How to be Sustainable in a Lockdown

The current climate is scary. Emotions are all over the place and its hard not to be left with worry or concern. With us all trying to adjust to this new way of living, working and socialising it is perfectly normal to need to stop and take stock of the situation. I for one have felt afloat over the past week, with the realisation of the current situation really hitting home and the scale of what is at risk becoming more and more apparent.

With only one task on the to do list - avoid physical contact with others - I thought I'd use my only outlet on here to share with you some ideas and projects that you could undertake, should you feel so inclined to help you move towards living a more sustainable life as we emerge out of these times. Some are simple and some are pretty fun to!

So without further a do, here's a few simple things you can do to live more sustainably at home... 

1. Change your energy provider

It maybe some thing that people have been banging on about for a fair amount of time but changing your energy provider is one quick fire way to make a difference. With working from home, there has never been a more important time to ensure that you're using renewable energy to power your activities.

2. Create a compost bin

Have a garden? Why not spend some time clearing a small space to create you're own compost bin, you will need some wood to make it but it will save you a fortune on compost and help you to add value to your waste. If you don't have a garden, making sure you spend time to separate out your food waste is still really important. You can even get a little indoor composter to create what you need indoors!

3. Plant some seeds 

Empty yogurt pots, and toilet rolls are the perfect starter pots for seedlings. If you're visiting the supermarket you can grab a pack of seeds that you really think you will eat. Even better, order some organic seeds and have them delivered through the post and you can support one of your local businesses in the process.

4. Grow new from your waste

If you don't fancy growing food from seeds, why not grow food from your food waste instead. This buzz feed guide to growing food scraps is a great place to start. Foods such as lettuce, spring onion, leeks and lemongrass are a great place to start, and if your feeling adventurous, you can even turn to mushrooms and avocados!

5. A wardrobe clear out

With one truck of clothes being burnt or sent to landfill every second we all have a responsibility to do more. So why not have a wardrobe clear out, photograph your unwanted garments and sell them to to people who do whilst earning a little bit of cash on sights like ebay or depop.

6. Empty the cupboards

As people go crazy bulk buying things they really don't need, why not go the other way. Go through your cupboards and finally pull out the cans that you never use and instead donate them to your local food bank. 

7. Mend your broken clothes

We can spend a whole load of time scrolling through online shopping websites but why not put the phone down and pick up a needle and thread instead. Add a button to that shirt which you've been meaning to do for months, sew up that small hole that gradually growing on your bottoms. A new lease of life and saved your bank account from the hit. Win win.

8. Educate yourself

Have you been wondering about some of the issues surrounding sustainability? Do you not understand why there is a fashion revolution? Why you should by organic? Why we need to include privilege in the conversation around sustainability? What are the real issues with plastic? If not, now is the perfect time to learn and be able to have those insightful conversations. I'm always happy to chat away on the topic should you need someone. There are also loads of fantastic free courses out their at the moment including edx

9. Make it yourself

Why not have a little you time, and create your own scrubs or cleaning products. You will be amazed at how easy it is, you pretty much just need essential oils, coconut oil and sugar for scrubs or vinegar, orange skins and essential oils for cleaning products. EASY!

10. Stay indoors

Yes, something we are all doing anyway will massively help. Less cars on the roads means fewer emissions and therefore better for the environment. The caveat to this though, be sure to put extra layers on/ grab a blanket if you get a little chilly instead of putting on the heating.

I hope what ever you're up to in this weird time, you find comfort in knowing we are all in this together!

Love
Erin

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Fancy a Challenge for the Planet this January?

With New Years just days away, I thought it would be only fitting to end 2018 with a challenge for us all during January, the challenge is Veganuary.

You see, Veganuary is a pledge to try and eat Vegan for a month. Now, before you say "not a chance", I love meat etc, I just want to throw this out there... You don't have to do the month, in fact you don't have to even try veganism. This challenge for me is about trying something new. So go veggie for a week, try being vegan for 1 day a week during the month, or just challenge your self to only eat meat once or twice a week.

Most of us are now aware of the effects that meat eating is having on the planet, from the CO2 production, to the animal welfare. It has now been calculated that  on average, one person going vegan will save 200 animals a year, that means, by taking on the Veganuary challenge, in just 1 month you'll have spared at least 17 animals lives. This may not sound like much, but with an estimated 300,000 already signed up to Veganuary that's over 5 million animals saved in just one month, which is pretty darn impressive. Turn that into CO2 levels and that's about 6 million tons of CO2 not being released into the atmosphere (in just ONE MONTH).

Apart from the planet and animal welfare, the industry also takes a significant toll on the people who work in the abattoirs and slaughter houses that supply us so readily with meat. For instance, have a read of the piece that opened my eyes here. It discusses the mental health issues of vulnerable people who work at slaughter houses, which is something that the majority of  us have probably never considered before.

