Following on from my post yesterday about getting back into environmental campaigning I thought it best to start at ground zero.
Me, my family, my home. What can we do here, now, today that will make a little bit of difference.
It may just be a little bit, but a lot of little bits can make a big bit.
So I'm setting myself a challenge. Every day. To do five things that are 'planet positive'.
Here goes...
1. 100% Recycled Toilet Rolls
I thought I would start at the bottom and work up.
It may not seem like much, but we all use toilet paper every day in every way.
Today we switched to Renova 100% recycled toilet rolls.
There are plenty of recycled toilet rolls on the market but this one is available readily in bulk on eBay or even better from the new Good Club - both at a pretty good unit price of 26p (USD 0.33).
2. Electric Car
We are very keen now to switch to an electric car.
The ranges are getting better and the number of charging stations increasing - even in rural Wales.
We are looking at cars from Nissan, Renault and Hyundai at present as they have dealers within a couple of hours from us.
Today I called the Hyundai dealer in Aberystwyth to see if they have any electric cars available to view.
Hyundai have two fully electric models - the IONIQ Electric and the KONA Electric.
The dealer has the IONIQ in stock so we are going to take a look and test drive on Saturday. The KONA has a waiting list until next January - it must be popular!
3. Furniture Giveaway
Over the years we have collected a lot of furniture. We have too much - and are now trying to downsize.
Today we gave away two office chairs and two beanbags to a young couple just setting up home nearby.
Saves them buying, saves us taking to the tip. Saves the planet providing more precious resources.
We still have more to giveway - Freecycle here we come...
4. Ethical Consumer Magazine
Ethical Consumer is a great magazine that gives the low-down on the environmental and ethical performance of companies to help you decide who to buy from. They cover all manner of consumer products and services.
The latest edition includes guides on supermarkets, cat & dog food, cooking oil and paint. Coming up in future editions they will be covering toilet paper, nappies, over-the-counter medicines, laptops, toothpaste, email providers and makeup.
The magazine has been running since 1989. I let my subscription lapse some years back.
Today I re-subscribed. It costs £29.95 for six issues a year - available in both print and digital editions.
How we spend our money and what companies we buy from really is one of our most powerful personal campaigning tools. Be informed, spend wisely, help the planet.
5. Donation to the Centre for Alternative Technology
If I can manage it I am going to try give a small donation to an environmental charity or campaigning organisation every day.
This will be funded as far as possible from what I earn on these daily posts.
Today I donated £10 to the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, north Wales.
CAT has a very special place in my life. It really is where it all started for me way back in 1974.
If you dig back in my posts you will find at least part of the story. It's as important as penguins.
This is my first 'five for the planet'.
If you fancy joining in this challenge I would love to hear from you.
Maybe we will even need a hashtag...
[ lead image from pixabay.com // other images by 