Shop local

Bristol has a plethora of independent shops, and it is such a treat to the eye. Shopping local is an amazing way to be more environmentally friendly. Not only do you save on shipping costs and non-recyclable packaging, but you also give a chance to support small businesses. And they need our support more than amazon. In the first quarter of 2021, amazon made $837,330.35 PER MINUTE (Huddleson, 2021).

Look at these amazing earrings made from plastic bags! How creative! Get a pair at Future leap, Stokes croft... find them on Instagram below:

https://www.instagram.com/future_leap_hub/

There are so many hidden gems in Bristol and I still need to discover more. But here were some gems I found!

• That thing: Stokes croft https://www.instagram.com/thatthing.co/
• Neon tiger Studios: Stokes croft https://www.instagram.com/neontigerstudio/
• Phat & CO: Picton St, Montpelier https://www.instagram.com/phatandco/
• Zara’s Chocolates: North St, Bedminster https://www.instagram.com/zaraschocolates/
• Wild leaf: Gloucester rd. https://www.instagram.com/wildleafbristol/

Buy second hand

We need to start changing the conversation with the fast fashion industry and how we think about clothes. In 2018, it was reported that the UK spends £27 billion pounds on clothes each year (O'Brien,2018). Around 300, 000 tonnes of used clothes are burned or buried in landfills each year (Lawson, 2020) Shopping second hand not only saves your purse string but saves the planet too. Win-win.

Use Less plastic

The amount of packaging and non-reusable packaging can sometimes feel inescapable. But it is not impossible. There are more and more brands that are adopting a more sustainable approach to packaging. And yes, some places do come at an extra cost, but commercial brands are doing this too, so try and find more products like this.  Also, get into the habit of using recyclable wrapping! It looks cute and it is helping our planet!

Buying experiences

To avoid the accumulation of things, how about a gift an experience? Memories will last much longer than things. Bristol is an amazing place where there is always something going on. I have used 'Fever' a few times, and I would recommend it. Recently I went to watch a string quartet play Disney songs by candlelight, It was LUSH.

Have a search for some cool experiences here: https://www.instagram.com/fever_uk/

We cannot all be perfect, and nobody is expecting that. But what we should start to expect is for everyone to do what they can. Let stop and pause, let’s think about our decisions and how they are impacting the world around us. If we all do that, then maybe together, we can make that impact a positive one.

Season’s greetings from me to you.

References

• Tom Huddleston (May, 2021) "How much revenue tech giants like amazon and apple make per minute" CNBC, ONLINE:/ /https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/01/how-much-revenue-tech-giants-like-amazon-and-apple-make-per-minute.html
• Katy O'Brien (2018) “The true cost of fashion” Fair trade blog, ONLINE://https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/media-centre/blog/the-true-cost-of-fast-fashion/
• Helle Albelvik- Lawson (Novemeber, 2021) “The UKS fast fashion habit is getting worse- and its destroying the planet. Greenpeace. ONLINE:// https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/the-uks-fast-fashion-habit-is-getting-worse-and-its-destroying-the-planet/

By Sian Horton - Student Blogger for The Green Team