Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.
Anna Lappe, O Magazine, June 2003
I’ve come to the realisation that consuming better is easier than consuming less! As I have sought to live more sustainably, I’ve made many small changes. I still however have many many areas where I can live more justly. I don’t tend to write about the things that aren’t going so well!
Do what you can…and then do a bit more.
Bathroom
I’ve switched from using Tresemme shampoo and conditioner daily to (mostly) using Lush shampoo (in a bottle) and conditioner (bar), along with reducing washing to every other day.
Dove soap → Lush bar soap (no plastic packaging)
Plastic toothbrush → Bamboo toothbrush
Sanitary towels and tampons → CSP and Mooncup
Roll on deodorant → deodorant bar from Lush and Faith in Nature deodorant stick (for more sweaty days!)
Supermarket baby bubble bath → Humphrey’s Corner bubble bath (recycled plastic bottles) and for occasional fun Lush bubble bars
Supermarket toilet roll → Who Gives a Crap?
Disposable razor → Safety razor
Makeup from Boots → makeup from Green People
Wet wipes → Cheeky Wipes and Naty wipes
Disposable nappies → Cloth nappies and Naty nappies
Perfume → an organic natural perfume
Kitchen
Standard washing up liquid and hand wash → Clean and Fair products
Standard dishwasher powder → Ecozone
Kitchen sponges → EuroScrubby
Cling film → Beeswax wrappers
Snact – fruit jerky made from food waste in a compostable packet
Pasta, rice, chips and washing up powder in boxes
Olive oil in a huge tin rather than a plastic bottle
Loose leaf tea
Fairtrade tea and coffee
Milk in glass bottles
Vegetables, meat and fruit from Church Farm
Squash’d (we can’t stop the squash completely and we don’t like the one in a glass bottle!)
Pre-loved bread machine
Nutella → Mr Organic Chocolate spread
Supermarket peanut butter → Meridian peanut butter
Supermarket tuna → tuna caught by a line e.g. The Reel Fish Co Tuna
Tesco → Ocado (read their CSR page here and if you’re really keen there’s a whole report here!)
I’m experimenting using vinegar, citric acid and bicarb to clean with!
Amazon Alternatives now have their very own blog post (I need to add World of Books)
We’ve also swapped to bulb – a green gas and electricity supplier
iPhone → Fairphone
Arena Flowers – the UK’s no 1 rated ethical florist
Helpful websites
Journey to Zero-waste UK Facebook group
Disclaimer: I am not paid for any of these recommendations and you buy from any of the above sites at your own risk!
[Page updated April 2018)
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