I'm guessing that's a typo, or you've got the wrong word there, sirromj??
Do you have data on the carbon footprint of STW, what are the plans to reduce, how have you reduced. Long term aims etc. could we get a dedicated page in the pull down menu
Anyone mentioned temperature kettles yet?
Who needs actual boiling water? And it seems to boil for about 2 mins on most kettles before flipping off. Ours has 70, 80, 90 and 100. 80 makes a great aeropress that's ready to drink, even if you are boiling pasta etc 90 is grand. Ours was cheap and is 7 years old (we got it when we moved house)
For anyone interested in numbers here's a plug for this again:
There’s a wide range of plastic free sustainable wet wipes these days.
We used washable baby wipes, they were far more effective for wiping up poo by virtue of being Terry cloth, and they still are as we still have them a decade later.
Thanks for the link pigyn. Will give it a browse later as it looks interesting.
Molgrips, it's great to have alternatives for different people's needs. I find flannels great too , but you cannot beat a wet wipe for some of our daily situations. I imagine you don't have the same needs as us.
Nobody here concerned about STWs plan but people who don't use or need wet wipes complaining about wet wipes.
Dare I mention hippos?
Email singletrack and find out what they are doing to reduce their carbon footprint, we don't want to reduce our clicks or give it up we want a carbon neutral website and mag. Force them to improve or we could listen to the 'give everything up' brigade.
No clicks today frinstance??
Tj. Already done,
No clicks today frinstance??
Go ahead, lead by example, and don't stop at a day.
*not a wet wipe user*
Some of the stuff on this thread is mad.
"There's nothing we can do, it's all down to the governments and big companies".
But WE elect the government's and WE buy from the big companies.
Electing the right politicians and buying the things we NEED from the right companies will do far more than not washing your towels and recycling your wet wipes.
The planet will be fine. It's ability to support human life in the next few decades is the problem.
Nobody is willing to make the necessary changes. We've known about this for what, 40 years and still global CO2 emissions are increasing year on year. Ten years ago 1.5' was seen as the disaster point. We've already hit that and our governments in Westminster and Holyrood have reacted to this by ditching their climate targets. These are governments WE voted for. Labour won't fix this, Farrage denys its even happening.
In three weeks we have a choice. Voting for anyone but Green is condoning climate destruction and no amount of electric cars or veganism changes that.
Nobody is willing to make the necessary changes.
The necessary changes are for the world's governments to collectively come up with an alternative to consumer capitalism. I can't make that change. I can buy less stuff, sure, but I can't affect that many other people.
This is a job for governments - don't let them off the hook.
These are governments WE voted for.
Yeah, we voted for them, but that doesn't mean they'll do whatever we want. You're grossly over-simplifying the situation we find ourselves in. What we need is governments to create programmes to address this properly and competently. It's all well and good criticising us for not voting Green, but that ignores the actual real world in which we live. Governments need to do this - Labour, Tory, all of them.
^^On the one hand you want people to be realistic about the world we live in, on the other, you're hoping governments are going to get together and come up with a new world economy model asap🤪
The consumerist world economy is the only game in town, it will be the only game in town in 25 years, continue spending but pressure your favourite businesses to improve. Just look at the change in the wet wipe industry😁
Now, why is no one concerned with the STW plan? We all use the site,, we can make a marginal gain right here without switching anything off.
In peak ridiculousness I bought sustainable dental floss. It's silk not plastic but is super white, I suspect bleaching. Mind you normal plastic stuff may have TiO2. Also it's a bit wide for my little toothy peg gaps.
I'm very conflicting with my own beliefs, mostly because doing anything means travelling in a car. But I do try to reduce impact. I've changed jobs so my sole focus is on reducing the companies carbon footprint, and that doesn't mean offsetting fortunately. We are genuinely working towards doing better (despite making big parts for big planes).
For riding, there isn't much I enjoy without being able to drive. I also would like to build and race my little Peugeot 205 in some hillclimbs.
Hence the self conflict.
on the other, you’re hoping governments are going to get together and come up with a new world economy model asap
I'm not expecting them to. I'm just saying that's what's needed! That said, a lot of governments are pressing ahead with renewable generation on a large scale. Pretty sure that's not due to consumer demand. But we need to do better -we need storage, and that needs research and investment. That's what we need governments for.
Pressuring companies to make their tat slightly less damaging isn't going to make any meaningful difference. We need them to stop selling us tat, which they can't do because they won't put themselves out of business.
