Anyone taking any more eco friendly steps in 2022?

[PurpleHydrangea1]

We do quite a bit already within our circumstances. But a few steps I'm trying next year:

Composting
Having a more bee/butterfly friendly garden (made a small start this year)
No balloons - find alternative decorations for DC's birthdays.
I've found a zero waste/plastic free shop for oats/pasta/rice so going to try it out soon
Trying another fruit and vegetable shop which sells locally grown produce (last one hiked their prices up too much)
Going back to tooth tabs instead of toothpaste (just fell out of habit)
New charity shop has opened up in nearby town centre which looks promising so hoping to get second hand clothes for kids, especially for park/garden (also a charity which supports disabled children so it's close to my heart)
Darning holes in clothes/socks
Using Amazon less
Attempting my hand at homemade cleaning products (one at a time!) And some beauty products
Being more mindful of reduce/reuse
My mum will constantly spend on the kids, even for things not needed so I'm trying to curb this a lot (e.g. they don't need new coats every year when they still fit and immaculate, buying loads of presents for the sheer sake of it, constant flow of clothes, etc)

We have one SEN child and I'm under investigation for health condition so all of these are dependent on that, but I'm all for trying small steps where possible!

Any thing you're trying for next year?

Hi @PurpleHydrangea, we're just giving this thread a bump - we're sure some Mumsnetters will be along shortly.

Me, I grow some vegetables already but could definitely grow more so that's going to be my main one.
I'm going to be much more mindful about buying clothes. I'm going to wear more of the clothes I already own and not buy anything unless it's ethically made or second hand.
I have teenagers who are always hungry so I'm inclined to buy cereal bars and crisp etc for snacks. They get demolished and create a lot of packaging waste so I'm going to try and cut that down a bit.
I started a bee and butterfly garden a few years ago and I'm making it bigger a bit at a time. I'm going to try and grow more things from seed for it instead of buying plants.

Be more considerate when buying clothes. I don't buy a huge amount and I tend to be a supermarket buyer (leggings and t shirts) as I'm no fashionista! But I'd like to be more mindful and charity shop and tailor/adapt. I have a sewing machine and can do basic dressmaking.

Have found a place that does biodegradable dishwasher tabs that are not plastic wrapped and come in a cardboard delivery sleeve through the letter box.

I already bulk buy my shampoo and conditioner in 5L bottles and refill the smaller bottles I have.

Stop using tumble dryer sheets and use homemade ones instead.

We're already vegan but I want to focus more on food miles and buying local.

I have wild areas of my garden already, but my next big jobs are to establish a compost heap and plant out a butterfly and insect garden - I have a list of plants which are pollinator friendly.

I would love it if a refill supermarket opened though. I try and reuse as many containers as possible already, but it would be amazing if I could take containers along and refill rather than have to buy new packaging all the time.

We will not be going on any flights in 2022 (we didn't in 2021 and 2020 either).

Shame celebrity eco activists can't make the same commitment. I guess going to Barbados is just too important for the likes of Emma Watson.

Buying local and drinking less milk
Driving less
No flying!

Mine are really dependent on affordability so for example, I'm going to walk to work saving myself money and good for the planet, grow more of my own vegetables / fruit I got an allotment last year and hope to make it more productive this year. I like the idea of making my own cleaning products, I will have to investigate that myself.

Mine are really dependent on affordability so for example, I'm going to walk to work saving myself money and good for the planet, grow more of my own vegetables / fruit I got an allotment last year and hope to make it more productive this year. I like the idea of making my own cleaning products, I will have to investigate that myself.

Just about to roadtest some DIY tumble dryer sheets. Will report back!

I'm going to return to vegetarian/veganism for most meals. I have an intolerance to many carbs so will need to be careful about what I eat.

Buying second hand clothes only from eBay or charity shops.

Will grow some veg when I finally get to our new house.

Will hardly ever use the car when we finally move so going from 3-4 hours driving per day to zero.

Will holiday in the UK

I'm also going to sign up for this zero waste delivery service once I'm relocated

https://www.goodclub.co.uk

Those are some good ideas OP.
I too have a mum who buys loads of stuff for my kids. I have managed to persuade her to buy less, but not as little as I'd like her to. She doesn't believe how much it stresses me to find a place for all the things she gives us! Still, I've given up trying to change her because buying presents is one of the ways she shows her love for me and her grandchildren. I appreciate that and also don't want to ruin the fun for her and my DC.

