You might be a liquor connoisseur or a staunch teetotaler, however you consume buzzy beverages, it's time you get the low-down on conscious cocktail-making. A practice that’s not only good old-fashioned (pardon the pun) fun, but kinder to the planet is something that’ll lift everyone’s spirits.
Now that we’ve spent a great deal of time in our home kitchens learning how to cook sustainably and compost properly, let’s turn our attention to that other thing we’ve been perfecting over the last few years. At-home bartending could be an Olympic sport by now, making it even more prudent to consider just how much your famous espresso martini is costing the planet.
What’s in it for the environment? Zero waste cocktails are that much more in touch with the earth is all about minimising the needless use of natural resources, conserving energy, and using any natural ingredient to its full potential. There is yin and yang to be found in nature and cocktails!
And, while we know that no cocktail can always be 100% sustainable (they’re meant to be a treat… right?), there’s a lot to be said for taking the steps to reduce the impact. Just like these ones:
Sustainable brands
Along with the rise of alcohol-free spirits (if you want your Sunday mornings a little more sustainable), there are plenty of environmentally friendly beers, wines, and spirits to choose from, making your Saturday sundowners easier on the environment. When it comes to creating cocktails, we love Manly Spirits, Antipodes Gin, the Natural Distilling Co, Husk Distillers for the rum lovers, and you must try the 78 Degrees Sunset Gin. And for the non-drinkers, Lyre’s replicates the taste of spirits, with none of the aftermath.
Grow Your Own Ingredients
Simple, when growing your own ingredients you only cut the herbs you need to use as opposed to having to buy a whole pre-cut pack. Don’t forget, as soon as herbs are picked, they begin to lose flavour and wilt…
Skip the straws
For the people in the back, no plastic straws, mmk? Ditch the single-use straws, and look sophisticated while you’re at it with brassy and classy stainless steel sippers. The perfect fit for your center-piece cocktails, the metal straws are ideal for every kind of cocktail, from spritzers to highballs and gin and tonics.
Oleo-saccharum
Huh!? Before your eyes glaze over this marvelous word, oleo-saccharum simply means sugared oil. It’s produced by coating citrus and other oil-rich fruits in sugar and allowing it to macerate. Over 24 hours the sugars will draw out the oils from the fruits creating a sweet oily syrup. You can do this with lime and lemon peels, which make a sweet, citric, and oily syrup. Or with leftover banana skins to create a banana skin syrup.
Dehydration
Remember, that being a zero-waste hero means all your cocktail garnishes need to be edible. Dehydrating fruit will last you a lifetime of edible garnishes, and let’s face it, they’re an Instagram dream. This helps if you have a dehydrator but you can always use an oven on low heat to dehydrate fruits.
Don’t forget to drink responsibly, and sleep consciously!
]]>
World Earth Day is almost here, and this year's theme is all about ‘Investing in our planet.’ So, let's talk about how you can put your money where your mouth is and show some love to Mama Earth!
First up, let's talk about the big bad wolf of the environmental world - plastic. We all know by now that plastic wreaks havoc on the environment, and by 2050, it's predicted that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish! New studies have even discovered a new gene plasticity in fish, which has shown the genetic makeup of our fish has been altered, even when they haven’t yet digested microplastics. Sigh! So, PLEASE ditch the plastic straws, cutlery, and bags, and opt for more sustainable and reusable options. There are so many options out there, so no excuses!
Now, let's talk about everyone's favourite thing - food! Buying local and seasonal produce is not only a great way to support local farmers, but it also reduces the carbon footprint of your food. Bonus points for also shopping organic, this helps care for the soil and keeps it thriving for generations to come. Who doesn't love a fresh and juicy tomato that didn't have to travel halfway across the world to reach your plate and doesn’t contain any nasties?!
Next up, it’s all about the products we use in our everyday lives. Choose products that are sustainably made and have eco-friendly packaging. Look for products that use renewable resources like bamboo or recycled materials and avoid products that contain harmful chemicals. It’s also important to ask yourself if you really do need that new top when you have a closet full of unworn items… oops! Try thrift shopping, second-hand marketplaces and even setting up clothes swap parties with your pals. A new outfit and hangs with friends without spending a penny, yes please!
Let’s now turn our attention to our energy usage. Reducing energy usage is an easy way to invest in our planet. Turn off lights and electronics when you're not using them, use energy-efficient light bulbs, and invest in appliances that are Energy Star certified. We all know the cost of living is rising dramatically, so this tip will have both the planet and your wallet will thanking you!
Last but not least, let's spend some time supporting companies that prioritise sustainability and ethical practices. It may take a little more time, but by doing your research and choosing businesses with transparent supply chains who support sustainable initiatives, you're supporting a better planet for everyone. Transparency is key to accountability, and brands who really care about making a difference, won’t greenwash you with vague details and trending buzzwords.
Investing in our planet is not just a responsibility, it's a real opportunity to make a difference. So, let's get out there and show some love to our favourite planet, we only have one to call home after all. Happy Earth Day everyone!
]]>
Ming Nomchong is a photographer and visual artist who also owns and runs Studio Tropico. We sat down with her to chat about what inspires her to stay creative, and motivates her to create her visual stories.
So, what is it you do exactly?
I’m a photographer and visual artist living on Bunjalung country/Byron Bay Shire. I also own a photo studio and rental business – Studio Tropico. Basically my work/art life revolves around all things photo related. And then my non work life is usually spent in or near the ocean. Surfing, swimming, diving, photographing, being.
How do you get your creative juices flowing?
I have to take time out from whatever I’m doing, slow down to a snail’s pace and just observe. The only way I get amped up to do things is by first doing nothing. Day dreaming, writing, reading, looking, watching. That’s when the ideas come and then the rest follows.
What motivates you?
Making/creating motivates me. When I’m on a roll I don’t want to stop. I’ll keep working well into the night if I’m doing something I love. But also, taking time out and resting is so important. I’ve had burn outs over the years and it’s actually so detrimental to your life as it’s draining and the loss of energy and life force is real.
What or who has been inspiring you lately?
I am and have always forever been inspired by our coastal existence and life in and by the ocean. My work moved pretty fluidly between a few different mediums but my subject matter and focus is always brought back to our human relationship with nature through form and place. I’m inspired by people who aren’t afraid to adventure into the unknown, to take a leap of faith and see it pay off.
Do you have a morning routine? If yes, what is it?
When I’m not up early on a shoot my day usually start with an early morning Pilates class, followed by a lighthouse walk or a beach walk with my dog and then a surf before a coffee and then I’ll head into the studio to get into emails/work on a shoot or some art.
What’s your favourite breakfast?
My breakfast is a late start during the week, a home made green nutty smoothie and on the weekends the man and I love to share a crispy Vietnamese Pancake salad with eggs from Espresso Head in Byron.
One thing you try to do to live more sustainably…
I don’t buy fast fashion. I try and be as considered as I can with my wardrobe, as so much of our waste is contributed to clothing and fast fashion is a huge part of that. I love vintage, I love shopping on Esty and Depop. And if I want something special I’m happy to pay for quality if it means I’ll be keeping it my wardrobe forever.
