OPINION: I am determined to reduce my impact on the environment.
Living in downtown Petone in a house near the waterfront feels like climate change is real and imminent.
Issues such as sea level rise are of considerable importance to coastal dwellers like me.
Perhaps if my family and I were tucked away safely in the hilly suburb of Karori, I would be less motivated.
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Since we are not, and I am not attracted to the fact that we move to the hills just to take shelter for safety, it is important that I play my part in protecting our environment.
I want to continue living in this bustling seaside town with its brilliant attractions after all.
I also want my children to grow up in a world that also has a future.
It’s easy to get alarmed and overwhelmed when watching the news.
Nobody wants to hear that vital areas of ice in Antarctica are melting rapidly, or that extreme weather events in the UK are leading to spontaneous and devastating fires.
If I was traveling on the Titanic and had been warned in advance that this luxury ship was going to hit an iceberg, rest assured, I would visit the captain urgently.
Small steps count.
The steps I have taken are proving easy to perform and beneficial.
It all started with the purchase of a humble Keep Cup three years ago.
I immediately felt virtuous every day for this little effort, and found many cafes that rewarded me with a discount for my efforts.
It is a practice that I have continued.
This first step into the eco-friendly world was actually inspired by the fact that I was affected by an article reporting that millions of take-out plastic cups are generated and discarded every day around the world.
With the cafe scene sorted, I quickly moved on to the house, tackling our kitchen first.
Replacing long-standing cleaning products like Jiff with baking soda and plant-based detergents every week has seen my kitchen evolve.
Equipped with eco-friendly cloths, our need for paper towels has decreased.
Kmart’s Magic White Sponge is another vital find, making chemical-free cleaning a breeze.
Even Glad Wrap has taken a back seat in our family, with my kids’ lunch boxes now purchased specifically for their multi-compartment ability.
Buying recycled clothing is where I’m really gaining traction, and it’s a winning formula.
I already love shopping, so the fact that it’s good for the environment is a bonus.
Petone’s Jackson Street is home to the golden mile of enticing recycled clothing shops.
I’m a regular these days looking for new gems and I’m rarely disappointed.
Our landfills are loaded with clothes that have been thrown away.
After buying clothes from op boutiques that look barely worn, I now ask the question: does the world really need the volume of fast fashion it produces?
The benefits of buying a used item, for that reason alone, have merit, and it’s better value for money.
In a world where the cost of living is rising, that matters.
Walk more, drive less. Another statement I live by.
I rarely use our car these days because I think for small groceries I can travel light.
Reducing car use saves us money, results in less pollution, and most importantly, creates a fitter, healthier self.
Fixing broken items rather than replacing them has also become new territory.
When my beloved red Blunt umbrella broke recently in a gust of wind, I didn’t for a moment think that was the end of our relationship.
Instead of throwing it in a passing trash can, I quickly emailed the company that morning to check out my options.
Blunt, I found, are way ahead in the green space, with their website promoting their current philosophy of repair rather than replace.
Blunt tracks this well, with friendly staff helping restore my umbrella to its best.
A fortnight later, he could be seen joining me on my morning hike to the station on my way to work.
Sometimes we don’t need to splash out on the new, we can extend the life of the existing.
I had always thought that switching to a greener approach would be a hassle. Not so.
Instead, it was informative and fun.
My family and I still have a long way to go to fully live an eco-friendly lifestyle.
We drive a gasoline car, however, yearn to save for an electric car.
If I had to tip other people, I would say start small.
The problem with small steps is that they ultimately have a huge impact, especially if done collectively.
They also leave us open to greater ones when we are ready.
