In our pursuit of sustainable living, many of us are exploring train travel as a viable option for travelling between destinations. As we strive to adopt more eco-friendly habits, we are encouraged to leave our cars at home and embrace sustainable modes of transportation, including walking, cycling, or utilising public transport.
The logic behind this choice is quite sound. While cars offer convenience, they contribute significantly to pollution levels, which can have adverse effects on individuals with Asthma or respiratory problems. Moreover, their operational expenses can be quite high, and the unpleasant experience of being stuck in a traffic jam on a sweltering summer day hardly adds to the enjoyment.
When embarking on longer journeys, opting for train travel appears logical; however, in my experience, the cost of train tickets, forces me to reconsider this choice as a viable option.
The cost of train travel in the UK is eye-wateringly expensive. For many, it isn’t a cost effective option, regardless of the environmental benefits.
When I Was Commuter
Having commuted from Kent to Central London for nearly six years. The moment arrived for me to retire my season ticket for train travel as I ventured into self-employment. Throughout my time as a commuter, the expense of my season ticket consistently escalated each year. Culminating in a staggering £6,776 for my final annual pass. This ticket not only covered my travel on the High Speed service, with a duration of 40 minutes each way, but also included a travel card for the underground network.
Although I loved my job, the annual increases were not something I was able to sustain in the following years. The cost of train travel was one of the factors of why I became self-employed. Today’s cost (Aug 2023) for the same ticket would be £8,552.
For many commuters, public transport is the method of travel people opt for, despite the astronomical cost. We have to get to our workplaces to earn money.
Train travel for Leisure
A great way to save money for train tickets is by booking far in advance. Although, this is great in principal, it reality, life doesn’t always work that way.
I moved to Leicester at the end of 2022. I was looking at train tickets for myself, my partner and my 8-year-old daughter to travel to London for the day. For three of us to travel costs £134.85 for an open return and £150.15 to return on the day. That’s before you even think about grabbing lunch, venue entrance fees. It’s cheaper for us to drive from Leicester to Borehamwood, Barnet or even Cockfosters and travel on the underground.
With costs like this, what incentive is there to encourage people to use public transport?
Train Travel in Europe
Germany recently relaunched (yes! relaunched) their scheme where travellers pay €49 per month for unlimited train travel. The point of this? to promote sustainable travel!
In Spain, a train ticket from Valencia to Alicante, a 3-hour journey, is just €9 (£7.80).
France have banned internal flights where rail journeys are available and less than two and a half hours.
What’s the solution
Sadly, the rail in the UK was privatised a long while ago. Everyone’s financial situation is unique and, ultimately, you have to do what is affordable for you. If you’re in a position to book far in advance, you can really make a saving on your train travel.
There are many railcard discounts available – network rail card, disabled persons railcard. If you’r eligible for these railcards, they can go some way to making train travel a little cheaper.
If the UK want to encourage us to use public transport, the cost of train travel needs to be a lot cheaper than it currently is. The networks needs to be improved so people who live in small towns and villages are able to access them.
Fast fashion refers to the trend of producing cheap, disposable clothing at a fast pace to meet consumer demand, usually done to keep up with the latest fashion trend. Regrettably, the extensive and wide-ranging consequences of fast fashion on the environment are substantial, encompassing various aspects such as air and water quality, as well as climate change.
The biggest impact of fast fashion
According to reputable sources, fast fashion exerts a substantial environmental influence primarily through the immense volume of waste it generates. Renowned studies indicate that fast fashion companies produce an astounding quantity of garments annually, with a significant portion ultimately finding its way into landfills or being incinerated. Startlingly, the fashion industry is estimated to contribute approximately 10% of the world’s total carbon emissions, and it generates an alarming 92 million tons of textile waste each year.
We must not underestimate the consequences of clothing decomposition in landfills. As garments break down, they release methane, a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to the acceleration of climate change. Therefore, the environmental impact of fast fashion extends well beyond waste generation, directly contributing to the worsening of global warming.
