Sustainable(ish)

** This episode is supported by Little Freddie, the UKs leading sustainable baby food brand.  Parenting is bloody hard work isn't it?When you're up to your eyeballs in dirty nappies, sleep deprivation and anxiety around keeping your very own small person fed, entertained, educated, stimulated and everything else we're apparently supposed to be doing, adding in trying to do it all a bit more sustainably can feel like yet another thing to worry about/add to the to-do list/feel guilty about.Having kids is the perfect storm for feeling crap about the planet - we all want the best for our kids, and it follows that we want them have a safe and secure future, hence I think this is a time when lots of us start to think more about our impact on the planet. But at exactly the same time, this influx of 'stuff' comes into our homes, and our bins are suddenly over-flowing with nappies and food pouches, and wipes. And all of this has to be grappled with when we're lacking in sleep, time and energy. Yay!!!In this episode I'm chatting to Karen Maurice, aka n4mummy, who is a mum to two (soon to be three!), who talks about 'sustainable parenting in the modern world', and who despite having a very beautiful Instagram feed does appreciate the reality of life for the rest of us mere mortals whose lives are less photogenic, and the struggles we face every day trying to bring up our kids, stay sane, and make sure we don't totally trash the planet.Enjoy!Useful links​n4mummy- Website- Facebook- Twitter- InstagramLittle Freddie- Website- Sustainability- Pouch recycling- Pouches for prizesTootsa MacGintyLittle Green RadicalsFrom Babies with LoveBundlee - baby clothing rentalWhirli - toy subscription serviceA beginners guide to reusable baby wipes[031] - Plastic-free periods and wipes with Susie Hewson from Natracare[036] - How to talk to our kids about climate changeSustainable(ish) with Kids FB groupHow are you feeling about parenting with the planet in mind?Overwhelmed? Emotional? Or Absolutely On It? (in which case would you please come round my house and help!) Let me know in the comments, along with any top tips of your own you'd love to share TOP TIPS!Shop secondhand - for baby and kids clothes, toys, everything!Get the kids to wear an apron when they're eating to save on washing clothes!Work out what works for you and your family - no change or swap has to be all or nothingTry out reusable wipes (at home to begin with)If you use pouches for weaning or toddler meals on the go, try Little Freddie and get recycling with their prizes for pouches!Add 'resusable water bottle' to your list of stuff to chuck in the changing bag before you leave the house! […]

​DID YOU KNOW?The UK is one of Europe's least wooded countries - the average woodland cover for EU countries is 37%. Here in the UK we're lagging massively behind at around 13%If we are to limit climate change to below 1.5C by 2050, an extra 2.4 BILLION acres of trees needs to be plantedReforesting the world could capture around 2/3 of man-made carbon emissionsTrees are the ultimate multi-taskers and don't only capture carbon, and improve air quality, they also improve soil structure and help prevent flooding, as well as providing shelter, food and habitat for our ecosystems#everytreecounts, so planting a tree in your garden a home, an acorn in a pot, or a new hedge or shrub is as important as bigger mass plantings in managed woodland - we can all get involved!Trees really are brilliant aren't they?They just sit there, doing their thing, 'breathing in' carbon dioxide, and 'breathing out' oxygen (you know, that little thing that keeps us alive..!). But we've got fewer and fewer of them, and if we're to avoid runaway climate change, planting trees, and lots of them, is an important part of the jigsaw.The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation society in the UK, and works to protect our existing woodlands, and plant lots of new trees - they've planted over 43million trees since 1972. In this episode I'm chatting to Carol Honeybun-Kelly from The Woodland Trust, about their work, and specifically about their new campaign - the Big Climate Fightback - which aims to get us all pledging and planting trees in November of this year.Listen in to find out more about the wonder of trees, and how we can get involved with the Big Climate Fightback.Enjoy!Useful linksThe Woodland Trust- Website- Facebook- Twitter- Instagram- The Big Climate Fightback- Pledge to plant a tree- How to plant a tree- Buy trees from the Woodland Trust- Big Climate Fightback national eventsEthiopia plants 350 million trees in a daySustainable(ish) online community FB group […]

