In the last few years UK research has found that with increased availability of cheaper and more disposable clothing, combined with a lack of awareness of its environmental impact, the skills needed for repairing garments are diminishing [1]. However, … Continue reading
Author Archives: Laura Hobbs
Environmentally friendly dog toys
While there is much debate about the environmental impact of keeping pets (e.g. [1, 2, 3, 4]), one way of reducing the energy consumption and effect on the environment of products associated with owning a dog is to buy … Continue reading
Transition towns
Transition towns (also known as the Transition Network or Transition Movement) are a grassroots community network with the aim of equipping communities to deal with the challenges presented by climate change and peak oil [1]. The Transition … Continue reading
Recycling Books
Books can’t usually be recycled in normal household collections because of the glue that’s used to bind them [1]. Books can be sold, but if this is not a preferable or viable option, there are several other alternatives to … Continue reading
Reducing food waste – understanding food date labels
With 7.2 million tonnes of food and drink, almost half the total food waste in the UK, thrown away from homes each year [1], there is a need to reduce household food waste. About 60% of the food thrown … Continue reading
Making Halloween Green
Halloween has become a major consumer holiday – in the USA and Canada alone, an estimated $6.5 billion is spent on Halloween each year [1]. With decorations, costumes, pumpkin lanterns and treats, its environmental impact can be substantial. However, there … Continue reading
Please Turn Over – Reduce and Reuse
In most offices there is tremendous potential for reducing the amount of paper used and thrown away, and it is something which every member of staff can influence to a degree. Some of the following suggestions can be implemented easily … Continue reading
What Happens to Your Rubbish After Collection?
Every week, millions of people put their rubbish or recycling out for collection. But what happens to it after it’s been taken away? General rubbish Although almost two thirds of UK waste can be recycled, around half is still disposed … Continue reading
Zero Carbon Britain 2030
After signing both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992 and the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, which set voluntary and legally binding targets respectively, for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in 2008 the UK government passed the … Continue reading
Energy Saving in Shared Accommodation
Keeping energy usage low in shared accommodation can be a challenge, particularly if a large number of people are living together. In any group there will be people from various backgrounds, particularly among students who may have come from all … Continue reading
