Voice of London

Biologist graduate, Barbara Joo, is a dreamer who believes that changing the way the government implements the reduction of plastic and landfill waste, climate emergency could be improved.

Visiting her house was an opportunity to know more of vast possibilities that we have today to change our consumerist mindset for an eco-friendly lifestyle. But how far are we willing to go?

Being a zero waste activist is challenging in a system where fruits packaged in plastic are cheaper than without it. Barbara decided to transform her entire lifestyle focusing on two primary purposes: to be a part of the change and to show others that it is possible to have a sustainable growth.

It was quite impressive when the 30-year-old Phd student showed me her daily habits: instead of toilet paper she makes her own towel clothes, instead of commercial toothpaste, she makes her own. Barbara’s vast knowledge allows her to use lemon with an advantage of cleaning her hair and clothing – you won’t find a plastic shampoo bottle or gel in her bathroom. 

The environmentalist considers that the world is reaching over-population, especially when there are a lot of orphan children in need of a loving family. She plans to adopt with her husband who shares the same beliefs. 

According to the Guardian’s research, the global population is going to stretch to 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100. 

In the interview, Barbara explains different ways to be more sustainable and provides some options to reduce the footprint on a daily basis. 

She is a 30-year-old environmental activist, who decided to make a change. Her way of life for many people can be extreme, but as a biologist, she knows that we are facing a climate emergency and the importance of taking action now.

By Amazonia Arroyo