My New Year's Green Intentions*
Coming to the end of January I wanted to take stock on a few changes I’ve made, that I intend to stick to for the rest of the year. I’ve heard rather than goal setting or making resolutions, setting intentions is a much more grounded way to approach change. This Christmas felt different to most naturally but it also allowed time to think about what lifestyle swops do I really want to make, and indeed promote and share here. Rather than grand goals I might have ambitiously written down. before, below are some achievable things I intend to do in 2021 that I know will make a difference.
Repurpose and Reuse all containers where possible
I have just wrapped up my Veganuary101 cooking course and in the interactive Q&A element people asked about sourcing the best Tupperware. My answer to this was pretty simple and I re-use jam jars or for storing food. Larger coconut oil or passata jars are perfect for soups and juices. When I am shopping if an item has a jar I could easily re-use even if it’s a little more expensive I will buy that option and then I am making granola or cookies to give to someone I can give them the jar also. The most sustainable items will always be those that you already own but I shop consciously now with re-purposing in mind.
Compost Effectively
It’s far from perfect but my general waste has vastly reduced. I am much more conscious of minimising food waste and what can and cannot be composted having worked with GreenAware over the past number of months. I am back juicing daily after a short break over Christmas and there’s so much juice pulp produced. It can be re-purposed into crackers or used for stock but what’s left over composts easily and goes straight into my caddy lined with one of the GreenAware bags. From a home hygiene perspective they are also great as they help prevent any off-putting smells. GreenAware bags come in a range of sizes right up to huge garden waste and wheelie bin liner size so there are options for throughout your home.
Reduce My Food Waste
Being at home full time now leaves me in complete control of how and what I eat and I have to say I have thrived on this. I really enjoy twice a week bulk cooking or planning my meals for the forthcoming days. Not only do I feel healthier as a result, I am also greatly able to reduce my food wastage. This is something I have become much more aware of lately. My top tips for reducing your food waste are to plan your meals and shop accordingly, freeze or use frozen fruit and vegetables for a longer shelf life, buy products that use either zero waste or environmentally friendly packaging, take an evening or two weekly to prepare your produce so you are aware of and use what you have and compost effectively.
For a detailed post on what I do and how I structure my meals see >here<
Looking for Degradable Options for Home Products
I think back on years ago when I was completely unaware of where the items in my bin went or the fact that every single toothbrush I’ve ever used still exists. In the US 1 billion toothbrushes are thrown away each year which is enough to stretch around the earth 4 times. (Source) How much that then adds up over the course of a lifetime is absolutely shocking and statistics say we each use approximately 300 toothbrushes in our lifetime which is about 5.5kg of plastic waste. As I have needed to replace household items I have sourced, easily enough thankfully, items that are made of more natural materials and will eventually degrade, and work just as well. This year I intend to purchase as little plastic as possible and will share my findings here.
Use Natural Cleaning Products and Wash My Clothes Less
Focusing on Wellness
Lastly and most importantly this year I want to prioritise my health. Wellness is a culmination of your daily habits and I’ve really enjoyed having full control over what I eat and starting my day at a gentler pace. These days I might be a little slower on account of not having as many places to be or deadlines, but from a mental health perspective I’ve really benefitted. I went through phases of things such as meditation, exercise and juicing but now they are who I am and regular habits. I may miss a day or two occasionally but having felt the benefits I want to make this my way of life. There’s so much out of our control but establishing healthy routines and doing what works for me consistently has been so beneficial.
I hope you got some inspiration from this and your year is off to a good start, despite all the uncontrollable factors we are dealing with day-to-day. There will be brighter times and days very soon. The darkest point is always just before dawn.
*Thank you to GreenAware for collaborating with me on this post. GreenAware compostable liners are available in all major Irish retailers.
