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zerowastedoc

🌍Sustainability advice for busy people
🌱Realistic Zero Waste living
💛Social and environmental justice
🌿Climate Activist 🎓UK NHS Doctor ➕Christian

So it’s the end of zero waste week... but it’s

So it’s the end of zero waste week... but it’s also 2020, so I imagine it’s been different to previous years!
So how can you still live a zero waste life during a global pandemic?

Here are 10 tips!

1. Make your coffee at home
2. Look for packaging free produce - are veg boxes, co-operatives or community gardens available?
3. Make your own lunches
4. Reuse whatever you’re still allowed to
5. Reduce animal products in your diet
6. Find a new recipe for something you usually buy in packaging
7. Audit your food waste, and reduce it.
8. Buy in bulk (without a bulk shop)
9. Repair something you would have thrown away ordinarily
10. If you need something new, support a local small business - they’re struggling this year!

And bonus, take the time to write to someone in power to make changes that reduce waste on a national or global scale!

For more details and explanations, I’ve turned this post into a whole blog post on my website - link in my bio!

How are you finding being zero waste in a pandemic? What’s working well for you? 💛

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste #zerowasteweek

ALL of my zero waste bathroom products! After my p

ALL of my zero waste bathroom products!
After my post on Monday about ways to reduce waste in the bathroom I got messages about what I specifically use, so here’s a run down:

🛁Shampoo bar (2in1) by @zerowastepath
🧴Conditioner by @innocenthaircare - designed for Afro hair if anyone has been on the hunt and I use it on my ends
🧼Home made soap bar but refilled liquid hand soap
🪒Vintage stainless steel razor (with soap)
🧽Flannel for exfoliation
💅🏻Makeup by @zaomakeup
🧺Makeup remover by the Body Shop in a tin
🩸Menstrual products - @mooncupltd, @wukawear pants, @honouryourflow pads
💋Currently lip balm in plastic, but usually in a tin or cardboard tube
🛀🏿Bathbombs - Lush of course
🧖🏼‍♀️Dry shampoo - homemade
💪🏻Moisturiser bar by @ethiqueworld and face moisturiser by @upcirclebeauty
🧻TP by @greencanepaper
🕳And conventional anti-perspiration and toothpaste

These products won’t necessarily work for you as we all have different skin and hair types and lifestyles, but there are lots of different options out there. Look to try to support small businesses too if you can, as they’re likely struggling this year!

What zero waste products are you struggling to find?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

Low carbon holidays 💛 So holidays are a slightl

Low carbon holidays 💛
So holidays are a slightly taboo subject in 2020 but maybe we can say that staycations are definitely having a moment. Whether it’s a staycation in your own home, city or just in your own country.
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But local holidays are also a good way to reduce your waste too. Flying is a privilege that creates a lot of carbon emissions. For many with family around the world it may be impossible to stop flying completely, but we should be trying to minimise this - especially because if you’ve flown abroad recently, you have a privilege many don’t have. The people who contribute the least to climate change often suffer the most from the consequences of it.

Did you know that:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
•In 2018, 126.2 million [plane] passengers were British – totalling 8.6%, roughly one in 12, of all international travellers. The UK was followed by the US (111.5 million, or 7.6% of all passengers) and China (97 million, 6.6%).
•1% of English residents take one-fifth of overseas flights
•10% most frequent flyers in England took more than half of all international flights in 2018.
•However, 48% of the UK population did not take a single flight abroad in 2018.
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It’s interesting to think about the interest in staycations in the future. Will they be more popular or less so once we can travel more easily again? I honestly don’t know but I’m hoping it’s the former.
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What do you think will happen to the popularity of staycations in the future given the pandemic? I definitely am more excited about staycations than ever!