The production of fast fashion requires staggering amounts of water and other natural resources. The most commonly used fabric in fast fashion is cotton. This crop requires a large amount of water to grow, fertilisers and pesticides used when growing cotton contributes to water pollution which has wider health implications.
Toxic dyes
Naturally, the process of dyeing the clothes in various colors will likely be necessary. Some dyes used in textiles can be toxic and harm aquatic life through polluting the waterways. Let’s not forget about the energy and water needed to heat/cool these machines, which carry their own carbon emmissions.
Transportation
Then there’s the transportation of these products. Countries where environmental regulations are not prioritised often serve as major production hubs for fast fashion clothing. The pollution generated from factories can have a detrimental impact on the residents who live near these factories.
The fast fashion industry also has significant social and ethical implications. Producing clothes in developing countries keep costs low but this also allows some companies to exploit their workers. Many workers receive incredibly low wages and frequently endure harsh working conditions.
What can you do about fast fashion?
Thankfully, there are steps we, as consumers, can take to reduce the impact fast fashion has on the environment. The easiest step is to buy less clothing and opt for clothing that high quality that will last a long time. Another great option is to purchase second-hand or clothes swap with friends or family.
Take a closer look at the materials used in clothing and actively choose sustainable options, such as organic cotton or recycled fabrics. These materials require less water and resources to produce and often have lower environmental impacts than traditional fabrics.
Another option is to support companies that prioritise sustainable fashion and ethical production practices. Many brands are looking at their environmental impacts and it’s our responsibility to dig a little deeper to ensure they’re doing what they say they’re doing.
There’s always something we can do do. We, as consumers, have more power than we think we do. If we started turning our backs what some fashion brands are doing and opt for brands to genuinely care about the environment and workers rights, more brands will follow. Money talks!
These are my opinions and some ideas that work for me but may not work for everyone. Here are my terms & conditions for further reading
As people have become more aware of the environmental impacts of their purchasing habits, conscious consumerism has started gaining popularity in recent years.
At its core, conscious consumerism is about being mindful of the products and services we choose to buy and use. Thinking about the impact those choices have on the environment, society, and the economy.
The concept
Every purchase we make has an impact, whether it’s a positive one or negative one. By choosing products and services that are produced in a socially and environmentally responsible way, we can help create a more sustainable world. From opting for products that are made from sustainable materials to supporting businesses that puts fair labour practices at the forefront.
It is a growing awareness of the environmental and social impact of consumerism. A great example of this is how many people are now aware of the negative impact of fast fashion has on the environment and the lack of fair labour globally. By choosing sustainable clothing and supporting ethical brands, we can lessen fashion’s negative impact
Similarly, the food industry has also come under much scrutiny in recent years. Many people are choosing to purchase locally sourced food or organically to support sustainable agriculture and reduce the carbon footprint of their diet. By buying local produce and supporting sustainable farming, we can reduce our food’s environmental impact.
Conscious Consumerism starts with taking responsibility for your own impact on the world around us. By consciously choosing our products and services, we can shrink our carbon footprint and build a sustainable world. This can include reducing disposable plastics, using energy-efficient appliances, and supporting sustainable transportation
One of the key challenges is the sheer volume of products and services available on the market. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know which products and services are truly sustainable. This led to certification programs, informing consumers about their purchases
However, it’s important to note that certification programs are not perfect, and there is still a lot of debate about what standards should be used to define sustainable and socially responsible practices. Although, some critics argue they are too lenient, and that they don’t do enough to hold businesses accountable for their actions.
Additionally, this can involve researching products and services and keeping an eye out for greenwashing. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, check out my blog.
Conscious consumerism involves a holistic approach to our consumption habits, considering the impact of our choices on the world around us beyond just buying sustainable or socially responsible products and services
These are my opinions and some ideas that work for me but may not work for everyone. Here are my terms & conditions for further reading
Since I started this blog, I have found more and more ways to reuse water that work for me.
I wrote a blog back in October 2020 about reusing water so I thought I would post an update on other ways I have identified to reuse water.
