Meat: Less and Better

23 March 2021

Calling all carnivores! Maybe you're trying to switch to a more plant-based diet and finding it difficult to give up foods you love, or you are just interested in making your meaty meals a bit more sustainable. Either way, we'd encourage you to check out these ideas for sourcing good quality animal protein. Sure, they may be a bit more expensive, but you can incorporate a few veggie dishes in the mix for some variety and still get to enjoy your favourite meals, making your food choices better for your health and the planet. Try it out and see how you get on! #sustainablediet #dietforasmallplanet 

Source: 
https://www.eating-better.org/why-eat-less-better/what-is-better-meat-dairy.html

Better food for you and the planet

18 March 2021

A vegetarian diet is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, and it’s easier than you might think! With a spoonful of mindfulness about what we eat, and a dash of creativity, we can have healthy meals that lessen our contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Give it a shot and let us know how it goes!

Sources:

1. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/category/all-vegetarian
2. https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition/nutrition-information/health-concerns-about-dairy
*3. https://unece.org/challenge

#vegetarian #vegan #plantbased#dairyfree #meatfree #climatediet#veggie #veggiechallenge #food#dietforasmallplanet

Exam Support Workshops

17 March 2021

Happy Wellbeing Wednesday!

Next week, join an exam support. Session to get tips on looking after your wellbeing during the exam period (swipe to see a few)! The session will cover exam stress and pressure, revision techniques and support services. 

Sessions are taking place daily so book yourself a place using the link in the bio!

Walk with us!

3 March 2021

Welcome to Wellbeing Wednesdays! Check in here for the latest tips and tricks to boost your wellbeing, every Wednesday during term time. 

Walk to India with your fellow BAScers on @worldwalking! Join us on our virtual walk from London to Delhi. 

To join our walking group create an account on Word Walking, search for the group ‘BAScers’ and select 'join this group'. You can start adding your daily steps to the walk so we can all get to Delhi together!

Overcoming Emotional Eating

2 March 2021

Sustainability isn't just about environmental issues, but it connects us to social and wellbeing issues as well. When we're disconnected with how we're feeling and eat to fill a gap, it can tend to be more processed, unhealthy foods (Dark chocolate caramel hobnobs anybody? No? Just me?) that have an impact not just on your health as the consumer, but on the producer, impacts of transportation around the world, and from a waste perspective in terms of unsustainable packaging. While these 5 tips are by no means comprehensive, we hope these few tips will help you to think about food not just from a sustainability perspective, but from a wellbeing perspective as well. 

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/emotional_eating

Why do humans struggle to think of ourselves as animals?

26 February 2021

Check out this podcast that explores humans and our relationship to animals, and why we struggle to think of ourselves as one of them!

Fish: The Forgotten Animal

23 February 2021

In some of these tough days of the pandemic, I’m sure I can’t be the only one meditating on Dory’s mantra of “just keep swimming, swimming, swimming”! Some fish (not that I’m a fish, obvs!) don’t just keep swimming though! Check out these few pointers that can help us all to reduce our impact on the negative impacts of seafood consumption.* 

*The Good Fish Guide is specially made for the UK. However, they are similar websites for other parts of the world. Comment below or send us a DM if you are looking for a guide for where you live.
 
Sources:
https://www.mcsuk.org/media/seafood/PocketGoodFishGuide.pdf

How whales regulate global temperatures

19 February 2021

What combines literature, forensic science and psychology, food webs and social behaviours of marine mammals? You might come across this wild combination of subjects whilst studying on the BASc, but it's also relevant in how whales help to regulate global temperatures! Herman Melville probably didn't know that Captain Ahab's revenge paradox would have such a global impact!

Source: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210119-why-saving-whales-can-help-fight-climate-change 

Talk with sustainable fashion designer Lee Klabin

18 February 2021

We at SustainableBASc are very excited to invite you to join us next Wednesday for a talk with @leeklabin and SustainableBASc during a BASc lunchtime seminar. I’ll be putting the link in the bio for you to join the Teams meeting, so make a note in your calendar and keep an eye on our website!
#sustainablefashion
#uclsustainabilityweek

Food: why eat local?

