10 Small Changes You Can Make To Help The Environment

If you know me, then you will know that I am super passionate about making small changes to help reverse the effects of climate change. Today, I bring to you a list of 10 eco-friendly alternatives you can make in your lives which, in the long run, will help slow down the negative effects we've been having on the environment.

1. Straws

PROBLEM

So we all know by now that plastic straws are bad for the environment. Over 8 BILLION straws are thrown away each year, and most of them end up in landfill sites because most recycling banks don't accept them.

Try and imagine 8 billion straws in front of you, and imagine that pile either getting tossed into the ocean, or thrown into a hole in the ground. Imagine the impact this single product can cause on a daily basis to the hundreds of animals living in those ecozones.

ALTERNATIVE
Instead of using plastic straws, there are many affordable alternatives including; bamboo, paper or metal. One way or another society will have to come to terms with the fact that plastic straws will be a thing of the past, as from April 2020 they will be banned from sale and advertisement.

So next time you go into McDonalds and moan about having to use a paper straw, I advise you to hop onto YouTube and watch the video linked below whereby a turtle is having a plastic straw extracted from its nostril, and watch first-hand how damaging this single-use item can be.

VIDEO

LINKS
Bamboo straws - Amazon (£6.75 for 8)

Paper straws - Sainsbury's (£2 for 25)

Paper straws - Amazon - (£3.89 for 150)

Metal straws - Amazon - (£2.99 for 4)
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2. Plastic Bags

PROBLEM
In October 2015, the government introduced a 5p charge on all single-use plastic carrier bags, prompting people to purchase 'bags for life' instead. These thicker, more durable bags are meant to be reused to avoid continuously repurchasing single use plastic bags.

This initiative came into place due to the litter plastic bags can cause, damaging the environment, wildlife and morale of communities.

'In 2014 over 7.6 billion single-use plastic bags were given to customers by major supermarkets in England. That's something like 140 bags per person...'

ALTERNATIVE
Since this 5p charge has been introduced, sales of single-use plastic bags has been reduced by 90%, showing changes can be made and done effectively.

Even better, the 5p charge does not go to the government, but rather the retailers are expected to donate the money to good causes. The government website publishes a report on their findings each year, and it was documented that in total the 7 leading supermarkets 'donated £22.9 million to good causes amounting to around 3.6p for each 5p single use bag sold by them.'

These 'good causes' include charity work, environmental schemes, local causes, education etc. This proves that more initiatives need to be made, because this scheme shows that it can work, we can reduce our plastic intake whilst helping the environment and other cases.

LINKS
Carrier bag - Amazon - (£1.49)

Reusable bag - Amazon - (£3.99)

Reusable bag - Sass and Belle (£4.50)

Reusable bag - eBay - (£1.50)

Reusable bag - Sass and Belle (£4.50)
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3. Cotton Buds

PROBLEM
April 2020 is not only saying goodbye to plastic straws, but plastic cotton buds too. The problem with cotton buds is that they get used once, get thrown away and can end up in our oceans, polluting the waters and harming the wildlife on shore and in the sea.

ALTERNATIVE
Instead of using plastic cotton buds, make the change now to bamboo or wooden buds that will biodegrade.

The Scottish government created 'The Cotton Bud Project' which concluded: 'manufacturers and retailers are able to trade in viable biodegradable alternative products and there is therefore no known reason as to why other companies would be unable to follow this best practice.'

Basically, companies can make the switch to using bamboo with no lost capital, and should start making the changes now so by the time April comes they will already be prepared for the change.

LINKS
Bamboo buds - Amazon (£9.99 for 800)

Bamboo buds - Holland and Barrett (£1.99 for 100)

Wooden buds - Amazon (81p for 200)
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4. Cotton Pads

PROBLEM
Cotton pads pose similar problems as cotton buds, as the collection of cotton (unless done organically), is very harmful to the surrounding environment. Chemicals sprayed onto the plants can pollute nearby water sources, which in turn can harm wildlife that rely on that water, and the knock on effect is immense.

ALTERNATIVES
Instead of buying regular cotton pads, make an effort to purchase an organic version, meaning the cotton sourced was not grown using any chemicals or pesticides, or similarly, purchase reusable pads that can be cleaned in the washing machine.

LINKS
Organic cotton pads - The Body Shop (£2.50 for 100)

Reusable cottons pads - Amazon (£11.99 for 16)
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5. Drinks Bottle

PROBLEM
Single use plastic bottles are a huge problem for the environment, because although the bottle can recycled, if you're out and about and there is not an appropriate bin to dispose of your bottle, where does it go? Into the general waste or on the floor. This needs to change, because from that rubbish bin, the bottle can end up in our oceans, and is massively affecting marine wildlife.

