Sustainable Living

Facts & Figures You Need to Know

In the UK, packaging contributes to nearly 70% of our plastic waste.

You can save 80% in travelling emissions by opting for the train over a car.

Take-away food and drink is associated with 44% of the plastic waste found in the world's oceans.

On average, in the UK, each person uses 117 single-use plastic bottle a year.

Plastics can take decades to break down.
- A coffee cup = 30 years
- A plastic bag = 20 years
- A plastic straw = 200 years
- A 6 pack plastic ring = 400 years
- A plastic bottle = 450 years
- A coffee pod = 500 years
- A disposable diaper = 500 years

(Sources include UK Parliament, The Waste and Resource Action Programme, University of Warwick and the WWF.)

Stop using clingfilm and single-use plastic bags!

More sustainable alternatives include reusable tupperware and recyclable silicone or PEVA storage bags. Clingfilm ends up in landfill, and also leaves food with a plastic taste.

Reduce your meat & fish intake

Reducing the amount of meat and fish you eat can massively help reduce your carbon footprint. This might mean saving meat or fish for one meal a week, or avoiding meat and fish for your lunches.

Recycle

There are still so many people not putting effort into recycling their household waste. Use the recycling bin and if you don't have one, you need to figure out a way to get your recyclable waste to a recycling centre.

Mend or upcycle

Before buying new, try and find ways to mend or upcycle what you currently have. This goes for everything, including clothes, household goods and furniture.

Shop second hand

Prioritise shopping second hand over buying new. Some great places to find second hand clothes, shoes, furniture, household appliances and more:

Facebook Marketplace

Charity Shops

Vinted

Depop

Rent occasion outfits & tableware

Did you know you can rent clothes and tableware? This has become more popular for special occasions where you may only wear an outfit once, or when you need lots of tableware items for events at home.

Change you energy provider to renewable energy

Make the switch and change to an energy provider that can provide 100% renewable energy. Check to see if they provide it in your area. Lauren made the switch and actually ended up saving money.

Stop following every new trend!

Trends can be dangerous... they encourage over-consumption and an urgency to buy things brand new. Trends then go out of fashion and you want to replace items with the next new trendy item. Instead, buy good quality, timeless pieces that you will keep for years and years to come.

Reuse packaging & bubble wrap

Keep bubble wrap and plastic packaging such as padded envelopes for reuse. It comes in handy when you need to post a parcel, or when you need to protect glassware & crockery in storage.

Consider where your food has come from

Buying and eating local produce can avoid the huge carbon emissions that result from importing food from across the world. Avocados, for example, have a significantly higher carbon footprint compared to apples grown within the UK (that is, if you are based in the UK).