Previously, I had a condenser dryer in my kitchen. I found this option easier because I didn’t need to have the dryer ‘installed’ into any pipework. It was simply a case of removing the tank when it was full. I was able to water my plants and replace the tank. It allowed me to explore different tumble dryer water uses.
Now that I’ve moved, my new kitchen doesn’t have space for a dryer so this is no longer an option. But that’s OK. I’ve found other ways!
Reusing Water from pasta and potatoes
I read somewhere a while back where people use the leftover water from boiling pasta or potatoes but only if the water is completely cooled down and hasn’t had any seasoning or salt. I do this occasionally but not all the time. I never do this as a substitution to tap/rain water.
Leftover pasta water is full of starch and many gardeners believe this can give your plants a little boost.
If you’re interested in more, here’s a great article for further reading and make your own mind up
Water bottles
My daughter takes a water bottle to school, which she can drink throughout the day. There are quite a few times that she still has some water in it when she gets home so I pour any leftover water in a jug and use that for watering the plants (or put it in the water butt). There’s no point in throwing perfectly good water down the drain.
This is a great way to reuse excess drinking water.
Water Butt
Since I moved house, I have installed water butts in the garden (this was not possible in my old house) and it collects rainwater which I can use to water my outdoor plants during the spring and summer or even wash the car.
The great thing I like about this is that the only expense is the water butt (which is a one-off cost), after that it’s free free free!
Reusing Dehumidifier Water
We had to buy a dehumidifier because there was a damp issue in the new house. Although, the issue has been rectified, the moisture in the wall is still there so we use a dehumidifier to resolve this issue.
The great thing about this that it collects water in the tank which I add to the water butt in the garden so I can reuse the water elsewhere.
I know some people also use a dehumidifier to help dry clothes as dryers can be expensive to run. As they remove excess water from the air, they help with condensation issues, read more here and see if that works for you.
Shower water
I’ve seen people reuse water from the shower but I don’t know how soapy water can affect plants so I personally don’t do this. Although, I have reused shower water for washing the car and it works well for me. Keep a bucket in the shower and once it’s full, reuse that water.
The effects of climate change are regularly featured on news and social media and, in recent years, has become a more pressing issue. It’s apparent that our decisions are having an impact on the world around us. There are many ways to become more sustainable such as reducing plastic waste, recycling and changing a few habits which can make a difference.
Here are my 10 ways to help you live a more sustainable life.
Tip 1 – Buy Second-Hand
I’m a huge fan of this because you will be buying something that has already been produced. A lot of resources are used to make our clothes and many people are exploited. Dirty water sometimes enters the waterways causing wider issues. You’ll also be supporting charities who are in desperate need of money and there’s a good chance you’ll find something at a fraction of the original price. Check out my blog on how to save money – Who doesn’t want to save some money?
I’m not saying ditch meat completely, for some people, that’s not possible. Reducing the amount of meat you eat can make a difference because the meat industry has a massive effect on climate change, not only from production but transportation too. Starting with Meat-Free Mondays provides an ideal launching point
This will not only help the environment but it will also save you money. Repairing leaky taps is the number one thing to fix and having showers rather than baths is a great way to reduce your water consumption. I have a water butt which captures rainwater, if you have the space, think about getting one to collect rainwater. You may be able to find second-hand water butts online.
Tip 4 – Sustainable Food Shopping
In recent years, there has been an explosion of zero waste shops. This is where you take along your empty jars/containers, fill up with what you need and pay. No plastic packaging, no waste. Sometimes, it can work out cheaper buying what you need and reduces food waste. Plus, you’ll be supporting a local business and that’s always a good thing!
We rely on cars to get around but if you are able to take a stroll to your destination, that’s always a better option. If you have one, use your bike instead. Cars cause a lot of pollution and walking (or cycling) is better for the environment and your health too. Especially, if it’s a lovely day! Try having a staycation instead of jetting off somewhere as air travel is a huge carbon emitter.
