A cozy home kitchen with jars of homemade pickles, chutneys, and jams displayed on a countertop with fresh ingredients scattered nearby

Preserving Summer Produce: A Simple Joy with a Zero Waste Twist 🍓🌞

There is something deeply satisfying about turning a bowl of ripe summer fruit into jars of homemade jam. This sense of preserving summer’s best produce is truly special.

Perhaps it’s knowing that the strawberries collected on a sunny afternoon will still be bringing joy on a cold winter morning. Perhaps it’s the comforting rhythm of washing, chopping, stirring and bottling. Or perhaps it’s simply the magic of making something delicious while preventing food waste.

Whatever the reason, when you are preserving summer produce as a seasonal ritual, you make the most of nature’s bounty and enjoy those flavours long after the season has ended.

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August 4, 2026

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

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

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

Ethical Living / Zero Waste Swaps

Thrifting for Fabric: 15 Zero‑Waste Charity Shop Hacks for Low‑Cost Sewing

Buying new fabric is one of the biggest hidden contributors to textile waste. Thrifting fabric in the UK is a more sustainable alternative, as even “ethical” fabric often comes wrapped in plastic, shipped internationally, and produced using water‑ and chemical‑intensive processes.

For Zero Waste Llama readers, thrifting fabric isn’t just about saving money — it’s about keeping existing textiles in circulation and out of landfill.

Whether you’re a garment maker, quilter, upcycler, or slow‑fashion enthusiast, UK charity shops are absolute goldmines for sewing materials — if you know where (and how) to look.

This guide walks you through 15 zero‑waste thrift store hacks to help you source fabric sustainably, affordably, and creatively — all from materials that already exist.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

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May 29, 2026

Brand Reviews

Product Review: Dingbats* Ātopen Dual Tip Pens

Finding truly sustainable art supplies that actually last is harder than it should be. For example, sustainable dual tip pens can be difficult to find if you care about quality and eco credentials. Many ‘eco’ pens dry out quickly, bleed through paper, or sacrifice performance for marketing claims — which creates more waste, not less.

What makes Dingbats* Ātopen dual‑tip pens different?

Dingbats* Ātopen Dual Tip Fineliner/Brush Pens are fabulous to use – and are still perfect after several years of use! As you can see from the image I took (yes, my writing IS that bad, LOL), the Dingbats* Ātopen dual tipped pens offer a wide range of possibilities for art drawings, journaling, doodling, calligraphy and much, much more.

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April 26, 2026

Ethical Living

Bluebell and Albie, the Eco-cats!

Firstly, let me introduce you to Albie, our one-year-old cat. He also answers to many other names: Albus, Albus Dumble-cat, Alfred, Albert, Alberto, Alb and Albachino. In upcoming posts, you’ll find out why we consider him one of our official eco-cats.

This is him — and yes, I’m biased, but isn’t he the cutest?

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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May 18, 2025

Brand Reviews

Product Review: Kutis Organic Lip Balm

Kutis Organic Lip Balm is a popular choice for anyone seeking a plastic‑free, natural alternative to conventional lip balms. This review looks at its ingredients, sustainability credentials, and whether it delivers effective, everyday lip care without unnecessary packaging. Another lovely lip balm, from Kutis directly or Peace With The Wild. Once again, this is a really nice product and recyclable / up-cyclable packaging! The lip balm is smooth, light and (most importantly) soothed and repaired my dry, cracked lips this winter!

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

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February 19, 2024

Brand Reviews

Product Review: Solid Conditional Bars – Bain & Savon

If you’re already using a solid shampoo bar, pairing it with a matching conditioner can make the transition to low‑waste hair care easier. I’ve also reviewed the Bain & Savon solid shampoo bars, which are designed to work alongside these conditioner bars as part of a plastic‑free hair care routine.

This is an interesting story, and should be read alongside my first review (Product Review: Coconutty Soapnut Shampoo Bar). That review also details struggling with adapting to bar shampoos. In addition, it contains some tips and suggestions to aid your own transition.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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November 19, 2023

Brand Reviews

Product Review: Solid Shampoo Bars – Bain & Savon

Following on from my previous review of the Coconutty Soapnut Shampoo Bar, I wanted to explore a different range of solid shampoo options. This time, I tested several shampoo bars from Bain & Savon, purchased via Peace With The Wild.

My aim was simple: to see how these solid shampoo bars performed across different hair needs and whether they offered a practical, low‑waste alternative to bottled shampoo. I focused on everyday usability, scalp comfort, and how my hair felt after continued use.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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3 Comments

October 19, 2023