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| An art installation in Bruges made from plastic waste |
Skip meat whenever you can – meat is a leading factor when it comes to
climate change, and while not everybody wants to give it up completely you can make a difference by just eating
less of the stuff. Maybe opt for toast and cereal rather than a bacon butty in
the morning, or have a vegetable lasagne for tea. There are some amazing
alternatives to meat available now; I love Quorn Roast and genuinely prefer it
to roast chicken, and Linda McCartney’s veggie sausage rolls (which are also
suitable for vegans) are one of THE best foods out there. Ben & Jerry’s do
a vegan ice cream now, and most supermarkets have their own meat-free range:
Asda’s mac & cheese burgers and vegetable fingers are staples of my diet.
It can be so tempting to just flick the heating on when it gets cold but
it’s expensive, bad for the environment and also bad for your health – I know
that for me, central heating plays havoc with my eczema and it can also dehydrate
your body, leading to stuff like sinusitis which is pretty gross. Make sure you
have some good blankets and nice hoodies, fleecy socks and thick pyjamas, and
you might not need to rely on the heating as much this winter. Plus it’s the
perfect excuse to have a hot chocolate (or something stronger) right?
Have your food shop delivered, if this is something that's available to you. This can be awkward as there's often a minimum spend, but you could share with your housemate or neighbour and get around it this way. By getting your supermarket buys delivered, you're cutting down on the amount of cars that are driving to the supermarket - there's just one van doing, say, 10 deliveries rather than 10 cars going to and from the store.
Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products if you can; they can be a little bit more expensive but the amount of chemicals in conventional bleach and antibac spray from Poundland is outrageous - it's bad for your health AND the environment. Everyone is Mrs Hinch-mad at the moment, but take a step back and think about whether you really need all this stuff. Some of my favourites include the Ecoegg Laundry Egg (which I used at uni and also is fine for sensitive skin) and the Sunshine Blooms washing up liquid from Method, which comes in the most gorgeous packaging.
Batch cooking is something that is good for your bank balance, your portion control and also for the planet. Cook up a big chilli or curry, pop it in some tubs and whack it in the freezer. Make sure you label it (with what it is and when it was made) and then you're good to go. Get it out in the morning, leave it to defrost, then heat it up in the microwave when you get home. Quick and easy meals completely sorted. Using the microwave is actually much less environmentally damaging than repeatedly using a conventional oven every night, contrary to popular belief. Winner winner, batch-cooked dinner. Sorry. I'll see myself out.
There you have 5 easy-peasy ways to live more ethically without really having to leave your house. Let me know your tips in the comments, too!
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This post was written in collaboration with Used Kitchen Exchange but
as always all words&thoughts are mine. Please see my disclaimer for more info.
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