Blue Sky Goes Green

I suppose my thought processes went from health, to happiness and then to the world. I was walking through our local park listening to Deliciously Ella podcasts on Spotify when I realised that in order to truly work on myself and my well being I should use all the tools at my disposal to improve on myself each day. Listening to podcasts in order to learn new things instead of the same tunes on repeat was the start of this. While I was walking and listening to Ella talk to various guests about health, a plant-based diet and the environment I had a moment of obscure realisation. Alex and I were not doing all we could to live a green life. Yes we recycled, but did we check that every item going into our recycling bin was recyclable? When we had clear outs we gave our things to charity but why did we have so many clear outs? Was it possible that we had just become so wrapped up in buying new things and consuming and convenience that we didn't care? Didn't care what happened to our 'one use' plastics and our impact on the earth? Now there is a sobering thought.

I went home with thoughts whirling round my head. I had 3 days off work and I wanted to make them count. I got out a notepad and started to make a list of what we can do differently to reduce the amount of plastic waste we make and to live a more sustainable and environmentally friendly life. The first one was the biggest, recycle only what can be recycled. I went through our indoor recycle bin and pulled out all the rubbish which had been thrown in there mindlessly and without a second thought. I couldn't believe the amount of non-recyclable plastic which we had always just assumed was okay to put in there. This led me to point 2 on my list, conscientious shopping. In order to reduce our waste and negative impact on the earth we were going to have to change our attitude to how we shop and choose better packaging options. We always take our bags for life with us but always opt for bagged fruit & veg as opposed to loose because it is cheaper and more convenient. Convenience will not save the earth.

Once I had put both point 1 and 2 on my list the ideas just kept on coming. We decided we were not going to buy any more anti-bacterial wipes or face wipes. It is reusable cotton pads and cloths from here on in. We have also decided once we have used up all our current cleaning products we will be switching to eco-friendly options.

I think the most exciting thing I wrote down was the decision to buy soap instead of shower gels which mainly come in non-recyclable bottles. But then I had a brainwave! Why buy soap when I could try making my own. I researched it to make sure it wouldn't cost the earth in both senses of the phrase. It costs between £6.50 and £7.50 for a 1kg tub of melt and pour soap base from hobby craft (a tub which can be used for storage afterwards) this will make between 10 and 12 bars depending on how it is cut and what mould is used. I will then add to my mixtures essential oils to give my soaps their scent and natural ingredients like lavender buds, petals and herb leaves. I am trying not to use artificial colours in my soaps as I want them to be as natural as possible. I will then be packing them in brown paper with paper labels and stamping the packaging with things like 'Happy Birthday' or 'Thank you' to make gifts for friends and family as well as using the soap for ourselves. This is very exciting.

Another issue I came across whilst doing my research was sanitary products. An average woman will use 12,000 to 16,000 pads, tampons and panty liners in her life time and all of these including the packaging they come in ends up on landfills. I had never even considered it before. So I have made the switch. I now order from a company called TOTM (Time Of The Month) and get my sanitary pads delivered to my door in 100% biodegradable packaging! The price is no different to that of ordinary sanitary brandstg and they do tampons and panty liners as well if you are not quite ready to try a menstural cup or reusable pads! TOTM's products do not use any harsh chemicals either so your lady bits are perfectly safe and so is the waste you create! #periodpowerful

I also decided to set up a direct debit to Greenpeace each month and look into the work that they do. This is still very new to me and so I won't go too in depth in this post but so far I have signed 2 petitions. One of which surrounded the amount of plastic waste created by supermarkets. 800,000 tonnes of plastic packaging a year!!! I was shocked! Greenpeace say that "Our oceans cannot stomach any more plastic! From turtles entangled in six pack rings to whales with stomachs full of plastic bags, the effects of plastic pollution can be devastating. UK supermarket Iceland has announced its own-brand packaging is going plastic-free. By ditching plastic packaging, supermarkets have the power to lead the way in dramatically reducing the amount of single-use plastic produced." To sign the petition and tell UK supermarkets to follow Iceland's lead and ditch plastic packaging, click here!

There are so many changes we can make in our day to day lives to reduce the waste we produce. Some ideas you might want to try are:
- buy a reusable water bottle instead of a new plastic one each time you are thirsty, simply fill up your own.
- take your reusable bags shopping with you and consider the loose fruit and veg but don't use a plastic bag on it, you can buy small reusable bags which are perfect for this from companies like Battle Green Box
- cut down on shower gels and plastic bottles filled with product and try soap bars or solid shampoos which will last you much longer.
- It is free to sign petitions with Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, so why not add your name and allow your voice to be heard on the issues that really matter. Or even just read into what they do, trust me, your eyes will be opened.
- Battle Green Box also sell bamboo cutlery set which even comes with a straw and straw cleaner. Completely reusable and suitable to pop in your handbag as it comes in a little pouch. I received mine yesterday. A much better alternative to plastic knives and forks.
- Make your own packed lunches instead of buying each day. This way you are using reusable 'tupperware' and not throwing away sandwich boxes or plastic salad bowls.

This really is just me scratching the surface when it comes to living a more sustainable life because we do have a few long-term projects that we want to try as well, but I will write about those when they are underway.

I hope that this post has made you think about your impact on the earth. I am typing this and the sun is pouring through the window and the trees are rustling in a light breeze. This earth is truly remarkable and it astounds me every day. I am so grateful for the air that I breath and the seasons we have. I love the rolling hills and all the different parts of nature. There is so much for us to appreciate and protect. So why not start now! Lets be the change that we want to see in the world and inspire others along the way.

Love,
Blue Sky
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