Photo from my staycation in January 💛

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

Oh the bathroom. Such a source of waste. But also

Oh the bathroom. Such a source of waste. But also one of the rooms where there are now so many alternatives to help you avoid waste.
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So my top tips for avoiding waste in your bathroom:
🧼 Go solid. Shampoo bars, soap, deodorant, perfume, bath bombs, moisturiser, foundation, toothtabs. If you can get it solid you can often avoid packaging but also save the fuel waste of transporting extra water around!
🧴 Refill it. If solid isn’t an option, then refills are a great alternative. Refill shampoo, conditioner, soap, cleaning supplies, makeup - great for liquid products you can’t get packaging free.
🪒 Invest in reusables. Metal razor, makeup rounds, glass nail file, menstrual cup, period pants or pads. Reusables cost more initially but often save you money long term.
🛁 DIY it. Dry shampoo to vinegar limescale remover. Do as many or as few as your time allows.
🧻 Choose better materials. Metal or glass containers can be reused and recycled more easily than plastic if needed. Compostable plasters. Bamboo toothbrushes. Recycled paper toilet roll. There’s always better options out there.
🧽 Buy less. Simplify your routine and you’ll end up wasting less overall.
🛁 Save water. Turn that tap off as you brush or shave. Cut showers short and reuse grey water for plants. Get adaptors for your taps and toilet to reduce water waste.
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So, there you have the most concise list of ways to reduce waste in the bathroom. Save it for when you need it 💛
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What have I missed? What’s your favourite way to reduce waste in a bathroom?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste #zerowasteweek

Sunday Sustainability Stories: Sustainable living

Sunday Sustainability Stories:
Sustainable living looks different for everyone so it’s important we hear different voices and stories.

Reposted with consent by @heyashleyrenne

“This lil’ baby has come a long way (SWIPE 👈🏽 to see its growth over time) from its humble beginning as a piece of food scrap from my fridge. Time to harvest!⁣
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👩🏽‍🌾 Initially I grew this scallion to a decent size simply by putting the roots in a glass of water on my windowsill and watching it regrow. After following the advice of @mint2grow, I transferred it to a pot of soil and observed it triple in size to get even more bang for my buck.⁣
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✂️ To harvest these, I use scissors to trim about 75% of the green from the plant. This allows the green shoots to grow back in over the course of about two weeks.⁣
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🌱 How is your food growing (or re-growing) going this season? Have you been able to harvest anything yet?⁣
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Stay green y'all 💚”

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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste #sundaysustainabilitystories

Ad PR sample So I tried out the new @loopstoreuk

Ad PR sample So I tried out the new @loopstoreuk package free food delivery for you!

Loop looks different in every country it’s in so far but in the U.K. they’ve partnered with Tesco so it’s available to basically all areas of the U.K. You can order your food online, placing a deposit for the containers and it arrives at your door the next day. Once you’ve unloaded the food you can get your containers collected and get your deposits back. Simple! Now I love a small independent zero waste shop, so what can Loop offer that’s different?

Benefits of Loop:
- Accessible everywhere in the UK, which may be benefit if you don’t have an unpackaged shop or have to drive far to one.
- May make unpackaged more appealing to those who always do online food shopping and so who would never go into a physical bulk shop.
- Hopefully will make unpackaged items more common!

The cost was roughly the same as my local bulk stores. I was hoping as partnered with Tesco that Loop would have comparable prices to the supermarket, but for now they are the same, and the deposits do add on a reasonable cost that can make it financially impractical for some, even though you get that money back. Hopefully it will get cheaper as use increases.

I’m not sure how I feel about brands like coca-cola being available when they’re still one of the largest plastic polluters in the world. I’m concerned that the responsibility will fall on the consumer not them, but then again, if someone routinely buys these products in packaging, then this is a better option.

Overall, it‘s still exciting to see initiatives like Loop starting around the world. Nothing that works within the economic system we currently have can ever be perfect, as the system itself is flawed, so its up to you to decide whether something like Loop works for your lifestyle, or if your local independent zero waste shop works best.

What do you think about initiatives like Loop?