One easy thing you think everyone should do to be more environmentally conscious…
Walk more.
You have another hour in the day, what do you do?
Make more art.
How do you wind down for bed?
Peppermint tea, a chat on the couch with my man about our day and a nice hot shower.
3 bedtime beauty essentials you can’t live without…
Hydration with Dermavisuals, Lanolips Salve for my lips and a black out eye mask as it makes my sleep 100 times better if all the light is blocked out.
Are you an 8 hours a night kinda gal?
I try to be. If I can get 7-8 hours I’m a happy and well rested girl.
What’s your pyjama style?
Birthday suits all round ;)
You know you’ve had a good sleep when…
You wake up and you look your age and not 10 years older haha.
The last time you did an all-nighter…
I can’t remember! I’m a day time party girl these days. Start early finish early (while still having a banger) is my motto!
]]>
Analisa Flaherty is the lead curator and business owner of Bison Art, an online gallery and refined collection of emerging Australian art. We sat down with her to chat about her new venture how she is making it easier than ever for discerning collectors and first-time art alike buyers alike to purchase their dream art.
So, what is it you do exactly?
I am the founder and curator of Bison Art, an online art gallery that showcases artwork by emerging and newly established Australian artists. I started the business in April this year so it's all still very new, but loving every minute of it so far and watching it grow.
How do you get your creative juices flowing?
I do my best thinking in water… so whether that’s the shower, bath or swimming.
What motivates you?
With Bison Art its not just me that’s involved, but the artists that we represent, so their success is a huge motivator for me. I’m also motivated by imagining the conversations our art collectors would have with their friends when they’re showing off their new artworks hanging proudly on their wall.
What or who has been inspiring you lately?
Music has and always be an avenue of inspiration for me… I have been stuck in a bit of a Spotify rut and not really listening to anything new, but old music that takes me back to a time or place still inspires me as I think of what I was doing then and what has changed.
Do you have a morning routine? If yes, what is it?
I have a (nearly) two year old so she dominates my morning routine… unfortunately, its not that interesting (think Wiggles over breakfast) so I won't bore you!
What’s your favourite breakfast?
Macadamia milk flat white, and a cheese toastie.
One thing you try to do to live more sustainably…
A few years ago I was introduced to the concept of “one item a month”. Basically it's stopping buying lots of cheaper trend based items and instead limiting yourself to one, high quality piece of clothing that you will wear for years.
It's much more sustainable, and makes getting dressed in the morning a lot easier as you have less clothes to sift through.
It's also great as I truly love the pieces in my wardrobe now instead of a lot of “meh”.
You have another hour in the day, what do you do?
Sleep.
How do you wind down for bed?
I know caffeine at night is technically bad but earl grey tea doesn’t seem to affect me, so a cup of tea and just chilling on the couch is part of my wind down. I also have to shower in the evenings. Even if I come home very late and am utterly exhausted I still shower before bed.
3 bedtime beauty essentials you can’t live without…
Rationale no4 cleanser, Face oil (I like rosehip or a blend), and a rich moisturiser! I like to massage my skin every night after applying face oil to help it sink in and increase circulation.
Are you an 8 hours a night kinda gal?
Or more…
What’s your pyjama style?
Every Easter and October I buy new PJs to add to the mix… for winter that’s flannelette pants and a singlet and summer is a matching camisole with short set.
You know you’ve had a good sleep when…
I wake up 2 mins before my alarm and am not tired.
The last time you did an all-nighter…
A very long time ago… I think I was under 25. I can't do all nighters anymore haha!
]]>
Michelle Owen is a DJ, Music Producer, Curator and all-round cool human. Now based in Bali, this Sydney-born beauty juggles life between music, photography and travel. We caught up with her to chat about her newest project, Almost Real Gallery.
So, what is it you do exactly?
After 20 yrs of being a DJ and Music producer I started to expand my other creative passions - Photography. Almost Real started in 2014 when I noticed such an amazing network of creatives around me and no platforms to share their stories. In 2022, Almost Real expanded with new energy into an online fine art photography gallery.
How do you get your creative juices flowing?
Music, photography, travel and experiences. Living abroad always gets my brain in a creative space. I’ve lived in Ibiza, Berlin, London, Maldives, and now Bali.
Crate Cafe Bali recently opened Crate Gallery so there have been some wonderful exhibitions from locals and I’m looking forward to having a month-long pop-up Almost Real exhibition there from November 26th.
What motivates you?
Almost Real motivates me. Hearing about other creative stories. It’s not always easy being creative. We take the unconventional path but it’s essentially who we are so I can’t turn away from that. Nature motivates me too. It’s so pure. A place to clear your mind and create. That’s why I love being under the ocean or on a snowy mountain. There’s a sense of peace when exploring these parts of the world.
What or who has been inspiring you lately?
My dog Yuki. She was an abandoned puppy that our friend found so my partner and I took her in. She is so funny and lifts my spirits. Also, launching Almost Real as an online photography gallery in 2022. It’s been great to connect with other creatives again and to help promote their talents.
Do you have a morning routine? If yes, what is it?
I can’t start the day without coffee. Shower. Wash my face. Play with Yuki.
What’s your favourite breakfast?
Coffee.
One thing you try to do to live more sustainably…
It’s not always easy to be 100% plastic free but I try to cut back on plastic use with Almost Real packaging by using recycled compostable bags and cardboard tubes.
Recently, Bali put a ban on plastic bags and I think this is a wonderful initiative.
I also appreciate ‘slow fashion’.
One easy thing you think everyone should do to be more environmentally conscious…
Carry a reusable bag with you or in your car/bike and get into the habit of taking this instead of using plastic bags. Say no to plastic straws.
You have another hour in the day, what do you do?
Sleep!
How do you wind down for bed?
Light a candle. Listen to music or watch something on my laptop or have some phone time to organise the next day.
3 bedtime beauty essentials you can’t live without…
Simple biodegradable face-wipes, Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Dew Drops, Emma Lewisham 72 hour cream. I love all Emma’s products. They saved my skin during lock-downs.
Are you an 8 hours a night kinda gal?
100% I need my sleep. I think I'm making up for lost time when I worked long hours in night clubs when I was younger.
What’s your pyjama style?
Silk pyjama sets. Or an oversized t-shirt.
You know you’ve had a good sleep when…
I haven't woken up in the middle of the night.
The last time you did an all-nighter…
Traveling from Bali to Melbourne and couldn't sleep on the plane.
]]>
In the last instalment of plastic free swaps, we head into our favourite place in the home (aside from our bed complete with peace silk pillowcases) and yes, that is the kitchen. Horror story time: did you know around 70,000 microplastics are consumed by an average person each year?
According to a study showing plastic pollution waste statistics, this amount, if broken down, is equivalent to approximately 100 bits of microplastic in just a single meal. And sadly, that doesn’t discriminate whether or not you’ve started eating sustainably.
