Sustainable(ish)

When we see lists of things we can do to help the planet, one of the most important is often missing, and it's this - campaign. Make your voice heard. It's one of the most powerful things we can do, but I think for lots of us (myself included), the idea of 'campaigning' sounds a bit intimidating. The dictionary definition of activism is:"the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change".And I don't know about you, but the phrase 'vigorous campaigning' leaves me feeling a little bit lacking. I mean, I bang on a LOT about all things Sustainable(ish) but do I 'campaign vigorously'? I'm not so sure.However, the good news is, for those of us who find the thought of 'vigorous campaigning' a bit too much, we can still have an impact. In this episode I'm chatting to Steve Shaw from Power for People, a campaigning organisation that "run grass-roots mobilisation campaigns, engaging and involving citizens and local communities and calling on them to lobby their elected representatives for changes in the law or in government policy."So instead of simply writing to your MP letting them know you're scared shitless about the climate crisis and asking them what they're doing about, and probably getting a stock response back full of political waffle (the equivalent of a pat on the head and being told to run along), you join in with one of their campaigns. Basically, they come up with a bill (their current campaign is around renewable energy) and then ask people to lobby their MPs to support the bill. If enough MPs support it, it gets debated, and then hopefully made law. It's a long old process, but the beauty of it is, is that your asking your MP to do something really specific, and that your letter/tweet/e-mail is part of a bigger campaign, and if your MP gets lots of constituents writing and asking them to do that one same thing, they're much more likely to do it. AND it results in a concrete tangible change. Possibly, hopefully, a change in law.If you're like me and more than a little politically naive and unsure of what really happens behind all the smoke and mirrors and the braying of Prime Ministers Question Time, this will be a fascinating episode. And it's packed with practical advice about what to write and how to start building up a relationship with your MP and get them on your (the planet's) side. Find out more about Power for People's local electricity campaignUseful linksPower for People- Website- Facebook- Twitter- Instagram- The Local Electricity Bill- Guidance on writing to your MPHope for the Future - UK specialists in training citizens to work with MPs on climate changeThey Work for You - find out who your MP is and how they've voted on issues in the past[032] - The introverts guide to climate marches (podcast)Four things you can so if you can't/don't want to climate strike (blog post)Global Climate Strike locations (20th Sept 2019)Ouch! But when you put it like that, suddenly writing a letter or an e-mail doesn't seem quite so hard.... […]

DID YOU KNOW...?Buying green energy for your home or business is one of THE most impactful things we can all do to help the climate crisis?Switching to a renewable tariff for electricity and carbon offset gas could save up to 3.5tonnes CO2 per yearThe average person's carbon footprint living in the UK is around 13.5 tonnes CO2 per year, so you could slash your footprint by a quarter with this one simple switchIt's super easy and takes less than 10 minutes (probably less than 5mins - you could feasibly do it in a TV ad break)You could save up to £270 a year!INTRODUCING #SWITCHTEMBERDuring September #Switchtember the focus here at Sustainable(ish) is to get as many people as possible to switch to a renewable supplier. THE GOAL IS 1000 SWITCHES - which would collectively save up to 3,500 tonnes of CO2 per year - the same as taking around 750 cars off the road.Listen in to this quick 5(ish) minute guide to #Switchtember, and how to switch as easily and painlessly as possible!HERE'S HOW TO SWITCH:1. Grab a recent energy bill.2. Click on this link here.Enter your details, and then click on the 'how did you hear about us' box.Scroll down to find Sustainable(ish) at the bottom, and click Start My Quote!3. Answer the questions (they're easy if you've got your bill in front of you!)Click through and you'll get to your quotes - click on each link to find out more about the tariff and the company. When you find the one you're happy with, click SWITCH!GET INVOLVED! Getting involved is easy peasy.First up, SWITCH following the link above - not only does this mean that Sustainable(ish) earns a small commission (at no extra cost to you!) but it also means we can track the numbers on our way to our goal of 1000 switches!Once you've switched, or if you're already on a renewable tariff, SHARE! Share with your friends and family, and on social media - remember to ask them to use the partners link Keep up to date with the campaign on social media - there'll be all kinds of motivating stats and facts to share, answers to FAQs, and lots more. Find Sustainable(ish) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Are you in?Let me know when you've switched! JOIN THE SUSTAINABLE(ISH) REVOLUTIONJoin us at BASE CAMP to find free resources and receive my weekly guide to reducing your impact on the planet... one simple step at a time. I take your privacy seriously. You can unsubscribe at any time. JOIN THE SUSTAINABLE(ISH) REVOLUTION!

