To wrap up our campaign, we asked Carbon Positive Australia to give us some tips on how to continue to reduce your emissions post challenge.

Lauren Purcell, Communications & Partnership Coordinator for Carbon Positive Australia, has some news for you.

I wanted to extend my thanks to you on behalf of our team for taking the time to calculate your footprint. 

Whether you took just one thing from each of the weekly challenges or something from all, know that every change you make, no matter how small, makes a difference.

Understanding your carbon footprint is the first step towards making meaningful change, and in the last four weeks, you have learned how to make changes in the following areas:

• Power, Banks & Super 
• Food & Waste 
• Travel & Transport 
• Water

My hope is that you continue to look at ways to make small changes and share with your friends and family the ways in which they can too.

As we face the multiple challenges of a changing climate, I wanted to leave you with some more inspiring actions that you can take on board to end the Carbon Challenge.

1. Buy less – reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle. The item with the lowest carbon footprint is the one you already have. Personal and household items such as clothing, furniture, appliances, and toiletries often have a high environmental price tag. Before you make a purchase, ask yourself where has this been made and under what circumstances?
2. Get involved in environmental days or months such as Plastic Free July and use this as an opportunity to make a difference. Challenge sponsor Pottery for the Planet makes beautiful travel cups and bowls to last a lifetime. They are the best solution as recyclable and biodegradable cups and containers can often still end up in landfill due to the lack of bins and recycling options. Switching to a reusable travel cup or bowl is s one of the easiest ways to make a big difference.
3. Switch to banks and super funds that do not invest in fossil fuels. Changing where your money lives is one of the most impactful actions you can take in the fight against climate change. There are lots of online resources available comparing financial institutions. Do some research and find one that aligns with your personal values. It's easier than you think!
4. Support businesses with ambitious climate and environmental policies. Look for explicit targets, and actions that have already been implemented.

• Companies committed to the Science Based Targets
• Certified B Corps
• 1% for the Planet
• Certified Climate Active organisations

5. Review the climate policies of all parties before you vote. You can learn more on the Climate Council website or via the party websites. 
6. Support forest protectors. Many individuals and organisations are doing amazing work to protect our forests, including local forest alliances such as WAFA and Lawyers for Forests. Find out how you can get involved and share their message.
7. Plant native trees and shrubs in your garden. Native gardens are not only beautiful, but are a great way to save water (and money!). They also provide a home for native fauna and remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than lawn or paving! Visit your local nursery for tips on which species are best for your area and when to plant them.
8. Buy local, seasonal produce whenever possible to reduce emissions from transport and cold storage. Check out your local farmers' market and try incorporating more plant-based meals into your diet.
9. Give to organisations working on positive climate and ecological outcomes. Support isn't always in the form of a donation. You can gift your time and skills by volunteering or help share their messages with your networks – what you can offer is only limited by your imagination!
10. Choose public transport wherever possible. There's no better feeling than looking out the window of the train as you whizz past bumper-to-bumper traffic! Take the opportunity to read a book, listen to music, or get some life admin done during your journey.

Lastly, I would like to extend my thanks not only to globetrottersiraconlineusa for their support in this campaign but to the many businesses that got on board  including:

• EzRidersz
• Indosole
• Santos Organics
• Salty Aura
• Tushy
• Zero Co
• Ahana Candles
• Byron Bay Apiaries
• Pottery for the Planet

The globetrottersiraconlineusa Carbon Challenge may be coming to an end, but there is still so much work to be done. The devastating weather events in QLD and NSW have triggered memories of the fires we only fought two years ago, and at the end of February the IPCC released its bleakest warning yet on the impacts of climate change. 

The IPCC report is stark. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General said, "The latest IPCC report is an atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership".

We need to remember to continue to act because our choices really do matter to the future of humanity.

Over the coming year, we will have to stand up for our planet through the choices and actions we take. Our commitment at Carbon Positive Australia is to continue to empower you to take action and plant trees so that we all have a healthier planet for our children, our grandchildren, and other species with whom we share this planet.

I ask you to keep referring to the challenge blogs over the coming months and implement more steps where possible to make a change for the better.

If you would like to join us in the fight against climate change, we would love your support. By making a donation to Carbon Positive Australia, you will be funding tree planting, land restoration, research, and educational tools.

I would also encourage you to sign up for our newsletter so you can:

• Find out when we’ve updated our carbon calculator or taken on a new planting project
• Stay up to date on the planting projects you are supporting
• Be one of the first to read our research findings
• Access opportunities to share your feedback on our projects and their impact
• Be a part of our community of practical changemakers 

Sign up for our newsletter HERE.