Further to this, 40 billion plastic kitchen utensils are used and discarded each year primarily because kitchen utensils, such as spoons, forks, and knives are made from plastic for easier disposal (aka lazy). If that’s not making you feel a little ill, let’s bring it home with the fact that there are 40 billion plastic spoons, forks, and knives are used and thrown away each year.
And how about your trash disposing techniques? When you’re not composting like an eco-warrior, for every plastic each of us use, that equals 160,000 bags used every second and 5 trillion for the entire year. That’s double the size of France. FRANCE.
But we can keep calm and carry on plastic free. Here’s some simple swaps you can make in the kitchen, to make your every meal that bit sweeter.
Plastic Free Swap #1: Cling Wrap for beeswax wraps
Instant no-brainer for wrapping your work snacks in, clearing up leftovers after your dinner parties, and keeping certain perishables fresh. Beeswax Wraps lead the charge with their unique blend of anti-microbial properties including the highest quality ACO certified organic Australian beeswax, colloidal silver, wild pine resin, and organic Jojoba oil.
We also love HoneyBee Wrap who’s reusable beeswax wraps are eco-friendly, waste free and non-toxic to wash, wrap and re-use. Or go one better and DIY your wraps. This includes you, beeswax pellets, baking paper and cotton fabric, on which you’ll simply melt the wax onto. Easy, right? Get the full details on how to make your own fun and reusable wraps here.
Plastic Free Swap #2: Kitchen foil for silicone baking mats
Kitchen foil, baking paper or parchment, whatever you use to whip up your baked and oven goods, are the epitome of single-use. You can’t recycle most of these due to the coating of bleach and dioxins. Swapping for mats you can use over and over will help ensure your baking adventures leave no trace. And they make baking sooo much easier!
Go For Zero do the simplest zero-waste alternative with their non-stick Reusable Silicone Baking Mats made from non-toxic LFGB certified silicone. Seed and Sprout come to the rescue with their Un-Baking Paper made from flexible, durable silicone and are completely food safe and also LFGB Certified.
Plastic Free Swap #3: Plastic food containers for stainless steel food containers
Storage for the kitchen doesn’t have to be made up of your parents tupperware from the 80s, or the local takeaway’s plastic containers. It can be a lot more stylish than that, and safer for you and the planet, of course.
Cheeki does a range of sizes to store leftovers or your lunch, sandblasted into 100% food grade stainless steel boxes and lids. We love Biome’s leak-proof and airtight containers that stack neatly inside each other for storage, made from high quality 304 grade stainless steel and silicone. And, don’t forget you can always save your wallet a little, by saving and reusing your glass jars.
Plastic Free Swap #4: Plastic dish brush for compostable dish brush
Ditching the single-use doesn’t stop after you’ve made your meal. In fact, it’s just the beginning. The next step in creating your conscious kitchen is to consider how you’re cleaning your dishes. Ditch the plastic for a brush that won’t feel the burn out after a few spag bols, doesn’t utilise chemicals in the production process and won’t end up in landfill. Ever Eco’s cleaning brush range is made from plants to provide a sustainable alternative and are made from unvarnished wood to eliminate chemicals from the production process. They are also compost compatible and prevent brushes from slipping out of wet hands.
Plastic Free Swap #5: Chux for a biodegradable dish cloth
The very naming of ‘Chux’ isn’t exactly doing single use disposal any favours. We’d like to not-Chux, thanks. Fortunately, Flora and Fauna offer cute eco-friendly dish cloths that are made from cotton and cellulose and are 100% biodegradable. They’re also super absorbent and long-lasting. When you're finished with them, just pop them in the composter and they'll break down. Yay! Meanwhile, Who Gives A Crap truly gives a crap about cleaning with their washable Dream Cloths, which can hold 13x their weight in water and are made with 100% plant based ingredients, to be tossed in the compost when they eventually need to be done away with.
Long live Plastic Free July! It’s really not hard to put in the work in your daily life, so our beautiful planet can breathe the way Mother Nature intended. That’s what we call a fair swap.
]]>On average, Australians use 130kg of plastic per person each year. Less than 12% of that's recycled. 130,000 tonnes of plastic will find its way into our waterways and into the ocean. So yes, it’s going to take a lot of work, but if we each change our habits, more and more businesses with single-use items will start to get the message, and manufacturers will no longer have the demand to produce virgin plastic.
A fork to eat your lunch, a plastic mask to catch the train with, a plastic pack of tissues for those winter sniffles, coffee cup after plastic coffee cup - yeah, they’re good for the duration of the trip, but what happens next? A staggering eight million tonnes of plastic pollution enters the ocean each year and is set to double by 2025. So, if that much plastic is in the ocean, also think about how much is ending up on your dinner table. Food for thought…
Did you know 95% of plastic is used just once before being discarded? To start doing your part, read on for these 5 easy solutions to prep and pop into your work bag so you are never caught short asking for that plastic fork again.
Plastic Free Swap #1: Your takeaway coffee cup for a reusable option
With so many reusable options these days for your morning caffeine hit, there’s just really no excuse to be wondering around with a single use cup, even if it is recycled, compostable or whatever else it’s claiming to be. While you could always invest in making your own at home - we get it, there’s nothing quite like your favourite barista brewing your usual first thing in the morning. So, when you’re not hanging by the home or work coffee machine (and for some reason, you don’t love instant coffee…), a keep cup is a must. And yes, science says your keep cup is COVID safe!
Right now, we’re loving Huskee’s options for the minimalist, if you like to keep it chic and low-key, while Frank Green has an impressively bright collection, better for those who need a little visual reminder in the morning.
Plastic Free Swap #2: Smoothie to-go for smoothie cup or metal straw
So you’ve had your coffee in your fab new keep cup, and you’re onto a little liquid support for that brain function. Aka, it’s time for your go-to smoothie for brekkie on the run. Not only are plastic smoothie cups, you know, bad (see above), but they’re also flimsy, clumsy, and just unattractive. Get your local juicer to pour it into a Cheeki tumbler that’s double wall and vacuum insulated to keep your drink icy cold for up to 6 hours, and it comes with a handy stainless-steel reusable straw. Or, Seed and Sprout offer tumblers in earthy hues, with all the same benefits and a travel lid, so you can pop it in your bag while you leg it for the bus.
Plastic Free Swap #3: Single-use cutlery for a utensil kit
And it’s lunchtime. Whether you’re on the go with a walking lunch meeting (who does that?), stretched out in the park, or on the sand - no one wants to be that person who drops into the cafe just to ask for a plastic fork. The aim of the game here is to be prepared, and you can do so with Flora and Fauna’s bamboo cutlery pouch, which is actually so cute you’ll never leave home without it. It includes a knife, fork, spoon, chopsticks, bamboo straw and cleaning brush(!). Or head to Retro Kitchen, whose stainless steel cutlery set comes in a compact carry case, perfect to keep in the car so you’re never caught short.
