A “Renewable” Resource: addressing the myth of endless water

Becky WadsworthLeave a comment

An image of a glass bottle with water in, and a small watering can, on a white background.

Jumping over waves, hiding from rain-storms, dips in the pool, cups of freshly-brewed tea. It’s impossible to imagine a world without water (and I apologise if you are now desperate for the toilet!). However, it is equally easy to overlook the fact that, while 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with it, only around 1 tablespoon in every 100 litres is freshwater¹, suitable for human consumption. But that’s irrelevant, right? No matter how much we use, we are able to indefinitely filter and recycle it! Unfortunately, this assumption is problematic due to the environmental, financial and social implications of extraction and processing methods, which I am going to refer to as “the human water-cycle”.

The rise of “premium” water and its social impact

In our profit-oriented society, it is hardly surprising that water has become another money-making scheme- with a recommended daily water intake of 2 litres, it is the perfect product. Despite many criticising this tactic as being ethically corrupt- notedly, confectionary giant Nestlé has been attacked for packaging water in areas of North America acutely affected by drought, only to transport it away²- but it has potentially dangerous implications. In 2016, the sale of bottled water in America topped that of fizzy drinks, following dramatic increases in the years preceding: a rise attributed to growing health and safety concerns about tap water³. Despite the perception of bottled water as providing a “safer” alternative, its manufacturers are not obligated to publish frequent test results and data, unlike suppliers of mainline tap water, for whom this is a legal requirement. Furthermore, the obsession with “convenient”, pre-packaged water comes with the added problem of plastic waste, which contributes to landfill, and (ironically) pollutes waterways; never truly breaking down organically, but instead littering the earth with pieces of microscopic plastic.

An image of the Nestlé logo.
Leading supplier of bottled water, Nestlé, has been accused of putting profits above ethics ^

Destruction of ecosystems and carbon emissions

Through viewing water as a limitless commodity, as opposed to a fragile natural resource, we not only risk the incorrect disposal of plastic, however. The extraction of freshwater from rivers and lakes to feed our taps, and the creation of artificial reservoirs, can physically deprive organisms of habitats and break down food chains, as well as disrupting natural drainage systems*. In other words, the human water-cycle directly impacts and interferes with the natural one, and the more water we consume, the more frequently these processes will occur in order to meet demands. In addition to their direct ecological consequences, these techniques also call for machinery that is both expensive to maintain, and requires huge levels of energy (usually non-renewable). The EPA estimates that, in the USA alone, the treatment of household water annually produces 45 million tonnes of greenhouse gases (to put this in perspective, this is roughly the same as 1 million cars)!⁴

So what can you do to help?

Much like most other materials, the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle custom is equally relevant in our approach to minimising the implications of the water “industry” (the “recycle” in this case representing sending water to be treated). The ultimate goal is therefore to use the smallest volume of water necessary for sustaining ourselves, our homes and our environments (just to clarify, I am not suggesting you dehydrate yourselves!). Like every ecological journey, water reduction does not have to be immediate or stress-inducing, but can be achieved by gradually introducing a number of small, easy changes to your daily lives:

The Tap

The average running faucet wastes more than 6 litres of water per minute⁵, so anything you can do to reduce “running times” is going to make a huge difference to both your water bills and the environment! Here are a just a few ways you can implement this:

  • Use a plug or bowl when washing up, rather than letting the tap run over your dishes and down the drain (even if you are only cleaning a few things, it is almost always more efficient, as you only require a few inches of water!). This can then be reused for other household/garden needs, such as watering plants!
  • Turn the tap off while cleaning your teeth.
  • Instead of waiting for the tap to “run cold” for drinking purposes, consider keeping a jug of tap water in the fridge for on-demand hydration sans-waste!
  • When cooking, try to use lids as much as possible, to conserve water, and thus prevent the need for adding more!

Hygiene

In the summer I was lucky enough to experience life at an eco-campsite, whose unique “bucket showers” provided me with a fresh insight (especially as they were open to the air!) into water waste**. Despite initially getting caught out with half-rinsed hair, the 13-litre (one bucket) limit ultimately resulted in the development of some great shower-efficiency tips:

  • Don’t indefinitely wait for the shower to “heat up”- most modern showers take much under a minute to reach temperature, so waiting for any longer is going to send clean, hot water down the drain (literally!)
  • Lower the flow: when showering, much of the water does not actually hit our bodies, so reducing the speed will not diminish any shower-oriented enjoyment/efficiency (alternatively, aerated shower heads, which optimise pressure with minimal water by mixing it with air, are now widely and affordably available!)
  • Take “lathering” breaks: how many of us have stepped out of the shower-head’s path when applying shampoo? Simply turning the flow off for these periods could save huge volumes of water!
  • If you do not have a shower available, and instead use baths, consider reducing their depth, and reusing the water after (much like with washing-up water)!

Appliances

  • Many household gadgets, such as dishwashers and washing machines, have “economy” settings, which use less water and energy to function. So unless the items you’re placing in there are utterly filthy, these will do the trick wonderfully!
  • Don’t under-fill! Rather than a few items a few times a week, try laundering a lot of items once a week, as most cycles use the same volume of water, regardless of load size!
A picture of the 'Veganuary' logo.
‘Veganuary’ is an initiative aiming to encourage plant-based diets ^

Consider reducing meat/dairy consumption!

According to John Vidal from The Guardian newspaper, “it takes 1,790 litres of water to grow 1kg of wheat compared with 9,680 litres of water for 1kg of beef”⁶. Logically, this makes sense, as, while for a vegan diet, water is solely used for plant growth, in the animal agriculture industry, not only do livestock require drinking water, but the crops with which they are fed (whether this be grass or corn or general animal feed) need water to grow too. Despite modern Western society consuming meat for almost every meal, this dietary convention far surpasses the levels of protein and other macronutrients we require to lead a healthy lifestyle. If you are concerned about your water-waste, therefore, methods such as implementing “meat-free days” could have a huge impact (and save you money)! For some inspiration, why not have a gander at the Veganuary recipe-finder!

I sincerely hope this post has helped to both inform you about the real dangers of excessive water consumption, as well as providing you with achievable advice for reducing your “water footprint” in your everyday lives! And if you’re still not convinced, just think of how much money you could have to spare through lowering your water bills and omitting bottled water from your diet!

If you have any further questions regarding the issues discussed, please feel free to leave a comment below, or contact me at naturallybeckyblog@gmail.com!

Thank you so much for reading and have a lovely day <3

Becky x

 

*This is not limited to water consumption, however: the extensive use of artificial pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers in agriculture contributes to this environmental problem (it is very difficult to prevent them passing into waterways) and also develops the need for additional post-extraction water treatment.

