Working towards a sustainable lifestyle

Fraserburgh Beach
Fraserburgh Beach
Ethical Living

How to Host a Beach Clean: A Practical UK Guide

Small actions can create waves of change. Whether you’re tidying your local coastline in Fraserburgh, organising a community event in Cornwall, or bringing friends together for a family-friendly litter pick, hosting a beach clean is one of the simplest ways to protect our oceans and connect with your community.

At Zero Waste Llama, we’re big believers that sustainability doesn’t have to be perfect or complicated. A beach clean is a brilliant example of that philosophy in action. You don’t need a huge budget, professional experience, or hundreds of volunteers. You just need a beach, a few willing people, and the motivation to leave a place better than you found it.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

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July 18, 2026
A photo showcasing an innovative recycling or upcycling project, where discarded materials are transformed into valuable products, emphasizing the potential of waste reduction.
A photo showcasing an innovative recycling or upcycling project, where discarded materials are transformed into valuable products, emphasizing the potential of waste reduction.
Ethical Living

Plastic-Free July Challenge Calendar: 31 Small Steps Towards Less Plastic

Plastic-Free July can feel overwhelming if you think you need to change everything at once. The good news? You don’t. Small swaps and mindful habits add up over time. This challenge calendar is designed to help you take one practical step each day throughout July. Some challenges take just a few minutes, while others may inspire a longer-term change. Pick and choose what works for you, and remember: progress is always better than perfection.

Why Join Plastic-Free July?

Plastic-Free July is a global movement that encourages people to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. Whether you complete all 31 challenges or just a handful, you’ll become more aware of your consumption habits and discover simple ways to reduce waste.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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July 1, 2026
Recycled glass bottles in artful display, golden hour, close perspective, beauty in repurposing, detailed
Recycled glass bottles in artful display, golden hour, close perspective, beauty in repurposing, detailed
Ethical Living

June: The Month I Lost My Voice

June was supposed to be a productive month for Zero Waste Llama. Instead, it became a complete write-off. In many ways, it felt like The Sound of Silence had taken over everything – and not in the Simon & Garfunkel way….

After being hit by a particularly nasty bug, I found myself dealing with something I hadn’t experienced before – total loss of voice. This was my experience with laryngitis and noise reduction: The Month I Lost My Voice. This truly was a lost voice, not the slightly croaky “I sound a bit rough” kind of voice loss. I mean nothing. Not even a whisper.

To make matters more challenging, the illness arrived alongside an autoimmune flare-up, creating the perfect storm of exhaustion, brain fog, and frustration. Even simple tasks felt overwhelming. Phone calls were impossible. Meetings had to be cancelled or moved to email. Content creation ground to a halt. The dogs were, of course, delighted with their new-found a freedom….

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July 1, 2026
Some of the Amazinc! sun products available, presented on a neutral background.
Brand Reviews

Brand Review: Amazinc! Ocean‑Friendly Suncream & Aftersun (For Sensitive, Sun‑Reactive Skin)

Suncream has always been a bit of a minefield for me.

Not just the usual complaints — greasy, chalky, plastic-heavy — but something more personal: finding an ocean friendly suncream in the UK that actually works and feels pleasant to use.

👉 Skin that reacts quickly to sun
👉 That “caught it too late” redness
👉 The constant awareness that I burn easily

If you’ve got:

  • Pale or porcelain skin
  • Red or blonde hair
  • A tendency to burn rather than tan
  • An autoimmune condition
  • Or even mild sun sensitivity or sun allergies

…you’ll know exactly what I mean.

So for the past few years, instead of grabbing a single product and hoping for the best, I did something different.

I ordered a full range of Amazinc! products from Peace With The Wild so I could properly test what works across different situations — and for genuinely sensitive skin.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

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June 10, 2026
An Aberdeenshire beach, with blue sky, sun and clouds reflecting on the calm sea below.
Ethical Living / Zero Waste Swaps

World Environment Day 2026: A Real-Life Reflection (Not Just Another Awareness Post)

Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future

Every year, World Environment Day rolls around on 5th June—and if I’m honest, it used to feel like just another date in the calendar. A reminder, yes… but one that didn’t always translate into real change. This year, though, I wanted to share my World Environment Day 2026 reflection on why the day matters more than ever.

This year felt different.

Maybe it’s because I’ve spent more time thinking about the small habits that quietly add up—what I buy, what I waste, and what I ignore. Or maybe it’s because climate conversations are getting harder to avoid (even when we want to).

So instead of sharing the usual stats and headlines, I wanted to take a step back and ask a simpler question:

What has actually changed—for me, and for us?

And more importantly—what can we realistically do next?

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June 6, 2026
Dolomite Alps in Northern Italy
Dolomite Alps
Ethical Living

Zero‑Waste Travel Tips

How to explore the world without leaving a trail of rubbish behind

Travel is meant to broaden the mind, not overfill the bin. That’s why choosing zero waste travel essentials can make your journeys more sustainable.

And yet… airports, hotels, service stations, and “just in case” purchases can turn even the most eco‑conscious traveller into a single‑use plastic whirlwind. Tiny toiletries. Wrapped snacks. Disposable everything. It adds up fast.

The good news? Zero‑waste travel doesn’t mean going without, being perfect, or lugging half your kitchen through airport security. It’s about thoughtful choices, flexible expectations, and a few well‑loved essentials that make travelling lighter — for you and the planet.

Here are my favourite zero‑waste travel tips, tested over time and refined through many a “why did I pack that?” moment.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

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June 2, 2026
Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
Ethical Living / Zero Waste Swaps

Thrifting for Fabric: 15 Zero‑Waste Charity Shop Hacks for Low‑Cost Sewing

Buying new fabric is one of the biggest hidden contributors to textile waste. Thrifting fabric in the UK is a more sustainable alternative, as even “ethical” fabric often comes wrapped in plastic, shipped internationally, and produced using water‑ and chemical‑intensive processes.

For Zero Waste Llama readers, thrifting fabric isn’t just about saving money — it’s about keeping existing textiles in circulation and out of landfill.

Whether you’re a garment maker, quilter, upcycler, or slow‑fashion enthusiast, UK charity shops are absolute goldmines for sewing materials — if you know where (and how) to look.

This guide walks you through 15 zero‑waste thrift store hacks to help you source fabric sustainably, affordably, and creatively — all from materials that already exist.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

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May 29, 2026
Wild flowers against a blue sky
Photo by Palle Knudsen on Unsplash
Ethical Living / Sustainability Guides

International Day for Biological Diversity 2026: Acting Locally for Global Impact

22nd May 2026 marks International Day for Biological Diversity (World Biodiversity Day) — a global moment to recognise the vital role nature plays in sustaining life on Earth and to reflect on how our everyday actions shape the future of the planet.

This year’s theme, “Acting locally for global impact,” reminds us of a powerful truth: protecting biodiversity doesn’t only happen in international negotiations or government strategies. It starts in communities, towns, homes, and gardens — including ours.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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May 22, 2026
Bee or Bug Hotel.. bamboo and other holey wood stacked.
Photo by Martin Woortman on Unsplash
Ethical Living

🐝 Bee Hotels: What Helps (and What Doesn’t)

Bee hotels are everywhere now — in garden centres, supermarkets, and social media posts. They’re often sold as an easy way to “save the bees”.

But good intentions don’t always help.

Some bee hotels can support wildlife. Others do very little — and some can even cause harm. Here’s what actually helps solitary bees in the UK, and what to be cautious about.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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May 18, 2026