The bottles and jars I use to mix up my “TLC in a Bottle” are glass, and although these may be heavier to transport, I feel that they can be reused and recycled more effectively, more often than plastic. I also use aluminium rather than plastic caps where I can. The labels are recycled paper.

I separate my rubbish and recycling in clinic.

All couch linen is changed between clients and dried outside as much as weather permits.

Old towels are reused e.g. donated to animal charities or cut up and used as cloths.

I reuse stationary and packaging wherever possible and paper is either recycled or sustainably sourced.

Good time management minimises travel and fuel consumption. I have a turn off policy and use water mindfully.

I only purchase natural toiletries and cleaners, using refill services where possible.

I bank with the Cooperative Bank as I believe they are one of the most ethical banks around who try to be careful to invest money in sustainability. Changing to an ethical bank can be one of the most influential ways we can put pressure on to make changes to sustain a healthy environment.

Personally, I try to be ethical but still need to make improvements and that is usually money dependent. We buy organic and local when we can, but I confess to the convenience of supermarket shopping all too regularly. Our family tries to avoid frivolous consumption of “stuff” choosing to spend our money on good food and preloved. I have used 100% natural toiletries for decades, often making my own low impact deodorants and buying locally made goodness like soap, shampoo and conditioner bars etc.

I have a steel re-useable water bottle (not aluminium due to traces that can be ingested). I feel “bare” if I leave home without it. I use recycled loo roll and buy natural products where possible. I try to eat ethically but know there is room for me to improve this.

This is the main reason we sold our house, where we had a very productive garden, choosing to buy a 1.9acre field for our project. After many years we finally achieved this in 2017. We've now planted hundreds of young trees with underplanting of fruit, perennial vegetables and herbs as part of our mission to plant a permaculture food forest. We try different composting ideas & make our own liquid feeds. We feel we are just playing as our knowledge has many gaps, but we felt we needed to consume less and plant more, feeling actions speak louder than words. We are gradually improving our food production, the soil health and watching the positive growth of biodiversity. This brings us great joy especially as we share what we grow and learn as we go.

As I learn and join up more dots, I will try and improve to reduce my impact on the planet in my home, field and workplace. Always learning … looking after me, looking after you, your family, our community, “our planet”.

“Nobody really owns anything. We give back our bodies at the end of our lives. We own our thoughts, but everything else is just borrowed. We use it for a while, then pass it on.
Everything.
We borrow the sun that shines on us today from the people on the other side of the world while they borrow the moon from us. Then we give it back. We can't keep the sun, no matter how afraid we are of the dark.” Deborah Ellis, award-winning author, feminist and peace activist