To be bothered by how much we consume as a society...

[Cakelesswonder]

Don't get me wrong I love a retail therapy session but today just felt utterly gluttonous in the amount of ads for Black Friday, the 'deals, I couldn't move for emails offering me 20% off lots of things I don't need. I'm not suggesting everyone knits their own yogurt and lives like Mormons but I really feel we don't have the resources on Earth to keep consuming, throwing and consuming like we do. Everything is disposable, straws, clothes, we buy water in bottles then throw them away polluting the oceans and planet for ourselves and future generations. I have no idea what the overall solution is but it really got to me today .

@SoMuchToBits yes I'm the same.

On clothes, I have found if you put something away for a few years, then wear it again, people say "oh is that new?"

I've worn the same dress to the annual Christmas party for over 10 years with two years missed out because I was heavily pregnant. I'm 37. No one has batted an eyelid. I've had it altered 4 times.

I think one of the problems with fashion is that you are judged for being out of fashion, so people buy new clothes even though they don't actually need them, and even though they still look nice/are in good condition, because the shape/design is perceived to be out of date. I've seen some boot-cut-jeans snobbery on MN for example. Does the shape of your jeans really matter if they fit you well?

DMRAT - I totally get what you're saying but therein lies despair, I think. You feel a tiny, tiny cog and utterly helpless. But you have to start somewhere.

And of course, this shite is not helping either.

I give you glitter face masks. 😡

Biodegradable? Who cares! Your face feels fabulous afterwards!!

DailyMail that's the problem, we DO need to lecture people on not breeding kids and we need to do it everywhere- even on Mumsnet! It's the elephant in the room and getting people to embrace a childfree lifestyle is the only thing that will save the environment at this stage. Anything else is just chibbling around at the edges of the problem. More women in the West are becoming childfree so it is possible. I don't agree with you on meat and dairy, its not that straightforward as the alternative of mono soya etc is not good for the environment either. When I kept beef cattle they were kept outside in the Summer on totally organic grass, then inside in the Winter on organic hay. The pastures were naturally fertilised and were awash with meadow flowers and insects.

That's awful, Ginger, who actually needs that?

Although it would be extremely difficult to get everyone to give up all meat and dairy, it would be a start to get people to reduce meat consumption. The other thing that would help hugely would be to reduce the amount of food we waste. And I'm thinking less of what we waste in our homes (although that could be improved), but much more about what is wasted in the food/farming/retail industry.

We can all do our bit to avoid buying things we don't need, and reusing or recycling what we can, but I don't think anything will really get solved until governments sort problems out from the top, and that's never going to happen all the time they are being influenced by huge businesses with lots of money.

Things like Meat free Mondays are a good start.
I think you have to do what you can on a personal level while campaigning for change from bigger organisations.

Argh
I totally know people who will buy the glitter mask and tell me about it excitedly
I'm not going to harp on at anyone but I will be sure to leave the new cotton buds with paper sticks right next to the bathroom sink so people see them when they come over

We have board in the kitchen with random to do stuff and shopping etc written up, I might have to start writing something there about going plastic free. Not for the family, but for visitors. They can't complain if there's just a note about plastic free and a picture of something from Blue Planet, can they?

One of them already won't have coffee here because "I'm so used to the Nespresso, I can't drink other coffee". To be fair I'm not interested in coffee so no idea re taste differences.

The fashion thing is really interesting. We worry about wearing the same thing too much - but then I can barely remember what my colleagues wore yesterday, let alone at last year’s Christmas do. Next time friends are musing having to have a new frock ‘just because’ I might ask them if they can remember either....

Another small effort yesterday - asked the work canteen manager if we can have cardboard, not plastic, boxes on the salad bar. She was very receptive, so we’ll see and I’ll keep asking.

I'm awfully guilty of using plastic bottles. And carrier bags That is going to stop. I've already got too many dc but there's not much I can do about that now

I feel bad that these things haven't been on my radar before now. We'll definitely be making huge changes as a family.

