Out and about
Today we head into the practical territory of how to be eco-friendly when out and about.
The major key to success in this area is forward planning. Not glamorous I know, but with some reflection and strategic planning you will be prepared to make good choices and follow through with them.
A lot of our society is set up for quick and easy. This is why so many things on offer in shops are disposable, single use and plastic. To avoid these wasteful practices, we need to replace them with multi-use sustainable alternatives.
As you will quickly realize, the methods used to tackle waste outside the home very much follow those applied inside; they boil down to one common principle: preemptive action.
Bea Johnson (2013)
Have a think through your daily and weekly movements:
What are the common places you end up? (shops, cafes, work etc.)
What things do you need or buy along the way?
What do they tend to be made of or packaged in?
Are they disposable or reusable?
Let’s look at some sustainable alteratives and how to plan ahead before heading out.
Bags
Take your own bag. Even if you don’t need one on the way out, you may need one on your way back home later in the day. Upgrade to a backpack so you always have a bit extra space for things you may pick up though out your day. Keep a shopping bag in your bag or the boot of your car, either a plastic bag you are reusing (use what you have for now) or a tote (made from natural material).
Jars
I've started carrying a small glass jar with me in case I want to buy a refill of something or if a friend wants to give me something like a plant that would otherwise have to be wrapped in plastic to be transported safely. A good glass jar with a metal lid can be used for all sorts of things. You can drink out of it, use it to hold food (soup, porridge, salad) and refill it with liquids or dry goods - to name a few!
Drinks
Take water with you in a glass or metal bottle that you can refill along the way. More and more water stations are popping up all over the place for this purpose. Using a reusable cup when getting takeaway coffee has become quite normal, just remember to pack it for the day. Think about if you really want a straw before taking one.
Lunchboxes
As I mentioned above glass jars can be used for all sorts of things. There is also no need to go out and buy one specifically for one purpose, as can just keep reusing it for different things, once whatever you have in it is finished.
Other options include putting to good use the plastic tubs you already have or investing in containers made of sustainable materials such as rice husks, glass and stainless steel.
Other top tips
Pause. Generally, I find I make better choices when I pause and take a beat. If I make myself pause and reflect - either before I leave the house or before I walk into a café – I am better prepared to consider the choices available to me and make a good one. Otherwise before I know it I have gone with the flow and bought a bunch of stuff wrapped in plastic and in a plastic carrier bag!
Tissue pocket. I used to buy individual tissue packs made of a plastic pocket with tissues inside to carry around in my bag daily. Then I realised that was more expensive and less environmentally friendly than other options available to me! So now I buy the cheapest box of tissues I can get my hands on (usually the cheapest ones just come in cardboard no plastic in sight) and transfer some into a little fabric purse for my daily commute. To his dying day, my grandfather used handkerchiefs. They are perhaps the most sustainable option because they can be rewashed and used multiple times. But to be honest it grosses me out!
Sit in. On a more enjoyable subject… if you are going to get a takeaway, either lunch or dinner or just a coffee, most places cost the same to eat in as it does to takeaway. Sometimes its cheaper as there is no delivery cost. Consider sitting in more often. If you are using a cafe’s crockery and silverware you won’t be using the wasteful disposable options of a takeaway.
Be kind to the planet. Be kind to yourself. It can be exhausting trying to make the best choice all the time. You are going to end up somewhere, at some point, with some stuff that is wasteful and not what you wanted. That's OK.
Start with the things you do and places you go regularly. Prep yourself to make eco-friendly choices there and bit by bit you can add to your sustainable practices.
Why not have a think through the questions above and make a list of the items that you think would be helpful to have on you, or invest in, going forward. Maybe even pack your bag with them right now so you are ready to go next time you head out!