[If you want to try Loop you can get 20% discount with code NATALIE20 until September 15th on your first order]

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #lowimpactmovement #lowwasteliving

Over £19 billion worth of food is wasted in the U

Over £19 billion worth of food is wasted in the UK every year.
Globally it’s a staggering $984 billion - 1/3 of all food produced, but yet 1 in 9 people go to bed hungry each night.
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UK households throw away 6.6 million tonnes of food waste, but by reducing this an average household could save £500 each year. And according to Project Drawdown reducing food waste is the 3rd most important solution to reverse climate change!
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So top tips for reducing food waste:
🍎 Buy odd, wonky and single fruit and vegetables so they don’t get thrown
🍊 Store food correctly and keep your fridge below 5°C
🍋 Use your freezer to preserve things easily
🍐 Ignore “sell by” dates
🍏 Make a meal plan
🍆 Know your portion size so you don’t over cook
🍇 Use up leftovers and food scraps
🥥 Audit what foods you often throw away - those are the ones you need to focus on!
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There are so many ways to reduce food waste and save yourself some money, and I’ve only just scratched the surface. What are your favourite ways?
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste #foodwaste

Zero waste doesn’t mean I produce zero waste. Fa

Zero waste doesn’t mean I produce zero waste.
Faaaaaaar from it!

Zero waste is a manufacturing term about a way of producing something where nothing is wasted; heat is repurposed, water reused, the product recycled at the end of life etc. It’s been co-opted to name a movement so let’s be honest it’s never going to be a perfect name, nothing ever is.

Except nature is zero waste. Before we disrupted it, everything was in balance - the carbon cycle, water cycle, nitrogen cycle and many more. So for me, zero waste is about replicating nature and trying to live in a more circular economy and world.

Where nothing is wasted, and landfills become pointless, and we live within our means as a planet and as people. Not driving ourselves to burnout seeking constant growth demanded by our GDP model.

It’s currently not possible due to the society we live in (so we need to fight and advocate for change to that society) so waste is unavoidable. Even when we’re trying!

These are some of my “zero waste” buys that obviously still create waste but generally worked toward reducing waste whilst I found long term circular solutions like refills.

If we want to move toward a circular, zero waste world, what in society needs to change? And who do you need to speak to to advocate for that change?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

Sunday Sustainability Stories: Sustainable living

Sunday Sustainability Stories:
Sustainable living looks different for everyone so it’s important we hear different voices and stories.

Reposted with consent by @tiffanyalex_
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“Over the weekend, my partner and I took a much needed trip to Mesilla, New Mexico! We ate at a Mexican restaurant and we really enjoyed our time together! (Swipe for a sight of the yummy virgin drinks we had & beautiful scenery) 😍😍⁣
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I also did some reflecting about switching my wardrobe to a more minimal one. I strictly shop secondhand & ethically made clothing. ⁣
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However, I tend to get clothing I don’t usually end up wearing and I know! I’m no where near perfect. I’m realizing day by day what I need to do to make my wardrobe as minimal as possible. For one thing, it takes A LOT of time to reconstruct your wardrobe. So here are tips I’ve stay committed to during my sustainable journey!⁣
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Simple ways to improve your wardrobe that will help to reduce your carbon footprint on the planet! ⁣
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👖: Opt for high quality plant based fabrics at your local thrift store (check out my blog post if you need to know what they are) ⁣
🌎: Donate unwanted clothes (please do not throw them away!) ⁣
🌎: Shop ethically and locally! ⁣
🌎: Repurpose your clothing! ⁣
🌎: Invest in seasonal clothing (clothing that you know you’ll wear all year long !)⁣
🌎: Buy better quality clothing so that they’ll last longer⁣
🌎: Buy secondhand, swap or rent clothing (especially if your going to an event and searching everywhere to find a dress that you may probably wear once or twice or maybe even a few times, try renting it!)⁣
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These tips have helped me remain eco-conscious when it comes to shopping for clothing. Just please remember to apply effort in your shopping habits so we can all aim for a better and healthier planet now and for future generations! ⁣
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Entire outfit thrifted”⁣
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #lowimpactmovement #sundaysustainabilitystories

Living zero waste when you’re busy is hard but i

Living zero waste when you’re busy is hard but it’s possible if you’re clever about it. I’ve had to learn this the hard way over the past few years, so here are my tips for trying to reduce your waste when busy are:

1. Set yourself up for success. Do tasks that make your life easier for when life throws you a curve ball. For me that’s having my bag stocked with reusables, meals in the freezer, shopping for a month of dried food at a time, getting a vegetable box delivered and making a meal plan. So no matter what the day throws at me, I’m covered!

