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My Happy Footprint

Eco-happy living by Nati

Tag:

meat

    My Happy Footprint - 30 Day Vegan Challenge - The effect of meat on your carbon footprint
    Food

    I sucked at my first Vegan Challenge. This is what I learned

    by Nati 02/05/2018
    written by Nati

    When I was a student, I used to work in this cute little restaurant. The food was nothing extraordinary, but it was a very cosy place, great atmosphere. One of those restaurants where customers and staff knew each other. It was a lovely spot, except if you were a vegetarian or vegan. I remember a time where the only vegetarian option on the menu was “The Macho Nacho”, which literally was a big pile of nachos, with grilled cheese on top and a green salad on the side. As a vegan, you basically didn’t have any options.

    This was twelve years ago. A lot of things have changed since then. Vegan and vegetarian options are all over the place. Amsterdam even has it’s own Funky Vegan Foodtruck Festival. It seems as more and more people shift towards a flexitarian, vegetarian or vegan diet. And I think that’s great. Besides the harsh conditions of many farm animals, the consumption of meat, dairy and eggs has a big impact on our ecological footprint.

    My Happy Footprint - 30 Day Vegan Challenge - The effect of meat on your carbon footprintThough studies use different methods and therefore show different results – some for example only focus on beef, others include other types of meat as well – all results clearly state that reducing the consumption of food that comes from livestock has a significant impact on our carbon footprint. If you want to measure your carbon footprint and know how many planets we would need if everyone lives like you, you can do that here.

    Some facts about the effect of the consumption of meat on the carbon footprint

    • Dutch people in 2016 consumed on average 76.8 kilos of meat per person. Although that is lower than the average of European countries (86 kilos per person), it is still a lot.
    • Cutting down meat consumption will reduce your carbon footprint more than giving up your car according to some studies.
    • The water needed to feed 1 meat-eter for 7 days (based on 200 grams of meat per day) equals the same amount of water for 7 MONTHS of showering.
    • Each day that you refuse to eat meat, saves 1740 grams of CO2. A tree needs approximately one month to clean that.

    Allright, so no animal cruelty, less work for the trees AND saving a few coins, as meat is more expensive than veggies, sounds like a good plan to me. So I decided to take the Vegan Challenge, a (Dutch) challenge where for 30 days you try to avoid any product with animal origin. I am a big fan of challenges. I do a 30-day “No alcohol and no coffee” challenge at least once a year, I challenged myself not to buy any clothes this year and I am training to run half a marathon. So, what’s one more challenge?

    Well. I completely screwed up the Vegan Challenge.

    My first vegan challenge is finished and I can say I did not do that well. Ok, I DID significantly lower my intake of products with animal origin. So that’s the good thing. But I ate meat. On the second day of the challenge. I ate dairy several times. And eggs. Yup, that’s right. All three of them. And probably a whole bunch of other stuff too that is not vegan.

    But, as Albert Einstein once quoted:

    If you’ve never failed, you’ve never tried anything new

    So instead of throwing in the towel, I prefer to analyze WHY I failed, so next time I can do better. Yes, there is going to be a next time. I am not sure if I will ever make it to complete veganism, but each change I can make is one in the right direction.

    My Happy Footprint - 30 Day Vegan Challenge - The effect of meat on your carbon footprint

    There are two main reasons I failed this Vegan Challenge:

    1. I did not share

    I made the mistake of not sharing the fact that I was taking this challenge with the people around me. Which led to the situation where hubbie and I were invited over for dinner on the second day of the challenge and the host made a steak. I did not want to insult her, nor did I want the steak to end up in the trash bin, so I decided to eat it anyway.

    Honestly, I am not feeling that comfortable obligating other people to cook vegan for me. I am taking this challenge, not them. What if one person doesn’t eat meat, but the other one dislikes veggies and a third one cannot stand nuts or rice? How on Earth are you supposed to cook dinner then? I have a friend in Argentina who is vegetarian and she brings her own food to the weekly asados (barbecues) and that works perfectly. I am wondering how other vegans (or vegetarians) are coping with this?