It seems somewhat fitting as we approach August, the traditional holiday month here in the UK, to have a little look at flying…DID YOU KNOW:2-5 % of global greenhouse gas emissions are a result of aviationYet only around 5% of the global population actually use aeroplanesMeaning that as consumers, a plane ticket is about the most carbon intensive thing you can buyIf you are one of the 5% of the global population who fly, flying will be the single biggest contributor to your carbon footprintFlying is the fastest growing cause of climate changeIf aviation was a country, it would be the 7th worst polluter globallyBrits already fly more than the people of any other nation - twice as much as Americans Even if we take other steps to be environmentally friendly, one flight can completely wipe out all the other savings In this episode I’m chatting to Anna Hughes, author, crazy cyclist, all round sustainability good egg, and founder of the Flight Free UK 2020 campaign – she shares with us the inspiration behind the campaign, why it’s so important, and how we can get involved.I love Anna’s down to earth approach – although she is a hardened non flyer herself she’s really aware of the fact that for lots of us, giving up flying is a big ask. And that’s why the campaign is to have a flight free 2020 and isn’t asking us to give up flying forever, although obviously the idea is that having managed for a year, we will have re-assessed our relationship with aviation, and might choose to travel differently at least some of the time moving forwards.So fasten your seatbelts, stow your laptops and make sure your seat is in the upright position (sorry couldn’t resist!) as we prepare to not take off Enjoy!A little heads up before you dive on in to this episode - there's a little bit of background noise at various points, please just ignore and continue to enjoy the podcast  Useful links​Flight Free UK ​- Website​- Pledge page- Facebook- TwitterA Free Ride - campaign for a frequent flyer levyClimate Perks - works with employers to reward employees who choose to travel by road or rail with paid 'journey days'The Man in Seat 61 - great site covering all things train travel!LOCO2 - a website that helps you to buy train and bus tickets around the UK and Europe in one place without having to visit multiple different sites!Flixbus - for bus/coach travel[017] Sustainable(ish) travel with Earth Changers (podcast)  […]

This episode is published in collaboration with CozZo*There’s a BIG focus at the moment on plastic pollution isn’t there?Since Blue Planet II aired it feels like it’s an issue that has really caught people’s attention and is something that we’re all wanting to do something about. Which is obviously great, but plastic pollution is just none part of the bigger issue of the climate crisis. And actually, I would say that attempting to tackle the amount of single use plastic we bring home each week after a supermarket shop is right up there in terms of difficulty. We need big changes in the way our supermarkets package our foods and all the infrastructure that supports that.So sometimes, when I’m helping people to take sustainable(ish) steps and can see that they’re getting frustrated and feel like they’re not really making much progress when it comes to plastic in the kitchen, I suggest a little re-focus. You see for a lot less effort, I reckon you can actually have a bigger impact on the climate crisis by tackling food waste.Here are some stats to back up my bold statement:If food waste were a country it would be the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after the USA and China50% of all food waste occurs in the home. So of all the food that is wasted, from the farm, through the supermarkets, and then on to us, half of that occurs in our homes.So just from those two stats, we can see that if we can reduce or even eliminate food waste in our homes, we can have a massive impact on greenhouse gas emissions. It’s not often that as individuals and families we have the opportunity to have such a direct impact, and it’s actually a relatively easy thing to tackle, AND something that we have complete control over. We don’t need to wait for supermarkets to change their ways, or for governments to get off their butts and legislate. How awesome is that?!Now I’m sure as avid listeners to this podcast you’re probably sat there feeling a little smug and thinking that you don’t waste any food. And if that’s true, than I want to give you a massive high five. But I think if we’re really honest with ourselves, even the best intentioned amongst us will forget about the odd tupperware pot of leftovers tucked at the back of the fridge, or a packet of ham or fish that doesn’t get eaten in time because plans change. Which is why I was really excited to be approached by CozZo to help to promote their food inventory app. It’s really super easy to use, and they have found that users have reduced their food waste by between 50 and 70%, which is pretty mind blowing!So grab a cuppa, sit back and relax and listen in to how your phone can help you fight food waste.   