• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Moment With Franca

A Family, Lifestyle & Travel Blog

  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Family
    • Family Events
    • Family Life
    • Family Days Out
    • Birthdays
  • Lifestyle
    • Home & Interiors
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Garden
    • Kitchen
    • Health
  • Travel
    • Days Out
    • Things To Do In London
    • Holidays
    • Press Trips
  • Reviews
    • Theatre & Shows
    • Days Out
    • Toys & Games
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
  • Seasonal
    • Christmas
    • Halloween
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Easter
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Giveaways
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Can We Make Our Daily Lives More Sustainable?

amomentwithfranca · 3 November 2020 · 10 Comments

This is a guest post written by Louise Palmer-Masterton from Stem & Glory. If you are interested in ideas of how to make our daily lives more sustainable, you will find this post very useful.  If you would like to know more about Louise, please scroll down to the bottom of this post where you can find her details, under “About the Author“.

Recently, I went to the premiere of David Attenborough’s new film ‘A Life on our Planet’. Described as his ‘witness statement’, the film contained a plethora of compelling statistics that defined the devastating problems we face if we do not stop destroying our planet. The film shows the numbers for the rapid increase in global population and carbon in the atmosphere and the accompanying sharp decrease in unfarmed natural land.

It is a stark message. By losing the biodiversity of our land, we are fast accelerating towards extinction as our planet struggles with the excess demands placed upon it. The earth has finite commodities, but we are acting like they are limitless.

The film does however end with a ray of hope. Attenborough lays out the steps we need to take in order to quickly redress the balance and allow the planet to recover.

These steps are simpler than you might think.

1. Population control – end poverty and increase access to education for all people, which will naturally lead to population control. This, of course, requires global commitment.

2. Rewild the rainforests to restore biodiversity. Rewild more farmland.

3. Stop eating meat. For every one carnivore in nature there are at least 100 prey animals, so for 11 billion humans to be carnivores is completely unsustainable. It’s an absolute no brainer.

4. Abandon fossil fuel in favour of renewable energy. Everyone knows this, but with pension funds and big business still investing in fossil fuels, there is a substantial way to go.

5. Land use. Using less land in more intelligent ways to produce more food, such as vertical and urban farming.

6. Stop Waste. Period.

So how can we make a difference with our own actions?

Plant-based meals: Blue Corn Tacos from Stem & Glory

You might think that most of this list is beyond the sphere of influence of an individual, with international action and financial incentives needed for this to happen on a global scale.

Whilst it’s true that international action is needed, we can all instigate actions that make a difference. Some of these involve supporting non-profits in a financial sense, but many of the actions we can take are changes within our own lives and habits which are not disruptive or costly. They simply involve making more ethical choices in our purchasing decisions.

  • Education
    Consider donating a small part of your income. Attenborough states that to achieve the eradication of poverty, education, particularly of women, plays a huge part. Camfed, a charity directly impacting the education of women is one example of an organisation working towards this aim.
  • Rewilding
    Actively seek out products that are making a direct impact by rewilding. For example, we work with a tea supplier called Reforest Tea. For one 500g bag of breakfast tea, which costs us £12, they are able to plant 6-8 trees. They also sell tea bags direct to the consumer. Perform your own mini sustainability audit and eradicate products that are known to be directly responsible for deforestation.
  • More Plant-based meals
    Obviously, as a vegan brand, we are hoping that the whole world will eventually refrain from eating meat. But even if you are not vegan, the fact that 65% of all the mammals on this planet are farm animals, their devastating carbon impact and land use cannot be overstated. It’s simply not sustainable for the 11 billion animals on the planet to eat other animals. But what does this mean for you? Although it might feel like your ‘choice’ currently, eating meat is already becoming regarded as unethical, and this will only increase in the future. Now is the time to explore the many, many plant-based options that are available and have a lesser carbon impact, and fall in love with plant-based eating.

