Ethical living

What is ethical living?

Our everyday actions have an impact on the planet, whether itâ€™s through the food we purchase or the transport we use. Ethical living means being aware of social and environmental factors in oneâ€™s day-to-day life, while seeking responsible ways to minimize any detrimental impacts. Being faced with the full array of environmental and social problems can be daunting. But we can all make a positive difference.

Energy

At present, we consume unsustainable levels of energy. The continued use of non-renewable energy resources (oil, coal and gas) significantly contributes to climate change. We may be heading toward a future energy crisis as we approach 'peak oil'. What can you do?

Switching to green energy suppliers is easy. Green energy is produced by wind, waves, sunlight and biofuels, and often costs little or no more than conventional suppliers.
- Friends of the Earth recommends Good Energy who supply 100% renewable energy
- Ecotricity is supported by WWF, The Economist magazine, the Eugene Network and the Soil Association
- Greenpeace support npower's Juice
Good house insulation is a must. This has the added benefit of saving you money on your heating bills
Watch the thermostat! Turning down heating by 1ÂºC can cut bills by 10%
Switch off lights and appliances when not in use
Install energy-efficient light bulbs. They use 1/4 of the normal energy and last 12 times longer than ordinary bulbs
When purchasing household items look for those that are 'A' rated on the EU's energy efficiency scale

Waste

The UK produces more than 434 million tons of waste every year, enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall once every 2 hours. This level of waste generation is not sustainable. What can you do?

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Reducing your comsumption and reusing the things you do buy is preferable to recycling, which in turn is of course superior to landfill disposal.
Simple steps such as buying loose goods or those without excessive packaging, using canvas or cotton bags rather than plastic bags, and reusing scrap paper can significantly cut down your waste.
Find out about your nearest recycling services. Call the Council's cityclean services on (01273) 274674.
Check out Magpie, Brighton's number one recycling co-operative.
Recycle your kitchen and garden waste to produce free compost. The Council provides subsidised composters and wormeries; contact Cityclean.
Get yourself registered with the mailing preference service to rid your letter box of junk mail.
See our article on waste and recycling.

Water

Fresh water is a scarce resource. Consumption continues to rise rapidly: we use 160 litres per person per day, 50% more than was used 25 years ago. Water preservation is crucial if we are to meet needs. What can you do?

Donâ€™t let taps drip; a dripping tap can fill a bath in just a day! Get leaks fixed by a plumber.
Only fill the kettle to the level you need, and cover pans when boiling water: this will also reduce energy consumption.
A 5-minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath. However, power showers can use three times as much water as a normal shower.
Southern Water offers free Save-a-flush bags. Placed in a toilet's cistern, these save 1 litre of water per flush. Contact them at: customerservices@southernwater.co.uk
Water your garden in the cool of the early morning or evening, to prevent water evaporating rather than sinking into the soil.
Garden sprinklers can use as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day, so use sparingly if at all. Consider fitting a water butt for the garden to collect rainwater - contact the Council's cityclean services on (01273) 274674.

Transport

There are over 25 million private cars in the UK today, compared to only 2 million in 1952. Congestion, road accidents, road building and climate change are obvious negative effects of this increase. Rapid expansion of the aviation industry has also led to increased carbon dioxide emissions and noise pollution. What can you do?

There are several means of transport that are preferable to driving a private car: public transport, car pooling, cycling, walking.
If you own a car, consider conversion to alternative energy supplies, such as biofuels. Biodiesel is available from Planet Fuels.
Live â€˜carbon neutrallyâ€™. You can calculate your CO2 emissions and purchase trees to offset your output- this can be done for single air flights or for your total annual output. Instead of paying a company on your behalf, consider planting some trees yourself with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV).
See our article on sustainable transport.
Think about joining a car club â€“ see our article on Brighton and Hove City Car Club.

Ethical purchasing

'Every purchase you make has either a direct or an indirect effect on the environment. When you exercise your power by choosing where and what to buy, and where and what NOT to but, you help change the world for the better' The Ecologist We can change the way we consume goods through:

Positive buying - choosing ethical products such as organic, locally produced, or cruelty free
Negative purchasing â€“ avoiding unethical products such as those produced under poor labour conditions, or those that travel long distances, emitting high amounts of CO2

See our article on ethical purchasing.

Green parenting

3 billion nappies are thrown away in the UK every year (93 every second!). Many commercially available childrenâ€™s toys and clothes contain dangerous chemicals, including phthalates and nonylphenol which have been linked to liver, kidney, and reproductive problems. What can you do?

Consider using washable nappies which avoids disposal, use natural substances, and could save you money. See our article on environmentally-friendly nappies.
Try Yummies and Toby Tiger in central Brighton for green parenting products, including clothes and nappies and Baby Gaia.
See our article on nappies.

Tourism

Very few travel companies take into account the environment or local people of the destinations to which they organise travel. Natural resources and indigenous cultures can be disturbed. What can you do?

An awareness of the social and environmental impacts of tourism is on the increase, through what has been termed 'ecotourism'. Ecotourism is a responsible way of travelling which â€œ...conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people" Ecotourism Society. The term is now open to abuse, so good company research is a must.
See our article on ecotourism.

Financial services

Most high street financial services place ethical concerns as a low priority; such services often invest in environmentally and socially irresponsible projects. What can you do?

Switch to finance companies that do not invest in unethical practices, such as The Co-operative bank, Triodos, and the Ecology Building Society. See our article on how to green your office.
Local Exchange Trading Schemes (LETS) are non-profit exchange networks that offer tradable goods and services without the need for money; in Brighton there is the Bright Exchange. See our article on LETS.

Trade

Global trade currently favours the commercial interests of the most powerful developed world states and the largest corporations, at the expense of the developing world. Through the World Bank, IMF and World Trade Organisation (WTO), the world's poorest countries are forced into economic liberalisation and service privatisation. The Trade Justice Movement is born out of a belief that this situation needs to change; international trading must be placed on an equitable basis if we are to move toward social justice. What can you do?

The purchase of Fair Trade products ensures that producers receive a fair price for their goods while ensuring workers rights are upheld such as the right to unionise; trade can be empowering and sustainable when compared to relying on charitable handouts.
Support campaigns such as the Trade Justice Movement and Make Poverty History. See our articles on fair trade and the environment, and the write-up of BPEC's fair trade evening.

Co-operatives

Essentially, these are democratically owned and controlled associations based upon open membership. Many co-operatives work along ethical lines for the local community and beyond. In Brighton & Hove there are a variety to get involved in, ranging from food (Infinity Foods) to housing (Two Piers) to telephone coops (The Phone Coop).

Resources and information