Wednesday 6 January 2016

Top eco-friendly new year's resolutions for 2016.

If you're looking for some inspiration for an eco-friendly new year's resolution then you've come to the right place, here are my ideas for 2016.

Top eco-friendly new year's resolutions for 2016. secondhandsusie.blogspot.co.uk


Switch to Ecotricity.
Climate change is being caused by the use of fossil fuels, so vote with your money and get your energy from Ecotricity.  Ecotricity provide green gas, green electricity and put their profits into building new sources of eco-friendly energy.  We've been supplied by Ecotricity for nearly a year and their service has been brilliant.  Even better, if you use this code when you sign up, we'll both get £50 to spend at Ecotopia - my referral code is RAFE-G7W4H

Buy unpackaged fruit and veggies.
Save plastic by buying your fresh produce loose or make or buy some reusable bags to put it in.  If you really can't buy it loose, remember you can recycle some plastic packaging in the plastic bag collection bins in big supermarkets.  

Top eco-friendly new year's resolutions for 2016. secondhandsusie.blogspot.co.uk
 
Grow your own. 
Growing your own fruit, veggies and herbs is a fun and delicious hobby, that saves food miles and stops pesticide use.  You can easily grow strawberries or herbs in a pot, or try all sorts of exciting varieties if you have more space.  Start this spring with a few seeds and see what happens!    

Stop washing your hair.
I've been 'no 'poo' for nearly 2 years and my hair is so healthy!  Washing your hair without shampoo saves all the energy that goes into producing it, and reduces the amount of chemicals your hair, body and the environment is exposed to.  I use lemon juice, cider vinegar, bicarbonate of soda or aloe vera to keep my hair nice and clean. 

Top eco-friendly new year's resolutions for 2016. secondhandsusie.blogspot.co.uk

Buy only second hand or fairtrade clothes.
This was the challenge I set for myself in 2015, and I pretty much stuck to it (apart from too much temptation in the Lindybop sale, a H&M cardigan I needed to buy quickly for a wedding outfit, and some undies).  As well as charity shops, Ebay is a good option if you're looking for something specific and I like Nomads online shop too.  The UK throws away 1 million tonnes of textiles each year, so it's worth reducing and reusing the clothes you buy.

Use your local library. 
Your library is full of lovely books, for free!  Borrowing them will save you money, and sharing them saves resources.  And using your library shows your support for council services that may be under threat from government cuts. 

Top eco-friendly new year's resolutions for 2016. secondhandsusie.blogspot.co.uk
 
Go vegan.
Going vegan is one of the best things you can do for your health, the environment and animals.  Eating vegan can lower your carbon footprint by 1 tonne a year.  The Veganuary campaign has lots of support and information, why not take up the challenge to go Vegan this January.  There are always loads of yummy recipes and tips in Vegan Life Magazine, but there's a special article on going vegan in this month's issue that's worth checking out.  You can subscribe to Vegan Life on paper or digitally.  There's also a handy app for digital subscriptions.  If that's all too much why not try a weekly meat free monday?  

Check out my easy, small changes for more eco-friendly ideas, or maybe make your resolution to do an online action for an environmental cause every month!  

What's your new year's resolution?

Disclosure - I have been provided with a free digital subscription to Vegan Life Magazine in return for reviewing this publication.  I even have my own page in the vegan bloggers section of their lovely website!  All opinions are, again, my own and always will be.


11 comments:

  1. It's a great post! Thank you for writing it!

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  2. Ooh I'd be interested in hearing more about the no shampoo thing and how you use the vinegar etc - I want to try it but my hair is prone to being greasy and a bit flat when it's not freshly washed so I'm not sure if I could wait out the adjusting time! I'm definitely on board with utilising second hand clothing and libraries though, it's such an easy way to be greener and I wish more people would take advantage. Or maybe not... I like my bargains! :)

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    1. You're right, let's not encourage tooo many people into the charity shops!

      There are a few blog posts floating about on here about no 'poo, basically I wash my hair with plain water once or twice a week, and if my scalp feels itchy or my hair gets a bit greasy I dilute some lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in water, then tip it over my head, massage my scalp and rinse it out. (about 1 tablespoon in 2 pints of water, I put the lemon/vinegar in the jug before my shower, then fill the jug with warm water from the shower head when I'm ready to use it). Sometimes I squeeze the goo from a couple of leaves of an aloe vera plant and massage that in then rinse out. It seems to be working quite well, but I did have a adjustment period of about 2 months which wasn't very fun! :)

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  3. Off to check out some links - although vegetarian I think adding the vegan element to our meals won't be a bad idea - thanks

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    1. Hope you enjoy, as a veggie I bet you probably already eat some pretty much vegan meals without even thinking about it!

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  4. Great ideas! I'm hoping to continue my home grown adventures and i'm all about making the most of local libraries! I actually head first to the Salvation Army stores when I need new clothes over any other place these days, the bargains are well worth the time hunting out clothes.

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    1. We have a great Salvation Army charity shop here too, it's my favourite one!

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  5. Although I've been vegetarian for 25 years, I just couldn't make the leap to vegan - sorry. I do love to use the library though!

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    1. Being veggie is a great thing to be :D I was veggie for years before food intolerances meant I had to go vegan (I have intolerences to eggs and dairy, and soya too!!) I would probably eat the occasional egg if they didn't make me so ill!

      Keep on enjoying your library :D x

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  6. We eat a lot of vegan meals and mostly veggie (although we still eat fish) though I'm not veggie and I love them. Charity shops are great! I also sent some old vintage clothes to a blog friend who sells them as I knew my local chazzers wouldn't appreciate them (I live in a very TOWIE place- let's just say that the next town is where TOWIE is filmed)
    I'm SO annoyed that I am going to have to put all my lovely compost onto the garden and not take it with me to the new house and have to empty my compost bin here- can't take a full compost bin to the new house!x
    There's a wonderful shop in Hexham that sells fairtrade and organic clothes like Nomad! I love that place!x

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