Not My Monkey

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Here is an alphabetical list of things you can do to take individual responsibility for sustainability!

Animals: look for vegan and cruelty-free products, this is particularly important for beauty and cosmetic items

Bike: If possible, cycle or walk to places you may usually drive to reduce fuel or electricity consumption

Compost: separate food waste and compost to make a great soil fertiliser

Diet: reduce your meat consumption and try to buy locally sourced produce

Energy: turn lights off when they’re not in use

Fill: try a local refill store to reduce packaging

Gifting: be conscious about what you gift, and make sure it’s something the receiver will use and can potentially give another life when it’s finished

Heat: conserve energy by keeping windows shut when the heating is on

Individual fruits and veg: reduce your plastic by purchasing fruit and veg loose

Junk: donate or sell old items to give them a new life and reduce the number of ‘brand new’ items being demanded

Keep it up: sustaining these actions is key to making a lasting impact

Local: shop at local, independent shops to boost local economies and uplift small entrepreneurs

Marine life: if you often spend time in open waters, such as oceans or lakes, make sure to wear ocean-safe sunscreen. Regular sunscreens can pollute water sources, making it difficult for marine life to survive

Need: before making a purchase, consider if you really need it and are going to make good use of the item to justify its resource use

Organic: buy clothes which are 100% cotton/organic cotton as they avoid using plastic materials such as polyester, breeding better quality products which are less likely to pollute the Earth

Plant: if you have a garden, create a vegetable patch to grow you’re own produce. This will enhance local ecosystems and provide you with cheap dinners

Quality: prioritise quality over quantity in anything you buy

Reuse: reuse what you can, my favourite is jars

Share: communicate your knowledge to people around you, encourage them to take on similar initiatives

Travel: be conscious about how much you travel and the means you take to get there, for example, could you take the train rather than flying?

Unplug: unplug and switch off electrical items when they are not in use to reduce the amount of background electricity being used

Volunteer: if you are able to, give back to your local community by volunteering; this may be to aid child development, elivate poverty or enrich ecosystems

Well-being: be sure to check on those around you, mental and physical wellbeing are a core part of creating a resilient Earth

eXploitation: avoid using brands which engage in the exploitation of resources; this may be labour, energy, animals, etc.

Yes: don’t stop living your life. Say yes, but just make sure it’s not at the cost of something or someone else

Zero: in anything you do, aim to remove any negative impact