Simple ways to GO GREEN
Eco-conscious author Jo Stewart reveals how every bit helps
FRESHEN UP THOSE FILTERS
If you do have air-con, clean those filters regularly! They get clogged with dust and other fine particles that reduce the efficiency of the unit, meaning it takes more power to run. In turn, your power bills will be higher, as the unit is working harder to keep your home cool. So, take 10 minutes to clean the filters and you’ll instantly reduce your carbon emissions (and divert some dollars from the power company back into your wallet).
LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX
Sorry to be a passion killer but yes, even getting off can have negative impacts on the planet. Most sex toys on the market are battery operated – not the most sustainable option when you consider studies show that more than half of batteries used in Europe end up in landfill, leaching toxic chemicals into the earth and surrounding waterways. A rechargeable vibrator is a better option. Or take your orgasms completely off-grid with a solar-powered vibrator, giving you a whole new reason to salute the sun in the morning!
BRUSH WITH BAMBOO
Need to replace your toothbrush or hairbrush? Skip the plastic-handled varieties and opt for a toothbrush or hairbrush made from bamboo instead. Plastic brushes take a whopping 400 years (or more) to decompose once discarded. That means the world’s rubbish dumps are filled with millions of brushes that won’t break down anytime soon. As one of the more sustainable resources on the planet, bamboo can be grown quickly without pesticides and, as a biodegradable product, it only takes a few years to decompose once buried in soil (or a few months if you remove the bristles and add it to a compost bin).
SUPPORT UPCYCLED CLOTHING BRANDS
Jackets made from plastic bottles, gym wear that was once discarded fishing nets, leisurewear made from scrap material, and sneakers created with recycled ocean plastics … clever clothing brands are using cutting-edge techniques to manufacture fashion with waste materials. Apart from giving trash new life, these brands also reduce the amount of water, chemicals and carbon emissions created in the process of making fashion. So, next time you buy new running shoes or gym gear, your purchase could just go towards removing another old fishing net or plastic bottle from the sea.
TAKE 3 FOR THE SEA
It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, a day at the beach is almost always accompanied by the sorry sight of discarded plastic littering the shoreline. With an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic littering the ocean each year, beaches from Bali to Bermuda to Byron Bay and beyond are impacted by plastic waste. And this spells bad news for marine animals such as turtles and dolphins, which choke and suffocate on plastics. On your next beach break, give your ocean buddies a helping hand by collecting plastic waste, not shells (many sea critters need shells to survive). The “Take 3 for the Sea” movement encourages everyone to pick up just three pieces of plastic when visiting the beach. Do this each day of your summer getaway and you could just end up saving the life of a sea turtle.
BECOME A TRAINSPOTTER
Just kidding! You don’t need to stand around on train platforms in a trench coat with your binoculars at the ready. Just catch the train more often instead of flying. Rail travel is one of the more sustainable ways of covering long distances without accruing the hefty carbon footprint (and enduring the crowded airports) associated with plane travel. Places like Japan, India, Canada, the US, and much of Europe have extensive rail networks that allow you to cross large swathes of territory without setting foot on a plane (when we can finally travel overseas again!). It’s a slower, more romantic form of travel that allows you to drink in the countryside instead of whizzing over it. Some trains even have fancy dining cars, wi-fi, sleeper carriages, and wine tasting. For a low-impact journey, ride the rails.