    1. I did not prepare

    So, sharing is one thing, preparing is another. Oh boy, did I mess up in this area. If you sign up for the challenge, you receive a daily newsletter full of useful information and recipe inspiration. However, more than once, I found myself standing in front of my kitchen cupboard or fridge reaching the conclusion that a vegan meal was impossible as I missed half of the ingredients. And I try to avoid shopping at supermarkets because of the excessive use of plastic, so doing the groceries requires some planning ahead (as farmers markets and independent stores usually close around 18.00 here). I now realize that a no-animal, no-plastic diet requires even more planning.

    “Share, prepare, share, prepare, share, prepare”. For the next Vegan Challenge this will definitely become my motto!

    Lessons learned

    My Happy Footprint - 30 Day Vegan Challenge - The effect of meat on your carbon footprint

    Eventhough I did not go 100% vegan in April, I DID manage to significantly lower my meat, dairy and egg intake. I found some lovely recipes that I will definitely include into my cooking rituals. Here are my most important take-aways

    1. Many products that you expect to be vegan, aren’t.

    I learned that carmine (a red / pinkish pigment often used on top of cookies, but also on M&M’s and in fruit drinks) is produced from scale insects. Not vegan-friendly!

    1. You can make brownies without eggs.

    Use sweet potatoes instead, replace the regular milk with plant based milk and you have a jummie vegan option. There are dozens of recipes available online.

    1. There are tons of delicious vegan spreads.

    I used to enjoy smoked chicken on my sandwich at least once a week, but that option is out of the window now. With options such as hummus, baba ganoush or a mushroom-cashew pate, who needs meat? This simple swap saves me a lot of money and approximately 4 chickens per year. That might sound like nothing, but I always apply my “What if 1 million people would do the same?”rule. And I guess we can’t say 4 million chicken is an insignificant number. And this is ONLY by replacing what you put on your sandwich. That’s not too difficult to do, is it?

    1. Not each vegan option has the same impact on your footprint

    Many of the recipes for example include avocado. And although I definitely enjoy this green treasure every now and then, several studies show that the boom of the avocado has a downside.

    1. A lot of vegan alternatives are wrapped in plastic.

    I can go to my local market and ask for a piece of unwrapped cheese, but so far I haven’t been able to find plastic free vegan cheese. With 8 million tons of plastic being dumped into our oceans each year, I am not so happy about many of the vegan options yet. Hopefully this will change soon!

    My first Vegan Challenge was a lot of fun and a struggle at the same time. I acquired new knowledge, and became more conscious AND cautious of what to put in my mouth. I will definitely sign up for the next one.

    If you are interested in taking a Vegan Challenge too, there are many initiatives, such as this one from the UK and this one from Australia.

    02/05/2018 0 comment
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About Me

About Me

Hi, I am Nati (short for Nathalie).

I am just a girl who is trying to make a positive impact on the world, by small and everyday actions. Supported by husband Gabi and cat Toni.

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myhappyfootprint

🌎 Nati
🍀 Just a girl trying to make a positive change
👫 Supported by @gabo_bel and Toni the 😻
🌳 November: #digitaldetox!
💚 DM for collab

