Innholdsfortegnelse for Woman & Home Green Living Made Easy i Woman & Home

What can we as individuals do to solve the climate crisis, the greatest problem the world has ever faced? The answer, quite simply, is plenty. We can make small and easy changes to our lives – to our homes, our buying habits, the way we eat and the modes of transport we use. We can think twice about the levels of energy we burn and the amount of waste we send to landfill. Four years ago the world committed to the Paris Agreement to hold global temperatures to no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels – seen by scientists as the outer limit of safety. In 2020, it is the UK’s turn to host the landmark UN convention and hold the world to account. Is enough being done to meet…

The kitchen More than any other room, the kitchen generates a huge amount of packaging waste. A 2018 survey by RECOUP showed that 525,000 tonnes of plastic trays, pots and tubs alone were used in homes, with only 169,145 tonnes sent for recycling. You can slash this volume by buying from farmers’ markets, farm shops or the local greengrocer and using reusable containers or bags; buying produce via a box scheme; growing your own; using foil or – even better – the new beeswax wraps instead of cling film, and refilling product containers. 1 Use natural cleaning products or make your own Ecover’s former chief executive Mick Bremans once said there’s no such thing as an environmentally-friendly household product, as everything has an impact on the planet – but some…

Water is a vital resource – not only for us to drink, but to enable us to grow crops and raise livestock. Access to clean, fresh water will become more and more of an issue as the global population continues to rise and our waterways become ever more polluted. SIMPLE WAYS TO SAVE WATER • Bath the kids together. If your kids are still little enough not to worry about it, chuck them in the bath at the same time. If they aren’t keen, see if they can be persuaded to go in one after the other using the same water. • Take shorter showers. The average shower duration is apparently around seven and a-half minutes. Taking a four-minute (or less) shower will nearly halve your water use. • Stand…

‘By throwing food away we are massively impacting climate change to the detriment to future generations’THOMASINA MIERS, CHEF…

Feta and radish salad Vibrant, crisp and beautiful SERVES 6 READY IN 20 mins 2 large flatbreads2 red onions, finely sliced6tbsp rapeseed oil juice of 1 large lemon20 radishes, finely sliced150g Yorkshire fettle cheese (an English feta)100g walnuts, toasted and chopped75g pomegranate seeds 1 Heat the oven to 220C/Gas 7. Bake the flatbreads directly on the oven rack until crispy. Break them into smallish pieces into a large bowl. Add the onions, oil, lemon juice and radishes with plenty of freshly ground black pepper (you may not want to add salt as the fettle is quite salty). Mix together until combined. 2 Put the radish mixture into your serving dish. Crumble over the fettle, scatter over the walnuts and then the pomegranate seeds. Add an extra glug of rapeseed oil…

There are plenty of plastics lurking in every corner of our bathrooms. Add to that the harmful lotions we wash down the sink and the wipes that will live in landfill sites for generations, and it’s not a very pretty picture. We’re also not good at recycling our bathroom rubbish. While 90% of kitchen waste in the UK goes into the green bin, only half of us recycle the items we use in our beauty routine. Luckily, there are new ways to reuse, smarter choices to be made and kinder products we can buy. Here’s what you can do… 1 Disposable razors are piling up in landfill. Instead, invest in a metal-handled razor like Venus Extra Smooth Platinum (£11.99, supermarkets). It’ll last years, saving money and protecting the planet. 2…

CLIMATE CHANGE WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? MELTING GLACIERS Millions rely on glaciers for water in the dry seasons, yet they are melting rapidly. RISING SEA LEVELS Melting glaciers cause sea levels to rise increasing the risk of floods and endangering the lives of millions of people living in coastal areas. EXTREME WEATHER Droughts, floods, wildfires, cyclones and heatwaves are predicted to occur ever more frequently. SHIFTING WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND HABITATS Climate change is already causing widespread damage to polar life, coral reefs and other ecosystems. AIR POLLUTION Outdoor air pollution already causes 2.6-4.4 million people globally to die prematurely. INCREASED TEMPERATURE AND ACIDITY OF SEAWATER Our oceans absorb around 30% of the extra carbon dioxide building in the atmosphere. In these acidic waters, sea creatures that filter pollutants from the sea…

