Banking & Shopping

Why is Green Banking Important?

Did you know, the UK’s leading banks (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest and Santander) still pour billions into fossil fuel projects?  Thankfully, switching bank accounts is one of the easiest and most effective ways to green your money.

And switching your bank account, savings, pension or ISA to a greener financial provider could make a huge difference to the fight against climate breakdown. In fact, research suggests  that greening your pension alone could reduce your carbon footprint up to 21x more than stopping flying, going vegetarian and changing energy provider combined.

Recommended for UK Green Banking:

  • Triodos Bank – Known for its strong sustainability focus, funding only projects that benefit people and the planet.
  • The Co-operative Bank: Has a long-standing ethical policy and offers various green financial products.
  • Ecology Building Society: Focuses on sustainable building practices and offers mortgages for eco-friendly properties.
  • Nationwide Building Society: While not solely focused on green banking, they offer some ethical banking options and have a commitment to social housing.

It’s worth considering Monzo and Starling as well. Both, like Triodos, are app-based banks meaning their carbon footprint is much lower due to having no actual branches and are completely paperless.

Switching banks is easier than you think. Standing Orders and Direct Debits transfer automatically, it’s only the subscriptions that don’t – which could be a good opportunity to review them anyway.

Tip: make sure you have copies of all the statements you require up to the transfer date.

Shopping

Refill shops

Refill shops are a great way to cut down on waste from various types of packaging by reusing containers and refilling products up in store. It’s as simple as weighing your own container, filling it with what you require, and then reweighing it. Refill shops generally stock all kinds of essential household items, including pasta, sauces, milks, oils, herbs, detergents and toiletries. Not only can you save a huge amount of waste, it can also be more cost-effective.  

Farm shops 

Supporting farm shops not only benefits the community but also ensures you are buying locally sourced produce that is organic, ethical and sustainable. By buying your food here where you can, you can guarantee you are spending your money on products that are fresh and have significantly less food miles. 

  • Allington Farm Shop – Chippenham SN14 6LJ https://www.allingtonfarmshop.co.uk/
  • V & P Collins Farm Shop – 81-83 Devizes Rd, Bromham, Chippenham SN15 2DZ 
  • The Piggery Farm Shop – West End Farm, Devizes SN10 2LL 
  • Burton Farm Shop – Burton, Chippenham, SN14 7LU
  • Roots Farm Shop – The Old Potato Yard, Lydeway, Devizes SN10 3PU
  • Lowden Farm Shop – Bath Rd, Melksham SN12 8EZ
  • Pound Farm – The Hillocks, Lyneham, Chippenham SN15 4DJ
  • Murcott Farm Shop – Unit 1, Garage, Crudwell, Malmesbury SN16 9EU
  • Purton House Organics – Church End, Purton SN5 4EB

Fruit and vegetables

Box Schemes 

Greengrocers 

  • K. Fruits – 16 The Bridge, Chippenham SN15 3EU
  • May’s Greengrocers – 7 Martingate, Corsham SN13 0HL
  • Bloomfield Fruit & Veg – 6 The Shambles, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1JS

Markets

  • Calne Market – Fridays mornings at the Phelps Parade shopping Centre
  • Devizes Market – Thursdays 8am-3pm 
  • Chippenham Market – Fridays and Saturdays 8am-3pm

Milk vending machines

By finding a local milk vending machine you can buy fresh and local milk, which is not only better for you but also supports local farmers and independent businesses. You can navigate these through this website https://localproducer.co.uk/discover/milk-vending-machines

Non-toxic cleaners

By making swaps in our everyday cleaning products to alternatives that are naturally derived, non-toxic, and biodegradable we can reduce our toxic loads and reduce exposure to harmful chemicals, as well as reducing the circulation of single-use plastics. This has many benefits for us and our planet:

  • we can minimise harm to aquatic life
  • make use of recycled packaging
  • support brands that don’t rely on petrochemicals from fossil fuels because they are cheap
  • many eco-conscious brands will use plant-based ingredients that don’t pollute air, water or soil.