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Do you do your 'bit' for the environment?
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Boring thread probably... But do you do your bit environmentally?
Are you a heavy car user?
Do you fly often?
Do you rinse out your tin cans pre throwing them away?
Personally, I suspect it's in some parts a load of shite. I'm a none car driver, and I recycle. But you see vids of Tesco/Asda carrier bags floating around 3rd world rubbish dumps, and you just think 'hmmm'... |
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"If we are not all doing it globally then it's a futile effort"
I suspect this is the issue? We seem to still be just offloading our crap to other countries, and then stating we're keeping our rubbish down? I don't understand why we've not resorted to paper bags for fruit, and lessened plastic consumables in the UK more... We were doing better 30yrs ago  |
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By (user no longer on site) 3 weeks ago
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My lifestyle is kinda green without even trying.
I don't drive and use public transport. Most clothing I buy is second hand and I take stuff I don't want to the charity shops. I don't recycle household waste as its rarely emptied on my estate and the whole thing is cross contamimated. I do take my cardboard and plastic crap for junk modeling at work. Not been on holiday in only flown once in the last 25 years. |
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By *sWyldWoman 3 weeks ago
Edinburgh |
I use my car a lot, I have no option because of where I live and work.
I'm a frequent flyer. I love a day trip and make no apology for it. The plane would fly regardless.
I do recycle though.. Most of the time |
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Do the obvious simple things,like rubbish sorting,plastics,tins,glass,paper in the recycling bins at home,dont have a overly large car with big engine and dont drive it quick as to get more distance from fuel  |
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By *tr8MrEMan 3 weeks ago
Shireoaks, Worksop |
"If we are not all doing it globally then it's a futile effort
I suspect this is the issue? We seem to still be just offloading our crap to other countries, and then stating we're keeping our rubbish down? I don't understand why we've not resorted to paper bags for fruit, and lessened plastic consumables in the UK more... We were doing better 30yrs ago "
Whatever we do in the western world it's completely counteracted by the chinese |
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I recycle as much as i can, including soft plastics which get seperated and taken to specific recycling points. Im also conscious of water use and be as frugal as i can be. Food waste is also kept to an absolute minimin. Also a non-meat eater so im sure that goes a long way too. |
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"I had the snip without having any crotch goblins, thus reducing my lifetime carbon footprint more than enough to offset my holiday flights and funmobile."
Lucky for you!  it's a thing that most women not wanting kids aren't 'allowed'. My daughter at 24, on her 3rd child had to fight for this... And if her 3 previous kids hadn't been by C-section they'd have said no!...
As always, selective reproduction is way easier to achieve as a male than a female. As obviously we're 'silly', and may yet change our fluffy, daft, little minds  |
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I get a bit miffed with public figures preaching to us about the climate while zooming about in helicopters and planes. King Charles boasting that he runs his sports car on by products from his vinyard. 🤷 I don't know why we aren't all doing that. |
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By *tr8MrEMan 3 weeks ago
Shireoaks, Worksop |
"I get a bit miffed with public figures preaching to us about the climate while zooming about in helicopters and planes. King Charles boasting that he runs his sports car on by products from his vinyard. 🤷 I don't know why we aren't all doing that. "
A, I haven't got a sports car, B last time I tried getting products from King Charlie's vineyard I was arrested. |
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It’s really really important … to care and consider the environment
My efforts are current on water quality both rivers and our local sea areas
One thing for sure is global warming will kill mankind … not Putin or Trump ( although they could make a bloody mess of things )
I have just come back from working in French Guiana 🇬🇫 where issues there are 10x worse than here yet lack of education and efforts in schools can make such a vital change
Its important we all do bit … collectively it’s massively important
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By *rRiosMan 3 weeks ago
dublin |
Ireland recently brought in a policy where there is a 15c deposit added onto every can/plastic bottle. It can be reclaimed in most bigger shops in machines. It’s a real pain but it seems to be working. Ultimately though multi billion dollar companies whose main aim is increasing profit margins for their shareholders hold a far bigger impact and responsibility than me recycling 40 cans for €6
It’s only going to get worse imo. If there is a stone to life and it take ten people to life the stone, unless all ten commit to it, it won’t budge. |
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We have one car, it's electric and was second hand.
We recycle as much as possible, including taking Tetra Pak separately to the tip because it's not collected kerbside here.
We minimise buying stuff for the sake of it and always look at second hand first, wherever we can.
We use environmentally friendly cleaning products.
