Here at The Wild Watch, we want people to feel determined and empowered to help our planet! A few small changes to your daily habits can make a difference.

‘Think Global, Act Local’

The ‘Think Global, Act Local’ expression was first used when referring to environmental challenges and the idea behind it is to urge people to consider the health of the entire planet and to aid it by taking action in their own communities and cities. If we all did this, the effect would become a global one.

Recent reports have made it starker than ever that wildlife on Earth is in crisis, with 60% of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles having been wiped out since the 1970s (WWF, Living Planet report 2018). This, along with the effects of climate change already apparent in the more extreme seasons we are experiencing is leading to many of us fearing the future of the natural world.

This staggering decline in biodiversity is due to a large number of factors including: destruction of habitat, climate change and pollution. Our habits as consumers hold a huge bearing on the driving force of these factors.

How you can help

You have an incredible amount of power as an individual and by making changes to your consumer habits; you can sway for products that are sustainably sourced and environmentally friendly to be stocked in supermarkets and shops nationwide! By becoming a conscientious shopper and by reading these tips and tricks, you can make a difference to the natural world on a global scale.

Making these small changes to your day to day habits will help the natural world.

1. Cut down food waste

Over 5 million tonnes of food and drink are thrown away in UK households each year. In the UK, on average each person loses £230 on wasted food each year.

• Set your fridge to 5 degrees or below to help food and milk last up to 3 days longer!
• Inspect food recently passed its ‘Best Before’ date before throwing it away; it may still be just fine to eat! (Note, ‘Best Before’ is different from ‘Use By’).
• Make a shopping list throughout the week, adding to it when you realise what you do and do not need. Saving mass food duplicates at home leading to waste!
• Check out Love Food, Hate Waste for fun recipe ideas for left overs!
• Compost! Most of the food we don’t end up eating can be put in to compost, thus reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and minimising the greenhouse gases released to the environment. Check with your local council about ordering a food bin caddy for your kitchen!

2. Reduce consumption

• Shop in supermarkets and shops which use the least possible packaging for their products. Have you ever seen an aubergine in a plastic tray, sealed in a plastic bag out on a vegetable rack? Support local businesses and go to green grocers to buy your loose fruit and veg which will drastically cut down on packaging waste.
• Recycle and reuse! What is not recyclable, you can often put to good use. For example loo roll tubes and yoghurt pots can make excellent DIY bird feeders!

3.  ‘Make do and mend’

It is time to bring back the ethos many of us were raised on! A previous study found that in the UK three quarters of us throw away our unwanted clothes rather than sending them for textile recycling or donating them. Last year an over 1.1 m tonnes of new clothing was purchased in the UK, an increase of 200,000 tonnes since 2012.

• Donate! One tonne of clothing that is donated/sold rather than thrown away saves the equivalent of 11 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released in to the environment.
• Shwop-shop. You can donate clothes and get shopping vouchers in return!
• Swap your un-wanted clothes for someone else’s unwanted hidden gems.
• Sell them – carboot sales, Ebay, and Genie Recycling where they even pick up your unwanted clothes from your house for you!
• Make do and mend – get creative by designing interesting patches on ripped clothes, or at the very least, let’s all vow to learn how to replace a lost button on to clothing before getting rid of it.
• Buy second hand – Freshen up your wardrobe by buying from charity shops- better for your wallet and heart.
• Check out Love Your Clothesand Ethical Consumer for all this and more.

4. Cut down your carbon footprint

• Drive less. Take the bus, cycle, walk, run, jog – whatever! With cycle to work schemes and public transport options, try to reduce using the car when you can and for short trips to the shops why not walk it instead of taking the car? Your bank account will thank you and you will be doing your body good!
• Turn off the lights when you’re not in a room
• Wash on 30. There are plenty of good detergents that leave clothes fresh and clean when washed at 30 degrees.
• Eat less meat. This will decrease your carbon footprint massively by using less water, land and CO2 to produce your food. And it will help your health too! If you and your family skip having a steak dinner just once a week, it is the equivalent of taking your car off the road for nearly three months. Check out the campaign Meat Free Mondays.
• No palm-oil. Unfortunately, palm oil is in a huge number of food and non-food products being sold around the world, sourced from mass palm plantations on previously wildlife rich rainforest in South East Asia. Look for the ‘sustainable palm-oil’ logo or palm-oil free products to have a clear conscience.
• Switch to a green energy provider. Ecotricity amongst other providers offer competitive rates and sources 100% fossil fuel free electricity.

5. Switch to an eco-friendly bank

Many of the big banks use the money we save to invest in oil exploration and natural resource exploitation projects as well as in arms dealing. Consider switching to a more ethical bank that invests in sustainable and environmentally friendly projects, and is transparent on where it invests its money. Many offer competitive rates and it now only takes 7 days to switch your bank so it isn’t as complex or time consuming as you may think! Some banks that are high on the ethical and environmentally positive list are:

• Triodos Bank
• The Co-operative Bank
• Ecology Building Society
• Charity Bank
• Yorkshire Bank
• More information can be found by searching online and reading the articles at:Moral Fibres and Ethical Consumer for more information.

That’s it!

This may seem like a lot, but start with small steps and it will in time become a natural part of your lifestyle. By doing this, you save money, the economy saves money, it slows down the rate of climate change and you are doing your part to help the natural world.

If each of us takes steps to do what we can for the natural world locally as individuals, it adds up to positive changes GLOBALLY.

“It starts very simply. Just take a little time to learn more about the consequences of the small choices you make each day.” – Jane Goodall