Tell us about the sustainability challenge you’re working on?

Climate anxiety is a thing for so many of us and for me, it came to a head when I was having cancer treatment in 2019. I became very aware of all the plastic waste that was being used in my treatment – which obviously had to be done for safety – and then, because my kids were two and four at the time, I started seeing all the plastic waste at kids’ parties too.

The party kit network is an international organisation set up to make parties like these more sustainable. There are lots of people already doing it in the country and around the world, and so when I looked into it, I thought, well that’s a great idea; I could join that. It seemed realistic and small and something I could do.

I was in a phase of my life where I couldn’t do much on my own, I needed help in all areas because I was weak and ill, dealing with both chemo and little kids. So for me, I liked the idea of doing something that didn’t involve anyone else to get set up, it was just me with the kids and my sewing for the bunting. Getting involved, I’ve also enjoyed the way the project is focused on community. The party kit network makes it easier for other people to make a small change while also being something that I could do myself.

What do the kits look like and how are you working to solve this environmental problem?

If you go to WasteEnders.org you’ll see lots about it there. I did some research and spoke to some of the party kit owners and decided the way to go was with an Ikea setup. Ikea does very inexpensive plastic plates, cups etc. And when they get to the end of their life Ikea will recycle them for you. Plastic isn’t a villain, it’s single-use plastic that is, so I bought enough partywear for 40 people. Then I wanted to make additional decorations as well because balloons, I mean, everyone knows that balloons are rubbish. You use them and then you throw them away or your children will fight over them or insist on keeping one until it’s a little withered thing, that floats around your living room, so I thought: bunting.

I had old bedding that belonged to my children, which was second-hand in the first place and I cut it up and made a set of bunting. Now, I’ve got about 15 sets of bunting in different themes all made from old bedding or old curtains. People can say it’s a pirate party or it’s a space-themed party or have you got something with robots on it, whatever they want. I take a deposit but it’s free to borrow and all I ask is that the plates and things are washed and dried before they are returned to make it less work for me.

I average around 45 lends a year. In 2023 we saved 5,312 pieces of single-use plastic and 1,740 balloons. My bunting strings are about five to seven meters long. They’re not little ones that you can just buy somewhere, they’re big, they fit in parks and halls. I figured that for every string of bunting, I save 20 balloons.

How do you experience climate fatigue or anxiety?

It’s a matter of balancing it out so you don’t get completely jaded and exhausted with it, and frozen in not knowing what to do. Just trying to make good decisions every day and in every little thing you choose. You can’t always do the best thing, but you just do the best you can. I wouldn’t say it’s fatigue, I would say it’s just keeping aware and trying to make the right decisions as I go along.

Do you remember when you first took an interest in sustainability?

In the 80’s they told us not to use anything made of wood because it killed the rainforests and so everyone started using plastic and now that seems insane. In the 90s, when I was at university, recycling wasn’t a thing, you put everything in one bin. I don’t know, I think it crept up on me and I’m a human being who thinks about the world around me.

Any parting advice for how to get through climate fatigue or anxiety?:

Small steps, baby steps. Think of what you can achieve yourself. Never feel that you’re not doing enough because life is hard, and we do what we can in every situation. We don’t own a car and that’s fabulous but if I’m going camping then I’m going to want to hire a car so I can bring my duvet. That’s an absolute line in the sand for me. No one is saying never drive, never use the car, never buy a water bottle if you’re thirsty when you’re out and about. Do what you can and if today wasn’t a good decision day, then maybe tomorrow will be.

Want to learn more about local responses to the climate crisis? See the rest of the Climate Refresh series here.