Kitchen • Choose naturally derived, biodegradable washing-up liquid (from £3, method products.co.uk). • OXO Good Grips SNAP Glass Storage Containers, (from £9, johnlewis.com)prevent potentially harmful chemicals from leaching into your food. • Collect and trap microplastics and synthetic fibres inside your washing machine with the clever Cora Ball (£29.94 from babipur.co.uk). • Buy a Global WAKEcup Bamboo Water Bottle (£20, notonthehighstreet.com) – 10% of profits go to The Marine Conservation Society and Plastic Oceans. Dining room • Ensure the seasonality, quality and provenance of your food with an organic food box (various prices, riverford.co.uk). • Cut down on heavy bottles and transport miles with a When in Rome Bag in Box, Merlot, £24.99 for 2.25L (waitrose.com). Living room • Choose a machine-washable rug made from recycled plastic bottles (from £40,…

With their sublime images of feature walls and dreamy kitchens, Pinterest and Instagram have transformed us into a nation of interiors fanatics. But revamping our homes can come at a cost to the environment. Fortunately, a huge number of companies are now putting sustainability at the top of the agenda, so we can transform our homes without leaving a heavy footprint on the planet. ‘The move towards sustainable materials in the home is similar to the shift away from fast fashion,’ says sustainable retrofit coordinator, Natasha Ginks (renovategreen.co.uk). ‘People are increasingly thinking in terms of what will last and the impact of how it was made. It also makes for a more characterful interior.’ Sustainable home improvement comes in many forms, from using reclaimed wood for your floors (check out…

1 Clean green with Wilko’s eco bundle – a bargain package of washing-up liquid, toilet cleaner, multi-surface cleaning spray, dishwasher tablets, laundry liquid and fabric conditioner, all made from plant ingredients and packaged in recycled and recyclable bottles. £12.50 for six items (wilko.com). 2 The eco laundry egg (£9.99, lakeland.co.uk) completely replaces powder and liquid and is good for 70 washes. Cleaning pellets inside the egg loosen and lift the dirt without the need for chemicals. Magic! 3 Banish cleaning solutions altogether with an e-cloth Deep Clean Mop (£17.99, johnlewis.com) made from millions of tiny fibres that have such a good natural cleaning effect that you only need to spray water on the floor. 4 Have your loo smelling lovely with this fresh-scented liquid from ethical cleaning brand Greenscents. Their…

WIDELY RECYCLED Collected by over 75% of local authorities. May have additional instructions, such as rinse, leave lid on or separate outer sleeve. CHECK LOCALLY Collected by 20-75% of authorities – for example, some types of plastic bags. NOT YET RECYCLED Collected by fewer than 20% of authorities – for example, some crisp packets. GREEN DOT Has no bearing on the product’s recycling credentials – it means the producer has made a financial contribution towards recovery and recycling of packaging in Europe. MOBIUS LOOP Is capable of being recycled, although not accepted by all collection systems. A percentage figure sometimes found in the middle shows the amount of recycled material it contains. PLASTIC RESIN CODES Most widely-accepted are numbers 1 and 2. Number 3 (PVC) is tricky to recycle, 4…

Which would you choose – limp, lifeless lettuce harvested mechanically four days ago and wrapped in cellophane or crisp leaves cut 30 seconds ago from your own garden? The benefits of growing your own food are numerous – higher vitamin levels, fresher taste, and minimal air miles, not to mention cheaper shopping bills and fewer trips to the supermarket – plus you’ll know exactly what has gone into the soil. You don’t need vast beds to grow veg. By choosing quick-growing, high-yielding crops, even a few pots can deliver respectable harvests. Most veg are happiest in sun, though some can thrive in shade, so work out where the sun falls before choosing your crops. Check your soil, too. If it’s stony, install raised beds to help avoid forked and distorted…

What we eat and what we waste has a massive impact on the environment. A third of the food that is produced is never eaten, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. But it also means that globally we are producing enough food to feed everyone, and yet people are still going hungry. By eating with the seasons, living a zero-waste lifestyle, shopping mindfully and following a diet that’s less reliant on meat, we can make a huge difference. Eat with the seasons Seasonal fruit and veg is cheaper, tastes better and contains more nutrients. As well as these benefits, it’s also much better for the environment as less energy is used in its production and transportation. The average meal has travelled a staggering 745 miles to our plates, so reduce…