Plastic Free Swap #4: Plastic shopping bags for reusable bags
You know when you wish you had a grocery bag that looks like a regular bag but can fit all your snacks and is also durable? Problem solved! When you’re getting work lunch or study snacks for the day ahead, think green. Frank Green. Their reusable bag can be a shopping bag, a tote bag, and a backpack, and it is made from ecorpet® fabric. Winning.
Biome has a nifty solution for when you’re just taking your handbag with you. Their reusable bag made from recycled plastic, folds up into a small pouch you can slide in next to your wallet.
Plastic Free Swap #5: Work bag essentials for their eco-friendly counterparts
Your phone is probably near you for about 99% of your work day, and something that should be glaringly obvious by now - is what’s protecting it from your butter fingers. Introduce your little friend to sustainable and eco-friendly protective mobile phone cases like Mina Cases or try Pela, the world’s first fully sustainable cases that are also compostable.
Grimy pack of tissues hanging around in that bag of yours? It’s time to go hanky. Now, don’t be intimidated by a hanky when you should be intimidated by the amount of plastic pollution instead. Biome has pretty organic cotton patterned handkerchiefs, designed and made in Australia, while Hankys (you guessed it) makes just about every pattern you can dream up in 100% cotton.
If you’re into extra environmental credit (you should be), think about how it is you’re getting to work. Hopping in the car a little too much? Instead of burning calories and fossil fuels at the gym before work, take time in the morning to get those legs moving by walking (as far as your commute allows) and letting your mind clear before the day ahead. If walking is not an option, take your foot off the pollution accelerator and jump on public transport. Hey, you get to take the bus lane and listen to a podcast while you’re at it.
Now, go get that bread!
]]>Let’s start with a scary bedtime story (that is sure to get that BPM up). According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the world is producing twice as much plastic waste as two decades ago, with the bulk of it ending up in landfill, incinerated or leaking into the environment. Only 9% of plastic is recycled. Well, 15% is collected for recycling, but 40% of that is disposed of as residues. Feel ill yet?
Plastic consumption has quadrupled over the past 30 years, driven by growth in emerging markets and currently accounting for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. And, despite global efforts, we’re wasting more - a lot more. And for a country like Australia, surrounded by beautiful beaches and waterways inhabited by the most unique creatures on the planet - there is now an estimated 30 million tonnes of plastic waste in seas and oceans.
Nearly two-thirds of plastic waste comes from plastics with lifetimes of under five years, with 40% coming from packaging, 12% from consumer goods, and 11% from clothing and textiles. The silver lining is that these 3 categories fit squarely into how you work out; the cute outfits you wear and who you buy them from, how you hydrate during after the workout, and the equipment and props you use to get those toned buns.
So, if you want to keep flaunting those washboard, bikini-ready abs on beautiful, natural beaches, lakes and rivers - here are 5 plastic free exercise swaps you can do to reduce your impact wherever and whenever you work out.
Hot, sweaty tip: if your idea of a workout is hiking and camping through our natural facilities, make sure you’re clued in on the 7 Leave No Trace principles. That’s what we call happy campers.
Plastic Free Swap #1: Polyester tights for natural fibre clothing
For the reasons mentioned above, it’s important to get as close as you can to plastic-free workout gear. Don’t worry, your bum can still look like a million dollars without surplus spandex.
The benefits of natural fibre leggings, sports bras and tanks don’t stop at the environment. You know how some of your exercise clothes reek of gym lockers as soon as they get a drop of sweat on them? Think of your polyester or nylon tights like a plastic bag… plastic bags don’t breathe. What do you think is happening to your poor little pores under all that plastic? Yep, acne in crazy places!
We recommend sussing out what your favourite brands are using in those best-selling leggings. When in doubt, Girlfriend Collective is steadfast in ethical manufacturing and using recycled materials, Nagnata uses predominantly GOTS-certified organic cotton and Merino wool in their collections, and Butter Butter not only focuses on materials, but packaging and factory standards.
Plastic Free Swap #2: Plastic bottles for reusable water bottles
Probably one of the greatest catalysts for the impending apocalypse. Plastic water bottles! Forgetting your water bottle at the gym could very well mean staring down the barrel of a vending machine full of non-recyclable plastic. Imagine for every forgetful person and their every workout - there was a plastic bottle used. Gross!
Instead of wasting a few dollars on a 7-11 drive-by, try looking for reusable water bottles that are just too pretty to leave behind. And, set a reminder if you’ve got a week’s worth of work on your mind. We love Porter Green and their beautiful pastel range of stainless steel water bottles that come in at 1L for your every workout. Or, Klean Kaneteen has a range of designs with Klean Coat™ powder coat finish that is durable, chip-resistant and safe for people and the planet.
Plastic Free Swap #3: Hair ties for eco-scrunchies
With countless lost hair ties in the wild (literally), while they may have snapped on you - they haven’t exactly broken down and started fertilising your veggie patch. Plus, those pesky ‘elastics’ have done more damage than good to your hair in the process.
This is why we, NIDRA, make our famously eco-friendly, and devilishly good-looking scrunchies for the good of your hair, and the planet. They are made from 100% Organic Ahimsa Silk (which is much more ethical than other silks on the market). All our scrunchies are made from off-cuts from our pillow cases which are responsibly sourced in India and designed and made in Australia. Plus, the Eco-Elastic inside our scrunchies is made from GOTS-certified cotton and natural rubber from FSC Forests, so you can feel good about your hair staying put while you’re in a back-bend. And to seal the deal, all our products are packaged and shipped in materials that are completely compostable. Take a look, here.
Plastic Free Swap #4: Plastic props for eco-friendly substitutes
Plastic abounds in the gym and the pilates studio, and while the natural world is your oyster - we get it, nothing quite gets the blood pumping like some of your favourite classes. From your sweat towel to your yoga mat, there are ways and means of reducing, reusing and recycling.
Swap that sweat towel, rag-type thing with something good for your face, and the earth. Gym Face towels are made with recycled bottles and microfibre to minimise bacterial growth, keeping them cleaner for longer, and yogi enthusiasts Alo offer an ultra-absorbent, microfiber tech towel, you’ll have on hand (and face) for a lifetime.
As for your yoga mat, we’ve found a pretty definitive list of mats made from everything from natural, biodegradable rubber to cork and recycled materials - and are latex-free.
Plastic Free Swap #5: Post-gym beauty plastics for natural ingredients
So now that you’ve mopped up your sweat with a recycled sweat towel, put your hair up with a peace silk scrunchie and replenished yourself via your stainless steel water bottle, it's time to leave the gym looking just as cool, calm and collected as when you entered.
Ditch the BO and the plastic, with the swap of the season; natural deodorants. No Pong takes the cake with a range of naturally derived ingredients for every type of skin type, while Ethique’s Botanica keep sweat and smells away with magnesium hydroxide, zinc oxide and bamboo (which absorbs 200% of its own weight in sweat and oil).