Again, my sincere thank you to every single one of you for stepping up and making changes to benefit our country.

Our mission is to restore Australia.

But we can’t do it without you.

To date Carbon Positive Australia has:

• Planted 6,195,758 trees
• Captured 668,779 tonnes of carbon
• Restored 5,051 hectares of land

Welcome to Week 4 of the Carbon Challenge.

Congrats on making it to Week 4 of the Carbon Challenge! This is the final week of our educational blog posts aimed at helping you learn a few useful tips on how to reduce your impact.

Good on you for getting this far. Taking the time out to educate yourself is the most important thing you can do to help our planet.

Most Aussies have felt the impact of a drought and the repercussions of water restrictions. It's important to monitor your personal water usage, but also be conscious of the water used behind the scenes of your every day behaviours. The fashion industry, for instance, is a major culprit of unnecessary water usage.

According to the UN, one pair of jeans takes 7,500 litres of water to make – a number that includes the water used to grow the cotton, make the denim and get the product shop-ready.

So let's dive in (no pun intended) to Water Week! 

P.S. Don't forget to tell your friends and family there is still time to enter to win over $6K in sustainable prizes, entries close March 13th.

The Importance of Water

Water is vital for sustaining life. The human body is comprised of 60% water and approximately 70% of the earth’s surface is water, only 2.5% of which is fresh water and it is estimated that only 0.007% of the planets freshwater is accessible. 

Water is essential for regulating climate and cycling nutrients and carbon. Not only do we depend on water for our very survival, but water is essential for agriculture and food securing as well as economic progress and human development. 

Water & Sustainability 

The Sustainable Development Goal number 6 is clean water and sanitation for all however systemic change is needed to manage water more efficiently providing more than the basic human needs. Complex political, social and economic factors can contribute to water scarcity as well as environmental factors.

According to the United Nations, water consumption has increased twice the rate of population growth. This disproportionate statistic highlights our excessive consumption and inefficient systems of water management.

We are facing a global water crisis with 785 million people not having access to safe drinking water.

It estimated that only 10% of global water consumption is domestic. Industrial and agricultural practices are responsible for the depletion of this precious resource.

It is critical to protect water at the source. Watersheds are being compromised by deforestation, agriculture and other polluting industries. 

Deforestation in one area can impact precipitation (rainfall) in another as well as erosion and water quality. 

Water and weather systems are interconnected both locally and globally, there is a need for efficient water management systems on a global scale. 

Water quality has diminished, and demand has increased. Conserving and restoring natural infrastructure such as wetlands, rivers and forests and ensuring healthy balanced ecosystems are nature-based solutions. 

Water conservation even on a domestic and personal level can help protect the health of rivers by reducing water extraction as well as resource depletion to build infrastructure for catchment and processing. 

Water & Australia

Australia is the driest inhabited continent and yet as individuals we consume more water per person each year.

Water scarcity, droughts and wildfires are a real threat. We are currently experiencing La Nina, which means little girl in Spanish. This weather pattern results in increased rain fall; however we must not forget the recent Le Nino (little boy). We witnessed the extreme drought in 2018-2019 that culminated in the catastrophic wildfires of 2019-2020. 

1996-2010 also a recent memory saw the devastation of the millennium drought. 

Australia’s rainfall can be unpredictable and as populations increase water consumption in large cities is forecasted to grow by 73%.

Innovations in technology offer some solutions. Desalination (extracting fresh water from sea water) is one that has been tried and tested in Victoria but is grossly inefficient and consumes excessive amounts of energy and is extremely expensive.

Agriculture is responsible for 70% of Australia’s water footprint. There has been a lot of advancement in practices with improvements to irrigation and also more consideration to climate appropriate crops. This is essential as our aquifers have been depleted. 

The food we consume has a significant water footprint. To give perspective, the average person will drink 2 litres of water each day, the daily impact of food we consume accounts for 2000-5000 litres. Reducing meat consumption can help as plants and grains require less water. The average hamburger for example takes 2400 litres to produce. That’s enough drinking water for one person for over 3 years!

It is reported that 40-50% of Australian domestic water use is outdoors. Planting native drought resistant species and mulching to prevent evaporation are very effective strategies to save water in the garden. 

