I will be heard!

In a previous blog I explained that before deciding to stop using a certain company/bank/product because you don’t agree with their environmental or ethical policies, you must let them know why you will no longer be using their products, otherwise they may think that you’ve found a cheaper alternative or it’s due to poor service.

So the question is, have I done that?

I’ve now swapped a fair few products for more environmentally friendly ones, but have I actually let any of the companies know?

I am in earnest – I will not equivocate – I will not excuse – I will not retreat a single inch – and I will be heard!

William Lloyd Garrison

Supermarkets

So far I’ve written to two supermarkets asking them to reduce the amount of food packaging they produce.

Aldi provided a pretty decent response as to what they are planning to do about their environmental impact over the next few years, whist Lidl provided a very bland response….

I also shop at Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons so I need to email them too.

Child car seats

I’ve also written to Maxi-Cosi asking them to think about setting up a recycling child car seat scheme, but have yet to receive a reply. The reason I chose Maxi-Cosi was because that’s the make of my son’s car seat.

It is estimated that about 250,000 children’s car seats reach their end of life every year in the UK and 90% of these are sent to landfill.

I’ve yet to write to…..

Bathroom

• Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner owned by Proctor and Gamble
• Sanex deodorant owned by Colgate-Palmolive
• Sensodyne toothpaste owned by GSK
• Oral-B electric toothbrush owned by Proctor and Gamble
• Gillette Venus razor owned by Proctor and Gamble
• Milton antibacterial surface spray cleaner owned by Laboratoire Rivadis
• Harpic toilet cleaner owned by RB

Kitchen

• Milton antibacterial surface spray cleaner owned by Laboratoire Rivadis
• Mr Muscle glass and window cleaner owned by SC Johnson
• Fairy washing up liquid owned by Proctor and Gamble
• Finish dishwasher tablets owned by RB

Washing clothes

• Fairy non bio washing powder owned by Proctor and Gamble
• Comfort fabric conditioner owned by Unilever

I can’t emphasise enough the importance of letting companies know the reason why you’re leaving, they need to make serious changes to the way they provide their products.

Letter template

Dear

I am writing to you because of my concern about the climate crisis we are facing, and to ask you to consider the removal of using single use plastic with your products.

It would encourage my custom if you could eliminate unnecessary packaging as this is one of the main reasons I have stopped using your product.

I’m sure you will agree that the environmental impact of single use plastics, many of which are not able to be recycled is devastating and unnecessary.

Other companies use refilling stations and I would love to be able to access a similar system with your product.

I am asking you to call for stronger action on your sustainability policy.

Please forward my letter to XXXX, the XXXX of XXXX, so it can be raised in future board meetings.

Best wishes