Take care of the earth and she will take care of you.
Author Unknown
Being eco-friendly is very in tune with the natural principles of homeopathy. It’s also been my personal ethos in life, for far longer than it’s been trendy, so it’s automatic for me to consider the impact my practice has on the environment.
Alternative Tune is a member of the Prince’s Mayday Network, founded in 2007 to help businesses ‘work towards a sustainable future’. It’s name derives from the Mayday distress signal, to communicate the urgency of the climate change message).
This page also details the other green/ethical aspects of my practice.
Remedies
- Homeopathic prescriptions are many times more frugal than orthodox drugs – so use far fewer resources.
- I source remedies from within the UK (mainly from leading homeopathic pharmacy Helios – www.helios.co.uk).
Stationery
- Business stationery is all carbon neutral as my chosen minimum environmental requirement. It’s from sustainable sources and FSC certified (the only wood certification scheme endorsed by the major environmental charities, including The Woodland Trust, WWF, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace & Rain Forest Alliance).
- I use 100% recycled paper where I can and it’s printer-compatible. Apparently recycled really is better for the environment. Supplier www.paperbackpaper.co.uk has details.
- Your remedy’s protected in the post by lightly used corrugated cardboard packaging (often from the pharmacy) or similar.
- Any scrap paper is saved and used for rough workings etc.
- New envelopes which go through the printer well are used for dispatching remedies, but if you’d prefer me to reuse an old envelope instead please ask.
- For my fountain pen (I can’t read my own writing if I use anything else!) I’ve switched from single-use plastic ink cartridges, to a refill chamber and bottles of ink.
Computer
- Whenever possible I buy unwanted pre-owned printing ink.
- As long as it’s fit for purpose, my technical equipment is used until no longer serviceable (some still dates from last century!)
- Green web hosts www.ecohosting.co.uk are powering my website.
Consulting room/office
- All the cleaning products I use are eco-friendly.
- Wherever possible, I’ve bought my electricity from 100% renewable sources for over 20 years through www.ecotricity.co.uk(Rented space sometimes prevents me from doing this.) I’m also aware of, and concerned about, the impact of some infrastructure for renewables causing harm to the natural world. I don’t know what the answers are, but try to keep abreast of the issues.
- Furniture etc. is mainly antique/vintage – so very much re-used!
Travel
- I’ve streamlined my practice over the years in order to minimise travel. I’m also aware of the debate over running older vehicles until the end of their life to reduce waste, or buying new with ‘greener’ technology. Again I try to keep abreast of this; my own choice over the years has been to adopt the first approach.