We often hear stories relating to climate change in the news, and as a nation we are getting accustomed to the idea that what we do in our day-to-day lives can affect the future of our planet. In March 2013, The Guardian published a news article on CO2 emissions which was about how 2012 saw the second-greatest annual rise in emissions. What this means is that hopes for a safe temperature rise of two degrees Celsius are apparently decreasing, which in turn could result in extreme weather and receding ice caps. This got me thinking about how I could shop more sustainable to do my own part towards slowing the rate of CO2 emissions.
Reusable Bags
The first point is something I already do on occasion, but I’ve decided to be a bit more strict with myself about it. This is bringing reusable bags with me when I go to the shops. Some retailers are already helping consumers to make more sustainable choices by only offering plastic bags with a small charge; in this case it persuades us to buy a bag for life for 10 pence or more. Some of the best lasting bags are those that are made of material as opposed to plastic as they seem to last longer and can support a heavier load of shopping.
Walk To Local Shops
Here’s another simple choice to make, walking to the local shops as opposed to driving to the supermarket. You can bring reusable bags with you, place your purchases in a bicycle basket, or bring a shopping trolley with you. Many of our local stores such as the butcher shop, bakery and green grocers will source their food and ingredients from local farms and distributors. This means that less miles have been used by lorries transporting goods from country to country or even just up the motorway. And this can only be a good thing.
Use Sustainable Services
Of course you won’t be able to buy everything from these select retailers, so you’ll need to look elsewhere now and again. Websites such as myice exist to help customers find sustainable choices when it comes to these other purchases. This includes everything from traveling on the Euro-star – which is a more environmentally friendly option than flying – to your baby’s bedtime necessities. This service in particular is effective as it rewards customers by giving them Ice Points, each of which represents one penny when buying something else through the website in the future.
Buy Particular Products
Another recent article by The Guardian shows that the larger retailers are making changes too. One example of this is Ada choosing to source bananas from the Canary Islands instead of central America. This will reduce transportation time by more than 80% which will reduce the carbon footprint of the fruit. They are the first supermarket chain to make this choice in the UK, but it sets a precedent for further smart choices such as this one in the years to come.
About The Author :Daniel Howlett is a fiction writer based in Lancashire, UK. He is getting his family on board to help reduce their carbon footprint this year. They aim to do this by shopping locally and using services such as myice for transportation.