5 POSITIVE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 on sustainability

A sustainable silver lining! Some happy facts from around the world about the positive impact that COVID-19 and lockdowns are having on sustainability

Although sea turtles have been around for millions of years, six of the seven species are considered critically endangered or threatened. Each year, female sea turtles lay their eggs along the coastline in countries such as India, but the babies often struggle to make it back to the sea alive due to sea traffic and beach debris. It’s estimated that only 1 in 1,000 turtles make it to adulthood. However, lockdowns have closed off beaches and the number of boats cruising along the coastlines has fallen, meaning that the turtles are finding it much easier to reach the water. In India, endangered turtles in have laid 60 million eggs due to empty beaches, and the reproduction rate of one of the most critically endangered species, the loggerhead turtle, has increased by 61%!

Better air quality is also helping endangered bees find flowers and pollen, because usually exhaust fumes disguise floral scents. Furthermore, many local councils have been leaving roadside verges and hedges untended throughout lockdown, leading to overgrown ‘mini-meadows’ full of wildflowers, benefitting bees and other pollinators such as butterflies. Roadside verges provide a refuge for insects such as bees, as they are home to around 45% of the UK’s wildflower population. However, verges have been threatened in recent years by council mowing plans, in order to maintain safe roads for motorists and to control weeds. Often, the verges are trimmed too early and too short, but lockdown has given them a chance to flourish for longer, having a definite positive impact on wildlife.

In India, the distance between the city of Punjab sand the Himalayan Mountain Range is around 200km. For the last 30 years, residents have been unable to view the mountains due to air pollution, something that has been a significant issue in India in recent years. Large cities such as Punjab often top the list of the world’s most polluted cities. However, in the last year, reduced levels of air pollution has meant that the mountains can be viewed clearly, which is, for many locals, their first time being able to observe the view from their houses!

Approximately 2 out of every 5 people in the UK had a ‘Covid Clearout’ over lockdown, leading to an increase in second-hand shopping and supporting local charities through donations. Online resale shopping platforms such as Depop and Ebay have seen a huge acceleration in traffic up to 200%, with people searching for ways to upcycle or resell their unwanted clothes. As the fashion and textiles industry is one of the most polluting in the world, it’s really positive to see resale platforms grow in popularity with people adopting the old ‘make do and mend’ attitude. Handmade and DIY fashion has been a trending topic among the younger generations thanks to TikTok where searches have increased by 30%. Covid has taught a lot of us the meaning of ‘essential’, so hopefully these habits will stick around in the long term.

67% of Brits say that they are more committed to shopping locally and supporting small, independent businesses as a result of Covid. Not only does this have a positive impact on the economy, it also helps to reduce food miles, in turn cutting down the carbon footprint of the food itself. Local produce doesn’t involve air or road miles, which reduces pollution and fuel consumption. Additionally, shopping locally supports small communities, including the land and wildlife. Supporting small farmers helps to ensure that food stays fresh and nutritious, using eco-friendly farming practices that keep harmful toxic pesticides out of the atmosphere.

REFERENCES

Aldred, J. 2016. Wildflowers on the verge of disappearing. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/18/wildflowers-verges-conservation-mowing-councils

BDO Global. 2020. How does Covid-19 affect the environment? Available from: https://www.bdo.global/getmedia/443bfe8d-0501-4a10-9eec-0d84a9735110/BDO-Centers_How-does-COVID-19-impact-the-environment_1.pdf.aspx?ext=.pdf&disposition=attachment

Marriott, H. 2020. Could the Covid pandemic make fashion more sustainable? Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/28/could-the-covid-pandemic-make-fashion-more-sustainable

Normou. 2020. Coronavirus’ positive impact on the environment and what this has taught us. Available from: https://www.normou.com/blogs/articles/how-the-coronavirus-has-affected-the-environment-what-this-has-taught-us

Rai, S. 2020. The Himalayas are visible from India for the first time in 30 years because of Covid-19 lockdown. Available from: https://www.esquireme.com/content/45334-the-himalayas-are-visible-from-india-for-the-first-time-in-30-years-because-of-covid-19-lockdown

RTE. 2020. Millions of baby turtles hatch on empty beaches. Available from: https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2020/0511/1137627-sea-turtles/

Topping, A. 2020. Boom in websites supporting local UK shops amid Covid lockdowns. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/06/boom-in-websites-supporting-local-uk-shops-amid-covid-lockdowns

Watts, J. 2020. Coronavirus may prove boost for UK’s bees and rare wildflowers. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/09/coronavirus-may-prove-boost-for-uks-bees-and-rare-wildflowers

Wootton, K. 2021. The rise of shopping local since Covid. Available from: https://www.yours.co.uk/wellbeing/health/shop-local/