We don't change our phones or white goods or electricals unless they're completely beyond repair and we will attempt repair first.
We're careful with the use of water and other utilities.
But we do go abroad about once a year so that's a down vote for us. |
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By *rRiosMan 3 weeks ago
dublin |
"Ireland recently brought in a policy where there is a 15c deposit added onto every can/plastic bottle. It can be reclaimed in most bigger shops in machines. It’s a real pain but it seems to be working. Ultimately though multi billion dollar companies whose main aim is increasing profit margins for their shareholders hold a far bigger impact and responsibility than me recycling 40 cans for €6
It’s only going to get worse imo. If there is a stone to life and it take ten people to life the stone, unless all ten commit to it, it won’t budge. "
Ffs! *lift not life |
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"I get a bit miffed with public figures preaching to us about the climate while zooming about in helicopters and planes. King Charles boasting that he runs his sports car on by products from his vinyard. 🤷 I don't know why we aren't all doing that.
A, I haven't got a sports car, B last time I tried getting products from King Charlie's vineyard I was arrested. "
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"[Removed by poster at 03/11/24 22:54:03]"
To be honest I'm not sure how this works? But I really like the idea. As a child we'd buy glass bottles of pop, plus milk bottles, and they were then recycled. We live in a terribly throw away culture, and I think the notion of returning to a 'not right now', way of living wouldn't be a bad one |
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"If we are not all doing it globally then it's a futile effort
I suspect this is the issue? We seem to still be just offloading our crap to other countries, and then stating we're keeping our rubbish down? I don't understand why we've not resorted to paper bags for fruit, and lessened plastic consumables in the UK more... We were doing better 30yrs ago
Whatever we do in the western world it's completely counteracted by the chinese"
No, it means that whatever other countries, at least there's lower overall impact globally if the UK does something. If both the UK and China did nothing, then overall, things would be even worse. |
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"We have one car, it's electric and was second hand.
We recycle as much as possible, including taking Tetra Pak separately to the tip because it's not collected kerbside here.
We minimise buying stuff for the sake of it and always look at second hand first, wherever we can.
We use environmentally friendly cleaning products.
We don't change our phones or white goods or electricals unless they're completely beyond repair and we will attempt repair first.
We're careful with the use of water and other utilities.
But we do go abroad about once a year so that's a down vote for us."
I honestly don't think it's a down vote
I think you're actively thinking about shit, and doing your 'bit'. I think most of us try to be fair. I'm more annoyed at the end product of recycling doesn't end up where promised, and that eco stuff seems to be often selling a lie  |
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By *eal2FeelMan 3 weeks ago
Tamworth/London/Poole |
I've been driving an EV since 2015, dont fly and have learned to sail so I can eventually travel all round the world, a little more slowly.
First I'm starting a local community energy cooperative. All this stuff with bags and recycling is a, distraction... we have to stop burning stuff to make energy.
I've done the numbers for my town and with a solar wind and battery system, it will cost about what we spend on electric and gas over 10 years, to build a,system that will last 25+ years and replace all electric and gas, and 75% of road fuel too.
Its hugely expensive.. £500 million for a town of 90,000, but we spend £50million a year on gas and electric. To put into context. |
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By *ustBoWoman 3 weeks ago
Somewhere in Co. Down |
I've never had children so that definitely helps the environment more than anything else I could do. And no my choice to not have children was not an environmental decision it just is the way my life went.
I extremely rarely fly anywhere last time I did was over 10 years ago.
I recycle as much as I can .
Yes I drive a car it's diesel not ev and I've no interest in electric cars as they are definitely not as environmentally friendly as they are made out to be. |
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I don’t think it’s a boring thread!
I try not to consume in general , I’ll make, grow, repair, reuse, recycle up-cycle, buy used , lend , share whenever possible. I think there are a lot of us well ahead of the curve in the peer to peer/sharing economy of the future, I’m not sure I’ll see it fully realised in my lifetime but it doesn’t stop me.
I currently lease car only when I really need them and use trains, Uber, Yandex & Bolt
My flights are the problem probably 50flights a year. But I am starting to plan trips a bit better, it does concern me.
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"All this stuff with bags and recycling is a, distraction... we have to stop burning stuff to make energy.
"
Agree and disagree. How do you think change like this really happens? You know leaders are really just followers, (Remember Obama on same-sex marriage), When there is enough pressure and opinion applied by the little people who really care, the big battles are so much easier.