2. Group similar jobs together. Often getting started is the hardest thing. So where you can, batch task together. Similar to how I only dry food shop once instead of 4 times, I love bulk cooking in a slow cooker or making double at dinner time to take for lunch the next day.

3. Prioritise low input-high yield zero waste actions. For me, some zero waste diy projects take so long, and avoid so little waste that they’re just not worth it on my schedule, so I buy pre-made options instead. Like zero waste makeup I buy, but a simple 2 ingredient dry shampoo I make. Focus on actions that either don’t need much time, or are worth it because they’re high yield. Another example of high yield low input in writing to your MP or councillors to make changes.

4. Remember you time is financially valuable. All my money is based on hours I worked. So I try to remember this when thinking about sustainability. Sometimes things are worth the time, but sometimes it’s simpler to invest your money and save time. Repairing shoes is one of these examples - paying someone to do it for me costs some money but is quicker than me doing it, so worth it overall. Also keeps these skills in the local community 💛

We need to make zero waste living sustainable for us. What are your tips to zero waste when busy?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #sustainableliving #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian

Focus on what you can control!
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A lot in the world of sustainability is out of our hands. Especially this year. The decisions made by big corporations and governments, yes, can be influenced by us, but ultimately they are not our decisions. Like my favourite takeaway, which I can no longer get in reusables. Feeling guilt about those things, when they’re not in your hands, is not productive. So instead we need to focus on what you can control.
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You CAN control making the best decision within the options you are given.
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You CAN often control who you buy from, within the possibilities open to you.
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You CAN control what you do when you are frustrated about your options. Feeling guilt or moaning to someone aren’t productive. Writing to or emailing someone with the possibility to change things is productive. Tweet them, tag them, call them out on social media, ask for what you want. You can’t make those decisions for them, but making your opinion and values known can help them work for you. Brands want your business and politicians want your votes so (in general) they’re inclined to do things that go along with the will of the people they serve. But they can’t serve you if they don’t know what you want!
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So today, focus on what you can control. Not to placate you, but as a call to action.
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See something you don’t like? Ditch the guilt, and reach out to someone with the power to change things!
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What things have you been putting off contacting someone about that you should do this weekend? #writetothem
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

How do you stay motivated?
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This is such a tough topic. Zero waste living, and activism work, are both areas that are inconvenient! It can be so easy to feel demoralised and want to give up. So how do you stay motivated?
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For me it’s a combination of things.
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🔴 I don’t want to retired and living through heatwaves of 40°C!
🟠 Climate breakdown and pollution have known medical implications and I need to tackle that as a doctor.
🟡 The babies we see born will mostly live to 2100 - what will their future be like, and how can I help?
🟢 People are already living through a climate crisis today round the world, I feel a responsibility to act for them too.
🔵 It’s being a good, loving neighbour to people on the planet now, and to come, and that’s linked to my faith.
🟣 I want to look back and know that I tried my best to help avoid a climate breakdown.
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Motivation is so personal but we need it to keep us going when things are hard. What are your motivations?
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #sustainableliving #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian

Zero waste snacks to eat when you’re emailing yo

Zero waste snacks to eat when you’re emailing your MP.
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My fave zero waste snacks?
- Salted Popcorn
- Dried fruit and nuts
- Carrot sticks and homemade hummus
- Fruit
- Pick-a-mix
- Pastries bought without packaging 💕
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But we need to remember that as important as reducing our personal waste is, it’s not activism and it’s not where we should stop our work. Zero waste is a great place to start, but a bad place to stop.
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We need to push for wider scale political and social change. And to do that we need to look beyond our own lives. We need to campaign for the things that impact our whole communities and nation.
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So now that we have our zero waste snack to fuel us, how about you write to your MP?
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Firstly - find your local representatives on Writetothem.com
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Think about an issue close to your heart. Is it food waste collections? Or public transport? Or green housing? Or refugee rights? Or a green recovery plan? Or anything else? Who in your area should you write to - your MP or your local councillors? (NB your MPs voting record can be found at theyworkforus.com).
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Draft an email, or better yet a letter, have a little snack, and send it off.
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Your letter alone might not make a difference, but you also don’t know if you’re the email that brings a tipping point!
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So challenge for this week? #writetothem! What will you be asking about?
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

Set yourself up for success! That’s my biggest t

Set yourself up for success!
That’s my biggest tip for trying to live a zero waste life when busy. Set yourself up for success. And there’s so many ways you can do this and it will look different to everyone. There are a couple of main ways I set myself up for success:

1. Meal plan. Totally takes the stress and wasted time out of meal prep and leads to less food waste over all.

2. Bulk shop just once a month. Buy big quantities but no repeated shops, so my weekends are free for fun (or work honestly).

3. Have an on-the-go low waste kit in my bag. Currently looks a little different with hand gel and a mask, but I also have a glass lunch box and snack box, water bottle, coffee cup, reusable scrub hat, metal hair grip (lasts longer than bands), cutlery and a cloth napkin.

All these little methods of setting myself up for success means I create less waste over all but also make my life a little easier when busy.

Could you share what you do to set yourself up for success? Let’s make each other’s lives easier!

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

Sunday Sustainability Stories: Sustainable living

Sunday Sustainability Stories:
Sustainable living looks different for everyone so it’s important we hear different voices and stories.

Reposted with consent by @oldworldnew

“80 percent of the world’s hungry live in climates prone to natural disasters and environmental degradation. Climate extremes set the stage for food shortages, mass migration, civil conflict, economic instability and more. Extreme weather could force over 120 million more people into hunger and poverty⁣
by 2030.” - World Food Program USA @wfpusa⁣
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Little moments like this when I get to make & share one of our favorite foods, hummus, with my little boo are priceless to me. I was raised in a family that bonds over food. Papa had a garden, and our entire community shared parts of their crops with each other when spring and summer came around. Everyday moments and celebrations were made sweeter with the scent and taste of familiar dishes that no one could cook quite like Granny or Daddy. However, had we not had such ease of access to food in rough moments, I imagine that they would have been even more difficult to cope with.⁣
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The trending rise in extreme weather occurrences makes this the perfect #ClimateforHunger. But when you donate to the World Food Program USA, you help to alleviate the stress of climate crisis induced hunger for real people and families just like yours. Families who are displaced by natural disasters and are only worried about survival, kids who need lunch during the school day, farmers whose crops have been ruined by abnormal weather patterns - they all benefit from the food and educational services that WFP USA provides. That’s why I’m a #ZeroHungerPartner. ⁣
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Won’t you join us? 💚♻️

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Is it possible to decorate your home second hand a

Is it possible to decorate your home second hand and it not look like a charity shop (unless that’s your vibe)?
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Definitely. Second hand often comes with some emotions attached. Presuming second hand means poor quality, damage, and funky smells. But it honestly doesn’t need too. Often nowadays second hand is just things people bought, didn’t fit, and then didn’t return in time. Or realised quickly doesn’t work for their home.
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Getting second hand items is a great way to reduce waste, as you’re stopping one item ending up in landfill, and you’re avoiding new resources going into a new product.
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So where can you find things second hand?
1. From friends and family. We did this when we moved into our first unfurnished home and it’s such a great option to get things for free and help people you know out.
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2. Second hand shops. Some charity shops have specific furniture shops so give them an online search and see what you can find near you.
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3. Facebook marketplace, eBay, Gumtree etc. Such a simple way to find furniture and often has a huge variety of options for good value.
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4. On the street. This might be a London thing, but people so often put things they’re trying to get rid of on the street with the hope that someone will re-home them, and often they do!
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Tips: look regularly as it’s always changing, and set up notifications if looking online. Keep an open mind and be willing to upcycle or repair to get what you want.
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There are so many options when it comes to second hand furniture and your imagination is basically your limit. What other recommendations do you have for finding second hand home decor?
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#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #slowsustainablehome #slowhome #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #sustainableliving #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian

Food shopping in a pandemic!! So your bulk shop i

Food shopping in a pandemic!!