**If you would like to find out more about this experience, feel free to visit my eco-camping post!

¹ Waterwise website <http://www.waterwise.org.uk/pages/why-we-need-to-save-water.html> [last accessed 23/01/2018]

²<https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2014/07/12/nestle-arrowhead-tapping-water/12589267/< [last accessed 23/01/2018]

³Business Insider website <http://uk.businessinsider.com/americans-drink-more-bottled-water-than-soda-2017-3?r=US&IR=T> [last accessed 23/01/2018]

⁴United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website <https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/energy-efficiency-water-utilities>, <https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle> [last accessed 23/01/2018]

⁵Waterwise website <http://www.waterwise.org.uk/pages/faqs.html> [last accessed 24/01/2018]

⁶The Guardian online <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2004/aug/23/water.famine> [last accessed 24/01/2018]

Sustainable eye-correction

Becky WadsworthLeave a comment

As someone who has required visual aids for most of their life, I have gone through quite a few different sight-related products over the years, including multiple pairs of glasses and copious contact lenses, pretty much all of which are made with non-biodegradable materials. For me, not only is sight impairment inconvenient in terms of its everyday effect (for one, I can’t become a pilot?!), and the money and time spent having check-ups or shopping for the right products, but it is also an additional ecological worry. Despite estimates stating that eye-corrective waste only makes up 0.5% of total personal refuse¹, when 6 in 10 people need glasses², this all adds up, and it never hurts to make a few adjustments in order to even slightly reduce your waste! For this reason, I have formulated a few simple tips to encourage a more waste-free sight experience:

Glasses

In spite of the name, the lenses of modern glasses, along with some of their frames, are actually composed of various different types of plastic, which cannot be easily re-purposed. Additionally, because of the degenerative nature of vision, prescriptions often need to be adjusted routinely, meaning that glasses need to be replaced fairly frequently. Needing new glasses does not mean that you need to send your old ones to landfill, however! There are various options for avoiding this fate:

Recycling your glasses

Estimates (and common sense) indicate that just as many people suffer from sight impairments in impoverished areas than in more privileged countries, but very few people in these places actually have access to eye-care. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, on average only 1 optometrist is available for every 8 million people³, and even then the service is just too expensive for many. Considering the disposable approach to glasses in our country, it is the least we can do to offer our old ones up for those less fortunate.

A picture of the Vision Aid Overseas logo.
Click here for more information about the VAO glasses recycling scheme ^

Charities like Vision Aid Overseas offer fantastic services that allow you to recycle glasses you no longer need, and send them to regions requiring vision-aids. They often collaborate with opticians too, leaving you only with the task of dropping them in a donation box, in order to make a huge difference to both the environment and the lives of vulnerable people!

‘Slow-fashion’ glasses

I have come across quite a few people that have multiple pairs of glasses purely to wear with different coloured outfits, or that buy new ones because their old ones are ‘out of fashion’, or they are simply ‘tired’ of them. Although this is a great way to demonstrate that your impairment can be a positive fashion choice (which has become evident with the rise of non-prescription glasses), as opposed to a restrictive burden, these habits mean far more pairs of glasses end up in landfill than is necessary. An easy way of combating this issue is purely to find a style that is fairly neutral, for example black or brown frames (which can still be absolutely gorgeous!), so you’re much less likely to require more than one pair, or frequent replacements!

A picture of my pair of glasses, with a slim tortoise-shell frame.
Here is my current pair of glasses! I purposefully chose a subtle and malleable style that could be worn with any outfit ^

Reusable cleaning cloths

When stocking up your handbag, disposable lens wipes may seem like an excellent idea, due to their convenience, and I have definitely fallen into this trap before. However, often the packaging used is not recyclable, and the wipes themselves are frequently covered with a layer of chemicals in order to disinfect and dissolve oils, which means that they could become potentially dangerous if placed in landfill. A quick-fix for this problem is purely investing in a reusable cloth instead. These can be carried around with you everywhere too, and will undoubtedly save you money in the long-run, especially as many opticians offer them for free with new glasses. You could even create one yourself out of an old t-shirt as a little upcycling project!

Contact lenses

For many people, especially those that lead quite active lifestyles, contact lenses can be a much more viable option for sight-correction than glasses, as there is little to no risk of them falling out, and they do not alter the appearance in the way that glasses do. Having said this, as they cannot be kept for years like a pair of glasses, they can potentially pose an additional threat to the environment, due to the contacts themselves, along with their packaging, being non-recyclable. But never fear: there are always methods of reducing this impact!

‘Monthlies’

A picture of a contact lens balanced on my finger.
Contact lenses prove a convenient and flattering alternative to glasses ^

When I first started wearing contact lenses a few years ago, it seemed sensible to opt into ‘dailies’, as this way there was no risk of contamination, and if I lost a lens down the sink it wouldn’t matter too much. At this point, however, my parents were paying! When I became a student last year, I realised just how much cheaper ‘monthly’ contact lenses can be: it now costs me the same for 3 months’ lenses than it did for 1 month’s worth before! Cleaning them is really not too much of a task either, and only takes around 1 minute each evening. This has been a fantastic revelation for me, as, on top of more money in my pocket (which, as a student, is never a problem!), I am no longer generating a fresh batch of ‘eye waste’ everyday, but instead only once a month! This means that 1 years’ monthly lenses results in throwing away 696 less contact lens containers and 348 less pairs of contact lenses than a year’s worth of dailies (24 containers and 12 pairs as opposed to 720 containers and 360 pairs)! Although swapping your contact lens habits may seem like an insignificant change day-to-day, the accumulative waste-save is actually pretty substantial!

One problem with monthly lenses, however, is the requirement of cleaning solution, which can be difficult to purchase without plastic packaging. This brings me to my next tip:

Buy in-store, not online

Despite online stores offering a more convenient mode of purchase for your contact lenses, they can often come with drawbacks. Many of them enforce a delivery charge, and all of them require packaging. When I used to buy contact lenses online, the company, despite sending them in a recyclable cardboard box, would include a packet of sweets (in a plastic wrapper), as well as a ‘disposable’ lens pot (also wrapped in plastic), with each purchase. Although I am grateful that these additions likely came from a kind place, I was always left with unnecessary waste I hadn’t asked for. When I emailed the company encouraging them to reconsider their wastefulness,  and suggesting they make these extras optional instead of default, they simply replied it was for convenience and ‘hygiene’ (despite the fact that thoroughly cleaning out contact lens pots is perfectly doable)! Although I respect that this is for the health and safety of the customers, I couldn’t help but feel slightly frustrated.