Instagram post 2120565128278767448_6888434909 "Torch of freedom". That is how cigarettes were promoted in the 1920s and 1930s. Insane, right? "Stick of destruction" seems more appropriate to me...⁣
⁣
Most of us are aware of the health consequences of smoking, but the cigarette is destroying so much more than just our lungs. It's killing the planet. And surprisingly enough, you hardly hear anyone about this in the debate about climate change, global warming and the loss of biodiversity. So here is my modest contribution to try to change that and to create some awareness.⁣
⁣
Did you know that...⁣
⁣
🚬 The tobacco industry is a HUGE driver of deforestation? In China, 18% of the deforestation is caused by the tobacco industry. In the Miombo ecosystem - a forest area of 2.4 million hectares  that spans across 10 African countries - it's even up to 50%!⁣
⁣
🚬 11.4 million metric tonnes of wood are utilized annually for curing: the drying of the tobacco leaf. ⁣
⁣
🚬 That's the equivalent of cutting down 1 tree per 300 cigarettes.⁣
⁣
🚬 An estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered worldwide each year. On the contrary to popular belief, cigarette butts are NOT made of cotton and paper, but of plastic and they contain a lot of toxic chemicals.⁣
⁣
🚬 That's about 75% of ALL cigarettes being consumed.⁣
⁣
🚬 A single cigarette butt is toxic enough to pollute 8 liters (or 2.11 gallons) of water.⁣
⁣
Follow the link in the bio to find out more about this silent killer AND what you can do to contribute to the battle for a #buttfree world. One thing you can do is to join me and @groenmetsaar on September 16th at the beach of Scheveningen for a #beachcleanup. PM me for more info.⁣
⁣
One last thought... Why do we almost never hear anything about this in the media? Maybe because of the fact that the profit of the 5 world's biggest tobacco companies was 35 billion USD in 2016, allowing investors to receive 19 billion USD in dividends?
⁣
#stopthetobaccolobby #stopsmoking #stoplittering #greedsucks 
#savetheplanet #savetheoceans #planetbeforeprofit #peoplebeforeprofit #noplanetb #deforestation #savethetrees #climatechange #cigarettebutts #cigarettepollution #PlasticPollution #BreakFreeFromPlastic⁣
Instagram post 2109633410003499194_6888434909 The U.N. estimates that we can expect somewhere between 200 million and 1 billion climate refugees on the move around the world by 2050. Just take a minute to think about the magnitude of this number. Even in the "low" scenario, it would mean that all the inhabitants of Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, Norway and The Netherlands would be on the move...⁣
⁣
The sad thing is, however, that most likely citizens from the above mentioned countries will NOT be the ones that will be the first victims of climate change. No, the first ones to become victims of climate change are people in places like Guatemala, where heat and drought already have made it so hard in certain places to grow food that people are forced to leave their homes. And they were and are NOT the ones who pump crazy amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In fact, Guatemalas #CountryOvershootDay (the day where the country has used more resources from the Earth than the planet can renew in an entire year) is on November 13th according to the @globalfootprintnetwork, whereas the global #EarthOvershootDay is on July 29th. And, as a comparison, the CountryOvershootDay of The Netherlands is on May 4th.⁣
⁣
Bill McKibben, environmentalist, founder of @350org and author of books such as "The End of Nature" and "Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?" actually decided to get himself arrested last week, protesting against the immigration policy of the U.S. He wrote an article in @newyorkermag that is definitely worth reading. It's about his motives to get arrested and how immigration and climate change are highly intertwined issues.⁣
⁣
Now, I am not saying I know WHAT to do, as this is a highly complex issue. But I do agree with Bill when he writes: "We have to try to slow down that heating, of course, but we also have to come up with ways to help our fellow-humans endure this new world. Cages and walls— and ranting about “invasions” — are as ugly as they are pointless."⁣
⁣
#climatechange #globalwarming #refugees #peoplehelpingpeople #community #oneplanet #noplanetb #climatecrisis #refugeecrisis⁣ #klimaatverandering #duurzaamheid #carbondioxide #co2
Instagram post 2098911216911465026_6888434909 A serious face for a serious topic: #EarthOvershootDay. At the end of this day, we, as humanity, have BUSTED the budget of the Earth. We have have used more from nature than our planet can renew in the entire year.⁣
⁣
Last year, Earth Overshoot Day was on August 1st, so we are heading in the wrong direction folks. The good thing is, there is still time to turn this around. We still can DO something about it. Though time is running out and we have to act NOW!⁣
⁣
