Eco warriors making an impact

By Ben Walker on 10 March 2020

Whether it’s recycling, buying clothing second hand, avoiding taking flights or changing our food habits, there are actions we can all take to tackle climate change.

At Firefly we work collectively to implement changes that help protect our planet, from working from home one day a week to reduce carbon emissions, to litter picks in the local area.

As more and more people have woken up to the severity of climate change, there has been a notable increase in accessible information surrounding the subject. In this article we shine a light on some of our team’s favourite resources and people who are helping to inspire others to live more sustainably, paving the way for an eco-friendly future.

Websites

• Environmental activist Laura Young leads a band of Less Waste Warriors, a group of like-minded people who want to create a ‘cleaner, better, and fairer world’. Laura uses her platform to educate on the everyday, accessible changes we can all implement now.
• Emma Ross’ website, Mamalina, is a great resource when it comes to slow living and sustainability, particularly for parents. Emma shares tips on everything from how to host a fun, eco-friendly children’s birthday party, to how to reduce waste when doing the laundry.
• Seed is an ecosystem of scientists, doctors, innovators, entrepreneurs, parents and thinkers, with a shared passion for shaping how bacteria will impact our health and that of the planet. Seed works with experts in bacteria to develop biomaterials and upcycled waste.

Instagram accounts

• @plasticfreemermaid, otherwise known as Kate Nelson, hasn’t used disposable plastic for over a decade, driven by her love for the ocean. A true inspiration and environmental activist, Kate provides tips on reducing our plastic use, from what we eat, to how we clean our homes.
• @maxlamanna is a zero-waste chef, environmental activist and author. When food waste rots it generates methane and contributes to greenhouse gases, with an incredibly detrimental impact on the environment. What sets Max apart is his plight to increase awareness around the simple, yet effective changes we can make to reduce food waste.
• @venetiafalconer is an environmental activist who primarily uses her platform to discuss slow fashion. Her detailed and informative captions highlight actions we can take to clean up our closets and live mindfully. Venetia often references where she has sourced her information and statistics, making her account a trusted source.
• @sustainable.collective is a community which posts top tips and inspiration to help you live a more sustainable lifestyle and reduce waste.

Books

• How to Give up Plastic: a guide to changing the world, one plastic bottle at a time by Will McCallum provides tips, research and anecdotes on how we can work together to reduce our use of plastic. Will is the Head of Oceans at Greenpeace UK and has been at the centre of the anti-plastics movement for three years.
• No. More. Plastic.: What you can do to make a difference by Martin Dorey focuses on the small changes everyone can make to drive environmental change. Martin founded the #2minutebeachclean in 2013 after North Atlantic storms left UK beaches littered with plastic rubbish.
• Turning the Tide on Plastic by Lucy Siegle explores some of the practical and accessible ways we can reduce our plastic consumption, adopting a ‘reduce, rethink, refill, reuse’ approach.
• More Plants Less Waste by Max La Manna features a range of plant-based recipes, as well as helpful zero waste tips to prevent leftovers from ending up in landfill. This book won the award for the most sustainable cookbook in 2019, and we can definitely see why.

Podcasts

• Terrestrial delves into stories about the choices people are making during this time of transformational environmental change, hosted by journalist Ashley Ahearn.
• Wardrobe Crisis, hosted by public speaker and author Clare Press, interviews a range of guests, from fashion insiders to academics, about issues including fashion, activism, justice for garment workers and sustainability.
• Costing the Earth discusses ways we can work towards a greener planet, focusing on diverse topics, from politics to fast fashion.

If you don’t have time to dive into a whole podcast series, here are a couple of our favourite one-off episodes to dip your toe into:

• Talking Tastebuds: Livia Firth: Is Sustainable Fashion For the Privileged Only?
• Deliciously Ella: Season 1, Episode 8 – Veganism and Climate Change

Documentaries

• Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret takes a look at the destructive impact of factory farming on the planet’s natural resources. This shocking documentary also explores the lack of action taken by leading organisations.
• A Plastic Ocean investigates the environmental impact of plastic waste and pollution on the world’s oceans and highlights some of the solutions to these threats. The documentary discusses the devastating effect humans’ plastic consumption has on wildlife, as well as their habitats and food sources.
• Chasing Coral follows a team of divers, photographers and scientists who explore the reasons why coral reefs around the world are vanishing at such a fast rate.
• The True Cost explores the global fast fashion industry and the detrimental impact it is having on our planet and people. The film provides an insight into the people and places making our clothes.

Films

• Okja is an emotive action-adventure film which tells the story of a young girl who befriends a genetically modified superpig. The film addresses the environmental impact of corporate greed.
• Carnage is a mockumentary by Simon Amstell set in 2067, where the whole of the UK is now vegan and older generations feel guilty for their meat-eating past.

Clients we have worked with

We love working with clients who share the same outlook as us, and we are forever inspired by the actions they take to reduce their impact on the environment. Below are just a couple of examples of companies we’ve been lucky enough to work with, who are committed to protecting our planet:

• AnywhereWorks’ instant messaging app allows teams to connect and contribute to projects seamlessly whilst working remotely. By enabling people to reduce or cut out their commutes, they are helping to reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, AnywhereWorks plant trees for new clients and employees and have planted almost 170,000 trees as of February 2020.
• Indigo Ag aims to transform the agricultural system, address climate change and make farming more sustainable by creating more value across the supply chain. Their use of microbiology, machine learning and digital technologies help to make agriculture more sustainable.
• Seagrass Restoration Scotland is a non-profit organisation which aims to fight against climate change by restoring the important ecosystem of seagrass in Scotland.