Postcard 3: Being Sustainable Without making It My Whole Personality
From : My Kitchen
Date : 14/07/2026
Status : Very warm, little bit tired, and missing my birthday.
Hey guys, welcome back to the digital postcards
Look, we need to talk about sustainability. But please don’t roll your eyes and click away just yet—I promise this isn’t a lecture, and I am not about to tell you to start foraging for your own toothpaste or wearing clothes made of hemp sacks.
I’ve always believed you can care about the planet without turning your entire existence into a high-intensity, zero-waste guilt trip. To be completely honest, I am figured-it-out adjacent at best. I’m just trying my best, failing often, and hoping it all balances out. Case in point? My recent calendar entries.
🏎️ F1, Heatwaves, and My Quest for the Perfect Coffee
First up: Silverstone. Oh my god. As an absolute F1 fanatic, it was hands down the best experience of my life. The energy, the deafening roar of the engines, the sheer excitement of being trackside—I am still buzzing.
Now, you might be looking at this blog and thinking, “Wait, a sustainability blogger screaming at gas-guzzling supercars flying around a track?” Yeah, I hear you. It feels hypocritical. But honestly, F1 is doing some massive heavy lifting right now, aiming for Net Zero by 2030 and developing 100% sustainable fuels. It’s the perfect example of what I’m trying to get at: you can absolutely love the sport, have the time of your life, and still root for a greener future. We don’t have to lock ourselves in a room and stare at the wall to be eco-friendly.
Aside from living my best trackside life, here’s a quick, chaotic catch-up on my world lately:
The Birthday BBQ: Had my birthday BBQ with my mum’s side of the family, which was so fun and just a good way to relax, had a piñata and everything, no holding back here. No regrets whatsoever, but I’ve been in a mild food coma ever since.
The Hustle & The Heatwave: I have been working non-stop at the I, and let me tell you, pulling back-to-back hospitality shifts in this current heatwave is not for the faint-hearted. It is a very specific, sweat-induced kind of torture. While normal people are out enjoying the sunshine, I’m trapped behind a roaring, steaming espresso machine that feels like a literal portal to the sun. I am melting. Standing on my feet all day in this humidity with zero breeze? Absolutely brutal. If you come in and see me pouring your iced latte with a completely glazed look in my eyes, please just throw some ice at me.
The Skill Upgrade: On the bright side, being chained to the coffee machine means I’ve been aggressively trying to perfect my latte art. Let’s call it a very humble work in progress. I tried to pour a beautiful heart this morning to lift my spirits, but it ended up looking more like a blob. I still served it with pride. It tasted great, though, which is the classic lie we tell ourselves.
The Pay: But the absolute best part of all these sweaty, caffeine-fuelled shifts? My first real pay has officially landed in my bank account. Seeing that balance go up made every single coffee worth it. Money was set aside for savings. Down Under, I am coming for you—as soon as I can afford the flight taxes and a very cold pint on arrival.
✈️ How to Travel Sustainably (When You're as Clueless as Me)
Since this page is literally called SustainableGradTravels, and I am actively saving for a massive flight across the globe, let’s talk about how to keep things a bit greener on the road.
And let’s be so real: I do not have this all down. I am still the person who forgets my reusable bag 50% of the time and has to do the awkward "cradle-ten-items-in-my-arms" walk of shame out of the supermarket. These are just some easy things I’m trying to do myself to be better, without making it annoying.
💡 The Lazy-But-Effective Rule: You don't have to be perfect; you just have to try a little bit. If we all do sustainability imperfectly, it’s way better than three people doing it flawlessly.
Here are a few genuinely good, non-annoying tips and products I’m looking into or using right now:
🛍️ The Shampoo Bar Transition: Packing liquids is a nightmare anyway (airport security, please leave my moisturiser alone). Solid shampoo and conditioner bars save plastic and save you from that tragic suitcase explosion where everything you own smells like lavender for a week. I want to try out Ethique because I have heard great things
🥤A Solid Travel Mug: If you're running on caffeine like me, just toss a collapsible cup (like a Stojo) into your bag. It takes up zero space. Do I forget it’s in my bag sometimes and buy a plastic iced cup anyway? Yes. But when I do remember, I feel like a literal eco-hero.
🛫 Offset When You Can: When I finally book that flight to Australia, am I going to pretend swimming there is an option? No. It’s a 24-hour flight. But hitting the "offset carbon emissions" button at checkout is a super easy way to balance the cosmic scales a bit.
👙 The "Luggage Diet": I am a notorious over packer. I will pack six outfits for a two-day trip "just in case I spill soup on myself." But lighter bags mean lighter planes, which means less fuel. I’m forcing myself to capsule-wardrobe my next trip. Wish me luck, I’m going to need it.
That’s it from me this week. Keep sweating through the heatwave, keep working towards those travel goals, and remember, you can love the planet and still love the fast lane.
Let me know in the comments—what’s your favourite "lazy" sustainable swap? Because Lord knows I need all the help I can get.
see you in the next postcard
💌