We’re Making Plans.

We’ve gathered the troops (partners and kids) and are taking serious sustainable steps every month to reduce our carbon footprint. Our starting point was making a list of what we were currently doing and over the course of the year, add to that list in meaningful and significant ways.

We won’t get everything right first go, but we feel very strongly we won’t revert back to ‘normal’ because ‘normal’ is what got us all here in the first place.

Each month of the year will have its own sustainable focus and so we have a whole 4 weeks to get one sustainable habit ‘under our belt’. Would love to hear your thoughts, and where we can add to our monthly focuses.

 

March. Ethical Banking. 

We’re matching our money with our values, and have shifted one of our accounts over to the Bendigo Bank. Did you know, this is one of the most powerful actions we can make as individuals. Thinking about shifting banks too? Do some research and look for ethical banks that prioritise ethical banking. Ethical investments can shift whole industries towards sustainability. The Market Forces website can help you with that research.

 

 

The ethical banking movement includes;

• ethical investment,
• impact investment,
• socially responsible investment,
• corporate social responsibility, and
• it is also related to fair trade, ethical consumerism, and social enterprises.

 

The big four banks are not ethical organisations. According to research by advocacy group Market Forces, Australia’s four major banks have loaned $35.5 billion to the fossil fuel industry since 2016.

 

There are ethical banking products that seek to avoid harm by not lending money to harmful activities and industries. This could include not investing in fossil fuels and other contentious areas such as tobacco, gambling and weapons.

Simon O’Connor | CEO | Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA)

 

April. Have a sustainable Easter. 

There are so many wonderful and creative ideas to help you have a more sustainable Easter. In no particular order, here’s a few of our favourites.

 

• Recycle your Easter egg foil. Aluminium is one of the most valuable metals to recycle. However, little loose bits of foil can be a problem at the recycle centre, so try to collect your foil into one big ball or you could even pop smaller pieces into an aluminium drink can.

 

• Only purchase Fair Trade chocolate to ensure your eggs are not made from products using child labour. There are organisations that audit cocoa production and then certify the product, if it meets certain ethical and sustainable criteria. Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, and Cocoa Horizons are the three primary certification bodies available in Australia.

 

• Eating fish over the Easter period? GoodFish: Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide is a comprehensive guide to seafood sustainability. Using their on-line tools will help us all to act on growing concern about the impact of fishing on our oceans and their wildlife.

 

• Do you give PJs as gifts for Easter? Lots of families do – us included. So many beautiful companies from which to choose your PJs. Some of our favourites include Bhumi, Boody and Gingerlily. 

 

 

May. Rediscover the art of sharing. 

Encourage community bonding and conscious consumerism by organising a clothing, books or tool swap. For example, the environmental cost of clothing production is high, swapping saves water and energy. Swapping items also helps build community.

 

We all (accumulate) an abundance of tools and resources that are better shared around a group, rather than all of us owning, storing and maintaining the same things.

Asking to borrow something makes us feel vulnerable. But maybe it’s time to get over that, because it not only saves money, time, and earthly resources, it might also spark a community connection and a good conversation.

Nat Mendham | Multi-discipline Creative

 

Have you lost touch with your local library? I know I have. And of course, the local library is not just about books. There are free services such as book groups and literacy programs, tech support, author talks, craft sessions and spaces you can use. And of course you can also borrow DVDs, CDs, console games, magazines, and audiobooks. What’s not to love about libraries!?

 

Of course, we can also share skills and knowledge. A few friends and I have started to meet up regularly to quilt. Mary is a complete beginner, while Ivana has made dozens of quilts. I’m somewhere in between. Together we are learning, sharing knowledge and of course enjoying every minute.

 

 

Next season, we will be focusing on sustainable travel, going plastic free and getting to know your reps. Stay tuned.

 

Writer: Colleen B. Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start the company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.