Aubergine and squash caponata An Italian style vegetarian feast SERVES 6 READY IN 1 hour GLUTEN FREE | VEGETARIAN 3 aubergines, halved350g summer squash sliced2tbsp rapeseed oil For the tomato sauce: 1tbsp olive oil1 onion, chopped1 celery stick, diced2 garlic cloves, crushed½ a bunch of basil, plus stalks, chopped2tbsp tomato puree½ a red chilli, de seeded and chopped200ml tomato passata2tbsp capers, drained2tbsp pine nuts, toasted30g olives, chopped60g breadcrumbs 1 Heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Line 2 baking trays with parchment and spread the aubergine halves on one and the squash on the other. Drizzle 1tbsp oil over each tray and toss with some salt and black pepper. Roast for 25-30 mins, until just charred and tender. 2 Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a pan and gently sweat the…

Korean rice bowl This healthy dinner is a great way to use up excess veg from the bottom of your fridge SERVES 2 READY IN 15 mins DAIRY FREE | GLUTEN FREE | VEGETARIAN 100g basmati rice3tbsp vegetable oil2 garlic cloves, crushed150g mixed mushrooms, roughly chopped1 carrot, cut into very thin matchsticks100g baby spinach leaves½tbsp dark soy sauce2 large eggs60g bean sprouts2 spring onions, finely sliced Small handful of coriander leaves, choppedHot chilli sauce, to serve 1 Cook the rice, according to the pack instructions. 2 Meanwhile heat 1tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat, add the garlic and cook for 30 secs, then add the mushrooms. Cook for 1 min, then push them to one side of the frying pan, add the carrot…

John Lewis & Partners Three cheers for John Lewis & Partners’ use of Jeanologia software, which measures the amount of water, chemicals and energy used to produce denim. The retailer promises to feature only low or medium impact denim in its AND/OR denim range, which is made from organic cotton and recycled polyester and is some of the best we’ve tried. Little By Little Jewellery magpies rejoice, Little By Little is the label that fuses luxurious style with eco-friendly materials. Launched by friends Annabel Cox and Georgina Fuggle, Little By Little designs are made from recycled metals while it even carries out repairs in its bid to become a 100% zero-waste company. littlebylittlejewellery.com Thought This independent fashion brand has gained a cult following thanks to its honest approach to eco…

Whizz from Oz Inspired by the Aussie lifestyle, products are all-natural, made using Australian super-fruits. Ingredients are organic and naturally-derived, packaged in 100% recycled plastic bottles. Products are designed to fit through the letter box with minimal packaging. Try Rays for Days (£22.95, beach.com),a liquid bronzer that can be used on its own, with a base or as a highlighter for a sun-kissed glow. Ugly no more The Body Shop Carrot Wash Energising Face Cleanser (£8.50, thebodyshop.com)is made from carrots rejected by supermarkets for being too misshapen to sell. Take the clean, empty packaging back to the store, and it will be collected by TerraCycle – an organisation that recycles or repurposes plastic packaging into new items, including park benches and playgrounds. Soap story Help save on the 120 billion…

‘Visit destinations where your money will go furthest and support travel companies that are making a genuine positive impact. Avoid contributing towards destinations already suffering from the burden of over-tourism and choose instead to visit places that are in need of more tourists. Not only do you skip the crowds but you can directly contribute towards supporting places that are perhaps suffering from natural or man-made disasters.’ SAM BRUCE, CO-FOUNDER OF MUCH BETTER ADVENTURES ‘Reduce your footprint by supporting travel companies that make significant efforts to reduce their own footprint – for the well-being of people, the planet and local communities. This includes transportation, lodging, activities, meals and travel gear.’ LOUREE MAYA, FOUNDER OF ECO-CONSCIOUS TRAVEL PLATFORM KYNDER ‘Think of your travel budget as a vote; the destinations that receive your…

Greta Thunberg You’d have had to have been living underground not to have heard of the spunky, straight-talking Swedish teenage activist who spearheaded the school strike movement. Since she first walked out of lessons to sit outside the Swedish Parliament in August 2018, 16-year-old Greta has spoken at climate rallies around Europe, at the World Economic Forum and in front of the European Parliament, inspiring millions worldwide to join her Friday school strikes. In August 2019, Greta sailed across the Atlantic in a zero-carbon boat to attend a United Nations climate summit in New York. Speaking before UN secretary general Antonio Guterres, she accused world leaders of ‘stealing my dreams and childhood with your empty words’. Recently diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, she’s referred to being different as her superpower. ‘I…