For reasons such as this, I feel that visiting an in-store optician is a much more ecologically-suitable option, as you can directly ask them for as little packaging as possible (which is usually just a few recyclable boxes). Furthermore, buying in-store for monthly lenses is a way to ensure that your lens-cleaning solution comes in a recyclable bottle too!

Laser eye-surgery

This ‘tip’ is kind of a no-brainer in the sense that it completely corrects your eyes, and diminishes any need for wasteful eye-care practices. This said, as much as I would love to wake up everyday with 20/20 vision, the £1000+ price tag is just slightly out of my student budget (and I definitely value my slightly sub-par eyesight above the tiny risk of being blinded by lasers…)!

I hope that these tips have provided any of you reading with some ideas as to how to remain ecologically aware despite your eyes, or ways to encourage friends that you know are struggling with this dilemma! Always remember that you don’t need to be obsessive to be an eco-warrior, a small change will make so much more of a difference than no change at all!

Thanks for reading 🙂

Becky x

[1] PubMed official website: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16303496 [last accessed 22/10/2017 at 11:51]

[2] Global Eyesight Now official website: http://www.globaleyesightnow.org/the-problem/ [last accessed 22/10/2017 at 11:53]

[3] see above

Back to nature: eco-camping

Becky Wadsworth3 Comments

In our increasingly technological culture, it has become easy for many of us to spend entire days indoors, trapped in a virtual bubble of Netflix and blogging (despite my attempts to appear connected by sitting outside at cafés), and become isolated from more natural settings. As a result, it is common to subconsciously disassociate our actions from their ecological impacts: often we don’t consider just how much our daily routines can harm the planet. In an attempt to regain a sense of natural harmony, this summer a couple of friends and I decided to ditch our WiFi, power-showers and other middle-class comforts, and try adopting a simpler and more organic style of life, through booking into an eco-campsite! We found this a really incredible way to experiment with a different outlook, and I hope our experience will be helpful to anyone reading!

How did it differ from a regular camp-site?

Many of us have experienced less-than-decent campsite facilities, but the facilities at this location were intentionally basic, built specifically to encourage a more earth-friendly approach:

Bucket showers

A diagram of how the bucket showers worked. A bucket is filled at the tap, and then emptied into the bucket attached to a shower head, which is then hoisted above your head. The shower head flow could be adjusted to lengthen the shower.
The bucket showers were surprisingly simple to use ^

A while back I was horrified to discover that the average 8-minute shower uses a whopping 62 litres of water. This means, assuming that you shower everyday, you could be consuming the equivalent of nearly 2000 cups of water per week, just by showering. This water is then washed down the drain to water treatment plants (to filter out our hair and skin, and the chemicals from our shampoos and soaps), which are not only costly for the government, but also extremely risky for the environment. Chemicals such as fluorine and chlorine are usually added as disinfectants, which, if leaked into rivers or fields, could be catastrophic for both animal and plant life.

‘Bucket showers’ are designed to prevent the over-consumption of water through making people more aware and in control of the amount of water they’re using. They are amazingly easy to use in just a few steps (see illustrated above):

1. Fill

The process begins with filling up a regular-sized bucket (about 13 litres) with hot water from a tap (the water came from a water-tank located on the site, as opposed to being linked to the mains system). The water is poured into the ‘shower bucket’, to which a shower head with a lever (for controlling water flow) is attached.

2. Elevate

The shower bucket is then elevated through pulling down the rope and attaching it to the floor.

3. Shower

The lever attached to the shower head can then be used to turn the shower on and off, or adjust the flow: we discovered that the best way was to only turn the shower half-way on, so the water lasted longer. The campsite also provided biodegradable shampoo and shower gel, to ensure that the water was suitable for being absorbed into the surrounding soil! A good hack to make the water last longer was to turn off the shower head whilst lathering up shampoo, which is something that can easily be transferred to normal showering!

As well as offering a brilliant alternative to more wasteful modern showers, probably my favourite thing about the design was the fact that it was open to the sky, offering a beautiful scenic view and reminding me of my closeness to nature!

Compost toilets

A slightly less glamorous alternative, compost toilets are designed to completely eliminate water usage when ‘relieving yourself’, and instead rely on the natural process of decomposition to provide extremely fertile compost for gardening purposes! Not only are you saving water, but also contributing to the cycle of life: what more could you want from going to the toilet? The system only requires two steps:

1. Do your stuff (for ‘heavier loads’, add a handful of sawdust to help neutralise odours)

2. Wash your hands

Although this organic toileting does sound like it would come with unwanted additions, such as flies and nasty smells, I was pleasantly surprised with how clean and mild-smelling it was! However, I must admit that the idea of solely using this system would take me a while to get used to, and mostly I did opt to use the regular flushing toilets (sorry)!

Sharing leftovers

The campsite did not have any landfill bins on-site, meaning that any waste that could not be disposed of using their facilities had to be taken with you. Although I was pessimistic about this idea to begin with as I expected some people to be inconsiderate when it came to clearing up their plots, everyone appeared to be really supportive and respectful of this idea, which was amazing to see! The campsite suggested the following alternatives:

Recycling

Anything recyclable (including, tins, plastic tubs, cardboard and paper) could be desposited in a basket provided, which was then sent to a local recycling centre.

Leftovers hamper

The site encouraged visitors to deposit any unopened food items (or opened, untouched ones) into a cool-box, ready for any hungry fellow campers to tuck into in the case of a snacking emergency! This was by far one of my favourite aspects of the experience, as it demonstrated an element of community that is often missing from our society!

Forest protection policy

Although slightly inconvenient at times, due to their ‘no firewood from the forest’ rule, the natural fauna remained a wonderful habitat for any wild animals in the area, allowing all species to live in harmony, instead of in conflict! This said, we may have nabbed a wild blackberry or two for our porridge!

Despite our stay at the campsite being a relatively short one, it has definitely left me with skills and ideas that I can transfer into my everyday routine in order to contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle! I would absolutely recommend giving somewhere like this a try to see if any of these customs appeal to you!

Peace and happiness,

Becky x

*If the idea of the leftover hamper struck your fancy, you might be interested in checking out ‘freeganism’, a radical movement that encourages the idea of free living, a concept I personally find fascinating! Many ‘freegans’ approach supermarkets for their ‘out of date’ stock that can no longer be sold, visit cafés just as they close for free cake, or even ‘dumpster diving’! For more information, why not check out this video on the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZoUleklIx4 🙂

Break the taboo; save the planet. Period.

Becky WadsworthLeave a comment

*disclaimer* this post is overwhelmingly aimed at females, and does contain references some may find uncomfortable to read!