​DID YOU KNOW?A land mass larger than China is used to grow food that is never eaten25% of humanity's water is used on food that is never eatenFood waste accounts for around 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions (2-4x greater than aviation)If food waste were a country it would be the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after the USA and China50% of food waste occurs in the homeAll of those stats are pretty shocking, but the one that always gets me is the food waste in the home one. It's easy to blame farmers, or supermarkets for food waste, but actually the biggest culprits are us - you and me - with the brown bananas we ditch, or that pot of hummus at the back of fridge that we forgot about. And no matter how anal we might be about food waste, it's always going to occur -there's always going to be that kids party where they were all too hyped up to eat the carefully prepared sandwiches, party rings, crisps and the token carrot sticks you put on the table to make yourself feel slightly better about the rest of it; or the food left in the fridge before we go on holiday; or that unexpected work meeting. And this is where Olio comes in - it's a food sharing app that makes it easy for us to share food we don't want or need with neighbours living nearby who would like it.Listen in to my chat with Tessa Clarke, joint founder and CEO of Olio. Hear how Tessa and her business partner got started with just a handful of people in a What’s App group, and how they grew that to an app that has amassed a million users. AND their plans to grow it to over a billion users in the coming years. ​It's an inspiring call to action for all of us to join the food waste revolution.Enjoy!Useful linksOlio- Website- Facebook- Twitter- Instagram- Olio volunteer roles​[041] Use your phone to fight food waste with CozZo (podcast)The Sustainable(ish) Big Six (blog post)Fight food waste with your phone (blog post)Sustainable(ish) online community FB group […]

In an ideal world, when it comes to the weekly food shop, we’d all have a local zero waste shop, and have the time to visit our local greengrocers, butchers and bakers. BUT for most of us, the reality is either a mad dash round the supermarket while the kids are whinging at us, or an online delivery. And sadly, shopping sustainably at the supermarket is really, really hard. So when I heard about an app that I could use to scan products (whilst I’m in the supermarket, or more feasibly at home) and get instant information on different sustainability criteria, I couldn’t wait to find out more!In this episode Im chatting to Jo Hand, co-founder of Giki - "a mobile app that helps you cut your environmental impact". It's such a great idea - you basically scan the barcode of UK supermarket products, and get information on the 'badges' that they earn. Badges are split into three areas: sustainability, health and fairness, and there's a new 'hero' badge that's been added this summer which is awarded to products that have a low environmental impact across the board.Jo and her husband James are on a mission to make it easier for us all to access the information we need to make better decisions for the planet, and we talk a lot about the power of individual choices, collectively.​So listen in, then download the app and start merrily scanning the contents of your kitchen cupboards!Enjoy!Useful linksGiki- Website- Facebook- Twitter- Instagram- Giki palm oil audit Facebook groupShopping plastic-free(ish) at the Supermarket (blog post)Ethical Consumer guide to SupermarketsSustainable(ish) online community FB groupBig Clean Switch link for getting a renewable energy tariff quote […]

Of the six highest impact things we can do as individuals and households, switching to a renewable energy tariff comes in at number four, behind have one less child (I am unclear how this actually works..), going entirely car-free, or taking one less transatlantic flight. And ahead of going vegan or switching to an electric car.It is hands down, the easiest high impact environmental action you can take.But lots of us put it off. Because lets face it, it's dull, it and feels like it will be hard work and that we'll have to do lots of research to make sure we're not being greenwashed.Which is where today's podcast comes in...Here at Sustainable(ish) we're on a mission to get as many people as possible to switch their energy supplier to a renewable tariff and we’ve teamed up with Big Clean Switch, who are an energy comparison site whose goal it is to "make it easy to switch to clean energy suppliers you can trust". They do all the research and checking so that you don’t have to. You can visit Big Clean Switch, get a quote and switch, knowing that your money is genuinely funding the renewable sector in the UK, AND that you should get great customer service (this is another criteria that Big Clean Switch stipulate for the companies on their site)In today’s episode, I’m chatting to Jon, the founder of Big Clean Switch, and hopefully answering all your questions about why you should switch, and how to do it.Here are some of the questions we discuss:What is renewable energy and why is it important that we switch?What are the benefits of switching?Will it be more expensive?How do I know that the company is doing what they say they're doing (ie sourcing renewable energy)?Talk to us about REGOs (if you have no idea what a REGO is, we explain it in the podcast!)- are they just another form of greenwashing?What happens to smart meters when you switch? ​Are any renewable tariffs eligible for Warm Homes Discount?What happens if you're in a rental propertyAnd much much more...!​ Enjoy!Useful linksBig Clean Switch- Website- Get a quote and support Sustainable(ish) all at the same time with this link here ​- Big Clean Switch's criteria for listing energy companies on their site- Facebook- Twitter […]