That said, a lot of governments are pressing ahead with renewable generation on a large scale.
Probably one reason for that, and it's more likely to do with saving their wallets than saving the earth. Dunno why people feel obliged to make excuses for governments and corporations.
We used washable baby wipes, they were far more effective for wiping up poo by virtue of being Terry cloth, and they still are as we still have them a decade later.
Same. And i think they were all inherited from my sister, so they're 20+ years old and worked on five kids!
Well (local)governments are starting. We are about to have a no/low impact secondary school built. There are no bunsens in the science labs, in fact no gas.
Unfortunately I've been through this before so started asking questions. Yeah architects are a bit shit at practicallity.
Do you have data on the carbon footprint of STW, what are the plans to reduce, how have you reduced. Long term aims etc. could we get a dedicated page in the pull down menu
Probably the biggest single impact would be to fix the janky code that causes everyone's phones / laptops to massively overheat. Bearing in mind how long people spend with STW just burning away - multiplied by number of users...
Controversial suggestion - marginal gains actually make the situation worse?
paper straws, 5p plastic bags, an eco branded toilet paper, separating the recycling etc etc...
These things all have tiny, probably immeasurable impact on the world, but my in-laws (and I think a large part of the populations) think if they are doing those things (and not even all those things) they are doing their bit and so its OK that to fly on holiday 4x a year, including one 2 week cruise on a massive floating dinosaur burning hotel EVERY year.
One of the best decisions we made was getting rid of the Singletrack branded diesel van some years ago. It was one of those things we convinced ourselves we really needed but haven’t missed.
We swapped out all our lights in the office (two floors) for LED lights years ago. Then installed a 4kw solar system on the roof. The mag has been printed as environmentally as we could make it for some time. Renewable sources of paper, printer with strong environmental credentials and the like. Current printer is 100% powered by green sourced energy (Manson).
the janky laptop heating code is entirely the fault of the ad system with animated ads pumped in by ad networks, mostly Google. I’m trying my best to get the business to a point where I can get rid of them. I guess subscribing and going ad free is an environmental option in that case (joking - not serious) 🙂
in short we are conscious of our impact and we try our best to make good choices.
Oh and we just signed up with Octopus Energy for our office supply.
Controversial suggestion – marginal gains actually make the situation worse?
paper straws, 5p plastic bags, an eco branded toilet paper, separating the recycling etc etc…
These things all have tiny, probably immeasurable impact on the world, but my in-laws (and I think a large part of the populations) think if they are doing those things (and not even all those things) they are doing their bit and so its OK that to fly on holiday 4x a year, including one 2 week cruise on a massive floating dinosaur burning hotel EVERY year.
I agree, I think this is an issue. Also an issue is that the key to greenness is, basically, 'use less stuff', but the much stronger forces of marketing and convenience have turned it into 'buy this stuff to increase your greenness'. So we have things like an enormous selection of aluminium drinking bottles in every gift shop and outdoorsy shop in the country, 'plant based' fabric conditioners and, dare I say it again, 'sustainable' wet wipes.
Cycle to shop rather than drive so car hardly gets used. Although my bike was bought on bike to work and I work from home, so some accused me of being a tax dodger...just can't win on here!
No kids, so (despite what daz says) that's a massive saving
As for towels. I recently went through this debate with the OH. Can't believe folks wash a towel every 2-3 days. Madness..
Hey, @Mark. Thanks for taking the time to reply. Great to hear it's already a big part of the business.👍
Would it be possible to get a page with previous efforts, your commitments and long term goals on the website. I'm amazed how many websites still don't actively promote their efforts.
Maybe the journos can do a story advertorial piece??
Do you plan to find out the CO2 produced by STW so that you're able to measure reductions year on year.
What's next, If your carbon footprint isn't measured in any way how do you make informed choices for the next phase?
I might even send some money your way😁
Define your version of environmental sustainability and there will always be somebody come along to say ‘oh, but it’s not perfect’, because most things purchased we can survive without. It’s just a game of fairy tale perfectionism.
By definition sustainability isn't perfectionism.
It's simply being sufficiently little imperfect that it doesn't have a long term impact.
