Alright, so I decided to give this whole “eco age london” thing a try. Not like the fancy company, mind you, just my own effort to live a bit greener right here in the city. It felt like the right thing to do, seeing all the talk about sustainability everywhere.
Getting Started – The First Steps
First thing I did was look at my rubbish. Seriously. I spent a week just noticing what I threw away. It was shocking, mostly packaging. So, I decided, right, gotta tackle that.
- I started carrying my own shopping bags everywhere. Sounds simple, but you forget sometimes!
- Got myself a reusable coffee cup. Took a bit of getting used to, remembering to wash it and bring it out.
- Tried hitting the local farmers’ market more for veg. Less plastic wrap, that was the idea.
Then I thought about getting around. I already used the tube quite a bit, London’s pretty good for that. But I tried to walk more for shorter trips. Even dug out my old bike from the shed. Cycling in London… well, that’s an experience, isn’t it? Need eyes in the back of your head.
Digging Deeper – What Else Could I Do?
After the easy wins, I tried to be a bit more ambitious. Food waste was next on my list. I started planning meals better, trying to use up leftovers. Got one of those compost bins from the council for the food scraps I couldn’t avoid.
I also looked at my clothes. Fast fashion, they call it. Loads of cheap stuff that falls apart. I made a conscious effort to stop buying clothes just because. Really thought about whether I needed something. Started looking in charity shops more, too. Found some decent bits, actually. Saves money, less waste. Makes sense.
Energy use at home was another one. Just simple things, really:
- Turning lights off when I leave a room. My dad used to nag me about that!
- Not leaving stuff on standby.
- Putting on a jumper instead of whacking the heating up straight away.
The Reality Check – Was it Easy?
Honestly? No, it wasn’t always easy. Sometimes convenience just wins. You’re tired, you grab a ready meal wrapped in plastic. Forgetting the reusable cup happens. And some eco-friendly options are just plain expensive, let’s be real.
Finding places to refill things like washing liquid or pasta wasn’t always straightforward either, depending on where you live in London. It takes extra effort, extra planning. You really have to want to do it.
And cycling… yeah, while it’s good exercise and zero emissions, dodging buses and potholes isn’t exactly relaxing.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Well, I haven’t transformed into some eco-warrior overnight. But I’m definitely more aware. I’ve stuck with some habits – the reusable bags and cup are second nature now. I buy less pointless stuff. I walk more.
It’s not about being perfect, I reckon. It’s about doing something. Making small changes. My little “eco age london” experiment showed me it’s possible, even in a big, busy city. You just gotta start somewhere and keep at it, figure out what works for you. And yeah, I feel a bit better for trying.
