To ask what sacrifices you make for the environment

[HarryElephante]

So, do you make any? And I mean actual sacrifices. Not just putting recycling outside your front door or re-using old shopping bags.

And for the sake of this question, I will assume you agree we are harming the planet. If you don't agree that is for another thread!

I make annoyingly few sacrifices but am going to start.

I buy second hand clothes or make my own (and for ds).

I don't use wrapping paper for presents, birthday or xmas.

I don't use amazon, I buy locally.

I buy local meat, eggs, veg, fruit.

We have one child.

We walk/use the bus because we live in a decent-sized town with good links. We use the car twice a week to take ds to rugby as it's in the middle of nowhere and not on a bus route.

We're poor as fuck so don't fly anywhere. I last took ds to the UK 3 years ago to visit family. Holidays are camping in Spain, where we live.We

Recycling here is a BIG thing and extremely easy. Just down my street are separate bins for: paper, glass, organic, plastic. And once a week within walking distance the council provide bins for stuff such as batteries, cooking oil, old electronics etc. Dumps don't charge for dumping.

I stopped dying my hair.

I make my own ice cream.

None of these are sacrifices. We eat meat. We have a dog, DS has many things from Flying Tiger!

It makes me feel really bad reading some of these. I feel that some posters are living so consciously and I could be doing so much more. This has been an interesting read.

Beyond standard recycling I do very little but would like to do more.

I do use soap rather than body wash and shampoo bars but they don't really feel like a sacrifice to me.

I promised myself that I wouldn't buy any plastic bags again. That means if I go to the shop and forget them I either look for boxes if in Lidl, or more annoyingly, put everythibg back into the trolley, throw it all into the boot, roll it around on the way home and unpack it all into a laundry basket to carry in. It really pisses me off so it's rare I forget now!

I recently stopped using cotton pads to take off make up and bought the washable bamboo ones. I do feel they are more time consuming and more of a faff but maybe they'll be better after a couple of washes.

A couple of genuine curiosities (not goady):
One poster said
"Don’t eat meat (the single biggest difference an individual can make, IMO)"

Is this more significant than say me giving up my car or did you mean it from a "if more people did this there wouldn't be such a massive meat industry"?

I’m vegan, use reusable sanitary towels, recycled loo roll in plastic free packaging, wash clothes at lower temps, don’t have a car, reusable bottle and coffee cup, but none of those are really sacrifices. I do try to buy less/ buy 2nd hand and I tried soap nuts for a while but they didn’t get my clothes clean enough. If I’m able to have a child I’ll only have one.

I fly quite a lot but the impact is still more than cancelled out by being vegan. My intention is to go on flights already booked and fly less from now on if we can. Flying 4 possibly 5 times this year (all in Europe) which sounds bad but one is to see my brother, one to see DH’s grandmother, one for a cousin’s wedding and one for a friend’s wedding- all of these are to see the people in the country where they live so to see them either I or they need to travel. I am willing to do a lot to help the environment but it’s too big a sacrifice for me not to see close family and friends.

Oh, and we live in a flat, no garden. We also don't put on the heating in winter as neighbours do and it keeps us warm plus we have big south-facing living room windows which get the sun all day. We don't have aircon but just open all the Windows and prop open the doors. Summertime we have cold showers.

There isn't the same 'coffee culture' here of massive takeaway Starbucks and the like. You sit down in the cafe and have a chat with people/read the free paper/log into Mumsnet rather than carry it off somewhere.

I recycle as much as possible, not just the stuff you put out for the recycling collection but take stuff to the recycling bank that isn't collected like tetra packs.

Vegetarian and trying to cut down dairy.

Buy fruit and veg loose as much as possible.

I buy laundry detergent, washing up liquid, shampoo, conditioner, hand wash, cleaning stuff from the refillable section of our local Eco store, you can refill any old plastic bottles or containers, I have a shampoo bottle that's on it's 30th use.

I use the same store to buy lots of food staples such as pasta and rice loose (again you bring your own container) and often it works out cheaper than the equivalent in the supermarket.

I switched to loose leaf tea as most teabags contain plastic fibres.

I avoid palm oil as much as I possibly can.

Use toothpaste tablets instead of tubes.

Walk as much as possible.

Use beeswax wraps in packed lunches.

I make sure any wrapping paper I buy is the type that can go in the recycling.

Have a refillable coffee cup.