Useful linksCozZo- Website- Facebook- Instagram- TwitterOlio - food sharing appToo Good to Go - app helping cafes and restaurants distribute their leftovers at the end of the dayEasy ways to eat sustainably (blog post) Sustainable(ish) Tips and Ideas for food (blog post)* A note on ads, sponsored posts and collaborations on Sustainable(ish):I only work with brands and companies that I strongly feel fit with the sustainable(ish) ethos. That is, companies that have people and planet at their heart, and have rigorous environmental and ethical credentials and that are general Good Eggs. […]

So today’s episode is all about period pants. "What are period pants?" I hear you ask!  Well, they do exactly what they say on the tin – they’re pants you wear when you’re on your period – they have an absorbent gusset (I'm totally still immature enough to snigger at the word 'gusset' #sorrynotsorry) and soak up and lock away the blood. So all you have to do is pull on your pants, no pads shifting around and giving you a wedgie, or any of that nonsense.  I think they’re a brilliant option for teenage girls starting their periods, as they’re less daunting than being faced with a menstrual cup, and they can also be used for bleeding after you’ve given birth or if you suffer from stress incontinence (listen in to hear about my mild trauma going trampolining with the kids..!)I feel like we’ve done quite a bit of period talk in the iseason of the podcast – we’ve had Susie Hewson from Natracare talking about plastic in period products and wipes in Episode 31 and a fab chat with Celia, one of the co-founders of DAME, the first reusable tampon applicator (not as grim as it sounds!) in Episode 35.But there’s still so much of a taboo around periods, when half of the population has/will have/or has had them, so I figure the more we talk about it the better. And given that in the UK 4.6 million single use tampon and pads are flushed away every single day, I think the more we talk about reusable options for our periods, the better too.In this episode I’m chatting to Ruby Raut, founder of WUKA (which stands for Wake Up Kick Ass just in case you were wondering!) a UK brand of period pants – she tells us her powerful story behind starting the company, and some of the bigger issues that WUKA is helping to tackle with regards to period taboos and ocean plastic.Listen in, and do let me know your thoughts. If you’ve got two minutes it would be AMAZING if you could show the podcast some love over on itunes by leaving a rating and a review, and of course, tell all your friends.Enjoy!Useful linksWUKA- Website- Facebook- Instagram- Twitter- ​WUKA's works with Plastic OceansPlastic Oceans UKA beginners guide to period pants (blog post)[031] - Plastic-free periods and wipes with Natracare (podcast)[035] - #BleedRedThinkGreen - The world's first reusable tampon applicator with DAME (podcast)A beginners guide to plastic-free and eco-friendly periods (blog post)WASHINGWash at 40C or belowHand washing is idealSimply rinse and then chuck in the wash with other dark coloured itemsDO NOT TUMBLE DRYRubber ringsTrampoline canvasFAQsHow many pairs would I need?If you bleed for the 'average' 4-5 day period, then you'll need around 7 pairs - 5 heavy, and 2 lightHow do I know when I need to change?Ordinarily the pants should feel dry, as the blood is locked away. once they reach 'peak absorbency' you'll start to notice them feeling a bit wet - this is the time to changeWhat do I do when I'm out and about?                                                       Simply carry a 'wet bag' with you with a clean pair in, pop your dirty pants in there, and your clean ones on. Then when you get back rinse and wash the dirty ones How long does a pair last?                                                                        The 'light flow' pants should last several years. The 'heavy flow' ones will start to lose absorbency after about 2 years, at which point you can relegate them to lighter flow days. […]