9 February 2021

Everybody’s gotta eat, but do you know where your food is coming from? Eating food grown locally is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. It’s not always possible, especially in some places in the world in the middle of winter, but if you can, try to check out what’s grown locally in your area and incorporate it into your meals. Your local farmer will thank you!

Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/foodservices/sustainability/green/local

Switch to organic food!

3 February 2021

We at SustainableBASc have had a very busy start to term, so sorry for the late intro to sustainability and food!

People and organisations have made claims about organic food for years, and we’re here to try to unpick some of that and see what’s the buzz about organically grown food vs. conventional farming. A few points on the second image are sourced below. It’s not always easy or cheap to eat organically, but there are a few things you can try. You can #growyourown or try a veg box delivery, or my favourite option, batch cooking and freezing portions. That way I can get cheaper bulk veg and also, don’t have to cook (or wash up loads of dishes!) every day. It might not always be possible, but what’s one thing you try to buy organic if you can?
#organiconabudget
 
Sources:
(1) https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/07/11/330760923/are-organic-vegetables-more-nutritious-after-all
(2) https://www.pan-uk.org/health-effects-of-pesticides/
(3) http://www.panna.org/resources/environmental-impacts

The Big Garden Bird Watch

29 January 2021

Happy Friday! This weekend is the RSPB’s Big Garden Bird Watch, so get out for a walk and see what’s flying around your gardens and parks! (Londoners may even get some snow again!) Share your shots with #biggardenbirdwatch and we’ll catch up with you on Monday!

More info at www.rspb.org.uk

Let's be wiser eaters in 2021!

28 January 2021

It’s still January, so we can still say Happy New Year! Did you make any resolutions this year? Maybe just to get through yet another lockdown? Maybe to exercise more, read more, or my favourite, floss more? We'd like to encourage you to think about eating healthier this year, which will look different for everyone. Maybe you cut out some biscuits if you've got a sweet tooth, or limit your burger intake if saturated fats are the issue. This term, we'll be looking at what it means to eat more sustainably, so keep an eye out here for more news!

SustainableBASc and Degrees of Change talk!

BAScers and anyone interested in tuning in for the discussion between our very own Disha from SustainableBASc and Degrees of Change, a community working to demystify climate change and sustainability in India and the world.

Join us this Wednesday 27 January at 4pm GMT!

Zoom link: https://ucl.zoom.us/j/94065375811 
Meeting ID: 940 6537 5811

Who made my clothes?

16 December 2020

Sometimes it can be difficult to track our own impact on people and planet, but one easy way is to support companies that have a clear fair trade ethos and offer transparency when it comes to the manufacturing and materials for their goods. There are lots of UK and EU-based companies that do, so save up a little more and buy something that will not only support a living wage for those who have made your product, but will also last longer too!

Learn more:
https://cleanclothes.org/livingwage-old/living-wage-versus-minimum-wage

Sources: 
WageIndicator Foundation (2019)
https://issuu.com/fashionrevolution/docs/fr_whitepaper_2020_digital_singlepages

https://cleanclothes.org/livingwage-old/living-wage-versus-minimum-wage

Textile waste is pants!

8 December 2020

A whole garbage truck every second?! That’s pants! What could you do with extra bits of material from pre-consumer waste, or post-consumer clothing items that might be damaged and too worn to continue its life as it started? I’ve got some ripped linen trousers to cut up into pieces to wrap some gifts, then they can be used as dust cloths after, or to wrap other gifts! Leave your ideas in the comments!

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017) @ellenmacarthurfoundation

Bake with BASc!

7 December 2020

BAKING CLASS EVENT!! 

Dear BAScers,

We are so excited to host with the SustainableBASc Team a baking class on the 11th of December! 

Get your ingredients and baking tools ready as we are going to bake the best cookies‼️ 

Stay tuned as well give out more information until then. 

We are excited to see many of you there! 

The Arts and Sciences Society

Minimalism is what you make it

2 December 2020

We focus so much sometimes on what to do with our possessions when we don't need them anymore, that we forget about the process of accumulating them in the first place. Minimalism can be an entire lifestyle, or a principal that you apply to different areas of your life. With all of the environmental impacts of the fashion industry that we're learning about, we'd like to pose the question about minimalism in your wardrobe to encourage you to think about the journey your clothing has taken just to get to your closet.

