Interest badges for sustainable New Year’s resolutions
Ideas to help the environment this year while earning interest badges
Originally published 1 September 2020.
The new year is a time when many of us are thinking about setting resolutions, like becoming more environmentally friendly in our daily habits.
While you and your unit are taking actions to become more sustainable in day to day life, why not pick up some interest badges along the way? Here are some ideas for resolutions and related interest badges to get you started.
Ditch fast fashion
In the UK an average of 350,000 tonnes of clothes go to landfill every year. It’s important for us all to be mindful of how we buy clothing to cut down on waste. For example, instead of buying a new outfit, you could arrange a clothes swap party with friends or your unit. You can also learn how to mend or upcycle clothing that’s tired or damaged instead of throwing it away.
Guides – stitcher
Girls will explore the many ways people have used stitching over time and come up with their own creations using a needle and thread. From making and repairing clothes to creating textile crafts, learning to stitch is a great way to cut down on clothing waste.
Guides – thrift
Thrifting is a great way to find one-of-a-kind items and repurpose them into something fresh, without having to buy brand new.
Guides – upcycling
Girls can save old or unwanted clothing and other objects from going into landfill by making them over into new, useful things.
Rangers – personal style
Girls discover how to express their personality and creativity through personal style - no new fast fashion outfits needed.
Avoid single-use plastic
We use 7.7 billion plastic bottles in the UK every year. Make your Plastic Promise to carry a reusable water bottle instead and cut down on plastic waste.
Rainbows – recycling
Girls get the chance to think about the 3 Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle. How many things can you find that you can reuse instead of throwing them away?
Brownies – zero waste
Girls are challenged to throw away fewer items and think about how they can help protect the planet by reducing everyday waste.
Guides – clean planet
Girls learn how to protect our world and be a clean planet champion, 1 action at a time.
Walk more
Make more journeys on foot, if you can. A brisk 10-minute walk has lots of great benefits, so you can improve your health while improving the planet’s health too!
Rainbows – great outdoors
Cold, raining, windy or sunny, girls can enjoy the great outdoors all year round. Experience different seasonal activities and notice what’s happening in nature.
Rainbows - nature
Whether you’re on a big adventure or just walking to school or your unit meeting, there’s plenty of nature all around just waiting to be discovered.
Rangers – wanderer
This badge gets girls to connect with their surroundings, live in the present moment and feel calm and connected as they wander through nature.
Rangers – micro adventures
You don’t need to travel far to have an adventure. Micro-adventures can pack in plenty of interest and excitement, wherever you are.
Guides - photography
Why not try snapping some pictures while you’re out walking? Notice the little details of nature, animals or the buildings around you and get the perfect shot while getting from A to B.
Switch to eco-friendly products
When you're at the supermarket, you could look at swapping some of your regular items for ones that are certified by eco-certification schemes like Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance. These schemes mean farmers and workers get better pay and working conditions, and support more environmentally sustainable farming. Products you could swap include coffee, tea bags, chocolate, bananas, sugar, rice, toilet paper and kitchen roll. Just look out for the eco-friendly certification logos on the packaging.
You could also try some of the many eco-friendly products on the market, like a natural deodorant or eco-friendly household cleaning sprays, or give reuseable sanitary products a go.
Guides – conscious consumer
One way we can all help to protect the environment is to think carefully about what we choose to buy. This badge helps girls to be more conscious in their choices.
Rangers – environment
When it comes to caring for the environment, even the smallest steps can add up. Girls will discover new ways to show love for our planet.
Eat more plant-based meals
If you’re not already vegan or vegetarian, why not give Veganuary a go this year? This is an annual challenge encouraging people to try a vegan lifestyle in January. Even cutting out meat for 1 day a week can have a significant environmental benefit.
Rainbows – fruit and veg
Girls will sample and explore the colours, flavours and textures of different fruits and vegetables.
Brownies – grow your own
Growing herbs and vegetables is a perfect starting point for girls to think about plant-based meals, as well as bringing calm and connection to nature.
Guides – backwoods cooking
Everyone can enjoy the magic of cooking outdoors, whether you’re an experienced camper or brand new. There are so many easy and tasty veggie dishes you can cook over a fire.
Rangers – cooking
This is a great interest badge to complete if you’re trying to reduce your meat intake. Girls can try out new flavours and recipes, try out plant-based alternatives and experiment with new versions of their favourite dishes.
Think about getting your Eco award
Remember that taking actions towards becoming more sustainable this new year can also put you on track to earning your Eco award. Take a look at the Eco award page for your section for more ideas.