On the official website of the @globalfootprintnetwork you will find many useful tips on how to #movethedate. You can also calculate your PERSONAL overshoot day there and see what part of your lifestyle has the biggest impact on your ecological footprint. I got the message that the site is currently under maintenance when I tried to access it (I hope that that's caused by soooo many people wanting to take action!!) so I haven't been able to calculate mine today, but once I get the chance, I will definitely do that. Eventhough I already KNOW that I am not going to be within the boundaries of the Earth, I will take that test. Man, that international love can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. Is there anyone of my followers who sails across the ocean instead of flying to visit family or friends? I would be so inspired by that!⁣
⁣
⁣
What are your actions to #movethedate? Share them in the comments below, so we can all learn from one another! ⁣
⁣
#noplanetb #climatechange #globalwarming #ecowarrior #sustainability #footprint #carbonfootprint #consciouslifestyle #wecandothis
Instagram post 2079294516661413314_6888434909 👖 I honestly do not know a single person who doesn't own at least 1 pair of jeans.⁣
⁣
🌍 It is estimated that worldwide there are 2 billion pairs of jeans sold each year. This is a BIG market. And that also makes the impact on both planet and people huge.⁣
⁣
📈 @abnamronl and @Impact_Inst researched the 'hidden cost' of one of the favorite items in our wardrobes. Hidden cost are environmental cost, such as water shortage or pollution in areas where cotton is grown and social cost, such as child labor, underpaid workers and unsafe or unhealthy working conditions. All those cost together form the true price gap: direct external cost that are not part of the price label on your favorite pair of jeans, but that are paid by local communities, future generations or garment workers. ⁣
⁣
💶 And that true price gap is 33 euros. For each pair of jeans!⁣
⁣
🏷️ The interesting part of the research however is not that it advocates that the price of a pair of jeans should literally be 33 euros higher. It aims to visualize where the biggest opportunities are to do things in a more sustainable way, for both planet and people.⁣
⁣
What do you think is the biggest driver of the true price gap? (Hint: the answer can be found through the link in the bio - and it was a real eye opener for me!)⁣
⁣
#SlowFashionSeason #fairfashion #slowfashion #truecostpricing #consciousfashion #ethicalfashion #fairwear #whomademyclothes #positivechange #impact #ecowarrior #changemakers #planetbeforeprofit #peoplebeforeprofit #noplanetb #truecost #cleanclothes
Instagram post 2070565438358104629_6888434909 How's your #LowImpactBucketList doing? ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Almost halfway through the year I thought it would be a good moment to check the list I made in the beginning of 2019, containing 20 things I wanted to do this year to lower my #footprint (curious about the list? You can reach it through the link in the bio).⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Of the 20 items, I have completed 5 so far. I have signed up for #SlowFashionSummer of @collaction_org (it starts on Friday, the 21st of June, so you can still join), read @zerowastehome, went to a @thenextnormal event, compensated my flight to Argentina through @bamboovillageuganda (note: I still have to compensate the return flight and am looking for cool projects!), and I didn't buy any clothes (I DID receive 3 second hand items in 2019). ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I am confident I can check off more of the items in the remaining months of the year. I am a little behind on trying new #zerowaste recipes (your favorites are welcome in the comments!) and due to some maintenance issues our balcony is currently not suitable for veggies or composting. But... preparations for a #beachcleanup have started (stay tuned!) AND I found out that the @ekoplaza bio around the corner of our house joined @toogoodtogo.nl, so I am ready to rescue food.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
What's on your bucket list? What have you been doing to lower your #footprint this year?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
#noplanetb #ecowarrior #movethedate #carbonfootprint #lowfootprint #lessstuffmorehappiness #savetheearth #consciousfashion #fairfashion #nofoodwaste #changemakers
Instagram post 2059677471196344667_6888434909 ⁣Today, the @globalfootprintnetwork announced the date that marks #EarthOvershootDay 2019. I's the day when we have used more from nature than our planet can renew in an entire year.⁣ 🌍
⁣
Last year, Earth Overshoot Day was on August 1st. Sad to say, we have moved away another 2 days of living within the natural boundaries of the Earth. The last time that happened by the way was somewhere in the sixties....⁣
⁣
But let's be positive. Let's try to turn it around! There are so many things we can do to #MoveTheDate and I feel like the awareness and "we can do this" vibe is alive and kicking. ⁣
⁣
Am I wrong? Please tell me I am not by sharing some positive energy in the comments: things you have done to move the date, your personal overshoot day (you can calculate it through the link in my bio), or just some green hearted love. I could use it.⁣ 💚
⁣
We.⁣
Can.⁣
Do.⁣
This.⁣
⁣
#WorldEnvironmentDay #teamplanet #noplanetb #ecowarrior #greenlove #planetfirst ⁣
Instagram post 2040801639427146573_6888434909 Seems like this week isn't the most positive week. 😪

