Save the planet!!! What small steps have you taken today?

[Mrscog]

Following on from a thread where we were all discussing how we wanted to reduce our impact on the earth I thought I would start this thread for us to share ideas/motivation etc.

This is a non-judgmental thread and is about whatever steps you want to take to reduce consumption. None of us are perfect and we've all got to start somewhere.

My small steps today -

1. Morning school run incorporated as part of DH's commute.
2. Afternoon school run due to be done on foot.
3. Didn't bother going to Aldi as to be honest I have enough food in to cobble some stuff together.
4. Just used microfibre cloth with water to wipe down kitchen rather than dousing with chemicals (hadn't chopped any raw meat etc so no need to be too clean).

I am quite pleased with myself today! I wanted a new picture frame so inspired by other thread, I went to a charity shop.

I got a really good quality frame for two pounds. I have only ever been in a charity shop to drop stuff off, never to shop, so it was a real education.

I also wondered around other shops, looking at all the plastic offerings and I bought..none!

A true day of firsts for me!

Nothing major but I felt sick at the polystyrene container given to me by the work canteen. Most of us, thousands in the office, eat 2 meals there a day and they all go into landfill.
While pondering what to do about it someone v senior mentioned in a meeting that the coffee insulator sleeve were bugging them and could people please resue them and not bin them.
So I'm going to got a slot in their listening group and bring up the issue to see what we can do

I had exactly the same thought process about a polystyrene tray at lunchtime. That thread had definitely made me think.

I use toilet roll to clean the loo, so I can flush it. I spray, scrub with the brush, then wipe with paper.

I'm trying to switch my dc from shower gel to soap. I'm going to put the soap in a flannel pocket, see if that works for them.

Ive not given up on liquid soap yet- I refill the bottles with thinned down bubble bath. It still comes in a plastic bottle but lasts a lot longer.

I finally got round to buying ethical cotton buds!

Love the picture frame win opalridecence I’ve never thought to look in them for frames! Although I picked up a brand new Orchard puzzle for DS’s birthday in one last week - £2. Cheap and money for charity - total win!!

I am rather pleased with it mrscog.

The trouble is it is so well made and heavy it is making me side eye all the modern flimsy ones in the house. I will have to sit on my consumerist hands or this will be an own goal!

Honestly, was really impressed with the shop. Lots of lovely things for such little money, and the fact it supports charities.
A definite win.

I've gone back to having a milkman deliver our milk in glass bottles. Just a little thing but it feels like I'm supporting a struggling businessman and buying locally produced milk which cuts down on all kinds of things.
No plastic milk containers! Yay!

I've just ordered bamboo toothbrushes for us all (family of 5) and am waiting for my Who Gives A Crap delivery as slipped into non recycled toilet roll when we started shopping at Aldi. I've also bought my husband a fully recycled materials backpack for Christmas and am asking him for one for me.

@polyanthus I use soap instead of shower gel and it does make me feel so much fresher

Just been around the house making sure any unnecessary lights are off - have got out the habit of doing this 😳

received a comment on my "new" coat and bag. both from Charity shops..
refused straws with a drink

Bought fruit and veg from grocers in paper bags and am researching reusable sanitary pads and checking out green people cosmetics (emailed council to see if they will recycle their packaging as I'm determined to cut down on plastic use in cosmetics in particular, after using up everything I have first).

And my bamboo toothbrushes arrived today!

Had smart meters installed and done nothing but stare at how much electricity and gas I'm using all day.

Bought soap instead of hand wash.

I’ve had an ecological fail this morning - ended up with a take away coffee.

I was however very good at switching lights off as I went this morning - normally I don’t bother in the mornings and by 8am nearly every light is on!

Need to try and find DS a 2nd hand black top for his nativity costume.

Persuaded DH to take his own lunch to work and not buy a meal deal from Tesco/Boots. DSs are obsessively turning off lights even when people are in the room. I now have all of my re-useable bags back in the car so that they actually get used. I've ordered some bamboo toothbrushes.

Good idea for a thread.

Not today but I have recently changed all my antibac hand soaps for regular bars of soap to cut down on packaging and I'm getting worried about bacterial resistance. Same with shower gel. Changed my cleaning products to method and ecover. Stopped buying all the small bottles of water, I used to go through about 20 a week.

Tonight I'll be making myself a vegan meal.

As simple as garbage segregation. Separate plastic, papers, degradable materials. Garbage is one of the major cause of population. It may not change the world but in my own little way I know I'm being responsible about my daily trash. :)

Reading yesterday's thread really made me think about how wasteful I've become. Brought lunch with me today, including sandwiches wrapped in the bread wrapper as I used the last 2 pieces. Brought my water bottle to refill rather than buy a bottle of water at the shop, and as it's payday I ordered a Contigo travel mug for my daily coffee. I've never been able to find a flask that didn't leak everywhere, but I have high hopes for this one.

DS has become an 'Eco Warrior' at school, so have been talking to the kids a lot about this: time to put my money where my mouth is now I guess.

I love this thread!! I've decided to become veggie this year in an effort to reduce my impact on the planet. Have also bought a mooncup and have been considering washable sanitary pads, but not sure if they're any good. Anyone else use these? Hadn't realised there was veggie soap and bamboo toothbrushes are a new one on me, I'm off to investigate...

Went to small independent shop today and bought all my fruit & veg loose/in mesh bags that I'd taken with me. (I've somehow managed to lose all my Onya bags but am not sure I can justify ordering any more when I have others - although they're not as lightweight as the Onya ones). They do have paper bags there but it would yet more paper to add to our recycling, so I take one for mushrooms occasionally but then reuse it until it starts falling apart.

Making a vegan korma for lunch today with lentils rather than mince. I'm vegan and the rest of the family are omnivores, but we eat mainly vegan main meals during the week when I'm doing the cooking (DH often cooks at the weekend, very rarely with meat but almost always with dairy, eggs or fish).

Silly I use washable sanpro (in conjunction with a mooncup) and wish I'd come across it earlier; I dread to think how much has gone to landfill over the years.

"Garbage is one of the major cause of population."

Wow, I'm always on about overpopulation but this is new

Soap instead of handwash and shower gel.
Mooncup and washable sanitary pads (cheeky wipes)
Washable face pads for removing makeup (also cheeky wipes)
Actual cheeky wipes for the toddlers bum.
Reusable food shower cap things for covering leftovers (But still plastic). Researching beeswax paper!
Vinegar and essential oil fabric softner.
Disclaimer: I don't work for cheeky wipes!