Water Waste Facts:

• On average, Australian households consume about 340 litres of water per person, per day. That is about 1,437 cups of coffee! In dry, inland areas, the average amount used actually increases to 800 litres. Source: RapidPlas
• Australia is wasting 92% of its city runoff water and 86% of its effluent water.
• Storm water, treated sewage effluent, treated industrial discharges and household laundry and bathroom wastewater, could be used for irrigation of city parks, verges, ovals and other horticultural uses. Source: Edie

23 Tips To Save Water

Reducing our water consumption is simple and requires minimal effort and just a little mindfulness.

1. Use water efficient appliances, taps, toilets (low flush) and showerheads
2. Always use the half flush when you can 
3. Keep showers short, time your showers to 3 minutes 
4. Take shallow baths; a partially filled bath will use less water than the average shower
5. Don’t leave the tap on while washing dishes, cleaning teeth, shampooing or shaving
6. Fill the sink to wash vegetables instead of washing under running water
7. Ensure your washing machine is full before turning on
8. Never run a dishwasher half full 
9. Fill the sink with soapy water to wash dishes by hand and then fill the sink with clean water so that dishes can be rinsed together
10. Reuse grey water from showers, bathroom and kitchen sinks. Grey water can be process for use in the garden. Be careful to always use natural cleaning products
11. Put a bucket in your shower and use the extra water for your house plants
12. Switch to a bidet – lucky for you if you've entered the Carbon Challenge this is your chance to win your own from our friends at Tushy. Bidets use negligible amount of water per cleaning session (about 0.5 litres per minute) while reducing or replacing the need for toilet paper, which uses 140 litres of water to produce a single roll. Source.
13. Hand washing clothes uses less water
14. Water the garden in the morning or late afternoon when it is cooler to minimise evaporation
15. Doing a deep watering less regularly is more effective as it ensures the roots absorb the water. Light watering is more likely to evaporate
16. Install a rain water tank or other rainwater catchment systems
17. Reduce food waste will reduce water waste
18. Eat seasonal fruit and vegetables that require less water to grow
19. Check for household plumbing leaks - Did you know sneaky leaks in the average home are responsible for 45,000 litres of lost water per year?
20. Use a dehumidifier? Save the water for house plants
21. Shop from brands that use ethical fibres. globetrottersiraconlineusa uses LENZING™ ECOVERO™ as our hero fibre. The manufacturing of LENZING™ ECOVERO™ fibers generates up to 50% lower emissions and water impact compared to generic viscose.
22. Buy organic cotton - this ensures that harmful chemicals don't end up in our soils and more importantly our waterways.
23. Buy hemp - We have a beautiful naturally dyed hemp blend knit coming soon. We can't wait to share it with you! 

Get more water saving tips from Sydney Water! 

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Keeping Our Waterways Safe

It's also important to keep in mind which products you're using when you use water. All of the chemicals end up going down the drain and enter our waterways at some point. Using natural products and eco-friendly alternatives is crucial in keeping our planet and its biodiversity safe. 

Check out our natural laundry powder recipe here.

Looking for some more eco friendly swaps? Flora Fauna have provided a few products to help you reduce your water use.

1. Organic Soapberries

• Soapberries are the natural alternative to traditional laundry detergents and fabric softeners. The shell is exceptionally high in 'saponin' which is nature's soap. This saponin content reduces the surface tension of the water so it removes dirt and leaves fabrics, soft and clean. They’re biodegradable, grey water safe, easy to use and 500g results in 180+ washes!
• Tru Earth Laundry Detergent Eco-Strips 

• These heavy-duty eco-strips are packed with ultra-concentrated, hypoallergenic cleaning power into a tiny, pre-measured strip of detergent that you just toss in the wash. The strips work in all washing machines, dissolve completely and are plastic-free.
• Dust & Glow Waterless Products 

• These powderless hair and body powdered conditioner feature a waterless formula that saves over 3L of water per bottle. Just add some water to use! Already have a bottle? They also come in compostable refill pouches!
• Shampoo and Conditioner Bars 

• The average bottle of liquid shampoo or conditioner can be made up of 80% water. Bars use less water and are often plastic-free or recyclable packaging. Simply rub the bar in your hands with water to produce a lather, then massage into hair!
• Ecoegg Laundry Eggs

• The ecoegg Laundry Egg is a unique and innovative laundry washing system that cleans clothes effectively, using two types of natural mineral pellets encased in a recyclable, and reusable, egg. The ecoegg completely replaces your laundry powder and fabric conditioner and contains no harmful chemicals so is perfect for people with sensitive skin. The ecoegg Laundry Egg has held Allergy UK’s ‘Allergy Friendly Product’ award since 2011.