And finally, there are all the health reasons, from reduced blood pressure, and cholesterol, to a fall in type 2 diabetes, going vegan has helped cure conditions such as  poly-cystic ovaries. Plus the fact that your veg and fruit intake naturally skyrockets, because well, that's all you can eat.

So I hope you're up to the challenge, whether that's for a week, a day or the full month. To help get you started and  provide some great vegan recipes, below are some delicious meals you can whip up, along with some accidental vegan food, and restaurants with a vegan menu if you want to eat out!

Vegan Lunches

     Grilled Corn and Nectarine Salad                                                                                             Vegetable Pepper and Potato Paella 

Madeleine Shaw

     Baked Sweet Potato with Pomegranate Tabbouleh                                                                 Turmeric, Ginger and Sweet Potato Soup

  Madeleine Shaw                                                                                                                                                                      Sheerluxe

     Healthy Noodle Soup                                                                                                  Pumpkin and Mushroom Soup

     Sheerluxe                                                                                                                                                                      Good to Know

Vegan Dinners

     Bang Bang Cauliflower with Sweet and Spicy Sauce                                                         Avocado & Coconut Noodles With Edamame Beans, Lime & Ginger

     Deliciously Ella                                                                                                                                                        Madeleine Shaw

Maple Roasted Kale and Green Bean Salad                                                                             Cinnamon Potato Tacos

Madeliene Shaw                                                                                                                                                                         Sheerluxe

Vegan Bacon                                                                                                           Sticky BBQ 'Ribs'

Deliciously Ella                                                                                                                                                                   Avant Garde

Cheesy Stuffed Squash                                                                                                     Creamy Mushroom & Herb Pasta

Avant Garde                                                                                                                                                                                        Deliciously Ella 

Kentucky Fried Chickn Burger                                                                               Chorizo Style Seitan Hot Dogs Caramelised Cider Onions

Avant Garde

Katsu Curry                                                                                                                        BBQ Shroom Bun

Avant Garde

Spagetti Bolognese                                                                                                                    The Tastiest Vegan Chilli

The Happy Foodie                                                                                                                                                                                                  Deliciously Ella

Vegan Snacks

Healthy Blondie Brownies                                             Chocolate Energy Balls

Madeleine Shaw 

Honey Almond Popcorn                                                                       Pan Fried Cinnamon Banana

Naturally Ella                                                                                                                                             Dizzy Busy and Hungry

Accidental Vegan Food

Sweets - Starbursts, skittles, love hearts, Lindt Chocolate over <70% dark
Crisps - walkers, hulahoops, kettle and tyrrells, Pringles
Biscuits - Bourbons, Party Rings, Oreos, Lotus, Chocolate Chip Hobnobs, Fox’s Dark Chocolate Chunkie Cookies

Restaurants with Vegan Menus

All Bar One, Le Pain Quotidien, Zizzi, Las Iguanas, Wagamama, Pret, Ask Italian, Handmade Burger Company, Carluccio’s, Yo! Sushi, Loungers, JD Wetherspoon, Bella Italia, Turtle Bay, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, La Tasca, Itsu, Toby Carvery

So there's your lot, from inspiration to easy options and places you can eat out if you choose to take on a little challenge this month. Whether you try a day, a week or a month as a Veggie/Vegan you will be doing your little bit to help reduce animal consumption and also help the environment as well.

I'd love to hear how you get on so please, drop me a message with your favourite recipes and experiences!

Love
E

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My Favourite Ethical and Sustainable Blogs For All Your Sustainability Needs

Over the past year, I have found myself looking at what others in the sustainability industry are talking about to decipher where the next sustainability movement will come from. From plastic straws and coffee cups to fast fashion, they have been discussed for far longer than what most people are aware of.

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What are the Most Sustainable High Street Brands?

There I was the other day, stood on Oxford Street wondering where an earth to go. I must have spun around 4 or 5 times trying to decide which shop to find some sustainable clothes and you know what? I came up with two shops, two shops which I knew were ethical/ had ethical ranges!

It got me thinking that we spend so much time on high streets but don't really know that much about the brand behind the name and it's quite a challenge to decipher who would come out on top in terms of sustainability. With so much information and initiatives out there it can be really hard to tell what is true and what is green washing to make us continue to buy and feel good.

Although the high street shops wouldn't be classed as sustainable brands there is quite a difference between them and so below is my rough list of the companies / collections with strong sustainability campaigns. Many of the brands would are what you would deem as fast fashion but they are doing a lot more than many others out their to improve the fabrics they use and the conditions people work in.