Tip 6 – Switch off Appliances
As technology continues to advance, it increasingly dominates our lives, with daily consumption contributing to the escalation of carbon emissions. Unplug the things you aren’t using – mobile phone chargers, kettles, toasters, lights – they all consumer energy unnecessarily. Another great tip is to switch your energy usage to a sustainable supplier.
Meal planning is a great way to reduce waste because you are buying only what you need and you’re not wasting money (or food). Any leftovers can be eaten the next day. Additionally, through meal planning, you will be more inclined to purchase loose fruits and vegetables, thus effectively reducing unnecessary plastic waste. Need some meal planners? I’ve got you covered!
Tip 8 – Clean the Back of your Fridge
Now, this is one I wasn’t aware of! All fridges can gather dust at the back. Surprisingly, the dust means the fridge has to work harder to run efficiently which uses more energy. I will be the first to admit that I had never removed the dust from the back of the fridge but I do this every six months.
Tip 9 – Go Paperless
Ask yourself if you really need a printed copy of your bank statement? Do you file it? Do you shred it? We have the technology at our fingertips should we need to access this information. Additionally, this can be kept online but if you prefer to keep a copy, save them to your cloud storage or a USB stick.
Tip 10 – Make Do and Mend
This is one of my favourite sustainable tips! Certainly, during the second world war, people repairing clothes left a lasting impression on me, but as time passed, subsequent generations seemed to lose this valuable tradition. Thankfully, it’s starting to make a comeback. How many times have you discarded an item of clothing that has a hole in it? Sometimes, all it needs is a simple repair are there are many websites that show how to repair. In most cases, a small sewing kit will be enough.
Sustainable living looks different to everyone, there isn’t a right or wrong. There plenty of ways to save money too. Here are some more tips and DIY projects
Something I always say – start small, do what you can, build from there.
If you’d like to have a look at self-care sustainable living, check out 8 Busy Mum Eco Swaps Self-Care Edition – packed with tried and tested DIY recipes, cost comparisons and money-saving voucher codes.
These are my opinions and some ideas that work for me but may not work for everyone. Here are my terms & conditions for further reading
Hello! I’m Kirsty, of Coaching by Kirsty, and I describe myself as a Self-Belief Nurturer (aka mindset/life/personal coach). At this point, you may be wondering why on earth a Self-Belief Nurturer is writing a blog for a website dedicated to sustainable living…it’s an excellent question and I’m glad you asked!
Sustainability may look like a simple matter of making the right practical choices: but choices are made by minds and there’s a hell of a lot that affects our minds, whether we realise it or not. And a pretty bloody massive one of those things is self-belief.
For me, self-belief is fundamentally the recognition that you are good enough. (And yes, I do mean YOU.)
It’s about knowing, liking and trusting who we are. Because the more we do that, the more we understand what really matters to us, the more we believe we deserve it, and the more we have the courage and resilience to live our lives accordingly.
Self-belief is what allows us to make choices that feel right to us, even if acting on them may result in discomfort, inconvenience, criticism or challenge.
Tribes and sabre-toothed tigers and stuff
Perhaps the biggest obstacle to making the choices that we instinctively feel to be right for us is our primeval need to fit in with and be accepted by others.
You see, in the early stages of human evolution, you were born into a tribe and belonging to it greatly increased your chances of physical and genetic survival – the driving force for most living things.
Piss the tribe off enough to get kicked out and you found yourself alone in the wild: there was no one to help you find food or help you avoid becoming food; if you were sick or hurt, there was no one to tend to, feed or protect you, and your chances of a quick, productive shag were decidedly minimal. Being accepted by the tribe was literally a matter of life and death.
Even though those risks have been minimised for most of us today, it appears that the limbic system is still catching up with the pace of humanity’s social and technological evolution.
While the rustle in the bushes is more likely to be next door’s cat looking to con you into feeding it than a sabre-toothed tiger intent on making you its next meal, our primitive survival instinct is still looking out for those sabre-toothed tigers and telling us we need to be part of a group for protection.