Other strategies are things like true cost economics like when you consider the true ecological cost of an item, like a bag, or a packet of cigarettes and make its price reflect its ecological and social impact, then the other type of little people will stop using them |
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I do what I can easily do. If I have a choice of doing something. Why wouldn't you? But mostly it's just about making more money. If anyone really believes its being taken seriously just because companies put eco in front of anything they are deluded. It's got nothing to do with being environmentally friendly as the decision is actually doing less environmental damage or more environmental damage. I mean as only one example whoever thinks producing a brand new tesla car is environmentally friendly is kidding themselves. We are doing more harm now than ever and yet somehow feel like we are doing good things. |
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I recycle as much as possible but don't have options in regard to car use. If I was just going to the shop I might walk but getting to and from work is an hour's commute by car and the same journey using public transport would take more than 3 hours and involve 3 different buses. |
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We do what we can.
We try to stay away from single use plastics. Use soap bars instead of bottles. Buy glass jars. Recycle soft plastics at Tesco, the only company that recycles soft plastics (well then say they Recycle it!!).
Reduce our food waste to a minimum and compost what we can.
Commute travel is hard. Can't do nothing about that. Definitely won't be changing to an electric car, it is a complete con and environmental flawed.
Awaiting the synthetic fuel revolution.
Grow vegs. Look after the bees.
Do our bit.
Will it change the world. Absolutely 100% NOT.
Does it make us feel like we are trying YES.
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Not really, as I agree it's to a degree a load of shite if we try and do our bit eg recycle yet you see other countries who clearly make absolutely no effort at all or take in everyone's rubbish.
I use my car. It's needed, especially when you live semi rural and you don't have good public transport. Electric cars don't work around here, as we don't have the infrastructure to support them. A neighbour had a tesla and has got rid of it for a new 4x4 as he said its cheaper to run the petrol.
I try and recycle plastic food containers/cardboard etc but that's about it.
Greta Thunberg wouldn't be impressed but hey ho, that's a her problem. |
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"Not really, as I agree it's to a degree a load of shite if we try and do our bit eg recycle yet you see other countries who clearly make absolutely no effort at all or take in everyone's rubbish.
I use my car. It's needed, especially when you live semi rural and you don't have good public transport. Electric cars don't work around here, as we don't have the infrastructure to support them. A neighbour had a tesla and has got rid of it for a new 4x4 as he said its cheaper to run the petrol.
I try and recycle plastic food containers/cardboard etc but that's about it.
Greta Thunberg wouldn't be impressed but hey ho, that's a her problem."
Tbh I don’t think anything would impress that miserable girl in life. She is the poster child of doom and gloom |
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"Probably not really. I use my car a lot. I fly a lot. I use the correct bins though and have my bags for life even if I forget them half the time. "
I think most people just do the best they can.
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"Probably not really. I use my car a lot. I fly a lot. I use the correct bins though and have my bags for life even if I forget them half the time.
I think most people just do the best they can.
"
Oh yes definitely do what I can. I need my car. Think we have a bus around here every Thursday at 6pm 🤣. We don’t even have Uber! My legs can only take me so far. |
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I try to consume ethically - reduce what I buy to reduce the impact I have. I've been guilty of buying a lot of shit I don't need from the likes of Shein and Temu in the past, but I've brought that to a stop in favour of buying fewer things of better quality that will (hopefully) last, and only buying things I actually need.
I don't have kids or pets, so my footprint on this planet is relatively light.
I do drive a bit for work, but will take public transport if it's feasible. I try to fly as little as possible, though in the past I clocked a huge amount of miles.
I prefer to have things repaired than replace them, and prefer to buy locally where I can.
It's not making a difference to the state of the planet and I know I'm just pissing into the wind, but I'd still rather do it than not. |
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The onus should be on governments and corporations to enable the big, more rapid shifts, than consumers. I think they have successfully deflected responsibility away from themselves on to us.
I do largely do my bit |
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Doing my bit - no kids. The single most effective lifestyle choice with the biggest impact on your carbon footprint by far.
I don't have the most economical vehicle (pick up). Most of my miles are for work with another big chunk for charity but I do drive carefully and my long term average mpg is over 40 to the gallon.
I try to reduce waste, use clothing until it falls apart (I've got T-shirts over 10 years old) hate wasting food, mens and repair etc
I think with the exception of choosing not to breed, no other choices we make are enough. If all 8 billion people in the world consumed to the level of the most conscientious Westerner we'd be screwed - as an example, take that 8 billion, devide it by 200 per flight and allow them all only one flight per year (allegedly something we can restrict ourselves to in order to help the environment) you end up with more flights than there currently are.