After the shocking report of the @ipbes_ that 1 million species are in danger of extinction because of human activity, today, May 10th, marks the EU #OvershootDay. 
It's the date by which humanity would have exhausted nature’s annual budget if all people lived like EU residents, according to findings of the @globalfootprintnetwork and @wwf. 
The EU’s impact on the planet’s resources is inequitable: the EU uses almost 20% of the Earth’s biocapacity although it comprises only 7% of the world's population. THAT IS TOO MUCH!! If everyone lived like EU residents (and I am one of them), we would need 2.8 planets. 🌍🌍🌍 There are differences between countries, but NONE of the EU countries stays within the planetary boundaries. Luxembourg is the worst by far, having its #CountryOvershootDay on February 16th. My country, The Netherlands, isn't doing any better, reaching the boundaries already on May 4th. 
I will write a more detailed blog post on the topic soon, but if you are interested in the report, head over to the @globalfootprintnetwork website and click on "tools and resources >> publications". You'll find the report there.

Despite all the worrying news, I wish you all a happy weekend! 💚💚💚 #sustainability #noplanetb #savetheplanet #savetheearth #savethetrees #treehugger #LessStuffMoreHappiness #carbonfootprint #ecowarrior#greenheart #lovetheplanet #planetearth #MoveTheDate #biodiversity #youronlyhome
Instagram post 2038452575960063447_6888434909 One million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. Because of us. 😰

A compelling report that reveals how we are ravaging the very ecosystems that support our societies was published by @ipbes_

From the bees that pollinate our crops, to the forests that hold back flood waters, we destroy pretty much everything. 
Three-quarters of the land-based environment and about 66% of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions. 
I tried to access the 40-page summary (the total report is 1,800 pages), but due to too many requests, the file is currently unavailable. I hope that this is a sign that we are waking up to the fact that we are destroying our only home and that we must act NOW! 🌍🌍 If you are interested in knowing the key facts of the report, head over to @ipbes_ or to the @bbc site, where there is a comprehensive and well written article about the current nature crisis.

What do you think, are we still on time to turn this around? 💚

#planetbeforeprofit #peoplebeforeprofit #ecosystems #biodiversity #systemchange #sustainability #savetheplanet #savetheseas #oneplanet #environment #conservation #environmentalscience
Instagram post 2029928086847348577_6888434909 It's #FashionRevolutionWeek. Six years ago, the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh collapsed, which killed 1138 people. People who were working there so we can feed our #fastfashion hunger and pay 5 euros for a shirt we'll wear twice and then toss it out... 😰

The fashion industry is such a dirty business in so many ways. But luckily, there are companies who do things differently. Like @xinca_eco_shoes. This beautiful organization turns trash into fashion and supports those in need by offering fair job opportunities. How? Head over to the link in the bio to find out. ☝

As consumers, by supporting companies like @xinca_eco_shoes, we can make a difference. Let's change the fashion industry together! 💚 📷 by Xinca Eco Shoes

#fairfashion #consciousfashion #votewithyourwallet #whomademyclothes #planetbeforeprofit #peoplebeforeprofit #nosponjustfan #prosperitywithoutgrowth #doughnuteconomics #ethicalfashion #zerowastefashion #slowfashion #madeinprison #noplanetb #upcycledfashion #changemakers #ecowarriors #socialentrepreneurship #thestoryofstuff
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Instagram

myhappyfootprint

🌎 Nati
🍀 Just a girl trying to make a positive change
👫 Supported by @gabo_bel and Toni the 😻
🌳 November: #digitaldetox!
💚 DM for collab