By the way, if the rustle in the bushes does turn out to be a sabre-toothed tiger, please do try to take and share pictures before it eats you – I mean, how cool would it be to see one?! But I digress (I do that quite a lot, tbh).
To get back to the point (yes, there is one, honest), we are programmed to believe that our best chance of survival comes from being part of a tribe, and that means that we need to fit in, right? The tribe is unlikely to protect those who antagonise it, or upset it, or do things differently. Those who don’t follow the tribe’s traditions and rules are likely to be seen as a liability rather than an asset in a group whose physical survival depends on working closely together and trusting each other.
Tribal overwhelm
It used to be the case that our tribe (which I’m using as shorthand for “close-knit, protective social group”, which doesn’t exactly roll of the tongue, does it?!) was basically the family/immediate community into which we were born. However, development of transport, communication and information technologies mean that nowadays we can travel and interact with people all over the world, creating endless possibilities for connecting to different tribes.
Even if you live your whole life in the same house, you have a mind-boggling array of tribal options: for instance, those who live in the same county/country/continent/hemisphere; new groups of people you encounter during education or employment; those who share the same identifying characteristics as you (eg race, sexuality, gender); those who share your political views; those who follow the same celebrities/influencers/gurus on the same social media platforms as you; those who support the same sports teams; those who have the same religious faith (or lack thereof); those with the same hobbies and interests; those whose kids are in the same class as yours….the list is endless (or at least mahoosive, if we’re going to be pernickety, which I often am).
The good news here is that there’s plenty of opportunity to find “your tribe”, or even various tribes which meet different needs for you.
The bad news is that there can be a whole heap of pressure to conform to a gaziliion “shoulds” in a bid to gain acceptance from all the tribes you encounter. And that’s where self-belief becomes so important (see, we got there eventually, didn’t we?!).
Square pegs and round holes…
When we unconsciously submit to the need to belong, we can find ourselves adopting behaviours and choices that aren’t (fully) our own. And let me be clear that that’s said not from a place of criticism or judgement, but from personal experience.
In the face of perceived peer pressure from those we want to be accepted by, and all the “shoulds” and heavily airbrushed images of perfection being presented to us by the media and social media, it’s a rare individual who has never allowed themselves to be influenced by values and beliefs that are not truly theirs, wouldn’t you agree?
On top of that, when we’re conscious that we don’t seem to naturally fit in with those around us, there’s a tendency to assume not that we’re in the wrong place, but rather that there’s something wrong with us – that we are not likeable, not good enough.
Rather than trusting in who we are and our ability to find where we do belong, we reject our true selves and work on creating an alternative self to please others. In so doing, we become increasingly dependent on the approval of others and increasingly out of alignment with who we really are and what really matters to us.
When sustainability becomes unsustainable
Given all this, making choices to support a sustainable lifestyle is not always easy or comfortable, in spite of growing general recognition of the need to do so if we want to preserve and protect the natural world, and thus ourselves.
How many different voices are there expressing different views about the extent of, prioritisation of, and responsibility for more sustainable behaviours? Bloody loads, at a conservative estimate.
Some tell us that the single biggest thing we can do to make a difference is to become a vegan. Others that it’s to eliminate single-use plastic from your life. Others that it’s to minimise your carbon footprint. Others that it’s about buying only natural, organic, ethical products. Others that we should go and live off grid and off the land. Others that it’s down to governments and big corporates to ensure we have the right infrastructure and options in place. Others that there’s no point bothering with any of it because it’s all going to hell in a handcart whatever we do. And so on, and so forth, ad nauseam.
When your self-belief is low, following your instincts on these issues can seem impossible. But being all things to all people is similarly impossible, and the effort of trying to do it all from a place of fear and insecurity is incredibly exhausting.
Even choices that may seem purely personal can have the tribe turning on you – or, at least, have you fearing that it will. Becoming vegan may seem to be of no concern to anyone but you…unless, perhaps, you live in an area where a lot of people work in dairy/meat farming…or if your family has a blinkered “meat and two veg” approach to food and is convinced you’re just being difficult and attention-seeking…
Sustainability your way
When faced with the vast array of choices, opinions, information and misinformation about living sustainably, and the depth of feeling that exists about them, self-belief – getting to know, like and trust yourself more – is essential to finding YOUR way.
