(Written for Feature Journalism module)
There are heatwaves in February and October. Snowstorms in late March. A 16-year old Swedish girl, named Greta Thunberg, is more influential on Climate Change than most politicians. Everything is not fine. The world is in danger and we are to blame. Through our own disregard of pollution and waste, we have all contributed to the Earth’s destruction.
Climate change is the changing of weather caused by the emission of greenhouse gasses, such as C02. This is produced by the burning of fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil. Who burns these fossil fuels? That’s us.
So how can we stop this pollution? What changes can we make to reduce our own waste to landfills that leads to the emissions of greenhouse gasses?
“It’s all about little steps that add up to bigger change. We don’t have to be perfect 100% of the time. Making gradual switches is a good place to start” says Helen, a 22-year-old student and officer of University College Dublin’s Eco-Society. “Simply buying reusable things like coffee cups, water bottles, grocery bags and metal straws can make a huge difference.”
In a study published in March, it was reported that 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year. Only 12% of that is recycled, while 25% is entering our oceans. This waste consists of items such as throwaway coffee cups and plastic bottles. In the UK, an estimated seven million coffee cups are used daily, resulting in approximately 2.5 billion being used yearly. With only 1 in 400 of these being recycled effectively.
Reusable coffee cups cost between ten and 20 pounds and are easily purchased online or on the high-street. The same goes for reusable water bottles.
In the UK, up to 480 water bottles are used per household in a year. Switching could limit that number, and their waste, significantly. If this can’t convince you, consider the expiration date on plastic water bottles. As this is for the plastic rather than the actual liquid….
Coffee shops are now offering incentives for their customers to use reusable cups. Places such as Costa and Starbucks offer 25p off coffee while Pret offers 50p off.
It doesn’t end with swapping out coffee cups and plastic bottles. “For anyone who menstruates, replacing tampons and sanitary pads with moon cups and washable period underwear can divert countless non biodegradable products from landfills. These can last up to 500 years,” says Helen.
On average, people who menstruate spend up to £18,450 on sanitary products in their lifetime. Menstrual cups cost a between 25 and 30 pounds and have an estimated lifespan of 12 years. Changing would not only limit waste but be considerably more affordable.
Fast Fashion is one of the biggest contributors to landfill waste and pollution. In the UK, two million tonnes of clothing are consumed annually, with 50% destined for landfills. The fashion industry also uses between 1.5 and 2.5 trillion gallons of fresh water each year.
“Fast fashion to me is the process fashion production has become. We used to have two showing seasons at fashion week, now designers are expected to create multiple collections per month,” says Robyn, a 20-year-old fashion communications student at Conde Nast University. The main contributors are Arcadia, who own Topshop and River Island, and Indatex, who own Zara and H&M.
Realistically, it can be difficult to avoid these shops with their attractive low costs and frequent discounts. But when you begin to factor in the ethical implications of low wages and poor working conditions, the clothing appears less fashionable.
“Clothes can be used as a form of expression. It shows more character and capability to style an outfit in 20 different ways then to buy 20 cheap outfits,” says Robyn.
It’s about making smart choices and wondering whether you really need to buy a £10 dress from Missguided.
Vintage markets and second-hand stores are great places to find pre-loved clothing items. When disposing of any old clothing, you should donate them to local charity shops, such as Oxfam or Cancer Research, instead of dumping them and adding more to landfills.
Cheap materials like polyester take 200 years to break down. When washed the material releases these tiny microplastic fibres that then end up in the ocean which are then consumed by fish. And who eats the fish? Probably one good reason to change to a vegetarian diet.
Adopting a vegan or vegetarian diet is another way to be sustainable. But transitioning from meat to tofu and dairy to soya cheeses is no easy task.
Maybe take into consideration the implications of the industry. Agriculture uses 70% of all available water. A staggering 9000 litres is used to produce only one pound of meat. The production of meat, milk and eggs also contributes to the emissions of C02.
Going 100% vegan or vegetarian is a huge change. But if everyone were to limit their meat and dairy consumption, even by going meat-free once a week, would benefit the environment.
When considering these changes, it’s important to remember why we need to make them. Without motivation is when we start to fail. Education of such companies and industries is one way to start. Documentaries, like Cowspiracy or The True Cost, are ground-breaking and slightly frightening, but so is the state of the earth. If we do not act fast and efficiently then there will be no turning back.