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From less plastic packaging in meal deals to a bridge to France and an easier way to track down niche spices in the supermarket... This Year 10 student has some big ideas about how to make island life better for everyone.
At school, Beaulieu student Grace Chidlow's favourite subjects are History, French, English, and all Sciences.
When not doing homework, Grace likes to spend time on her hobbies, consisting of reading, tennis, and dancing. She also loves travelling to different countries on holiday.
After spending two weeks completing her Trident Work Experience at Bailiwick Express, Grace reflected on the ways she would like to improve the local community's lives.
"I've loved growing up in Jersey due to its stunning beaches and close community but there are a few improvements that I would change to make Jersey the most sustainable it can be and, alongside this, helping locals enjoy their island life through the little things such as easier shopping and travelling," she said.
Without further ado, here are the five things she’d change about Jersey...
I think we’re all guilty of purchasing quick on-the-go meals from shops whilst we’re out just as a result of accessibility. However, have you ever looked at the shelves and seen anything other than plastic?
On my Trident especially, I have visited many shops to grab a quick drink and meal whilst visiting friends and noticed at the end of the week just how much plastic I had bought and binned.
If businesses didn’t use plastic and replaced it with biodegradable materials then less money would have to be spent on recycling on the island.
Pictured: "Have you ever looked at the shelves and seen anything other than plastic?"
There are plenty of other eco-friendly materials that can be used for packaging instead of synthetic plastic such as cardboard, bamboo textile, bioplastic, and recycled plastic.
Now I know that every product has a manufacturing cost and the selling price has to be higher than this to produce profit.
However, women on average are on their period for 38 years of their life which results in women spending a maximum amount of £240 a year on menstrual products and therefore £9,120 over the course of their lifetime.
Although businesses creating these products need to sell them at a price that allows them to pay all expenses in creating it, those who are struggling with money don’t purchase them at all due to the high price and the product's value not seen as a complete necessity.
Pictured: "Women spending a maximum amount of £240 a year on menstrual products and therefore £9,120 in their lifetime."
Female students who don’t have access to clean sanitary products can miss school when they’re on their period or avoid social events with friends which can result in isolation and lead to mental health problems.
If menstrual products can’t be free, then they should at least be cheaper as more women able to afford products will increase sales for sanitary businesses and will eventually make profit even if they are selling their products at a lower price.
Hundreds of cars go past me whilst I walk to school each day - something which has led me to reflect on the immense amount of harmful gases that must be emitted into the atmosphere everyday, contributing to air pollution.
I know that not everyone is able to walk to where they want to go, but there are bus routes everywhere on the island so it’s possible for islanders to go from A to B anywhere in Jersey.
Pictured: "This could further be improved by creating electric buses which will have less noise, zero exhaust and not to mention lower operating costs."
Taking public transport can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 45%, reducing emissions-per-passenger and thereby improving air quality.
Fewer cars on the road will not only reduce carbon emissions and decrease the rate of global warming but also save locals’ money by spending less on gas/diesel/petrol fill-ups.
Even so, when I walk past buses, I have to hold my breath due to the exhaust fumes that are emitted, which isn’t fun when there are three buses in a row.
So I think this could further be improved by creating electric buses which will create less noise, zero exhaust and not to mention lower operating costs.
Have you ever gone to a supermarket looking for one specific product and just couldn’t find it anywhere? Then the next day it magically reappeared on one of the shelves you searched?
This has happened thousands of times to me and made me think how easy your weekly food shop would be if trackers gave you directions to your desired product.
Pictured: "Have you ever gone to a supermarket looking for one specific product and just couldn’t find it anywhere?"
Looking for a tiny exotic spice hidden in one of the aisles? Type it into the trackers and voila you have simple-to-read directions from your current location.
Not only would it make shopping completely easier for the elderly or younger children but would reduce the time spent hunting down infrequent purchases if the products aren’t in stock at all.
It’s not new information that Condor can be a bit unreliable when Islanders want to leave Jersey for their holidays. What's the alternative when flying isn’t an option for locals who want to bring their vehicles with them?
A bridge!
Of course, the start-up costs to build this bridge would be large, however this would be paid off due to the substantial amount of interest from all islanders who would be willing to pay to visit the French-speaking country for the day!
Pictured: "Creating an opportunity for locals to leave will not only provide a sense of freedom and a sizable variety of entertainment options but also solve Condor’s unpredictable travel patterns."
Summer in Jersey is one of the most beautiful places for both tourists and islanders when beaches are our go-to daytrips.
However, the winter weather can make the once bustling, lively community a bleak island.
The limited activities to do in the winter in Jersey just adds to the boredom of islanders so therefore creating an opportunity for locals to leave will not only provide a sense of freedom and a sizable variety of entertainment options but also provide a solution to ferry difficulties.
What five things would you change about Jersey? Let us know!
Email editor@bailiwickexpress.com.