It's almost a wrap!

We hope you enjoyed these tips and can apply some of the information to your daily life. Stay tuned as we wrap up the challenge in the next few weeks and get ready to select a winner of the challenge. Don't forget to go back and recalculate your footprint! No matter what, pat yourself on the back for taking in all of this information and doing your bit for the planet. 

Welcome to Week 3 of the Carbon Challenge.

First up, let’s take a moment to celebrate the fact that we’re now 50% of the way into the carbon challenge!

We’re super grateful that you’ve chosen to join us on this journey: taking the time to review the choices we make in our day-to-day lives, prioritising the climate, and doing what we can within our power to lessen our personal impact on the environment - that's a big deal.

For week 3 we’re focusing on travel and transport. One of the most effective ways to rethink and reduce your carbon footprint is to consider how much, how often, and actually the way that you choose to travel.

So, let’s start week 3 and see whether there are any small adjustments you can make that will reduce your carbon footprint…



12% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from road transport.

In Australia, transport is the third highest source of emissions and the largest growth sector, representing 17% of greenhouse gases. Civilian cars are responsible for half of Australia’s transport emissions.

88% of Australian households own at least one car and our transport emissions are reportedly 45% higher per capita than the OECD average (Organisations for Economic Co-operation and Development).

What if we switched to public transport? 
Travelling by train produces 98% less carbon emissions per kilometre than travelling by car per passenger and yet only 10% of Australian commuters use public transport. The majority of other large global economies utilise public transport services, for example 72% of Chinese commuters travel by train.

We live in a car culture and as populations increase so does congestion and delayed transit times impacting not only air pollution but quality of life, time spent in traffic could be time spent with family.

Only 1 dollar is spent on rail to every 4 dollars spent on roads. For Australia to achieve its commitment of 26-28% emissions reductions by 2030 there has to be systemic Change. There needs to be government investment in public transport infrastructure to ensure accessible, reliable, efficient services. Services that use electric vehicles fuelled by renewable energy sources.

There are small glimmers of hope. Both Melbourne’s trams and Canberra’s Capitol Metro light railway project will soon be powered by renewable energy which offers some hope. To further drive public transport policy there has to be demand. Not only does public transport reduce emissions but it is a more affordable alternative. Why not investigate public transport options to travel to work?

If public transport is not an option, what about electric cars? 
Hybrid (vehicles with a combined petrol engine and electric motor) and electric cars powered by renewable energy offer another clean alternative. The US, China, the Netherlands and Norway dominate the electric vehicle market. Approximately one quarter of Norway’s new car sales are electric while in Australia electric car sales only account for 0.8%.

Again, there needs to be government investment in charging infrastructure for electric cars however, for there to be a reduced impact the energy must be from renewable sources and not from Australia’s dominant dirty coal power. Rooftop solar and Greenpower options are available with a significant reduction in cost and emissions. Again, consumer demand will drive market and infrastructure change.

Reduce your carbon footprint and get fit by taking short journeys by bicycle. 

The majority of car journeys are short distances and often with only one passenger. These journeys could easily be done on a bicycle.

E-bikes offer a viable and efficient alternative to motorised fossil fuel dependant transport. Reducing carbon impact and improving physical fitness as well as overall wellness. Increased activity can help foster lifestyle and behavioural change for a more balanced mind and body.

E-bikes have the advantage of an electric motor to assist cyclists with a seed of up to 25km/hour. Making them an efficient alternative for longer distances and loads to your average bicycle.

We have seen an escalation in shared mobility devices in urban areas such as electric bikes and scooters recently transitioning from docked to e-mobility using advanced self-locking technology and smartphone connectivity.

Many commuters have resorted to e-bikes in the pandemic to avoid crowded public transport, there has been a significant increase in sales globally. And another advantage to e-bikes is being in control of your own schedule without having to follow a timetable.

Sunshine Cycles are offering an exclusive hour free bike hire for our Byron Bay boutique customers this week, use the code ARNHEM so you can experience the benefits yourself. We are very excited to have an Ezeriderz e-bike for our office errands. You too can be the proud owner of an e-bike by entering the Carbon Challenge here.

To support a transition to cycling and walking there needs to be safe, secure and accessible infrastructure. Again, more public demand will drive government policies. In the US the government offer incentives for e-bikes such as tax credits – take note Australia!