No, I don’t have all the answers,’ says Jen Gale, who once persuaded her young family to spend an entire year without buying a single new thing. ‘But I do have lots of ideas for changes you can make in your life, in your home, that will make a difference. It’s about creating a “new normal” – one that’s better for us, better for our cluttered homes, our bank balances and the planet. And we can do it one simple step, one change at a time.’ Jen’s year of make-do-and-mend resulted in a successful blog, and she’s followed it up with a new book, The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide. Here she shares her tips on how to save our most precious commodities – energy and water. SWITCH TO A RENEWABLE ENERGY…

‘If we were all to cherish and nurture that piece of ground around our houses – however small – it would make a significant impact on the bigger picture’ALAN TITCHMARSH, GARDENER…

‘We have the power to make changes quickly’ Ollie Hunter, author of 30 Easy Ways to Join the Food Revolution and a MasterChef semi-finalist now running The Wheatsheaf pub in Chilton Foliat, Wiltshire. ‘Last January I just turned 30 and I thought what’s next? I really fancied writing a book. It turned into a mission statement and 30 Easy Ways to Join the Food Revolution. Everyone is conscious about change at the moment. There is a blame on supermarkets because they have known about this a lot longer than consumers. We have the power to make changes quickly; if we want sustainable convenience the supermarkets will give it to us. If every person did something good every day we could diminish the threat and turn the world into something beautiful.…

Brined chicken with cider, pears and pumpkin Brining the chicken seasons it throughout and keeps it juicy after roasting SERVES 4-6 READY IN 1 hour 50 minutes, plus brining GLUTEN FREE 1 large chicken (about 2kg), untied, giblets removed10 shallots, halved4 fresh, small bay leaves5 sprigs of thyme, plus extra leaves to serve50g butter, softened1 small pumpkin or round squash, de seeded and cut into wedges3 small pears, halved and cored2tbsp olive oil150ml dry cider for the brine200ml dry cider100g demerara sugar1tbsp rock salt1tbsp whole black peppercorns2 sprigs thyme3 fresh bay leaves, crushed 1 Mix the brine ingredients with 200ml water. Put the chicken in a large bowl, pour in the brine, cover it and refrigerate for 6-24 hours, turning occasionally. 2 Heat the oven to 190C/Gas 5. Remove the…

Squidgy banana cake with caramel cream cheese frosting The perfect way to make good use of your over-ripe bananas SERVES 12 READY IN 1 hour 5 mins VEGETARIAN 175g unsalted butter, room temperature175g dark muscovado sugar3 large free-range eggs1tsp vanilla extract250g self-raising flour275g peeled, over-ripe bananas, mashed100g pecans, chopped For the frosting: 250g full-fat cream cheese40g light brown soft sugar TO DECORATE: 16 pecan halves5tbsp caramel spread 1 Heat oven to 180°C/Gas 4. Grease and line a 20cm cake tin. Put the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour and bananas into a large bowl of a free standing mixer. Mix until well combined. Alternatively you could use an electric whisk. 2 Stir in the pecans and carefully spoon the cake mixture into the lined tin. Smooth over the top. Bake for…

‘We only have one home, one place in the universe that can sustain human life, and it’s the Earth. We wrote this story, and we are in charge of how it turns out’EMMA THOMPSON, ACTRESS…

‘The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?’SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, WILDLIFE PRESENTER AND NATURALIST…

WHAT TO CHOOSE Hybrid These are cars that run on two fuel types, combining a petrol or diesel engine with electrical energy. The goal is to avoid running cars on fossil fuels alone, reducing emissions. They’re not as green as electric cars, but can be seen as a useful stepping stone. Some don’t need to be plugged in at all; plug-ins, however, such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, are the best for the environment. Electric These run solely on an electric charge, meaning they give off zero emissions. This is the best option for combating pollution and climate change. PAYING THE PRICE Both electric and hybrid cars tend to be more expensive than their petrol and diesel equivalents. However, they are more fuel-efficient and have lower rates of road tax.…

The podcast MOTHERS OF INVENTION (mothersofinvention.online) Climate-change solutions from (mostly) women around the world. Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson (left) and Irish comic Maeve Higgins (right) discuss the biggest environmental issues of our time. Listen at the website or via iTunes, Spotify or Google podcasts. Look out for… The biggest ever climate-change event takes place in Glasgow in November at the 26th Conference of the Parties, known as COP26. The TV series OUR PLANET Filmed over four years in 50 different countries, this is the programme that saw Sir David Attenborough at his most vocal about climate change. ‘Today we have become the greatest threat to the health of our home, but there’s still time for us to address the challenges we’ve created if we act now. We need…