If you're anything like us the kids start to clamour for a paddling pool as soon as the weather gets above 18C and we have one sunny day, we get one, spend hours (and use lots of precious water) filling it, they play in it for about three seconds, and decide it's too cold, or the sun goes in. It then sits there collecting dead bugs and grass and leaves for a week or two, then somehow gets a puncture (which may or may not be related to the dog jumping into it) and starts a sad and slow decline. Leaving us with a swampy area on the lawn, sad children and a large amount of plastic destined for landfill.​Until Wyatt & Jack launched their #inflatableamnesty!​Wyatt & Jack are an amazing small business based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight that repurpose fabric from vintage deckchairs, bouncy castles, paddling pools and inflatables and turn them into gorgeous drool-worthy bags. So far they have saved somewhere between 80 and 90 tonnes of material from landfill - that's the equivalent to the weight of around 60 family cars!In this episode, I'm chatting to Georgia, founder of Wyatt & Jack, about how the business came about, and how a tiny little one or two man band ended up working with the likes of the National Trust and Thomas Cook. Georgia shares her amazing story and her brilliant ethos and I love the passion and drive that she has behind not only Wyatt & Jack, but about repurposing and reusing. If you find yourself with a punctured bouncy castle, lilo or beach ball this year, then join in with the #inflatableamnesty and keep all that plastic out of landfill.Enjoy!Useful linksWyatt & Jack- Website- Facebook- Instagram- Twitter- Inflatable Amnesty- Inflatable Amnesty map for drop off points- End of life policyHoliday Hypermarket have teamed up with Wyatt & Jack and are offering free postage labelsMore info on Wyatt & Jack's collaboration with Thomas CookMore info on the collaboration with the National TrustThe inflatable Stonehenge that travelled the country and now in a top secret location waiting to be turned into bags by Wyatt & Jack!What you can send for the #inflatableamnestyPaddling poolsLilosLatex balloonsBeach ballsWhoopee cushionsRubber ringsTrampoline canvasWhat you can't send for the #inflatableamnesty Helium balloonsSwimming capsSpace hoppersRubber footballsFAQsDo I have to pay postage?There are some items that Wyatt & Jack can refund postage costs on - the best thing is to e-mail Georgia to check.Can I get my own inflatable back as a bag? Yes you can! If you get in touch, Wyatt & Jack can give you a quote for commissions. Where to send your punctured inflatables:Wyatt & Jack Inflatable AmnestyUnit 7, Weavers Yard,Lane End,Bembridge. IOWPO35 5US […]

DID YOU KNOW?We only have around 30- 40 years of fertile soil left in the UK? And golabally optimistic estimates are around 60 years. The problem is that modern agricultural practices take out more from the soil than they put back in, leaving it depleted of the nutrient that plants need to grown. And as 98% of our fod comes from the soil, this should be causing more of a stir than it is.The answer though is simple. And according to today's guest Anna de la Vega from The Urban Worm, it’s worms. Worm farming is a double whammy (in a good way)  – it’s a brilliant way to deal with our food waste (which if sent to landill releases methane and nitrous oxide, both of which are highly potent greenhouse gases) AND it creates amazing quality compost containing all of the essential nutrients that plants need to grow ,which is super concentrated meaning you only need small amounts.In lots of countries it’s being done an industrial scale, but here in the UK we are lagging behind a little. No doubt been distracted by a certain B word…But worm farming is something that we can all do on a household scale, even if we don’t have a garden. We can use our little worm pets to munch away on our food waste, so a worm farm is an ideal solution to food waste if you don’t hve a council food waste collection and don’t have a garden for a compost bin.Food waste is a massive issue when it comes to the climate crisis  - indeed if food waste were a country it would the 3rd biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after the USA and China. So it’s something we should all be working on. Obviously we should all be looking to minimise our food waste by meal planning, having a healthy disregard for best before dates, and dishing up sensible portions, but there will always be a certain amount of unavoidable food waste, no matter how anal diligent we are about it - things like banana skins, egg shells, tea bags etc etc.In this episode we chat all things worms, and Anna gives us the run down on setting up our own wormery, what to do and what not to do, and how to keep our worms happy.I’m super inspired to set my own now, and I hope after listening to this that you will be too!Enjoy!Useful linksThe Urban Worm- Website- Facebook- Instagram- 20L mini worm farm kits- How to set up a mini worm farm- Wheelie bin worm farm DIY kits- How to set up a wheelie bin worm farmCompost worms from Yorkshire WormsCan o Worms from Wiggly WigglersA Beginners Guide to Wormeries […]

