A lot changed in 2020. Don\u2019t worry, we won\u2019t rehash the endless ways in which a global pandemic has a negative impact. Instead, we thought we\u2019d take some time to highlight a handful of positives. No: we don\u2019t think the \u2018be kind\u2019 mantra will follow us out of lockdown or that sweatpants-to-the-supermarket is a look that\u2019s here to stay. But the spotlight enforced global lockdowns put upon the environment is hard to ignore.<\/p>\n
Perhaps it\u2019s because we\u2019<\/span>ve all had a bit more time to reflect. Perhaps it\u2019s because we got around to doing all those things we\u2019d been meaning to do\u2026 like switching to eco products and kicking our fast fashion habits. Or, more likely, it\u2019s because the evidence has been clear. Humans staying inside has had a profoundly positive impact on the planet, with global carbon emissions reduced by 50% and a reported 300% increase (compared to the usual 25%) in natural wildlife.<\/p>\n Of course, it\u2019s not easy for individuals to think on a global level. But these statistics highlight how each individual\u2019s impact as part of a group can harm or heal the environment. And, on an individual level, we\u2019ve been making the switch. In the UK alone, second-hand clothing sales increased by 1,211% \u2014 with eBay and Depop reporting enough sales in 2020 to fill 9 double-decker buses with clothing. And it\u2019s not just about material possessions.<\/p>\n The pandemic has increased our interest in green technology, with a spike in solar panel installations \u2014 probably as a result of high electricity bills. The pandemic has made the impact humans have on the planet impossible to ignore, and the result has been the emergence of green trends that we can all get on board with. From towns and cities making their roads more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly to the patent link between the human consumption of meat and deadly viruses leading to a 40% increase in veganism, it\u2019s safe to say that these lifestyle alterations are more than just a flash in the pan.<\/p>\n And, as with everything, we are just at the start. The more that individuals take an interest in the environment beyond Green Peace and Extinction Rebellion protests, the more leaders and legislators will begin to pay attention. Politicians around the world have noticed this change in our attention and have started to turn their focus to promoting environmental industries post-pandemic, as a way to boost global economies that are struggling to make a comeback.<\/p>\n At OggaDoon we\u2019ve always been committed to working with and supporting green and environmentally-focused businesses and we think it\u2019s safe to say: this is more than just a phase, and you won\u2019t want to get left behind.<\/p>\nPandemic’s impact on shifting to green behaviour<\/h3>\n
Policy-makers’ impact on encouraging environmental sustainability<\/h3>\n