Category: Uncategorized

1 – Reject Plastic Bags

admin /28 July, 2007

Buy an eco silk bag today In 2004 we threw out 850 million plastic bags. The Say No to Plastic Bags campaign in 2005 reduced that to 510 million. That’s still way too many. Friends, we have to stop!

What to do? Buy a handful of silk bags.

Strong and durable, these singlet bags last for years, replacing thousands of plastic bags in their lifetime. The bags are made from parachute silk, a type of nylon, which to its credit is endlessly recyclable. Ecosilk Bags proprietor, Emily Hays, is looking forward to eventually making the bags from plant-based nylons, a technology that is currently being refined.

Keep one in your glove box, one in your handbag or pocket, one at work and one by your front door.

3 – Avoid packaging

admin /28 July, 2007

Packaging is an enormous imposition on the planet. It consumes irreplaceable fossil fuels to make plastic and trees to make paper. It’s mostly used once and discarded, using more energy. Whatever you buy, minimise the packaging.

What to do?

I buy fresh food, locally made food, or basic ingredients to make my own meals: Four litre cans of oil, 10kg packets of flour and rice. I avoid processed food in general. This reduces packaging and also makes sure I use healthy ingredients and that my kids learn how to cook.

I buy goods in simple packaging, and let the retailer know that I chose particular items because of the packaging.

4 – Turn off lights at work

admin /28 July, 2007

Are all those lights necessary? Do an experiment. Turn some off. You’ll be amazed how much natural light there is, how noisy fluorescent lights are, and how relaxing dimmer lighting can be. Try using desk lamps.

Sydney lit up at night

If you have not experienced the thrill of being the first person at work, set the alarm real early one morning and get there at the crack of dawn.

No, really!

You may enjoy the privilege of going around and turning on every light in the building.

But hang on, in lots of offices the lights are left on all night!

Mostly when you ask, “Why?” there are no particular reasons. It is just “in case”, “because we always do” or “no-one asked me to turn them off.”

What to do?

There are plenty of companies that have saved thousands of dollars a year on their energy bills as a result of paying attention to all this. Use them as a template for your campaign to your organisation.

5 – Recycle

admin /28 July, 2007

I know you do, but does everyone else? A few cynics can undermine office morale and dedication to the whole recycling program. Reactivate them with these statistics.

Your rubbish gets transported out of Sydney and buried in a big hole (near Goulburn for most of us). This uses energy and creates green-house gas and pollutes water as it decomposes.

What to do?

By sorting out the items made from material that can be recycled you can avoid some of this pollution as well as reducing the demand for new resources.

Hidden traps

Recycling still uses energy. It is better to create as little waste as possible, than to recycle. Remember: reduce your consumption, re-use the things you buy, recycle only what you cannot keep using.

Focus on reducing waste, not managing it better.