To keep that skin dewy and fresh, we recommend a good sunscreen post-workout to ensure your skin stays moisturised and safe from UV rays. We Are Feel Good Inc offers clean sunscreens free from fragrance, PABAs, parabens, oxybenzone and octinoxate, and Grown Alchemist offers a lush vegan and cruelty-free sunscreen with broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection with SPF 30.
Happy sweating!
]]>
But, what happens when fashion becomes less of a cerebral thing, and just a money thing? Racks and racks piled in warehouses, online flash sales that never end, and then there are the scary facts. The fashion industry accounts for 5% of greenhouse emissions globally, and packaging, swing tags, and store elements aside - the majority of fashion’s carbon emissions come from raw material production, that being mostly synthetic fabrics. And with more than 60% of the world’s textiles being used for clothing, fast fashion has played a detrimental role in the impact of synthetic fabric on the environment. I said it was scary!
The better news is, that by establishing a circular fashion economy, the industry can help contribute to tackling 45% of these emissions. Woo hoo!
So, what the heck does that mean? Well, creating a circular fashion economy is based on three principles:
And what does that have to do with you? Just that you don’t have to be a big fast-fashion conglomerate to start implementing changes, you can just… be you, your fashion-loving self. Start consciously dressing and buying with the help of these five environmentally-friendly ways and means.
1. Mend and repair what you have
According to Changing Markets, ‘disposability’ is key to the environmental impact, with some clothing brands actually admitting it only takes ten washes before crappy, synthetic items that looked so good that ONE TIME, begins to show signs of wear and tear.
So do it like they used to! Everything old is new again - literally! Make Do and Mend was a pamphlet issued by the British Ministry of Information in the midst of WWII to provide housewives with useful tips on how to be both frugal and stylish in times of harsh rationing. Readers were advised to create pretty ‘decorative patches’ to cover holes in worn garments; unpick old jumpers to re-knit chic alternatives (so in right now), altering, and protect against the ‘moth menace’. Fancy a little harsh rationing?
From patching to sewing, there are plenty of ways you can learn to repair, remove stains and become a broken zip-and-button aficionado. Just 2 minutes could add 2 years (or more) to an item. The fine people at eco-label A.BCH even offer a custom repair kit. Ain’t that useful?
2. Re-dying to meet you
If you’re one of those ‘black is the new black’ kind of fashionistas, re-dying will be right up your alley. The geniuses at Black Fridye claim that through their re-dying processes last year they saved up to 1,850,904 L. That’s compared to virgin production, which is equivalent to 27 backyard swimming pools! They also quantify a 95% average reduction rate in carbon emissions compared to buying new clothes. Pretty cool.
The ability to redye may also encourage you to continue buying natural fabrics. Natural plant-based fibres work best for dying, like cotton, hemp or linen. Cellulosics like bamboo, Tencel or viscose also dye well as will any blend of natural fibres. Synthetics and fabric blends, on the other hand, continue to be your enemy.
3. Recycling (properly)
So, when that bi-annual wardrobe clear-out rolls around, some of us might be guilty of ‘donating’ to Vinnies or the Smith Family, what we think is pure gold… However, when we donate useless or inappropriate items, the charity has to pay the cost of sending it to landfill. Not really productive is it?
When it comes to recycling your clothes properly, think - would I give this to a friend? When in doubt Instead ask the charity beforehand what their donation criteria is. Alternatively, Some of the big retailers have come to the recycling/ upcycling party here in Aus, with H&M and Zara offering recycling services for unwanted clothes, of any brand and in any condition, at all their Australian stores. Sheridan accepts any brand of preloved quilt covers, sheets and towels, and sock retailer Manrags accepts clean unwanted socks (including odd socks) for reuse and recycling. Better yet, the Iconic has teamed up with the Salvos and Australia Post to allow you to donate your clothes.
Need more options? The legends at Frankie Magazine have compiled a list of places you can recycle your clothes in Australia.
4. Thrift shopping & clothes swapping
Not just a song! The Thrift Shop should be renamed ‘vintage wonderland’ for its ability to unearth that one item you’ve been searching a lifetime for. If you’re a Sydney-sider, you can start your search here and here.
Don’t bother going to the Reject Shop for synthetic, itchy, plastic, and down-right strange costumes for your next dress-up party; head to your local thrift store, op shop, or Vinnies for quality clothes (recycled by people like you) for a fraction of anything you’ll pay at a retailer - and a truly quality ‘costume’ you can wear after the party's over.
Speaking of parties… ever had a friend compliment what you’re wearing? She's on the list. Reusing, recycling, and redying can all lead to hosting a clothing swap party with friends. Not only is it a great way to have fun (I’m picturing the Carrie Bradshaw wardrobe scene, you know the one), you and your friends may walk away with an entirely new outfit. And don’t stop at one. Swapping something out with a friend every few months will give your old clothes a sense of novelty, while also supporting your friends to reduce and reuse as well. Win-win!
5. Woke shopping
Sustainable and consciously purchasing fashion items is getting easier and easier to do. Now not just a marketing term, ‘sustainable’ clothes fall under many umbrellas, but the brands with their finger on the pulse will tell you exactly how they are sticking to their values.
It’s truly all about quality over quantity. Gone are the days of the last-minute Supre haul, you’re better than that! Resist the urge to buy an endless amount of clothes and instead build a sustainable wardrobe, including a small number of high-quality, classic pieces that you love the texture, shape and feel of. And it doesn’t mean they have to be all neutral colours in Byron Bay white and beige; sustainable pieces could be gloriously coloured knits, merino activewear, silky slips, and fancy footwear.
Everyone has that one event they want to enter with jaw-to-the-floor kind of reactions. This is exactly why the rental market was invented. Hire glorious clothes on your budget, slow down your environmental impact and stay true to your zesty, sexy self. Glam Corner, Your Closet, All the Dresses and The Volte are all at your service.
Did you know you can compost your clothes too? If they fit the biodegradable bill, check out exactly how you can compost here.
If you’re sensitive, blemish or acne-prone skin is keeping you up at night, and having you wake up to new and nastier zits and dots, it’s time to show acne the door. You can do this by implementing these easy skin-saving tips into your nighttime routine.
The culprit: Your mask
The cure: Ah, the mask. Not to be confused with a Jim Carrey film, or your favourite way to wind down with a glass of wine, the mask (covid-style) is the most notorious new trigger for facial acne - aka maskne.
The hidden beauty of the mask is that you’re covered - so, it might be time to adopt less-irritating techniques like dropping the makeup brush and let your skin breathe all day, and all night. Don’t worry, you can go hard on the eye makeup instead.
The culprit: Sneaky marketing
The cure: Beware, beware, beware of overused marketing terms, results that sound too good to be true, and remember to read the ingredients. Not all skincare products will get the overnight skincare results they claim.
The culprit: Your hormones
The cure: If you’ve become pregnant, or recently had some life or physical changes occur, going through Puberty Vol.2, or have an underlying condition (such as PCOS) you might be noticing the acne a little (or a lot) more than usual.
The culprit: You. You’re doing it wrong
The cure: If you’re not removing your makeup properly (or at all), or using the wrong skincare products for your skin type, it’s time for a good old-fashioned nighttime skincare review.
