Have you ever wondered how you can help to save the oceans?

It is easy to feel inadequate and useless next to a problem so large. But this is far from the truth; the ‘average’ person can make a big difference to the environment. And yes, that means you.

The smallest of differences to your lifestyle and daily tasks can make a huge impact on the world we live in. So how can we help save the oceans?

Here are five easy changes you can make:

1. Shopping for sustainable seafood options

Start by making sure the fish you are purchasing has been harvested using safe methods.

Overfishing means that there are not enough of a fish species left to sustain a healthy population, and this can take decades to rectify. In some cases, where a fish species is removed from an environment, the whole ecosystem can collapse.

Buying fish sustainably reduces overfishing, maintains marine biodiversity and often contains more vitamins and minerals, which means it helps us too.

Do these things…

– Check for an MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) label, this blue tick means that the fish is considered to have been fished at a sustainable level.

– Ask your fishmonger – They are required to tell you everything they know about the fish they are selling.

– The Marine Conservation Society uses scientific research to provide consumers with information about marine life. Every year they create a Fish Guide to help you make sustainable choices about your fish.

2. Plastic free alternatives

Single use plastics such as plastic bottles can last up to 500 years in the ocean. These are some easy adjustments you can make to reduce this damage and save marine life…

– Carry a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic bottles on a day or night out.

– Avoid plastic cutlery and straws, invest in metal straws.

– Take a cloth bag with you when you leave to do your food shop

– It may be a shock to find out that chewing gum actually contains plastic. This means you can recycle it!

3. Making easy and yummy seafood swaps

Through this website you can choose the fish or seafood you’d like to eat, and you will be provided with the best alternatives in terms of taste, sustainability, nutrition and price. Making small changes such as sources and variety of seafood can reduce the over-farming and production of specific species.

Here are some quick examples:

– Buying cod produced in the UK is currently an extremely unsustainable option. So if you do fancy cod for dinner, look for cod that has been caught in the waters surrounding Iceland, as the stocks are still healthy.

– Scallops and mussels farmed in the UK are great because they have a low environmental impact. So are an amazing alternative to prawns imported from other countries.

– Popular fish such as salmon and tuna are often farmed intensively. So go for healthier and eco-friendly options like trout or herring.

4. Protect the beaches

By 2050 there could be more plastic in the sea than fish and leaving waste on the beach means that it’s likely to end up in the ocean and destroy marine life. When you leave the beach after a lovely sunny day, make sure that you’re only leaving your footprints.

By 2050 there could be more plastic in the sea than fish

– Use sea-safe sun-cream! Two of the most frequently used ingredients in sun cream, oxybenzone and octinoxate, are deadly to corals and causes them to bleach, which can be fatal. However, you can use reef-safe sun cream that doesn’t include these ingredients which is especially important in tropical areas.

– There are green alternatives to most products out there – did you know that you can buy eco-friendly surf boards? Even greener picnic blankets and sandals, so watch out for eco-friendly substitutes before heading to the beach this summer.

– Clean up your local beaches, helping to clear small and easily forgotten debris will prevent it from flying into the ocean.

Have an eco-friendly barbecue

5. Conserve water

Conserving water saves energy, which is needed to filter, heat and pump water into homes, so reducing the amount of water you use daily will reduce your carbon footprint. Maintaining water in our ecosystems helps to keep aquatic habitats full of fish species and other animals like otters.

There are lots of ways to easily save little bits of water here and there, it all adds up.

– Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth. A running tap can waste more than six litres of water per minute

– Use a bowl in the sink when washing fruit, vegetables, or dishes. You can then use the waste water to water your plants.

– Check your property regularly for leaks on your internal plumbing.

6. Donate and volunteer

There are hundreds of different charities dedicated to bettering the state of the ocean, who do amazing work but run on funds donated by kind people around the world. It is easier than ever to click a few buttons and donate as little as £1 to ocean conservation. Alternatively, get stuck in and volunteer for beach clean-ups, lectures and campaigns.

Some links you may find useful:

Donate – Coast Magazine has a good roundup of organisations where your money would be most welcome

Volunteering opportunities – check this link on the Marine Conservation Soc site

Volunteering – get involved with beach cleans. Find your nearest clean-up gang on the Beach Cleans site

Fancy diving a bit deeper into longer term plans for the oceans? Read the MCS strategy booklet

7. Educate yourself!

Immerse yourself in media and literature to expand your knowledge of the ocean. The more you know about the sea and how your carbon footprint affects the life inside it, the easier it will be to take small steps towards the rejuvenation of ocean life. Some further reading…

World Ocean Day

WWF (World Wildlife Fund)

GVI

Blue Marine Foundation

Ocean Conservation Trust

Millie Owens

www.titlemedia.co.uk

The post 7 ways you can help to save the oceans appeared first on Silver Magazine.