I've felt very overwhelmed with all the Christmas tat around in the shops this year and my kids have 7 small presents each that were carefully thought about (including useful things like new underwear and socks) and I will not be adding anything else to it.

If anyone has any tips on good long lasting kids clothing brands (not too expensive as we are on a budget) then they'd be greatly appreciated. Also decent quality plus size brands as the likes of simply be etc are terrible quality

but I don't think anything will really get solved until governments sort problems out from the top

Now I disagree with that sentiment. I think we can effect change by starting at the bottom. There's a growing "localism" movement. People are getting more and more disillusioned with globalisation, centralisation, national politics, even regional politics as there is a growing sense of disconnection.

Local to my village, we're seeing great interest in local matters and the Parish council, city council and county council are getting a lot of criticism at the moment as they're not acting in the villager's interests. Our local village amenities are being closed down left, right and centre, i.e. library, bus routes, post office, flooding due to dykes not being cleaned out, damaged bridges taking months to repair, etc. All the while, the Parish Council meetings show they're more concerned about weeds on the village bowling green and nothing being done about the other problems. It all blew up at a council meeting attending by probably half the village who vented their frustration, and the councillors were really embarrassed and couldn't really answer the criticisms. Since then, they've stepped up, and we've also now got our City Councillor (responsible for the village) on board too, and even our County Councillor has been seen once or twice. Just a couple of months ago, we had another amenity at risk, and the local councillors took the initiative to hold a public meeting, start a petition, etc., which meant it's been saved.

I firmly believe it's time we, individually, stood up and took a stand, whether it's local politics, recycling, reducing consumption, having fewer children, buying local, or whatever. It's a bit of a "cop out" to say that it has to come from the top, as that just gives us an excuse to continue what we're doing. I've seen what can be achieved with people power. Whilst those "in power" don't think we care, they'll get away with incompetence, corruption, etc.

No links i'm afraid, but I heard on radio (pretty sure R4) recently that a fungus which eats plastic has been discovered. Long time charity shop trawler here and love a bit of Ebay. Hardly ever buy new. (Am a cheapskate but shall pretend I am an environment activist instead!).

karrie, it's great that those things are happening in your village. I just wish I felt more optimistic that governments/multinational corporations would catch onto the ideas. I'll still carry on doing the things I can do personally to help though.

barefoot, that sounds fascinating. I was thinking last night about the fact that plastic is made from oil, and oil is made from dead sea creatures. It's all hydrocarbons, so was wondering if we would ever find a way to turn plastics into something else that was reusable/biodegradable.

Found an article here!
www.independent.co.uk/environment/plastic-degrading-fungus-pakistan-rubbish-dump-islamabad-dr-sehroon-khan-a7962046.html

I think we can effect change by starting at the bottom.

As Trump pulls out of Paris, many US municipalities have pledged to stay in.

Thanks for that article. That is quite encouraging.

I had to go to the supermarket today - ick

was horrified how covered in glitter things are - even plants!! what is that about?!

After shopping post all the unwanted packaging back to the supermarket using their freepost adress. If we all do it, they might get the message!

Is anybody else noticing loose fruit and veg is getting harder to come by!

dementedma

Tesco Customer Services
Freepost SCO2298
Dundee DD1 9NF

I can't find an Asda or Sainsbury's one at the minute.

Ocado Limited,

Freepost 13498,

PO BOX 3 62,

Hatfield

AL9 7BR

There is an article in Stella from this Sunday about re-wearing clothes, with tips on how to wear your outfits more than once.

"Re- wearing"

WTF!

Hopefully these address's are still valid, it's from 2012.
Is this your website dementedma

tesconbury.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/excess-packaging.html

I wear suits to work most days and buy a new one every year or so so they don't all wear out at the same time. Wore one from 2012 or 2013 today, don't wear it often as one of my oldest. Loads of compliments - is that new? It's lovely!

Tesco decided DPs beer needed bubble wrapped today? We sent the packaging back.