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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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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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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Product Review: Coconutty Soapnut Shampoo Bar

After decades of my sensitive skin reacting badly to any soap products, and having dry hair requiring twice as much conditioner as shampoo, I was particularly nervous about finding a more ecological alternative. Especially as I feared that this would dry my hair further.

The Coconutty Soapnut Shampoo Bar from Living Naturally was the first Bar Shampoo that I have ever tried. This particular soap is advertised as being great for “Nourishing & Moisturising. Suitable for all hair/skin types, especially for dry or lack luster hair/skin or inflamed sore skin” with the added appeal of being:

  • SLS Free
  • Palm Oil Free
  • Organic

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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LEDs – The Future is Bright!

This is not something new, for me, but given the energy and cost savings, I thought I would post about this. Lightbulbs: The Future Is LED is a topic that is getting more attention as people focus on efficiency and sustainability. Furthermore, more experts agree that Lightbulbs: The Future Is LED is a key area for future home upgrades.

LEDs are the most efficient type of bulb. They have great claimed longevity, give instant light, and work in low temperatures. Therefore, they are “The future of home lighting”, and many consumers now believe that Lightbulbs: The Future Is LED is more than just a marketing phrase.

  • They use very little energy
  • Last longer than other bulbs
  • Provide instant light – no “warming up” time

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

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Product Review: Kutis Natural Deodorant

My usual deodorant was one of the first items to be replaced – it has just taken me a long time to test out different ones and find one I love. Having not used spray deodorant since the 80’s, preferring a stick, I was looking for something with no plastic packaging. But I also needed something that worked…. and that did not have any (overpowering/”girly”) scent….

Well, I found it! The Kutis Natural Deodorant was one of a few deodorants which I purchased, and have since gone through two, tried four and purchased a multitude of other (gentle) scents to try!

Rating Overview: 10/10
Performance: This works really well
Fragrance: They come in two varieties, vegan and non-vegan, and a variety of Natural Fragrances…. suitable for both sexes.
Usability: Great – pushes easily out of the tube – even with arthritis (mum) or after a hand operation (me)

The Kutis deodorant sticks are made from all natural ingredients and they really work! 

With key ingredients such as bicarbonate of soda, arrowroot powder and coconut oil this deodorant gives you the lasting freshness without all the nasty stuff that can be found in commercial deodorants.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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Brand Review: Ecover

Ecover is often promoted as an eco‑friendly household cleaning brand—but how sustainable is it really? This Ecover Brand Review: Is Ecover Really Eco‑Friendly? will help you understand what makes the brand stand out.

In this Ecover brand review, we take a closer look at its credentials and try to answer the question raised in the Ecover Brand Review: Is Ecover Really Eco‑Friendly?

I have been using the Ecover range of cleaning products for well over a decade now. While they never completely replaced my trusty powder laundry detergent (I sometimes felt clothes weren’t quite as clean as I wanted), they did replace my fabric conditioner and several other household cleaning products that I used regularly.

Ecover describes its approach as a holistic one, with people and planet kept firmly in mind. They state that they have strict standards for ingredient selection and assess more than a dozen attributes for each ingredient, including biodegradability, skin and eye irritation, and aquatic toxicity. On paper, this all sounds very reassuring and is discussed further within this Ecover Brand Review: Is Ecover Really Eco‑Friendly?

However, as with many “eco” brands, Ecover falls into what I think of as a starting point. In this Ecover brand review, I see their products as a starting point on a low‑waste or zero‑waste journey rather than a final destination..

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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Product Review: Lavandi Shampoo & Conditioning bars

Lavandi were kind enough to provide me with some of their Shampoo & Conditioning Bars for testing. I distributed these between myself ( Elderflower) and a friend (Joe) tried the Dandelion.

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.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

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TerraCycle® – The First European Pet Food Recycling Programme

If you share your life with a dog or cat, you’ll know the feeling: you’re doing your best to live more sustainably, carefully sorting your recycling… and then you pick up an empty pet food bag and realise you have no idea what to do with it. The TerraCycle pet food recycling programme makes it easier to dispose of these tricky empty bags in an environmentally friendly way.

Pet food packaging is notoriously difficult to recycle. Those shiny pouches, multi-layer bags, and treat wrappers are designed to keep food fresh, not to make life easy once they’re empty. For years, this type of packaging has almost always ended up in landfill or incineration.

So when I found out that TerraCycle® had launched the first European pet food recycling programme, I was genuinely excited — and cautiously curious. Could this be a real solution for pet owners trying to reduce their waste?

Let’s take a closer look.

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