When we see lists of things we can do to help the planet, one of the most important is often missing, and it's this - campaign. Make your voice heard. It's one of the most powerful things we can do, but I think for lots of us (myself included), the idea of 'campaigning' sounds a bit intimidating. The dictionary definition of activism is:"the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change".And I don't know about you, but the phrase 'vigorous campaigning' leaves me feeling a little bit lacking. I mean, I bang on a LOT about all things Sustainable(ish) but do I 'campaign vigorously'? I'm not so sure.However, the good news is, for those of us who find the thought of 'vigorous campaigning' a bit too much, we can still have an impact. In this episode I'm chatting to Steve Shaw from Power for People, a campaigning organisation that "run grass-roots mobilisation campaigns, engaging and involving citizens and local communities and calling on them to lobby their elected representatives for changes in the law or in government policy."So instead of simply writing to your MP letting them know you're scared shitless about the climate crisis and asking them what they're doing about, and probably getting a stock response back full of political waffle (the equivalent of a pat on the head and being told to run along), you join in with one of their campaigns. Basically, they come up with a bill (their current campaign is around renewable energy) and then ask people to lobby their MPs to support the bill. If enough MPs support it, it gets debated, and then hopefully made law. It's a long old process, but the beauty of it is, is that your asking your MP to do something really specific, and that your letter/tweet/e-mail is part of a bigger campaign, and if your MP gets lots of constituents writing and asking them to do that one same thing, they're much more likely to do it. AND it results in a concrete tangible change. Possibly, hopefully, a change in law.If you're like me and more than a little politically naive and unsure of what really happens behind all the smoke and mirrors and the braying of Prime Ministers Question Time, this will be a fascinating episode. And it's packed with practical advice about what to write and how to start building up a relationship with your MP and get them on your (the planet's) side. Find out more about Power for People's local electricity campaignUseful linksPower for People- Website- Facebook- Twitter- Instagram- The Local Electricity Bill- Guidance on writing to your MPHope for the Future - UK specialists in training citizens to work with MPs on climate changeThey Work for You - find out who your MP is and how they've voted on issues in the past[032] - The introverts guide to climate marches (podcast)Four things you can so if you can't/don't want to climate strike (blog post)Global Climate Strike locations (20th Sept 2019)Ouch! But when you put it like that, suddenly writing a letter or an e-mail doesn't seem quite so hard.... […]

DID YOU KNOW...?Buying green energy for your home or business is one of THE most impactful things we can all do to help the climate crisis?Switching to a renewable tariff for electricity and carbon offset gas could save up to 3.5tonnes CO2 per yearThe average person's carbon footprint living in the UK is around 13.5 tonnes CO2 per year, so you could slash your footprint by a quarter with this one simple switchIt's super easy and takes less than 10 minutes (probably less than 5mins - you could feasibly do it in a TV ad break)You could save up to £270 a year!INTRODUCING #SWITCHTEMBERDuring September #Switchtember the focus here at Sustainable(ish) is to get as many people as possible to switch to a renewable supplier. THE GOAL IS 1000 SWITCHES - which would collectively save up to 3,500 tonnes of CO2 per year - the same as taking around 750 cars off the road.Listen in to this quick 5(ish) minute guide to #Switchtember, and how to switch as easily and painlessly as possible!HERE'S HOW TO SWITCH:1. Grab a recent energy bill.2. Click on this link here.Enter your details, and then click on the 'how did you hear about us' box.Scroll down to find Sustainable(ish) at the bottom, and click Start My Quote!3. Answer the questions (they're easy if you've got your bill in front of you!)Click through and you'll get to your quotes - click on each link to find out more about the tariff and the company. When you find the one you're happy with, click SWITCH!GET INVOLVED! Getting involved is easy peasy.First up, SWITCH following the link above - not only does this mean that Sustainable(ish) earns a small commission (at no extra cost to you!) but it also means we can track the numbers on our way to our goal of 1000 switches!Once you've switched, or if you're already on a renewable tariff, SHARE! Share with your friends and family, and on social media - remember to ask them to use the partners link Keep up to date with the campaign on social media - there'll be all kinds of motivating stats and facts to share, answers to FAQs, and lots more. Find Sustainable(ish) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Are you in?Let me know when you've switched! JOIN THE SUSTAINABLE(ISH) REVOLUTIONJoin us at BASE CAMP to find free resources and receive my weekly guide to reducing your impact on the planet... one simple step at a time. I take your privacy seriously. You can unsubscribe at any time. JOIN THE SUSTAINABLE(ISH) REVOLUTION!