ASOS

Although not technically high street, with next day delievery (if it actually arrives on time) is nearly just as good. ASOS are up there in sustainability which always seems to surprise people. With their recent announcement to stop selling real silk, feathers and mohair by 2019 along with there HUGE quantity of sustainability initiatives they really are making waves to a sustainable future. Their Eco Edit section on their website also offers a easy guide for you to locate top quality products easily.

Weekday

What you may not know is weekday is owned by H&M but there strong sustainability commitment which is all about fair living wages, environmental performance and animal welfare means the correct things are being examined. Finally, their use of recycled and organic materials in their clothing means they are above many other brands.

H&M Conscious

H&M Conscious continues to grow every year. The brand continues to try and innovate within the sustainability circle in particular, being the largest purchaser of organic cotton. There new collections continue to try out new fabrics and with their bold commitment to only use sustainable or recycled materials by 2030, the company are stepping upto the challenge and help a sustainable future. With current collections using fabric made out of recycled fishing newts

Mango Committed

A personal sustainable favourite, Mango Committed Collection, is all about sustainable cotton. With the company aiming to have 50% of their cotton from sustainable sources.The initiative is part of  Take Action an initiative which is part of a long-term plan to create a business model based around more environmentally friendly processes and sustainability criteria.

Zara Join Life

As one of the giants, ZARA does have some issues with ensure an ethical supply chain but they are trying. Back in 2015 they launched their Join Life Collection (you may have noticed a different tag on some clothe showing less water usage etc), garments only earn the label if they meet a series of internal qualifications: the primary fabric must be Better Cotton Initiative approved cotton, organic or recycled cotton, recycled polyester or polyamide or modal. The garment must also be manufactured with a "green to wear" technology such as water recycling. The collection is at least a step in the right direction for the high street brand.

Bershka Join Life

Named the same as Zara by the owners of both brands, Retail giant Inditex, the principles are exactly the same as well. Clothing make with better cotton, recycled materials and renewable materials. Obviously the brand is still seen as fast fashion, but at least it is some improvement to the overall Although the brand is still classed as fast fashion and owned by a super giant, if you care about the environment then its a great easy option.

United Colours of Benetton

Benetton are up there in those high street brands trying to do better. They are one of the leaders for Greenpeace's Catwalk Detox program to reduce their impact by 2020. The company is also heavily monitoring their supply chain and logistics to reduce their CO2 production. The company are set on removing any dangerous chemicals from their products.

Addidas x Parley

Addidas has been working hard on their sustainability and their partnership with Parley is credit to this. The collaboration is all about raising awareness to ocean plastic and whilst using recycling fishing nets into trainers. With large future goals including the role out of their workers hotline and aiming to reduce water and electricity usage they are trying to move towards a more sustainable future.

Marks & Spencer

I've written about Marks & Spencers being a sustainable brand before (here's the link for more information). The company as a whole have a very strong sustainability plan called Plan A. 49% of their cotton, 99% of the wood materials and 27% of their leather are now from more sustainable source. Not only have they got good factories but also ensured set pay standards around the world meaning they are helping to shape the future as well.

My list may not be what you expect, I have chosen either brands or collections that are having a positive impact that I really believe in . Ethical Consumer have created a data base of high street shops using much stronger set of criteria if you want more information which is facilitating and can even take your preferences into account whether that be animals, the environment or people. The tool has certainly opened my eyes to high street brands I had never considered before such as Uniqlo and White Stuff. I cant wait to see high streets progress in sustainability and improve their collections to be better for the environment and their supply chain.

Love
Erin

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What is Slow Living?

We live in a world where many describe how they are as good but busy. Where we spend more time staring at screens than at nature and where we often connect online instead of in person. Instead of technology giving us more time to enjoy life, it has has lead to us working quicker, longer and harder because it is now possible to do so.

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Can You Do Good Whilst Going To The Toilet?

This post is a little different to my normal sustainable recommendations and information. Instead I want to talk a little about toilets, yes you read that correct!

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Sustainability made easy at BlueDot Festival

If you've been following me on Instagram, you may have seen that I recently attended BlueDot festival, a festival that's manages to combine science and music under a telescope to create something pretty special. It's a festival that many may be a little skeptical of. After all, if science isn't your thing then why would you go? The thing is, science is only a small part of what makes this festival, in fact without the food, the positive vibes and the huge variety of music available the festival would only be a little special.

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When Time Stands Still; A BlueDot Festival Experience

Have you ever had one of those experiences where time stood still? Where absolutely nothing in the world mattered apart from where you currently are because you are filled with pure happiness. That happened to me very recently.

You see, we had just had a fantastic day at BlueDot festival and were heading home. As we walked through the woods we could hear reggae music playing and found ourselves by the Roots Stage, a small performance space hidden in the woodlands. The music hummed in the air and the vibrations travelled through the ground up through your legs and into your body. It was a moment of magic, of people experiencing pure joy as they danced along in a setting that was out of a fairy tale (or out of space). The need to mix in with the people and dance was so strong and at the moment, time really did stand still. My smile made my face ache as I threw dance moves around like there was no care in the world. I felt so filled with adrenaline and excitement which was so inexplicable that I never wanted to leave.

