Detailed and honest reviews of eco‑friendly brands and products, with a strong focus on household and cleaning items. Posts in this category examine ingredients, packaging, sustainability claims, and value for money, helping readers decide which brands genuinely support lower‑waste, more environmentally responsible living.
Let the light in — dusting with reusable cloths and sunshine for a healthier, happier home.
A Fresh‑Air Guide for World Health Day & Earth Month
🌸 Welcome the Season, Not the Sneezes
Spring brings longer days, blooming flowers, and that irresistible urge to freshen up your home — but it also brings pollen, dust, and irritated sinuses. During allergy season, considering eco-friendly cleaning for allergy season is especially beneficial. With World Health Day and Earth Month arriving together, this is the perfect moment to refresh your space in a way that supports both your wellbeing and the planet.
This guide blends natural cleaning methods, mindful living, and a touch of Zero Waste Llama whimsy to help you breathe easier this season.
Your guide to stress‑free, stigma‑free, zero‑waste‑friendly support
Scotland has taken a huge step toward period dignity by making period products free for anyone who needs them — and Aberdeenshire has embraced this wholeheartedly. Whether you’re a local resident, a visitor, a parent collecting for a young person, or someone supporting a friend, you can access free period products easily and discreetly.
At Zero Waste Llama, we’re especially excited that the scheme includes reusable options like cloth pads and menstrual cups. These choices are not only budget‑friendly but also planet‑friendly — a win for your body, your wallet, and the Earth.
This is your complete guide to accessing free (eco) period products near you (in Scotland AND the UK)!
As you know from a prior article (Greening Scotland… One Home at a Time), I am recently moved up to the North-East Scotland, and after the shock of moving to a property with no Solar panels), I started looking into the short- to medium-term solutions I will put into place to improve our new home.
Arctic Improvements (a forward-thinking home improvements company who are commitment to greener, smarter living) was the only company I spoke to who told me that it was possible to install ONLY the storage batteries (and no solar panels) and thereby benefit from Octopus Energy‘s low rates over night: By storing the electricity until it is needed (which will be even more useful when we have the car-charger installed next year!).
So far, I feel more in control of my energy usage, and am even able to make alterations on the app to gain from Octopus’s free energy hours! And I am looking forward to monitoring my energy bills over next year!
As energy bills climb and climate concerns intensify, smart solutions that let you buy low, use high are more valuable than ever. One compelling setup combines Arctic Improvements’ storage batteries with Octopus Energy’s Go tariff—a powerful duo for budget-savvy, eco-conscious households.
Arctic offer a range of home energy improvement measures, and if you give Tina a call (0141 237 4563) or message (info@arcticimprovements.co.uk), and mention Zero Waste Llama, she will talk you through what they have done for me!
You will have noticed that I have been very quiet for some time. This is partly due to health reasons, but also because we packed up our lives and moved into a pretty little cottage. The cottage is on the North-Eastern coast of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Our move is just one small step towards greening Scotland one home at a time.
It was quite the expedition with 4 dogs and a cat, but we made it in March this year. Since then, we have been settling into our new home, and enjoying the local area ever since. We have also had a Zero Waste Llama stall at some of the local producers’ markets in Banff, Fraserburgh & Peterhead!
The electricity bill up here – with no solar panels – was a shock! As a result, I have spent the last few months researching what to do. I have also talked to a variety of companies, so that we can put some energy-saving changes into place.
In the rolling landscapes of Scotland, Arctic Improvements has emerged as a forward-thinking home improvements company. They merge practical elegance with environmental responsibility. Their product portfolio—ranging from energy-efficient windows and doors to solar panels and garden rooms—demonstrates a commitment to greener, smarter living. They were the only company who I had spoken to who deterred me from Solar Panels!! In fact, the lovely Tina was the only person I spoke to who told me that it was possible to install ONLY the storage batteries (and no solar panels) and thereby benefit from Octopus Energy‘s low rates over night. That means storing the electricity until it is needed (which will be even more useful when we have the car-charger installed next year!).
Arctic offer a range of home energy improvement measures, and if you give Tina a call (0141 237 4563) or message (info@arcticimprovements.co.uk), and mention Zero Waste Llama, she will talk you through what they are doing for me!
Kutis Organic Lip Balm is a popular choice for anyone seeking a plastic‑free, natural alternative to conventional lip balms. This review looks at its ingredients, sustainability credentials, and whether it delivers effective, everyday lip care without unnecessary packaging. Another lovely lip balm, from Kutis directly or Peace With The Wild. Once again, this is a really nice product and recyclable / up-cyclable packaging! The lip balm is smooth, light and (most importantly) soothed and repaired my dry, cracked lips this winter!
After decades of my sensitive skin reacting badly to “soap products” – basically resorting to shower gels in favour of soaps that made me blotchy – I was particularly nervous about finding a more ecological alternative. That’s when I decided to try Primal Suds vegan soap bars.
If you’re already using a solid shampoo bar, pairing it with a matching conditioner can make the transition to low‑waste hair care easier. I’ve also reviewed the Bain & Savon solid shampoo bars, which are designed to work alongside these conditioner bars as part of a plastic‑free hair care routine.
This is an interesting story, and should be read alongside my first review (Product Review: Coconutty Soapnut Shampoo Bar). That review also details struggling with adapting to bar shampoos. In addition, it contains some tips and suggestions to aid your own transition.
Following on from my previous review (Product Review: Coconutty Soapnut Shampoo Bar) I tried a few shampoo soaps from the Bain & Savon range, which I obtained from Peace with The Wild, experimenting to see what was most suitable to my hair-type. This time, I focused on Bain & Savon solid shampoo bars to see how they performed.
Bain & Savon have a variety of options in terms of scents and hair-types:
After decades of my sensitive skin reacting badly to any soap products, and having dry hair requiring twice as much conditioner as shampoo, I was particularly nervous about finding a more ecological alternative. Especially as I feared that this would dry my hair further.
The Coconutty Soapnut Shampoo Bar from Living Naturally was the first Bar Shampoo that I have ever tried. This particular soap is advertised as being great for “Nourishing & Moisturising. Suitable for all hair/skin types, especially for dry or lack luster hair/skin or inflamed sore skin” with the added appeal of being:
The Faith in Nature Coconut soap bar is a popular choice for anyone seeking a natural, plastic‑free alternative to shower gel. This review explores whether it lives up to its eco‑friendly, vegan, and low‑waste claims for everyday use.I have used Faith in Nature's Coconut Soap for some years - it is lovely to use: very gentle with a good lather and it does not leave my skin dry, and has a lovely smell. Using Faith in Nature Coconut soap, I had no allergic reaction - I actually use it in the shower occasionally! Estimated reading time: 2 minutes This is available from many shops, including Oxfam, but I have only found Faith in Nature Coconut soap on amazon without plastic wrapping (in packs of 18). Given the plastic packaging, I will not be ordering this again, but the Faith in Nature Coconut soap itself is very good. 100% Natural Fragrance With Essential Oils Free from Parabens and SLS Ingredients are vegetable derived, organic and are certified sustainable in origin. Overall, Faith in Nature Coconut soap is a popular choice for those seeking a gentle, ethical product. Key Takeaways Faith in Nature Coconut soap is a natural, plastic-free alternative to shower gel, praised for its gentle formulation and pleasant scent. The soap lathers well, does not dry out the skin, and is suitable for everyday use without causing allergic reactions. Available at various retailers, including Oxfam, but often found plastic-wrapped on Amazon, leading to concerns about sustainability. It features 100% natural…