It seems somewhat fitting as we approach August, the traditional holiday month here in the UK, to have a little look at flying…DID YOU KNOW:2-5 % of global greenhouse gas emissions are a result of aviationYet only around 5% of the global population actually use aeroplanesMeaning that as consumers, a plane ticket is about the most carbon intensive thing you can buyIf you are one of the 5% of the global population who fly, flying will be the single biggest contributor to your carbon footprintFlying is the fastest growing cause of climate changeIf aviation was a country, it would be the 7th worst polluter globallyBrits already fly more than the people of any other nation - twice as much as Americans Even if we take other steps to be environmentally friendly, one flight can completely wipe out all the other savings In this episode I’m chatting to Anna Hughes, author, crazy cyclist, all round sustainability good egg, and founder of the Flight Free UK 2020 campaign – she shares with us the inspiration behind the campaign, why it’s so important, and how we can get involved.I love Anna’s down to earth approach – although she is a hardened non flyer herself she’s really aware of the fact that for lots of us, giving up flying is a big ask. And that’s why the campaign is to have a flight free 2020 and isn’t asking us to give up flying forever, although obviously the idea is that having managed for a year, we will have re-assessed our relationship with aviation, and might choose to travel differently at least some of the time moving forwards.So fasten your seatbelts, stow your laptops and make sure your seat is in the upright position (sorry couldn’t resist!) as we prepare to not take off Enjoy!A little heads up before you dive on in to this episode - there's a little bit of background noise at various points, please just ignore and continue to enjoy the podcast  Useful links​Flight Free UK ​- Website​- Pledge page- Facebook- TwitterA Free Ride - campaign for a frequent flyer levyClimate Perks - works with employers to reward employees who choose to travel by road or rail with paid 'journey days'The Man in Seat 61 - great site covering all things train travel!LOCO2 - a website that helps you to buy train and bus tickets around the UK and Europe in one place without having to visit multiple different sites!Flixbus - for bus/coach travel[017] Sustainable(ish) travel with Earth Changers (podcast)  […]

This episode is published in collaboration with CozZo*There’s a BIG focus at the moment on plastic pollution isn’t there?Since Blue Planet II aired it feels like it’s an issue that has really caught people’s attention and is something that we’re all wanting to do something about. Which is obviously great, but plastic pollution is just none part of the bigger issue of the climate crisis. And actually, I would say that attempting to tackle the amount of single use plastic we bring home each week after a supermarket shop is right up there in terms of difficulty. We need big changes in the way our supermarkets package our foods and all the infrastructure that supports that.So sometimes, when I’m helping people to take sustainable(ish) steps and can see that they’re getting frustrated and feel like they’re not really making much progress when it comes to plastic in the kitchen, I suggest a little re-focus. You see for a lot less effort, I reckon you can actually have a bigger impact on the climate crisis by tackling food waste.Here are some stats to back up my bold statement:If food waste were a country it would be the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after the USA and China50% of all food waste occurs in the home. So of all the food that is wasted, from the farm, through the supermarkets, and then on to us, half of that occurs in our homes.So just from those two stats, we can see that if we can reduce or even eliminate food waste in our homes, we can have a massive impact on greenhouse gas emissions. It’s not often that as individuals and families we have the opportunity to have such a direct impact, and it’s actually a relatively easy thing to tackle, AND something that we have complete control over. We don’t need to wait for supermarkets to change their ways, or for governments to get off their butts and legislate. How awesome is that?!Now I’m sure as avid listeners to this podcast you’re probably sat there feeling a little smug and thinking that you don’t waste any food. And if that’s true, than I want to give you a massive high five. But I think if we’re really honest with ourselves, even the best intentioned amongst us will forget about the odd tupperware pot of leftovers tucked at the back of the fridge, or a packet of ham or fish that doesn’t get eaten in time because plans change. Which is why I was really excited to be approached by CozZo to help to promote their food inventory app. It’s really super easy to use, and they have found that users have reduced their food waste by between 50 and 70%, which is pretty mind blowing!So grab a cuppa, sit back and relax and listen in to how your phone can help you fight food waste.   Useful linksCozZo- Website- Facebook- Instagram- TwitterOlio - food sharing appToo Good to Go - app helping cafes and restaurants distribute their leftovers at the end of the dayEasy ways to eat sustainably (blog post) Sustainable(ish) Tips and Ideas for food (blog post)* A note on ads, sponsored posts and collaborations on Sustainable(ish):I only work with brands and companies that I strongly feel fit with the sustainable(ish) ethos. That is, companies that have people and planet at their heart, and have rigorous environmental and ethical credentials and that are general Good Eggs. […]

