Well, someone has to worry about it

Whatever your opinion on climate change or environmental issues, it’s hard to deny that humanity hasn’t exactly been the best roommate for the planet. Our tenancy comes with a considerable footprint — the kind that doesn’t wash off so easily.

From our earliest years, we’re encouraged to connect with the natural world. We learn to mimic animal sounds, name colours, count trees. Nature is positioned as something to cherish, not challenge. But fast forward a few decades and the story shifts. Somewhere between our spelling tests and streaming subscriptions, we quietly traded in wonder for convenience.

These days, we co-exist with plastic more intimately than we realise. It cushions our parcels, lines our tea bags, waits patiently beneath every supermarket punnet. It’s so ever-present that spotting it becomes almost an act of resistance.

Plastic-free-ish

During Plastic Free July I've started paying even closer attention. Not heroic zero-waste pantry shots - I can't claim to be plastic free or zero waste. But I have been paying perhaps an inappropriate level of attention to my own kitchen bin, and what keeps sneaking into it.

• The un-recyclable seal on the “eco refill”

• The individually wrapped tea bags

• The toothpaste is one of the worst - an absolute essential that finds it hard to be friendly

You start noticing it once you look. And then you can’t unsee it.

So what is The Eco Worrier?

It’s not a blog, really. Not a brand yet either. More of a holding space — for reflections, missteps, ideas, and questions.

Why do we keep buying things that pretend to help? How did concern get repackaged as lifestyle? What do we do with all this awareness?

If you're expecting easy answers… well, you might be disappointed. Some of the answers can be difficult, but the first step is identifying them. We can worry about acting upon them later.

Looking ahead

There’ll be more like this: habits, audits, contradictions. Possibly a few anecdotes from my family life, where the answer can sometimes be a little harder to reach. And maybe — eventually — something tangible. A product. A response.

But for now, this is what The Eco Worrier is: A place to worry, quietly and usefully. To unpick what’s become normal. To make space for better habits.

Thanks for stopping by. Let’s see where it goes.