Ahhhh… childhood memories, well for those of my era at least.

The “being green” movement today has taken on a whole new meaning, noticeably across the retail and travel sectors, and rightfully so. I’m sure we have all seen various articles, social media posts and documentaries on the topic.

In the age of “fake news”, trying to understand a threat, its severity, and placing it in context, can be confusing. Stories and advertising are frequently misleading, with a multitude of terminology to get familiar with.

A few standard terms I have come across as I try to establish Pilgrim Packs as conscientiously as I can are:

Biodegradable – something when left alone breaks down and is absorbed into the eco-system.

Carbon footprint – a measure of your impact on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.

Eco-bag – An ethically, organically made bag to use instead of plastic carrier bags.

Environmentally friendly – Also eco-friendly, nature-friendly, and green are synonyms used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment.

Sustainable – Capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage.

You can find the entire list I have referenced here.

As I learn the terminology and figure out what I am really trying to achieve, it’s becoming apparent that going 100% green as a business is extremely challenging and potentially not even possible. While I am always up for a good challenge, as a small business owner I have to be realistic when it comes to both time and cost. I would love to say that money isn’t an issue, but in reality, like most people, I need to make a living and pay the bills.

So, I presented this dilemma to my mentors, and I would like to share the great advice I received.

"Don't worry if you can't be carbon neutral (you can find that term in the list too) on day one of business, each step counts."

Even the now great environmental evangelists had to start somewhere, there will be mistakes, but more importantly, there will be learnings and action.

~ Charli