Discover AHS and the Eco Award

ECO AWARD

The Y12 Green Leaders created information detailing steps you can take to be more environmentally friendly, which they distributed to their colleagues in Y12. This involved eco-friendly advice on lunches, fashion and cosmetics- and from this information we asked them to make pledges on what steps they're going to take.  The have also produced information on how to reduce your impact at Christmas.

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Lunches

• Use a REUSABLE bottle to save plastic being made.

• Swapping buying from a shop to MAKE YOUR OWN…

• If you do not want to make your own - recycle the packaging - start with your drinks - cans and bottles are recyclable from home - the materials are not wasted.

• Use metal straws instead of plastic

• Shop with own containers and bags

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Fashion

• Give life to unwanted clothes by selling them, donating to a charity shop or just swapping with a mate.  This reduces the enormous waste we make.

• Buy your clothes from second hand shops or online to extend the life of an item - it cuts down on CO2 production. 

• Some companies reduce their impact and so you could choose to shop from them? Look up your favourite brand - what impacts do you know they have? 

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  SHOP YOUR WARDROBE. 

• How many items do you have in your wardrobe that you've hardly ever worn?

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SHOP SECONDHAND. 

• Check out your local charity shops, vintage shops, and even jumble sales to see if you can find the things you need or want to fill the gaps in your wardrobe.

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SELL OR SWAP.

• Instead of throwing away old clothes, consider selling them; you make a bit of money and help the environment. Or consider swapping with your friends.

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SHOP ETHICAL.

• Fast fashion has a massive impact both on the planet, and on the people who make our clothes. So, before shopping for clothes, ensure the brand is ethical beforehand. 

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Cosmetics

• Buy products that certify they use palm oil from areas that look after forests.

• Buy a product where the shop will take back the packaging - they reuse it again and reduce the impact

• Buy a product that uses more natural ingredients - these reduce the impact of CO2 on the environment.

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Christmas - The gift list.

In order to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill at Christmas, why not try to make a Christmas list.

Pick a select few items that you would want and use to prevent waste. 

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An alternative to this, if you are unsure as to what you would want, could be gift cards. Gift cards allow you to buy items when you need or would really like them rather than getting lots of gifts you may not use, that will go to waste.

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Christmas - Sending cards.

One thing we can all do is to try and recycle your cards after the Christmas season at local recycling centers – they can be placed in your household paper and card recycling and will be accepted by most council recycling schemes.

Alternatively  E-cards could be a less wasteful way to spread the Christmas message. Simply create a design online and add your message. These can be sent via text or email or other social media and help reduce the waste generated. 

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Christmas - Wrapping paper.

This year why not try to make a change in your households and reduce your waste. An alternative to throwing away wrapping paper is to re-use it either again to wrap new presents or up-cycle it. Gift tags, Christmas cards etc. can all be made with re-purposed wrapping paper pro-longing the use before letting it reach the recycling centres.

In addition brown paper which is easily accessible from any stationary store can be used as this is easier to recycle with local councils as apart of their recycling schemes. More alternatives include using fabric wraps which come in a variety of prints and can be re used and washed easily for re-use.

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Use what you need to use.

Ask questions. Do your research. Be inquisitive. 
Be a responsible user.