Then the artist shouted one small quote over and over again in English, the rest of him performance had been in French but he said "remember to give flowers to people when they can still smell them". It got me thinking as I danced away about how festivals have a way of bringing people together. How the experiences that we all share are truly magical and how sometimes pure joy can happen through the smallest of situations.

There is so much to write about Blue Dot, but I couldn't help share a snippet of joy. Only BlueDot could have allowed to happen, the setting, the knowledge sharing, being immersed in nature and seeing fire displays whilst listening to music that makes you want to move all came together to allow experiences that I hope to remember for a long time, and what certainly will lead me to stay over so I could dance the night away under the telescope in the years to come.

Love
Erin



My Bluedot tickets were complimentary but my continued obsession with sustainability and facination with incredible experiences are 100% my own.

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World Environment Day; Why We Should All Care

I spend a lot of my time thinking about our planet, wondering what we can do to help it and how our small decisions have an impact on the world around us. You see, I have always believed that just because my actions may be small doesnt mean they don't matter. I hear many people say 'well, it's not like I can make a difference' but you see you can. We all can.

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How Can We Help Reduce Water and Ocean Pollution In Our Day to Day Lives?

Water must be the one item that the majority of us take for granted. Remember when you used to be asked what three items you would bring to a desert island when you were younger? Well, I don't really ever recall water being chosen as one of those three things.

 The majority of us don't bat an eyelid when we are thirsty because we can just turn on the tap. The reality of it though, is that water is the foundation of everything we do and need to live. This World Water Day had me thinking long and hard about our impact on the world and our water supply and how our actions mean more than we think. So here are some everyday things we can all do to not just help ensure water is available for everyone, but to also allow our water to remain as clean as possible.

Clothing

 You may have heard the word micro-plastics floating around a lot recently. It's a scary prospect that the majority of bottled water has microplastics. These microplastics can come from many sources from plastic breaking down in the ocean to our clothes. Our clothes are where we can have the highest impact in reducing how many microplastics we release in the water. So what can you do? Well, we aware of how many synthetic fabrics you're buying. When possible try to keep to natural products like 100% cotton. If you own synthetic products such as sports leggings and swimwear which most of us do, firstly reduce how often you need to wash these items, secondly, wash them at a colder wash and thirdly ensure that your washing machine is full. Will more items in the wash, this reduces friction and therefor reduces the shedding of the unwanted particles. Last but by no means least, if you wash with laundry powder, switch to laundry fabric. The powder can have a scrubbing effect which loosens the fibres and thus releases microplastics. Should you want to go further, there are now bags where you can place your synthetic garments in the wash so that the microplastics are caught such as the guppyfriend which you can also check out should you wish.

Glitter

I'm a big glitter fan which is why I have included it on the list because in reality, glitter is very harmful for the environment. Why? Well, most of us when wash glitter straight down the sink with water or in the shower and so, an already small piece of plastic enters the water system and then continues to be broken down which can prevent it from being filtered out. The glitter issue has become something I am very aware of and there are so many fantastic alternatives available now instead, such as glitter made from eucalyptus trees and other biodegradable brands. So this summer when you're getting ready for festivals, I hope you can hear my nagging voice telling you to get something which doesn't have a detrimental impact on our water and ocean life.

Tea and Coffee

As a nation of tea lovers and fast living, tea bags and disposable coffee cups are an every day occurrence. Tea bag however have plastic infused fibres in the bags themselves and coffee cups are lined with a polyethylene which just as in teabags, breaks down into tiny pieces which disposed of. What can you do, well there are now some tea brands that don't use plastic in their bags, or you can opt for loose tea leave which is an easy and guaranteed alternative. For coffee cups its simple, start carrying your own or choose to have your drink actually in the cafe instead of as a takeaway, meaning you also take a 5 minute brain break as well.

Organic

Last but by no means least is about shopping organic. Whether this is in your food or your clothes, organic simply means that no pesticides and herbicides where used to treat the item before hand. This means that these items haven't contributed to chemical run offs which effect water ways, soil but also human health if you live in an area where high levels are used (there are cases of whole villages in India who grow cotton, having highly disabled children due to the chemical run of used on the cotton and land). 

As consumers, we have to take responsibility of our own actions to help keep our oceans and water systems as clean as possible. We don't yet know the true extent of the damage caused by our actions but if microplastics are anything to go by, we need to all help in what ever way we can to reduce our impact.

If you'd like to find out more information about the plastic problem, SloActive have written a fantastic guide here that I'd recommend having a scan of. 

Love

Erin

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