Sustainability Month Summary

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?Can One Person Change the World?

?Well, not exactly. But one person can make a difference! Every time an individual makes a commitment to be more sustainable and carries it through, our society gets a little fairer. That’s why I decided to make April 2022 my personal Sustainability Month. I wasn't just making changes in my own life – I also provided insight into sustainability, finance, and the minefield that is “investing for good”.

Question is, was it a success? Well;

·????80 meetings

·????2,064 trees planted

·????1.76 tonnes of carbon reduction

·????Funding improvements to the Efficiency of Metro Transport in India

·????Funding Wind power project in Mexico

·????Funding the First Ever Wind Power Project in Honduras

·????Funding the production of electricity from wind power in Northeast Thailand

I am really proud to be able to say that I have managed to help 80 people talk about finance where they otherwise might have put it off and also having planted trees for each chat has made things all the more impactful and meaningful!

The walks and talks I’ve had have spanned a wide range of topics and locations as well, the last one ending with being chased through a field by a herd of cows, with a very excitable deaf dog! Special thanks to the person who put up with my slight panic there!

?During April I wanted to help empower people to live more sustainably. As a financial advisor, I know that it isn’t easy to make long-term lifestyle changes. But the good news is that there are lots of little things we can all do that help the planet, and save a bit of money along the way.

Of course, every month can be Sustainability Month and if you want to start thinking about the kind of manageable changes you can make in your everyday life, check out this article about the power of pensions in a sustainable world. There are lots of things you can do, including spending with intention, saving on costs, switching providers and even changing your whole perspective. Every positive change you make, no matter how small, makes a difference to your impact on the world.

Your money is the most powerful asset you have. Your investments, your purchasing choices, where you spend money and where you save... these basic decisions really do make a difference.

Swaps and substitutions

?With green business bigger than ever, consumer purchasing power is a serious force when it comes to sustainability. There are lots of shiny new eco-products to choose from, and some of them actually work! Making the right swaps is one way to start creating a difference in your daily life.

* Note: I can’t personally vouch for the awesome green credentials of every brand in this post. However, they are all B-Corp certified , which is a great start!

Sustainable Swaps: Personal Care

Take a look at your last grocery receipt. How much money did you spend on personal care? Toothpaste and soap, shampoo and shower gel, cotton wool, toilet paper, makeup and moisturisers... it really adds up! No matter how low-maintenance your daily routine, toiletries are a meaningful monthly expense in more ways than one.

When it comes to sustainability, the contents of your bathroom cabinet really matter. Below, we’ll have a look at some basic substitutions that will reduce your environmental impact – and support some great businesses along the way.

Wipes and loo roll

In the UK, we use a lot of toilet paper – think about those shortages in the early months of the pandemic. So one thing you can do right away is to swap out your bleached, quilted, multiple-ply loo roll for a brand that uses recycled fibres. That doesn’t mean you have to compromise on comfort. Just check out Who Gives a Crap for luxurious loo roll that helps build toilets all over the world.

Baby wipes, facial wipes and moist toilet paper are a multi-million-pound industry. They’re also a huge ecological problem. Luckily, there are some great sustainable alternatives. Cheeky Panda offer biodegradable wipes that won’t hurt the planet or your purse (don’t flush them, though!).

Toothpaste and toiletries

If you’re looking for natural, sustainable toothpaste, deodorant and other personal care products, there are plenty of brilliant young start-ups revolutionising the field. But that doesn’t mean you should overlook the old favourites. Weleda is a classic brand that was recently B-Corp certified, and it’s another great example of how natural products can be truly indulgent.

You can also make a difference just by reducing your use of plastics. For example, go for reusable soap, shower gel and shampoo dispensers and refill them from pouches. Change your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one, your shower puff for a biodegradable sponge, and your disposable cleansing pads for reusable ones. It all helps, and it cuts down your expenditure, too.

Sustainable Swaps: Cleaning and Household Products

?We all love a clean, hygienic house. But a lot of the standard cleaning products we use have an environmental impact. Harsh chemicals, plastic containers, non-biodegradable wipes... Sometimes it feels like we have to make a choice between being green and being clean!

However, even the most houseproud person can afford to make a few small changes. And these can add up to a big impact in terms of sustainability. We’ll explore a few of them below.

Keeping it germ-free

?You don’t have to be a germophobe to be obsessed with sanitising your home. The COVID-19 pandemic has made us all pay closer attention to maintaining excellent hygiene and making sure we kill all those pesky lingering viruses and bacteria.

It might be tempting to crack out the ultra-strong bleach. But scientists now understand that old-fashioned soap and water are actually enough to keep the virus at bay. Many people swear by Castile liquid soap, like Dr Bronner’s, for thorough cleaning of all kinds of surfaces. But if you prefer conventional cleaning products, there are also effective sustainable alternatives like Delphis .

Wipes, cloths and sponges

?We all know about the damage non-biodegradable cleaning wipes can do, especially when they’re flushed into the sewer system. But the humble washing-up sponge is a major offender. These sponges are made of plastic, meaning that they take centuries to break down in landfill. Just imagine how many of them you go through in a year, let alone a lifetime!

This is one area where we can learn from our grandparents. Washable rags and cloths are a great alternative to sponges. Just toss them in the wash, air-dry them and they’re ready to go all over again. For tough washing-up jobs, a wooden-handled brush or a dish scourer made from coconut fibres can work miracles. If you run a dishwasher, you’ll find eco-friendly powder from companies such as Bio D .

