As April 22nd approaches, a sense of both responsibility and nostalgia wells within me. Earth Day, a day dedicated to honouring our planet and reflecting on our impact upon it, holds a special place in my heart. This year, the theme "Planet versus Plastic" resonates deeply with me, stirring memories of my upbringing and the invaluable lessons imparted to me by my mother, a resilient soul who weathered the trials of wartime Britain.

Growing up, I was immersed in the ethos of "make do and mend," a philosophy born out of necessity during World War II. For my mother's generation, waste was not an option, but a luxury they could ill afford. Every scrap of material, every morsel of food, was cherished and utilised to its fullest extent. They knew the true value of resourcefulness and conservation long before it became a global imperative.

In the United Kingdom alone, households discard a staggering 1.7 billion pieces of plastic each week, amounting to a staggering 90 billion pieces annually. The enormity of these figures is both distressing and motivating, spurring me to action in honour of my mother's enduring legacy.

Her teachings, rooted in a time of scarcity, have shaped my approach to consumption and waste. I have inherited her penchant for reusing and repurposing items, finding joy and satisfaction in breathing new life into old possessions. Every torn garment mended, every jar repurposed, is a homage to her ethos of "waste not, want not."

As I reflect on her wisdom and the lessons ingrained in me from a young age, I am inspired to share her timeless advice with others. In the coming weeks, I pledge to honour her memory by sharing her eco-friendly tips on social media, bridging the gap between generations and imparting the timeless wisdom of sustainable living.

In doing so, I hope to ignite a spark of consciousness in others, urging them to embrace a lifestyle guided by respect for our planet and its finite resources. For my mother, sustainability was not a buzzword, but a way of life—a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of her generation.

This Earth Day, let us heed the lessons of the past and commit to forging a more sustainable future. Together, we can turn the tide in the battle against plastic pollution, honouring the planet that sustains us and the generations yet to come. Today it's not just about making do but making a difference.