Knowing yourself allows you to understand and focus on YOUR values, rather than unconsciously taking on those of others. It allows you to understand how you want to show up in and experience your life, the change you want to create in the world.
Liking yourself allows you to recognise that you have worth; that there are people out there who will value and appreciate you even if some of those you’re trying to fit in with don’t; that you deserve the life you want to create; that you and what you do matter.
Trusting yourself allows you to detach from the need for acceptance at any price and to instead find where you truly belong. It allows you to follow your instincts and take action even if you don’t know whether you’ll get it right first time, because you know that you’ll learn from any mistakes and can cope with whatever happens (even if it’s shitty).
Tips for growing your self-belief
So, how do you work on your self-belief?
There’s no guaranteed, one-size-fits-all approach to growing self-belief – because we’re all different and unique. However, there are definitely tools that can help us start to explore and express who we really are. Here are a few short, simple exercises/reminders that I keep coming back to:
What did you want to be when you grew up? What it was about the job – or the idea you had of that job – that appealed to you? What does it say about who you are and what lights you up?
Consider 2 or 3 decisions you’ve made that stand out for you as being good ones (it doesn’t matter how “big” or “small”): for each one, write a list of what you got from the outcomes. What stands out for you?
“Would you believe in what you believe in if you were the only one who believed it?” – asking yourself this question from Kanye West is so helpful in clarifying what really matters to you. You don’t have to justify or explain your answer – just be honest with yourself about your instinctive response.
Whenever you’re worried about dealing with the outcome of a decision, remember this: You have a 100% track record for dealing with all life’s shit – you are a fucking rock star!
Working on ourselves is incredibly beneficial, but working with a coach can take it to the next level – because we don’t see our own blindspots or what we’re avoiding, do we?
My coaching is all about listening and asking questions to help you better understand yourself and make the changes you want to make. It’s a conversation focused totally on YOU. If you’re curious about coaching, I offer the opportunity to try a free coaching conversation – simply book an online tea and biscuits chat and select the relevant option. Oh, and if you just fancy a chat about anything mindset related, that’s cool too!
If you enjoy mindset chat and a bit of general silliness, come and join in with me on your platform of choice:Instagram | Facebook
About Kirsty: After years of making myself miserable trying to be who I thought I should be in my home, social and corporate life, my mission is to help others cast off the cloak of conformity and shine their true, unique, weird and utterly bloody wonderful light. Because does the world benefit from a bunch of acquiescent clones? I think the fuck not. If you enjoy a bit of mindset chat, random silliness and a good swear, then please come and say hello on Instagram! This guest blog are my own views.
I often get asked what my top three favourite sustainable living swaps are or if someone wants to get started with eco-living, what would be the first thing I suggest they change?
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.
There are so many to choose from so I thought I would list my top three and why they’re my favourites.
Wild Deodorant
I keep going on about this product and it’s unlikely I will ever stop talking about it but I absolutely love this product. Am I obsessed with it? YES
I did a review on this product back in August 2021 and I’ve been using it ever since.
So many of my friends and family and swapped to this eco-friendly version #SayNoToPlastic
Credit – Wild Deodorant
This is how it works – you can buy the refills as and when you need them or set up a subscription. Either option will be delivered right to your door (in a letterbox friendly sized box). I did a video on how to refill them, it’s so easy!
A great addition to eco-living and they offer a range of scents which also includes a sensitive range too. Check out the range here and if you fancy getting 20% off your first order, enter the discount code EASYPEASY . One of my favourite scents is Wild sandalwood and patchouli
Jungle Culture Safety Razor
I’ve blogged about it, I’ve probably bored my friends and family to tears talking about it but I can’t help talking about it. I love my safety razor and it’s a great addition to sustainable living.
I remember my Dad having one when I was little.