So if you do a sufficient amount of "marginal gains" you could justify driving a car for example. The trouble is that a sustainable amount of CO2 is ~1500kg/year per person. Which is near enough the current amount for driving a car, heating a house, consuming a meaty diet or taking a medium-haul flight. So the answer still needs to be, pick one of those four big tickets to keep, and do all the marginal gains as well so you can keep it.
Governments need to do more, but so do people. Stop saying "but I can't give up driving/petrol/diesel, get a heat pump, not go on holidays, eat vegetables, insulate my home" or whatever the activity is and get on with it.
Don't throw a ball for your dog as this causes it to run and pant, emitting more CO2 and requiring more meat to replenish energy. Doing or rather not doing this will cause the planet to cool, therefore reversing climate change and making the weather generally nice all the time with no extremes.
One can even choose their pension provider on ethnicity and sustainability. The returns may not be as big as say 'Shell' making your profits but it's getting better for shareholders.
It's interesting to think that some people think that by buying a sustainable wet wipe or water bottle they're doing their 'bit'.
I know people who just want to enjoy what's left of their lives and don't give a flying fig about the planet or anything/anyone else. I always hope that they would at least look at the things they purchase and make that a better choice.
I know people who just want to enjoy what’s left of their lives and don’t give a flying fig about the planet or anything/anyone else.
That's the other side of the "no kids" question. Parents are more likely to be concerned about what happens after their own lifespan.
Stop saying “but I can’t give up driving/petrol/diesel, get a heat pump
I can't wait to get a heat pump, I just don't have ten grand lying around doing nothing.
I can’t wait to get a heat pump, I just don’t have ten grand lying around doing nothing.
£7,500 subsidy at the moment, and octopus are offering some very good prices. You don't even have to be a customer. Our ASHP is costing us £2,500 fitted, as part of which they're replacing 6 radiators
I don't really have £2,500 lying around either. Also, Octopus aren't fitting in my area.
Don’t throw a ball for your dog as this causes it to run and pant, emitting more CO2 and requiring more meat to replenish energy. Doing or rather not doing this will cause the planet to cool, therefore reversing climate change and making the weather generally nice all the time with no extremes.
Hey grimep that one was actually quite funny, well done
£7,500 subsidy at the moment, and octopus are offering some very good prices. You don’t even have to be a customer. Our ASHP is costing us £2,500 fitted, as part of which they’re replacing 6 radiators
Even with the subsidy, I'll probably be looking at around another £7,500 for insulation, pipe replacement, larger radiators etc. I wish I could make it work but fitting a replacement gas boiler is hard to avoid. I'm trying...
I reused a towel again this morning which has definitely helped offset the mass deforestation occurring in order to meet net zero targets to save the planet..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/06/18/green-aviation-targets-cooking-oil-fraud-mass-scale/
Waiting for the cringe "Torygraph" comment, don't disappoint me please
Even with the subsidy, I’ll probably be looking at around another £7,500 for insulation, pipe replacement, larger radiators etc. I wish I could make it work but fitting a replacement gas boiler is hard to avoid. I’m trying…
It's worth contacting Octopus - they gave me a fixed price quote including all pipework and plubing, and any necessary radiators. The survey didn't happen for several months after I started the process and thankfully they don't need to do any plumbing as we have 22mm pipework (as opposed to microbore) but they wil lneed to repace 6 radiators. The quote took a few minute to do online
We have microbore, so a not insignificant additional cost.
grimep
Free Member
I reused a towel again this morning which has definitely helped offset the mass deforestation occurring in order to meet net zero targets to save the planet..https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/06/18/green-aviation-targets-cooking-oil-fraud-mass-scale/
Waiting for the cringe “Torygraph” comment, don’t disappoint me please
This is such a non-point you are making.
Our 20yr old gas boiler has just been condemned for the sake of an obsolete flue component 😕 but I can't see a heat pump being much use in a 1980's built detached house.
Perhaps when you go out for breakfast/brunch choose carefully?
I am pretty sure my house doesn't need any new plumbing, and I've even tried to get quotes but it's an absolute minefield if you don't want to just hand over your card details and whatever. One company just sent me a list of heat pump component prices and wanted me to choose.
I would DIY my own installation if it were a monobloc but I don't know if I'd be making the right choices and I'm sure I wouldn't get the grant. Most people I spoke to seem unaware of it's existence. I want a service like the Octopus one but they aren't doing it in my location.
We have microbore, so a not insignificant additional cost.