Our office invested in an ezriderz E-Bike to use for all of our office errands, lunch runs, and quick trips to the shop in lieu of driving short distances and releasing unnecessary emissions! The winner of the Carbon Challenge will get their very own ezriderz x globetrottersiraconlineusa custom bike in the cream colourway. 

Better Together.
Carpooling and car sharing offer another solution. According to The Car Next Door every one of their shared cars takes up to 10 other cars off the road while offering an affordable alternative to owning a car.

While in the sky...

Air travel is a significant contributor responsible for 2% global emissions. If air travel were a country it would be in the top 10 most polluting.

According to the International Air Transport Association’s economic assessment there was a reduction of 352.7 MT CO2 from civil aviation in 2020 compared to the previous year demonstrating the huge impact of air travel.

Travel limitations experienced due to the pandemic meant that businesses had to adapt and shift to virtual platforms for meetings meaning less dependency on air travel.

The pandemic has also prevented us from travelling abroad, resulting in more domestic travel. We are blessed to live in a beautiful and diverse country with many climates and landscapes to explore.

And if you're flying for work, or pleasure, wherever possible fly direct, as landings and takeoffs use more fuel and produce more emissions.

Here are 13 tips and tricks to help you reduce your travel & transport carbon emissions:

1. If travelling by car keep your tyres inflated, as it helps to reduce emissions by saving you up to 10% in fuel.
2. Ensure your service is up to date and your car is running efficiently.
3. Use cruise control where possible: maintaining a steady speed gives you fuel efficiency, thus reducing emissions. 
4. Plan multiple errands on one trip.
5. When purchasing a new car compare fuel efficiency, or consider a hybrid or electric car.
6. Take public transport where possible and consider taking public transport to work. This has many benefits both financially and also creating time and space to catch up on life admin.
7. Investigate bike paths to work or to local cafes and shops.
8. If you have a bicycle, consider getting a basket for running small shopping errands.
9. Consider domestic travel instead of international travel. Travel by car or chose economy flights; flying business class produces almost twice the emissions and first class is triple by comparison, making economy a greener choice.
10. Consider taking the train in place of flying if possible. Train travel reduces emissions by up to 90%.
11. Carpool to work or school runs: sharing the load creates big wins all round.
12. Consider car sharing schemes such as Car Next Door.
13. Walk - it's an easy way to be green, stay active and healthy, and save money!

As you make these positive changes to reduce your environmental impact, share your experience with your friends and family, and invite them to take the Carbon Challenge too – you’ll get an extra 10 points for sharing the challenge – just log back into your account here to be in with a chance to win more than $6,000 worth of earth loving, life enhancing prizes!

Welcome to Week 2 of the Carbon Challenge.

This week we’ve drawn up a list of super achievable ways to make a difference when it comes to your carbon footprint and takling climate action.

Everything we use as consumers has a carbon footprint, and food and waste is something that we all have in common. If you’re looking to reduce your environmental impact on the planet and improve your wellbeing, then this week’s challenge is for you.

Plus, keep reading as we’ll let you into a little secret about something exciting coming in March - you're literally the first to know!

So, let’s find out where you are on your food and waste journey…

We live in a world of inequality where millions in developing nations face food insecurity. And yet food waste is responsible for 6% of greenhouse gas emissions. If food waste were a country, it would be the 3rd largest emitter.

Methane released by decomposing food waste in landfill contributes 25 times more to global warming that CO2.

The United Nations set a target to halve post retail food waste by 2030 as part of the Sustainability Development Goals (SDG 12.3). Unfortunately, this only represents half of the problem with waste occurring through the whole supply chain. Factors such as climate, mould and pests can contribute to pre-retail loss. Furthermore it is estimated that a disgraceful 40% of produce is wasted due to cosmetic standards set by commercial supermarkets. Produce is rejected due to aesthetic imperfections that do not affect the taste or nutrition.

Food waste is a critical issue not only for the environment, but there are also social and economic implications.

It is reported that there is enough food produced to feed the entire world population. And one third of food produced globally is wasted.

Australia has made a commitment to halve food waste by 2030.

According to FIAL (The Food and Agribusiness Growth Centre) National Food Waste Feasibility study 2021, 7.6 tonnes of food is wasted annually here in Australia, that’s 312kg per capita. Approximately 70% of food wasted is edible. With a cost of €36.5 billion to the Australian economy, that’s $2000-$2500 per household annually.

The water required to produce the food wasted is 2628.3 gigalitres which equated to 286 litres per person, per day and 17.5 million tonnes of CO2 (production, transportation and disposal).