Instagram post 2120565128278767448_6888434909 "Torch of freedom". That is how cigarettes were promoted in the 1920s and 1930s. Insane, right? "Stick of destruction" seems more appropriate to me...⁣
⁣
Most of us are aware of the health consequences of smoking, but the cigarette is destroying so much more than just our lungs. It's killing the planet. And surprisingly enough, you hardly hear anyone about this in the debate about climate change, global warming and the loss of biodiversity. So here is my modest contribution to try to change that and to create some awareness.⁣
⁣
Did you know that...⁣
⁣
🚬 The tobacco industry is a HUGE driver of deforestation? In China, 18% of the deforestation is caused by the tobacco industry. In the Miombo ecosystem - a forest area of 2.4 million hectares  that spans across 10 African countries - it's even up to 50%!⁣
⁣
🚬 11.4 million metric tonnes of wood are utilized annually for curing: the drying of the tobacco leaf. ⁣
⁣
🚬 That's the equivalent of cutting down 1 tree per 300 cigarettes.⁣
⁣
🚬 An estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered worldwide each year. On the contrary to popular belief, cigarette butts are NOT made of cotton and paper, but of plastic and they contain a lot of toxic chemicals.⁣
⁣
🚬 That's about 75% of ALL cigarettes being consumed.⁣
⁣
🚬 A single cigarette butt is toxic enough to pollute 8 liters (or 2.11 gallons) of water.⁣
⁣
Follow the link in the bio to find out more about this silent killer AND what you can do to contribute to the battle for a #buttfree world. One thing you can do is to join me and @groenmetsaar on September 16th at the beach of Scheveningen for a #beachcleanup. PM me for more info.⁣
⁣
One last thought... Why do we almost never hear anything about this in the media? Maybe because of the fact that the profit of the 5 world's biggest tobacco companies was 35 billion USD in 2016, allowing investors to receive 19 billion USD in dividends?
⁣
#stopthetobaccolobby #stopsmoking #stoplittering #greedsucks 
#savetheplanet #savetheoceans #planetbeforeprofit #peoplebeforeprofit #noplanetb #deforestation #savethetrees #climatechange #cigarettebutts #cigarettepollution #PlasticPollution #BreakFreeFromPlastic⁣
Instagram post 2109633410003499194_6888434909 The U.N. estimates that we can expect somewhere between 200 million and 1 billion climate refugees on the move around the world by 2050. Just take a minute to think about the magnitude of this number. Even in the "low" scenario, it would mean that all the inhabitants of Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, Norway and The Netherlands would be on the move...⁣
⁣
The sad thing is, however, that most likely citizens from the above mentioned countries will NOT be the ones that will be the first victims of climate change. No, the first ones to become victims of climate change are people in places like Guatemala, where heat and drought already have made it so hard in certain places to grow food that people are forced to leave their homes. And they were and are NOT the ones who pump crazy amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In fact, Guatemalas #CountryOvershootDay (the day where the country has used more resources from the Earth than the planet can renew in an entire year) is on November 13th according to the @globalfootprintnetwork, whereas the global #EarthOvershootDay is on July 29th. And, as a comparison, the CountryOvershootDay of The Netherlands is on May 4th.⁣
⁣
Bill McKibben, environmentalist, founder of @350org and author of books such as "The End of Nature" and "Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?" actually decided to get himself arrested last week, protesting against the immigration policy of the U.S. He wrote an article in @newyorkermag that is definitely worth reading. It's about his motives to get arrested and how immigration and climate change are highly intertwined issues.⁣
⁣
Now, I am not saying I know WHAT to do, as this is a highly complex issue. But I do agree with Bill when he writes: "We have to try to slow down that heating, of course, but we also have to come up with ways to help our fellow-humans endure this new world. Cages and walls— and ranting about “invasions” — are as ugly as they are pointless."⁣
⁣
#climatechange #globalwarming #refugees #peoplehelpingpeople #community #oneplanet #noplanetb #climatecrisis #refugeecrisis⁣ #klimaatverandering #duurzaamheid #carbondioxide #co2
Instagram post 2098911216911465026_6888434909 A serious face for a serious topic: #EarthOvershootDay. At the end of this day, we, as humanity, have BUSTED the budget of the Earth. We have have used more from nature than our planet can renew in the entire year.⁣
⁣
Last year, Earth Overshoot Day was on August 1st, so we are heading in the wrong direction folks. The good thing is, there is still time to turn this around. We still can DO something about it. Though time is running out and we have to act NOW!⁣
⁣
On the official website of the @globalfootprintnetwork you will find many useful tips on how to #movethedate. You can also calculate your PERSONAL overshoot day there and see what part of your lifestyle has the biggest impact on your ecological footprint. I got the message that the site is currently under maintenance when I tried to access it (I hope that that's caused by soooo many people wanting to take action!!) so I haven't been able to calculate mine today, but once I get the chance, I will definitely do that. Eventhough I already KNOW that I am not going to be within the boundaries of the Earth, I will take that test. Man, that international love can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. Is there anyone of my followers who sails across the ocean instead of flying to visit family or friends? I would be so inspired by that!⁣
