It’s possible to raise kids without leaving behind a huge carbon footprint. By thinking about the products you buy and by adopting certain habits, you can minimise the waste and emissions you create. In most cases, you’ll save money as well as saving the planet. Below are just a few small ways to embrace eco-friendly parenting.
Buy second-hand
Instead of buying brand new baby clothes and equipment, consider shopping for second-hand items. Not only is it much cheaper to do this, but better for the environment – you’re extending the life of preloved items that would otherwise be thrown away. Sometimes it’s possible to find baby clothes that have never even been worn. Charity shops, Facebook Marketplace and eBay are some of the best places to shop for used baby and kids items. Make sure to thoroughly clean items after buying them and make sure that they are in a safe condition.
Sell, donate and hand down items
You can also actively reduce the waste you create as a parent by making sure that the baby clothes and toys you acquire are passed onto others rather than throwing them away. Sell items on Facebook Marketplace, donate to charity shops or hand down clothing to younger siblings. There may even be family members who have kids that you can give items to when you no longer need them.
Choose sustainable clothing brands
When it comes to clothing, look into sustainable brands. Many UK-based companies are now focused on creating eco-friendly baby wear using organic cotton or recycled materials. This includes brands like Frugi and Toby Tiger that have fun and vibrant designs. If you’re planning to have more than one kid, sometimes it’s better to invest in higher quality clothing that can last through multiple children – cheaper clothing is more likely to get damaged early.
Try cloth nappies
Disposable nappies may be convenient, but their negative impact on the environment is staggering. Switching to cloth nappies can hugely reduce your plastic waste (estimates suggest that a single child goes through 5,000 disposable nappies in their first few years!). Nowadays, it’s possible to buy cloth nappies in various styles and materials at various price tags. Most of them are machine-washable (just make sure to follow wash instructions as many may need to be rinsed first).
Wash full loads (and use your washing line)
Laundry is a big source of household energy consumption, and you can expect your laundry pile to double in size when having kids. While investing in an energy-efficient washing machine can make a difference, a simpler way to reduce energy is to change the way you wash clothes. Instead of washing lots of frequent small loads, try to wash full loads to reduce cycles – you’ll use less water and less electricity, leading to lower utility bills and a lower carbon footprint. Also think about how you dry your clothes – while it’s easy to chuck everything in a tumble dryer, hanging up clothes on a washing line or clothes horse can greatly reduce your energy use as dryers tend to be very power-hungry appliances.
Limit food waste
More mouths to feed means more potential food waste. Try to avoid cooking larger portions than necessary unless you’re going to reuse leftovers. Kids can be picky eaters, but you can still reduce waste by watching portions and getting to know their safe foods (foods they will always eat). Remember that you can freeze foods to extend their life.
Teach your kids green habits
Teaching kids green habits from a young age can help them to intrinsically continue these habits as adults. This includes teaching kids about recycling (such as which items go in which bins) and conserving energy usage around the home (such as turning off light switches when exiting a room). Make sure to also discourage littering by making them aware of the negative impact it can have. Also get your kids used to walking so that they don’t expect lifts everywhere.
Don’t drive everywhere
Speaking of which, it’s important to not get lazy as a parent and drive everywhere just because it’s faster and more convenient. When travelling somewhere fairly local, consider walking with the pram or even use a baby carrier. You’ll not only reduce emissions, but it will keep you physically fit. For longer distances, you can also take public transport like buses and trains to reduce emissions. Make sure you leave enough time to get ready – you’re more likely to take your car if you leave it to the last minute.
