How To Turn Over A Green Leaf
Discarded wrapping paper and greeting cards, unnecessary packaging of food and children’s toys........In the UK alone we create over 3 million tonnes of waste over Christmas.So, this January rather than vowing to get fit, why not turn over a green leaf and help to save the planet instead. Here Jill Barker provides her top ten tips for a greener 2008 for you and your family and how to give your baby a healthy, greener start in life.
1. Recycle it.
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It is so easy to recycle today. Use your home recycling bins to dispose of your family’s weekly waste. Recycle your weekly newspapers and magazines. Mend your children’s clothes instead of throwing them away and give unwanted items to friends and family or your local charity shop.
2. Green Nappies.
If you have a new addition to the family try to use washable nappies instead of disposable ones. Washable nappies are free from harmful chemicals, which is more kind to your baby’s bottom and the environment.
3. Ditch the plastic.
When you go shopping for your family, try to avoid unnecessary plastic bags and instead take along your own reusable shopping bags. Reduce packaging by buying fresh fruit and vegetables from your local green grocer.
4. Share the school run.
Use the car less or try to share cars with neighbours for the school run to reduce the amount of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
5. Save electricity.
Encourage your children to turn lights off after use and turn electrical appliances off at the mains instead of leaving them on stand by.
6. Lower the temperature.
In your family home it’s likely the washing machine and dish washer is always on, so make sure that they are fully loaded. By lowering the temperature of your cycle from 60C or 40C to 30C you can save energy. Also try to let clothes dry naturally on a clothes horse or washing line.
7. Wear organic.
Synthetic clothing suffocates your child’s skin. By buying cotton and other natural fabrics, such as wool and silk, you are allowing your children’s skin to breathe. Also, if you wear organic clothing it will not have been dyed using harsh chemicals.
8. Eat organic.
Half of all British fruit and vegetables contain pesticides. So buy organic produce, which is the best source of nutrition for your family and uses less energy.
9. Detox your bathroom.
Your family bathroom is flooded with products containing chemicals which are disguised by pretty packaging. They are not only damaging to the environment but also your family. Buy organic products and look for packaging that can be recycled. Try to cut down on the amount of products that your family use which overloads your body with chemicals every day.
10. Save water.
Encourage your children to have a shower instead of a bath and ensure that they turn the tap off whilst they brush their teeth.
We all start the New Year with good intentions but often by February they are long forgotten! By vowing to turn over a green leaf the smallest of actions, whether it is using washable nappies or going the extra two steps to the recycling bin each day, will make a big difference on your family’s health and the environment by the end of the year – so make that New Year’s Resolution now.’
Background
Jill Barker is founder of Green Baby, the eco-friendly retailer and author of ‘Baby Green: Caring for Your Baby the Eco-friendly Way . You can read more about Jill Barker’s tips in her book.
Why not try to win a copy of Baby Green in our book competition?
December 2007 |
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