During the last year I have decided, due to the terrifying facts concerning global warming, which is progressing inexorably, to make my life more eco-friendly and sustainable. In my opinion it’s high time that we start now, because it’s not too late yet. If everyone contributes, we could manage to slow down or even stop the process of climate change.

My husband, he is photographer, visited Greenland last year with a standup-paddler, who is also an environmental activist, and a cameraman to show that global warming is not a fiction, but a fact that can be determined from the changes of the every day life of the local people. They went to Greenland to spoke with the locals and to report what’s going on there. Unfortunately they could confirm the always faster progressing global warming, based on what the locals said. It’s frightening what and how much has changed compared to the past.

The result of this trip is a very good and eye-opening short movie, which won already various outdoor film festival awards. I was very shocked wich impressions the boys brought back from Greenland. For me it was truly alarming and after we came back from New York, I was also so shocked from so many still unaware people (myself included), that I have reached my turning point and I pulled the break to started immediately with some changes in my daily life.

That's why I would like to share how I started into a more sustainable life. Just to show that it doesn't have to be radical from one day to the next, but rather step by step. Because the things you already have should also be used up and not thrown away as unused.

Here we go, my first step was to make fabric bags for my fruit and vegetable purchases. Since I no longer buy my fruits and vegetables in supermarkets like Mercadona, Spar or Carrefour, I only go to the weekly market where local and ecological fincas sell their harvest or I go to my favorite eco-friendly grocery store “Alborinco” in Telde. In this store you gonna get local and seasonal products with transparency, Everything is from ecological and sustainable agriculture.

Unfortunately on the farmers market the fruits and vegetables are often only weighed in small thin plastic bags out of habit, but I don't want to use them anymore, so I'm really glad that I made these fabric bags (soon I’m going to prepare a tutorial of that fabrics-bags).

The owner and stuff of the “Alborinco” store also want to produce as less waist as possible. It’s already a normal approach that you bring your own bags and containers. They have, besides the fresh and sesonal fruits and vegetables, many products in bulk like rice, flour, nuts, pasta, dried fruits, salt, sugar, olive oil, legumes…etc, wich you can buy unpacked. You should only bring your own bags and containers. I always bring my empty Tupperware (yes, I still have plastics containers from the past), some recycled glass jars and fabric bags to refilled them. The stuff is always very friendly, helpful and also happy that there are more people who wants to live with less plastic. It's also great that you can buy sustainable detergents and cosmetics products. There are even big container where you can fill your bottles up with laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent and all purpose cleaner for all floors and bathrooms.

Every two weeks I visit “Alborinco” to replenish my supplies and I always take a little time to stroll around. Because there are often new and already existing things to discover. But sustainability also starts for me with taking care of the consuming. Being careful with how much and what you're consuming is at the heart of being more eco- friendly. That's why I don't try to go shopping too often and try to use up everything first, which also saves a little money.

Ok guys, I hope you like my little story, why and how I started to change my life. Maybe it could inspire you to start with one thing, too. Next time when you go shopping just take an already existing plastic bag or even the fabric bags, which I’m going to finish the DIY tutorial as soon as possible and I’ll keep you posted.

Wish you all a lovely day,

Katy!

Pics by Daniell Bohnhof

Text by Look2 Ocean