As seen in the image below, birds are none the wiser, and swallow small bits of plastic like bottle caps, and after a build-up of internal plastic they die.

Aside from this, the amount of pollution that goes into the atmosphere from just creating and exporting plastic bottles is extortionate.

IFL Science

ALTERNATIVES
Instead of buying a drink in a plastic bottle every time you go out, just take a bottle of water with you. It's really that simple.

LINKS
Bottle - ASDA (£1.50)

Bottle - Amazon (£2.98)
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6. Plastic Containers

PROBLEM
Single-use plastic lunch bags have the same impact on the environment as carrier bags, which is why their use needs to come to an end.

ALTERNATIVE
Instead, get yourself a snazzy lunchbox or reusable plastic container.

I wish takeaways would give you a discount if you bring your own container to put the food in instead of giving out plastic / foam boxes to each customer.

LINKS
Lunch bag - Sass and Belle (£5)

Lunch box - Amazon (£6.96)
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7. Clothes

PROBLEM
Another huge impact we have on the environment is the production and discarding of clothes. Brands dedicated to bringing consumers fast fashion take a portion of the blame, as the demand to get new designs and trends into production and on sale is high. The process causes water pollution from the chemicals used to dye or alter materials, as well as the sheer amount of wasted product that either doesn't sell, or ends up in the trash due to changing trends.

ALTERNATIVE
Instead of always buying new clothes from cheap websites or stores that are 'on trend', I would recommend investing in classic, well-made wardrobe staples that will see you through many years. Alternatively, if you do enjoy trends, don't purchase multiple pieces of similar items, don't go overboard, and once you feel like you've had you wear out of it, you can sell the it through eBay, Depop or a car boot sale, or donate the items to charity. This way the item is not being thrown into a landfill, but rather getting the chance to be re-worn and restyled.

LINKS
White T-shirt - Marks and Spencer (£4.50)

Recycled jeans - ASOS

Recycled collection - Pretty Little Thing
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8. Toothbrushes

PROBLEM
Cheap plastic toothbrushes are also filling up tips and polluting the ocean.

According to dentists, you're supposed to change your toothbrush every 3-4 months, meaning you would go through 3-4 plastic toothbrushes every year. Now let's scale that up. If every single person in the UK bought a new toothbrush every 3 months that would mean approximately 264 million toothbrushes would be thrown out every year. And that's just the UK. This figure is astounding and needs tackling.

ALTERNATIVE
To bring this number down, don't buy cheap plastic toothbrushes. Instead, you can now get bamboo toothbrushes which will biodegrade and is therefore a lot better for the environment. Or similarly, invest in an electric toothbrush.

LINKS
Bamboo toothbrush - Holland and Barrett - (£2.99 for 1)

Bamboo toothbrush - Amazon (£9.99 for 5)

Electric toothbrush - Superdrug (£19.99)
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9. Light Bulbs

PROBLEM
You probably didn't even realise that lightbulbs can also be bad for the environment. Traditional fluorescent bulbs have a ratio of 95% heat and only 5% light, meaning a lot more energy and time is needed to make the light bright and to keep it going.

ALTERNATIVE
The simple alternative here is to switch to LED. LED bulbs have a ratio of 95% light and only 5% heat, and are a lot more powerful. Additionally, LED bulbs are a lot easier to dispose of as they don't contain harmful chemicals which could damage the surrounding environment from where they were disposed of.

LINKS
LED light bulbs - Argos
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10. Coffee Cups

PROBLEM
The problem with takeaway coffee cups is that approximately only 1% are recycled due to the materials used.

ALTERNATIVE
Get yourself a cute reusable coffee cup! So many companies sell them now, I personally popped into Primark last year and got myself one, it hasn't leaked, is dishwasher safe and it was only £2.50.

LINKS
Flask - ASDA (£3)

Flask - Amazon (£5.99)

Flask - Go Outdoors (£1.99)
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Honourable Mentions

David Attenborough Blue Planet 2
This docu-series created by David Attenborough and the BBC helped continue and shine further light onto the taboo topic of climate change, pollution and the use and disposal of plastic. It was a fantastic series that is well worth the watch on BBC iPlayer or Netflix.

Honu
Honu is a UK-based website that sells jewellery adorned with turtles and sea creatures, and donates 10% of the sale to the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Florida. Since they began in 2017 they have managed to raise over £20,000 which has helped to fund the rescue centre and help save and look after so many poorly turtles who are suffering from our mistakes. They are also plastic free!
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Thank you for taking the time to read this post on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Your efforts make a huge difference. If everyone just chose 1 change from this list, the world will be a much better place to live in.

I hope to see you next time.

xoxo - Amelia

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