Make a Change in 40 Days
If you were a bit late to the party with your New Year’s resolutions, Lent provides a reprieve, affording you a second chance to make some positive lifestyle choices
2 minute read
Even if the changes are just for 40 days, your commitment to giving up vices, luxuries or bad habits can also benefit the environment. You may even feel so inspired by the changes, you don’t look back.
If you are struggling to think of something to give up, this article will look at some sustainable suggestions.
Driving
It’s convenient. It’s comfortable. It contributes around a fifth of UK greenhouse gas emissions.
The negative impact driving has on the environment is well-documented, yet many of us would still readily get in our car to make a journey that could just as easily be made on foot or via public transport.
So, for 40 days, why not try going car-less? Cycle to work. Walk to the shops. Not only can you play your part in reducing carbon emissions but the health benefits that accompany walking and cycling, both physical and mental, may reduce your dependence on driving going forward.
Public transport can also play a role in helping you to achieve a greater work-life balance, by enabling you to dip into emails, read through reports or make calls on the commute, freeing up time at home to switch off from work and relax.
If you do not have accessible transport links nearby, you may look at bending the rules slightly and car pooling. Websites like Liftshare.com help connect drivers and passengers with a common destination, thereby reducing the number of cars on the road.
Meat
Meat – red meat in particular – leaves a significant carbon footprint from the fields to your plate. In fact, approximately half of all UK food-related greenhouse gas emissions result from the beef and dairy industries.
With so many delicious alternatives, it has arguably never been easier to give up meat. For the hardened carnivores, it may be easier to start by giving up red meat, instead of going, pun not intended, cold turkey.
Much like with driving, cutting out red meat can have significant health benefits, due to its carcinogenic properties. Why not have a look at some of the vegetarian recipes on Spaciable for inspiration?
Fast Fashion
Have you ever bragged about a bargain t-shirt you bagged on the high street, only for it to shrink after the first wash?
The old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ rings painfully true when it comes to fast fashion. Fast fashion has a dual meaning of clothing that is hot off the catwalk, or clothing that moves quickly from runway to retailer to consumer to refuse site.
Often hidden from mass public scrutiny by the long shadow created by the transport, energy and agriculture industries, the fashion industry is actually responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions, with the water used in the manufacturing of a single pair of jeans, from production of cotton to transportation to the store, resulting in 33.4 kilograms of carbon equivalent.
For Lent, you could refrain from purchasing new clothes from the high street or online, either relying on items you already own or shopping at charity shops.
There you have it. If you needed some inspiration for Lent or even a belated New Year’s resolution, we hope we have helped you find it. This Lent, why not give something up and give back to the environment at the same time?
