Help Up encourages South Africans to use their buying power to help change the world and show big corporations that we won’t stand for watching the planet suffer.
Cape Town, South Africa (29 June 2021) – It is actually far easier to change the world than we realise, and the truth is, the power lies with each and every one of us. We hold the power by using our money to place our votes.
Help Up is an organisation that works to clean up problem areas that are littered or polluted by using pledges they receive from the public to pay people that need employment. The people are paid to work in these areas for a few hours. Help Up is managed by Georgia Mctaggart, who gets stuck in with the people that help her.
The Help Up team sees firsthand what kind of waste there is in the world and is all for tackling the problem at the source and ending pollution.
Georgia recently shared a breakdown of how we can use our spending power and take on massive corporations that are hurting our planet.
“A clear explanation supported by possible solutions. Big Oil needs to know that we are serious. How do we do this?
1. Let manufacturers know that you will no longer be purchasing their products due to their packaging policy – do this via social media. Let companies know that you don’t support the use of microplastics in soap powder/cosmetics and that you want to see changes in their policy – marketing departments have to report these comments to the executive members of these companies, so the more you push, the more they are forced to report consumer opinion to the decision-makers. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are great platforms – hashtag #notbuyingthis #endplastic
Your voice will also impact future new product development decisions and move packaging and plastic content higher up on the agenda when it comes to creating new products.
2. Let your investment broker know that you will no longer be investing in fossil fuel technologies and look out for listed companies that are taking real steps towards creating ethical solutions around the Global Environmental Crisis. Take the time, do your research. Your investment will be a long-term financial win, but the legacy of your choices will go a long way to improving the future of the planet.
3. Cut your convenience plastic consumption by 50% today. No more takeaway sandwiches in those silly plastic wedge containers, plastic spoons, styrofoam containers, plastic water bottles. If you are that hungry buy a pie in a foil container with a wax paper bag and recycle that tin foil (that is truly recyclable material, unlike plastic).
4. Cut out the use of double-ply and triple-ply toilet paper. Your butt will be fine! That bouncy multi-ply loo roll with that stretch is packed with plastic that never flushes away.
5. Let your baby go without a nappy. Babies have pretty regular bowel movements, and a washable nappy is fine for most of the time. You will save a ton of cash too! And what’s a little accident here and there anyway? Your child will thank you when they are older and ask you how many disposable diapers were used on them prior to potty training. Let your nappy manufacturer know that you will be having your spending…that will change their policy very quickly!
6. Reuse as much as possible. If you buy frozen veggies, rice in bags etc. – rinse that packaging and use it to store other things in. Ziplock bags that frozen berries come in are perfect for storing ice and homemade soups in the freezer.
We have a responsibility to step lightly on the earth, especially now as the plastic pandemic has entered the human food chain as nano plastics and is being cited as the possible contributor to the rise in some cancers and sterility.”
How do you use your buying power? Let us know what changes you have made in the comment section below.