Buying nothing is better than being ‘tricked’ by eco ‘buzzwords’

What kind of decisions?

Sometimes it’s a really small swap, such as boxed, eco-friendly washing sheets as opposed to detergent in a plastic bottle. We started with washing sheets, eco-friendly soap and cling film. Easy swaps that take no effort but have a big impact and we built from there. We have a subscription with Eco Green Living, so it’s all delivered to your door.

How have you made your home eco?

We had a good look around and thought about what we could change immediately to improve our day-to-day consumption. Again, it’s the small, minimal effort decisions that build good habits and have a positive impact. This could be as simple as unplugging all devices and powering down phones, laptops, computers at night and not keeping anything on standby. We changed all of the lightbulbs to LED and removed the dimmer facility.

We wash our clothes as infrequently as we can and at 30 degrees and always make sure it’s a full load. We’ve turned down the thermostat and we are mindful when washing dishes.

Another really simple habit we do is recycling and repurposing. We buy furniture from second-hand shops, we are lucky as Margate has some fantastic designers that upcycle such as Burley and Field and Yard Girl Margate.

Favourite eco gadget?

In terms of gadgets, I have a few that I really love. The Little Sun Diamond is fantastic. I use it as a reading lamp and its faceted lens is inspired by nature. I also really like Click & Grow indoor gardens. They’re great for growing herbs and they look really colourful and vibrant in the kitchen.

I did buy myself an eco-friendly Bento lunch box but unfortunately my appetite is bigger than the box. In the winter my favourite investment is a heavy blanket. It keeps you snuggly and warm. I don’t like to have the central heating on very often. It’s expensive and it dries out my skin.

What mistakes do people make when eco living?

I think there’s a danger of trying to be eco friendly and it having a negative impact rather than a positive one. If you are buying new gadgets when your older version is still working, it defeats the object. We are seduced by buzz words such as ‘sustainable’, and ‘climate friendly’ but sometimes the best thing to do is buy nothing.

What eco fad is overrated?

Green labels. It’s easy to be tricked into buying something that you think is organic/eco friendly. Clever packaging can disguise a whole heap of sins, so make sure you read labels carefully.

How can you be more eco?

It’s a work in progress and I can definitely do more. I am guilty of having way too many clothes, and I also buy books where I could use a device instead. It’s about balance and moving in the right direction.

Dream eco home?

A sustainable house that was energy efficient, innovative and was designed to have as little impact on the planet as possible. I’d like to stay by the sea and be as close to nature, with a little luxury, as possible.