Laundry day

?Washing machines use a lot of energy and water as well as generating emissions, and the products you use can add to the environmental cost. Castile soap is one gentle and natural alternative that works well on clothes, especially on delicate fabrics. But you’ll find powder and liquid detergent from a range of sustainable brands, including Bio D and Delphis.

One way you can cut the cost of washing your clothes is to line-dry your clothes rather than tumble-dry them. Many eco and conventional detergents are also formulated to work effectively at lower temperatures, meaning you don’t have to hot-wash your clothes to get them properly clean.

Sustainable Swaps: In the Kitchen

?In the UK, almost half of the food we eat is imported, which means that our daily food choices have a big environmental impact. Especially now we’re no longer part of the European Union, meaning imported food often has to travel further to get to us.

Eating local, seasonal food helps to reduce your household’s environmental impact. However, depending on your income and what’s available locally, this can be hard on your budget. The good news is that there are other choices you can make that can cut your costs as well as helping the planet. Let’s look at some of those today.

Plastic wrap and packaging

?Reducing our use of plastic is something we can all do, and food shopping is a good starting point. Buying loose rather than pre-packaged fruit and vegetables is one measure you can take, especially if your local supermarket offers paper or biodegradable bags. If it works with your budget, try to buy products packaged in recyclable material such as glass or metal, and don’t forget your trusty Bag for Life or canvas tote to carry them home.

But plastic also shows up in places you wouldn’t expect. Did you know that many commercial tea bags actually have some plastic in them? Even though these are technically biodegradable, they take longer to break down. Switching to loose tea with a metal infuser is a sure way to cut your plastic use.

You can also keep open food and leftovers without using plastic wrap. Store food in washable containers or use a green alternative, like these reusable food wraps from The Beeswax Wrap Co . While the initial outlay can be a bit more, you may find you save money in the long run.

Meal and purchase planning

?Cutting food waste is another important move towards sustainable living, and it’s also great for your household budget. One simple and very effective tool is meal planning. If you know exactly what you want to buy each week and how much of it you’ll use, you’re much less likely to end up throwing stuff out.

Depending on your lifestyle, you might also change the way you shop. Some people swear by nipping to the shops as and when needed, so they never end up spending money on food that goes off or doesn’t get used. Others like to do a big shop periodically and stock their freezer with staples, as well as batch-cooking soups, sauces and stews to freeze for later.

One Thing at a Time: Making Life More Sustainable

?With so much going on in the world, trying to make a difference can seem impossible. And it’s true that we can all start off with good intentions and end up abandoning them after just a few days or weeks. (Remember those New Year’s resolutions?)

But it really is possible to live a more sustainable life. The key is to make small, manageable changes that you can keep up in the long term, rather than holding yourself to impossible standards. Here are a few simple tips that will reduce your environmental impact – and make your life easier, too:

Budget, budget, budget

?Yes, budgeting can be a pain, especially if you haven’t done it in a while – or at all. But the better you know your financial and lifestyle needs, the more sustainable your lifestyle will be.

Budgets often go wrong because we plan for the person we want to be, not the person we are. So the first step is to be really honest with yourself. How much do you actually spend right now, and what do you spend it on? And what creature comforts are really important to you?

Maybe you love foreign holidays but are happy to save on food. Or maybe you’re happy to spend your summer break in a caravan if you can cook delicious meals every night. Take a proper look at where your money is going and why, and you’ll start to get a sense of where you can cut your expenditure – and your carbon footprint – without making yourself miserable.

Think it through

?Environmentally friendly products are big business these days. This is great, because it gives you lots of choices as a consumer. But it also means that companies are likely to make big claims they can’t necessarily fulfil. So before you buy, it’s a good idea to have a look online and see what you can find out. If they’re B-Corporation certified, for example, that’s one good sign.

A lot of eco-products cost more upfront, simply because they’re more expensive to produce. Of course, if they’re reusable items – like food containers or washable sanitary pads – they may actually save you money in the long term. But even if they don’t, the cost might be justified if you’re really happy with the product and can afford to buy it (see the point about budgeting above!).

Do what you can, for now

?We all go through financial ups and downs. Sometimes you might find you have a bit more free time, or a bit more disposable income, and that gives you greater flexibility in your day-to-day choices. At other times, you just need to do what you can to keep going. It’s important never to be hard on yourself or beat yourself up.

Slow and steady

?This is the most important point of all. When we think about sustainability, we tend to imagine making big sacrifices, reshaping our entire lives to be fairer and more green. Some people do completely change their way of living – and more power to them. But for most of us, life gets in the way, and we often end up abandoning our good intentions and feeling really guilty about it.

Of course, that doesn’t help the planet at all. And it certainly doesn’t help us. The best kinds of sustainability measures are the ones that are actually sustainable for you, and it’s crucial to remember that. It’s far better to make a small commitment and stick to it than to go back on a big promise. Besides, if enough people join in, then all those small commitments add up to a big difference.

Let’s talk!

Sustainability is a big and complex issue, and it has a lot of emotions attached. Talking to a sympathetic, informed third party can help you figure out what you want to do, and what you can actually afford.

Even though Sustainability month is over, doesn't mean I'm not happy to have a chat about sustainability or anything else financial or environmental - please contact me and we can chat and share ideas! I look forward to hearing from you.