‘That time of the month’; ‘Mother Nature’; ‘surfing the crimson wave’: these are just a few of the many euphemistic names given to the natural shedding of the womb’s lining every 30 days, something nearly half of the world’s population will experience throughout their adult life. The typical fertile woman uses around 11,000 disposable tampons or sanitary pads in her lifetime¹, which can become extremely expensive, especially due to controversial ‘tampon taxes’ (in the UK, women are charged 5% VAT on these items). But even more pertinently, an overwhelming majority of these, and their packaging, are made from plastic that cannot be recycled or composted. This consequently means they end up piled into general landfill, taking hundreds of years to decompose, despite being useful for only a matter of hours!

So why do so many women still opt for these unsustainable products? The Guardian columnist Rosie Spinks argues that this lies in the advertising techniques of multinational feminine hygiene companies such as Always and Tampax, which appear to value profit margins over environmental suitability². These corporations wish to encourage women to purchase the maximum number of their products, by whatever means possible. This is achieved through numerous techniques, for example by reinforcing ‘personal hygiene’ or by introducing unique and ‘discreet’ products, which have resulted in these specific brands being the most widely advertised and available (they are sold in virtually every general store).

Furthermore, the social stigma surrounding menstruation is undoubtedly a contributing factor, with many women being embarrassed, or even fearful, of talking publicly about it. This could mean that companies can get away with using potentially harmful chemicals or materials in their products, without complaint. ‘Toxic Shock Syndrome’, or TSS, is a bacterial infection associated with wearing tampons: due to the blockage of the vagina, they prevent the body’s natural bacteria from escaping. This can mean it becomes harboured to a poisonous level, which can be fatal. Although extremely rare, from my point of view the fact that this is a possible result of wearing a tampon is absolutely terrifying, and has always put me off them. Many women accept these risks, along with the negative environmental impacts, however, as they do not feel comfortable exploring options that deviate from ‘the norm’, either due to worries about how they might be perceived should someone find out, or purely because they don’t know where to find them.

But I bear good news! If you are someone who is reconsidering the environmental impact of your period, you have come to the right place! I have compiled a list of widely available and comfortable alternatives, which will definitely save money in the long term!

Period underwear

^ Click here to see their full range of panties!

I was introduced to this by a friend of mine about a year ago, who said that they completely changed her life and the approach she has to her monthly ‘problem’. A number of companies are arising that offer supplement-free periodware, which can be extremely liberating for women who don’t want to feel restricted or altered by their period, instead of items to use in addition to regular underwear. An example is Thinx, who have garments for very light, light, medium and heavy flows, from thongs to sports pants, to boyshorts. Unlike tampons/pads, this underwear does not need to be replaced several times a day, but instead can be worn like normal panties, and are much more comfortable! On top of this, they are incredibly easy to clean: simply rinse with cold water after use, then wash with the rest of your clothes, (stain-free!) and hang out to dry! They can be used again and again in this way, so you will only need to buy enough pants for the days of your period (less if you do frequent laundry)! Although the pants are made with mixed materials, some of which are not biodegradable, such as PUL, cotton and nylon, due to their reusable quality, they are much less wasteful than disposable pads!

One problem with these pants is that they are quite pricey: between £19 and £30 per pair, which could amount to a substantial sum! Although they will undoubtedly become value for money compared to disposable products eventually, due to the ability to use them again, spending this much in one go can be quite daunting! For this reason, I have opted for other substitutes!

Menstrual cups

An image of the Diva Cup packaging

Similar to period pants, these products do not inhibit natural period flow, but instead collect it, making for a more organic and liberating period. These are, however, more like tampons than pads, as they require insertion into the vagina, which some may find uncomfortable or messy. These are available in many pharmacy-style stores, however I purchased my ‘Diva Cup’ from Superdrug, for £22, which I thought was an excellent price for something that can be used for an entire period, over and over! [*edit* when I received my DivaCup I was disappointed about how much plastic packaging was used, however I have since been made aware of the OrganiCup, which uses recycled and recyclable packaging instead, which is amazing]! Due to my issues with tampons, I was reluctant to try one out, however, following my first attempt, I was pleasantly surprised! After my initial few tries, I found it super easy to insert and remove, and I couldn’t feel it inside me during uses. The company offers two sizes, ‘Size 1’ (for young women or those who have not given birth) and ‘Size 2’ (for older women and mothers), in order to ensure optimum fit, which is supplemented by a ‘lip seal’, intended to prevent leakage.

These cups are made from medical-grade silicone, a material notoriously safe and allergen free, and easy to clean. To clean, wash with a fragrance-free liquid soap, or rinse out and leave in boiling water for 5-10minutes, and allow to air-dry. The cup comes with very specific and easy-to-follow instructions, complete with diagrams, for an easy application, and an adorable pouch for storing and transporting your cup hygienically and discreetly! I will definitely be using this product for many periods to come!

Reusable sanitary towels

Prior to my menstrual cup trial, I decided to give reusable sanitary towels a go! These look much like disposable pads, but are made with durable PUL (for waterproofing), micro-fibre and micro-fleecing, and bear poppers, as opposed to sticky strips, to secure to underwear. Like period pants, these are not made from biodegradable matter, but can be used indefinitely. I purchased mine from Earthwise Girls (click here for their website), a brilliant online company offering a variety of reusable periodware to suit many different needs! I bought 3 (1 small, 2 medium) of their ‘Buy 3, Give 1’ bundles, which allow you to donate a pad to Kenya, through the Nasio Trust: a really amazing initiative due to the unavailability of affordable sanitary ware in these regions, which can cause shame and embarrassment in many girls and women. These cost £12 and £13.50 respectively (I find the number I bought are completely sufficient for a whole period), which made for a total of £39, again a brilliant price! Like the period pants, these simply need to be rinsed before washing with a regular laundry cycle; if you wish, you can stain-treat them before washing using lemon juice, to prevent discolouring.

^See above examples of medium-sized Earthwise Girls reusable sanitary towels

Another massive plus about this company is that they use minimal packaging for their orders, using only biodegradable and recyclable materials (paper and twine). Despite the amazing work this organisation is undoubtedly doing, however, I do find the ‘small’ pads slightly inconvenient due to their tendency to slip, encouraging leakage. The medium pads are therefore a lot more suitable for everyday use, however, since discovering the wonders of the menstrual cup, I tend to use these for my lighter days towards the end of my cycle.

I know that periods can be extremely challenging times, and you may not feel up to changing your ways, especially through the cramps and aches, however I would really recommend trying even just one of these products: think of all the waste (and money) you could save! I hope that my suggestions will help not only to improve your periods, but also encourage the open and shame-free discussion they deserve!

Good luck and thanks for reading!

