#PlanetFriendly

Eco Friendly back to school prep. Small Choices today, better tomorrow.
Ethical Living / Sustainability Guides

Eco‑Friendly Back‑to‑School Prep: Sustainable Steps for a Greener School Year

The long summer holidays seem to disappear in the blink of an eye. One minute you’re enjoying lazy mornings and picnics in the park, and the next you’re facing the annual back‑to‑school shopping list. This year, many families are looking for Eco‑Friendly Back‑to‑School Prep ideas to make the transition more sustainable.

For many families, the start of a new school year can generate a surprising amount of waste. New uniforms, stationery, lunch supplies, backpacks, water bottles, and gadgets often replace perfectly usable items simply because it’s become part of the routine.

The good news? Preparing for school doesn’t have to mean filling the recycling bin, spending a fortune, or buying everything brand new.

Here are some practical ways to make back‑to‑school season a little kinder to both the planet and your budget.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

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August 8, 2026
A photo showcasing an innovative recycling or upcycling project, where discarded materials are transformed into valuable products, emphasizing the potential of waste reduction.
A photo showcasing an innovative recycling or upcycling project, where discarded materials are transformed into valuable products, emphasizing the potential of waste reduction.
Ethical Living

Plastic-Free July Challenge Calendar: 31 Small Steps Towards Less Plastic

Plastic-Free July can feel overwhelming if you think you need to change everything at once. The good news? You don’t. Small swaps and mindful habits add up over time. This challenge calendar is designed to help you take one practical step each day throughout July. Some challenges take just a few minutes, while others may inspire a longer-term change. Pick and choose what works for you, and remember: progress is always better than perfection.

Why Join Plastic-Free July?

Plastic-Free July is a global movement that encourages people to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. Whether you complete all 31 challenges or just a handful, you’ll become more aware of your consumption habits and discover simple ways to reduce waste.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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July 1, 2026
Some of the Amazinc! sun products available, presented on a neutral background.
Brand Reviews

Brand Review: Amazinc! Ocean‑Friendly Suncream & Aftersun (For Sensitive, Sun‑Reactive Skin)

Suncream has always been a bit of a minefield for me.

Not just the usual complaints — greasy, chalky, plastic-heavy — but something more personal: finding an ocean friendly suncream in the UK that actually works and feels pleasant to use.

👉 Skin that reacts quickly to sun
👉 That “caught it too late” redness
👉 The constant awareness that I burn easily

If you’ve got:

  • Pale or porcelain skin
  • Red or blonde hair
  • A tendency to burn rather than tan
  • An autoimmune condition
  • Or even mild sun sensitivity or sun allergies

…you’ll know exactly what I mean.

So for the past few years, instead of grabbing a single product and hoping for the best, I did something different.

I ordered a full range of Amazinc! products from Peace With The Wild so I could properly test what works across different situations — and for genuinely sensitive skin.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

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June 10, 2026
An Aberdeenshire beach, with blue sky, sun and clouds reflecting on the calm sea below.
Ethical Living / Zero Waste Swaps

World Environment Day 2026: A Real-Life Reflection (Not Just Another Awareness Post)

Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future

Every year, World Environment Day rolls around on 5th June—and if I’m honest, it used to feel like just another date in the calendar. A reminder, yes… but one that didn’t always translate into real change. This year, though, I wanted to share my World Environment Day 2026 reflection on why the day matters more than ever.

This year felt different.

Maybe it’s because I’ve spent more time thinking about the small habits that quietly add up—what I buy, what I waste, and what I ignore. Or maybe it’s because climate conversations are getting harder to avoid (even when we want to).

So instead of sharing the usual stats and headlines, I wanted to take a step back and ask a simpler question:

What has actually changed—for me, and for us?

And more importantly—what can we realistically do next?

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June 6, 2026
Bee or Bug Hotel.. bamboo and other holey wood stacked.
Photo by Martin Woortman on Unsplash
Ethical Living

🐝 Bee Hotels: What Helps (and What Doesn’t)

Bee hotels are everywhere now — in garden centres, supermarkets, and social media posts. They’re often sold as an easy way to “save the bees”.

But good intentions don’t always help.

Some bee hotels can support wildlife. Others do very little — and some can even cause harm. Here’s what actually helps solitary bees in the UK, and what to be cautious about.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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May 18, 2026
A bee approaching a sunflower.
Photo by Boris Smokrovic on Unsplash
Ethical Living

🐝 Bee‑Friendly Gardens: How to Help UK Bees Where You Live

Bees in the UK are under real pressure from habitat loss, pesticides, and a lack of diverse flowering plants. The good news? Even small gardens, balconies, patios, and window boxes can become vital lifelines, and creating bee‑friendly gardens UK wide is more important than ever.

You don’t need a wildflower meadow or perfect planting scheme. A bee‑friendly garden is about making space for nature, not controlling it. Here’s how to create one that actually helps.

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May 7, 2026
Rotting fruit on a compost heap
Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash
Ethical Living / Sustainability Guides

🌱 Compost Awareness Week: Why Composting Matters (and How to Start Without Being “Good” at It)

Compost Awareness Week has a reputation problem.

If you picture complicated systems, strict rules, smelly bins, or something you once tried and quietly abandoned… you’re not alone. Composting has somehow become both intimidating and moralised — which is impressive, considering it’s literally about letting things rot.

So let’s reset.

Composting is not about doing it perfectly.
It’s about keeping useful stuff out of landfill and letting nature do what it’s very good at.

And Compost Awareness Week is just a handy excuse to talk about that — without guilt.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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May 2, 2026
Guteman rPET 100% recycled Sew-All Thread
Brand Reviews

For those who sew: Gütermann Recycled Sewing Thread

Gutermann Recycled Sew-All Thread Set 20pk - Basics
Gutermann Recycled Sew-All Thread Set 20pk – Basics

As an avid sewer – and I know that I am not alone here – I take pride in repairing and upcycling items in order to lower my carbon footprint. I also know Gütermann to be one of the best brands of sewing thread in the world! I have recently discovered Gütermann Sew-all Thread rPET. Not only can they be implemented for a variety of fabrics and stitches, but they are made from 100 % recycled polyester!

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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April 19, 2023
KeepCups
Ethical Living

Keep Cups: A Simple Zero‑Waste Swap That Actually Makes a Difference

Globally, KeepCup users help prevent over 5 million disposable coffee cups from being used every single day 1. Considering that around one million disposable cups are thrown away every minute worldwide, switching to a reusable cup is one of the easiest and most impactful low‑waste habits you can adopt 1.

I’ve been using Keep Cups for years — not just when I’m out and about, but at home too (clumsy people unite). They’re practical, well‑designed, and genuinely enjoyable to use, which makes them far more likely to stick as a long‑term habit rather than becoming another forgotten cupboard item.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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February 19, 2023