How to be sustainable during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Environmental issues during COVID-19:
Whilst the world may seem to have ground to a stop, our impact on the planet has only carried on. Our transport sector has slowed down (all puns intended) yet our use of plastic masks and single-use products has escalated. It seems we’ve replaced one problem but encouraged another in its place. Despite the ongoing social and environmental issues from COVID-19, there are ways the public can help reduce their impacts on the planet while supporting the community around them during this difficult time.

Reusable masks

Without a doubt, single-use plastic masks have been a major concern during the pandemic. In 2020 alone, 1.6 billion plastic masks entered the oceans mostly from hospitals and the public. “More masks than jellyfish“, The Guardian claimed. During 2020 and 2021, scientists have reported many incidences of animal waste entanglement, from penguins, foxes, hedgehogs, and more. In the United Kingdom, over one-third of beaches have reported Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) litter. Researchers around the world have said COVID-19 would cause an “environmental disaster” with others stating that by 2050, ocean plastic waste would outnumber the amount of marine life.

Wearing a reusable mask when going to the shops, school etc is a simple and effective way to lower your environmental impact during COVID-19. According to the Australian government, reusable masks are effective at reducing the ability to transmit viruses to others within the public. Over a billion single-use masks have found their way into the oceans in a single year, taking the lives of animals and contributing to a seemingly never-ending issue. The transition to a reusable mask is accessible, easy, effective, and should be a basic moral imperative.

Shopping local

Whether it’s food, clothing, sport or beauty, shopping locally is an easy way to lower emissions from transportation. Food mileage typically generates 10 times more carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than all road transport, with 8% of the United Kingdom’s (UK) annual emissions from importing and exporting food produce.
With more available time, people can go and purchase fresh, local produce from markets and/or clothing from local retailers. Granted these places may not be accessible during lockdowns. Shopping locally also avoids the digital market crammed with millions of orders bound to take months for delivery.

Local small businesses are also often more flexible with customer desires providing more options for those who want customisable options, unlike large companies where what you see is what you get. Today, the world is full of products “made in China”, so why not try and find something closer to home? Better for the local economy, yourself and the planet.

Carbon-neutral internet

With working from home, far more time is being spent online. During COVID-19, there was an 11% increase in broadband connections in Australia along with a spike in older internet users from 76% prior to the pandemic to 98%. In Bangalore, India internet use has increased by 100%; whilst in the United States, online educational apps rose by 1,087% in 14 days during March 2020.
Internet normally contributes to around 3.7% of annual greenhouse gas emissions; almost double the airline industry’s yearly environmental footprint. Between the already existing damage, COVID-19 and increasing internet usage, this is a sector bound to cause greater damage each year. An hour-long videoconference when working from home, emits around 157 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂), enough to power a car for 2 kilometres (1.2 miles).
Switching to a carbon-neutral internet provider is an appropriate and effective way of lowering your annual environmental footprint, especially during lockdowns and even as working from home becomes a more favoured option in the workforce.

Vegetable gardening

In the United States, working-from-home arrangements have increased from 20% to 51% since the first large COVID-19 outbreak with more people around the globe beginning to rethink their work hours and commutes to better suit their families.
With additional “free time”, establishing vegetable gardens can be an enjoyable and rewarding exercise.
Food gardening reduces mileage from conventional “farm-truck-shop” to simply running across the back garden to collect whatever’s needed. In addition, water distribution is far better used in vegetable gardens unlike industrial farming, along with far lower pesticide usage (if any at all) along with the benefit of zero packaging.

Reusable coffee cups/recycling

Globally, 16 billion disposable coffee cups are used annually. During the pandemic, many companies such as Starbucks have banned the use of reusable coffee cups for the safety of their baristas and customers. Yet, collectively, epidemiologists, biologists, chemists and virologists claim the use of reusable cups does not pose a greater threat.
According to the University of Melbourne, a reusable coffee cup reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 92% compared to the disposable option.
Using a reusable coffee cup is a simple way to lower your environmental footprint with keep cups found in many shops/stores. However, if you chose to use disposable cups, ensure that the content is recycled.

Please note; disposable coffee cups cannot be placed in the kerbside recycling bin due to the plastic lining and instead must be dropped off at a specialised recycling centre like 7-Elven which collects the cups and sends them to a partnership company for recycling.

Seasonal eating

Due to staff shortages causing longer shipping times and less food supply, eating seasonal produce is a cost-effective way of placing food on the table while supporting local farmers, reducing emissions and improving health.
Eating seasonal produce encourages consumers to purchase what’s currently being grown and harvested in their country, therefore, lowering food milage. In many countries across the world, seasonal eating is limited and forces large supermarkets to import foreign fruit and vegetables. This not only damages the environment but local farmers who are growing seasonal produce.

Health experts claim seasonal food contains higher amounts of nutrients, antioxidants and phytonutrients as compared to imported fruit, vegetables and grains that often lose significant amounts of nutrients during long-distance travel. Furthermore, seasonal produce requires consumers to transition to other fruits, vegetables etc as the year progresses, creating a more varied diet. According to researchers, varied meals can help resist diseases like type 2 diabetes, asthma, depression, metabolic syndrome etc – ultimately increasing life expectancy.

Conclusion:
This blog has recommended six ways individuals and families can become more sustainable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the suggestions, there are many more ways to further reduce your impact, from reducing waste to making products from home like face masks. All of the above are simple but can make a huge and positive impact. According to experts, the COVID-19 pandemic could have environmental effects that last generations. The statistics are frightening yet the opportunity to change lies right in front of us. What are we waiting for?

Released on the 18th of February 2022. -KJDJ
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