I feel so lucky to live in the UK where we have free speech, clean water, the NHS (for now), proper sanitation, good schools and a place where I generally feel safe. I’m happy and proud that my children are growing up in this country and I do feel they have a bright future ahead of them. In fact, it’s interesting that 83% of children continue to feel optimistic about their own future and 59% feel optimistic about their future environment. Most parents believe that, compared with themselves, their children will live longer, have a better education and better job prospects, and will enjoy life more, even if they will have to work harder to reap the rewards of the greater benefits ahead. I’m participating in a challenge with Unilever and Britmums to think about the little steps we take as a family to change the future for the better. I like to think that everyone does their bit, Unilever want to unite communities and encourage small changes in everyday life that have a positive jmpact on the world.
Like 83% of parents, things changed after I had my first child, I felt more responsible about the future of the world, because although my time may be short, my children’s and their children will go on in future generations, and we owe it to them to look after it. 9 out of 10 parents and 8 out of 10 children agree that if everyone does small things to improve the environment, we can make the world a better place together.
We were sent some products to try to prompt us to think about the small everyday changes we can make in relation to those mundane jobs that can contribute to a more sustainable way of living.
Laundry
Here are some simple ways to change our impact on the environment when we’re doing the umpteenth load of laundry! With 3 children I rely on my washing machine and tumble dryer, I’m conscious of the amount of water and electric I use.
- Wash at the lowest temperature possible
- Use less water
- Don’t wash clothes if they’re not dirty just because
- Don’t always tumble dry
- Use products with eco-friendly ingredients
Persil encourages our children to get outside and play, not to be afraid of getting dirty, inspiring them to grow and learn in an interactive way. They’ve also backed a global initiative ‘Learning for Tomorrow’ which partners with UNICEF to help give children in some of the world’s toughest areas the opportunity of a quality education, something we take advantage of.
Cleaning and Sanitation
Since the launch of Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan, they’ve helped 482 million people to improve their health and hygiene, improving self esteem and oral hygiene. Domestos has committed to helping 25 million people gain improved access to a toilet by 2020. With access to clean sanitation, you are working towards preventing diseases, reducing mortality rates, which in turn reduces school dropout rates and improves quality of life. Sanitation and hygiene is so important, I appreciate our indoor flushing toilet so much! Making sure it’s a clean and happy space is a must, we’re heading towards potty training with Daniel, we’ve already had some horrible moments where he’s put his hands down his nappy when he’s done a poo, and when he’s wee’d on the floor.
Recycling
We separate our waste, we recycle our card and plastics together in one bin, and general waste in another. We also separate our food waste and compost what we can in the garden. We have a garden waste bin too. I recycle any of our clothes to charity shops and rag banks, and I also buy a lot from charity shops, partly because it reduces waste. I use sites like freecycle to offload items I don’t want or sell them on ebay or a Facebook selling group. If we absolutely have to take things to the dump, I like the fact they recycle a lot there too. I buy secondhand toys and books too. The school fairs are great for this and so cheap!
Saving on Gas and Electric
It’s getting a bit chilly now, I mostly control the heating via our thermostat, so it remains at a pretty constant temperature. Before I go to bed I turn it right down so it’s off during the night, and before I go out. I go around turning lights off when they’re not needed and turn off appliances completely. We have a smartmeter installed which tells us what to aim for and how much energy we’re using.
Increasing Self Esteem
Already my children cry, ‘I’m no good,’ or ‘I can’t do it!’ and I encourage them that they are good enough and they can do it. It’s mostly when they’re trying something for the first time and they’re disappointed it doesn’t just come naturally straight away. I remind them it takes practice and hard work and everyone has to do things for the first time at some point. It’s part of the learning process to fail. It’s essential to equip our children with confidence in every way possible. The Dove self-esteem project has worked closely with leading psychologists, academics and experts to create materials and resources that help young people develop a positive relationship with their appearance, which is making a positive impact on 19 million young lives. I’m careful not to say, ‘I feel fat,’ or be negative about my appearance. I’m always telling Phoebe in particular how beautiful, clever and smart she is and that she can be anything she wants.
This post is an entry for BritMums #brightFuture challenge, sponsored by Unilever
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