The sun is out, barbecues are hot, and everyone is happy. Except for maybe the planet. We’ve compiled a handy guide on how to have an eco friendly barbecue.

Let’s talk about your options.

Disposable BBQs and picnic options

Instant disposable barbecues are tempting, super cheap, and very convenient. However, they’re also often wrapped in plastic, have a metal grill that isn’t easily recyclable, and the firelighter fluid included in the charcoal area isn’t great environmentally. You can do better.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, as new products start to arrive on the market. This CasusGrill Biodegradable Instant Barbecueis completely sustainable, and 100% biodegradable; made with bamboo, cardboard and lava stones. Lay a few of these in for those days when only al fresco dining will do.

Otherwise, perhaps consider using a small portable travel barbecue, like this LotusGrill Mini, which means you can choose your fuels carefully. The barbecue runs on two batteries (which you can use reusables for) or a power source. And obviously the benefit of this (apart from the fact that they cook better) is that there’s very little waste each time you use it.

CasusGrill Biodegradable Instant Barbecue

Let’s talk about your charcoal…

According to the BBC, the UK imported almost 90,000 tonnes of charcoal in 2018, most of which has been linked to mass deforestation in developing countries such as Namibia, Nigeria, and Paraguay. Wood is cut down and converted to charcoal by burning, and often the wood used is in scarce supply, endangering forestry. Often the charcoal you buy is less than beneficial to the planet and its resources.

A lot of charcoal is made from wood sourced in tropical forests that really ought to be left alone

A lot of charcoal is made from wood sourced in tropical forests that really ought to be left alone. Not only that, it can often be soaked in fire-lighting chemicals which are definitely pollutants – as well as your making your food taste yuck.

So how can you be sure that your charcoal is on the green list? The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the world’s largest certification scheme for wood products and charcoal, so it’s a good idea to look for their stamp on your charcoal bags. But even then, ensure the wood is from sustainable forests.

Charcoal generates three times the amount of greenhouse gases as gas grills, but the wood itself is often from sustainable sources.

There are UKFS (UK Forestry Standard) approved charcoal companies such as The Oxford Charcoal Company or The Dorset Charcoal Company that sells sustainably sourced and carbon neutral charcoal.

Buying from UKFS approved charcoal means that you are supporting the regeneration of UK woodlands, and you are using higher quality charcoal to cook your food that does not contain harmful pollutants.

Choosing eco-friendly food

The food you choose to grill up also has some environmental factors to consider.

Barbecues are synonymous with meat and juicy beef burgers. But according to research done by The University of Manchester, a regular medium sized 100g beef burger releases enough greenhouse gases to fill more than 60 balloons. This is equivalent to driving in a car for more than six miles!

Chicken is a better option as it releases far fewer greenhouse gases compared to beef, only 15 balloons-worth, and one and a half miles in a car.

Would you consider smashed Parma Violets on your barbecued meat?!

This Greenpeace article goes into detail about how the meat industry is a major contributor to world emissions, which explains the growing demand for a vegetarian or plant-based diet. If you’re willing to make the effort, there are lots of plant-based products widely available so you can still have your burgers and hot dog moment. Why not serve some grilled vegetables on the side? Grilled peppers, asparagus, aubergines, courgettes, corn; and of course you can’t beat a good stuffed mushroom.

If a barbecue isn’t a barbecue for you without some real meat, give thought to where it comes from. Has it had a high welfare life, farmed sustainably? What about food miles – is it local? Can you buy from a decent butcher and not only enjoy better meat without loads of plastic packaging, but support local business too?

Limit your waste

Investing in good quality barbecuing equipment can help limit your waste. Assembling a ‘grill kit’ can be useful in so many ways. Not only will you always be prepared and have everything you need, but these items can also be used again rather than disposed of and repurchased.

Your grill kit could include:

• An apron or two
• Spatula
• Tongs
• Knife
• Oven mitt
• Lighter/matches

Don’t forget to fill up your water bottles (and bring your own bottles of wine and beers!). Bring your own plates and cutlery, and use recyclable/biodegradable/linen napkins too. Ditch the one-use stuff.

Assembling a ‘grill kit’ can be useful in so many ways

Another eco-friendly barbecue hack is to bring your own plastic wrap-free snacks. Instead, cut up some fruit and snacks, and stock up on some nuts and sweets at a local zero-waste bulk shops. And prep everything ahead if possible, storing in reusable containers (with decent tightly-fitting lids) – you can even double the lids as plates if needed.

