All we can do is our best! I agree with you that I'd rather feel like I'm putting in an effort, even though it's only a drop in the water in the grand scheme of things. I do think the UK is great for eco-friendly subscriptions and programs. When I lived there, I was part of a few. Now that I'm in Canada it's harder to find replacements just because the country is so big, so shipping is expensive and difficult. Luckily I live in the most environmentally-conscious province and it's not too hard to find eco-friendly shops!
Yes, I think individual effort matters because it helps shape mindsets. You making an effort to do something might inspire others around you - and that in turn might inspire a bigger change, or a systemic one. So every little bit of effort does count!
This is such a good piece - and I will rant on for hours (if anyone lets me) about how individual action is good, but it's not our fault the corporations are unwilling to enact large-scale change (against use of single plastics, office lighting, etc).
That is so true, and I think people are reluctant to admit that because it makes us feel powerless. But we're not powerless. We can keep calling on governments and corporations to do the right thing. Even if they won't! At least we will have tried.
To ease your hummus-tub conscience: I don’t know where you are but everywhere in Europe supermarkets (Aldi included) ship their meat products into not only plastic cases but also package them with moisture-pads that are far from being well recyclable. So no matter what, you’re not impacting that much on the environment (I know it sounds a comparison between us with paper straws and the Bezos crowd flying planes into Venice).
In terms of underwear, if you have Muji or Intimissimi around you, they do fairly decent cotton panties and they last forever (I have some since 29 years!)
Wow, 29 years is unbelievable, especially for underwear! And yeah that makes sense about the meat - another reason why this industry is so environmentally intensive.
All we can do is our best! I agree with you that I'd rather feel like I'm putting in an effort, even though it's only a drop in the water in the grand scheme of things. I do think the UK is great for eco-friendly subscriptions and programs. When I lived there, I was part of a few. Now that I'm in Canada it's harder to find replacements just because the country is so big, so shipping is expensive and difficult. Luckily I live in the most environmentally-conscious province and it's not too hard to find eco-friendly shops!
Yes, I think individual effort matters because it helps shape mindsets. You making an effort to do something might inspire others around you - and that in turn might inspire a bigger change, or a systemic one. So every little bit of effort does count!
This is such a good piece - and I will rant on for hours (if anyone lets me) about how individual action is good, but it's not our fault the corporations are unwilling to enact large-scale change (against use of single plastics, office lighting, etc).
That is so true, and I think people are reluctant to admit that because it makes us feel powerless. But we're not powerless. We can keep calling on governments and corporations to do the right thing. Even if they won't! At least we will have tried.
To ease your hummus-tub conscience: I don’t know where you are but everywhere in Europe supermarkets (Aldi included) ship their meat products into not only plastic cases but also package them with moisture-pads that are far from being well recyclable. So no matter what, you’re not impacting that much on the environment (I know it sounds a comparison between us with paper straws and the Bezos crowd flying planes into Venice).
In terms of underwear, if you have Muji or Intimissimi around you, they do fairly decent cotton panties and they last forever (I have some since 29 years!)
Wow, 29 years is unbelievable, especially for underwear! And yeah that makes sense about the meat - another reason why this industry is so environmentally intensive.