⁣
⁣
What are your actions to #movethedate? Share them in the comments below, so we can all learn from one another! ⁣
⁣
#noplanetb #climatechange #globalwarming #ecowarrior #sustainability #footprint #carbonfootprint #consciouslifestyle #wecandothis
Instagram post 2079294516661413314_6888434909 👖 I honestly do not know a single person who doesn't own at least 1 pair of jeans.⁣
⁣
🌍 It is estimated that worldwide there are 2 billion pairs of jeans sold each year. This is a BIG market. And that also makes the impact on both planet and people huge.⁣
⁣
📈 @abnamronl and @Impact_Inst researched the 'hidden cost' of one of the favorite items in our wardrobes. Hidden cost are environmental cost, such as water shortage or pollution in areas where cotton is grown and social cost, such as child labor, underpaid workers and unsafe or unhealthy working conditions. All those cost together form the true price gap: direct external cost that are not part of the price label on your favorite pair of jeans, but that are paid by local communities, future generations or garment workers. ⁣
⁣
💶 And that true price gap is 33 euros. For each pair of jeans!⁣
⁣
🏷️ The interesting part of the research however is not that it advocates that the price of a pair of jeans should literally be 33 euros higher. It aims to visualize where the biggest opportunities are to do things in a more sustainable way, for both planet and people.⁣
⁣
What do you think is the biggest driver of the true price gap? (Hint: the answer can be found through the link in the bio - and it was a real eye opener for me!)⁣
⁣
#SlowFashionSeason #fairfashion #slowfashion #truecostpricing #consciousfashion #ethicalfashion #fairwear #whomademyclothes #positivechange #impact #ecowarrior #changemakers #planetbeforeprofit #peoplebeforeprofit #noplanetb #truecost #cleanclothes
Instagram post 2070565438358104629_6888434909 How's your #LowImpactBucketList doing? ⁣⁣
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Almost halfway through the year I thought it would be a good moment to check the list I made in the beginning of 2019, containing 20 things I wanted to do this year to lower my #footprint (curious about the list? You can reach it through the link in the bio).⁣⁣
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Of the 20 items, I have completed 5 so far. I have signed up for #SlowFashionSummer of @collaction_org (it starts on Friday, the 21st of June, so you can still join), read @zerowastehome, went to a @thenextnormal event, compensated my flight to Argentina through @bamboovillageuganda (note: I still have to compensate the return flight and am looking for cool projects!), and I didn't buy any clothes (I DID receive 3 second hand items in 2019). ⁣⁣
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I am confident I can check off more of the items in the remaining months of the year. I am a little behind on trying new #zerowaste recipes (your favorites are welcome in the comments!) and due to some maintenance issues our balcony is currently not suitable for veggies or composting. But... preparations for a #beachcleanup have started (stay tuned!) AND I found out that the @ekoplaza bio around the corner of our house joined @toogoodtogo.nl, so I am ready to rescue food.⁣⁣
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What's on your bucket list? What have you been doing to lower your #footprint this year?⁣⁣
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#noplanetb #ecowarrior #movethedate #carbonfootprint #lowfootprint #lessstuffmorehappiness #savetheearth #consciousfashion #fairfashion #nofoodwaste #changemakers
Instagram post 2059677471196344667_6888434909 ⁣Today, the @globalfootprintnetwork announced the date that marks #EarthOvershootDay 2019. I's the day when we have used more from nature than our planet can renew in an entire year.⁣ 🌍
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Last year, Earth Overshoot Day was on August 1st. Sad to say, we have moved away another 2 days of living within the natural boundaries of the Earth. The last time that happened by the way was somewhere in the sixties....⁣
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But let's be positive. Let's try to turn it around! There are so many things we can do to #MoveTheDate and I feel like the awareness and "we can do this" vibe is alive and kicking. ⁣
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Am I wrong? Please tell me I am not by sharing some positive energy in the comments: things you have done to move the date, your personal overshoot day (you can calculate it through the link in my bio), or just some green hearted love. I could use it.⁣ 💚
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We.⁣
Can.⁣
Do.⁣
This.⁣
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#WorldEnvironmentDay #teamplanet #noplanetb #ecowarrior #greenlove #planetfirst ⁣
Instagram post 2040801639427146573_6888434909 Seems like this week isn't the most positive week. 😪

