Monday 17 July 2006

Warmer weather and lighter days offer opportunities to spend time outdoors. As you prepare for the season of holidays and hay fever, spare a thought for the impact on your environment.

Simple adjustments in your daily life will help ensure your credentials are as green as your surroundings.

Chemical-free chill out
Venturing out often involves a variety of creams and lotions. Swap your chemical versions for natural alternatives; ask your local health food shop for advice:

• lavender oil is great for treating bites and stings and can be used to sooth sunburn, or mix some with your sun cream as an insect repellent
• others such as tea tree oil, calendula cream, eucalyptus and ginger can treat a range of ailments from cuts and scrapes to travel sickness

Reduce your emissions
Carbon emissions increase during holiday periods as more people take to the roads and skies. If a holiday in this country doesn't appeal, try offsetting some of the damage to the environment in other ways:

• make the most of the fresh air, leave the car at home and walk or cycle – has the added advantage of helping you get fit and lose weight
• balance some of your air miles by buying local produce and eating seasonally … at least your food won't have travelled around the globe

Cleanse with awareness
In many areas of the world, clean water is seen as a privilege. There may not be a shortage in Scotland but it's still worth using less, wisely:

• on warm, sticky days, take a fresh shower rather than a bath – it cools you down, uses less water and less energy to heat it up
• choose natural products with which to bathe … they are kinder to your skin and provide respite to our chemical-clogged seas and oceans

Reduce, reuse, recycle
It's a message used often but how much attention do you actually pay to it?

• reuse your carrier bags or carry a cotton bag at all times; it's simple but effective
• shop at local stores and cut down on packaging; buy as much or as little as you need
• if you don't have kerbside recycling, contact your local council for details of your nearest recycling centres

A little effort for a healthier, cleaner, longer lasting environment