Following my Product Review on Reusable Sanitary Products a few years ago, I have now been producing my own Sanitary Towels for some time – both for me and my friends! You’ll remember from my previous post regarding making these, that, not only have these been much more comfy to wear than those purchased, but my homemade ones have proven to be strong, absorbent and easily washed!
Compared to the brand of disposable pads I used prior, I would never go back…. No irritation and excellent absorbency!
In this post I wish to expand a little more into the eco fabrics/materials you can use and where to buy them in the UK.
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.
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.
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.
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 gardening 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.
If you’re trying to reduce waste at home, your daily cup of tea is a surprisingly powerful place to start. In this post, we look at loose leaf tea vs teabags — from flavour and freshness to hidden plastics, cost, and environmental impact. This will help you decide which is the better zero-waste choice.
I never gave tea-types much thought, until I lived in Hamburg, Germany (2000-2007). Tea was something that automatically came in teabags – I popped it in a teapot or cup, added hot water and let it brew. For me, varieties of tea (up to the year 2000) consisted of Tetleys, PG Tips and herbal (mostly chamomile). These ALWAYS came in a bag!
When I moved to Germany, a whole new world opened: Tea shops are common in towns and cities. In fact, Hamburg, being the largest port in Germany, had more than its fair share. A quick search on google showed me well over 100! There were more tea varieties than I had ever seen before in my life! And very few in bags! Rows and rows of large jars adorn these shops. You can ask about the origin or flavours of any of them – and/or have a sniff! Every time I return, I come back with kilos of it! From whole leaf Lemon Verbena, to mixes of loose teas with roses…. It is part of my life and routine now. Although I admit, I am more of a coffee drinker!
Over the past 6–9 months, I’ve tried a variety of bamboo toothbrushes. Overall, I’ve found that they wear well, do the job just as effectively as conventional plastic toothbrushes, feel nice to hold, and — most importantly for me — can usually be disposed of with a much clearer conscience. Switching to a bamboo toothbrush is often one of the first swaps people make when trying to reduce plastic waste, and for good reason. However, as I’ve learned, not all bamboo toothbrushes are created equal, and some marketing claims deserve a closer look. Estimated reading time: 5 minutes ✅ Why Bamboo Toothbrushes Are a Popular Zero‑Waste Swap Traditional plastic toothbrushes are almost impossible to recycle and are typically destined for landfill or the ocean. Bamboo toothbrushes, on the other hand, are often promoted as a more sustainable alternative because: Bamboo is a fast‑growing, renewable resource Handles are usually biodegradable or compostable Many brands use plastic‑free or recyclable packaging From a zero‑waste perspective, they’re a clear improvement — but that doesn’t mean they’re perfect. My Experience with Bamboo Toothbrushes Charcoal bristles are often advertised as antibacterial and better at removing plaque. Personally, I did notice that my teeth felt cleaner when using charcoal bristles. However, I later discovered that “BPA‑free charcoal bristles” may still contain synthetic materials, meaning the toothbrush is not fully compostable. ♻️ Are Bamboo Toothbrushes Actually Compostable? All of the bamboo toothbrushes I’ve tried have performed well and felt comparable to standard plastic toothbrushes. I didn’t feel like…
I have been using the method (part of ecover) range of cleaning products for some time now. Actually, I was inspired by my lovely cleaning lady, Karen! I wanted to share my Method cleaning products review because these are a great range of products. Importantly, they do what they say on the tin. Overall, this Method cleaning products review reflects my honest experience as a UK consumer seeking better cleaning options.
Well, I think I achieved about an 80% reduction in waste – I did not reach my goal, but this is just the beginning. Taking a zero waste pledge has been an important step in my journey. In fact, the zero waste pledge continues to inspire me to make better choices.
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%! Making this commitment to a pledge for zero waste has made me more mindful in everyday situations.
Reusable wraps made with bees wax or (vegan) soy, which just required a quick wash with cool, soapy water after use.
Why swap plastic wrap for reusable food wraps?
Plastic cling film is single-use, petroleum-based, and rarely recyclable. It’s used for minutes but can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Reusable food wraps offer a practical alternative that fits easily into everyday life, helping to reduce household plastic waste without sacrificing convenience.
