It’s no surprise everyone wants to move to Brighton, with its beautiful sea views, buzzing nightlife and easy transport links to London. But another massive draw for home-buyers is the city’s eco-credentials. Named as Britain’s ‘hippest’ city, and home to the UK’s only sitting Green MP, Caroline Lucas, sustainability here is more than just a buzzword - it’s a way of life.
Going places
In 2014 Brighton was named the most eco-friendly city not only in the UK, but in the whole of Europe, for green and sustainable transport. With a comprehensive public transport system it’s easy to travel around the area by bus or train - or for those who prefer to keep active, there’s a great network of walking and cycling routes both within the city and leading to the South Downs. No bike? No problem! Just hire one from the BTN bike scheme from only £1. And for those who need a car, the council rewards use of low emission and electric vehicles with money off parking permits, and frequent electric charging stations around the city. If you only need a car for occasional use, try the Enterprise car sharing club, which costs only £7 a month for access to their fleet of low-emission vehicles.
Zero waste
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle are the keywords for sustainability, and all of these are easy to achieve in Brighton. Reducing consumption is simple with the Library of Things, whose aim is to encourage borrowing, not buying. For a small yearly fee, you can take home anything from a juicer to a power drill, and just hand them back when you’ve finished with them. Reusing is also easy; with a thriving community on Freecycle, you’re sure to find a good home for your unwanted items. Recycling is also a key issue in Brighton - with around ⅓ of household waste currently being recycled, the council have the ambitious aim of bringing it up to 70% in the next two years. The Food Partnership are doing their bit, by helping to reduce food waste from businesses, and community composting puts all those scraps and vegetable peelings towards growing more food for the future.
Building the Future
For a shining beacon of sustainability, house-builders need look no further than One Brighton - a complex of 142 cutting edge apartments built in 2014 which achieved a 67% reduction in carbon emissions compared to standard constructions. Residents now enjoy a car-free complex, green energy via a biomass boiler, and rooftop allotments. And current developments in the area are following in their footsteps - Barratt Homes aims to be the leading national sustainable housebuilder and their Chalkers Rise development in Peacehaven is committed to promoting sustainable travel through free bus passes, car club membership and car charging points throughout the estate. Brighton City Council also actively promotes low and zero carbon emission targets for new and existing buildings, and homeowners looking to improve their existing property can take advantage of Brighton’s Eco Open Houses - a day when residents can visit eco-friendly dwellings to learn about renewable energy and ways to reduce their energy consumption, water use and carbon emissions.
An Eco-Guide to Brighton
Where to Eat
Moshimo
This award-winning Japanese and sushi restaurant is famous for its ‘Fishlove’ campaign to end overfishing and runs regular ‘Great Vegan Challenge’ events to promote plant-based eating. All their fish is certified sustainable, and their soft drinks are made in-house to reduce plastic waste.
The New Club
This American-style diner is a great spot for brunch or a burger. All their food is made on site and from scratch using local, seasonal ingredients, the coffee is direct trade and organic, and there’s a great selection for vegans and vegetarians.
Backwood
This zero-waste cafe offers scrumptious cakes and sources all their ingredients sustainably. To cut down on single-use products all their sodas are homemade, and they even offer a reusable coffee cup loan scheme.
Where to Drink
GungHo
Voted Brighton’s Best Bar in 2018, this sustainable cocktail joint creates lip-licking concoctions from seasonal British ingredients. The bar is powered by 100% renewable electricity, and nothing goes to waste - everything from coffee grinds to citrus peel is reused.
Plateau
This French-style bar is one for the wine buffs, offering a range of organic, natural and biodynamic wines which reflect their ideology of ethical farming, sustainability and quality. And to soak up all that wine, try their sharing plates featuring local ingredients, cheese and charcuterie.
Sussex Ox
Not many pubs can boast their own organic farm, but that’s where the Sussex Ox stands out. Enjoy a meal of beef and lamb from their own herds, washed down with a biodynamic wine or real ale from their local brewery.
Where to Shop
Hisbe
This social enterprise and living wage supermarket offers everything you need for your weekly shop, all sourced locally, ethically, sustainably and seasonally. There’s a refill bar to reduce waste, and they offer a wide range of vegetarian, vegan, and other ‘free from’ options as well as high animal welfare dairy and meat products.
FAIR
For fabulous fair trade and ethical fashion, look no further than FAIR. Discover womenswear and menswear from sustainable brands such as People Tree, Unoa and Bibico, or browse gifts and homewares which support projects around the world aiming to bring people out of poverty.
Waste Not
Bring your own bags to this store, which is completely plastic-free and offers bulk dry goods, pantry must-haves, and household essentials such as detergents and shampoo. You can also find a range of plastic alternatives for sale, such as bamboo cutlery, wooden toothbrushes and vegan dog treats.