I had the great pleasure of chatting to Tillie Mabbutt recently for Episode 37 of the Sustainable(ish) podcast, where she shared with us her amazing business Frome Eco Party Packages, and her top tips for anyone wanting to start up a similar thing near them. She's very kindly helped me to collate this little "How to.." guide with all the info in one place to make it super easy. Why you might want to:I'm sure any parent will tell you that kids birthday parties are massively wasteful - and that's before we even get started on presents and party bags. Many of us will resort to paper plates and cups to lighten the load a little but all of this ends up in our black bins and the more aware we become about plastic and rubbish, the more we’re realising that there is no simple magic land of ‘away' where the fairies take our rubbish and turn it into unicorns and flowers. It all has to go somewhere, and if it’s in our black bins it’s going to landfill or incineration – neither of which are great (to say the least) for the environment. Most paper plates aren't recyclable so we can't use recycling to ease our consciences, and so-called compostable plates and cups are only truly compostable under industrial conditions, which are only available in a few selected sites around the country.The ideal scenario is to use reusable party ware, but how many of have enough in our cupboards at home to deal with a whole party?More and more people are wanting to do the right thing by the planet, but it makes no sense at all for each of to buy (and then store for most of the year) enough reusable plates and cups. Having a service that allows these things to be hired out to families as and when they need them makes perfect sense.It sounds like a great project for a school PTA?Yes and no. In fact, the inspiration for Frome Eco Party Packages came from an article Tillie read about a  PTA in Wales doing exactly this. But as Tillie points out it seems ridiculous for every school in a town to buy the stuff and set up a scheme, when it would be much more sensible (and indeed more eco-friendly) to just have one central service for the whole town.If you still love the idea of being able to fundraise for PTAs you can do as Tillie does and donate a percentage of the fee to the child's school's PTA (Tillie donates 15%).What do I need?Tillie has bought enought for two 'Ultimate party packs' which include:20 plates20 cups4 food trays2 water jugs10 bowls for snacks and crisps1 birthday bunting2 compostable food waste bagsOptional add onsDepending on how involved you want to make it, other ideas for additional extras you could offer include:CutleryEco-friendly/plastic-free party bags (there are ideas for these here) or you could hook up with an existing eco party bag businessAdditional buntingPompoms/balloon alternativesWashable tableclothes Washable napkinsCakes/cupcakesShould I use plastic? Aren't we trying to avoid plastic?The main issue with plastic is single use plastic. Plastic in itself is actually a really useful material, especially for situations like kids parties where breakages are a possibility. Plus it's super easy to clean and can ultimately be recycled.Bamboo picninc ware tends to still be mixed with some kind of resin or plastic polymers making it difficult to recyle at the end of it's life and is also prone to breaking if it's dropped. The plates etc that Tillie has found are BPA free, and dishwasher safe - so if you don't use the links below, do look for these two things. Where to buy?In an ideal world we'd try and pool together things from friends and neighbours, which can be a great idea if you're just doing it for your own use, but if people are paying for a service you may find that they're happier with something that all matches and isn't already looking too worn. Ikea plates - £1.20 for 6Ikea bowls - £1.20 for 6Ikea cups - £1.20 for 6Ikea plastic cutlery - £1.20 for six sets of knife/fork/spoonColourful serving plattersJugs - Tillie says she got theirs from Sainsburys but I can't find a link at the moment!Bunting - obviously if you can make your own, or know