– Caring for People and Planet
Prepared by Barnet Multi Faith Forum, Environment and Sustainability Sub-GroupThe holy month of Ramadan presents an opportunity to embrace more sustainable practices, cultivating a greener and healthier environment. Let’s remember our accountability as stewards of the planet and make impactful changes by taking small steps that significantly contribute to our collective journey towards long-term sustainability goals and a brighter future for all.
1- Reduce Plastic Use
- Remember to bring your own bags when shopping to minimize the need for plastic bags.
- Consider switching to plastic-free alternatives such as soap bars and refillable containers for your toiletries.
- Choose foods that have minimal packaging to reduce plastic waste.
- Instead of using plastic cutlery, bring your own reusable cups, bottles, plates, and utensils for Iftar gatherings.
- Encourage sustainability among children by rewarding them for participating in these practices with non-plastic, recyclable toys and books.
2- Get Active and Keep Healthy
- Choose to walk to the mosque for prayer.
- Embrace cycling or walking whenever possible to reduce car use and pollution.
- Use public transport at least once a week and leave the car at home, to reduce carbon emissions and promote cleaner air.
3 – Reduce Food Waste
- Adjust your fridge temperature to between 0-5°C to extend the freshness of food.
- Embrace creativity with leftovers—freeze them or share with those in need.
- Donate unwanted food to food banks or utilize apps like OLIO or Too Good To Go to minimize waste effectively.
- Shop with a plan in mind, paying close attention to the use-by dates of fresh food.
- Maintain your fridge; clean and use clear storage containers for easy visibility of contents, reducing the chance of food being forgotten.
- Consider going meat-free, for example, during Suhoor, to lessen environmental impact.
4 – Compost & Recycle
- Start composting organic waste in your garden to decrease the amount of waste sent to landfills. Please see how easy to compost with a wormery!
- Boost your recycling efforts and inquire about local services for food waste collection.
- If you have access to any type of dry biomass, including greenfield waste and waste materials, consider producing biochar or providing them to nearby biochar production facilities.
- Please place any leaves that fall onto your frontage, driveway, or garden in your green garden waste bin if you’re signed up for the service. Or turn fallen leaves into leaf mould to enrich your garden soil naturally.
5 – Dairy Alternatives to Reduce Carbon Footprint
- Consider oat, coconut, or hazelnut milk for your tea, coffee, cereal, and porridge.
- Choose healthier items like honey, dates, and raisins instead of processed sugar.
- Enjoy fruits over ice cream and use veggie spreads or olive oil instead of butter.
- Experiment with herbs, spices, rose water, and natural additives in your cooking for inventive greener seasoning and toppings.
6 – Water Conservation
- Filter tap water for drinking to reduce the reliance on plastic water bottles.
- Use water carefully during Wudhu and Ghusl to prevent wastage.
- Practice mindfulness in water usage while washing, cleaning, and boiling.
- Report water blockages in public spaces to local authorities for timely intervention.
7 – Energy & Environment
- Embrace natural light and ventilation whenever possible.
- Be mindful of electricity usage, especially between Iftar and Suhoor. Ensure TVs, computers, and other devices are not left on standby or plugged in when fully charged.
- Participate in charity and community clean-ups. Consider picking up litter on your way to the mosque or during walks in local parks.
- Report any faulty streetlights and lampposts in pedestrian areas to the appropriate authorities or local contractors.
- Enhance your home’s sustainability by adopting green energy solutions, such as installing solar panels, switching to renewable energy sources, and upgrading to more efficient appliances as much as you can.
8 – Welcome Wildlife
- Participate in local initiatives focused on the protection of plants and animals.
- Set up bird feeders and leave a few peanuts for the squirrels in your garden.
- When visiting local parks, consider feeding the ducks with peas and sweetcorn instead of bread, which is harmful to their health and the water.
- Contribute to biodiversity by planting trees, bushes, and creating habitats.
- Start or join a neighbourhood association or “friends of the local parks” group to engage in planting and conservation efforts in your area.
- Enhance your garden with a pond or water feature to support fish, frogs, and attract dragonflies.
- For those with limited space, consider placing a simple water-filled bowl on a balcony or window ledge to attract wildlife.
- Planting bee-friendly flower seeds in gardens or even in a pot on a windowsill can help our bees survive. Fewer bees to pollinate our crops could mean less food for us as well. You might consider Becoming a Beekeeper!
9 – Eco-Friendly Home & Gifts
- Use sustainable materials for decorations.
- Create handmade gifts and cards and use minimal wrapping.
- Select suppliers committed to eco-friendly practices.
- Utilize wood specially in construction, as it effectively stores carbon within buildings and other infrastructure.
10 – Sustainability Personal Decisions
- Reduce air travel as much as possible and explore alternative modes of transportation to minimize your carbon footprint.
- Review your finances and make responsible decisions with your money, business, and investments to ensure the sustainability and social impact of your finances.
- Hold onto your smartphone; resist buying new ones just to follow new trends.
- Contribute to charity by calculating your business’s carbon footprint and purchasing voluntary greenhouse gas removal credits to offset emissions. Please be mindful of including scope 3 emissions in your calculations, which refer to the emissions a company is responsible for beyond its own operations.
11 – Support Local Produce
- Purchase from local farmers/markets to lower your carbon footprint.
- Support small businesses within your local community by choosing their goods and services.
- Grow your own food at a community garden and share your knowledge with others.
12 – Community Engagement
- Discuss and support a culture of sustainability within the community. Inspire others by sharing your efforts, contributions, and lifestyle changes you have made.
- Organize or suggest community events such as “Green Fridays” during Ramadan, featuring sustainability-focused khutbahs and speeches. These events can highlight the importance of Sustainable Development Goals at individual, community, and broader levels.
- Raise awareness about the significance of reducing emissions, removing historic emissions, and adopting sustainable practices.
- Keep track of and publicly share the number of waste bin bags produced each day during Ramadan to encourage community members to engage in waste reduction and support the reduction of food waste.
Please remember that these are suggestions, and you are not expected to implement all of them. However, taking every step where possible can make a significant difference. Please Share. Ramadan Mubarak!