On my to do list is to try a mooncup or similar.

Most of these things I wouldn't even consider sacrifices though.

@Sunnysidegold all things being equal the research shows that giving up meat is better than giving up your car.

www.simply-live-consciously.com/english/food-environment/1-burger-200-car-miles/

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/21/giving-up-beef-reduce-carbon-footprint-more-than-cars

I got rid of my beloved Honda Civic 2 litre diesel. I wouldn't say anything else was a sacrifice.

Don't buy meat ( we will eat if we eat out on a rare occasion).

No cling film.

We live in a small 2bed flat with new windows.

No flights for 12 years -although going to Lebanon this summer.

Water bottle I take everywhere.

Walk and cycle as much as possible although I have to admit I am a bit of a fair weather cyclist.

Some great ideas on here, friends at work have beeswax things for sandwiches. Think this is my next step instead of foil.

And recycled toilet roll

Buy mostly second hand - but good quality - clothes on eBay.

We are making a lot but it still seems futile.

1. Meat only twice a week max and it’s always local organic and free range
2. Fly only once a year - less if possible - we have lots of close family abroad so that’s our flight used on that. We don’t fly for holidays. And we offset. I wish we could stop flying but then I would never see my siblings again (USA so train not an option)
3. Only use car is all other transport options impossible- we live rural so not having is not a runner. We walk with a trolley to the shops, I take three busses to work (making a 40mon commute near two hours), cycle to nursery, train and bus for long distance.
4. Only having one child (one less that we wanted)
5. Green energy (more expensive)
6. Shopping at local baker, butcher and greengrocer on foot (this one is fun actually)
7. Not buying single use plastic (only things we buy are yogurt and my husbands cereal). This means we make our own cake, wraps, hummus etc. Use refillable ink pens. Reusable nappies and sanitary towels etc
8. Not buying new clothes, and not wearing synthetic fibers if possible, all existing synthetics washed in a guppy bag
9. They car we do have is a hybrid
10. Bar toiletries rather than liquid

10. Compost food waste 11. Milk and juice in glass delivery (this one is also fun) 12. Bulk delivery of dried food goods and cleaning products 13.wildlife area in garden 14. Insulate house

I’m sure there’s more. It’s taken us two years to change our life around and despite the occasional moment of disheartenment it’s been easier than it sounds!

No sacrifices as such - mostly eat a plant based diet but do buy high welfare local meat. I drive rarely, mostly commute by bicycle. Take train to go on holiday if I can, sometimes this is not feasible as have family both in the States and the Far East. I grow my own vegetables, eat as seasonally as possible, don’t tend to buy high mileage goods. I use eco friendly household products and make my garden very wildlife friendly. I actually think that we can tinker around the edges but actually there has to be wholesale governmental will to make public transport cheaper, to stop imports of high mileage, low welfare food, to stop single use plastics, to unsubsidised airfuel costs, etc... most people are price point dependant so as long as plastic is cheaper than other materials and it’s cheaper to buy bad food than good we will never change.

We are trying to be a bit more conscious of our choices. We've switched to some more eco friendly products (like who gives a crap toilet rolls, bars instead of soap and shampoo bottles, milk delivery, splosh etc). Buying more locally and in bulk, avoiding plastic wherever we can. Avoiding food waste. Making from scratch much more, composting what we can... Nothing that feels like actual sacrifice. Its just being mindful.

There's a fantastic blog for anyone on FB. A very lovely woman and her family aiming to make a small eco change each day. Lots of good ideas on how small changes can have an impact.

www.facebook.com/365EcoDecisions

I’m not doing much at all frankly, but overall ...

Don’t drive (that’s the main one). DH does but we use the car very rarely, can easily go a month without taking it out.

We won’t be having a third child and that’s one of the reasons for that decision. No pets.

I use bar soap/shampoo and only use cleaning products very sparingly. I avoid wipes and the like. Use keep cups, minimise plastic usage/excessive packaging.

I’m non tolerant of food waste. MN would be horrified at what we refuse to throw away.

We’re cutting down on meat. I do enjoy it though, so can’t see it going completely. And I’d hate to cut out dairy.

We still fly though. I love makeup and buy a fair bit here and the packaging is clearly an issue. I tend to buy new not second hand clothes, that’s another area where we could improve.

In short, not nothing, but nowhere near enough.

