Eco Chic is pleased to announce we've recycled and repurposed over two million plastic water bottles! Our eco-friendly fashion accessories give plastic a second life, stopping it going to landfills and polluting our oceans.

We're immensely proud of the planet-pleasing accessories we create for our eco-conscious customers, and can’t wait to continue serving people and the planet in 2022. This momentous milestone proves our eco-friendly ambitions are successful, and that we can make a big impact by implementing small changes. By replacing traditional materials with recycled plastic, we've been able to help our oceans, reduce the carbon emissions of your daily accessories, and raise awareness around environmental issues.

We want to continue encouraging our readers and customers to create small, meaningful and impactful changes. In this blog post, we're exploring how you can develop environmentally friendly habits in all areas of your life.

Make changes to your diet

Does your diet have a large carbon footprint?

It's unlikely you consider the effects your breakfast has on the rest of the world.  But, our everyday eating habits have a significant impact on the world around us. Here are two changes you can make to your diet to benefit the planet:

Source food locally

One of the biggest influences on our food's carbon footprint is how far it travels. For example, if you're purchasing exotic fruits from your local supermarket in November, we know this product has had to travel via plane or boat, releasing emissions on the way.

In addition to this, eating foods out of season means pesticides and fertilisers have to assist in the growing process. These toxic chemicals release harmful particles, contaminating local air and water and contributing to rising temperatures.

Instead of purchasing and consuming these foods, eat in-season fruit and vegetables that are grown locally. Not only will this produce have a smaller carbon footprint, but it will be more nutritious and taste fresher during its growing season.

The biggest eating occasion of the year is coming up. And if you want your Christmas dinner to be one that goes down in history, make sure beetroot, Brussel sprouts, carrots, and turnips are brightening up your plates. If you can purchase these seasonal December vegetables from a local farm or grocers, that’s even better! By buying locally we can protect the planet and support small independent businesses at the same time.

Consume less meat and dairy

Meat and dairy have the highest carbon footprint of all the food groups. Farming for meat and dairy releases methane, CO2 and nitrous oxide. The scale of industrial farming means these industries pump out immeasurable levels of harmful gases.

Alongside increasing carbon emissions, livestock farming also contributes to deforestation, uses dangerous fertilisers, and demands high quantities of food for feeding. Consuming less meat and dairy in our diets reduces these damaging consequences. We recommend a nut roast on Christmas day; hearty and delicious!

Transport

We all need transport to help us get from A to B. Whether it's to get to work, socialise with friends, or run errands, we need quick and efficient ways to reach our destination. Unfortunately, the majority of modern transport methods require petroleum, contributing to CO2 levels. The Eco Chic team has thought of three ways to travel that have less of an environmental impact.

Use public transport as often as possible

Limit your carbon footprint by travelling with others. You can carpool with friends or co-workers, or use public transport systems. Although these vehicles still release carbon emissions, it's significantly less than if everyone travelled individually.

Switch to an electric or hybrid car

If it's in your budget to do so, we recommend switching to an electric or hybrid car. By phasing out your petrol or diesel vehicle, you can reduce the carbon footprint of your daily commute.

Walk or cycle

When possible, cut out transport vehicles and opt for walking or cycling.  Start by reducing your car or vehicle usage to a few times a week and see if it's viable for you to walk or cycle long-term.

An electric bike is a great solution for those who want to reach their destinations quickly but are passionate about minimising their carbon footprint.

In the home

Our homes are our safe spaces. They're the place we go to relax, unwind and avoid the stress of everyday life. But, this doesn't mean the problems of the world go away. What we do inside our houses still has an impact on the Earth. However, there are small and simple lifestyle changes we can make that will benefit the outside world.

Use eco-friendly cleaning products

Most commercial cleaning products contain harmful chemicals. These harmful particles enter our waterways, expose our bodies to illness and release toxic fumes. Instead of using these dangerous products, try to purchase eco-friendly alternatives. Search in your local supermarket or hardware shop for all-natural and eco-friendly cleaning products that will benefit the planet and your home.

Switch from bottles to bars in the bathroom

Bars for shampoo, conditioner, washing and shaving are all available from independent beauty brands and even many mainstream shops. Next time you're stocking up on your bathroom essentials, make it your mission to eliminate plastic packaging.

Wash clothes in cold water and air dry

Keep things cool in the laundry room.

By washing your clothes in cold water, we can protect them and reduce energy usage. Water requires high energy levels to reach warm temperatures. And washing in hot or warm water poses more damage to your garments; they can rip, tear or fade due to the heat. Instead, wash your clothes in cold water and reduce further energy consumption by allowing them to dry naturally.