After the shocking report of the @ipbes_ that 1 million species are in danger of extinction because of human activity, today, May 10th, marks the EU #OvershootDay. 
It's the date by which humanity would have exhausted nature’s annual budget if all people lived like EU residents, according to findings of the @globalfootprintnetwork and @wwf. 
The EU’s impact on the planet’s resources is inequitable: the EU uses almost 20% of the Earth’s biocapacity although it comprises only 7% of the world's population. THAT IS TOO MUCH!! If everyone lived like EU residents (and I am one of them), we would need 2.8 planets. 🌍🌍🌍 There are differences between countries, but NONE of the EU countries stays within the planetary boundaries. Luxembourg is the worst by far, having its #CountryOvershootDay on February 16th. My country, The Netherlands, isn't doing any better, reaching the boundaries already on May 4th. 
I will write a more detailed blog post on the topic soon, but if you are interested in the report, head over to the @globalfootprintnetwork website and click on "tools and resources >> publications". You'll find the report there.

Despite all the worrying news, I wish you all a happy weekend! 💚💚💚 #sustainability #noplanetb #savetheplanet #savetheearth #savethetrees #treehugger #LessStuffMoreHappiness #carbonfootprint #ecowarrior#greenheart #lovetheplanet #planetearth #MoveTheDate #biodiversity #youronlyhome
Instagram post 2038452575960063447_6888434909 One million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. Because of us. 😰

A compelling report that reveals how we are ravaging the very ecosystems that support our societies was published by @ipbes_

From the bees that pollinate our crops, to the forests that hold back flood waters, we destroy pretty much everything. 
Three-quarters of the land-based environment and about 66% of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions. 
I tried to access the 40-page summary (the total report is 1,800 pages), but due to too many requests, the file is currently unavailable. I hope that this is a sign that we are waking up to the fact that we are destroying our only home and that we must act NOW! 🌍🌍 If you are interested in knowing the key facts of the report, head over to @ipbes_ or to the @bbc site, where there is a comprehensive and well written article about the current nature crisis.

What do you think, are we still on time to turn this around? 💚

#planetbeforeprofit #peoplebeforeprofit #ecosystems #biodiversity #systemchange #sustainability #savetheplanet #savetheseas #oneplanet #environment #conservation #environmentalscience
Instagram post 2029928086847348577_6888434909 It's #FashionRevolutionWeek. Six years ago, the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh collapsed, which killed 1138 people. People who were working there so we can feed our #fastfashion hunger and pay 5 euros for a shirt we'll wear twice and then toss it out... 😰

The fashion industry is such a dirty business in so many ways. But luckily, there are companies who do things differently. Like @xinca_eco_shoes. This beautiful organization turns trash into fashion and supports those in need by offering fair job opportunities. How? Head over to the link in the bio to find out. ☝

As consumers, by supporting companies like @xinca_eco_shoes, we can make a difference. Let's change the fashion industry together! 💚 📷 by Xinca Eco Shoes

#fairfashion #consciousfashion #votewithyourwallet #whomademyclothes #planetbeforeprofit #peoplebeforeprofit #nosponjustfan #prosperitywithoutgrowth #doughnuteconomics #ethicalfashion #zerowastefashion #slowfashion #madeinprison #noplanetb #upcycledfashion #changemakers #ecowarriors #socialentrepreneurship #thestoryofstuff
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