Lastly, don’t forget to dispose of your trash responsibly. Bring some biodegradable bin bags with you, or put your trash in your now-empty containers. Whatever you do, don’t just leave it behind.

Take only photographs, leave only footprints. And enjoy!

Genevieve Ng

The post Time for alfresco tongs and aprons?! How to have an eco-friendly barbecue appeared first on Silver Magazine.

There is plenty we can all do as individuals that will make a difference. But we have to get on board. The two biggest things we can all do to make a vast difference is eat less (no!?) meat, and stop flying. These two things have an enormous impact on our environment.

But there are things everyone can do at home. We spoke to ethical expert Atlanta Cook for ideas that everyone can activate.

STOP WITH THE BLAME

We may be the generation that knows how to reuse and repair, the generation that doesn’t waste resources, or knows how to ‘make do and mend’. But it is also our generation, and our parents’, which are responsible for inventing plastics, developing motor cars, and improving methodology for plundering natural resources. Think also deforestation, the population explosion, methods of large scale manufacture and waste, and intensive farming.

So giving it the old ‘we do our bit, it’s the youngsters who have a disposable life’ grumble just won’t do. Nor is it helpful.

Firstly, the youngsters all have parents who have formed their lifestyle habits, let’s not forget that – they didn’t learn this stuff all on their own.

Secondly, pointing fingers and blaming other people never fixes any kind of problem. We are in this together. And we need to fix it together. Let’s get this sorted out!

THERE IS STUFF YOU CAN DO

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]…are the measures we take as individuals actually worth bothering with?[/perfectpullquote]

So what can you do? In what feels like a world on the brink of collapse, are the measures we take as individuals actually worth bothering with?

The answer is definitely yes. And the more of us that take action, the better. If we all do our bit it will make a difference. Are you starting to see a pattern? Your input is really valuable. We all need to get on board. Not waste energy blaming other people.

• Switch to @ecotricity – they are the greenest/most ethical by miles.
• Switch lights off in empty rooms.
• Turn your thermostat down to 12-14, degrees which is a normal British Summer’s day, and wear more layers if you’re cold.
• Stop using your car for short journeys; instead allow yourself the time to walk so you get exercise and meet people on the way, both of which will greatly reduce stress and lift your mood!
• Order a veg box from a local grower, so you both support the local economy and eat more seasonal veg.
• Make more time to visit or chat to friends – it builds emotional resilience and your community network.

• Grow bee-friendly plants on any tiny patch or pot you have. Plant trees if you have space. Manicured lawns are useless monocultures.
• Buy less, but buy better. Is it organic, is it fair trade, is it eco or ethical? Do you really need it?
• Spending money to buy more stuff makes people dissatisfied and unhappy. Sharing what you have with friends, and spending more time with them, will make you much happier
• Give to someone’s favourite charity as a gift instead of pressies. Do they really need yet another ‘thing’?

Thinking of a nice pressie for someone? How about a subscription to Silver Magazine? All our paper is ethically-sourced!

Finally… it sounds so simple, but reducing your ‘energy’ consumption is crucial, and all of the simple lifestyle changes you can think of make a cumulative difference. They really do. Whether it’s reducing food transport miles, turning down the heating, or switching off your car engine whilst idling; all of it reduces your carbon footprint.

DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT’S ALLOWED IN YOUR RECYCLING?

Your coffee cups
You can’t recycle takeaway coffee cups. They’re made from two layers – the inside is plastic to make it waterproof – and it’s not possible to separate the plastic from the paper layers at recycling point. Take your own cups to the coffee shop!

Greasy pizza boxes
During recycling, paper doesn’t get heated. So your greasy or oily cardboard takeaway containers are no good. Try and keep them clean.

Dirty plastic
Rinse out stuff and make sure the food etc is gone from it. A bit like the greasy pizza box, the dirt might mean the plastic doesn’t make it to recycling.

Look for the codes
On plastics there’s a triangle shape with arrows in it and some numbers and letters. If there’s a 7 in the triangle, it might not be recyclable. Choose a different triangle. And get to know your symbols.

Loo roll, tissues, kitchen roll
Same with these things. If they’re used, they’re going in the bin, not the recycling.

Mirrors
Yes they’re glass, but it’s not the kind of glass you can recycle. Try upcycling or donating mirrors instead.

Wrapping paper and sticky tape
There are recyclable wrapping papers but you need to check. Any of them that are glittery, foiled, textured, or shiny probably no good. And if there’s sticky tape on it, definitely no. Sticky tape cannot be recycled and will prevent paper from mulching properly. Think before you wrap.

Click here for information about Earth Day
For more support and advice on doing your bit, check Atlanta’s website

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post What YOU can do to be greener appeared first on Silver Magazine.