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).

Did a litter pick on the walk home along the beach today, got the first crop of purple sprouting broccoli from the allotment, feeling very green!

Made some napkins/cloths/hankies from leftover fabric

Hi all:), I am new to this site and I am so pleased to find that thread as I have made my commitment this year to be more mindful about the planet.
I now make my own cleaning product using bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar to clean the sink and even the toilets! It does work very well!
I use E cover for cleaning the dishes.
I bought this Cambridge reusable bamboo cup for my coffee and switched to those 3 Flamingos stainless steel straws for my little princesses.
I am mindful to turn off electronic appliances at night and use the energy saving button on my washing machine.

Picklemepopcorn, I use Belvoir Organic as a syrup for the sodastream. It tastes so good. The raspberry flavour is my favourite.
Thedevilinablackdress, good call- I like your idea with leftover fabric!
Have a lovely bank holiday weekend

Bought some wadding for a quilt I am making made from recycled plastic bottles. I didn't even know this existed. Will be interested to see how it feels. Potentially really good to be using something from waste.

Have been using loose tea for over a month now. Am finding the taste much better, and that I can get more than one cup from a pot, but it is a bit of a faff to keep remembering to drain and rinse teapot.

Am trying the Lush solid deodorant. So far, hot day and light exercise done but no smell. Also am trying their toothy tabs - teeth feel clean but am on the fence on the bicarbonate taste.

Love the Lush Aromaco deodorant!

I have finally made the switch to reusable baby wipes. I've got a box for his face and hands and one for his bum. It's working well so far but it's only for in the house. I use regular ones when we're out, but at least 90% of nappy changes are at at home so it's still a big difference.

Next up I want to look at going reusable for sanitary pads, but they're so expensive and I'm not sure I'd get on well with changing them at work etc.

Start with the approach you've done for the wipes Nina ?

Use the reusable sanpro when it's easy to do so and see how it goes. That's what I'm doing. Got some reasonably priced pads on Etsy.

These are good, and very well priced!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01D1VSHJK/ref=ohauiisearchdetailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm still using the same Lush shampoo bar I started back in early January!

I bought some new shampoo bars from a local but they are very harsh. Can't use them.

Now I'm waiting in these natural sls Free bars to arrive. Vegan. Animal friendly etc - ticking all the good boxes:

www.lovesoappadstow.com/product-page/solid-shampoo-bar

I like her bamboo soap drying racks too:

www.lovesoappadstow.com/product-page/bamboo-soap-tray

Hope the new shampoo bars are good. I'm not getting on with a solid conditioner at the moment so have repurposed as shaving cream (for the rare occasions...)

ah that is a good idea! I've always used conditioner to shave with so will give the solid conditioner a try there.

I find the Lush solid shampoos I've tried are OK. The ones from the stall made by a local chap were very disappointing - looked gorgeous though and I'm sure I can use them as "normal" soap. I am keen to support a small company (over mega corp Lush) and the solid shampoo I've now ordered look great.

I've also ordered some solid moisturising bars from her to replace lotion in bottles.

I’m wary of solid shampoo.

I have been buying bigger bottles and washing my hair less.... so in theory (in my head anyway) using less plastic.

Just read the entire thread, love it!
I try to be environmentally conscious (used washable nappies and wipes for my 2), never accept a carrier bag, never use paper towels (have old cut up towels for cleaning) and use refillable bottles. The recycling bin is jammed with plastic every week however, so I need to get this down! I get shopping delivered due to work constraints and we eat a lot of prepacked peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, ham and yogurts, I know I need to do better and eat more seasonally. I also need to try and reduce the amount of washing I do somehow.

Today's effort - library for the kids, didn't accept a bag in Boots, huge bag of out grown clothes to the charity shop, clothes drying in the garden, cut up my face wash bottle to get the last bit out, reused empty bread bag for something in the fridge.

Picked up rubbish off the beach where we are on holiday.
Buying glass bottles where possible.
Reused the pool inflatables that another family left behind.
Took a bag to the supermarket to use.
That's it for today but I keep trying here and at home. So important and probably even more important is broadcasting it so friends and family think about it too.

I really struggled on holiday as we needed to buy bottles water - we got through 3x1.5litre bottles per day, and there were no recycling facilities. We did keep topping up the same smaller bottles for our and about.... but that's 30 + bottles from us.

