GoodLiving Tips

Survey of Public Attitudes

DEFRA have issued their 2007 Survey of Public Attitudes and Behaviours towards the environment.  Makes interesting reading.  Some figures:
37% said they 'never use their own shopping bags'.  I assume this includes taking a used plastic bag.  Are you in the 37%?
45% agreed or strongly agreed that they 'would be prepared to pay more for environmental products'.  Would you?
24% strongly agreed or tended to agree that they 'do not give much thought to saving energy in their home'.  Do you?

Tip of the Week

One of the most common searches that lead people to the site is for shaving oil information.  So my tip of the week is to make your own shaving oil and save money & ensure you are not absorbing horrible chemicals.  I hate shaving but I have to do it every day and I have a 5 o'clock shadow by lunchtime!   I am very fussy about my shaving products as they have to be good to ensure the process is as quick and easy as possible!   
I made the transition from shaving cream to shaving oil a few years ago.  I had read a lot of good things about shaving oils but just couldn't believe it would be better than a thick layer of shaving cream! Eventually I gave it a go and haven't looked back since. 

I now use a homemade shaving oil and it is great.  It works a treat, is a fraction of the cost, is environmentally friendly and doesn't contain any chemicals for me to absorb like a lot of toiletries (read the labels - did you know that women that regulalry wear lipstick absorb 1kg of lipstick over a lifetime!!). The recipe is just mixing the following oils together and then shake before each use (these oils are available from health food shops or the internet):

- 1/2 teaspoon sunflower or olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon avocado / jojoba oil
- 1/2 teaspoon aloe vera leaf juice or gel
- 1/8 teaspoon castor oil
- Optional:  3 drops each of lavender essential oil and bergamot essential oil (non photo-toxic version)

So, give it a go!  I also use just soap (olive oils soap) occasionally and was amazed how well this worked, but not as good as shaving oil.

Number of Plastic Bags Used Worldwide

Plastic bags consumed worldwide this year (courtesy of Resuablebags.com):

State of the Planet

The BBC have a good summary of UN's latest Global Environment Outlook report here. It makes quite depressing reading 

Wildlife Photographer of Year 2007

The BBC has some of this years winning Wildlife Photographer of Year 2007 pictures.

BBC Climate Change Site

The BBC Climate Change website it s great source of information on global warming, some of it is quite scary.

Recycling can be confusing

Recycling is a confusing thing with so many symbols and what can and cannot be recycled.  Try out the BBC quiz here and see how you get on!  I must say our council does really well in making things as easy as possible (e.g. collecting all plastics for recycling).  This recycle-more website has a good explanation of all the logos.  Basically if plastic has one of the logos shown here (1-7) then it can be recycled. 

Batteries

The batteries in a radio went yesterday so we have decided to bite  the bullet and invest in a set of rechargeable ones.  They are  expensive and although we don't use a lot of batteries you still need  quite a few (especially the common AA type) but I guess they pay for  themselves quite quickly and are so much better for the environment.   As usual with these things there are so much choice/different types  of rechargeable batteries so I am about to investigate!   Once I have  got my head round it I will share our experiences.    Anyone have any  recommendations?

Tip of the Week

Hate washing up? I think most people do.  Add a little enjoyment and be more environmentally friendly by using a natural washing up brush.  I may be mad but I find using objects made of natural material far more satisfying including a wooded brush (with natural bristles).  Also most wooden ones come with replaceable heads and you can buy these separately when required.   Thanks to Mike Phelan for researching places to buy these when my usual one have stopped stocking them as their supplier started supplying them with plastic bristles.   You can get them at Natural Collection amongst other places.  Do you use one?  Why not give it a go!

Amazing but scary art

Stick a load of fluorescent tubs in the ground under a power line and this is what you get.....

831 fluorescent tubes powered purely by the electromagnetic field surrounding overhead power lines by artist Richard Box.  Looks very cool but makes you wonder how safe overhead power lines really are....

Supermarket Ratings

The National Consumer Council have just issued their annual report on the supermarkets and how 'green' they are.  This is the summary table.  Full report here.

Cost or Sustainability?

I ended up in A&E last night having a couple of stitches in my lip following a clash of heads in a football match.  What I found interesting was that their hospital's/primary care trust's policy is to throw all the used instruments away (scissors etc.) instead of getting them sterilised as it is cheaper to buy new than pay for them to be sterilised! 

How much do we take cost a priority over sustainability?  Do we bother to try and get something repaired when it seems easier to just go and buy a new one.  I know a lot of things now adays are not made for sustainability and cannot be repaired - again to keep the cost down, price seems to be the publics priority.  Some companies do make things to last but they do cost a lot more. Manufactum is an example of this.

Low Energy Light Bulbs

I have just found a great place to get low energy light bulbs - they do all the varieties you could need - traditional, halogen, dimmer etc.    It is www.litebulbs.co.uk.  They have a vast range available and also provide helpful advice if required.   They even show you how much money you will save over traditional bulbs.  Top site.

Government Response on Plastic Bag Petition

Disappointing response from the government on the response to the e-petition on banning plastic bags.  I accept the point that you probably cannot ban them due to EU laws but the Irish example of heavy taxing has resulted in a 90% reduction in their use - our government response - 'could cause other environmental issues such as the increase in paper bag use'.   Hmm, surely that is better than plastic?!!!  Full response here.

Good Cartoon

Cartoon from www.weblogcartoons.com

Tip of the Week

I have decided to include a Tip of the Week on the blog as well as my random ramblings.  The idea is that it brings a tip to you to focus on and to try if you haven't already.  Also gives you an opportunity to comment on the tip - has it worked for you?  Have you any other suggestions/improvements/better ones?

I shall start with one of my favorites - Junk Mail.  These tips really work (like all of them!) and I encourage you to try it if you haven't already.

You can stop 95% of junk mail by registering with the Mail Preference Service by ringing them on 0845 7034599 or via the website www.mpsonline.org.uk.  It takes a few weeks to kick in but is free and very effective!.Alternatively you can pick and choose which companies you do not want to receive mail from by registering with www.itsmypost.com, but this costs £4.95.    Also you can tell Royal Mail that you do want to receive unaddressed mail that they deliver (about 25% of all unaddressed mail) via their website here. 

We used to get an enormous amount of junk mail in the form of leaflets/cab cards etc.  I thought about making a sign to put on the door but as it is a rented house thought the landlady would appreciate something more in keeping with the door so bought a sign from www.nojunkmailsigns.com.  £1.99 and two days later it was up and the junk mail has stopped - I am amazed at how well this has worked.

This car sticker made me smile

English Countryside

We are enjoying a week in the English countryside surrounded by farmers and the farming community.  A great reminder that they deserve a fair price for their produce.

Holiday

Off to Cornwall for a holiday so I may be quite on the blog for a week.  I may get a chance to blog whilst, it is definitely a place that inspires care of the environment!  I will leave you with a challenge.  How many of this list of tips have you mastered?

Local Shops

When was the last time you used your local shops of food items (apart from a mars bar and a packet of cigarettes!).  Great Friends of the Earth video: