Suggestions for my ‘sustainable living’ list

[Twoweekcruise]

Like everyone, I want my family to do our bit towards living more sustainably.
I am on a tight budget so my list will need to be ticked off over the next few years, bit by bit.
I want to cover everything from reusable make up removers, sanitary products etc through to things like reusable sandwich wrappers for lunch boxes to eventually more expensive products like changing my water filter jug for something more long term and replacing our log burner to something less damaging (we are hoping to replace that next year).
Any suggestions would be great to add to our families list, ideally items which are within ‘normal’ household budgets (unfortunately as much as I would love an electric car, atm it’s not something I can afford but am working towards it).

Oh, and if you ever set up a dehumidifier in the loo, do remember to put the loo seat down.

Otherwise you're spending all that electricity trying to dry the water out of the toilet...

@PerkingFaintly

It can be very tempting to go out and buy shedloads of new and exciting "plastic free" or sustainable items eg new food containers, flasks etc. But use what you have first and then mindfully replace.

Yy. If you have a vented tumble-drier, wait till it gets to the end of it's life to replace it with a condenser one.

The energy embodied in manufacturing and getting a large appliance to you is so great it's almost always better to get as many years out of it as possible.

Yes exactly - keeping repurposing in mind is vital. For example we are a bit obsessed with Nutella jars in our house. They never go in the green bin we keep them as they have screw lids. From where I'm sitting I can see about 10 of them storing various dry food and there are about 20 in the craft cupboard storing goodly eyes or sequins - you get the idea.

I would focus on the bigger savings first, then lobbying/campaigning, then the smaller savings. I've found some of the smaller savings (like zero waste) take lots of time and headspace, without as much reward. Switching to a green bank, pension and investments is meant to be important. Avoid banks like Barclays who are notorious for fossil fuel investment. I'm working on less food waste, less meat and dairy, less driving, flying less and insulating the house to use less fuel.

Page 9 of this document shows what makes more or less difference:
www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2021-04/Environmental%20Perils%20of%20Perception%202021_0.pdf

Not having children, not flying or driving, using a renewable energy supplier were higher up the list.

@stopblowingyournose That's interesting, I have a washer dryer which creases all the clothes and doesn't dry them properly. I used to use the gentle dry setting occasionally and had to air them afterwards as still wet. I don't use it now, it's easier to air dry.

For anyone having issues with washing smelling like dogs, what temperature do you wash on? I used to wash on 30 for eco reasons and had the same issue, now I use 40 for clothes and 60 for bed linen and towels, I air dry and it never smells. I have two clothes horses to help space out the washing, it helps it dry. I'd rather wash on 30, I was having to wash items twice and that was probably worse.

HappyWinter -For anyone having issues with washing smelling like dogs, what temperature do you wash on? I used to wash on 30 for eco reasons and had the same issue, now I use 40 for clothes and 60 for bed linen and towels, I air dry and it never smells. I have two clothes horses to help space out the washing, it helps it dry. I'd rather wash on 30, I was having to wash items twice and that was probably worse
I wash on 30 for eco reasons too. Maybe that’s the issue?

My recent one is checking the food miles in the grocery shop. I was buying soap recently (bar soap obvs ) and one brand was made in China whereas the other was made in the UK.

@HappyWinter

I would focus on the bigger savings first, then lobbying/campaigning, then the smaller savings. I've found some of the smaller savings (like zero waste) take lots of time and headspace, without as much reward. Switching to a green bank, pension and investments is meant to be important. Avoid banks like Barclays who are notorious for fossil fuel investment. I'm working on less food waste, less meat and dairy, less driving, flying less and insulating the house to use less fuel.

Page 9 of this document shows what makes more or less difference:
www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2021-04/Environmental%20Perils%20of%20Perception%202021_0.pdf

Not having children, not flying or driving, using a renewable energy supplier were higher up the list.

@stopblowingyournose That's interesting, I have a washer dryer which creases all the clothes and doesn't dry them properly. I used to use the gentle dry setting occasionally and had to air them afterwards as still wet. I don't use it now, it's easier to air dry.

For anyone having issues with washing smelling like dogs, what temperature do you wash on? I used to wash on 30 for eco reasons and had the same issue, now I use 40 for clothes and 60 for bed linen and towels, I air dry and it never smells. I have two clothes horses to help space out the washing, it helps it dry. I'd rather wash on 30, I was having to wash items twice and that was probably worse.

Thanks for sharing that study, HappyWinter

Having fewer children has the biggest impact by far, but is the hardest for people to do, obviously. I read somewhere that having fewer pets can also have a big impact, as a pet in the UK has the same carbon footprint as an adult in some other countries.

I feed my dog Yora dog food, which is super sustainable as made from insects but has all the necessary protein. Again, it costs a bit more but I've decided I have to put my money where my mouth is and spend more on sustainable food and products and less on luxuries such as clothes and cosmetics I don't need

@ParmigianoReggiano

My recent one is checking the food miles in the grocery shop. I was buying soap recently (bar soap obvs ) and one brand was made in China whereas the other was made in the UK.

I wouldn’t purchase any cosmetics or toiletries made in China as they are all tested on animals.

We find BowerCollective a really great service for delivering eco friendly sustainable household products to your door. They help you eliminate plastic waste from your home by reusing the plastic you use, you just refill your products and they take care of the rest in an ethical sustainable way. Check them out, they are a small UK based business trying to do their bit to help the plastic waste crisis Bower Collective

A vey small thing - but a bug bear of mine. Does anyone else cut the top off a toothpaste tube when it's 'all gone' You'd be surprised how much there is under the shoulders of the tube - collect them till you've got several, and save the stuff and you'll have enough for three/four more days..