Consciously Craving

Pat Kane on changing your sustainable mindset for spring

A new season offers a fresh chance to make some small changes that can make a real impact, here’s how to reboot your sustainability habits

As spring brings forth an abundance of fresh produce, embracing sustainable food choices becomes even more enticing. Picture: Getty

As we mark the arrival of spring and welcome warmer days across Ireland, it’s a good time to explore how we can contribute positively to our planet. This is what many refer to as ‘sustainable living,’ but what exactly does that entail? Sustainable living involves mindfulness in our daily choices, recognising the finite nature of resources and preserving what remains of our planet.

Reflecting on my own journey, sustainability was not a priority until my husband and I decided to buy our first home. We figured that if we were lucky enough to call a small corner of the world our own, we might as well look after it – and everything that went with ‘it’ – properly.

After living and breathing sustainability for almost a decade now, the importance of collective involvement has become clearer – and there are compelling reasons why everyone should engage in sustainable living.

To achieve it, certain fundamental principles can be followed, echoing the themes of renewal and growth that accompany the spring season:

Refuse, reduce, reuse

Learn how worn-out furniture can be like new again at the Rediscovery Centre Introduction to Furniture Restoration taking place April. rediscoverycentre.ie

Just as nature renews itself in spring, minimising unnecessary waste generation by learning the fine art of saying “Thanks, but no, thanks”, by reusing existing materials and finally, by reassessing your very own consumption patterns.

Energy conservation

As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, conserving energy becomes even more crucial. Using energy-efficient appliances, turning off lights when not in use, and using renewable energy sources help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.

Sustainable transport

With nature bursting into bloom, opting for eco-friendly transport alternatives becomes even more compelling. Walking, cycling, carpooling or using public transport whenever possible can reduce carbon emissions and promote healthier lifestyles. Dust off that Leap Card and go: it’s a win-win.

Food choices

Green Earth Organics is a family run organic farm who have been delivering boxes of delicious fresh local sustainable food to doors all over Ireland for the last 15 years. Organics basket start at €13.85. greenearthorganics.ie

The food we consume has a significant impact on the environment, and as spring brings forth an abundance of fresh produce, embracing sustainable food choices becomes even more enticing. Opting for locally sourced, organic and seasonal produce, supporting sustainable farming practices, reducing food waste and embracing plant-based recipes can significantly reduce carbon emissions, conserve water and protect biodiversity.

Wasted is a capsule collection of recipes that have come from identifying some of the most wasted food items in our homes. This book will help you to stop wasting food and turn perfectly good ingredients into delicious dishes. And the key word here is delicious. The book’s ulterior motive may be to get us to think differently about ingredients and waste, but the driver for all these plant-based recipes is flavour. Wasted will change your mindset and reconnect you to real food, from the root to the tip.
Tony’s Chocolonely Chunky Easter Egg, €11.70. Tony’s exists to end the exploitation of cocoa and so all their cocoa beans are responsibly sourced through their five ‘Sourcing Principles’ including fully traceable beans and paying cocoa farmers a higher price. tonyschcoloney.com

Fashion

Chantari-May Top by Beaumont Organic, €189, slowstreet.ie. Slow Street is a Dublin-based slow fashion business focusing on promoting fashion done right. This top is a great example of their spring collection – made from 100 per cent linen and 100 per cent organic cotton. It’s made ethically in Portugal.
Jack Murphy’s Tweed waistcoat, €190, jackmurphy.ie. Beautiful, purposeful clothing that is made to last past one season. The company specialises in tailored, timeless and sustainable outerwear collections: waterproof, wax and tweed jackets for men and primarily women. Jack Murphy makes trend-proof, sustainable ‘slow fashion’ collections focusing on quality fabrics and styles.

As nature adorns itself in vibrant hues, embracing sustainable fashion becomes a celebration of both style and conscience. Sustainable fashion encourages responsible manufacturing processes, the use of eco-friendly materials, fair labour practices and the reduction of waste. By supporting ethical and eco-friendly brands, opting for durable products and minimising waste through repair and upcycling, we can embrace a fashion-forward lifestyle that honours the beauty and resilience of the natural world.

Sustainable living isn’t merely a trendy buzzword, it's an intentional journey towards aligning our needs with the health of the Earth, a journey that involves conscious choices to reduce our ecological footprint, minimise waste, conserve resources and safeguard the wellbeing of present and future generations.

In this season of change, let us reaffirm our commitment to sustainable living. Each step forward, no matter how small, propels us towards a future where both humanity and the planet thrive.

@iampatkane