The culprit: Your pillowcase
The cure: Getting enough sleep is one thing, but doing it so your skincare routine works to optimum levels is a whole other ball game. And it’s not always because your pillowcase hasn’t seen the washing machine in a few weeks…
Hot Tip: NIDRA silk pillowcases aren’t absorbent, irritating, or bacteria-collecting so they’ll keep your nighttime skincare products where they should be: on your face!
]]>In 2022 it seems we can’t get enough quality time with our silky pillows for a blockbuster night of zs. No really, we can’t. Did you know a lack of quality sleep affects up to 4 in 10 Australian adults? That’s almost half your office floor who’s woken up needing a dozen coffees, and looking like they need a dozen coffees.
But herein lies the problem, all that’s going on in the world, the deadlines, social stresses and even that darn possum outside the window can keep you up longer than you expected. Getting your beauty sleep isn’t always a bed of roses. In light of World Sleep Day, when the sandman fails to visit you on any given night, it’s less about faking it to make it and more about just giving yourself a chance.
Here’s how you can wake up still looking like you’ve had the best 8 hours sleep of your life.
1. DO YOUR SKIN SERVICE
Dehydrated skin is the calling card of a bad night’s sleep. Fine lines and wrinkles, breakouts and patchy skin can be stopped in its tracks by simply hydrating enough to keep your natural glow. This starts with downing a big glass of water and removing your makeup before you go to bed to prevent congestion and breakouts.
Try a sheet mask before bedtime for a super-injection of hydrating ingredients in an effort to reduce future puffy-face, with enough vitamin-boosting oomph to carry you over ‘til the morning.
To truly look like you’ve woken up, don’t forget to remove the dirt and grime that emerged overnight with a refreshing face wash. This will set the tone to allow your sleep-recovery beauty products to really give it some.
During the day, or as part of your morning routine use an SPF to protect your skin from UV damage and premature aging, not to mention the ingredients can lift your face from sleepy to glowy. Try using a face oil massaged in with a chilled facial roller to help cool and soothe your skin. Or do as the catwalk queens do; fill a bowl or sink with ice cubes to submerge your visage into, in order to combat puffy eyes and calm inflammation.
2. UP YOUR BEDROOM ANTE
First things first, your bed is not the dining room table or tv lounge. To truly reap the benefits of bedtime, create a sleep-inducing bedroom in an environment focussed on maximum comfort and minimal reasons to stay awake.
Use a high-performing mattress and pillow that suits your needs so that you are always comfortable enough to relax. It also ensures, along with the best pillow, that your spine gets proper support to avoid aches and pains that can have you looking haggard in the morning. Next, look at your bedding. It must be comfortable to the touch and made from fibres that help maintain a comfortable temperature during the night. Think; ethical silk, hemp and bamboo.
The breathable fibres and natural hydrating properties of peace silk pillowcases will help you to retain essential oils and absorb your skincare, so you wake hydrated with a supple complexion. Not to mention, it’s super comfortable and highly relaxing (not that we’re biased or anything, it’s just the truth).
Cultivate peace and quiet by keeping noise to a minimum. If you can’t eliminate nearby sources of noise, consider drowning them out with a fan or get an app featuring white noise or sleep sounds. Earplugs or headphones will work wonders if certain sounds are preventing you from relaxing into sleep. For your smell receptors, a light scent can help ease you into sleep. Essential oils with natural aromas, such as lavender are known to soothe and relax (and it's a scent you’ll never tire of).
3. DON’T MAKE LIGHT OF THE LIGHT
Light disruption is a pretty big deal when it comes to getting proper sleep, and waking up looking like that 8-hour girl.
Excess light exposure can throw off your sleep and circadian rhythm. Using blackout curtains over your windows or a sleep mask over your eyes can block light and prevent it from interfering with your rest.
Blue light from your devices can reduce hormones like melatonin, which help you relax and get deep sleep. To reduce nighttime blue light exposure, you can install an app that blocks blue light on your smartphones and devices. Get into the habit of turning off the TV and any bright lights for 2 hours (yes, 2!) before heading to bed.
4. LET THE DAY INFLUENCE THE NIGHT
Setting yourself up for a good night’s sleep starts as soon as your alarm goes off. Our internal clocks are regulated by light exposure, and as sunlight has the strongest effect, try and get those rays of vitamin D by getting outside or opening up windows or blinds to natural light early in the day. This will help set your circadian rhythm on the path to sleep success.
Get moving. A no-brainer for a world of sleep-inducing benefits and glowing, radiant skin, daily exercise initiates change in energy use and body temperature to promote a pretty solid sleep, provided you don’t go pumping some crazy iron too close to bedtime. And if you don’t get the sleep you need, exercise will make it look like you did.
We love coffee. Love it! But sometimes it affects our sleep. As can tea, sugary sodas, and energy drinks. Keep an eye on your caffeine intake and avoid it later in the day when you know it can be that final barrier to falling asleep.
5. NO QUICK FIXES
It can be so tempting to jump on a quick-fix bandwagon for sleep, but consider the long-term effects. Most quick fixes are unhealthy and will leave you looking and feeling groggier than if you only had a few hours naturally.
For example, sleeping pills are unlikely to help with insomnia in the long term according to reports and might do more harm than good. Similarly, with prescription medication for chronic pain to temporary sleep relief, there is no evidence that this works long-term.
Then there’s the subject of alcohol… While you might enjoy that sleepy feeling from red wine or two, alcohol can disrupt your sleep later, which can possibly lead to frequent waking, night sweats, headaches, and restlessness. Not pretty. According to the Sleep Health Foundation, binge drinking can affect melatonin levels for up to a week (eek!).
Lastly, drop the sleep calculators with no scientific backing. It might be best not to let an app determine when you should fall asleep, as this will probably have the reverse effect when all you can think is, “why aren’t I asleep yet?”.
For more ways to support your sleeping patterns and waking up looking like an 8-hour goddess, read up on why it’s sustainable, skin-saving, and just plain suitable to sleep on peace silk.
]]>Our packaging
All our packaging comes from noissue, a company that has sustainability at its core. Producing tissue paper (home compostable/recyclable), stickers (compostable), mailer bags (home compostable), shipping labels (home compostable) and release liners (recyclable) that are all far less harmful to the environment than those other non-recyclable deliveries you may occasionally receive.
Just make sure you shred any larger packaging before adding to your compost. You can cut things into little squares or just rip them into strands. They'll break down quicker, and you can scatter the pieces evenly.
You can read more about our packaging here.
Our pillowcases and scrunchies
When it comes to our pillowcases and scrunchies… guess what? They are home compostable as well! When they have reached the end of their life, simply shred ‘em and add them to your compost. You don’t even have to worry about removing any of the labels as we made sure they are recycled satin dyed with non-toxic inks.
How long should a silk pillowcase last?
Typically, the going rate for silk is 12 months. But, like everything, the more you take care of a product, the longer it’ll last. We believe if you follow the proper care instructions there is no reason they couldn’t last longer.
