Meaningful Changes

Many of us from a young age have been taught that we should be ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’.

But how much of that do you do? These are a few meaningful changes that you can make to reduce your ecological impact.

Why should you make these changes?

Your plastic consumption is having a negative impact across the world. The United States and the United Kingdom are the world’s most significant plastic polluters [1]. Much of this plastic is shipped abroad to countries that cannot manage their own plastic waste properly. Therefore, reducing your plastic consumption has an important positive impact not only on your local environment but also on places you are not immediately aware of.

What is wrong with microplastics?

Microplastics are a contaminant of concern particularly due to their minuscule size they can find their way into the food that you eat. Microplastics enter aquatic environments is through washing synthetic clothing, such as polyester. Buying organic clothing like cotton and hemp will reduce microplastic shedding in your washes. All plastic waste regardless of size is detrimental to the environment and is leading to the degradation of ecosystems.

What can you do?

Do not buy plastic!

The main sources of plastic are packaging, most notably single use plastic. More than half of the plastic that is consumed is discarded after one use. You should stop buying goods that use plastic packaging as this is only contributing to the ubiquitous harmful presence of plastic in all our ecosystems. For example, here in Aberystwyth, there is a milk vending machine in town which would allow you to reduce your plastic consumption. You can fill up your reusable glass milk bottle with local organic milk. In the long term, this small action may even save you some money. Look out for just such a local shop that uses this kind of incentive to reduce waste, and support it!

Buy re-usable biodegradable!

Buying things that last such as reusable shopping bags reduces the need to keep grabbing a new one and having a bag full of non-biodegradable plastic in your home. Wildlife continually becomes entangled in plastic bags which can be fatal. So, try to carry a strong reusable shopping bag with you.

One of the simplest changes you can make is to use a reusable water bottle. Not only will this positively impact the environment, but it will reduce the demand for plastic bottles to keep being made. You should also look at buying a reusable coffee cup. Britain alone gets through 2.5 billion single use coffee cups in a year. The vast majority of these are not recyclable. [4]

Recycle and upcycle!

Purchasing recycled and second-hand goods is always great as you are utilizing a previous thing purposed for something else. Recycling locally, for example, donating clothing to a charity shop and even shopping there, will not only benefit the environment but someone else.

Buy Fairtrade!

When doing your shopping, you should try and look for the Fairtrade logo. The Fairtrade foundation supports improved working conditions for farmer’s in the developing world and it also supports improved sustainability. Fairtrade standards aim to protect biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions [3].

Compost your food waste!

Food is one of the largest contributors to landfill waste. If you do not already have a food compost bin or even better, your own compost bin in your garden, you should do! Not only will this reduce the amount of food ending up in landfill, but it will enrich your own soil and you can boost your own organic fruit and vegetables.

Go Vegan!

Dietary habits can have a positive or negative effect on biodiversity and the environment. Avoiding meat and dairy is the single greatest way of reducing your impact on the environment. The loss of wild areas to agriculture is the primary cause of the current mass extinction of wildlife. [2] Why not give Veganuary a go?

[6] Food systems

[1]Carrington, D. (2020) The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/30/us-and-uk-citizens-are-worlds-biggest-sources-of-plastic-waste-study [Accessed 23 02 2021].

[2] Carrington, D. (2018) 'Avoiding meat and dairy is ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth' The Guardian, Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/31/avoiding-meat-and-dairy-is-single-biggest-way-to-reduce-your-impact-on-earth [Accessed 22 February 2021]

[3] Fairtrade Foundation, Available at:https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/legacy/doc/Fairtrade%20and%20sustainability%20-%20environmental%20protection%20and%20climate%20change.pdf [Accessed 01/03/2021 03 2021].

[4] Doward, J (2020) The Guardian. Available at:https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/26/why-britains-25-billion-paper-coffee-cups-are-an-eco-disaster[Accessed 23 02 2021]

[5]United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2018. National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes and Recycling. [Online] Available at: https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials [Accessed 01 03 2021]

[6] Benton, T., Bieg, C., Harwatt, H., Pudasaini, R. and Wellesley, L., 2021. 02 How today’s food system drives biodiversity loss. [online] Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank. Available at: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/02/food-system-impacts-biodiversity-loss/02-how-todays-food-system-drives-biodiversity-loss [Accessed 12 March 2021]