Zero Waste

Read more about the article Home Made Sanitary Towels (& where to buy materials)
Home made sanitary towels / menstrual pads, by Cathrene
Menstrual Products / Sanitary Towels / Sewing / Sewing / Sustainable Living / Zero Waste

Home Made Sanitary Towels (& where to buy materials)

Following my Product Review on Reusable Sanitary Products a few years ago, I have now been producing my own Sanitary Towels for some time – both for me and my friends! You’ll remember from my previous post regarding making these, that, not only have these been much more comfy to wear than those purchased, but my homemade ones have proven to be strong, absorbent and easily washed!

Compared to the brand of disposable pads I used prior, I would never go back…. No irritation and excellent absorbency!

In this post I wish to expand a little more into the eco fabrics/materials you can use and where to buy them in the UK.

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February 3, 2023
Read more about the article Creative Recycling: Art Workshop Day
Art / BuyLocal / Charity / Cheshire Food Hub / Eco-Friendly / Environmentally Friendly / Ethical / Events / Mid Cheshire Food Bank / Northwich / Recycling / Reducing Waste / Sustainable Living / Transition Northwich / Travel & Tourism / Up-cycling / Zero Waste Llama Shop

Creative Recycling: Art Workshop Day

Drop into the Visual Arts Cheshire Gallery in Barons Quay (opposite WildWood) next Saturday to see the new 20x20 exhibition and try a free 'Creative Recycling' art workshop. Inspired by my own journey to Zero Waste, I will be showing you how to make some art by upcycling scrap materials we all have at home! These can then be entered into the art exhibition or taken home! All ages welcome!  (I will also have some Zero Waste Llama items for sale, for those looking to fill their stockings early!). Perfect for all ages and abilities with all materials provided. Local makers will show you how to get started. More details about the workshop day here, and info about the 20x20 exhibition can be found on the Northwich Guardian website.

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November 6, 2022
Read more about the article Product Review: The Wonderbag
Carbon Footprint / Carbon Neutral / Energy Efficient / Energy Saving / John Griffiths / Products / Reducing Waste / Sustainable Living / Wonderbag / Wonderbag

Product Review: The Wonderbag

When Cathrene told me that she had ordered a Wonderbag to try, I was so excited. Not just because it meant that I could try out our new pumpkin dish (Le Creuset - a once-in-a-lifetime investment!), but because it would give me the opportunity to try out a new recipe. I’ve loved to cook ever since I was young, I would help my mum by chopping vegetables and stirring the pot! Despite my love of cooking, I’ve never made a stew! My boyfriends Mums Beef stew and dumplings is by far my favourite meal, but I’ve never tried to make it myself. Cath is on a "energy saving" mission at the moment (mind you, given the energy price increases of late, we are both keen to curb our usage!), so this was something that she was really keen to try, having seen videos on TikToK and friends reviews on Facebook.

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October 25, 2022
Read more about the article Sustainability Festival, Northwich, 23rd July 2022
Allergy Friendly / Aluminium-Free / Bamboo Straws / Biodegradable / BuyLocal / Clothing / Eco-Friendly / Environmentally Friendly / Ethical / Events / Fabric / Face Pads / Fair Trade / haberdashery / Menstrual Products / Organic / Pet Friendly / Plastic-Free Wraps / Products / Recycling / Sewing / Shop Independent / Sustainable / Sustainable Living / Tote Bag / Up-cycling / Weigh of the World / Yarn / Zero Waste

Sustainability Festival, Northwich, 23rd July 2022

West Cheshire Museums are partnering with Eco Communities to host a sustainable Festival and craft fair, on the 23rd July 2023.

The event is part of West Cheshire Museums’ Festival for the Future, a month-long celebration of sustainability and climate action held accross museum sites Chester, Northwich and Malpas.

The Festival of the Future is a free one day event at the Northwich museums – ideal for families who love nature, performance , craft and free workshops!

