When Earthborn first started over twenty years ago, our philosophy was simple; to provide paints that were better for you, your home and the environment. But in those days, anyone who proclaimed a love for the planet received a few funny looks and consignment to full-on hippy status!
We are pleased to say things have moved on and it’s now cool to be green. Environmentally friendly living has become a buzzword in recent years. With the war on plastics, saving water and using fewer chemicals at the front of our minds.
So how do you turn eco friendly intentions into practical action at home? We’ve put together our 6 simple tips to help create a greener, more sustainable, eco-friendly home:
At Earthborn we get asked lots of questions about the chemicals contained within our paints. But did you know that most of the cleaning products used around the home will contain lots more chemicals, toxins and nasties than Earthborn paints?
Making your own cleaning products might sound complicated but we promise it’s super easy and can even be a fun activity to do with kids! Homemade cleaning products are often cheaper, longer lasting and most importantly, toxin free. Help protect the environment by using naturally derived ingredients. If you have children, pets or anyone with allergies living in your house this is even more worthwhile.
Check out this easy-peasy recipe from one of our favourite eco-bloggers Little Birdie. Using just two ingredients, it’s perfect for cleaning worktops, bathrooms and lots more besides.
According to Surfers against Sewage,12 million tonnes of plastic is poured into our oceans every year. The biggest problem is single use plastics and the quantities in which they are used. A plastic bottle for instance is used on average for 15 minutes yet could take 100 – 300 years to fragment. In the UK we recycle less than a third of our plastic, so it’s no surprise that many of these end up on our beaches and in our oceans. Do your bit and cut out the single use plastics where you can – investing in a reusable water bottle is such a simple way to help.
Composting is one of the best ways to give back to the earth! Soil loves compost so starting a compost heap is a great way to make a small change that can make a big difference in the future. With a little planning and patience, a compost heap will reward use in spades (pun intended!) turning food and garden waste into a nutrient fuelled wonder product for your plants. If you’re new to composting, check out this guide from The Eden Project.
Not only are energy efficient bulbs far better for the environment, they could save you money in the long run too. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that by replacing all bulbs in your home with LED alternatives, you could save around £40 a year on your electricity bills. Head to the Energy Saving Trust for other top tips on making your home more energy efficient.
Whether it’s a simple water butt in your garden or an advanced rainwater harvesting system, saving rainwater can help reduce your mains water consumption, benefiting both the environment and your wallet. By harvesting rainwater you can use it to water the garden and plants around your home or even for washing clothes and flushing the loo. The Renewable Energy Hub is a great resource for anyone looking to save energy around the home, including lots of information about saving rainwater.
Making healthier, more environmentally aware choices in the products we buy used to mean compromising on quality or choice. But that’s changing! From furniture to bedding, candles to paint (ahem!), there are loads of companies out there who produce goods in an environmentally conscious way.
But it can be really tricky to know what’s genuine… and what’s simply greenwashing! While we’d all like to make more environmentally friendly choices, it can take a lot of time and research to find brands and businesses that share the same green ethos.
To be sure you’re buying genuine eco products there are certain accreditations you can look out for, in order to make an informed decision. For example, at Earthborn our paints carry the Ecolabel. The Ecolabel provides an independent, third party assurance that the product meets the highest possible environmental performance and is the only environmental product certification scheme that is accepted EU wide.
There are also organisations such as Blue Patch, a directory for UK & Irish businesses from a whole variety of sectors – from fashion and home to food and leisure. The difference is that each business has proven green credentials. It enables you, the customer, to browse different sectors on its website to find genuinely eco friendly businesses.
Hopefully, these tips have inspired you to make some eco friendly choices at home (and may help you save some money along the way!). We can all do our bit to help the environment and preserve the planet for future generations. Find out more about our eco friendly paint here.