Reducing Food Waste
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January 14, 2019
My Pledge to the Planet: 31st December 2018
Well, I think I achieved about an 80% reduction in waste – I did not reach my goal, but this is just the beginning.
The festive period, of course, was the source of many additional waste – but even so, I still managed to only have half bag of household (non-recycling) waste , and half-full recycling boxes for the last collection of the year – and of course, much of this was from gifts and packaging which I was not in control of. I am quite proud of myself! I honestly think that if I had set this goal earlier, without the festive period, that I would have achieved the 85%!
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December 31, 2018
Food Wraps that Won’t Cost the Earth
Reusable wraps made with bees wax or (vegan) soy, which just required a quick wash with cool, soapy water after use.
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December 17, 2018
Biodegradable Packaging / Fragrance Free / Hair Conditioner / Natural Ingredients / Paraben Free / Products / Reducing Waste / SLS-Free
Product Review: Solid Conditional Bars – Bain & Savon
This is an interesting story, and should be read alongside my first review (Product Review: Coconutty Soapnut Shampoo Bar) which also details struggling with adapting to bar shampoos in addition to some tips and suggestions to aid your own transition.
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December 17, 2018
Cruelty Free / Natural Ingredients / Not Tested on Animals / Palm Oil Free / Paraben Free / Products / Shampoo / SLS-Free / Zero Waste
Product Review: Solid Shampoo Bars – Bain & Savon
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.
Bain & Savon have a variety of options in terms of scents and hair-types:
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December 14, 2018
My Pledge to the Planet: Progress
I am trying my utmost to reduce my waste by 85% before the end of the year. It is not that I never recycled (I always have done!), or that I was particularly wasteful, but that there is more that I can do.
What is in place
- Avoidance of ANY purchases with plastic packaging (yes, this causes funny looks in Tesco when I have veg loose in a bag for life, but what is the point in putting them in plastic for a 5 min journey, when I already have a canvas carrying implement?!)
- Up-cycling of anything possible: for a friends kids to make stuff with (the cardboard rolls in the middle of wrapping paper are, e.g. excellent swords!)
- Re-use of boxes and envelopes.
- Slow integration of alternative products with waste reduction and environmental friendliness as core motivations for choice.
December 14, 2018
Repair / Up-cycle
For years now I have had a sewing room – made my own curtains, clothes, bags… you name it. But it is mostly employed to repair clothing.
50% of the time clothing is repairable, if not, it is put to one side for up-cycling.
Recent up-cycles include:
December 10, 2018
Cleaning Products / Eco-Friendly / Hair Conditioner / Lip Care / Products / Reducing Waste / Shampoo / Soap / Zero Waste
Northwich Pop-Up Shop to Watch: Waste Away – Plastic Free Life
I first came across Waste Away at the Northwich Artisan Market some months ago – I was so excited! FINALLY a LOCAL company selling products which met my ideals and eco-ethos.
Currently trading online and at pop up markets around Cheshire, Waste Away provide ethical, plastic free alternatives to single use and unnecessary plastic. They provide a delivery service of household refills and other ethical products!
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December 1, 2018
Allergy Friendly / Anti-Fungal / Anti-Microbial / Asthma Friendly / Biodegradable / Biodegradable Packaging / Compostable / Cruelty Free / Eco-Friendly / Environmentally Friendly / Fragrance Free / Organic / Palm Oil Free / Paraben Free / Phosphate-Free / Products / Reducing Waste / SLS-Free / Soap / Soap Nuts / Sustainable / Vegan / Zero Waste
Product Review: Soapnuts Laundry Detergent
This is something I put off trying for years, but as soon as I started my quest to reduce my waste, I bought some, and have been using soapnuts ever since! An eco-friendly alternative to laundry detergent and synthetic soaps, they are natural and non-polluting. But for me, with sensitive skin, which goes blotchy with many conventional laundry detergents (and softeners!), I was particularly nervous about changing from the one I have used for well over 30 years…
I am delighted to say that I am more than pleased with the results! Not skin irritation, clothes are both clean and fresh-smelling when they come out of the washing machine and (best of all) they work out just as cheap as the conventional laundry detergent – I even found I could get more washes out of them than they recommend! AND they take up less space!
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November 26, 2018
Product Review: Biodegradable Bamboo Cotton Swabs
When I started looking into everything I use on a regular basis, I found more and more things which I needed to replace – Cotton buds were one of these items. In order to avoid them ending up in landfill or in our oceans, where it takes 100s of years for them to degrade, I started looking for an alternative
I found some Biodegradable Bamboo Cotton Swabs from HydroPhil at Peace With The Wild. I am happy with the quality, functionality and biodegradability of the product. At the end of the day, I was not expecting a “wow” moment, unlike the shampoo- and conditioner-bars I have tried! It does what it says on the box, and I can use them with a clear conscience.
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November 19, 2018