So today’s episode is all about period pants. "What are period pants?" I hear you ask!  Well, they do exactly what they say on the tin – they’re pants you wear when you’re on your period – they have an absorbent gusset (I'm totally still immature enough to snigger at the word 'gusset' #sorrynotsorry) and soak up and lock away the blood. So all you have to do is pull on your pants, no pads shifting around and giving you a wedgie, or any of that nonsense.  I think they’re a brilliant option for teenage girls starting their periods, as they’re less daunting than being faced with a menstrual cup, and they can also be used for bleeding after you’ve given birth or if you suffer from stress incontinence (listen in to hear about my mild trauma going trampolining with the kids..!)I feel like we’ve done quite a bit of period talk in the iseason of the podcast – we’ve had Susie Hewson from Natracare talking about plastic in period products and wipes in Episode 31 and a fab chat with Celia, one of the co-founders of DAME, the first reusable tampon applicator (not as grim as it sounds!) in Episode 35.But there’s still so much of a taboo around periods, when half of the population has/will have/or has had them, so I figure the more we talk about it the better. And given that in the UK 4.6 million single use tampon and pads are flushed away every single day, I think the more we talk about reusable options for our periods, the better too.In this episode I’m chatting to Ruby Raut, founder of WUKA (which stands for Wake Up Kick Ass just in case you were wondering!) a UK brand of period pants – she tells us her powerful story behind starting the company, and some of the bigger issues that WUKA is helping to tackle with regards to period taboos and ocean plastic.Listen in, and do let me know your thoughts. If you’ve got two minutes it would be AMAZING if you could show the podcast some love over on itunes by leaving a rating and a review, and of course, tell all your friends.Enjoy!Useful linksWUKA- Website- Facebook- Instagram- Twitter- ​WUKA's works with Plastic OceansPlastic Oceans UKA beginners guide to period pants (blog post)[031] - Plastic-free periods and wipes with Natracare (podcast)[035] - #BleedRedThinkGreen - The world's first reusable tampon applicator with DAME (podcast)A beginners guide to plastic-free and eco-friendly periods (blog post)WASHINGWash at 40C or belowHand washing is idealSimply rinse and then chuck in the wash with other dark coloured itemsDO NOT TUMBLE DRYRubber ringsTrampoline canvasFAQsHow many pairs would I need?If you bleed for the 'average' 4-5 day period, then you'll need around 7 pairs - 5 heavy, and 2 lightHow do I know when I need to change?Ordinarily the pants should feel dry, as the blood is locked away. once they reach 'peak absorbency' you'll start to notice them feeling a bit wet - this is the time to changeWhat do I do when I'm out and about?                                                       Simply carry a 'wet bag' with you with a clean pair in, pop your dirty pants in there, and your clean ones on. Then when you get back rinse and wash the dirty ones How long does a pair last?                                                                        The 'light flow' pants should last several years. The 'heavy flow' ones will start to lose absorbency after about 2 years, at which point you can relegate them to lighter flow days. […]