Media coverage on the climate emergency is overwhelmingly negative, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Positivity continues in spite of it all, whether that be through the work of small businesses, like those featured here, or individual acts of compassion towards the planet. As Greta Thunberg states, “No one is too small to make a difference”, and never has there been a time where this sentiment has been so relevant.
Art of Zero Living, Greenwich
Founded by Vytaute Viskackaite and Justinas Kanapeckas in April 2021, this zero waste shop aims to help us make small changes to everyday buying habits, which have a huge impact on the environment. In 2019, The Guardian revealed that, to date, 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been discarded, with the majority of it still lingering in our environment. Vita and Justas are doing their bit to steer customers away from single use plastic, and towards a more sustainable way of living. The shop has an eclectic mix of products, from refilling stations for pasta and grains, to eco-friendly washing liquid. Re-Gen Waste estimate that there are now as many as 200 zero waste shops operating in the UK, representing an increasing demand for sustainable options, as people try and live by the ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’ philosophy.
“It’s all about changing your mentality when it comes to sustainability. Often individuals feel their singular actions won’t have an impact, but they do. I wish everyone understood how much support they give just by refilling washing up liquid bottles. They don’t have to do everything. If you refill one or two products, slowly you will realise this works, and it is actually a bit cheaper and so much better for the planet. It’s not nothing, it’s a lot.”
-Vytaute Visckaite, co-founder of ‘Art of Zero Living’
Art of Zero Living providing calm and order, amidst the climate storm
“It’s all about changing your mentality”
Blue Tit London, Greenwich
A hair salon collective, founded in April 2021, has an ethos built upon climate solutions. Impressively, in March 2020, they became the first salon group in Europe to be B-Corp certified, meaning the company meets the highest standards of social and environmental impact. This is vital given the beauty industries predominantly negative impact on the climate. Research from The Ecologist reveals that over 190 tonnes of waste are produced by the beauty industry per day, with hair foils taking a staggering 400 years to decompose. Countering this, Blue Tit have reduced over 10,000 plastic bottles entering landfill and everything in their salons, from their coffee to the floor cleaner, is either B-Corp certified or sustainable. Greenwich branch manager Lee Beever explains that supporting a sustainable hair salon does a world of good to the environment.
“When we were designing the salon, sustainability was at the forefront of our minds, from having refillable shampoo and conditioner, to having all materials sourced from the UK. We were delayed in opening due to the pandemic, but this gave us more time. I sourced a great sustainable coffee company, and we also offer alcoholic drinks to clients, obtained from a refillable vodka company and a sustainable gin company. We use biodegradable gowns and towels, which sounds ridiculous, but we throw away so much, so we make sure that it’s compostable. We also use a company called First Mile, who are a waste management service, meaning that none of our waste goes directly into landfill. We are all about being at the front of the environmental movement.”
-Lee Beever, co-owner of Blue Tit Greenwich
BlueTit Greenwich are combatting plastic pollution
“We are all about being at the front of the environmental movement”
GreenBay, West Kensington
It is difficult to talk of climate change without discussing veganism. Friends of the Earth recently reported that meat and dairy production is responsible for 14% of global climate emissions. However, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK Vegan Society have determined that 1 in 4 Brits have reduced their animal product consumption, with 30% of participants stating the environment was their leading incentive, showing an increase in the popularity of vegan lifestyles. Greenbay, founded in 2016, was the first fully-vegan supermarket to grace the streets of London, inspiring an influx of vegan-friendly food stores. Other fully vegan stores can be found across the city, including Plant Based Supermarket in Hackney and the Vegan Junk Food Shop in Kings Cross. Vanisha Patel, a customer service assistant at the store explains that vegan businesses are powerful hubs for change because if consumers support vegan and sustainable stores, we can influence the supply and demand of planet-friendly products.
“We stock meat-alternatives, vegan candles, recycled bin bags, vegan pet food…we are not trying to force people to become vegan, we just want to create a space that is more friendly to the planet. When I look at politician’s actions it does make me feel a bit depressed because it’s not reflective of what needs to happen. But then when you see individual people passionate about helping and creating climate-friendly spaces, it helps. Instead of just seeing all the facts and figures about the ‘doomsday’, we can actually try and do something.”
-Vanisha Patel, Greenbay
Waste doesn’t have to damage our planet
“We want to create a space that is more friendly to the planet”
Five simple ways you can play a part in the climate movement
- Support a local zero waste shop.
- Make one meal per week a plant-based alternative.
- Spend your money where it counts by supporting local businesses that are striving for sustainability.
- Going out for dinner? London-based small scale chain, Mildred’s is a plant-based restaurant you have to try.
- Talk to people about the climate crisis – together we can create change!
