Sustainable September

We are mid-way through Sustainable September, a campaign that encourages people to make sustainable swaps in their daily lives for the first 30 days of autumn.

Sustainability can and should, of course, be considered all year round, but the themed month acts as a strappy way to engage, encourage, and educate people on the benefits of making more sustainable lifestyle choices.

We can live more sustainably and at the same time protect our environment and our health, through our shopping, cooking, travelling and eating habits.

Anyone can get involved in Sustainable September - an individual, a family, a class, a company. The more people that switch some habits this month, the more momentum and positive drive will happen in the sustainability scene as a result.

Here are some sustainability swaps, tips and tricks to try. You might discover a new way of life and never look back!

·       Carry reusables – water bottles, coffee cups, lunch boxes, bags and cutlery. Refill your vessels when on the move. Places to top-up can be easily located using the free Refill app.

·       Visit a local farmers market and shop local and seasonally delicious produce.

·       Review your rubbish and see if there is anything you are regularly throwing away that you might be able to reduce or do without. Identify recyclables that may have crept in and start separating your waste.

·       Use something you would normally throw away or recycle for something else. Butter tubs, jars and tins are great for storing household items or preparing food in.

·       Try fixing something that you would normally throw away. Clothes or household items, most things can be repaired before they need to be replaced.

·       Plan your meals. The most sustainable way to eat is seasonally and locally and if you can buy in bulk, even better for pocket and planet.

·       Swap bottles for soap – shampoo, conditioner, body wash and dish wash can all be swapped out for a soap bar version of the same thing. These products last longer, are plastic free and are free from water of an unknown source.

There are so many more ways you can adopt a more sustainable way of living, no matter how small!

If you take one change at a time and implement it into your daily/weekly/monthly routine, you will find that in no time at all you can transform your life to be better for your pocket, your health, and our planet. Consumers hold huge power in driving change so by supporting the cause of sustainability, you truly can make a difference.

If you have been inspired to give something a go, or you’ve discovered a sustainability hack that you want to share with us, drop us a line at Biosphere@gov,im