And yet it is reported that in 2019, 1 in 5 Australians experienced food insecurity. This figure increased by 47% in 2020 in light of the economic impact of Covid-19.

Households need to reduce their food waste by a minimum of 30% to meet the SDG target through lifestyle and behavioural changes. Here are some suggestions to achieve this:

1. Plan weekly meals and only buy what produce you need.
2. Batch prepare and freeze meals.
3. Freeze surplus ripe fruit for smoothies.
4. Check your fridge temperature is optimum.
5. If stored correctly food is often edible beyond the best before dates, trust your judgement.
6. Buy local seasonal produce. e.g. from one of our favourite local 100% not-for-profit environmental organisations Santos Organics!
7. Always buy fresh produce, not frozen. Find your local farmers market here. 
8. Grow your own herbs and vegetables: even if you don’t have access to a garden it’s possible to grow in pots, or try sprouting.
9. Buy ugly produce.
10. Use vegetable scraps for making broth and store in the freezer until you are ready to prepare.
11. Utilise not so fresh vegetables for making soup.
12. Compost unusable food scraps, or use the green bin provided by the council: find out more about how to compost here.
13. Buy direct from the farmer: here are some amazing organisations working directly with farmers:

• Good and Fugly - Sydney
• Farmers pick - Melbourne
• Food Connect – Brisbane
• Open Food Network – Australia wide

• Store potatoes in a cool dark cupboard.
• Remove green tops before storing other root vegetables in the refrigerator.
• If carrots and beetroots become soft try soaking them in chilled water to restore.
• Don’t refrigerate onions and garlic, store in a cool dark cupboard, separate from potatoes.
• Wraps greens and herbs (unwashed) in a clean tea towel before storing in refrigerator.
• Cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli – once cut store in an airtight container in refrigerator.
• Squash and pumpkin can be stored at room temperature (away from fruit): store in refrigerator once cut.
• Store fruit at room temperature until ripe, then store in refrigerator.
• Never store fruit and vegetables together.
• If you have excess produce, try pickling.

Reducing meat consumption is another very powerful way to minimise your emissions.

50% of the earth's habitable land is used as farmland, the vast majority of which is livestock farming. As the global population grows and developing countries aspire to the Western diet, more natural habitats are being destroyed for grazing leading to deforestation, biodiversity loss and drought.

Global meat production accounts for 60% of greenhouse gases from food production. The destruction of forests, growing of grain for feed, methane and transportation all contribute to this. It is estimated that the livestock industry is responsible for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia is the 2nd biggest consumer of meat globally.

We can consume less meat, source local, ethically reared meat from farmers using regenerative practices that help to capture carbon in the soil. Wild meat is another great alternative to factory farmed, particularly invasive introduced species that are damaging native habitat, such as venison where culling programs already exist. Discover the ethical meat suppliers directory here.

It’s not just food waste we need to be mindful of, food packaging and in particular plastic is another serious contributor to emissions from resource extraction, manufacturing, transportation and end of life.

The convenience of single use plastic has become ingrained in our consumerist lifestyles with little thought of the repercussions. Plastic is lightweight, durable and cheap. We are seeing the true cost of this material and the harm to freshwater; terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as our health. The characteristics of plastic that have made it so commercially appealing have unfortunately contributed, being lightweight it is easily carried on currents and can travel to remote shores uninhabited by humans. Its durability means that it will take hundreds of years, if not more, to break down slowly degrading into smaller pieces.

Plastic is responsible for 3.8% of greenhouse gas emissions. If plastic were a country it would be the 5th highest emitter globally.

Australians are the worst offenders and consume the most single use plastics. We are responsible for an average of 59kg of plastic waste per person every year.

Here are some tips and tricks to reduce your plastic waste:

1. Buy bulk where possible, use your own containers and jars – our team love Santos Organics. 
2. Buy produce in jars or cans in place of plastic.
3. Use reusable bags for shopping, preferably made from natural materials such as cotton, linen or hemp – you can shop some globetrottersiraconlineusa options here. 
4. Use paper or natural cloth bags for storing your produce instead of plastic bags.
5. Shop at your local farmers market. Find yours here.
6. Use beeswax wraps in place of cellophane to store produce: we still have some Revive globetrottersiraconlineusa x Beefolk DIY Wraps left to shop. 
7. Always have a water bottle, keep cup, reusable take away container, cutlery and reusable straw in your handbag or car: we have plenty of options in globetrottersiraconlineusa Home.
8. Ditch single-use plastic from your kitchen, laundry & bathroom for a reusable and circular option like Zero Co! Don't miss their tips on lowering your Carbon Footprint here.

