Would it surprise you to know that the majority of global citizens say that climate change is a serious problem that is having immediate consequences? Or that 2/3 of the world’s population believes that our lifestyles need to be radically changed in order to combat climate change?
But when we look around shopping centres, houses or garbage bins, those numbers are not reflected in our actions.
Despite the great information, causes and campaigns, for so many of us, living in an environmentally sustainable way is at the the bottom of the too hard basket. There are lots of reasons for this. Maybe it's too stressful, or you're too busy to worry about whether you have a canvas bag. Maybe you're living at home, or in a household where you aren't able to make all the budgeting decisions. You might be financially strapped for cash.
Choosing to live a planet-friendly lifestyle is always harder in the short term, and that short term distracts us from the long-term benefits.
For me, that short term cost was chocolate.
Confession time, my name is Hannah, and I'm a chocoholic. The type of chocoholic that eats a block of chocolate in one night. I'm drinking hot chocolate at my desk as I write this.
When I was becoming more aware of the sweeping impacts of climate change and feeling challenged to do something about it, there would be a little voice in my head telling me it was too hard. Cadbury chocolate bars come wrapped in plastic packaging.
If living a planet friendly life meant giving up chocolate, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it.
Giving something up?
I think my experience is one that a lot of us face. Whatever our convictions, there's always something we wouldn't be willing to give up. Whatever your reason not to commit to protecting the environment is, it's probably something that makes sense in the short term, but not when you look at the big picture.
But as we start to look at that excuse, it starts to look more and more flimsy.
Even though I had a vague idea that there would be plastic free alternatives out there, I was convinced they would be inferior. I think the myth that environmentally friendly products are somehow inferior is something we buy into way too often. Canvas bags are actually more solid than plastic bags, natural pesticide alternatives are better for you than the chemical version and menstrual cups are more effective than tampons.
Chocolate plastic free alternatives are the bomb
I promise.
There are some fabulous DIY recipes out there that allow you to replace easter eggs or chocolate cake. Not only that, but there are also new recipe alternatives like avocado chocolate mousse or creating no bake choc orange cheesecake balls
But it doesn't have to be all DIY either. Lots of bulk shops have sweets, chocolate coated nuts or just chocolate which you can buy by weight. This is a great option for larger groups or just to have a snack on hand.
Some local grocery stores stock blocks of chocolate which are sustainable packaged. Fair-trade chocolates such as Alter Eco or major brands like Lindt package their chocolate in foil and cardboard. The packaging in Bloom Everlasting Chocolates is filled with seeds which can be planted and used to grow the ingredients to make more chocolate.
Hold onto the big picture
Even if there weren't chocolate alternatives, it is counterintuitive to sacrifice the health of the globe for short-term pleasures. I've been challenged when it comes to thinking about the environment that there are some things that are more important than what I feel like eating.
But it's important to remember that we don't have to be perfect. We will make mistakes and have areas in life where we feel like hypocrites, and it's important not to let that stop us from doing anything at all.
We can't let our short term fears or the belief that we will miss out on something stop us from living a planet friendly lifestyle.
Take a look at our experiences with Plastic Free July, and why sometime it's okay to fail.
Images: Shutterstock