The biggest challenge for myself is to buy less in general, and buy second hand wherever possible. This isn't easy with kids in my experience, because I don't want them to miss out or have things that aren't "cool".
Examples:
I no longer buy magazines or books, I get both from the library.
My kids go ice skating - bought their skates in a charity shop.
I have decided to cycle to work and am going to use the bike sharing programme, this also saves me thinking about getting it serviced.
We needed a bigger dining room table - found one at an antiques shop that wasn't horrifically expensive.

I already do a lot of these. The big one for 2022 will be ditching the diesel car and getting a hybrid if i can avoid it. I drive a lot unavoidably, long commute and for work, so clock up a lot of miles.

I didn't know about tooth tablets. Have just told my husband about them and he seems interested, so we might do that.

You said you wanted to try to make homemade cleaning products, so here is a link to the recipe I use for dishwasher tablets. We find them to be very good. www.rebootedmom.com/homemade-dishwasher-tablets/

Not buying any more clothes for a year (save underwear).
Takeaways once a month.

• Reduce plastic packaging generally. I've kicked it off by buying 48 rolls of unwrapped toilet paper. This also means vastly reducing toiletries and cleaning products, as well as buying food in bulk.
• Buy very few clothes and only from ethical shops - no plastic based fabrics either, which is challenging. I have enough clothes...need to wear some out
• Stop using paper towels.
• I already do a lot of things but I want to radically simplify 😃

I am trying to be more eco-friendly also
My motto: Reduce > Reuse > Recycle

Changes made:
-Bamboo toothbrush, unless I can find good sensitive paste, I have to stick with sensodyne
-Reusable water bottle & coffee cup etc
-Reusable washable makeup remover cloths
-I use old comfy clothes as pajamas instead of buying new
-Only buy new clothes etc when I can't find second hand in shops or on social media marketplace
-Buy loose fruit & veg where possible
-I have a good zero waste shop and vegan store near me
-Only charge phone, hoover etc when needed, not left plugged & turn off unused lights & appliances
-Turn off heating when asleep/out house
-Buy larger products as uses less plastic/materials longterm
-I used to wash my hair everyday, I wash less now to save water and product
-With an ethical bank who doesn't fund fossil fuels etc
-With a green energy company
-Compost food scraps/peels/teabags
-Recycle as much packaging as possible
-This year I became vegetarian, eating mostly vegan
-I have made lots more changes but too many to list here

To improve:
-Try eco-friendly shower gel e.g. shampoo & conditioner bars and other plastic free where I can
-Try eco friendly makeup
-Use natural air fresheners like essential oil diffuser (not plug-ins)
-Use natural and homemade cleans etc
-Plant bee & butterfly friendly plants e.g. bee bombs
-Drive less, walk more
-Litter pick - lots of children in my area haven't learned to bin their sweet wrappers and drinks cans
-I would love to afford the luxury of an electric car someday! Will only buy second hand as the manufacture of these cars is still not eco friendly!

I’ll be wfh for the foreseeable, perhaps just going into the office a couple of days a month once things go back to normal. Due to the savings on commuting, I’ve managed to buy myself a more expensive hybrid car.
I’ve also spent a lot less on clothing and shoes, no one can see the bobbles/stains over Teams! I get the washing hung out more, and have recently started Riverford and good club deliveries. I get WGAC loo rolls and smol dishwasher tablets. I buy rarely used things such as Xmas jumpers and football boots for the kids off eBay. I don’t buy any clothes in charity shops but I take everything I don’t need to them.

I’d like to introduce more vegan or vegetarian meals in 2022 but the kid’s are fussy. I might just have to start with the adults!

For all those trying to develop a wildlife garden I can thoroughly recommend An Ear to the Ground and No Nettles Required both by Ken Thompson.

@Passthecake30 remember macaroni cheese and pizza are both vegetarian.

I am planting a lot more this year. Last year our whole kitchen garden was trashed due to building work but I’m putting it back together this year and planting as many edibles as possible.
Also getting an ev when my car finally dies (it isn’t far off)
We watched don’t look up on Netflix last night which really fired us all up again to do what we can

Thanks @Daftasabroom
Some of the quorn foods might be more acceptable by the kids too.

I do a lot already this year I'm planning on growing a lot more in my garden

Hello! Long time eco worrier here and always trying to make better choices. Currently my main concern is home insulation. We are also getting solar in Feb.

We have an allotment, grow lots to eat in the garden too and we keep chickens.

I try to buy second hand where possible and I’m a keen freecycler but I also have a dreadful Amazon habit I’d like to break…

Will be reading the whole thread for more inspiration

I'm focussing on the reduce aspect this year.

I'm far from perfect on the eco front but reducing my purchases is the biggest thing I can do I suppose.

Anything I do buy will be carefully considered and preferably bought second hand.