Becky x

[1] ‘Disposable tampons aren’t sustainable, but do women want to talk about it?’, Rosie Spinks: The Guardian official website <https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/apr/27/disposable-tampons-arent-sustainable-but-do-women-want-to-talk-about-it> [last accessed 16/08/2017 at 17:20]

[2] (see above)

Nature’s scent: safer fragrances

Becky WadsworthLeave a comment

 

An image of a bumblebee pollinating a lavender plant.

Whether it’s to help us relax in the bath after a stressful day, or merely to refresh a musty room, scented candles are extremely popular in middle-class life. They are widely and cheaply available in most homeware stores, for example Wilkinson’s and IKEA have huge ranges of amazing fragrances to suit everyone’s needs. However, what seem to be entirely innocent and harmless products can actually be damaging to both our health and the environment, due to the ingredients they contain. I was shocked to discover recently that most candles (particularly those with added perfumes) use paraffin wax, a derivative of petroleum gas, as a base. When burnt, this crude oil product releases harmful toxins similar to those found in diesel fumes, filling the air (and our lungs) with carcinogenic chemicals. Depressing, right?

But don’t worry, if you are concerned by this, your scented candle days needn’t be over yet! Luckily for you, there are a number of natural, healthy and ethical alternatives which can be just as lovely and refreshing, and no more expensive! Here are just a few great examples:

Soy candles

As many of you probably know, soya beans are one of the most common components in meat-substitute foods, allowing vegans and vegetarians to follow more wholesome diets. However, we don’t just have delicious tofu to thank them for: they are also super useful in the production of sustainable candles. Due to their plant-based nature, they burn more cleanly than crude oil, and do not require testing on animals, making them both eco and vegan friendly! Whilst researching them, I came across a brilliant independent company that also offers recycling schemes for a more renewable candle experience!

Sevenoaks Candle Company

An image of a Sevenoaks Candle Company business card.
Click here to check out their fab ranges! ^

This modest company, based in Sevenoaks, Kent, produces 100% home-made soy candles, and only uses natural oils for their yummy scents, making them a fantastic alternative! They offer a whopping 23 fragrances, including English Rose, Coconut Cream and Gingerbread, so you are bound to find something for you! Furthermore, they are surprisingly affordable: their traditional jar candles (shown on the business card below) weigh in at £4, £6.50 and £8.50 for S, M and L, and they also produce smaller ‘votive’ candles, for £2 each. Their recycling initiatives discourage waste too:

  • Container candle jar recycling: their original candles come melted into a glass jar with a lid, however, due to the plant-based origins of soya, they can be easily cleaned out after use with warm soapy water. The company then encourages customers to freely send them back to the warehouse for a discount on their next purchase (a £4 candle, for example, would go down to £2.75)! They go on to reuse these jars for future purchases, so following their renewable trend!
  • Votive candles sans jar: their smaller votive candles, which are available in all of the same fragrances, can be purchased with or without jars. This means that, once you purchase one, you can refill the jar again and again for a discounted price, but arguably more satisfaction!

Here are the votive candles I purchased from the company, in Peppermint Cream and English Rose ^

This company is a brilliant example of an easy way to change up your regular habits in a way that benefits the world: swap to soy candles for cleaner air and a cleaner conscience! The only issue I found with them is that they do use a significant volume of packaging when sending these, including bubble-wrap and foam shapes: materials which are not currently recyclable or compostable. Although, due to the fragility of their products, packaging is needed to prevent them breaking, they could possibly try to find more eco-friendly alternatives. Furthermore, they could find a more carbon-neutral way for customers to return their jars, that does not involve driving heavy delivery trucks.

Beeswax candles

Despite perhaps being more controversial than soy due to the dubious ethics of depriving bees of their own produce (in the wild, bees use honeycomb, which the wax is made from, to build the inside of their hives), beeswax candles are also a natural and cleaner alternative to paraffin wax. Like soya beans, beeswax is also a sustainable resource that helps the planet, as all bees that pollinate produce wax, and pollination is required for plants to grow effectively. If you are worried about the ethics behind it, perhaps opt for small local producers as opposed to large commercial ones, as these will definitely treat their bees more compassionately. My next door neighbour, for example, keeps a small hive of bees and produces wax candles by hand, which I feel much better about purchasing.

Home-made reed diffusers

If you are one for experimentation, you might enjoy finding the time to attempt your own natural reed diffuser! These are potentially more beneficial to the environment, as they don’t require combustion of any kind, and the sticks used can be easily composted due to the 100% natural ingredients used. They are made using bases like vodka, and adding natural scented oils, like rose oil. Learn more about this exciting idea here!

Natural body perfumes

An image of the Pacifica logo, stating it is 100% vegan and 100% cruelty free.

With the rising popularity of eco-consciousness and veganism, a number of natural beauty companies are emerging: a notable one being American brand Pacifica (click logo above for more information). Contrasting to many chemical-heavy fragrances on the market, their products are all 100% natural and vegan, and are available in many health food stores in the UK, for example Holland & Barrett. They sell a number of amazing items in lovely scents, including:

  • Spray-on perfumes
  • Roll-on perfume sticks
  • Solid perfumes

Alternatively, ethical beauty company LUSH, an incredible organisation with many fantastic green initiatives, offers a selection of fragrances too, some of which are available with zero packaging! If this is appealing to you, please check out my LUSH blog post here!

I hope that you have really enjoyed reading this article, and some of the ideas discussed have piqued your interest! If you know of any other alternatives I have not included, don’t hesitate to leave a comment!

Peace and happiness (and guilt-free smelling),

Becky x

Eco-literature: sustainable book-loving

Becky WadsworthLeave a comment

As an English literature student, books form a significant part of my life. A good book can stir up countless strong emotions- sometimes bringing me to tears of laughter or anguish- and help me to understand and empathise with others. However, this passion of mine conflicts heavily with my environmental consciousness, due to the large volumes (teehee) of paper involved. 

Although paper is technically a renewable resource due to its tree-based origins, many of the companies currently producing it do so unsustainably, and without concern for their ecological impact, for example through failing to replenish harvested woodland. Much of this paper goes on to be used in printing and book-making processes, meaning many of the new books we buy are damaging our valuable forests and the ecosystems these accommodate. On top of this, according to a study by the CODEP, up to 13 million books go to landfill every year in the UK¹, which is a worryingly high statistic considering paper is 100% recyclable, and one that I believe will improve with just a few small changes. These issues in mind, I have had to draw on various renewable sources in order to successfully feed both my literary and environmental needs, and I hope sharing them will help any fellow book-lovers (or those wishing to read more) visiting my site!

