Supermarket big brand cleaning products include an array of chemicals that don’t break down in the sewage works – even if the water utility companies leaves them there for a long time rather than just allowing the sewage to spill into our waterways and shores. This includes parabens (preservatives), phthalates (perfumes), triclosan (an antibiotic), phosphates,…
Tag: ecotips
Sustainable Clothing
The clothing industry is responsible for about 10% of global CO2 emissions. It also has a huge impact on water resources, labour and pollution, which involves a large amount of PFAS (‘forever chemicals’ that don’t biodegrade, but accumulate in the body). If you have heard politicians and economists going on about how best to tackle…
How to block Heat during Heatwaves
New climate research in the science journal Nature* shows how dangerously under prepared northern Europe and especially the UK and Eire are for the consequences of climate change and the need to keep cool in the unprecedented hot summers that are on their way. Rather than cranking an air conditioner up to full power, we…
Extreme heat – cities are struggling
The World Meteorological Organisation noted last week as Britons flock to their summer getaways that “parallel and stationary heat domes” have meant temperatures would top 40°C in parts of North America, Asia and across North Africa and the Mediterranean for days to come. This follows the hottest week in recorded history from 3-10th July, whereby…
Volunteer volunteer volunteer!
Organise! Organise! Organise! Join! Join! Join! One of the many ways to play a part in the fight against climate change is to volunteer your time and energy to help the organisations trying to mobilise society. Co-incidentally or perhaps not, EcoCounts is looking for a volunteer for this Saturday (July 1st 2023) to help at…
A Good Citizen
With UK elections probably in 2024 – the next general election is scheduled to be held no later than 28 January 2025 – the general public gets the chance to choose who sits in parliament. This is a crucial exercise in being a good citizen. There are many politicians and parties to vote for, including…
Sustainable Tech
New companies are building technology like mobile phones and laptops with sustainability, recycling, reuse, repair and low emissions built-in. Fairphone produce Android-based mobile phones. I have one and have replaced the camera myself, amazingly. Framework a US company create a massively repairable 13″ laptop and are just about to roll out a 16″ version. The…
Renewable Energy at Home
Which? Magazine recommends either Good Energy, Ecotricity or GEUK as the best providers of renewable energy to domestic households. With the massive price rises and the uncertainty in the market from the Ukraine war behind us, companies are now taking on new customers. Many people don’t understand the need for customers to move away from…
Bangladesh Workers Stitched Up by Primark, Next & Co
Recent investigations show that shops like Primark, H&M, Tesco, Lidl, Aldi and Zara have been paying suppliers in Bangladesh less than the cost of production for their wares, which means the factories are forced to pay their workers less than the minimum wage. Some of the poorest people in the world work in the global…
Sustainable Fish
Not a lot of people know this but species-rich, undamaged marine ecosystems actually draw down CO2 and sequester it through natural processes, which is very good in the fight against climate change. Over-fished marine ecosystems can cause greenhouse gas emissions in several different ways, including through destructive fishing methods such as bottom trawling – alarmingly…