Eco Tips
Each month we will be sharing ideas of things you can do to shrink your carbon footprint and combat climate change. They will range from easy and cheap challenges to really life-changing ones.
We hope you’re up for the challenge, but please do what you can as it all helps. If there’s anything you’d like to know more about, or a topic you’d like us to cover in future, do let us know.
Liz Francis
This Month's Eco Tips: Food
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Become a vegetarian or vegan
https://vegsoc.org/info-hub/why-go-veggie/environment/
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/veganism-ethical-consumptionhttps://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/shopping-guide/vegan-meat-alterantive-food-brands
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/shopping-guide/vegan-non-dairy-milk -
Eat less meat, especially beef, & dairy
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46459714
Bulk up your meals with pulses like beans, lentils & chickpeas
Drink coffee and tea black to reduce your dairy intake -
If you don’t want to go cold turkey(!) why not try Meat Free Mondays (https://meatfreemondays.com/)
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Vary the fruit and veg you eat
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Eat seasonal products
http://eatseasonably.co.uk/ -
Buy local produce – e.g. from the market
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Consume more products from certified organic agriculture and livestock
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Choose sustainably-sourced fish.
Eat food lower in the food chain – e.g. filter feeding shellfish are more efficient at producing protein.
Avoid vulnerable fish – e.g. from deep-sea fisheries, immature fish that have not had a chance to breed, and endangered, threatened and protected species - https://www.mcsuk.org/goodfishguide/ -
Look for products containing RSPO certified sustainable palm oil
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Loose-leaf tea is the best option for the planet (all that packaging significantly ups the carbon footprint), but if it must be bags, choose one with a plant-based seal.
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For more information see:
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/retailers/shopping-guide/supermarkets
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/retailers/shopping-guide/ethical-food-supermarkets
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/how-shop-ethically-supermarket
This Month's Eco Tips: Food Waste
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Take an inventory of the contents of your cupboards, fridge & freezer. Plan meals to use what you’ve already got
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Write a shopping list and only buy what you will use
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Try batch cooking
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Use your freezer – you might be surprised with what you can freeze! (https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/freezing-food-freezer-defrosting-how-long-which-foods-cooking-a8530971.html)
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Make your own stock with bones or vegetable scraps. I freeze veg scraps until I have enough to boil up, then freeze tubs of stock for when I need them.
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Turn slightly overripe fruit into smoothies or ice lollies
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Share unwanted food on the Olio app
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Become a Food Waste Hero (https://olioapp.com/en/become-an-olio-volunteer/)
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Eat frozen veg instead of fresh
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Grow your own herbs, fruit & veg
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Eat a variety of foods
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Check your fridge is between 3 and 5 degrees
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Put new ingredients at the back of your fridge/cupboard and old ones as the front to remind you to use them first
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Keep vegetables with chopped ends – e.g. broccoli – with the end in water
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Keep fruit and vegetables separate in the fridge
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Don’t put these in the fridge if unchopped: potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes, avocado, bread, fresh herbs
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Challenge yourself to do a ‘ready steady cook’ once a week to use up leftover ingredients
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Use bread crusts to make your own breadcrumbs and croutons
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Make your own cider vinegar with apple peels & cores
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Toss apple peels in cinnamon & sugar and bake them
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Refresh droopy lettuce in cold water
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Use food after the ‘best before’ date. It’s perfectly safe and may still be delicious
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Non-perishables in unopened packaging, before Best Before dates, can be donated to your local food bank
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Try a veg box: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/whats-veg-box
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For even more info check out these websites:
wwf.org.uk/eat4change/bring-change-to-the-table
lowpricefoods.com
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
fareshare.org.uk/zero-waste-challenge
https://www.sharinglifetrust.org/community-larder
https://www.oddbox.co.uk/
https://wonkycoffee.com/
​https://www.toogoodtogo.com/
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Give your feedback on Eco Tips!
We’d love your feedback on how you’ve got on with Eco Tips.
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The survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.
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