How to make eco changes as a family – SaveMoneyCutCarbon

We have been working with SaveMoneyCutCarbon once again this month, testing out their fantastic monthly membership which gets you the best prices across a huge range of eco friendly products for the home and the SavemoneyCutCarbon website also has a huge array of information detailing how you can reduce your household’s carbon footprint. One of the best things about this campaign has been watching the children get so involved. They already have an interest thanks to us talking about it a lot and the school running initiatives to get them interested. We also make sure that we watch child appropriate programs and look at different ways we can help without making it overwhelming and scary. There is a fine balance between making them terrified about the future but also getting them to care. **This is paid post**

These are some of the ways that we as a family work to do our bit, reducing our carbon footprint and taking an interest in where we are buying from. Here are some of the things that we have been doing to lesson our impact on the planet.

Recycling: We are lucky enough in the UK to have a fairly good recycling system, we just need to make sure that we use it! It does requires putting some time sorting the recycling into different categories but I’ve found the children can be very useful here. They are also very keen to be involved now they are aware of the environmental impact we have as humans and that we can make a difference, no matter how small it might seem. Apart from the obvious plastic, cardboard, paper, tin and glass, stretchy plastic can go to some supermarkets in their plastic bag recycling bins and if you have any other plastic that can’t go in, have a look at my post on eco bricks.

Alternate transportation: I try to find alternatives to using the car for the school run but you can also look at ways that you can cut down on emissions in every day life. Can you take the bus, cycle, get the train or walk instead? Maybe car sharing to work, lots of cities are now bringing in special lanes that you can only travel in with more than one person which brings great bonuses from reduced travel time, some companies also participate in Bike2Work schemes. Obviously there are instances when we all need to drive, but cutting down wherever possible can only be a good thing.

Swap out plastic: Have a look around your home and see where you can make small swaps. Wooden toothbrushes, recycled sponges or brushes for washing up, soap and shower gel bars, once you start looking, you will notice more and more disposable items you are sending to landfill and start to find alternatives you can exchange them with. This is where SaveMoneyCutCarbon comes into its own offering plenty of suggestions for swaps you can make and then also offering you great prices on the products as a member.

Use charity shops: It can be so easy to pop to the high street and pick up some fast fashion, I do it myself, but I’m also trying to check my local charity shops first. We are lucky in Cheltenham that we are blessed with some brilliant ones and there are lots of lovely clothes in there, often very well-known labels. I know that I myself have given lots to charity shops in the past, some things maybe only worn once so they are always worth checking for a bargain. Plus the added feel good of helping a charity. I also buy clothes from online selling sites and have had some brilliant bargains.

Reuse bags: We have so many reusable shoppers now and I try and make sure that I remember to take them to the supermarket. (And then remember to take them out of the car!) I also use a rucksack when I’m on my bike so I don’t need bags from shops. 

Turn off the taps: When you’re cleaning your teeth, don’t leave the tap running. Also when washing up, make sure you fill the sink up or use a washing up bowl. You can also use the Flush Saver featured in my last SaveMoneyCutCarbon post. How do you as a family make eco changes.

All the products featured in the photos come from ecozone who are a small British company with some impressive eco credentials. They produce toxin free, biodegradable products with natural formulas and are cruelty free and also approved by the vegan society, cruelty free International and allergy UK.