World Environment Day: four ways to help reduce air pollution

June 5 marks World Environment Day and this year, the theme is air pollution. London is one of the world’s most affected cities, making it even more of a challenge for businesses and individuals to be sustainable. However, we’re not deterred – in fact, knowing that there’s plenty to do only encourages our efforts.  Over the last 16 years, we’ve had success with a number of initiatives. Here are just a few of our favourites:

Recycle everything

Reducing the amount of general waste that is incinerated can go a long way in improving our air quality. Therefore, we endeavour to recycle everything we can, including our coffee grounds, food waste and flexible and 3D plastics. Recycling as much as you can, or reducing the amount that you purchase in the first place, are great ways to reduce the amount of waste you produce.

Walk the walk

We’re no strangers to the gridlock of central London, so are often on foot, a bike, the bus or the Tube. If you can, avoid hopping in the car wherever possible – it’s often quicker on public transport, cycling or walking anyway. Reducing the number of cars on the road means less fumes in the air and easier breathing for everyone.

Buy local

The further produce has to travel, the more air pollution it creates. Therefore, when sorting your shopping list, look to buy from local suppliers and farmers wherever possible. Check out farmers markets, or simply inspect where your supermarket produce has been grown – the closer to home the better. This is a case of purchasing power – the more people that choose to buy produce grown in the UK, the more likely it is that supermarkets will stock appropriately.

Embrace your green thumb

Central London may not be the first spot you think of when you think of gardens, but did you know we have a rooftop allotment sitting high above Regent Street? Edwin, a long-standing member of our kitchen team, lovingly tends to a wide range of herbs and greenery, including thyme, coriander, basil, garlic, onions and mint. We then harvest this and use it in our kitchens. There’s nothing to say you can’t do the same! Start small with a few pots of herbs and with some regular watering and sunlight, you may soon find yourself the owner of a gorgeous garden. On top of being able to eat your plentiful produce, you’ll also be helping to clean the air around you and encourage bio-diversity – a win-win in our books!

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Should you be looking for ways to reduce your environmental footprint, why not book into one of our classes? As London’s most sustainable cooking school, we practice what we preach, showing every participant how to cook in a way that reduces their impact on our natural resources.

Category
Sustainability