‘Kindle’s and e-readers

This option is perhaps the most obvious when seeking to reduce paper consumption, as it is completely electronic. E-books can be found easily online, through searching on sites such as amazon.co.uk or ebooks.com, and many popular bookstore websites- even local libraries tend to offer small selections! A large number of these, especially classics, can be downloaded for free- fantastic for a student budget!

One of the great advantages of e-books is that they can all be stored on a small portable device, such as an Amazon ‘Kindle’, a tablet or a mobile phone. This means that, unlike paper books, you could carry your entire library around in your bag- brilliant for the indecisive among us (I have spent far too much time carrying around multiple books due to my inability to choose)! Some textbooks are even available in electronic format, so you can stop worrying about having to lug gigantic hardback anthologies around (something I’m all too familiar with)!

A picture of an Amazon Kindle.
Kindles like this are easy on the eyes and could make your reading habit much more space-efficient!

One difficulty I have with paper books is that they tend to reflect the sunlight, which can make reading them a bit of an eyesore! However, ‘Kindles’, and other devices developed specifically for reading, often have specially adapted screens which simulate paper, while also counteracting the strong sunlight. So if you are someone who often gets headaches from too much reading, this could be a really positive option for you, even if you aren’t bothered about using less paper! Not to mention many of these devices have built-in, yellow-toned lights for reading in the dark, as opposed to the harsh blue lights of computer and phone screens (which can disrupt sleep patterns)!

They may save paper, but do they save the planet?

Despite e-readers undeniably reducing paper consumption, there are a number of other factors that must be considered when evaluating their environmental impact. Their production and maintenance involve immense levels of power, usually from non-renewable sources such as coal and gas burning. Furthermore, devices like this are overwhelmingly run by batteries, which can be incredibly harmful to the environment due to problems with their disposal. They often contain highly toxic substances (such as mercury) which, if allowed to leak into the natural world, could cause huge damage.

If we simply reduce our paper consumption, this could arguably prove more sustainable than using electricity, as some tree species can be grown relatively quickly. For me, there is certainly something incredible about feeling a book in your hands, and physically seeing your progress- even the smell of paper books is enticing! So if you really can’t see yourself letting all of this go (don’t worry, you’re not alone!), there are still paths you can choose! For example ‘tree-free’ paper, made from waste fabric and agricultural matter (such as seed husks), could prove a brilliant replacement. Here are a few more ideas:

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper

Despite many paper companies taking advantage of the world’s forests, organisations do exist that fight to ensure the paper-making process remains as sustainable as possible. Labelled by the World Wildlife Foundation as a “hallmark of responsible forest management”², the FSC is a cornerstone in the renewable paper and wood industry, providing companies with the assurance that their products’ raw materials were sustainably-sourced. Products certified by the foundation feature the logo below:

Picture of the FSC logo.
Click here to learn more about the FSC’s 10 principles ^

The FSC ensures not only that ecosystems are restored or conserved in order to protect wildlife and reduce climate change, but they also endorse the rights of workers and indigenous people, to minimise the social impact of the industry. If you really love buying brand new books, checking that they are FSC-verified first (by looking for the label above) is a really positive step to reducing your carbon trail.

Recycled/reused books

1. Buying second-hand

Online companies such as eBay and Amazon stock masses of used books, which can be purchased for really tiny prices, and sent straight to your door within days. However, if you are looking for a more environmentally viable option which does not involve delivery, there are numerous second-hand bookstores out there. These also tend to be independent, local businesses, rather than large multi-national corporations, which often means they come with a much smaller carbon footprint.

I would really recommend visiting some even if just to browse, as they are often really interesting places! It is not unusual, for example, to find obscure editions from more than 50 years ago, which are great fun to look through! For the most part, these shops stock good-quality, well-known paperbacks for extremely affordable prices: there are even some stores dedicated to specific genres! Also, if you are looking to make an even more ethical purchase, a few charities, such as Oxfam (shop online here) have their very own bookstores too!

Book exchanges

A few years back I was on holiday and happened to walk past a telephone booth crammed full of books, with a notice explaining that for each book you remove, you should replace it with another. The booth was not locked or monitored, but was managed completely by its users! I thought this was such a beautiful concept, and if you happen to come across one of these, why not have a look to see what you can find?

Libraries

Libraries often go forgotten these days, with most resources available at the click of a button, however they still remain a great way of finding books! Not only are libraries extremely eco-friendly, as one book will be read over and over, but they are also completely free! All that is needed to borrow a library book is a valid membership, usually with the local council or your school or university. Furthermore, though many are small and do appear to have quite limited selections, at many libraries it’s possible to request books at a small fee, which can then be collected within a few days! If you have access to a facility like this, it might be an idea to pop in next time you’re passing, and have a look!

Recycling/Reusing books

There are some books (The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my personal favourites) that I love reading again and again, or want to have stocked in my bookshelf just in case I have the urge! However, many of the books I have purchased in the past, I will probably not read again, especially books or textbooks I have bought for school. Instead of simply chucking them away, though, there are multiple sustainable ways of disposing of unwanted books!

Donating to charity or second-hand bookstores

As mentioned above, used books are an amazing resource for everyone- and this does not just mean buying them! Dropping off your used books at local charity stores is a perfect example of sustainable reading, as you are enabling others to practise the same habits! 

An image of the 'Books2Africa' logo.

I recently discovered a charity called Books2Africa, a wonderful cause seeking to help educate people in poverty-stricken areas. In many countries in Africa, even those who are lucky enough to go to school are often left with few books and other learning resources. This is a huge problem, as it means many leave school without good reading or writing skills. The charity, however, allows you to send your books (any genre or difficulty is welcome, especially textbooks), along with electronic devices, DVDs, football boots and other educational resources, to deprived countries such as Algeria. This can be done either through a scheduled book collection, or by dropping them off outside their warehouse. It is also so easy to get involved with the charity through helping out with sorting, packaging and marketing.

My volunteering experience

I have been volunteering at the Books2Africa warehouse in Canterbury, UK, for a few weeks now, and I am astounded by the brilliant work they do! The system is so well organised and runs smoothly from start to finish, not to mention the staff are so passionate about what they do and make you feel right at home (seriously, the warehouse has a massage chair)! Furthermore, they have a brilliant ‘1-book-a-day’ policy, whereby if you are sorting and come across a book you like the look of, you can take it home with you, which is a brilliant way of sharing the love for second-hand literature (you can always bring it back when you’re done)! If you live nearby and would like to get involved, I would sincerely recommend checking out their website and submitting an application, or donating money: it’s so easy and fun to do and can make such a huge difference! 

