ECO MATTERS

Toilet rolls.

A while ago, I was asked to review eco toilet rolls and make recommendations. Since then, many new providers have entered the market. All have much in common – the rolls come in packs of 24 or 48 and are much larger than shop rolls, so they last ages, and they arrive via post in a cardboard box. Most are wrapped individually in paper, and others arrive naked (eg Naked Paper). Absolutely NO plastic is used in the packaging. You can choose them to be unbleached and/or made from bamboo, which is more sustainable as some types of bamboo can grow 1 to 2 foot in a day! Our family has been using Who Gives a Crap since 2017. It was particularly useful during the pandemic when everyone else was panic buying, and we had our box in the shed! WGAC donates half of their profits to water related charities to enable those parts of the world without toilets and fresh water to get them.

I’m now moving to a new toilet roll venture, and have for the first time contributed to a crowdfunder. The scheme is called “Clean Sheet”, and they have until 4th December to raise the pledges totaling £100K needed for the scheme to commence. At the time of writing, they are 75% funded. Your monetary pledge to buy their loo roll will only be taken if it is fully funded. If successful, the business, after paying all staff a living wage, will donate all profits to 3 organisations as have no shareholders. These are Acorn – a community union bringing people together to fight for social and economic justice including housing and debt, Migrants Organise – a space where refugees, migrant workers and allies organise together for dignity and solidarity and Tipping Point UK, supporting 500+ grassroots groups taking action for climate change.

If you would like to join me in supporting this, here is the link https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/cleansheet/clean-sheet-change-from-the-bottom-up.

Christmas Shopping – Please kindly consider where you spend your money, Temu, Shein and Amazon are cheap as they exploit their workers. If you do not wish to support the genocide in Gaza, then please look online for a list of businesses to boycott. Due to time and space restrictions, I will put an update of the outcome of the UK planning bill affecting our nature, along with my thoughts on COP30 in the next issue. Happy Christmas, Maria.

Eco Prayer

Creator God, source of all life

You spoke, and the universe burst into being Abundant, full of wonder and life,

Everything expressing praise to You, God of wonders!

We add our voices to the praises of the created world.

We pray this month that in our journey alongside you

We may serve you by our prayers for our world,

and the challenges we face in the warming climate.

Inspire us by your Holy Spirit To act faithfully

to safeguard Creation in every way we are able,

Not thinking of ourselves But loving our neighbours in all places

So that in our Synod, as in our local churches,

and the whole company of your Church

Your Righteousness, Justice and Peace may flow

In love to all

Amen (from Wessex Synod)

 

Have a look at some more of our Eco Reports:

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