They are so much better than disposable razors which contain plastic, rubber grips and metal for the blades. Due to the mixture of materials, they can’t be recycled. But with a safety razor, all you do is replace the metal blade.
Credit – Jungle Culture
I have previously bought a safety razor that felt cheaply made and it didn’t last long. From now on, Jungle Culture will always be my go-to place when someone asks me for a recommendation. I’ve had mine for a while and it’s really good quality! They’re easy to use and will last a long time.
If you’re complete new to safety razors, check out my blog to get started
Modibodi Period Pants
A while back, someone mentioned period pants. I had visions of walking around with a thick menstrual pad in my knickers, it’s not like that at all.
I like that I have a few period pants and, like with all underwear, if you look after them, you will have them for ages. Plus, in the long run I’ve saved money because I’m using the period pants every month.
Period poverty is a serious issue facing women and girls in the UK and around the world and I think period pants can help with with this massively. The pants are a one-off cost, and if you look after them, they could last for many washes.
Also, whether it’s tampons or pads, they contains plastic. Women’s Environmental Network state on their website that menstrual pads can contain up to 90% plastic and 2 billion menstrual items are flushed down Britain’s toilets each year. This is absolutely shocking.
I recently purchased a few pairs by Modibodi and I absolutely love them. First two days of my period are really heavy and worried about leaks and I’ve had no leaks since buying these.
Credit – Modibodi
I wrote a review in March 2022 for period pants and menstrual cups, if you’re not sure, check it out here.
Sustainable living looks different for everyone, and I know there can be barriers. There isn’t a right or wrong and there certainly isn’t a ‘perfect’ way of doing it.
Start small, do what you can, build from there.
If you want to go a step further, check out my blog with Environmental Days 2023 UK to keep track of key dates throughout the year
These are some ideas that work for me but may not work for everyone. Here are my terms & conditions for further reading
I recently wrote a post about the plastic we get when we send or receive gifts from loved ones. More individuals are becoming eco-conscious and want to start changing their habits to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
But where do you start?
So many eco-friendly products come on the market all the time, it seems like the choices available to us are vast and can be incredibly overwhelming.
Is the product good?
I don’t know anyone who has tried this
I don’t have time to keep looking for something eco-friendly
I want to support a small business but I don’t see their stuff
How can I find out about new eco-friendly products?
I want to try myself first before I buy for a friend
All of the above were examples of what I said to myself.
Since launching my blog, Easy Peasy Greeny, I have tried a lot of different products; some good, some not so good, and some I don’t even want to mention. I won’t lie, it can be overwhelming because I didn’t know where to start either.
This is exactly why I am launching a subscription box service with eco-friendly products called Eco Discovery Subscription Box, some of the products I am already familiar with.
My aim is to take the hassle and headache away from YOU and it will be delivered direct to your door.
There will be two options
Option 1
A quarterly subscription box that will contain 4 – 6 items and will be posted on a set day. In addition to discovering new products, every three months, your box will include a bamboo toothbrush because you should always change your toothbrush every 3 months, one less thing for you to remember!
Option 2
An eco-friendly box for a one-off payment, there will only be a limited number of boxes. I’m currently working on Safety Razor starter boxes which will contain a safety razor, razor blades, a jute bag and a bar of shaving soap. I’ve got quite a few ideas on some other boxes so I will let you know about when they’re ready.
All orders will come with a handwritten note on seed paper so you can pop the note in a plant pot and let the seeds grow.
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.
Firstly, I would like to say that this an absolutely beautiful book which has been perfectly separated into five sections; living, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and outdoors.
Each sections discusses what changes you could make to live a more sustainable lifestyle and things to consider when making your choices.
I’ve been starting to implement a lot of these changes – here’s the first product review on safety razors
The author offers excellent advice and includes step-by-step guides, for example, making your own toothpaste – something I am keen to try.
Sustainable Living
Sustainable living takes you through the benefits of minimalism and the environmental impacts our choices have with an fabulous guide on how to declutter your home; how to decide what to keep and what to do with the things you don’t need anymore.