Black Friday

26 November 2020

Black Friday has traditionally been an event in which Americans flock to the shops, not unlike the turkeys they voraciously consumed the day before on Thanksgiving, at 5am to zombie-like engage in what can be described as "The Purge" at outlet malls, marking the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. (I, Angela, did this once with my step-sister when I was about 13 and was asleep in the car by noon after lugging her shopping around all morning.) 
 
But how can all these companies afford to give such massive discounts? Is it the real price of the products without their profit margin? Are the workers paid even less than usual(1)? How can small, independent and local shops compete with this(2)?
 
Something to consider this holiday season is that "experiences bring people more happiness than do possessions" Hamblin, 2013, (3). Check out the articles linked in the webpage link for this post. This Black Friday, stick it to the man! Just go make something nice for your friends and family to post to them!

Sources:  

1. https://www.fashionrevolution.org/blackfriday/

2. https://www.sustainablefashionmatterz.com/sustainable-fashion-blog/9-ways-to-disrupt-black-friday-jb54y

3. https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/10/buy-experiences/381132/

Meet the SustainableBASc Team!

24 November 2020

(Click the link to Instagram to meet the team!)

SustainableBASc is a department-based sustainability initiative which aims to create more awareness about climate change, environmental issues and what we can do about it in the BASc community. The key to Arts and Sciences is interdisciplinarity, which carries through to our work with SustainableBASc as we encourage the BASc community to look at all the issues climate change creates through this lens. 
We look forward to organising activities, workshops and making content to help incorporate sustainable practices in day-to-day activities as well as challenge ideas!
 
Interested in getting involved with SustainableBASc? Email us at basc-office@ucl.ac.uk.

shemza.digital

20 November 2020

We are delighted to invite you to take part in #shemzadigital, a new online artwork where you can create your own digital painting based on the work of  #anwarjalalshemza. Created by @aphrashemza & @s.f.batchelor. Supported by @aceagrams.

Yasmin Jiang's Student Project Fund Work!

18 November 2020 

2020 BASc Student Project Fund recipient @yasmin.jiang had this to say about her project:

When I was stuck indoors under lockdown in New Zealand over the summer, I found out about the Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize. Margaret Mahy is perhaps the most beloved children’s book author in New Zealand, and the competition invites previously unpublished artists to reinvent her stories with new illustrations. I decided to take part with the help of the BASc project fund, which allowed me to take some online workshops such as character illustration and illustrated narrative techniques. I also bought some art supplies that I greatly enjoyed using.
 
I submitted two fully illustrated spreads plus a storyboard –  although I didn’t make it to the shortlist, I learned so much from doing this project. The workshops taught me new techniques and helped me develop a good workflow for my creative process. Having done these illustrations, I’m also more confident about taking on more creative projects, including working on a student-led volunteering project this term as an arts coordinator. I’m glad that the project fund gave me extra motivation to pursue this opportunity, and it reminded me of how much I enjoy working with my hands.
 
Links: https://www.hachette.co.nz/illustration-prize
#margaretmahyillustrationprize 
@hachettenz

Repair your clothes

17 November 2020

Everyone knows the old "reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra for sustainability, but we think it should also include "repair"! One of the most sustainable choices we can make is it avoid buying things unnecessarily, and repairing your clothes can make them last longer! Keep an eye out here for our upcoming workshops on repurposing unused clothing items to extend their life and get them back in your rotation to wear!

Source: https://www.loveyourclothes.org.uk/care-repair

Wash your clothes with care!

10 November 2020

We've all had that one white sock that comes out pink after being washed wit the wrong things, or more heartbreaking, the knitwear that becomes doll clothes after washing too hot. No? Just me? ... Keep an eye on how you wash your clothes in order to keep them in tip-top shape so they last as long as possible! Check out the tips in the links below. 

Interested in getting involved with SustainableBASc and our future projects? Email us as basc-office@ucl.ac.uk!