  • Using Renewable Energy
    We can all make a huge impact by simply moving to renewable only energy sources in our homes. There are a number of these now, including the most established Ecotricity and Green Energy. The government’s recent announcement that it aims to ensure every home in the UK is powered by renewable energy within 10 years is a huge step in the right direction. You can make that switch now.
  • Land Use – where does your produce come from?
    I was struck a few years ago when I saw Bernhard Lang’s ‘Mar de Plastico’ (sea of plastic) – an aerial photograph of the 350 square km plastic greenhouse in Almeria, Andalucia, Spain. It is so big it can be seen from space. It has a huge environmental impact due to the extraction of water, the degradation of the land, the pile-up of waste, and the terrible 45-degree working conditions for its mainly migrant workers. It had an instant impact on me and changed my purchasing decisions for good.

I used to think if something was labelled grown in Spain, it was tended by a rustic farmer, in a gentle nurturing way, I literally had no idea of the reality. By contrast, I visited Amsterdam in February, in those heady days before Covid-19, where there are some super exciting projects with vertical and urban farms. The Netherlands are a big exporter of vegetables because of this. They get greater output from a much smaller footprint and are by far more ethical than the Spanish counterpart.

It’s complicated of course, but educate yourself, read about it, challenge your own beliefs. Bernhard Lang is an artist bringing awareness to man’s destruction of the planet in a whole new way. It’s powerful the role that art can play in this movement. For me, one image changed everything.

  • Waste. Probably the biggest issue of all.

Food Waste
More than one-third of all food produced across the globe is wasted. And with regard to fruit and vegetables, it is almost half. In the developing world, this waste is largely down to inefficient processing, poor storage, and insufficient infrastructure.

In medium and high-income countries (that’s us) whilst supply chains can still be an issue, the behaviour of consumers plays a much greater part. We are simply buying it and not eating it. Much of this food waste could be avoided if it were managed better. The hard fact is, if we managed to reduce the amount of food waste by just 25%, that would be enough food to feed the 870 million who currently do not have enough to eat.

Packaging Waste
There is a huge amount of misinformation out there on this subject, especially with regards to single-use. I watched a short film recently, called Our Planet, Our Business and one of the experts said, ‘there is no such thing as waste, it’s just a commodity in the wrong place at the wrong time’. That really struck me. Packaging is a complicated subject that we, at Stem & Glory, have been immersed in researching for some time, and here is what we have learned:

  • The only truly sustainable, circular solution for packaging is to use products that are made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste, which is then endlessly recycled. So, we are no longer using single-use anything.
  • Compostable is not the answer to the issue of single-use, as compostable containers are widely made from virgin materials, which increase the carbon footprint of the product, and do nothing to solve the issue of mass disposability.
  • When the world is truly plastic-free, then it may be that recycled packaging, which is also compostable, could play a part. But, whilst we have such huge amounts of post-consumer plastic waste, the most responsible thing we can do is recycle it. If the demand for 100% recycled plastic were greater, demand would also increase for manufacturers to buy post-consumer waste plastic. And so it goes on.
  • Of course, responsible use of recycled plastic products requires education, and we need to invest energy into just that. It’s a big step for us all to make in our heads because plastic has been vilified for so long, but research shows it’s moving away from single-use anything that has the greatest carbon impact. The leap we all need to make is to start viewing plastic (and everything else on this planet) as a valuable commodity.

Other Waste


At Stem & Glory, we are currently fitting out a new site in Cambridge. The driver behind our decor is to reuse and recycle as far as possible. It’s been great to see that there are so many new products on the market that are composed of recycled post-consumer waste. We predict that this will explode massively in the coming months and years. From table-tops to worktops, paint, flooring, concrete, lights, innovation is everywhere. And it looks completely fab!

As part of this process, we have also been able to get our entire team on board – from designers to contractors, all are now also committed to the reuse and recycle way of living. This is an example of choosing to buy recycled to fit out the restaurant, but as a consumer, you can do the same; when decorating, or buying household items think about the purchasing choices you are making, and buy planet-friendly.

This is probably the best way we can win hearts and minds to tackling climate change. Never underestimate the contribution that an individual or a single business can play. By changing ourselves we generate spirals of positive influence – the R number of sustainability! The more you make changes and tell others, the more people you will influence for good.