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July 12, 2022
Read more about the article #ShopIndependentDay
Show Love Shop Small
Abda: Coffee - Cake - Culture / Apparel / BuyLocal / Crafty Stitches / Crafty Stitches / Culinary Concept / Dante's Boutique / Ginger & Brown's / Innoscent Spa / John Griffiths / John Griffiths / New Moon Art Collective / Northwich Art Shop / Sew Easy / Shop Independent / Sustainable Living / The Style Hut / Weigh of the World / White Ribbon Boutique

#ShopIndependentDay

The Ethical Choice- Show Love: Buy Local, Shop Small

When you buy out-of-season produce, e.g. raspberries or strawberries in December, your eco-credentials become lower. The same applies to purchasing any food product that has been flown from outside your country or is wrapped in layers of (unnecessary) plastic. By shopping locally, and independently, (bakers, farm shops, green grocers…) it is less likely that the produce has travelled an unthinkable distance in order to get onto your plate. Not only does this support local farmers, but the produce will be wrapped in less (or even no) packaging and is fresher. The same applies to non-food goods and services.

This is just one positive, others include:

  • It is often possible to try before you buy!
  • It may be cheaper
  • Advice can be sought if required
  • It helps build your community, get social!
  • It support local businesses and entrepreneurs
  • Independent shops often sell unique and unusual products
  • It boosts the local economy
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June 25, 2022
Read more about the article Happy Scrappy Crochet Blanket
Sarah's Happy Scrappy Blanket
crochet / Crochet / yarn / yarn / Zero Waste

Happy Scrappy Crochet Blanket

My mum taught me to crochet when I was around 8 years old. While her methods were anything but conventional, a few taps on the hand with her crochet hook soon made me get the hang of keeping my tension consistent!

I started making granny-square blankets- that’s as far as I got though! I never finished them… I actually finished my first blanket only 3 years ago.

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June 19, 2022
Read more about the article Zero Waste Dressmaking
Me modelling the Denim Blue Zero Waste Dress
Sewing / Sustainable Living / Zero Waste

Zero Waste Dressmaking

I finally have had time to write about the Zero Waste Dress pattern by Offset Warehouse!

Did you know that on average, 15% of fabric is wasted every time a garment is made? By designing clothes that are “zero waste”, this can be eliminated – the sewing pattern uses all the fabric and nothing is thrown away. Offset Warehouse have put together this simple zero waste dress pattern so you can try it for yourself – Which is exactly what I did! (You can find the FREE pattern here).

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June 15, 2022
Read more about the article Product Review: Butternut Box (Dog Food)
Butternut Box lover, Rainbow ©ZeroWasteLlama 2022
Biodegradable Packaging / Compost / Compostable / Dog / Dog Food / Products / Reducing Waste / Zero Waste

Product Review: Butternut Box (Dog Food)

By Sarah Bellis
Sarah, Rainbow & Bambi ©ZeroWasteLlama 2022
Sarah, Rainbow & Bambi ©ZeroWasteLlama 2022

I’ve always been really “funny” about what I feed my dogs. You hear about people who give their dogs the cheapest foods, and the dogs live forever! But knowing my luck that would never be the case. My dogs have always been fed better than myself. They dress better than me too, but that is another story!

As a dog-parent, it’s easy to get caught up in dog food marketing campaigns. The ones with the bright packaging, the ones with the happy dog on the packet with the shiniest coat and the brightest eyes. Some promise things that they definitely do not fulfil. When it comes to genuinely excellent quality food, it is so important to do your research. Something that can be confusing, you end up down a rabbit hole.

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June 10, 2022
Read more about the article Product Review: The Little Fudge Box
Carbon Footprint / Compostable / Fudge / Glucose Syrup-Free / Palm Oil Free / Products / Vegetarian / Zero Waste

Product Review: The Little Fudge Box

On the 7th May, at the Artisan market at Abakhan Fabrics, Mostyn (Wales), Sarah and I were lucky enough to have a chat with The Little Fudge Box – an Artisan handmade fudge from North Wales. The Little Fudge Box team are very privileged to live up in the mountains of Wales surrounded by hills, moors, big skies, woodlands and lots of  farmers and growers producing high quality produce.

Not only are their fudges vegetarian, free from glucose, gluten and palm oil, but all their ingredients are local to production: the Whiskey used in some flavours is a from Welsh distillery, Penderyn, the honey is from just 2 miles down the valley from them and the pollen is from a beekeeper in Shropshire! This reduces the carbon footprint of their fudge immensely! All their packaging is recyclable, even the bag is compostable!

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May 23, 2022