Arts and crafts

If you feel that the reading material you have is unfit for recycling, there are loads of amazing projects you could start with books, magazines or newspapers! These include but are not limited to:

  • Printing (there is a craze at the moment for producing colourful prints on old dictionary pages, which can look really cool)!
  • Origami (the ancient Japanese art is a fun and interesting hobby to adopt- and you can easily do it with used paper). I recently used an old gardener’s fieldbook to make paper lanterns for fairy lights (low-energy obviously), and the results were so authentic and classy (see below)!
  • Papier-maché (although this is extremely common in primary school, it is a recognised art form and it’s really easy to achieve great results)!
  • Other paper models (such as carving into books to make 3-D models, or using techniques such as weaving)

I hope that this article has given you loads for ideas of how to appreciate both the environment and the world of literature simultaneously, and you have great fun trying them out!

Peace and love,

Becky x

[1] The Construction and Development Partnership (CODEP) website <http://www.codep.co.uk/work/campaigns> [accessed 08/10/2017 at 13:38]

[2] FSC official website <http://www.fsc-uk.org/en-uk/about-fsc/why-choose-fsc> [accessed 01/08/2017 at 15:22]

Charity shops: green retro fashion for the frugal

Becky WadsworthLeave a comment

An image of a colourful variation of the 'recycling' symbol.

In most societies around the world, clothing is a way for a person to express their personality, values and worldview without saying a word (despite occasionally wearing some). However, the manufacture of clothing, according to a 2016 report by WRAP (an organisation helping companies to use resources more efficiently), the textile industry has the 4th highest environmental impact of all production sectors.¹ Last year alone, it produced around 26.2 million tonnes of CO2, and contributed a total of 1.1 million tonnes of material to landfill (including the waste materials discarded in the production process). Although some companies are leaning towards more eco-friendly practices, with M&S, TESCO and Sainsbury’s having committed to using 100% sustainable cotton by 2020, this will only fractionally reduce their carbon footprint. For this reason, I value finding alternative clothing resources extremely highly, and a prominent example is second-hand clothing. As well as drastically decreasing the ecological impact of buying clothes compared with new ones, it provides the opportunity to adopt a completely original fashion sense. And what’s more: it is overwhelmingly accessible on pretty much every high street in the country. I’m not referring to the popular ‘vintage clothing stores’, which can often be acutely overpriced, but rather a more ethical and affordable alternative: the charity shop.

The charity shop system enables people to donate their unwanted clothing (much of which will simply be too small for them or ‘out of style’) to any charity store, or in a collection bin (which can usually be found at large supermarkets). The chosen organisation will then sort the clothing, price it and display it in one of their stores to wait for a loving owner! The funds received from any sales will usually go directly to the cause, as staff positions tend to be voluntary. Not only is recycling clothing a brilliantly simple way to do your bit for the environment, but through donating/buying these clothes, you are supporting groups aiming to help the world, as opposed to large and environmentally dubious companies. 

The advantages do not stop there, however! Due to the non-profit nature of charity shops, many of their products (depending on the item/shop) are extremely affordable, with most priced at less than £5! They also rarely discriminate depending on brand, so it is not unusual to see designer brands selling for similar prices to more budget ones. When visiting Bristol, I discovered an amazing charity store that seemed exactly like a clothing boutique (view on Google Maps here), from which I bought a Motel dress for only £6 (this brand is normally sold in Topshop for around £40-a-piece)! A great tip for browsing charity shops for bargains is to look in slightly more affluent areas, such as Oxford, which stock good quality, chic clothing for (on the whole) the same sums!

^ Above is a sample of some of my charity purchases! ^

In high street stores, my frugal-mindedness discourages me from buying anything that would not suit the rest of my wardrobe, however I’ve found that more low-cost (both financially and environmentally) charity items have given me a more daring and experimental style. Due to most of these items being months or years old, they are likely from discontinued lines, providing the opportunity to create a completely unique fashion sense, all for a fraction of the price. For example, a while ago I purchased an XXL purple corduroy shirt (I’m normally a size ‘small’), as I thought it would be a comfortable yet slightly alternative look (I have included a picture above- I hope you agree)!

Given the immeasurable number of advantages second-hand clothing gives, I am continually stunned by the many negative opinions about charity shops. I have heard people claiming that they are full of tatty old clothing that smells funny, even if they have never shopped in one! Although this can sometimes be the case (the garments have been worn before, after all), it is little more frequent than some of the ‘thrift’ and ‘vintage’ shops that demand 4-times the money, with 0% going to charity! If you are looking to expand your fashion sense, and/or your environmental consciousness, popping into your local charity clothing stores would be a really simple, inexpensive and compassionate way of doing so! If you remain unconvinced, I have added a few images of items I have found!

Thank you for reading, and happy browsing!

Becky x

[1] WRAP official website <http://www.wrap.org.uk/sustainable-textiles/valuing-our-clothes%20> [last accessed 08/08/2017, 13:59].

(Re)cycling: are second-hand bikes the future of transport?

Becky WadsworthLeave a comment

An image of a second-hand bike, bought off the recycling site Gumtree.

Despite my efforts to walk wherever possible whilst at university, I’ve experienced times when the idea of a 45-minute walking trip to the nearest supermarket is less than appealing. For this reason, I’ve often found myself choosing between two options. Either having to overcome this lazy feeling (an objective which is not especially straight-forward), or a much more damaging one, for both the environment and my student budget: the bus. I therefore made the decision, a couple of months back, to purchase a second-hand bike ((re)cycling saves both emissions and unnecessary waste for a super eco-friendly journey).

Second-hand cycling: finding a bike

I began searching on Gumtree, an amazing website enabling people to search for adverts in their area, including second-hand furniture and vehicles- even houses and jobs!

An image of the author's second-hand bike, purchased on the re-cycling site, Gumtree.
My new true love

I was overwhelmed by how many bikes were available for my small budget, and I quickly arranged to view one, through contacting the mobile number provided. I went home with it that same day (for free in the end as well, through the generosity of the seller)?!

Since collecting this bike, my life has improved even more than I expected: what I had intended as simply a more convenient method of sustainable transport has proven to have countless additional benefits. Firstly, the money saved on public transport (cycling is, after all, 100% free) has become extremely useful in my daily life. Whilst before I would worry about my dwindling funds when visiting the cinema with friends, for example, I can now attend social events without feeling guilty. Furthermore, cycling is a fantastic way to incorporate regular exercise into the daily routine. Not only can it be relaxing, but it has a final end goal, giving it a purpose and preventing the boredom that ensues when visiting the gym.