What things do you do to make your daily life more sustainable? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Louise Palmer-Masterton is founder of multiple award-winning restaurants Stem & Glory; hip and trendy but accessible plant-based restaurants, serving delicious gourmet vegan food from locally sourced ingredients, 100% made on site. Stem & Glory also offers click-and-collect and local delivery in London and Cambridge. You can find more about her through her social media: website, These are her social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and Seedrs.

Thanks for stopping by,

Love you all ❤️

Franca  💋

Linking up with:

Related

Filed Under: Guest Posts, Lifestyle, Reflections, Sustainable Food, Tips

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lydia C. Lee says

    8 November 2020 at

    Great post. There’s a lot of initiatives at the moment in this area. It’s great to start shifting our usage and waste creation. Small changes can begin to make visible differences. But we also need to demand Govts and businesses take action too (esp over here in Australia) #KCACOLS

    Reply
  2. Jed Jurchenko says

    8 November 2020 at

    This is such an important topic, and those blue corn tacos look amazing. Veggie meals don’t always sound the best, but often they are delicious. Your post is a great reminder that I can and need to do more.

    Reply
  3. Fiona Cambouropoulos says

    8 November 2020 at

    Hopefully when the U~S election and COVId are all sorted we can focus on our planet again #KCACOLS

    Reply
  4. Jeremy@ThirstyDaddy says

    11 November 2020 at

    A lot of great information here. I think that I’ve been doing pretty good paying attention to packaging and trying to avoid plastic whenever and wherever I can but I’ll admit meat is still hard for me to kick #KCACOLS

    Reply
  5. Shelley Whittaker (Wander & Luxe) says

    11 November 2020 at

    A very interesting read – thanks for sharing #KCACOLS

    Reply
  6. Dana, A Mamanista Life says

    13 November 2020 at

    I really enjoyed this post, it is a great reminder of how and why even the little changes we make can holistically protect our planet xx #KCACOLS

    Reply
  7. Jade Page says

    14 November 2020 at

    It is so important that everyone does what they can to become more sustainable. We have made huge strides in our personal waste in the last 10 years but there is still lots we can do. For me the big change needs to be less meat which is easily done its just about changing those habits. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  8. Priya says

    15 November 2020 at

    Well said. I definitely believe in ‘no waste’. I was brought up with the saying ‘waste not, want not’.
    Regarding meat, we consume poultry primarily, which is more sustainable than mammal meat, which is good.

    Reply
  9. Laura - MUMMY LAURETTA says

    18 November 2020 at

    We all need to do our bit, I really hope that our governments will help over the coming years. I try to eat plant based most of the time, in fact we hardly buy meat these days. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  10. Malin - SenLearningwPenguin says

    19 November 2020 at

    A very interesting post on a subject of great importance. Some of the things listed feel tricky for me to do, but many of the things I’m already on board with, at least to a great extent. I’ve not eaten any actual meat since I was 10, although I do (occasionally, as in once a month or so) eat fish and seafood, and I regularly eat egg and dairy, so I’m quite a long way from being vegan.
    I don’t fly, which helps somewhat with the fuel & pollution issue. We have one child, so are not increasing the population of the planet. We don’t buy much ‘stuff’ for the sake of it, no excess of clothes, make-up, shoes or bric-a-brac etc. There are of course things we/I could do better as well though…
    On a final note, I was quite happy to see that this article emphasises plastic recycling. When I lived in Sweden (where I grew up), I often heard it said that plastic packaging can be a good choice from an environmental perspective, provided it’s the ‘right’ type of plastic and a recyclable product made using mainly recycled materials. I think the UK (and many other countries in the world) have a long way to go in this perspective, but awareness is on the increase so hopefully things are improving x #KCACOLS

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

HI THERE, I’M FRANCA!