Start composting

Start a compost to dispose of old or unwanted foods. Rather than letting food go to waste, we can compost it and use it to fertilise crops and plants in our garden. Compositing is one of the most effective and easiest ways to give back to the earth.

Unplug electronics when you’re not using them

After a month of shining Christmas tree lights, your electricity bill is likely through the roof, and your carbon footprint is probably even higher. Why not make your new year's resolution to double-check that all light switches and plug sockets are switched off when they're not in use? This small, conscious action can save you money and avoid unnecessary power usage.

Clothes

Eco Chic is an environmentally conscious fashion accessories brand. We understand the detrimental impact fast fashion has on our planet, which is why we work hard to counteract this. But we can't change the fashion industry alone. We need consumers to alter their fast fashion habits to encourage a fairer, safer, and more environmentally friendly industry.

Repair and alter old clothes

In our ultra instantaneous society, many of our first instincts when an item breaks is to replace it with something new. However, investing in a new item means we need to throw the old one away. Instead of putting damaged clothes in the bin and sending them to landfills, we can repair and extend their lifespan. Next time you find a hole in your jumper or a rip in your jeans, get the sewing kit out or head to your local seamstress and try to fix what's broken.

Purchase from second hand stores and marketplaces

Second-hand shops and marketplaces aren't just eco-friendly, but they're the best place to find unique clothes and accessories too. If you're searching for a dress for a special occasion, buying from a vintage or charity shop guarantees you won't turn up wearing the same outfit as someone else. In addition to the stylish benefits of buying pre-loved clothes, you're expanding the lifespan of a garment, reducing clothing waste, and eliminating the need for new materials. So why not head to your local second-hand shop to find that one-of-a-kind New Year dress?

Shop with sustainable brands

The majority of high street and mainstream clothing brands don't prioritise sustainability. These big businesses value money above all else. And by using cheap materials and enforcing poor working conditions, they can increase their profit margins. Not only is this unethical, but the materials used for these garments contain high levels of plastic too. When we shop with a dedicated sustainable brand, we know they structure their manufacturing to benefit people and the environment. These companies have comfortable working conditions, use natural or recycled materials and care about the longevity of their products. As a result, we receive durable garments that won't pollute the planet and provide a fair wage for workers.

Develop eco-friendly shopping habits

Being eco-friendly isn't just about what we buy. We need to consider how we shop too. We might shop with sustainable brands for everything we need, but if we're purchasing more items than we can use, this has a negative impact. For example, we could buy all our jeans from a brand using recycled denim. However, if we're purchasing a new pair of jeans every month, we're hoarding materials without a purpose. To reduce wastage, only purchase clothes you need and will wear regularly. There's no point in having an overflowing wardrobe of clothes waiting to pollute the planet when we inevitably dispose of them.

Work And School

Work and school are prominent aspects of many of our lives. We spend hours every week in these locations, and many of us might be hoping to improve our work ethic during the new year. Whether you're at school forty hours a week or work part-time over a few days, the way we act in these environments impacts our carbon footprint.

Take a packed lunch

Instead of purchasing shop-bought sandwiches in plastic wrappers and takeaway coffees, bring your lunch from home. Using an insulated lunch bag and thermal cup, you can create your favourite lunch at home and keep it fresh throughout the day. When lunchtime comes, you'll be waste-free and ready to enjoy a healthy lunch and hot coffee without spending a penny.

Use a reusable water bottle

Along with your lunch bag and coffee cup, you can cut plastic out of your on-the-go eating and drinking habits with a reusable water bottle. We all know how important staying hydrated is, and with a reusable water bottle, you have no reason not to keep sipping whilst you study.

Switch to recycled paper

There's something about a physical pen and paper that gets the creative cogs turning, don’t you agree? Switching to recycled paper is an easy yet effective environmental change. Next time you pick up a pad of paper, opt for the recycled alternative. And don't forget to recycle again after use. You can also find recycled pens and pencils to add to your eco-friendly stationery selection, although these might be a little more difficult to track down.

Go digital

Alternatively, if you're not bothered about using physical paper, you can go paperless. Begin making your notes and keeping important documents stored on a laptop or tablet to limit the amount of paper you use.

In this blog post, we've shared eighteen of the small changes you can make in the new year to have a positive environmental impact. All these activities are things we can implement in our daily lives to create tangible change in the world around us.

The Eco Chic team would love to know how you're adapting your daily habits and routines to benefit the planet. Let us know how and why you're transitioning your lifestyle to prioritise environmentally-friendly living in 2022.