In spite of the advantages of second-hand cycling, however, it is normal to be reluctant to buy a pre-owned vehicle. Doing this, it’s impossible to know how the last person treated it, and it could be much more temperamental on the road. For the more ambitious cyclists, however, this could be seen as a challenge to reinvent. Almost all basic bicycle problems are easily corrected using cheap, widely available equipment, and countless DIY videos can be found online. For me, daring to give this a go (despite hours of frustration at my own technical absent-mindedness) has added an extra dimension to my cycling experience. I find myself excited to set out on my bike and show off my handiwork, and eager to tell others all about my most recent fixtures!

As soppy as it sounds, discovering the joys of cycling truly has drastically improved my life, and I cannot recommend trying it out enough! I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of positive impacts a single habit can possess. It is 100% eco-friendly, 100% healthy, and also fun and enjoyable! In the end, cycling is more than just a sport: it is a way of life- and one that is definitely worth taking up.

Good luck with all your pursuits!

Peace and happiness,

Becky x

*If you are interested in the concept of Gumtree, you might want to explore Freecycle, a similar initiative encouraging sustainable purchasing. There are hundreds of groups in various locations, within which users can either advertise products they wish to recycle, or apply for specific items they require: all for FREE. This is an incredible networking idea which ensures resources are shared evenly, and nothing goes to waste unnecessarily. I would really recommend checking it out: after all, what have you got to lose (other than things you’re trying to get rid of)?!

An image of the logo of the suggested site, Freecycle. Click here to visit the website.

 

LUSH: guilt-free beauty products

Becky WadsworthLeave a comment

An image of the LUSH logo. Click to visit the LUSH website.
Click here ^

LUSH is a cosmetics company established in 1995 in Brighton, UK by beauty experts and eco-activists Liz Weir and Mark Constantine. Devoted to its ethical, natural and home-made reputation, not only are their products cruelty free (not tested on animals) and vegetarian-friendly, but they also boast a hand-made status. Each product notes where it was made and by whom (they also include an adorable caricature, as shown below).

The back of the LUSH Enzymion moisturiser pot, listing the 100% natural ingredients, and the details of where, when and by whom the product was made.
^ This product (Enzymion facial moisturiser) contains 100% natural ingredients (and look at Bryn’s little face)!

On top of all this, they are committed to using 100% either organic natural ingredients, or synthetics certified as environmentally safe. Not to mention (as if this wasn’t all cool enough), the company makes killer efforts (figuratively speaking, of course) to reduce its waste: their packaging is either reusable or completely non-existent! Their Green Policies outline the exact ways in which they aim to reduce their ecological impact, from packaging to transportation:

Reducing carbon emissions

Self-tax for carbon usage

In order to incentivise a reduced carbon footprint, LUSH have committed themselves to a self-proclaimed ‘carbon tax’, through which they are obliged, for each metric tonne of carbon produced, to donate £50 to an environmental foundation or charity. For reference, 0.87kg is produced per mile of air travel, so £50 is paid for every 1150 miles (roughly from London to Madrid one way). For an international corporation, this is a massively encouraging leap!

Promoting green energy

LUSH, wherever possible, use only green energy suppliers to power their stores and warehouses. In addition, they seek to go beyond current legislation, aiming to create their own eco-power initiatives.

Reducing/recycling packaging

NAKED products

These products are formulated specifically, through minimising water content, to be naturally self-preserving (rather than through the use of artificial preservatives), meaning they can be stored open to the air without any negative effects, like bars of soap! They can therefore be sold completely without packaging, or in a recycled (and recyclable) paper bag, giving scope to entirely eliminate waste for both retailer and consumer! They include:

  • Massage bars
  • Solid moisturisers and serums
  • Solid deodorants
  • Shampoo bars

5-Pot Initiative

LUSH‘s black pots, in which most of their liquids and creams are stored, are made using 100% recycled plastic chips, so do not initially involve any wasteful production processes. And it does not stop there: their 5-pot initiative discourages unnecessary waste by allowing customers to exchange 5 clean pots (like the one shown above) for a fresh face mask. This scheme is mutually beneficial for both consumers AND the company itself, who then reuse the plastic!

Recycled/biodegradable materials

All of the paper used throughout LUSH stores is 100% recycled and recyclable, including their receipts! Furthermore, their online orders use biodegradable cellulose (plant-based protein) wrapping, as opposed to non-renewable bubble wrap or cellophane. These efforts demonstrate excellently how companies can help combat the widespread overuse of plastic packaging that is so damaging to our earth.

An image of the selection of logos on the back of a LUSH receipt, showing that the products are: handmade, 100% vegetarian, cruelty-free, ethical and natural.

Ethical buying and distributing

Organic and eco-friendly ingredients

LUSH employs a ‘Buying Team’ that scopes out sustainable produce, purchasing directly from farmers in order to better ensure high eco standards from earth to shelf, as well as protecting fair pay and workers’ rights. They also try their hardest to pick ingredients that have traveled only short distances to their warehouses, so as to reduce their carbon footprint and ensure maximum freshness.

Charity

More than 10 years ago, LUSH introduced a ‘charity pot’ of body lotion, with 100% of the proceeds (not just the profits!) going to various grassroots environmental and animal/human rights charities, which use hands-on approaches to create the most significant impacts. In 2016 alone, this scheme raised £8.1 million in order to improve the social and ecological harmony of the planet [1], an overwhelming contribution! I was recently given a sample pot and it smells divine as well as being super moisturising, so I would definitely recommend giving it a try as your go-to all-round lotion!

Furthermore, LUSH routinely donates any leftover stock to shelters and women’s refuge homes either on request or through random selection, reducing waste even further and benefiting many of the most vulnerable and poverty-stricken in our society. There are very few, if any, massive companies that can boast such a positive, voluntary socio-ecological impact!

The Price

All this considered, their slightly higher than average pricings (I paid £14.95 for a 45-gram pot of moisturiser) are perhaps justified. After all, whilst our wallets can often seem very exhaustible, the world’s natural resources truly are, and the prevention of irreversible damage caused by plastic bags on landfill sites, carbon in our atmosphere and chemicals polluting our waterways, is arguably worth spending a few more pounds on? Furthermore, if you feel uncomfortable about paying so much for a new product, the amazing LUSH staff are more than happy to prepare a free sample pot on request!

For me, it is clear that LUSH makes overwhelming contributions to the world’s sustainability efforts, constantly seeking more eco-friendly methods of creating and selling their products. Despite being over 20 years old, the company never loses touch with its core values: kindness, compassion and integrity. I sincerely hope that those of you reading will seek to explore and enjoy their many gorgeous products!

Peace and happiness,

Becky x

*If you enjoyed learning about the LUSH cooperative and would like to find out more about their products, please visit my product review page (displayed on the menu panel)!

[1] LUSH official website <https://uk.lush.com/article/celebrating-10-years-charity-pot> [accessed 01/08/2017 at 17:06]