You can check out our full care instructions here.
Remember, overconsumption is one of our biggest environmental issues, so look after your case… your crease-free face, frizz-free locks and mother Earth will thank you for it.
So what exactly does ‘home compostable’ mean?
For something to be classified as home compostable it must break down in at least 180 days in a home compost system.
But what if I don’t have a home composting system?
We get it. Not everyone home composts, but we highly recommend taking it up as your next hobby, and you can read all about composting 101 in our blog post here.
Alternatively, try and find a neighbour who does have one, or take it to your local community garden and use their home compost system – this is also a great way to get involved in gardening and grow and harvest your own produce. It is a win-win!
If you don’t have access to any of the above options, you may be able to place the pillowcases and/or scrunchies in your garden organics bin, just call your council to see if this okay. If not, and this is a last resort, place them in your general waste bin.
]]>
Other than the environmental hobbyist within you dying to start a new project, there are endless reasons to introduce composting to your kitchen, and garden. Composting will allow you to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water conservation, save yourself some money and resources on garden care, and give your plants and flowers the soil they deserve.
Almost half of the food waste right now in your rubbish bin could have been composted...
So, let’s get started.
FIRST THING’S FIRST: GET A BIN
Before you can do anything, you need somewhere to house your compost. Compost bins now come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit small or large spaces. You can purchase one from a garden centre, or you can do DIY with plastic storage tubs, wooden pallets, and plastic garbage cans.
Enclosed compost bins
Enclosed bins are ideal for small-scale outdoor composting. These practical containers are enclosed on the sides and top and open on the bottom so they sit directly on the ground. An enclosed bin is ideal for residential areas with smaller yards, and enables you to discourage pests while you’re at it.
Tumblers
Tumblers are the most efficient enclosed bin method. It’s possible to maintain relatively high temperatures in tumbler systems, both because the container acts as insulation and allows you to easily turn, or tumble the compost. This natural process creates a lot of heat, and yep, a small fire risk. Keep a close eye on your compost heap during fire season.
Digesters
Alternatively, a food waste digester can sit atop your kitchen counter to grind and dehydrate food waste in as little as three hours, leaving you with an odour-free material suitable for fertiliser.
THE HOW: DON’T COMPLICATE IT
Start stacking
Depending on your container, it’s best to begin your compost pile on bare earth. This allows worms and other organisms to aerate the compost. Lay twigs or straw first, a few inches deep for drainage and aerating purposes.
Add compost materials in layers, alternating between moist ingredients and dry ingredients. If you’re adding in wood ashes, sprinkle in thin layers, or they will clump together and be slow to break down. Finally, add green manure or an alternative nitrogen source. This will activate the compost pile and speed the process along.
Keep compost moist
Water occasionally, or let the rain do the job. The rule of thumb is compost should be moist, but not soaked. Cover your compost with wood, sheeting or carpet scraps to prevent over-watering from rain, and to retain the moisture.
Turn it!
Every few weeks give the pile a quick turn with a pitchfork or shovel. Or give your tumbler a turn if this is your mode of compost. Turning adds oxygen to your pile which is key to aerating the composting materials and speeding the process to completion.
THE WHAT: ART MEETS SCIENCE
Here’s the thing: all compostable materials are either carbon or nitrogen-based, to varying degrees. The secret to a healthy compost pile is to maintain a working balance between these two elements. Science!
A healthy compost pile should have much more carbon than nitrogen. A simple way to remember this to use one-third green (think grass clippings, fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds and tea leaves, vegetable plant remains and plants) and two-thirds brown materials branches, stems, dried leaves, peels, bits of wood, bark dust or sawdust pellets, shredded brown paper bags, corn stalks, coffee filters, conifer needles, eggshells, straw, peat moss, wood ash).
The bulkiness of the brown materials allows oxygen in and nourishes the organisms deep in your pile. Good composting hygiene means covering fresh nitrogen-rich material, which can release odours if exposed to open air, with carbon-rich material, which often exudes a fresh, wonderful smell.
If in doubt, for that fluffy body, add more carbon.
Oh and, don’t put any cooked food waste in your compost... unless you like vermin!
FLUFFY AND THRIVING
Now that you’ve activated your compost with your green manure, there are a couple of things that indicate your pile needs some extra care, and to ensure it’s emitting those steam waves we love so much.
Small fruit flies
They love compost. To keep them at bay, when you add new kitchen waste to your pile, cover exposed fruit or vegetable matter. You can do this by adding one or two inches of grass clippings. Lime and calcium will also discourage flies.
Bad smells
Not ideal. To reduce or eliminate odours, remember to not put bones or meat scraps into the compost; second, cover new additions to the compost pile with dry grass clippings or similar mulch.
Sogginess
A soggy pile is a common problem, especially in winter, when carbon-based materials are in short supply. To solve this problem, you’ll need to restore your compost to a healthy nitrogen-carbon balance.
Pile clumping
If your grass is clumping, or your leaves are matting, set them to the side of the composter and add them gradually with other ingredients, or break them apart with a shovel or similar. Grass clippings and leaves should be mixed with the rest of the composting materials for best results.
So, get the right bin for you, balance your elements, and stack seamlessly. A hot, steamy pile means that you have a large community of tiny critters working away at making compost. And that is exactly what your garden is after.
]]>Poppy Richard AKA @squigglesnyc is the brains and design behind our beautiful packaging. She is a creative digital specialist who works in Advertising and moonlights as an incredibly talented artist. We LOVE her artwork and designs, so it obviously made sense that she was the first person we sat down to chat with for our 'In Bed Series'. Enjoy!
Hey Poppy! So first off, how do you get your creative juices flowing?
Listen to music and daydream. Travel used always be the most inspiring thing for me, however these days it is a bit harder to do.
What motivates you?
Love, deadlines, regret… or not wanting to experience regret later in life. This is what motivates me.
What or who has been inspiring you lately?
I’m currently fascinated by the Chicago Imagists movement from the 1960s. Their art seems so abstract and modern. Tribal, trippy, surreal, vibrant. I tend to watch a lot of YouTube segments on art and the New York art gallery scene when I re-discovered Gladys M. Nilsson. I find her work so inspiring and quite relevant to the some of the themes we have experienced over the last 18 months. Credit to James Kalm (YouTube) who has the most wonderful NYC gallery tour series. Makes me feel like I never left that wonderful city.
Do you have a morning routine?
If yes, what is it? Wake up early every morning for a sunrise walk, do my home workout, get ready for the day. Make sure I start any work meetings with a strong cup of coffee.
What’s your favourite breakfast?
Always coffee. Nothing beats a great coffee in the morning. I can’t skip my morning coffee… Sets me up for the entire day.
One thing you try to do to live more sustainably…
Be conscious of all the little things we can do that make a difference, including buying sustainable goods, clothes, food… Using less power and water. Walking more, driving less. All the little things add up.
One easy thing you think everyone should do to be more environmentally conscious…
Be present and understand the impact little decisions make in the long-term.