Anyone in this country believing they're doing their bit is ignoring the fact that their bit still leaves them with a significantly larger footprint than the majority of the worlds population. This is only sustainable if we ensure these billions of people continue to live in relative poverty and never get aspirations to live the kind of life we do.
There are only two things that will reduce our global CO2 emissions, population reduction and technology. A small percentage of Westerners making personal sacrifices is a drop in the ocean - but it's hard not to feel like one should at least try.
P |
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"Probably not really. I use my car a lot. I fly a lot. I use the correct bins though and have my bags for life even if I forget them half the time.
I think most people just do the best they can.
"
I think most people do the best they believe they can. We're incredibly good at making excuses for ourselves - especially to ourselves.
P |
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By *bflirtyCouple 3 weeks ago
Milton Keynes |
We are doing as much as we can right now:
Were vegetarian for 33 years (David) and 20 years (Alicia) and went fully vegan 5 years ago.
We live on a narrowboat off grid and solar provides 100% electric Feb to Nov and then we need to run the generator a few hours a week (£40 in petrol Nov-Feb)
We use £60-70 per year in bottled gas for cooking and hot water / showers
Our water consumption is 150 Litres per week for the 2 of us. Average person uses 150 per day.
We reuse/repurpose or recycle 90% of household waste.
Alicia runs a quarterly Climate Cafe with guest speakers, green crafts etc
We do not fly except for a family emergency. Holidays abroad are by train.
Our greenhouse gas emissions are less thank half the UK average.
Everything we can’t stop right now such as our lowest emission car, diesel for the boat and coal for heating in winter we offset by sending by money monthly to the Woodland Trust to plant the equivalent number of trees. We also volunteer planting trees locally.
We are effectively net zero.
Stop blaming China, they are installing more renewables this year than the rest of the world put together and most of their emissions are generated making products for western countries- most of which will be binned within 5 years. |
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We are doing what we can? That will be the epitaph on the gravestone.
I think this is going to prove to be one of the biggest hoaxes ever. If we really wanted to make a change we would make a change. Misinforming people into thinking they can somehow take an environmentally friendly flight or delivery from china because the last 10 miles are on an electric truck is not helping us make any significant or impactful changes. |
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"
Stop blaming China, they are installing more renewables this year than the rest of the world put together and most of their emissions are generated making products for western countries- most of which will be binned within 5 years. "
This is a massive problem. I've been so frustrated at the amount of times various politicians and news reporters have claimed losing the last blast furnace at Port Talbot and replacing it with an electric arc furnace means greener steel making in the UK. Because both have the word furnace in their name everyone buys into the idea they're interchangeable which they aren't.
You can recycle steel with an electric arc furnace, you can't smelt iron from ore in one. All we have done is export a massive carbon footprint from Wales to India - and then idiots will point at the emissions of countries like India and China and say there is no point is changing anything here. Meanwhile, We've lost our ability to make steel and instead ship it in from halfway around the world to process 
P |
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Nope. I'm a climate disbeliever sorry, not sorry as it's all about tax!
Only recycle because the bastard bin men won't take my bin if I don't, I've a massive diesel 4x4 car and don't think once about my carbon footprint! And I'm not ashamed, so tough if you don't like it!
Mr F. |
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"Doing my bit - no kids. The single most effective lifestyle choice with the biggest impact on your carbon footprint by far.
"
Clearly we need more kids, the right ones that are future thinking to fix all the problems we have left !
I don’t think a bunch of 150-year-old science deniers are up to the job are they ? |
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In my area our black bin rubbish gets burnt and the incinerator produces electricity. I put all plastic bags in the bin so they get burnt as I know then they aren't going to end up in a river or sent abroad.
I recycle as much as possible.
One of the answers to the rubbish problem, is not to produce so much in the first place. |
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"Doing my bit - no kids. The single most effective lifestyle choice with the biggest impact on your carbon footprint by far.
Clearly we need more kids, the right ones that are future thinking to fix all the problems we have left !
I don’t think a bunch of 150-year-old science deniers are up to the job are they ? "
1987 earth's population was 5 billion
1999 earth's population was 6 billion
2011 earth's population was 7 billion
2022 earth's population was 8 billion
The population of earth has pretty much doubled during my life, I'm fairly sure we've got enough people now unless these kids really are remarkably different to the rest of humanity
P
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