Tips For Living Sustainably

At Planet Organic, sustainability informs all of our choices. Whilst there is always more we can do, encouraging a sustainable lifestyle is at the heart of our business, to ensure we help to positively impact and maintain the quality of life and that of the Earth’s ecosystems and species. 

We make it our mission to lead the sustainability movement, and some of our actions so far include:

1. Since January 2019, we were the first zero edible food waste business by giving leftover food to the community and any inedible food is composted and used by regenerative agricultural farms across London
2. We are very proud of our innovations in packaging as we developed home compostable packaging solutions, which is also used across all of our takeaway food and drink containers
3.We have installed unpackaged essentials and beauty refills across many of our stores
4.We deliver fresh food nationwide, using Wool Cool sustainable packaging, as we reuse it when customers send it back
5. We use planet positive printers for all in-store signage 

To find out more about our commitment to sustainability head over to About Planet Organic.

 

What Does Sustainable Mean?

 

The fundamentals of sustainable living include reducing our use of natural resources and creating less waste, so that we can improve the environmental health of the Earth. Whilst, eco-friendly means that something is not harmful to the planet, eco-sustainable is focussed on the preservation of the Earth’s natural resources. As we mentioned,  sustainable living is very important to us, so we are constantly on the lookout for sustainable living innovations.

Check out our guide to sustainable packaging as we have pioneered home compostable packaged products that break down completely in the soil or compost facilities leaving no toxic residues behind.

 

It can be difficult to know how to live a greener, more sustainable lifestyle, but simple things could be choosing organic food, only buying what you need, shopping vintage fashion, turning off all lights and electronics when they are not in use or even walking where possible. 

So how can sustainable living costs be compared to the normal way of living? The principles of living a sustainable life focus on reduce, reuse, recycle. Below we have explored ways to make greener choices, which will help you to begin to be more conscious of your spending, lifestyle choices and help you to discover opportunities on how to be sustainable within your day-to-day.

 

Use Reusable Products 

An act for sustainability is purchasing reusable products as they reduce the production of plastic. Many single-use items are made from plastic, which overtime, continuous purchasing can become expensive, making reusable products overall lifetime much more affordable.

One of our favourite reusable brands is Black and Blum, who have a great range of reusable products; all made with a focus on sustainability. The range includes:

-The Black and Blum charcoal water bottle that filters your water with a traditional Japanese Binchotan charcoal method for a refreshing, purified taste

Black+Blum Eau Good Carafe 1.1L

-As the days grow warmer, pack a picnic with a Black and Blum lunch box

Black+Blum Stainless Steel Lunch Box- Orange 1L

 

Recycle Your Waste 

Recycling your household waste assists in sustainability as it not only reduces waste in landfills, but it also helps to preserve the environment’s natural resources and ecosystems.

We have made recycling easy for you by creating a guide of what can be recycled at home.

What items can be recycled?  There are many items around the house that are just waiting to be recycled, including; plastic food containers, cleaner and liquid soap bottles, air freshener aerosol tins, cardboard dishwasher boxes, newspapers, cardboard packaging and tissue boxes to name a few.

What plastics can be recycled? Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). This plastic is common for clear, single use plastic water bottles. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is common in ice cream tubs and shampoo bottles.

What type of plastic can be recycled?  Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE). This sort of plastic can be found in frozen food bags and squeezable bottles.

What plastic bags can be recycled? If the bags are made from the plastics HDPE or LDPE, they can be recycled.

What numbers can be recycled? 1 –PET, 2 – HDPE, 5 – PP are the most common recycled plastics followed by 4 – LDPE.

What paper can be recycled? Cardboard, catalogues, envelopes, photocopier paper and Christmas cards, as long as they don't contain glitter or foil.

What can be recycled in the UK? In the UK, you can recycle paper and cardboard, cartons, glass bottles and jars, food tins and various plastics. Always check your local authority if you are unsure. 

 

Buy Organic Food

 

We are regularly asked, is organic food better? Is organic food good for the environment? What are the benefits of organic food?

Buying organic food reduces pollution and promotes healthy livestock living conditions, whilst giving you produce that contains no artificial or genetically modified ingredients.

By choosing organic produce you are helping the environment to thrive as organic fruits and vegetables are farmed sustainably with no harmful pesticides or fertilizers. Organic food farming methods strengthens biodiversity and protects natural wildlife habitats, as well as prevents the omission of dangerous chemicals into the air, water and soil.

The benefits of organic food include the food being more nutritious and full of antioxidants and as we consume food straight from the farm.

Use Sustainable Cleaning Products

Sustainable cleaning products are worth investing in for your health as well as the health of the planet. Sustainable cleaning products reduce pollution in the air and in the water as well as limiting waste. The cost for sustainable cleaning products was once expensive, however today, there are a variety of sustainable products available at an affordable price to compete with the traditional alternative.

Ecover products are sustainable, eco-friendly, plant-based and phosphate free. They are inspired by nature and are committed to reducing single-use plastics. Ecover cleaning products range from kitchen staples such as:

-The ecover washing up liquid 

 

Ecover Washing Up Liquid Lemon 950ml

 

-The ecover hand soap

 

Ecover Liquid Hand Soap - Lavender & Aloe 250ml

 

-Ecover laundry liquid

 

Ecover Non Bio Laundry Liquid 1.5L

 

-Ecover all purpose cleaner

 

Ecover All Purpose Cleaner - Lemongrass & Ginger 1 litre

 

Head over to our shop to explore more products and clean with confidence, knowing you are making greener choices for our planet. 

 

Drive Less: Use Other Methods of Transport

To reduce your carbon footprint means to limit the amount of carbon dioxide you initiate as a human being. 

So, how to reduce your carbon footprint?  One of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to drive less. Cars release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. By walking where possible, we not only reap the rewards of feeling healthier, but you can save time stuck in traffic and money on petrol and car maintenance. 

How to reduce your carbon footprint at work? Be mindful of your workplace emissions and always turn off lights when you leave the room, switch off your computer and any other appliances at the end of the day. Encourage and support your colleagues to join you and think of other ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the business.

How to reduce your carbon footprint at school. Be mindful of paper consumption, encourage schools to utilize computers that are efficient and use less energy, and encourage the school and the students to recycle and compost.

The future of the planet is in our hands and by making small changes to our lifestyle, we can make greener choices, together.