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It’s not just single use packaging we need to be aware of. Our consumption and disposal of clothing and household items is also contributing to the climate crisis.

• We consume 400% more clothing than two decades ago.
• Australia is the second largest consumer of clothing globally.
• It is estimated that up to 50% of clothing is disposed of within the first year.

🌿 We have something incredibly exciting launching in March to help you close the loop … we will be launching Circulate, a dedicated space to buy and sell pre-owned globetrottersiraconlineusa treasures! Stay tuned for more...

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Each year 1.5 billion tyres are being discarded worldwide.
These tyres never decompose and are a breeding ground for deadly diseases: dengue, malaria, and zika. 60% of Indonesia’s waste tyres are being collected by factories and burned, releasing toxic gasses into the air and oil into the ground. As a brand born by the beach, we knew we needed to start wearing more sustainable sandals. This is why we started stocking Indosole at our Byron Bay boutique and have a $250 Indosole voucher as part of our Carbon Challenge grand prize!

We must reduce our consumption, reuse, repair and recycle.

In the meantime, get some tips and tricks on how to upcycle your clothing and invest in a Revive Sewing Kit!

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As you make these positive changes to reduce your environmental impact, share your experience with your friends and family, and invite them to take the Carbon Challenge too – you’ll get an extra 10 points for sharing the challenge – just log back into your account here to be in with a chance to win more than $6,000 worth of earth loving, life enhancing prizes!

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

Don't forget to register for the Carbon Challenge for your chance to win $6K in prizes!

Welcome to Week 1 of the Carbon Challenge.

We’re kicking things off with what we think is one of the easiest ways to collectively make a big difference. Granted it’s going to take a little research, and some up-front work, but once you’ve made these small changes you can literally set and forget!

Week 1 we’re talking Power, Banks & Super… don’t let these three words put you off! Trust us, 30 minutes of your time invested in research and action can make a huge difference to what you care about – the health of people & planet!

So, let’s get started…

The Dirty Truth
Residential energy use represents 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Australia has the highest emissions per capita of all developed countries, emissions from electricity represent a third of Australian greenhouse gases. 62% of electricity is produced from dirty coal making the Australian grid once of the most polluting in the world.

Only a quarter of Australian electricity comes from renewable sources despite having an abundance of resources.

However, consumers are becoming more conscious; 20% of Australian households have rooftop solar systems with government initiatives such as the small scale renewable energy scheme making renewable alternatives more accessible for home owners and small businesses.

How Green is Your Power Provider?
While solar will save you money in the long term it can be expensive to install. There are many energy providers that offer cleaner energy however it’s important to compare options before making a decision. For example, one established provider was recently bought by Shell, a multinational oil and gas giant undermining their authenticity.

No provider is able to guarantee the source of energy as all electricity comes from the national grid with no visibility of its source be it renewable or fossil fuel based. Clean energy providers operate by off-setting emissions. Ideally providers will also invest in new renewable developments rather than existing sources. New infrastructure ensures the growth of the clean energy industry.

How to Green Your Home.
Greenpower is a government managed scheme, providing 100% renewable accredited local energy sources such as hydro, solar, wind and bioenergy. Making Greenpower Australia’s most sustainable energy provider, empowering consumers to be part of a collective movement to a greener cleaner energy. Greenpower has a greater impact than other providers as other carbon neutral schemes are not always based within Australia. Carbon neutral off-setting initiatives can vary from waste management to tree planting.
Another consideration when choosing a new provider are sustainability and transparency policies.

Wild Energy at globetrottersiraconlineusa.
We use Enova Community Energy, Australia’s first community-owned energy retailer which is also a social enterprise, based in the Northern Rivers. Community-owned and operated, Enova is renewables-focused, with all of its energy sourced from its own customers’ rooftops and from Diamond Energy, a renewable energy generator. As a social enterprise, Enova re-invest 50% of profits into its not-for-profit arm to build self-sustaining and resilient communities through locally generated and shared renewable energy. Enova aims to assist communities make the transition to renewable energy without leaving anyone behind; to keep jobs and profits in local communities; and to reduce carbon emissions. Enova currently operates throughout New South Wales and South East Queensland.

Invest to Save The Planet.
Not only can you can reduce your footprint through your energy provider, but your choice of bank and superannuation fund can have a significant social and environmental impact. So many of us are unaware of where our money is being invested and if investments are in line with our personal values. Many global financial institutions have traditionally invested in harmful industries that are contributing to the climate crisis and inequality for example fossil fuels, nuclear weapons, arms, gambling, tobacco, live animal exports and unethical labour, just to name a few. We have the power to make meaningful change through our choices.

