tips for looking after the environment
thank you
Thanks to everyone who donated so much food to the local Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank, our donation was much appreciated! Find out more about the work of the Foodbank here. Please remember our food collection point in the Church hall as we enter the winter season.
transport
Use public transport, cycle or walk where you can
Consider car sharing or becoming a one-car household
When you come to replace your car, consider environmentally friendly options
Offset carbon emissions - through charities such as TreeAid
Energy
Choose a Green energy supplier for your domestic use see here for more information
Completely turn off equipment like TVs and stereos when you're not using them
Choose energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs
Save water: for example turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth
Let clothes dry naturally rather than using a tumble dryer
Use rechargeable batteries
Send electronic greetings over email, instead of paper cards
Following our Harvest 2019 service based on the theme of the environment, this page offers tips and links to website which offer loads of information and advice on small and simple changes you can make.
Church members Alison and Natalie share some of the simple things they are doing to reduce their impact on the environment.
reduce, reuse, recycle!
Shop in Charity shops or do clothes swaps
Buy second hand items through online communities:
Find alternative uses for things you own
RECYCLING
Check out the city council website for details on how to recycle household waste however it’s often worth doing some extra research online for things they won’t recycle which other places will take instead. For example:
Used Batteries – Co-Op
Crisp Packets – collection point in the church hall
Clothes and Fabric – H&M or charity shops
Printer Ink Cartridges – collection point in the church hall
Plastic bags and wrapping – Morrisons or other bag recycling points
change your diet
Anything else?
Consider writing to politicians or corporations and lobbying them to make changes. Join campaigns and sign petitions to see change!
say no to plastic
CONSIDER MOVING TO ALTERNATIVES TO SINGLE USE PLASTICS:
Plastic soap dispenser replaced with a soap bar
Moisturiser in plastic squeezable tube replaced with a bar
Shampoo and conditioner in plastic bottles replaced with a bar and vinegar spray
Toothpaste in plastic tube replaced with paste in a glass jar
Plastic toothbrush replaced with bamboo toothbrush
Plastic shaver replaced with a subscription metal shaver with recyclable blades
Shaving gel in a can replaced with a bar
Plastic deodorant roller replaced with a cardboard one
Plastic lypsyl replaced with cardboard
Dishwasher tablets Individually wrapped in plastic replaced with tablets with dissolvable wrapper
Washing up liquid replaced with powder
Washing tablets individually wrapped in plastic replaced with powder
Cling film replaced with bees wax wraps
Shop with re-usable bags
Buy in bulk to save packaging
Buy fruit and veg from the market in your own containers
Washable nappies
Nappy sacs replaced with compostable ones. You can also get compostable wipes
Don’t use “throw away” products like paper plates or plastic cutlery
Check out Facebook groups for ideas and tips such as ‘Plastic-less Living’
Consider ethical sources of household items such as toilet paper and tissues - we use Whogivesacrap for church supplies who build toilets from profits too
Choose to shop local rather than online reducing delivery costs, packaging and carbon footprint and supporting the local economy
other things to consider
Look into where you put your money - does your bank or pension invest ethically?
Change your web browser to one which plants trees! Try Ecosia
We would love to add in any other tips you have tried or links to great websites or organisations you’d recommend.
Please contact us with any ideas we could add to this page.
“DISCLAIMER: All of the links above and recommendations are not considered endorsements for the companies or groups linked to. St Andrew’s Church cannot take responsibility for the content of external sites.”