someone who would be willing, that's awesome. A great idea is to reuse old fabric, so look out for colourful bed sheets etc in charity shops. Failing that a quick 'Ecosia search' led me to this company that make bunting from upcycled fabric.How/where to store it allIkea do a range of various plastic boxes with lids - this one here looks like it would do the job .Or there's these ones with castors that also have lids available. Try and find something that will stack well so you can pop a couple on top of each other. If you've got a garage or a shed then you can store it there (make sure the kid is on to prevent dust etc) or failing that find a corner of your home to squeeze it in! Make sure it's easily accessible thought otherwise it will become a total nightmare trying to heft it out each time it's needed.Total start-up costsThis obviously depends on how many setting you buy - if you buy 60 plates and cups you will have enough for 3 x 20, or 2 x 20 with spares for people to hire as add-ons60 plates = £1260 cups = £1212 food trays = £23.256 water jugs = £1230 bowls for snacks and crisps = £61 birthday bunting - price will vary or you can make your own2 compostable food waste bags - a pack is around £5 or £62 x storage boxes (obviouls you could use something you already have) = £14Total cost around  £80 excluding bunting How much should I charge?This is obviously entirely up to you, but as a guide Tillie charges £10 for their 'Ultimate Party Package' (see above for contents) and then £1.50 for every additional 5 childrens place settings.Tillie charges a £5 refundable depost payable when the booking is made and refunded when the package is returned.Tillie also offers an optional washing up service for anyone who really can't be bothered with it, and in this case she simply keeps the £5 deposit.Do I need a website and loads of techie knowledge?No! Keep it simple - at least to start with. If you go on to decide you want to create an all singing all dancing business and website to match, then go for it, but I think for most, this will be a lovely community side project rather than a money making business. This is what you'll need:A Facebook page - you can see the Frome Eco Party Package FB page hereFrome Eco Party Packages also has an Instagram page (optional) Some way of taking payment - this can be Paypal or a bank transferA diary to keep track of who has placed ordersAnything else?At Frome Eco Party Packages Tillie pops a little info sheet in the box with info on about cleaning and using the bunting etc which also has a mini inventory of what's in the box so people know what they should be returning.  […]

Kids birthday parties can be a  nightmare when it comes to the waste and plastic tat that they generate. Yet we all want our little darlings to have a fun and memorable party don't we? And ideally we want to do it with the least amount of stress and work!I’m sure we’re all familiar with the scenario at the end of a party where all the paper plates, cups, bowls, and food waste get swept into black bin liners and deposited in the bin – job done and we get to breathe a sigh of relief that we survived and can now go home and put our feet up. But all that rubbish! And the more aware we become about plastic and rubbish, the more we’re realising that there is no simple magic land of ‘away' where the fairies take our rubbish and turn it into unicorns and flowers. It all has to go somewhere, and if it’s in our black bins it’s going to landfill or incineration – neither of which are great (to say the least) for the environment. So what about recyclable plates I hear you ask? Could these be our get out of eco-jail free card and leave us with a clear conscience? Well... it’s complicated. Lots of paper plates can’t be recycled, especially ones that are brightly coloured or themed with Disney characters etc. And add to that there may well be contamination from contact with food and it really is a big fat no-no. OK, so how about compostable plates? There are more and more so called compostable plates on the market, but this term can be really misleading and many are only truly compostable under industrial conditions, which are only available in a few selected sites around the country.If you remember my favourite, the Waste Hierarchy, what we really want to do is to use reusable plates and cups (it feels a little mean to either refuse our children a birthday party, or reduce the number of birthdays we allow them...), but it feels like quite an expense, not to mention finding storage etc for it, to buy enough  for a couple of parties a year. Which