Who’s the Greenest of Them All?
There are authentic and transparent socially responsible finance options however, there is unfortunately limited regulation of sustainable investment. Responsible Investment Association Australia (RIAA) is an independent accreditation body that regulates sustainable investment. However ethical and sustainable practise are not clearly defined. For example, a fund can claim to exclude fossil fuels but still earn up to 20% of their revenue from fossil fuels and the minimum standard for ethical practices are not investing in arms or tobacco.

According to Market Forces, Australia’s major banks funded €8.9 billion of investment into coal, oil and gas in 2020, an 18% increase from 2019 despite committing to the global goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

Health insurers are waking up to the impact of fossil fuels on human health and many are divesting from polluting industries.

It’s important to do your research before making a decision on who to entrust your money with – check out our suggested tools, and find out what Jade at Salty Aura did below.


Green Web Hosting
Search engines are another consideration. Ecosia, a German based not for profit donates 80% of its profits to organisations throughout the world with a focus on native tree planting working with local communities. They offer transparency and do not capitalise on your personal data.


21 Ideas to Minimise Your Carbon Footprint
Here are some tips and tricks to reduce your emissions through your energy usage and take back your power to minimise your environmental and social impact:

Energy.

1. Turn lights and appliances off when not in use
2. Replace lightbulbs with energy efficient LEDs
3. Compare energy efficiency ratings when buying new appliances
4. Wash clothes in cold water
5. Dry clothes naturally, do not use clothes dryers
6. Use the eco setting when using a dishwasher
7. Utilise sunlight to warm your home by opening curtains
8. Ensure your home is well insulated
9. Set your hot water system to 50 degrees Celsius
10. Conserve hot water by taking shorter showers
11. Wear layers in winter and invest in a hot water bottle
12. Adjust your thermostat to a lower setting
13. Install solar panels
14. Switch to a clean energy provider
15. Off-set through charitable donations
16. Plant trees


Power
1. Research and switch to ethical banking
2. Research and switch to a socially and responsible super fund
3. Market Forces offer insights into responsible finance:

• https://globetrottersiraconlineusa.com/info/compare-bank-table/
• https://globetrottersiraconlineusa.com/superfunds/

4. Research alternative search engines that respect privacy and personal data

5. Research and switch to ethical and responsible health insurance


Don’t forget to go back to the Carbon Calculator.
You can check your quarterly power and gas bills and divide them by three to get your monthly total. When you make the switch to clean energy, over the course of the following months you can go back and update your totals, and compare the impact that you’ve had on the planet.

Head on back to our Carbon Challenge here.

How Jade from Salty Aura Joined The Movement

Our friend Jade from Salty Aura has provided some information on her journey with divesting and shifting her banking choices for the planet.

Who do you bank with?

I think it’s crazy how we are told all the little ways we can be more sustainable (reusable coffee cups, bamboo straws etc) but you hardly hear people talk about our bank and super account. The guys you bank with could literally be using your money to invest in fossil fuels. For example, in the last 5 years ANZ have loaned $13 BILLION to fossil fuels!! 

Banks funding fossil fuels and their subsidiaries. In 5 years loaned: 

• AMP $530 million
• ANZ $13 billion.
• ING $722 million
• Westpac $6 billion
• NAB $9 billion
• Commbank $14 billion

Each time you make a deposit, your bank essentially borrows some of that money from your account and lends it out to other borrowers, whether it’s an auto or home loan, a personal loan, or credit.

Once we found this out, we switched as soon as we could. This meant even switching our home loan. It’s so worth it in the long run! We now use Bank Australia. They are carbon neutral, support climate positive projects and are b Corp certified. There is a huge list of other great banks here**https://globetrottersiraconlineusa.com/info/compare-bank-table/

Who is your super fund manager?

This is even more important than who you bank with. Your super account exists so it can invest your money, to grow overtime for retirement. There’s a very high chance yours may be investing this money straight into mining companies and fossil fuels, so this is an important one to look into.

I changed our super funds to Australian Ethical, and it literally took minutes to do! You just give them your TFN and they gather all the money from your other super accounts into theirs automatically. If you have a lot in your super, speak to a professional first before you make the switch, as you may have insurance tied up in yours.

https://globetrottersiraconlineusa.com/superfunds/