Re usable coffee cups and water bottles

Stopped buying cling film, save and reuse take away containers

Stopped buying wipes and use old cut up t shirts that are no good for charity for cleaning

Made a couple of eco bricks

Am vegetarian, spend more on eggs from the free range farm nearby.

None of it really feels like a sacrifice though, and the biggest impact I make is probably though travel, either in the car or by flying, but I'm not prepared to stop that, it would mean sacrificing time with friends and family which is a step too far.

Thanks kikisparks and gepetto for those links, I will certainly give them a read.

A suppose a good thing is some changes are much more automatic now - like as a teenager I felt bottled water had a certain status to it but now I have a refillable bottle I take everywhere and a flask mug for coffee (both contain plastic though so ) .

I think that a lot more people are having less meat in their diet so that is certainly something to look into for me.

Agree it doesn’t always have to be a sacrifice. You can be positively proactive.

I work in sustainability but in my personal life:

• I have solar panels and am on a green tarriff for gas and electricity (Octopus)
• I am vegetarian with limited dairy intake (I no longer drink almond milk because of the env impact)
• I cycle or walk short journeys
• Use reuseable cups and bags
• Buy loose produce rather than pre-packed where possible
• I have started using soap rather than plastic packed handsoap and shower gel (willing to try the shampoo next)
• I contact big brands to ask them to set up refill stations rather than having to buy new packaging
• Support wildlife by taking small steps such as creating a pond, putting up bird feeders and big boxes and join local groups
• I am looking to swap my car for an electric car in the next few years
• Avoid palm oil
• Buy locally produced food where possible - especially apples!
• I am going to start voting for the Green Party
• I don’t buy into disposable fashion, I buy things that last and keep them until they fall apart
• I try not to buy things I don’t need e.g. the latest phone

Lots more to do though and I am guilty of having a dog and taking the occasional flight.

The impact of flying on the environment has been well known for some time but the message isn’t getting through to those in charge of the airline industry.
Toulouse airport must have tripled in size since I first went there 25 years ago, Corfu airport is being enlarged and they are just two airports that I’ve visited in the last couple of years.
A new runway is being planned for Heathrow or Gatwick (maybe it’s been decided now).
Low cost airlines offer more and more flights.
Governments promise to be more green and environmentally aware yet there are more and more flights.
The left hand doesn’t seem to know what the right hand is doing.

I haven't flown for 20 years.
I don't drive or own a car.
I don't buy any food product that is packaged in plastic.

The left hand doesn’t seem to know what the right hand is doing

I think it’s more that all our economic models are based on (consumer) growth. Governments don’t know how to function any other way.

Cloth nappies and using water instead of disposable wipes with kids.

No car. (Not really a sacrifice as in London anyway).

Eco cleaning detergents in refillable containers. (But still use Harpic for toilets urgh - help!)

Buy some food from zero waste shops. Vegs from local greengrocers who source local food. 50% of food still from normal supermarkets. Not really sacrifice as I am lucky with them nearby.

Rarely buy plastic bags or anything one-time use.

Still doing:

• Eat meat (and not always 100% grassfed etc)
• flights (love travelling too much)
• buy clothes from H&M and Next (So much for refusing to shop in Primark!)

Eat less meat
Soap not plastic bottle shower gel
Mooncup
Shampoo bar
Milk in glass bottles
Cycle when can dh commutes by bike but we do have a car

Flying is our downfall we love travel and can afford it. Giving up will really hurt

We doubled our solar panels and got a solar battery. We got a state gov grant but even then it cost AUS$15k.

The biggest one is not having any children. I’m also strict vegan. I don’t see either as a sacrifice, the reasons behind my choices are nothing to do with the environment, just a happy bonus.

I’d like the option to commit suicide when I’m older. It’s perhaps not a popular view but I think a voluntary cull (rather than Thanos style destruction) would help the environment. I’ve seen too many old people sick of life and itching to move on, and I don’t want to go through that kind of long drawn out death. I’ve already tried to kill myself once and it failed (obviously) but I’d happily give it another go when I’m ready.

I'd love to eat more locally grown produce but whilst it's easy for me to get locally grown meat and potatoes and cooking apples, I really struggle with other things. The climate where I live is really not good for growing food. And if I'm honest I'm not willing to never eat a grape or an olive again.

Oh yeah, no pets. Did have gerbils ages ago but they went to the cage in the sky and decided not to replace.

Didnt know that about teabags!