Home made sanitary towels / menstrual pads, by Cathrene

Home Made Reusable Sanitary Products

Following my Product Review on Reusable Sanitary Products back in March last year, I decided to take things one step further and start producing my own reusable sanitary towels. What began as a small experiment has turned into one of the most comfortable, durable, and environmentally friendly swaps I’ve made.

Not only have my homemade pads proven to be far more comfortable than many shop-bought alternatives, they’ve also stood the test of time far better. A year on, my original two handmade pads (one day and one night) still look and feel amazing, while some branded reusable options have noticeably degraded.

Compared to disposable pads, there’s simply no contest – no irritation, excellent absorbency, and zero waste. I honestly wouldn’t go back.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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June 19, 2020

Brand Reviews

Product Review: Salt of the Earth

This product intrigued me – not only is it plastic free, but it also consists of the subject of my PhD: Salt! This is my Salt of the Earth deodorant review.

Salt of the Earth crystal deodorants work by leaving an invisible layer of mineral salt on the skin which work to inhibit the growth of odour causing bacteria. This is a good product if you wish to avoid plastic packaging!

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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April 19, 2020

Ethical Living / Zero Waste Swaps

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, and I honestly couldn’t have been more excited. FINALLY — a local Northwich business offering genuinely ethical, plastic-free alternatives that align perfectly with my zero waste ethos.

If you’re trying to reduce your plastic consumption or live a more low-waste lifestyle, Waste Away is exactly the kind of small business worth supporting.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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April 19, 2020

Sunrise at Quiraing, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Ethical Living

Travel & Tourism: Post-Brexit, Post-COVID and Pro-Sustainability

If you’re looking to fly less and do your bit with learning how to be eco-friendly, why not test the waters closer to home? It’s also worth considering how the landscape of travel and tourism after Brexit and COVID has influenced our holiday choices. Despite the fact that the UK is home to a surprisingly diverse range of landscapes, its natural beauty has traditionally been overlooked in favour of holidays abroad – especially in warmer climates. In fact, travel and tourism after Brexit and COVID has led many to re-evaluate where they spend their holidays.

With a plethora of environmentally friendly attractions, sustainable places to stay and zero-waste restaurants on our doorstep, the UK has everything you need for a wonderful getaway, with much reduced carbon footprint. Moreover, tourism and travel across Britain post-Brexit and post-COVID has encouraged people to seek out these alternatives.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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February 19, 2020

Ethical Living

Northwich’s new Eco Store “Weigh of the World”

I had waited with great anticipation for our new Eco Store, Weigh of the World, in Northwich to open. THIS was a game changer for me! Local, and brilliant!

They are a zero waste shop – this means that they provide customers with the ability to refill food and cleaning products into their own containers. This allows people to buy as little or as much as they want and reduce packaging. They also sell toiletries and other everyday items that can be reused. As a result, they help people move away from single-use, throwaway items. Most important to me is their commitment to being there for people who have dramatically changed their lifestyles towards zero waste. More so, they are there for the people who just want to make small changes. Everyone has their own path!

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November 30, 2019

Ethical Living / Sustainability Guides

Upcycle Project: Old clothes to Origami bags!

When I was 19 or 20, I remember actually holding a “funeral” for my favourite pair of patchwork batik baggy trousers… I lived in them… they were part of me… yet I was not in a position (at the time I was at university) to maintain their repairs… alas… they were falling apart… and my housemates staged an intervention and helped me to part with them… (I still miss that specific pair now! They were purples and dark blues, and so comfy…).

These days, I try and keep up with repairs – with such patchwork baggy trousers, this is fairly easy – just add another patch! However, there does come a point where you find yourself doing this far too regularly…

Fast fashion means we’re encouraged to throw clothes away as soon as they wear out — but what if those “unwearable” items could become something beautiful and useful instead? This upcycle project turns old clothes into simple origami-style fabric bags, giving much‑loved garments a second life while keeping textiles out of landfill.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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August 1, 2019

Brand Reviews

Product Review: Reusable Sanitary Products

Periods: not the most pleasant thing to write about, but a monthly occurrence which, for the majority of UK women, results in repeated purchases of sanitary towels and/or tampons. This included me until this week.

Menstrual products are something most of us use for decades of our lives, yet we rarely stop to think about their environmental impact. In the UK alone, billions of disposable tampons, pads, and applicators are thrown away every year — many containing plastic that can take hundreds of years to break down. Switching to reusable sanitary products is one of the most impactful zero waste swaps you can make.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

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2 Comments

May 19, 2019

Photo by Ben Kerckx (Pixabay) https://pixabay.com/photos/green-waste-compost-compost-bin-513609/

Ethical Living

A Quick Guide To Composting At Home

Guest Post by Kevin Hilton

Around the house, there’s a lot of potential to waste food and food scraps. However, did you know you can help the environment, sustain your garden, reduce food waste and save money ga r dening all at once through composting?

What is composting? It is a natural process that turns organic matter to compost or “humus”. It is all about microbial activity. When your food and garden waste are put together, the bacteria present in the soil will break down the matter, turning it into compost. This can then be used as a fertiliser giving rich nutrients to your plants and condition the soil for planting.

Poor soil can hinder or prevent plant growth so it’s always best to have an idea of the kind of soil you have in your garden. If you’re not sure, you might want to give soil testing a try, either using a kit or a DIY method. These tests can also reveal what kind of pH your soil is, which also has a big effect on whether your plants will grow or not.

Compost can be used to improve your soil quality, and if you do it at home you’ll get compost for free instead of having to buy it from a shop.

Composting is satisfying because, not only will it help you in terms of cultivation, it will also help you in reducing food waste that ends up in landfill. You’ll be doing your bit to fight the pollution problem.

Composting at home may sound daunting, and many assume it to be dirty or smelly, but this doesn’t have to be the case if you manage your compost pile properly.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

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5 Comments

May 8, 2019

Climate Change

Extinction Rebellion

As people of all ages, backgrounds and origins have joined together as the Extinction Rebellion in London as a “wake-up call” to the UK and Parliament, it is clear that climate breakdown and ecological collapse threaten our existence. Therefore, this is a good time to reflect on what we are doing. In addition, we should consider how our actions are disabling the climate for future generations.

Extinction Rebellion, often shortened to XR, is a global environmental movement that uses non‑violent protest to highlight the urgency of the climate and ecological crisis. The group focuses on raising public awareness, encouraging governments to act based on scientific evidence, and pushing climate issues higher up the public agenda. While its methods are sometimes controversial, Extinction Rebellion has played a significant role in bringing climate conversations into mainstream media and everyday discussion.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

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April 30, 2019

Ethical Living

Science, Heritage & Culture: Jodrell Bank, Cheshire

For as long as I can remember, Jodrell Bank played a large part in my life. It was where my parents would take my brother and I at the weekend, where we went on school trips, and, in the past decade, proved to be a great place to simply go and think. There is something awe-inspiring about such an enormous telescope situated in the middle of the Cheshire countryside, something that puts life on our planet back into perspective. There really is much more out there.

The world famous Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, part of the University of Manchester, has been a much-loved visitor attraction for many years, as well as an internationally significant space research centre.

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April 19, 2019