Going Green – Lots of things are labeled green, but can we all trust them? Bedford News

Last article by Angela Terry

Angela Terry, green activist and consumer expert, separates climate change fact from fiction and explains here how you can take simple, practical steps to help save the planet. Follow @ouronehome and visit https://onehome.org.uk/ for more advice.

Q. Are all products labeled green good for the environment?

Companies are realizing how much the public wants action on the climate crisis.

Some are genuinely making their products more environmentally friendly, which is wonderful.

However, others resort to green washing – claiming to be more environmentally friendly, but doing very little or even nothing at all.

Many big brands pay hefty sums to top ad agencies to find clever ways to be perceived as green, without making real changes to their business.

That being said, there are some things to watch out for. Here are my tips:

Unfortunately, words like sustainable, natural, non-toxic, and eco-friendly are relatively vague.

On their own, they mean very little.

Some descriptions – like “self-charging” cars – are actively misleading.

Focus on facts rather than hype.

See if a brand’s green claim can be verified. For example, when buying new appliances, look at the energy rating.

A is the best. If you are buying a new car, look at the fuel consumption or the grams of CO2 per kilometer.

The less energy a vehicle uses, the better it is for the planet and your wallet.

You can trust products and services that have received independent accreditation.

Look for the logos of The Rainforest Alliance, The Fairtrade Foundation and The Soil Association.

When it comes to cosmetics and skin care, the COSMOS standard is good.

For paper, make sure it bears the Forestry Stewardship Council’s FSC mark.

If you’re trying to go plant-based, The Vegan Society branding is a sign that something is truly animal-free.

The Vegetarian Society has both a vegetarian brand and a vegan brand.

Despite company claims, sometimes it’s obvious that a product just isn’t that eco-friendly – for example, if it’s wrapped in plastic, made from artificial fabrics, such as polyester, or if it’s contains meat. If you’re taking a long-haul flight, a £2 donation to plant a tree won’t offset carbon pollution.

Many major oil and gas companies produce beautiful advertisements filled with images of trees, wind farms or solar energy projects. Yet research shows their climate claims are greenwashing.

They are doing very little when it comes to green energy generation and, in fact, increasing new oil and gas exploration an entire year after the International Energy Agency demanded that it cease altogether.

Nature TV presenter Chris Packham is backing a new campaign to try and tackle the plastic crisis.

Organized by Greenpeace, The Big Plastic Count runs from May 16-22.

Households across the country will be counting their plastic waste for a week, to gather evidence on the reality of the plastic situation in the UK and to push for real government action.

Replace regular toothpaste with one in recyclable packaging.

Traditionally, tubes were considered impossible to recycle – as they are made from a mixture of plastic and aluminum – with Colgate having created the first recyclable tube. You can buy Colgate Smile for Good at Ocado or Tesco.

Your wedding day is one of the happiest of your life.

It can also have a huge carbon footprint. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to have a beautiful day full of love and joy – but with less impact on the planet.

So many men rent their suits, but why aren’t more brides renting their wedding dresses?

Not only is it a much greener way to do things, but it could mean you could afford something more luxurious than anything you can buy.

You can rent beautiful wedding dresses online at Hurr.

You can rent bridal outfits and bridesmaid dresses from Something Borrowed.

Selfridges has a rental shop called Resellfridges, where you can rent designer and vintage bags and accessories.

If you want to own your dress, Oxfam has an online store of pre-loved wedding dresses. Catering

You might consider reducing the amount of meat and dairy you serve, to help the planet.

Plant-based cuisine is gaining in popularity and becoming more and more inventive and delicious. You might consider making just one dish without animal products.

But if you’re all into it, plant-based treats are popping up all over the place. Many bakers offer amazing vegan wedding cakes.

Host your bachelor and bachelorette parties at local venues. Choose a local venue for your wedding, too, so you and your guests don’t have to travel far. Encourage guests to carpool. It’s a simple way to reduce emissions.

Try to avoid disposable decorations and opt for seasonal British flowers. The ‘Flowers from the Farm’ website offers a handy directory of suitable florists.

You can now buy all kinds of biodegradable confetti – often made from dried flowers.

Look on Etsy or Brighton-based tea brand Bird and Blend offers personalized teabags made from dried roses and herbs.

Why not make favors something edible, like chocolates? If you’re a nature lover, you can always hand out seed bombs – from Bee Bombs – or wildflower seed packets.

Travel is part of the adventure, so see if you can travel by train. You can buy tickets across Europe on The Trainline website. Some routes are incredibly romantic, especially those in and around the Alps. The Man in Seat 61 website is full of information on the best routes to take and great tips.

Older people care less about the environment. Fake!

Research from Kings College London shows that 74% of baby boomers are willing to make lifestyle changes to protect the environment, compared to 69% for Gen Xers.

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