So your bulk shop is closed, or not accepting reusables, or the supermarket has stopped selling loose products, financial worries limiting your food choices, and basically the world is unrecognisable??

Whatever the reason, food shopping looks different in this pandemic, and generally is making much more waste. So here are my tips for shopping zero waste in a pandemic:

Firstly - no guilt. I could finish the post here honestly. You’re one person and shouldn’t feel guilt about the things that are entirely out of your control. If you can write a letter or tweet someone about it, do, but otherwise, no guilt!

Buy loose where you can - and oldie but a goodie. Bonus points for wonky or odd produce.

Buy in better packaging. Prioritise recyclable over non-recyclable and reuse first if you can. All our jars are now used for “worm tea” for example!

Prioritise shelf life. Food waste is a massive issue, so sometimes buying plastic can be okay if it enables you to buy something like frozen veg that rarely goes off compared to normal veg.

Buy bigger quantities. Unless it will go off before you eat it, bigger volumes usually = less packaging per weight. 10kg of rice is my fave!

Less meat and dairy. Often very heavily packaged but also have a large carbon footprint, so eating less makes your diet lower impact.

Buy local. If you can, choose local produce to support local farmers and reduce transport emissions.

This is a very simplified, whistle stop tour of zero waste supermarket shopping in a pandemic. Main takeaway? No guilt please!

But also, let’s push for a Green Recovery Plan so that we can bounce back with a stronger environment and economy than before!

What’s your top tip for low waste supermarket shopping?

#Zerowaste #zerowastelondon #zerowasteuk #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #lowimpactliving #zerowastechristian #zerowastejourney #lowwaste

AD| My wardrobe, my way! Fast fashion is polluting

AD| My wardrobe, my way!
Fast fashion is polluting and the textiles industry creates a lot of waste. So how can we make our wardrobes more sustainable, but still work for us?

👕Firstly, buy less.
The U.K. produces over 200,000 tonnes of textile waste each year, that all comes from people buying more than they need and not managing it well at the end of its life. Celebrate what’s already in your wardrobe that you used to love, even if they were once fast fashion.

👖Care for what you already own.
Loved clothes last longer, meaning less new items in your future (and more money saved and waste avoided).

🧥Know your style.
Knowing what you like to wear means you’re less likely to buy something you regret later. Be proud in what you like.

👚If you do need to buy, shop second hand, swap or shop ethical.
We all need to buy things occasionally but getting them thrifted hugely reduces the ecological footprint of each item. And if you have the money, supporting sustainable businesses leaves second hand open for the people who need it for financial reasons.

👗Dispose of clothes responsibly.
If something no longer fits, know where it should go. Ideally swap with friends or sell so you know it goes to a good home, and if not but they are still wearable, to a charity shop. If no longer good for wearing, make sure the textiles are recycled properly.

I’m doing an Instagram live on Friday at 3pm with @connectnlwa on how we can make our wardrobes more sustainable and we’d love to see you there. If you have any questions you want answered there’s a question box in my stories to pop them in!

Has your wardrobe become more sustainable over the years? Mine is slow progress but I’m finally getting to a place that is sustainable and is my style.

#mywardrobemyway #MWMW #NLWA #capsulewardrobe #zerowaste #zerowasteuk #zerowastelondon #zerowastehome #goingzerowaste #ourplanetourhome #zerowastecollective #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #wastefreeplanet #refusereducereuserecycle #reducewhatyouproduce #zerowasteliving #choosetorefuse #refusesingleuseplastic #iamzerowastecommunity #lowimpactmovement #sustainableliving #lowimpactliving

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