Sustainable Tackley
Reduce. Reuse. Restore.
So how hard can it be to go plastic free?
As an individual, as a household, with the animals in our care? The easy answer is it is impossible, so we are set up for failure even if we are going to try. To have any form of success and not beat myself up about it. I go gentle, not judging and knowing each change is progress. The need in the world to be using plastic, that brilliant and useful invention once, is still overwhelming.... to spin our heads into not using it now or at least having a good attempt at reducing our mindless consumption of it. So often it seems we have little choice or that it will be complex to reduce it. Even so let’s give it a go. Humans are brilliant with their inventions but also their inventions later can be the problem. The problems they cause though can perhaps be rectified by our future inventions and our intelligence. My initial thought was let’s follow the Pareto principle the 80:20 rule. About 20% of our input (what we bring into the house causes 80% of our output of plastic). If we can cut down those 20% inputs to reduce 80% of our plastic will have a greater benefit than perhaps getting hung up on the other which will be harder to change. Once we’ve cut down on the 80% outputs, we can then look at the last 20%. Where to start? .... our inputs and most are from the packaging stuff comes in or the containers that hold the actual item we need so our starting list?
The plastic in things for cleaning .... micro beads are one area to definitely eliminate. I will write a couple of blogs to cover a couple of these each time. As I write it all seems a bit dry. Where is the humour? the habit changing? the achievement? After all our cutting down is nothing to what industry is causing. But if enough people reduce then companies will have to change. I always remember when I was younger a poster saying, ‘my one little wrapper won’t make a difference’. But multiply that by a household, a street a village etc it soon grows. The poster had basically a full picture of hundreds of bits of rubbish. So yep, it is worth it. First as I can change myself then that may influence others. Personal hygiene.... soap, shampoo, toothpaste...lots of options bar of soap and shampoo which seem lovely. Hair seems a bit wilder but then again, your hair was put on your head to show you can’t control everything ;) Billions of plastic toothbrushes are thrown away every year. A toothbrush without nylon bristles though not so easy but can get BPA free and approved by the British dental association. Love the bamboo toothbrushes and there are lots of options. So much is habit that we associate with toothpaste apparently the tingling was put in paste to make it feel like it was cleaning...it is not needed. The little chewable tablets take getting use (more down my chin and top than in my mouth!) but they do actually leave my mouth feeling clean and invigorated. So that’s soap and shampoo bottles eliminated for me. Toothbrushes have been changed and toothpaste changed. Household items...let’s look at toilet rolls. Yep, we all use them even if you are titled (as my grandfather use to say). They come wrapped so often in plastic...the amount it fills our landfill is shocking. Several eco-friendlier versions are out there. Some who give back to communities that have no sanitation facilities. Washing up liquid and dishwasher tablets...more unnecessary packaging. But you can have eco ones sent to you at just the right time they are needed and they are good. As is the fabric softener. I have not tried all the options but am really pleased with our choice. Cleaning products again loads of options and pet friendly ones to. Too much cleaning is not good for the soul or body! New habits are forming, they take time, and I will be gentle on ourselves that we can’t do it all at once and we will get it wrong, but at least we are still striving. Striving is better than static. Plastic free .. sadly not, but plastic less and yep, I do actually think 80% less is possible from just a few changes. So I leave you a poem DUST IF YOU MUST by Rose Milligan. What is important in life is how you make others feel, how you care for the world. That’s how you will be remembered, not that you had the fanciest sofa or cleanest house. Jin
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The beginning of the new year, while it is dark and stormy outside, is always a good time for reflection and thoughts on what we will do in the coming months. For a small village we have many allotment plots. Some are strictly traditional, pleasingly neat rows of vegetables, others are a little rougher around the edges with flowers for the bees and a few more caterpillar holes in the brassicas (ahem, that will be mine!). Many of us have gardens some are beautiful creations and again, some are a little rougher, but all can be good for the wildlife we share this planet with. But it’s not just our gardens and allotments we need to think of while we consider the homes of other creatures. All our actions, from eating to sleeping, playing to working, have an impact on our environment. While we may think about where our food comes from or buy environmentally friendly products, sometimes we can get a little over enthusiastic and just buy too much!
One idea I have seen on the internet is to try a spend fast. Just for a month, restrict your spending to only those things you absolutely need to survive, like rent, utilities, medicines, basic food, petrol for your car or bus fare to work. Ask yourself before you buy anything, “Do I need this to survive?” and if the answer is No, then don’t buy it. Things you will avoid buying for 30 days include movie tickets, junk food, fancy coffee drinks, clothing, music, haircuts, and such like. Doing this just for a month will help you become much more mindful of your spending habits. It will certainly make you think about what you need round your home. While discussing this on the Sustainable Tackley WhatsApp thread it was pointed out that while a spend fast is a great idea, we also need to consider the current COVID crisis. Supporting small local businesses is actually really important at the moment. Many small business owners are struggling both financially and emotionally. So, if you like the idea of a spend fast, have a go, but when you do need to buy something, really think about where it is coming from and who it is benefitting. There are several small businesses selling eco-friendly kitchen and bathroom products (e.g. The Village Refill ltd, based in Yarnton; Non Plastic Beach, based south of Wallingford). North Aston Organics do a local veg box scheme delivering to the village shop and there are (in normal times, at least) several local farmers markets. Sometimes we really are too tired to cook (or the shopping hasn’t arrived!) and there’s nothing wrong with the odd takeaway. There are several nearby as well as our very own Mariella Bliss and the highly popular chip van. And of course, our wonderful village shop has to be mentioned too! Maybe you know of someone who is having to isolate alone, is struggling and you’d like to get them a gift to cheer them up. If you are sending them something think about what you could get that they would like, has a low impact on our planet as well as supporting a local business or artist. Our school is also running a wonderful food bank for those who are struggling for many reasons due to COVD, so if you don’t know anyone personally who you could help, then the school would be grateful for donations. As a family we have already decided that we won’t buy any clothes this year unless something needs replacing due to damage or wear. In addition, over February, I will be thinking hard about everything I buy. As I’m currently going through a reading phase, maybe I can help Woodstock books (when they’re open) instead of that particular online store which sells them cheap and posts them rather swiftly. Perhaps that will make me enjoy the books even more. Whatever you decide, stay safe. Liz |
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