Is it just me who finds that people try to challenge eco changes?!

[firstimemamma]

Hi, first time I've started a thread so please be gentle!

I just wanted to share my frustration and see if anyone else feels the same.

I'm no eco warrior but have recently started making small changes to try to reduce my carbon footprint and plastic footprint.

I would never try to force what I do on anyone else but am finding my efforts thrown back in my face a lot of the time!

For example if I bring Tupperware boxes to the butchers there is always a man behind the till who makes it as hard as he can for me to use them instead of their plastic bags. Lots of eye rolling and sarcastic "so you think you're saving the planet?" type comments.

In Starbucks I got a drink-in mug instead of a takeaway plastic cup, but when I receive my order I find that my milk comes in a separate single-use plastic pot next to my cup. It just seems so wasteful to me!

There have been many times when I've been made to feel difficult just by using my own shopping bag or declining a printed receipt.

I find it sad that by making even small changes to my lifestyle, I'm being made to feel like I'm really going against the grain.

Does anyone else feel like this and what examples do you have?

I think change can be scary and people in general can be resistant to it.

I haven't found the issues you have with those sort of changes though. I find coffee shops perfectly happy with reusable cups, milk in metal jugs in Starbucks, shops not giving receipts as standard but asking, reusable bags encouraged. I've never taken a Tupperware to a shop though so not sure how that would go down.

My local butcher rolled his eyes the first time but didn't pass any comment. I can appreciate it is a slight hassle to keep resetting his scales.
Now, about a year later, the one time I forgot the plastic box he ticked me off ( in a nice way).

Keep at it! You never know who you might influence in the queue.

At least she's trying. What are you doing TFBundy?

Spot on, TF.

TF so much for being gentle!

Sounds like your making a good stand. I've just found a new shop that does refillable products which I'm keen to try. So think of yourself as a crusader.

think your Tupperware and Starbucks are pissing in the wind. Nobody wants to do the things that might actually help climate change

66 million people in the UK. If everyone did what o/p is doing the collective difference would be significant.

If everyone swapped their 4x4 for a smaller vehicle the oil saving would be massive.

Bringing your own shopping bag and declining a receipt are fairly par for the course now, I would’ve thought. Seems odd you’re getting stuck for that. Where do you live?

I try in my own way to do my bit. Recycle everything, gone from a two car family to one (and reduce how much we use it), using a lot less plastic now, cut down how much meat we eat. But some things I won’t compromise on (flying, for example). You can only do what you can do.

I’d ignore anyone who gets arsey about it.

It's too easy to dismiss personal responsibility with 'I can't control China' or '...but Donald Trump'.

Admittedly, it does sometimes seem completely pointless but if all those small changes became universal it must make some small difference? If not only to change the mindset and priorities of people at large which would eventually leak through to government/industry etc.

Donald Trump isn't going to be president forever. You can write off the planet on the basis of his presidency!

If being eco conscious is a game of follow the leader I won't hold my breathe. I'll continue to do my bit.

Best thing you can do is not procreate. But, well, it's easier to feel all fluffy about bringing your own bag.

TFBundy - some of the very poorest people on the planet are already suffering the effects of climate change caused by the lifestyles of us in the West.

'but individuals making small sacrifices “saves” the square root of fuck all'

Of course. But would everyone making a myriad of small changes not have any effect?

Surely nothing would ever improve if we all said 'well I can't single handedly change the world so why bother'.

Surely a lot of people making a small change will have an impact. Look at countries that are excellent at recycling, that relies on all citizens taking part. Plus it means the earth's (limited) resources are being re used.

Individual actions can lead to bigger changes. I suppose nobody wants to inconvenience themselves or give up their 4WD cars or flying or whatever but I think things will become unacceptable.

Progress nearly always starts with individuals and small groups, and is always challenged by people who don't like change.

TFBundy - I agree. If we really want to do something, we need to stop flying, stop eating meat/dairy, and stop having children.

But by doing these things we're setting a good example for our children. They will hopefully be more eco conscious than us, this will pass down to their children.

And yes, I'm not flying anymore. We've made the decision as a family that we will only holiday in this country.

And we've cut down on our meat consumption and I don't eat dairy.

but deluding herself that her actions matter

This is the attitude of laissez-faire that needs changing. Your actions, and those of other individuals, may be small but they add up TFBundy.
65 million people in the UK alone.

And if anything, the UK has a special responsibility - never mind China and Trump. Britain started the industrial revolution. Britain can start the green one. If Britain can lead the way and show that it is possible, others will follow suit. (Actually Britain is not leading at the moment, it is stropping while China does quite a lot)

Population alone is not the problem. All of those countries and people you are thinking about blaming, with large population growth - India, Africa - have smaller footprints than we do.