I can't recall if the octopus price includes replacing microbore or not, if so then it's "just" the hassle of them replacing the pipework. IF youhave to pay for it then yes, it's going to cost a chunk 🙁
Micro bore describes grimep perfectly.
“That’s the other side of the “no kids” question. Parents are more likely to be concerned about what happens after their own lifespan.”
Yes part of me is wanting a better planet for my 7 year old niece, however I want a better planet for all the life upon it that is being affected and killed off due to our selfish actions.
^^I think that's quite a big part of the disagreements on this. Any plans to save the planet MUST also include protecting poor people from being punished monetarily.
What are the non-consumerists investing their money in so people at the bottom don't suffer? (That's not meant as a pithy comment btw)
What are the non-consumerists investing their money in so people at the bottom don’t suffer? (That’s not meant as a pithy comment btw)
1) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory. Spending a decent amount on some nice boots is better for the planet (and my wallet) than several cheap pairs. It also means it's likely paying someone a decent wage and to take their time to make them. Not rushed sweatshop labour.
2) If I spend money on a day out then far more of that money ends up in the hands of the staff (hospitality and tourism generally being at the bottom of the pay scale) than if I'd bought "stuff" where the money ends up flowing tot he top of some corporates structure.
3) TBH if you meant actual investments then I'm no activist investor, most of it is just in various ETF trackers. If you wanted me to stretch that to make it sound like a good thing, to sooner I retire the sooner I stop producing anything. It's a flimsy argument, like trying to pin STW's carbon footprint on the staff rather than amoratizing it over all the users.
👍 you've got it, I didn't just mean actual financial investments but also interested in those things.
How do we get our actual pennies to the cocoa farmers which rely on that industry?
What are the non-consumerists investing their money in so people at the bottom don’t suffer? (That’s not meant as a pithy comment btw)
Nothing - thats the point. Its about consuming less. Cocoa farmers can go back to growing food crops for local consumption and / or concentrate on high quality low volume sales. No point if they have still got cocoa farms but their markets are wiped out in a decade or two.
Its either radically change lifestyles world wide or we get environmental collapse. We either do it in a controlled and planned manner or we have it forced upon us. There is no other choice
If I spend money on a day out then far more of that money ends up in the hands of the staff
That's what I meant - economy based on services not making crap noone needs.
Cocoa farmers can go back to growing food crops for local consumption
Have you considered this idea in detail? I'd they sell staples to their local market I suspect they'll make a lot less money than if they sell luxury products to us. Money they can then use to mechanise and buy other things to enrich their lives.
What we need to do is pay £2 for our bar of chocolate instead of £1.50 and the money to go to the farmers.
I prefer to buy local or as much UK made products as I can when I do need things. I ride a cotic (Scottish frame version), have unite pedals, hope brakes.
Costs more but I prefer to support locally where I can. I don't often buy stuff for myself. Otherwise I've started buying most my clothes from vinted or charity shops. Don't buy often because I'm a bloke....
I drink locally produced whisky and beer.
The study tested 23 preserved testes from cadavers of males who were ages 16 to 88 at the time of their death, then compared the levels of 12 different types of plastics in those testicles with plastics found in 47 dog testes.
Imagine the look on people's faces when you answer their question "What do you do for work?"
DickyboyFull Member
Our 20yr old gas boiler has just been condemned for the sake of an obsolete flue component 😕 but I can’t see a heat pump being much use in a 1980’s built detached house.
I personally think it is worth it in any property. Somewhere along the line we need to try and give up gas. Our friends are having an ASHP fitted very soon in their 1980's property.
Our boiler has been on its last legs for the last 2 years and the plumber has kept it going with care from us. We didn't want to have another gas boiler fitted while there was the opportunity to be greener.
DickyboyFull Member
Our 20yr old gas boiler has just been condemned for the sake of an obsolete flue component 😕 but I can’t see a heat pump being much use in a 1980’s built detached house.
So a house with double glazed windows and walls with cavities will not be suitable for an ASHP? What are you on about? Yes, it'll cost more, you may need to adapt your plumbing, but you can insulate your walls, roof and even easily change your windows to more efficient ones without changing the frames. You've got a detached house which is almost certainly giving you a large ares for solar...sounds like it's well on the way to being suitable for an ASHP. Mine's a 1973 and when the boiler dies (or even before), an ASHP will be the choice, not another boiler. I'd be looking for an ASHP with a higher COP than the standard 3:1. Some of the newer ones are above 4.7.
