Blog mini-series: Eco pets!

Anyone who knows us, will know that our animals are very much the centre of our lives. We have also started to look into having more eco-friendly pet products. In fact, we have become passionate about choosing eco-friendly pets products whenever possible. And if you don’t know that already, I’m sure you’ll get the message throughout the next few posts. We love to write and share our experiences of the eco products that we use, so we think its only right to share the things that we use to make our pet ownership eco too! Choosing eco-friendly pets options is now part of our daily routine. From the food that we use, to the places we shop at, we try to be as environmentally conscious as possible. Although our cats and dogs are blissfully unaware of the climate crisis, I’m sure their future ancestors will thank us! By making decisions with eco-friendly pets in mind, we do our part for the planet. Throughout the coming posts, you’ll get to know our animals, and the products that we’ve loved using to help reduce our carbon paw-print! Moreover, eco-friendly pets topics will be discussed in future articles. Feel free to follow our dogs on Instagram (or Purl / Bobbin on Facebook) if you want to keep up with their antics! The cats (Albie & Bluebell) sometimes make a guest appearance too! https://zerowastellama.com/terracycle-the-first-european-pet-food-recycling-programme/ https://zerowastellama.com/my-carbon-footprint/

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March 1, 2023

Bamboo - a beautiful green feeling by Clement Souchet on Unsplash

Events

World Bamboo Day 18th September 2022

World Bamboo Day is celebrated every year on 18th September to raise global awareness of bamboo and highlight its vital role as one of the world’s most sustainable natural resources. In regions where bamboo grows naturally, it has been used for centuries in everyday life — from building materials and tools to household items, textiles, and food.

However, bamboo has not always been utilised sustainably. Over‑exploitation and poor management have caused environmental and social issues in some areas. As technology advances and greener innovations emerge, bamboo is now being reintroduced to global markets in a far more responsible and forward‑thinking way.

Today, bamboo products are more widely available than ever before, gaining acceptance across households, industries, and architectural design. From eco‑friendly toothbrushes and cutlery to construction materials and fabrics, bamboo is actively changing how we build, consume, and live within our environment.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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September 13, 2022

Sustainability Guides

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

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July 12, 2022

Ethical Living / Events

Clean Air Day: Why Clean Air Still Matters (and What We Can All Do)

Every year, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK. Both the World Health Organisation and the UK Government recognise air pollution as the largest environmental health risk we currently face. Clean Air Day, held annually in June, exists to raise awareness of the harm caused by air pollution — and to remind us that a cleaner, healthier future is possible. Although this post marks Clean Air Day 2022, the message remains just as important today. Clean air isn’t something we should think about for just one day a year; it’s something that affects our health, climate, and communities every single day. Estimated reading time: 8 minutes Why Does Clean Air Day Matter? Clean Air Day focuses attention on air pollution by encouraging people across the UK to act together on the same day. This collective approach helps the message reach new audiences, improves public understanding, and increases the number of people taking action to reduce pollution. Awareness is growing. The majority of people now report doing at least one thing to reduce outdoor air pollution, and public support for prioritising clean air has increased significantly in recent years. Clean Air Day also shows decision‑makers that there is widespread support for the changes needed to protect public health and the environment. From more electric vehicle charging points and e‑bikes on our roads to innovative solutions like cleaner delivery services, Clean Air Day highlights that progress is possible — and already happening. Why Does Air Pollution Matter for Everyday…

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June 13, 2022

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash fabric

Ethical Living / Zero Waste Swaps

#PlantBamboo for Fabrics, Yarn & Fashion

“35% of all micro plastics in the world’s oceans are from synthetic textiles”
International Union for Conservation of Nature

There are over 1600 known species of Bamboo across many parts of the tropics and subtropics, with thousands of uses – including for the production of fabrics and yarn for the fashion industry.

Why Bamboo Is Being Promoted in Fashion & Textiles

Bamboo has become a popular material in the sustainable fashion conversation because it grows extremely quickly, requires no replanting after harvest, and can thrive without large amounts of pesticides or fertiliser. As a plant, bamboo has a relatively low land footprint and can absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide during growth.

This has led to bamboo being marketed as a climate‑friendly alternative to conventional cotton and petroleum‑based synthetic fibres.

However, the environmental impact of bamboo fabrics depends less on the plant itself and more on how it is processed.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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September 20, 2021

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

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

Smart Meter

Smart meter benefits include helping you make better sense of the energy you use. As a result, you are in a stronger position to both lower your bills and reduce your environmental impact. EDF finally fitted one for me today – after a very long wait! An engineer came out last year but was unable to install it due to the layout of my mains electricity box. This meant I had to first get an electrician in to rearrange everything. After that, I had to go back onto the waiting list… but persistence paid off, and it’s now installed. Estimated reading time: 3 minutes One major benefit of smart meters is the convenience. Automatic readings mean no more waiting at home for someone to manually read your gas or electricity meter. Given that my gas meter lives in the far corner of a cupboard packed with baking bowls and equipment, this is a huge relief! Smart meters use two-way communication between your home and the energy supplier. Therefore, regular home visits for readings are no longer required. There’s ongoing debate about whether smart meters actually reduce energy consumption. Some research suggests that savings aren’t guaranteed – and I agree that results depend heavily on the individual. For me, the key value lies in visibility. By occasionally checking the in-home display throughout the day or week, you can quickly spot when usage spikes. This naturally leads you to question what’s switched on. It also makes you wonder what might be running…

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November 5, 2018

Why Bamboo Is Being Promoted in Fashion & Textiles

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