Hi, I'm Franca, a lawyer mum of 2 gorgeous girls married to my best friend, living in London. Award nominated parenting & lifestyle blogger. Read More…

Newsletter

    Built with ConvertKit

    Amazon

    What’s On

    • Barbie Movie Review: Girl Power or Feminist Flop?
    • Wicked Musical London Review
    • 42nd Street at Sadlers Wells Theatre London: A Review

    Family Days Out

    • Qbix Gamecube Review at All Star Lanes White City
    • Frameless London: Unforgettable Immersive Art Experience in Marble Arch
    • tastecard: Your Handy Guide to Exploring and Saving in London

    Collaborative Videos

    Popular Videos





    AWARDS

    BritMums



    BritMums

    Tots100

    Tutora Best Parent Insight Blog Award Shortlist

    RANKING

    Tots100
    Top 20 UK Parent Blog 2020

    Flea Network Top 20 UK Parent Blog 2018

    MEMBER

    LINKY

    Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday
    ✨Wrapping up our Barcelona adventure✨ .We’ ✨Wrapping up our Barcelona adventure✨ .We’ve loved exploring this vibrant city during the summer and sharing it here with you! Hope you found our tips helpful if Barcelona’s in your travel plans. 🇪🇸.Next stop: Torrevieja! ☀️ Get ready for content of two weeks of sun, sea, and summer vibes! Hopefully will bring you a warm escape as the chill of autumn sets in! 🏝️🌊. What’s your favourite destination to escape the autumn chill?.#VisitBarcelona.....Barcelona | Barcelona Skyline | Barcelona Landmarks | Spain | Exploring Barcelona | Barcelona Diaries | Travel Guide | Travel Blogger | Cityscape | Barcelona Tourist Attractions | Family Travel | Mirador del Santuari Barcelona
    ✨24 Hours in Barcelona: Exploring the Must-Sees✨.Although our time in Barcelona was brief, we made the most of every moment. Check out this list of must-visit places we explored in just 24 hours! 🌆.1. Stroll Las Ramblas - Soak up the lively atmosphere and street performances.2. Discover Plaça Reial - A picturesque square with palm trees and vibrant architecture.3. Marvel at Casa Batlló - Gaudi’s architectural masterpiece.4. Explore La Pedrera (Casa Milà) - Another Gaudi gem with a unique rooftop.5. Be awed by La Sagrada Familia - An iconic masterpiece still under construction.6. Soak in Views from Mirador del Santuari - Panoramic vistas of Barcelona.7. Hit the Beach at La Barceloneta - Feel the sand between your toes.8. Savor Tapas & Tinto de Verano - Enjoy delicious Spanish bites and drinks..Bonus: Plan a visit to Parc Güell for more Gaudi magic!💫.✨Watch the reel till the end for the full Barcelona experience. Like, Save, and share if Barcelona is on your travel list!✨.Which Barcelona attraction are you most excited to visit? 🤩 .#VisitBarcelona.....Barcelona | Barcelona Skyline | Barcelona Landmarks | Spain | Things To Do In Barcelona | Exploring Barcelona | Barcelona Diaries | Travel Guide | Travel Blogger | Travel With Kids | Cityscape | Barcelona Tourist Attractions | Family Travel | Mirador del Santuari Barcelona
    ✨La Sagrada Familia ✨.We were captivated by ✨La Sagrada Familia ✨.We were captivated by the beauty of La Sagrada Familia which is a must-see in Barcelona! .We didn’t manage to get in due to lack of time but we did our research just in case we had time, so here are some key insights to keep in mind before your visit to La Sagrada Familia:🌟La Sagrada Familia is Open All Year Round🌟It is located in the Sagrada Familia neighborhood 🌟The easiest way to get to the Sagrada Familia is by metro. Alternatively, you can get there by bus🌟You need to buy tickets in advance. You can buy ticket up to 2 months in advance🌟You should purchase your tickets through the official website 🌟The Sagrada Familia box office only sells tickets for that specific date and you may have to wait 4 or 5 hours until the next available entrance time🌟There are discounts on full fare for children under 11, students, disabled and senior citizens (65+)🌟Any time with the sun outside is good for visiting the church🌟 You can buy a ticket to climb the Torre de la Pasión or the Torre del Nacimiento🌟The ascent of the towers is done with an elevator but the descent is made by a long and narrow spiral staircase🌟There are audiguides available to purchase🌟As the Sagrada Familia is a Catholic church, you must dress appropriately.Swipe left for a close-up view and pics of us in awe of this remarkable masterpiece! 🏰.✨Like, Save & Share if you are planning to visit Barcelona or if someone you know would like to visit ✨.Did you know it’s finally nearing completion after over a century? 🏗️🔜 .#LaSagradaFamilia ....Barcelona | La Sagrada Familia | Gaudi | Spain | Things To Do In Barcelona | Gaudi Experience | Exploring Barcelona | Barcelona Diaries | Travel Blogger
