Working towards a sustainable lifestyle

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. This exciting event will provide a perfect opportunity to experience the Sustainability craft fair Northwich.

The event is part of West Cheshire Museums’ Festival for the Future. It is a month-long celebration of sustainability and climate action held across museum sites Chester, Northwich and Malpas. Additionally, the Sustainability craft fair Northwich forms a key part of this celebration with its focus on environmentally friendly crafts and activities.

The Festival of the Future is a free one day event at the Northwich museums. It is ideal for families who love nature, performance, craft and free workshops! Sustainability craft fair Northwich will delight both locals and visitors looking for meaningful ways to get involved with the community.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

(more…)

1 Comment
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
(more…)

0 Comments
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.

(more…)

1 Comment
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).

(more…)

0 Comments
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.

(more…)

1 Comment
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!

(more…)

2 Comments
May 23, 2022
Read more about the article Product Review: Lavandi Soaps
Organic / Products / Soap / Vegan / Zero Waste

Product Review: Lavandi Soaps

Lavandi were kind enough to provide me with some of their soaps for testing. I distributed these between myself, my mother and Joe (a 20 year-old who wanted to try the Activated Charcoal soap in particular).

What I liked most is the fact that Lavandi are based in Northwich, Cheshire, where I live! Lavandi have seen the need for change and have created a range of recipes that are all-natural. Their soaps are made with a carefully curated combination of oils and butters, and their promise is that they are all completely free of harmful chemicals. All their products are free of the palm oil that’s often found in soap and body products. They are all Zero Plastic! Also, you can subscribe to deliveries on a regular basis.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

(more…)

1 Comment
May 19, 2022
Read more about the article Product Review: Jungle Culture Coconut Shell Bowls
Jungle Culture Coconut Shell Bowls
Coconut / Coconut Bowl / Jungle Culture / Zero Waste

Product Review: Jungle Culture Coconut Shell Bowls

Jungle Culture Coconut Shell Bowls
Jungle Culture Coconut Shell Bowls

Jungle Culture (as you may have noticed!) is one of my favourite brands of Zero Waste / Eco products – since I did a Bamboo Week (Following World Bamboo Day 18th September 2021), in which I reviewed 2 of their bamboo products (#PlantBamboo for Straws & #PlantBamboo for Cutlery), then Sarah did a review of their super safety razors (Product Review: Jungle Culture Safety Razor) I have had to refrain from talking about them for a while, otherwise you would think I was biased!

However, I really want to talk to you about their Coconut Shell Bowls today… These are something which I truly use on a daily basis, and have enjoyed eating out of!

(more…)

8 Comments
May 14, 2022