is where businesse like Frome Eco Party Packages come in. It was started by Tillie Mabbutt in Frome, in Somerset just a month or so ago, after reading an article about a school PTA who have set one up for families to hire. And it’s such a beautifully simple idea. Tillie has sourced resusable plastic (yes, plastic, but reusable and pretty indestructible, and BPA free too) plates, bowls, cups, trays and jugs and hires out ‘party packs’ for families to use and then return. It’s SUCH a great idea, and how amazing would it be to have one in every town!Listen in to find out more, and Tillie’s top tips for getting set up if you love the sound of this so much you want to set up your own (I've compiled all of Tillie's tips into a "How to.." post here)!Enjoy!Useful linksFrome Eco Party Packages- Facebook- InstagramHow to set up a reusable party package service for kids birthday parties in your town (blog post) The reusable sandwich wraps that Tillie refers toTille and her family have swapped cleaning products and have started buying BioD in bulkThe news article about a PTA setting up an eco party packIkea plates - £1.20 for 6Ikea bowls - £1.20 for 6Ikea cups - £1.20 for 6Ikea plastic cutlery - £1.20 for six sets of knife/fork/spoonColourful serving plattersJugs - Tillie says she got theirs from Sainsburys but I can't find a link at the moment!Bunting - obviously if you can make your own, or know someone who would be willing, that's awesome. A great idea is to reuse old fabric, so look out for colourful bed sheets etc in charity shops. Failing that a quick 'Ecosia search' led me to this company that make bunting from upcycled fabric. The Eco Party Bags that Tillie refers toPlastic-free(ish) party bags (blog post)  […]

Today I’m chatting to Helen and Joe, co-founders of EcoTales, who have been friends since meeting each other at school at the age of 12. EcoTales is a podcast for primary school children that aims to share nature knowledge and inspire future generations to love and defend the planet. And it does it brilliantly through stories and songs helped by a cast of 26 animated alphabet characters. There’s PolyPlastic and Willow Water and Etta Earth, who alongside all their friends, tell Eco-Tales to not only engage children but also to help us to start having some of these conversataions with  our own kids about some of the big issues we’re facing.In  this episode we dig into how to talk to talk to our kids about the climate crisis without freaking them out, how to get older kids on board, what role schools should be playing in educating children about the future they might be facing and a whole host of other stuff. Now if that all sounds a bit heavy and hardcore, please don’t worry, it’s honestly not. It’s more a light hearted chin-wag over a cuppa, sharing our experiences with our own kids - things that have worked and some things that haven’t - when it comes to talking to them about the planet and the choices we're making.Enjoy!Key Takeaways:Children inherently care about natureBe as open as you can, and explain why you're making the choices you're making - obviously in an age appropriate way, and at a time when they're open to what you're saying (i.e. not in the middle of a meltdown in the supermarket about magazines/Kinder eggs/other assorted plastic crap)Encourage connections with natureHave the conversations naturally as they come upOlder children/teenagers can be more difficult to engage but we can also be more open and honest with them about the impacts of our actionsEasy actions include growing veg, feeding the birds, 'seed bombing', picking up litter, remembering to use reusable water bottles - all of these actions help our children to feel empowered rather than overwhelmedJoin in with the #ecotalespromise - make a simple promise for the planetwith your kids and share on social media using the #ecotalespromise hashtag'Poly Plastic' was made by professor Leo at Rock Laboratory and although she is useful, this cheeky superhero misfit must be handled with care!  Her unique superpowers make her indestructible and able to mould herself into any shape or object she wants. However, it is these very qualities that make her adventures into the wild so dangerous.  The question is, where will she end up next?Useful linksEcoTales- Website- Facebook- Instagram- Twitter"Gloop" - the award winning 'twisted fairytale' about the meteoric rise of plastic that Joe worked onPlastic-free(ish) party bags (blog post) "Beebombs" SeedbombsEcoTales Warrior Project on the TES siteAchieving Greenness - Joe and Helen's recommendation for a future guest […]