    ✨Admiring the Timeless Beauty of Casa Batlló✨ ✨Admiring the Timeless Beauty of Casa Batlló✨ .We managed to check Gaudi’s masterpiece facade within the 24 hours time we stayed in Barcelona! 🏠 We’re hopefully planning a longer stay to explore the interior! ☺️.Watch the reel till the end to get a glimpse of its fascinating details, including those impressive skull-like balcony railings! .✨Like, Save & Share if you are planning to visit Barcelona or if someone you know would like to visit ✨.Have you ever visited this architectural gem? .#CasaBatllo ....Barcelona | Casa Batllo | Casa Gaudi | Spain | Things To Do In Barcelona | Gaudi Experience | Exploring Barcelona | Barcelona Diaries | Travel Blogger
    PR Invite ✨Feasting at Burger & Lobster✨ .Ou PR Invite ✨Feasting at Burger & Lobster✨ .Our taste buds had an amazing time in the heart of Mayfair in London yesterday! 🌟 We enjoyed the delicious food from @burgerandlobster Family Feast menu - a fantastic culinary experience for the family. Sienna was thrilled watching the lobsters alive. Nick’s first lobster experience was a complete success! The grilled lobster was wonderfully tender, and the crispy chips were a real treat. 🦐🍟.I must say, my first taste of lobster rolls was delightful. The girls enjoyed their cheeseburgers, and my tropical juice was a refreshing choice for that hot summer day. 🍹🥵.The £100 Menu offers:🌟For the adults: Whole Lobster, Original Burger, and Original Lobster Roll, all served with fries, salad, and your choice of sauce, plus a drink each. 😋🍔🦞🌟For the kids: Cheeseburger, Plant Burger, or Prawns & Fries, served with fries, a scoop of ice cream, and a soft drink. 🍔🍟🍦.Did you know you can enjoy this feast at all their London locations throughout the week? A treat that’ll leave everyone smiling. 🍔🦞👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The offer caters for two adults and up to three children (aged 12 and under). .This special menu also joins a host of exciting activities and offers taking place across Burger & Lobster restaurants including their mid-week Shell & Spritz Hour, offering guests £1 oysters and £5 selected cocktails from Monday to Friday, 3pm - 6pm.We highly recommend the £100 Family Feast Menu! it’s an unforgettable feast! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦😋 .Watch the reel until the end and tag someone who needs to savour this experience! 🍔🦞.#BurgerAndLobster ....Burger & Lobster | London Restaurants | Where To Eat In London | Eating Out With Kids | Family Friendly Restaurants | Mayfair | Kid Friendly Eats | London | Where To Eat With Family | Taste London
    ✨Back In Beautiful Barcelona✨.I remembered b ✨Back In Beautiful Barcelona✨.I remembered being here, standing in front of "La Pedrera", Casa Mila feeling the vibrant spirit of Barcelona! This was our 3rd stop from our road trip and it was perfect! 🌆🇪🇸.I am so excited to share our whirlwind adventure with you all! Our Barcelona journey was quick but so memorable. Stay tuned for the upcoming content as I will be telling you our experience, from the places that you must visit as well as where to have good tapas and drinks to enjoy Barcelona properly. We managed to fit a lot in such a short stay! Although we missed some key places we would love to come back and add those to our bucket list!💃👜🌞 .Have you been to Barcelona before?.#LaPedrera #CasaMila #VisitBarcelona #GaudiBarcelona #BarcelonaSpain #BarcelonaExperience #BarcelonaTravel #BarcelonaGram #MaxiDress #SummerDress #EveryDayOutfit #EveryDayStyle #Over40 #Over40Blogger #OverFortyStyle .....Barcelona | Casa Mila | La Pedrera Casa Mila | Casa Gaudi | Spain | Things To Do In Barcelona | Gaudi Experience | Exploring Barcelona | Barcelona Diaries | Travel Blogger
    Load More… Follow on Instagram
    Copyright © 2023 · A Moment With Franca · Privacy Policy