I've switched to washing powder in cardboard boxes and don't use the liquid in plastic bottles now.
Tried the lush shampoo bar, it's fine and smells gorgeous.

I had my first ever disposable-free period last month as I now have enough reusable pads to do that (plus it was over days I wasn't working or only had to work 3 hours).

I probably won't manage it every month but it's still going to be a big reduction on what's going in the bin.

I've also moved over to washable makeup wipes with a little coconut oil instead of packets of wipes.

Mine are not from today but more like a general list of the changes made over the past few months:

• changed facial cleanser to oil in glass bottle and reusable clots
• trialling DentTabs with fluoride, i.e. little toothpaste tablets. Buy them from the local no plastic store
• changed toothbrushes to bamboo toothbrushes (but still use electric occasionally)
• changed hand soap in the bathroom to a bar soap
• used bar soap in the shower alongside refillable shower gel (still comes in small plastic pouch but at least less)
• used Lush shampoo bar and conditioner bar alongside L'occitane shampoo (that should be refillable)
• changed to mooncup and reusable sanitary towels (have had several periods completely on reusables that I am very happy about)
• got stainless steel water bottles and no longer buying water in bottles
• got some beeswax wraps to use for covering bread etc.
• buy eco-certified washing powder in cardboard box
• buy refillable fabric softener (once again refill comes in small plastic pouch)
• bought cleaning products that are eco certified and come in recycled plastic bottles
• bought dishwasher powder and tabs that are eco certified and come in cardboard box
• had a go at making my own deodorant, it works fine but have others to use up first
• bought moisturiser and body lotion in glass bottles (l'Occitane again)
• try to remember my own shopping bags and mesh bags for loose produce (sometimes sooooooo hard)
• swapped to Whittard's loose leaf tea in a tin
• bought furniture and other items second hand instead of buying new
• chose most energy efficient models for new washing machine and tumble drier (we recently moved house)
• chosen to cycle instead of drive
• found compostable freezer bags
• try to pick up rubbish when walking the dog
• try to choose items in glass, cardboard and paper rather than plastic
• opted for a hybrid model when we changed the car (once again because of the move). I am not sure whether this is a better option or not, on the account of battery production being un-eco.

• our new house heats up with underfloor heating and firewood. Am undecided whether heating up house with wood is really eco or not. Considering of investing, at some point, in air source heat pump but that is for a time when finances are less tight

Bits I struggle with:

• being able to buy groceries without plastic
• always remembering my bags
• little one loves a yoghurt that comes in non-recyclable single use plastic pouch (I find this very frustrating as she is a fussy eater and this yoghurt is very protein rich)
• not having any food waste
• finding pet shampoo without plastic
• general lack of options... it's often difficult, time-consuming and expensive (!) to choose the better option...
• confusion on what is good and what is not

Wow Emmie, you do loads!
Sometimes it is so hard to know whether something that on the surface seems so much better, is actually more damaging than you think (like the hybrid car/battery scenario). It's such a minefield sometimes.
What are the toothbrush tablets like? I'm keen to try them.

•always remembering my bags•

This was me but I've now bought the cloth ones that fold in on themselves so they go straight back in my handbag

Cried a bit at the meat packaging to dispose of from making ONE MEAL. Then read about someone who takes a tupperware box to the butchers -brilliant idea!

Took stuff to charity shop at tip.
Dismantled a broken blind so I could dispose of the metal bit in the right bin.
Donated a load of old craft stuff to a school club.
Skipped cooking tonight as we had plenty of leftovers to eat.
Ordered beeswax wraps!!

Can't recommend highly enough the Instant Pot (electric pressure cooker) - use it almost daily and the oven/hob hardly at all. Lots of energy saved - curries in 20 min start to finish, can even chuck frozen meat in!

HoundOfTheBasketballs - I try to make lots of positive changes but find it very difficult at times.

DentTabs with fluoride are fantastic. You chew the small tablet with your front teeth into a paste and then just brush away. My 8-year-old who hates mint, doesn't mind these. It doesn't foam much and the effect is polishing, I swear my teeth are whiter. This company delivers without plastic packaging: www.anythingbutplastic.co.uk/product-page/denttabs-toothpaste-tablets-with-fluoride

I like the look of those but £4.80 for two people to clean their teeth for one month is a lot. That's not including £2.90 postage either.