I’ve come up with the idea of this interview series, because I realised how people feel so overwhelmed about all the bad news we are flooded by media outlets. On one hand, the truth is, if we carry on like this, the future will be grim. On the other hand, we also need to read positive and uplifting stories how lots of lots of good people with green heart trying to save the planet – and they are succeeding. But we all have to be part of the change, as I’ve read it lately and totally agree with this statement form the Zero Waste Chef Anne-Marie Bonneau: “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
So, with that in mind, I’ve created this interview series, to inspire and educate anyone who doesn’t know where to start. It will be about how everyday families are making small and big changes to live more environmentally friendly and sustainably. The idea is that together we can prove that no change is too small, all steps count and that maybe we can all pick up an idea or two from each other! These families are really just doing their best to save the planet for the future generations.
Let’s show, how many of us care about the planet, share ideas and create a little community of change makers!
My first interview is with one of my blogger friends: Emma Reed.
What or who inspired you to make changes towards a greener lifestyle ?
I’ve always wanted to live a greener life and was actually really into eco-topics when I was a child. I somehow lost that along the way but Instagram provided plenty of inspiration and it was on there that I discovered the magical world of reusable nappies. I started using them last year and it’s had a spiral effect causing me to look at what else I can do to become more eco-friendly.
Do you have any favourite site or person you follow for inspiration?
My Instagram ‘friend’ Cecilia Leslie was the one who showed me what reusable nappy life was like and she was there to answer all of my questions and guide me when I needed it. https://www.instagram.com/cecilia.leslie07/?hl=en
What aspects of being an environmentally friendly family did you tackle so far? (Reducing plastic, planet friendly diet, upcycling things etc…)
I have managed to drastically reduce our plastic use, we have started upcycling furniture and buying more secondhand items too.
What are the changes that you implemented so far?
Reusable nappies and wipes, bars of soap, beeswax wraps, reusable water bottles, CSP, recycled toilet roll, making my own cleaning products, getting my milk delivered by a milkman, trying to shop at the local farm shop more often, switching to shampoo bars… we have really tried to achieve so much in this last year.
Did you find it hard to make these changes?
No, not at all. It took me a while to get my head around washing nappies but honestly once you get into it you find your routine and it just becomes so normal.
What was the hardest thing to give up or change?
Trying to find a good shampoo bar has been hard. I am currently on my fourth and am waiting to see if my hair accepts this one. So far I have had one that has dried my hair out, one that made it very knotty and another that made it very greasy so fingers crossed I can crack this!
And what was the easiest thing to give up or change?
Most of them I’d say. Once you make one change the rest comes so easy.
Do you feel the changes you achieved so far will encourage you to do even more?
Oh yes definitely. It has become a bit of a project for me and I am always looking ahead to the next change.
How do you get the children involved?
My eldest son goes to a school that is eco-thinking and has been recognised as an eco-school so not only is he learning at home he is also learning about these topics there too. He is only 5 but he is already noticing our changes and has even taken our reusable nappies into school to tell his classmates about them. The next generation are going to be the change makers.
Did you manage to save some money too? Or is this lifestyle change actually proving to be more costly?
I haven’t worked out how much I have saved on nappies and wipes, I mean there has obviously been the outlay costs to build my stash but if we have another child I am already set up and if I sell them on they should keep their value. I think the cheapest swap has to be making my own cleaning products because the ingredients are minimal.
How did your family respond to the changes?
My husband was very reluctant at first and it took for me to jump in with the nappies to finally convince him. He would never had made the change otherwise. Over this last year I have had to really explain my actions but I can happily say that he is now fully on board and is even looking for solutions himself.
Do you have any trips or trick which really helped you?
Do your research. Read the articles, speak to bloggers, follow the right people on Instagram and get yourself knowledgeable on the subject. Once you are aware of the changes you can make and how these will help the environment, you can make a plan of how you can put them into practice.
Emma’s sites:
Website- https://emmareed.net
Facebook- www.facebook.com/emmareed.net
Twitter- www.twitter.com/emreed01
Pinterest- www.pinterest.com/emmareed_writes
Instagram- www.instagram.com/emmareed_writes
9 comments
We need to do something to make the planet better for our kids, i have stopped using sandwich bags and clingfilm in my daughters lunch box and she doesn’t have plastic straws.
I think reducing plastic use and buying more secondhand items are two quite easy changes that we can all make. I’m definitely trying to reduce my plastic use x
We’ve been trying to reduce our plastic waste and reusing old bottles or buying the metal ones so we don’t have to keep buying plastic bottles. I’ve never thought of trying a shampoo bar I guess that would be trial and error on what works like you’ve said.
It’s great to hear about the changes others are making. So many everyday changes can be easily done by us all
It’s so important for us all to find ways of reducing our plastic intake. I’ve invested in a reusable coffee cup and I’m now hunting for a metal straw.
This is so inspirational and I love reading all the changes other people make, I can nod along to some and others I think, “I should do that too” so thank you!
What a great series, I’m definitely trying to reduce my plastic use in my own household x
What a great idea for a series, I’m going to really enjoy keeping up with these and reading them. My other half is thoroughly unconvinced by reusable nappies but I keep trying to sell him on them!
What a great idea for a series, I really enjoyed reading. I’m really aware of using single use plastics, and never buy anything in them unless I really have to and my partner is a carpenter so he is fabulous at up-cycling old furniture!