The City of Casey's Green Living in Casey Champions help promote sustainable living by sharing their green living stories and tips.
This month we welcome Green Living in Casey Champion Emma Tonkin.
Emma's Green Living journey started when she was a child. She recalls the many drought years in Melbourne when her family placed buckets in the shower to collect the water - this was then used to flush the toilet or water the garden.
When Emma was studying Philosophy at high school, she asked herself the question "What is a good life?" It was during this time that she decided she wanted to lead a life that was better for her, the planet and for others.
During her three years working at Casey kindergartens, Emma focused on the world that we want to leave to our children. She has been studying a Bachelor of Environment and Society, and is thrilled that her interest living sustainably might become her career path.
Emma started with small changes - using shampoo bars and buying second hand or sustainably produced items where possible when she needed something new.
At home with her family, Emma has had conversations about ways they can collectively reduce their impact by avoiding or reducing waste, recycling and composting. They have also had discussions about where they are buying their groceries from and how they can improve the sustainability of what they purchase.
During lockdown, Emma started recording and sharing her efforts to live more sustainably on her Instagram page, Eco-Conscious Emma. This has allowed her to demonstrate the changes she's made, and the online community following the page are inspired to make changes of their own.
Emma's three top tips for people starting their green living journey are:
- Use what you already have. Don't buy new things in order to be green.
- Do a bin audit. Look at the waste you are producing and what you could avoid.
- Don't view things as disposable. Where can they have a new use? Who else could use it? Consider before you purchase anything what you will do with it once you no longer need it.
Interested in becoming a Green Living in Casey Champion?
Whether you are just starting your green living journey, are a keen composter or gardener, or work hard to reduce your waste - if you are committed to sustainable living we would love to hear your story.
By sharing your sustainable living story and tips, you will help others in our community live their best sustainable life, which will go on to help our environment.