Following onto the furniture we buy, the benefits and concluding on a guide to indoor plants, something I have recently fallen in love with.
Sustainable Kitchen
Food can be a contentious issue as it’s well documented how much of an impact farming for meat has on the environment. Christine navigates this issue really well giving you information to make your own choices.
If you aren’t able to cut out meat completely, reducing your meat intake still makes a massive difference. I particularly like the guides to making your own cashew and oat milk, I’m looking forward to giving these a go. Sustainable kitchen concludes on some really good tips on reducing food waste.
Sustainable Bedroom
This chapter begins with your wardrobe and how to create a minimalist wardrobe but still maintaining your personal style.
In particular, I loved is repairing and repurposing clothes and I am a superfan of ‘make do and mend’.
Following onto bedroom furniture and concluding the section on how to make your own room spray.
Sustainable Bathroom
A place in your home where you can make the biggest changes to live a more sustainable life is in your bathroom.
This section is jam-packed with ideas and guides on how to make your own toothpaste, body scrub, body butter and lip balm.
This section includes an overview of shampoo and shampoo bars, cleaning, water usage and my favourite of all; the safety razor. I moved away from disposable razors about a year ago and I’ve never looked back.
Outdoors
Inside the home isn’t the only place to make a change, this final section discusses ways in how a workplace can become greener, when you’re eating out and looking at your carbon footprint when you’re out and about.
Conclusion
Firstly, the main thing I love about this book is that is doesn’t preach to me. It’s very well written and easy to read.
There are so many ideas and examples of changes you can make to live more sustainably. It’s okay that you can’t do everything in one go; it’s a marathon, not a race.
Would I recommend this book to others? A massiveYES.
If you would like to know more about Christine Liu, here are her links
Easy Peasy Greeny is over a year old now and something I was eager to start was product reviews. I already use and am familiar with many eco-friendly products so I might as well start recommending them. I love recommendations, I’m more likely to buy from one and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
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One product I will always recommended is safety razors. I love them! They’ve been around for well over 100 years and I’m glad many people are starting to return to the old way of shaving. I previously wrote a blog about why making the switch is a great choice. As you can tell, I’m a huge fan!
I already own one but I was on the lookout for one with a stand and I came across one for sale with &Keep. So, I ordered it.
It arrived in plastic-free packaging! A massive thumbs up from me!
All of the packaging is easily recycled and no plastic in sight. It even includes a blade to get you started and let’s not forget – it has a stand!
How am I getting on?
I’ve been using this for over two weeks and I absolutely love it. It’s very easy to use and my legs feel really smooth. I think it’s actually better than my old one (which I’ve put in my travel bag as a spare – always good to have a spare!). It’s got a good weight to it, easy to handle and the stand allows the razor to drip-dry.
Safety razors tend to be top heavy and the beauty of that is they do all the hard work for you. If you’re a newbie check out my blog for some top tips or you can refer to the user manual.
Pros and cons
Of course, with any product review, there needs to be a pro and con section. Let’s start with the pros
Smooth shave
Double-edged shaving
Easy screw function to replace the blade
Handle has grooves for good grip when you’re hands are wet
Eco-friendly
Good value for money
Cons
There isn’t a cover for the head should you wish to put it in your travel bag without having to remove the blade – In fairness, I haven’t seen this with any other safety razor either.
Would I recommend this one?
A massive YES!
These beauties are available in three colours – Black, Rose Gold and Silver and the price is very reasonable.
Here are two UK stockists I have come across.
&Keep – A UK company based in Dorset who sell a wide variety of eco-friendly and sustainable products.
Etsy – This is a UK based seller has 2,766 sales and 423 shop reviews!
As you can tell, I really love supporting UK based businesses!
The amount of razors that end up in landfill (and the oceans) is devastating and take hundreds of years to breakdown and it’s unlikely it would have fully decomposed after all that time. If you look after your razor, it can last a very long time. Plus, it will save you money!
UK Eco blogger who cares about sustainable living, loves writing about environmental awareness days, Sustainable living ideas, and self-care the eco way – without judgement