Sources: 

https://www.whatsinmywash.org.uk/what-can-i-do

https://www.thespruce.com/everyday-laundry-tips-2146477

 

Fast Fashion Water Pollution

3 November 2020

Lockdown can be hard, but it can also be a great time to reflect on our priorities and think about how we spend our time and resources. We wear clothes everyday, so even small changes to our behaviour can have a big impact in avoiding lots of the environmental, ethical and public health issues that arise in the fashion industry. What's one small change you can make to make a difference? (I buy second-hand clothes or swap them with friends to avoid the production and shipping of new items.)

Sources: 

https://issuu.com/fashionrevolution/docs/fr_whitepaper_2020_digital_singlepages

https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/whats-wrong-with-the-fashion-industry#anchor-working-conditions

Eating Seasonal in November

2 November 2020

Happy November BAScers! Here’s another edition of Eat Seasonal! It’s getting colder here in the UK, and some of these foods are fantastic ingredients for soups and dishes to warm you up. What’s your favourite recipe to make with these ingredients?

What's in my wash?

27 October 2020

What can you do to reduce and prevent contributing to ocean microplastics?
1. Wash your clothes with care! Pay attention the instructions for each garment, wash them only when you need to, wash in cold water and air dry your clothes.
2. Choose clothes you love which are made to last! More durable clothing will shed fewer fibres.
3. Choose natural and organic fibres rather than synthetic materials, and use a @guppyfriend for your synthetic/non-organic items.
 

Sources:

https://www.whatsinmywash.org.uk/the-microfiber-issue
https://en.guppyfriend.com

Hult Prize 2021

22 October 2020

Two years ago we had a group of BASc students go to Vietnam for the regional finals of the Hult Prize, and we hope some of you take up the challenge this year too! Can’t wait to see what you clever bunch come up with! Find out more at www.hultprize.org

Water consumption in fashion

13 October 2020

From crops to the finishing process by way of dyeing clothes, fashion uses a large quantity of water. It generates pressure on the environment and people.
A pair of jeans requires 6,810L, which equates to what an elephant drinks during a month.
 
Cotton is one of the thirstiest crops. If you want to learn more about humans and environment impacts of cotton, here is an interesting video:
https://ejfoundation.org/films/high-and-dry
 
Sources: 
https://www.oldhamcountywater.com/interesting-water-facts.html
https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/whats-wrong-with-the-fashion-industry#anchor-working-conditions
https://elephantconservation.org/elephants/25-things-you-might-not-know-about-elephants/

What's in your clothing?

30 October 2020

What we wear has an impact on the environment from the production of the materials and textiles, assembly, use, and disposal. Here are some interesting links to make you think about the materials in your clothing and their impact on the environment. What are YOU wearing?

Sustain Your Style - Our Fibre Eco-Review

How to choose better quality, sustainable fabrics - video

The real cost of your clothes: These are the fabrics with the best and worst environmental impact - The Independent

Eating seasonal in October!

9 October 2020

Hi BAScers! If you’re in London, it’s very clear the seasons are changing! We’ll be posting food that’s in season towards the beginning of each month, so here’s what we’ve got for October. We originally hadn’t planned that everyone would be all over the place this year, so this is UK-focused. For those of you studying remotely, let us know where you are and what’s in season there in the comments!

Welcome (back) BAScers!

29 September 2020

Welcome (back) BAScers! The SustainableBASc team is back too with big plans for 2020/21, so if you’d like to get involved with what we’re doing, keep an eye out!

Eating seasonal in May!

22 May 2020

One of the best ways to cut our carbon footprint is to eat fruits and vegetables that are seasonal. These are some suggestions for eating seasonal in May in the UK!

More sources:

Eat Seasonably

Paddock's Allotments

Love British Food

Why sustainability?

By sustainability, many people think about plastic-free campaign and plant-based diets. However, this term has a much broader meaning. The United Nations (UN) defines sustainability as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”¹. To achieve this, the UN has defined 17 goals² which connect “economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection”¹.

BASc is a dynamic department which is already involved in sustainability but wants to have a greater impact. We would like to engage more with students and members of staff, to listen to their ideas, to organise activities and share tips and information on sustainability. You can follow us on Instagram and here. Do not hesitate to drop an email at basc-office@ucl.ac.uk for any ideas, information and comments! 

The Sustainable BASc Team

¹ United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda

 ² United Nations Sustainable Development Goals