Photo by Sebastian Pichler on Unsplash
So, what is carbon neutral, and what does hoeing into a delicious wheel of Paris Creek Farms cheese or getting stuck into a tub of Paris Creek Farms Organic Yogurt have to do with it? For us urban creatures, who grew up on an 1/8 of an acre, nurturing succulents for their aesthetic qualities and low care commitments, the understanding of how our everyday behaviour can add to the increase or reduction of our carbon footprint and the importance of living sustainably can be easy to forget. There is a lack of understanding of how what we do, and how we act, is all interconnected.
OK, some definitions to help!
What is Carbon Neutrality?
Having a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks.[1]
So, what are Carbon sinks?
Carbon sink is any system that absorbs more carbon than it emits. The main natural carbon sinks are soil, forests and oceans. Most carbon offset investments are in renewable energy, energy efficiency or other clean, low-carbon technologies.[2]
Cheese and Carbon Sinks?
Paris Creek Farms milk is now produced from carbon neutral dairy farms! They have made a commitment to producing their products as sustainably as possible, and their dairy farmers abide by the principles of bio-dynamic farming, which is one of the most regenerative, sustainable farming methodologies around. Paris Creek Farms are setting a great example by being transparent on their sustainability journey, outlining their steps for you to discover more. Paris Creek Farms has a commitment to continued evaluation of the best and most sustainable practices to build a strong future for future generations.
What can you do to help reduce your carbon footprint?
What can we do to reduce our carbon footprint and not be the clump of hair that is clogging the carbon sinks? As bio-dynamic farming is a mindful approach to agriculture, I encourage you to mindfully reflect on your consumer habits and everyday lifestyle. See if there are any very easy and small changes you can make that can contribute to reducing your carbon footprint.
Some suggestions on how you can reduce your carbon footprint:
- Switching to products that are produced sustainably from companies that focus on carbon neutrality such as Paris Creek Farms range of bio-dynamic organic dairy goodies will ensure you’re eating sustainably.
- Become mindful of your recycling habits, it’s great to fill the yellow bin each week but try to think beyond this, such as reusing your yogurt containers to store leftovers, or as a container you can take to a bulk food store.
- Reducing, reusing and recycling your household items can reduce the amount of waste you make, but be mindful you’re recycling correctly. Be sure to check the ARL label, this will tell you if an item can go in your curbside recycling bin, make sure to wash out your recycling items and remove any caps that cannot be recycled in the same way. We don’t have a one size fits all approach here in Australia and recycling services can differ between councils, be sure to educate yourself on the local services available to you.
- Commuting by foot or pushbike where possible for short distances and switching to public transport for longer journeys to save on emissions.
- Reduce the amount of fast fashion you buy and instead hit the op-shops this weekend.
- Do an energy audit of your home, are your light bulbs energy efficient? Do you switch off the lights when you’re not in the room? Are your appliances energy saving?
- How about starting your own worm farm compost at home? Not only can you compost your leftover food scraps to reduce landfill waste but you’re creating a gloriously rich and nutrient-dense soil for your garden, win-win.
Knowledge is power, don’t be too hard on yourself after doing some research if you identify you may not be living as sustainably as you could be. Firstly, give yourself a pat on the back for acknowledging you are on your own journey of becoming more informed, as you are currently reading this article and engaging in some of the wonderful articles and resources on the Paris Creek Farms website.
Know that there are simple and effective changes that can make a positive impact on our environment. Paris Creek Farms are striving to create an entirely carbon neutral process from farm gate to plate, I encourage you to reflect on how we as consumers are interlinked in this, and what actions we can take to continue to lead a sustainable lifestyle and engage in carbon neutral processes day-to-day!
Click here to discover more about Paris Creek Farms sustainability journey.
[1] 2021 “What is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved by 2050?” Society News, European Parliament, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20190926STO62270/what-is-carbon-neutrality-and-how-can-it-be-achieved-by-2050
[2] 2021 “What is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved by 2050?” Society News, European Parliament, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20190926STO62270/what-is-carbon-neutrality-and-how-can-it-be-achieved-by-2050