It’s Plastic Free July! Well we all know there is simply too much plastic on the planet, from the gyres in the oceans, to the plastic rubbish in the countryside, to the micro plastics and forever plastics in all living organisms and ecosystems, and that includes you!
Because it is so hot at the moment (and of course the underlying causes of plastic pollution and climate change are the same:growth and fossil fuels), we are feeling too lazy to write an original blog today. We have blogged about plastic before and new regulations are coming in in the UK for small busineses like hair salons in 2027. (More here)
Therefore what follows is taken from a great email that arrived in our in tray yesterday from one of our favourite brands Shedid and Parrish, with some great suggestions about what you can do to make a difference (and buy their wonderful nproducts too of cpurse). Here goes…
“It’s plastic free July, a now global movement. It started in 2011 in Western Australia, by a woman (of course!) Rebecca Prince-Ruiz and her team. What started as a small idea has now taken off and followed by many!
We’d be hard pushed (certainly in Europe these past few months) to not realise that we really do need to look after our planet.
It’s not about one mammoth change, I’ll be the first to admit that whenever I choose something too grandiose, I lose the momentum way too quickly. It’s about small changes that contribute to a bigger whole.
I’m proud to say that at Shedid & Parrish, we’ve thought about our part from the get go. Whether it’s the ingredients we choose (to ensure we’re not depleting resources that can’t be replenished) the 3rd party businesses we work with (with full traceability so we know we’re directly supporting the growers and farmers) or how we extract the oils and nutrients (choosing sustainable methods) that not only retain the nutrients better but are less harmful and use less power. And of course the most obvious – being plastic free and choosing recycled aluminium so we’re not further contributing to the plastic mountains.
Chosing Recycled Aluminium
How we source our Shea
And the truth is, we can all do our bit. So if you’re wondering what small changes you can make, here’s a few of my favourites;
Upcycle food – I often make more than can be eaten in one sitting, and the truth is many of us don’t want to eat the same thing day after day. So… turning unfinished meals into great new meals is a winner. Unfinished veg are great in new pasta dishes, or turning mash potato into a pie topping. There are so many ways to be creative – as long as the food isn’t thrown out, its a win!
Drinks on the Go – carrying a water container, whether you think you need it or not. The truth is, it’s always when I don’t think I’ll need a drink that I’m pleased it’s there!
Storing veg – those little fabric bags (also sold as a washing protective bra bag) are great. They not only keep the veg fresher for longer (less waste) but mean you can source without the plastic packaging. I absolutely love them!
Water – my favourite (as I drink so much fizzy water) is the soda stream (other brands are available I’m sure) I used to buy loads of water bottles and create a mountain of plastic waste as a result. For years now, I’ve been a firm fan of the soda stream. I replenish my bottles as needed, don’t have the same storage issues, don’t create plastic waste and never run out!
Refills – We have to finish with the obvious! Given our bottles are recycled aluminium, they can be used time and time again. Perfect for your getaways – just bring back the finished bottle (rather than leaving at your destination) and refill it on the return, ready for the next trip! We’re working on larger format refills too but it’ll take time. If you can get your full size bottles back to us in London, we can refill them aswell, if you’re interested, get in touch!”
And as a thank you to the lovely Jessica for borrowing her blog, find out more about Shedid & Parrish here!