June 5th 2020 is World Environment Day.
It’s a day to appreciate and love the planet we live on; it’s a day to encourage awareness and protection for our environment.
Our planet is central to our purpose at F&F and we have a lot of work to do to protect our planet. World Environmental Day has been recognised since 1974 and the theme this year is biodiversity - there are 8 million plant and animal species on the planet but they’re at risk due to us humans. Quite possibly in the next ten years 1 in 4 of these species could be wiped out. Sadly Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world. And it’s due to us!
What is causing biodiversity loss?
Land Use - A huge driver is deforestation and change in land use and this is happening globally and right on our doorstep. 26% of the world's ice-free land is used for livestock grazing and 33% of croplands is used for livestock feed. One third of the world's top soil has been degraded. In Australia land is being cleared for housing, industry , transport and agriculture. We are one of the world's top land clearing countries.
Poaching and Exploitation - A very obvious example here is ivory and rhinos and elephants being decimated horribly. The desire for ivory has led to extinction of some rhinos. Poaching and the rise in illegal trafficking all contribute to biodiversity loss. Did you know there are more tigers in American backyards than there are in the wild. Mind-boggling but true. Fishing is another issue as we continue to drain the seas and many of you will have heard the stat that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea than fish. Perhaps it won't take that long.
Climate Change - Warming seas and melting ice caps force animals like polar bears to habitats they aren't familiar with and that don't provide a food source - they are literally living on borrowed time. Coral reefs are being bleached impacting the overall ecosystem.
What can we do?
Tread Lightly - Coronavirus has forced us all to not travel, particularly internationally. Keep it up. Can you hold that work meeting via zoom, do you need to travel as much as you were? Carbon emissions caused by flying are around 10x that of travel by road so be sparing.
Focus on Food Waste - Bad for our pockets and the planet. Approximately 1/3 of all food produced is wasted. If that goes to landfill that produces methane ie greenhouse gases. We could reduce a significant amount of carbon emissions by cutting down on food waste. And if you have waste compost it!
Watch and Learn - We think there is so much to be gained from learning and educating ourselves. The events in 2020 have taught us this loud and clear. Maybe it’s watching David Attenborough’s Serengeti or reading more on sites such as the UN, WWF and Sea Shepherd. Join Earth School and take part in the 30 lessons on the environment. Knowledge is power.
Think Local - Not always easy but, if you can, look locally to what you buy and use. Think local markets and fruit and veg stalls.
Eat More Plants - Livestock production is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases. Eating more plants and less meat helps to reduce this significantly.
Reuse - Fashion is one of the biggest contributors to waste and fast fashion has just increased this. Reuse, reuse, reuse. That dress shouldn't be one wear only. Keep on wearing it for the planet. Visit op shops, have clothing swap parties with your friends and maybe even upcycle your own clothes - grab a sewing machine and get creative.
Recycle - Not all packaging is compostable but hopefully, we can recycle more. See what your council can recycle and also utilise RedCycle for soft plastic and recycle your beauty products with us. Of course, if you can go plastic-free give that a go - shampoo bars are amazing.
Reduce - We could all try and simplify our lives and reduce what we use and the impact we have. If you don't need it don't buy it, your pocket and the planet will thank you. Coronavirus has meant the sales of fruit and veg in single-use plastic has increased. Try and avoid that single-use nature. It's a single-use to us but stays on our planet for centuries.
Offset and Reduce Your Own Carbon - You can absolutely lower your impact by reducing your travel, turning off lights, using LED lights, and more, but you can also calculate and offset your carbon. We work with Greenfleet who regenerate land right here in Australia so absolutely recommend them. We also have an article here where you can learn more.
You can learn more about World Environment Day on the UN's website.
