What do you do to protect the environment?

[Krisgoeco]

Hi guys
I'm just wondering how many people are out there who cares about the environment. I'm extremely concerned of the damage we do to our Earth and to ourselves by littering, pouring strong chemicals down our drain,buying 5p bags each time we go to shopping, food wasting, leaving the house in the morning with already 100 chemicals on our skin, etc. So what do you guys do to protect yourself and the Earth?

Recycling everything
Using mooncup
Being vegan

Live in a no car household

The uk produces 2% of the worlds emissions.

If the collective global governments were serious about this they would come down hard on companies who produce things wrapped in plastics / industrial waste etc.

Unfortunately money speaks loudest

Recycle and compost
Dont waste any food, it goes in us or the dogs
Biomass heating and hot water
Very rarely buy anything new mostly 2nd hand stuff/repair
Both self employed in sustainable business that is paperless
Both members of green party
2 kids only
UK holidays
Diesel vehicles but admittedly have 4 of them (2 for business use)
Limited meat and fish consumption
Next step is to grow veg.

Don't have a car/drive
Don't have children
Don't eat meat, fish or dairy, almost no food waste
Recycle
Compost
Grow my own veg and some fruit
Plant trees on my land
Holiday at home (and love it)
Recycle waste (grey) water
Buy second-hand where possible/available

On the down-side, I use a woodburner for heating/hot water, and although I could look at getting solar/wind/ or a water turbine I haven't yet got around to it. So that's pending. And I have pets, which I guess cancels my veggie credibility.

Use cloth nappies, washable wipes, and washable sanpro.
Recycle as much as possible and try not to buy high packaging things. Try not to buy plastic unless it's a long life once only thing.
Food recycle with the council as we got rats when I tried composting.
I'm pretty crap at growing fruit and veg but keep trying - have tomatoes strawberries and apples currently surviving. Also have one quarter of the garden planted as a bee friendly wildflower meadow with native species, plus lavender.
All our lights are now led, and we don't run the heating above 17C.

However - I have 3 children (but balance that out in my mind as they are the only grandkids to both sets of grandparents so actually numbers down the generations are decreasing). We do run 2 cars - but walk or cycle or bus whenever possible. I do use the tumble dryer when it's wet (I have 2 kids in cloth nappies!).
I keep meaning to switch to bamboo toothbrushes but haven't quite got around to it, and we are currently saving for solar panels.

Oh and we holiday in the UK, and are veggie apart from 1 meal a week!

I try not to waste food. We buy in bulk and fill the freezer. I walk the kids to school when I can. I turn off plug sockets when I can to save energy. Other than that I guess there's not much more really. We can't grow our own food (chilli plants and parsley on a windowsill not included), we don't compost as we have nowhere to do it and proper recycling is difficult as we're one of the few counties left in the UK that doesn't do it. We have ::shock horror:: ONE large grey wheelie bin collected every week. That's it. I do keep glass back and can take that to the glass banks. Clothing goes to the fire station clothing bank. We use the tip too which separates certain rubbish for recycling.

Sign petitions on and contribute financially to Aveez, who make me aware of whats going on.. Link to latest petition -
secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/greenpeace_locked/?slideshowgoing

I also do things mentioned already -
Don't drive
Dont use any pesticides, sprays, aerosols, disinfectants, bleaches or silicons
Recycle and upcycle
No central heating/ dryer/ dishwasher..
Also -
Plant trees
My washing machine hose goes into a bin outside, then i use the water to water my plants (Ecover is fine on plants)
Use wind up torches/ energy saving bulbs
Switch everything off at night (dont leave on standby)
Dont upgrade anything until it dies (phones, tv, etc)

No children
Walk to do the weekly shop. Buy local from our market (less foodmiles and nothing wrapped in plastic)
Changed down to one car
Use ecover or astonish cleaning products (latter are non animal tested).
Just bought a mooncup off the back of this thread!

100 chemicals on our skin, OP?

Well, we have 2 children, but we buy as much stuff second-hand as possible, and gift it onwards.
Compost
Grow our own vegetables
Grow our own cut flowers (the air miles on those things is incredible)
Commute by public transport
UK holidays
Buy organic/local whenever possible

What I meant by 100 chemicals.. Just check the ingredients on your shower gel/shampoo, foundation, perfume etc. 100 might not even cover it...

Don't fly (holiday in the UK )
Recycle as much as possible
Use compost bin
Have solar panels
Have biomass boiler for central heating to move away from the oil boiler.
Just got three very big tanks for saving rainwater in to reduce water consumption
Try to buy local produce and in season and organic.
Use the milkman for milk (not sure if this helps the environment though)
Drive 6,000 miles per annum which is quite low milage.
Try to use rail travel as much as possible.
Have zoned heating so can heat different areas as required.
Low energy bulbs
Limit tumble dryer usage
On a fairly green electricity tariff
Good house insulation, double glazing etc
Buy second hand clothing as well as new.
Husband repairs appliances as required so they last decades. Dishwasher is 12 years old, tumble dryer is 30 years old and previous washing machine lasted 12 years).
Don't buy that much new stuff. Still got sofa that's 15 years old etc. If it's fine then don't change it for the sake of it.

I do the following - it could be better:

We make a monthly donation to some wildlife and environmental charities.
Don't use the car for short trips.
Grow some of our own food and try not to waste food (having chickens helps) and use rainwater butts in the garden; we have a compost heap and get an organic veg box.
We used cloth nappies most of the time (although got rid of them prematurely, not realising DD was still going to not be dry at night at 4.5) and I have a mooncup and some cloth sanpro.
Didn't fly for a few years after having kids.
Don't upgrade gadgets until they are on their last legs.
Avoid using disposable cups and plates.
Recycle and use some recycled products.
Buy some things secondhand, e.g. books, clothes and toys.
Low energy bulbs and use a green energy supplier and ethical bank account.
House is well-insulated and double-glazed.