The war against plastic bags

I was glad to hear recently that more and more supermarkets are planning to cut down on the number of plastic bags available at the checkouts. Currently:

· British shops give 17 billion plastic bags away every year

· 1.4 million tonnes of plastic packaging is dumped each year

· Between 500 and 1,000 million plastic bags are used worldwide

· The average plastic bag is used for five minutes but takes between 400 and 1,000 years to decompose

If we get into the habit of re-using our carrier bags or, even better, choosing bags for life, we can make a huge difference to the weight of plastic dumped each year. There is now a huge range of re-usable bags available so you can take your pick, and they look much better than carrying your shopping in plastic bags. Happy shopping!

Organic Fortnight

6–21 September sees the celebration of Organic Fortnight, which raises awareness of the environmental, health and social benefits of organic production. The Soil Association is behind the fortnight that celebrates all things organic, bringing together individuals, communities, retailers, restaurants, schools and organic farms. In addition the Organic Fortnight gives everyone the chance to enjoy organic products from food and drink to beauty and homeware.
The fortnight kicks off with the Soil Association Organic Food Festival, Europe's largest organic celebration, which takes place in Bristol on 6-7 September. The campaign closes with the Soil Association Scotland’s Organic Food Festival on 20-21 September.
The message this year is ‘Love Your Planet, Choose Organic’. Amidst growing concerns about climate change and food security, Soil Association Organic Fortnight provides a chance to look at why organic production - fashion, beauty, food and farming - is better for the planet.
I’m fully behind choosing organic products where possible and certainly notice the benefits of doing so. If you don’t often buy organic products, visit www.soilassociation.org for information on the events taking place near you during Soil Association Organic Fortnight so you experience the benefits first hand.