Still driving to the gym to jump on a treadmill? Time to think more long-term. With a few simple swaps, it’s easy to make your training healthy for the planet as well as your body.
Know your food’s story
Buying local isn’t always best for minimising your dinner’s carbon footprint. The emissions from producing it can dwarf those from transporting it, so buying veggies from, say, a hydro-powered New Zealand farm might actually contribute less to global warming than getting produce from closer to home.
Transportation is key: highly perishable items like fresh fruits, berries and high-end cheese tend to be delivered by air freight, which has almost 50 times the carbon footprint of shipping. Do your research when you can, and remember that going frozen isn’t bad – it can lock in vital nutrients in vegetables, keeping them healthier than fresh food that’s been left to degrade.
Ditch the bottled water
Think before you drink. Of an estimated 200 billion bottles of water consumed globally every year, around 176 billion end up in landfills or the ocean, tearing through the Earth’s non-renewable resources and creating an environmental hazard that’ll last for centuries. Get a re-usable bottle and take it everywhere you exercise. If you’re concerned about taste, invest in a filter bottle like the BRITA fill&go Active.
Recycle your shoes
The bin is an undignified end for a pair of shoes that have got you through morning runs and marathons. Instead of just throwing them away, recycle them. Runners Need offers a recycling service in all its UK stores, allowing shoes to be re-used or sent to the European Recycling Company for processing (this year, it’s also offering money-off deals and collection by post). Alternatively, donate straight to people who need them. Charities including A Mile In Her Shoes are always looking for clean second-hand kit to equip aspiring runners who don’t have much cash to spend on gear.
Eat sustainably fished seafood
It’s time to look past tuna and salmon. By casting the net a bit wider you’ll help keep fishing stocks sustainable, as well as benefiting from a wider range of nutrients. The Marine Conservation Society produces a pocket guide to breeds that are caught or farmed sustainably and safely and the labels to look for. You’ll also be doing your body a favour: fish raised in better conditions and on a diet that mimics their natural feeding patterns have a better hormone profile and omega 3:6 ratio.
Adopt a plant-based diet
Being a carnivore isn’t great for the environment. Estimates vary on exactly how much water it takes to make a steak, but it’s certainly an order of magnitude more than you need for a can of kidney beans. Veganism, let’s be honest, is a bit all-or-nothing – and it also doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually be eating better.
A better solution is to switch to what nutritionists call a “plant-based” diet, a less morally-loaded term that still allows you to eat meat once in a while. It means mostly filling your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables, having a few animal-product meals (or days) a week and cutting down on refined products like flour or sugar, but not freaking out if your only on-the-go option is a cheeseburger.
It’s also worth occasionally switching out your whey for a plant-based protein because, as well as having a slightly better carbon footprint, these naturally include extra nutrients including B vitamins, calcium, iron, selenium and zinc.
Be a do-gooder
If the 6am gym grind’s starting to feel a little soulless, maybe it’s time to swap it for something more useful. Organisations including the GoodGym group offer the chance to have a target for your workouts, whether that means helping out with community projects or taking regular runs to see isolated older people. GoodGym currently operates in 28 areas around the UK, and aims to ultimately run more than 70 schemes.
Read on for several more reasons why it’s time to buy a water filter
And find more ways to #swapforgood with the BRITA fill&go Active
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