The Hygiene Bank

Water Aid 

What is climate change?

We hear it on the news all the time - climate change is happening and its our responsibility to make a difference for our children, grandchildren and generations to come. You just have to switch on the latest episode of David Attenborough's Blue Planet to see the sheer impact humans have had on the eco system. 

However, it's important to remember that it's not that complicated. If it were not for carbon dioxide, the temperature of the Earth would average minus 18 Celsius. Four million years ago, when trees grew near the South Pole (yes, they really did grow there!) the global temperatures were 3C warmer, CO2 levels were the highest they had been until modern times. 

Fast forward to the 21st century and the average global temperature is about +15C. Although this may come as alarmingly high, it is important to note that the Earth's average land temperature has been higher before. Over recent years, thanks to the efforts of the green innovative push, to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere - the Earth's current temperature is cooling. 

However, that doesn't mean its time to take the breaks off a conscious lifestyle. 

What are greenhouse gasses?

Everyone always talks about the effects of greenhouse gasses on the environment. But in real simple terms, what actually are they? There are many different forms of greenhouses gasses - however, the greenhouse gas with the greatest impact on warming is water vapour. But it remains in the atmosphere for only a few days.

In conjunction with this carbon dioxide (CO2) persists for much longer. Its been reported that it would take hundreds of years for a return to pre-industrial levels and only so much can be soaked up by natural reservoirs such as oceans.

Easy Sustainable Tips at Home

Wanting to not just be more sustainable in the bathroom? There are lots of different ways to make sustainable swaps at home. Here are just a few of our favourites...

• Use a reusable coffee cup - you can purchase lots of different versions with thermal isolators, keeping your drinks hot for longer. Plus you are saving using disposable cups that may end up in landfill. 
• Using cloths instead of paper towels - easy to use on surfaces and can be thrown in the wash when they need a clean.
• Turn your vegetable peelings into crisps - crazy we know! Super easy to make, simply take your peels, add some olive oil and seasoning of your choice and then roast until crisp! 
• Converting old jars to new - we love an 'up-cycled' product just as much as you, so taking old jam jars and using them around the house for storage is a great idea. We love to keep rice or pasta in bigger jars for an aesthetic feel in the kitchen.
• Try out loose leaf tea's instead of regular tea bags. Teabags (including bioplastic versions) take resources to manufacture, package, recycle and industrially compost. Whereas loose leaf uses less packaging, less waste and more bang for your buck as you can re-brew many times over. 
• Grow your own herbs - everyone always talks about growing your own fruit and vegetables. However, we know that depending on where you live and the weather it may not be as easy as that. Growing your own herbs is super easy and takes little to no looking after. Plus you are reducing all of the plastic wrap that fresh herbs come in, in supermarkets. 
• Using eco-friendly toilet paper - sounds like a weird one, we know! According to Green Match, it requires at least 17 trees and 90,921 litres of water for a tonne of paper rolls. As the average person uses 100 rolls in a year, using regular toilet paper is not a sustainable habit. You could try to use eco friendly toilet paper made out of bamboo. As bamboo grows 39 inches within a 24 hour period, toilet paper made out of bamboo are a much more sustainable option compared to regular toilet paper.
• Buying less and making it last - over the past year the world's buying habits have shifted, it is no longer about buying clothing on a whim. In fact, this is probably the most eco thing you could do. Purchasing less clothes and making them last - not to mention making sure that of those clothes, they are eco-friendly and sustainably conscious. 
• Eating less meat - this is in no way saying you should cut it out completely. Meat and dairy are responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the agriculture industry. Emissions occur from the stage of production, to processing, packaging, and to finally being served. Farming releases two powerful greenhouse gases: Methane from livestock during digestion due to enteric fermentation, and Nitrous Oxide as an indirect product of organic and mineral nitrogen fertilisers. Therefore, if you can skip that bacon sandwich and have a healthier alternative, you are being more eco conscious and better to your own body at the same time.
• Reduce, reuse and recycle - this can be used in a number of ways from working, to home life and even cooking. Understanding the sustainable alternatives is imperative, it is also good to note that not every county (UK speaking) will recycle the same things as one another. So, its always good to check with your local council what you can recycle and what could be reused.