at me, I’m covered!

2. Group similar jobs together. Often getting started is the hardest thing. So where you can, batch task together. Similar to how I only dry food shop once instead of 4 times, I love bulk cooking in a slow cooker or making double at dinner time to take for lunch the next day.

3. Prioritise low input-high yield zero waste actions. For me, some zero waste diy projects take so long, and avoid so little waste that they’re just not worth it on my schedule, so I buy pre-made options instead. Like zero waste makeup I buy, but a simple 2 ingredient dry shampoo I make. Focus on actions that either don’t need much time, or are worth it because they’re high yield. Another example of high yield low input in writing to your MP or councillors to make changes.

4. Remember you time is financially valuable. All my money is based on hours I worked. So I try to remember this when thinking about sustainability. Sometimes things are worth the time, but sometimes it’s simpler to invest your money and save time. Repairing shoes is one of these examples - paying someone to do it for me costs some money but is quicker than me doing it, so worth it overall. Also keeps these skills in the local community 💛

We need to make zero waste living sustainable for us. What are your tips to zero waste when busy?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #sustainableliving #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian

Focus on what you can control!
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A lot in the world of sustainability is out of our hands. Especially this year. The decisions made by big corporations and governments, yes, can be influenced by us, but ultimately they are not our decisions. Like my favourite takeaway, which I can no longer get in reusables. Feeling guilt about those things, when they’re not in your hands, is not productive. So instead we need to focus on what you can control.
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You CAN control making the best decision within the options you are given.
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You CAN often control who you buy from, within the possibilities open to you.
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You CAN control what you do when you are frustrated about your options. Feeling guilt or moaning to someone aren’t productive. Writing to or emailing someone with the possibility to change things is productive. Tweet them, tag them, call them out on social media, ask for what you want. You can’t make those decisions for them, but making your opinion and values known can help them work for you. Brands want your business and politicians want your votes so (in general) they’re inclined to do things that go along with the will of the people they serve. But they can’t serve you if they don’t know what you want!
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So today, focus on what you can control. Not to placate you, but as a call to action.
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See something you don’t like? Ditch the guilt, and reach out to someone with the power to change things!
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What things have you been putting off contacting someone about that you should do this weekend? #writetothem
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

How do you stay motivated?
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This is such a tough topic. Zero waste living, and activism work, are both areas that are inconvenient! It can be so easy to feel demoralised and want to give up. So how do you stay motivated?
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For me it’s a combination of things.
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🔴 I don’t want to retired and living through heatwaves of 40°C!
🟠 Climate breakdown and pollution have known medical implications and I need to tackle that as a doctor.
🟡 The babies we see born will mostly live to 2100 - what will their future be like, and how can I help?
🟢 People are already living through a climate crisis today round the world, I feel a responsibility to act for them too.
🔵 It’s being a good, loving neighbour to people on the planet now, and to come, and that’s linked to my faith.
🟣 I want to look back and know that I tried my best to help avoid a climate breakdown.
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Motivation is so personal but we need it to keep us going when things are hard. What are your motivations?
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #sustainableliving #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian

Zero waste snacks to eat when you’re emailing yo

Zero waste snacks to eat when you’re emailing your MP.
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My fave zero waste snacks?
- Salted Popcorn
- Dried fruit and nuts
- Carrot sticks and homemade hummus
- Fruit
- Pick-a-mix
- Pastries bought without packaging 💕
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But we need to remember that as important as reducing our personal waste is, it’s not activism and it’s not where we should stop our work. Zero waste is a great place to start, but a bad place to stop.
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We need to push for wider scale political and social change. And to do that we need to look beyond our own lives. We need to campaign for the things that impact our whole communities and nation.
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So now that we have our zero waste snack to fuel us, how about you write to your MP?
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Firstly - find your local representatives on Writetothem.com
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Think about an issue close to your heart. Is it food waste collections? Or public transport? Or green housing? Or refugee rights? Or a green recovery plan? Or anything else? Who in your area should you write to - your MP or your local councillors? (NB your MPs voting record can be found at theyworkforus.com).
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Draft an email, or better yet a letter, have a little snack, and send it off.
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Your letter alone might not make a difference, but you also don’t know if you’re the email that brings a tipping point!
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So challenge for this week? #writetothem! What will you be asking about?
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

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