Balance. We all strive to have it, but how many of us actually manage to achieve it?
Studies show that half of British children receive less than an hour of quality time with their parents every day. Between balancing work and home life, the modern parent simply does not have enough time to juggle it all. Added to the mix, there is now an enormous amount of pressure to be sustainable.
As of now, we don’t have a great track record. Each year, UK households throw away an estimated 3 billion nappies, 8.5 million new toys and 3 million tonnes of food.
In addition to this, the fast fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries on the planet, with 300,000 tonnes of clothing ending up in landfill last year. Children’s clothes are a huge culprit as they grow so fast.
As parents, it’s hard not to feel guilty – but how do you find the time to make ethical choices for your kids let alone yourself?
Luckily, there are many charities that offer a practical and easy solution to being more sustainable. Take toy waste: instead of contributing to the 8.5 million new toys that are thrown away each year, why not donate to the Toy Project? They give your unwanted toys to children in need, including those with special needs in Grenada.
Donating to charities like The Toy Project not only benefits children in need but also the planet. Last year, an estimated £370 million was spent on toys in the UK, and 90% of them are made from unrecyclable plastic. The British Heart Foundation revealed that over a quarter of parents throw away toys that are still usable.
Change is possible, but it starts with us. We must encourage and practice more sustainable habits as we raise the next generation. As the 16-year-old Swedish environmental advocate Greta Thunberg said, “You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes.”
By incorporating more sustainable habits into our lives, we are making the planet cleaner and healthier for our children to enjoy. Remember that no matter how hectic our lives may get, that is always worth fighting for.
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