You have another hour in the day, what do you do?
An extra hour in the day would let me have longer walks on the beach and more time to paint and draw.
How do you wind down for bed?
I always shower before bed and read or play word games to ensure my brain has switched off.
3 bedtime beauty essentials you can’t live without…
My skincare routine is very simple. I use Cannabella Renwal Serum and Cannabella Hemp Jelly as a night balm every night, I tie my hair in a top knot with an invisi bobble… which seems to be the only way my crazy hair can be easily managed the next day. Wish I knew about those earlier.
Are you an 8 hours a night kinda gal?
Definitely not 8 hours. I’m better on 6-7 hours a night. If I sleep for 8 hours I tend to wake up groggy and more tired than before I went to sleep.
What’s your pyjama style?
Winter, I’m a sweater and shorts girl. Summer, I love light cotton pyjamas that breathe.
You know you’ve had a good sleep when…
I don’t wake up grumpy haha… or remember all the dreams I had that night.
The last time you did an all-nighter…
Would have been New York 2019, before I moved back to Australia, out and about with friends enjoying the city.
]]>But, here’s what’s not everywhere. The explosion of single-use plastics being disposed of during lockdown is pretty scary. That includes the demand for face shields, gloves, takeaway food containers, and bubble wrap for online shopping. What’s worse? New plastic is cheaper to buy than recycled plastic, which means the bulk of the aforementioned - you cannot recycle.
So, in light of being Bondi natives, we’re taking the armchair activism route and showing you how to still say ‘hell, no!’ to single-use plastic when you’re confined to your four walls, the supermarket, and your takeaway coffee shop.
1. Confirmed: Using your keep cup is 100% A-OK.
As we mentioned in our last blog on plastic consumption, you know how long it takes for your coffee cup lid to break down. And, the bulk of our recycling is now being sent to landfill or stockpiled until someone can find a solution. Even pre-2018, only 9% of plastic was being recycled.
According to this statement, nearly 130 scientists, academics, and doctors from 19 countries agreed to reassuring retailers and consumers that reusable systems can be safely used during the pandemic alongside basic hygiene.
The Victorian Government has distributed a factsheet that tells us here, that there is no evidence to support switch back to using single-use plastics.
Not sure if your local cafe is doing its best by responsibly disposing and reducing its environmental footprint? You can find one who is, right here.
Alternatively, share this video with your local café and ask them to get involved with the ‘contactless pour’.
2. Shop and eat locally and sustainably
Supporting your local restaurants has become a big deal during lockdown, not only to keep the local economy pumping away - but let’s face it - having your favourite restaurant deliver your dinner might just be the highlight of the day (or week).
You can still make sure it’s as sustainable as possible. Say no to plastic straws, bags, silverware, and extra napkins. Decline extra condiments, choosing meals you know will have less plastic packaging (like pizza!) and recycle the paper bag you’re left with. On the other hand, you can investigate local food box deliveries which will help reduce food waste, and given most of it will be locally grown, this will result in fewer food miles.
You can read all about cooking and shopping sustainably, something we prepared earlier, here.
3. Re-use, re-use, re-use
If the global population adheres to a standard of one disposable face mask per day after lockdowns end, the pandemic could result in a monthly global consumption and waste of 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves.
Improper disposal of just 1% of face masks translates to more than 10 million items, weighing 30,000 to 40,000 kg in landfills. Yikes. It’s kind of imperative we all invest in a few reusable facemasks, which fortunately are everywhere, and to introduce your household to biodegradable and compostable gloves.
Take your reusables to your beauty bag by doing a plastic audit on your makeup and skin routine, and your bathroom by choosing this kind of toilet paper.
So, yes, you can keep fighting the good fight with a continuous eye on your plastic consumption during lockdown, and do your bit for Mother Earth.
]]>Influencers with 20-product makeup routines, YouTubers preaching double-cleansing, with all that product, the only thing beauty hoarding enhances... is landfill. Thankfully, with the rise of sustainable and inclusive brands (and a lot of downtime to rethink your life), no-makeup makeup is back in a big way.
]]>Thankfully, with the rise of sustainable and inclusive brands (and a lot of downtime to rethink your life), no-makeup makeup is back in a big way. According to Pinterest’s 2021 Trends Predictions report, we’re forgoing product-heavy routines to embrace slow beauty. Marrying skincare and makeup is officially the new way to glow-up, and our planet (and your skin) can finally breathe easier. Hey there, freckles.
While you’re saying sayonara to concealer no.3, consider these five ways you can feel even better about reducing your beauty footprint.
1. Replace Disposables with Reusables
Here’s a scary fact: The Marine Conservation Society suggests that there are 35 wipes found for every kilometer of British beach – and that number isn’t slowing down. Meanwhile, billions of disposable plastic razors end up in landfill every year. Yikes.
One of the easiest ways to reduce your beauty waste is to simply opt for products that can be reused over and over again.
If you’re determined to use the rest of your makeup wipes, tampons or pads just make sure you throw them in the correct bins and don’t flush them down the toilet.
2. Make Your Disposables Biodegradable
Ok so, we know you can’t make some products reusable forever, like a toothbrush (gross), but you can find biodegradable alternatives. Opt for a bamboo toothbrush, since the handle is completely biodegradable and even better if you can find one with biodegradable bristles. This logic can also be applied to your toilet cleaning brushes, hairbrushes, and body brushes.
It’s incredibly easy to source eco-friendly toilet paper and look out for toothpaste tubes made from recyclable aluminum.
HOT COMPOST TIP: If your cotton buds are truly 100% cotton, if your loofahs and bath sponges are naturally made if that toothpick obsession is piercing holes in your garbage bag, there’s a place for that. And that place is your steaming pile of compost. Don’t have one? You gotta start somewhere, right?
3. Change, repurpose, or recycle packaging
Packaging is one of the biggest waste players in the game. Before your buy, consider whether you can refill it or recycle it. Bonus points if it has no packaging. For example, many shampoo bars and powders are sold with biodegradable packaging or just come unpackaged.
Alternatively, many brands aim to use zero-waste ingredients and offer refills of hand-wash, shampoo lipstick, foundation, blush - whatever you’re into. Additionally, look for brands that offer recyclable initiatives like MAC cosmetics.
Alternatively, you can repurpose packaging for continued usage in your household. For example, you can turn glass perfume bottles and jars into flower vases, water jugs, and holders. Consider empty lipstick tubes to hold your bobby pins, and save plastic containers for all your travel-sized beauty needs.
4. Look for the logos
Navigating the world of natural, organic, and sustainable beauty products can be confusing, which is why it helps to get to know your industry certification bodies. Choose brands that are committed to making a difference and reduce their carbon footprint. Consider their policies, their manufacturing procedures, and where they source ingredients from.
Products that are eco-friendly, plastic-free, or manufacture responsibly will carry the body’s logo on their packaging.
5. Water: save usage, save the reefs
Most beauty aficionados advocate water for overall glowy, firm complexions. And they’re right - however, while you’re downing bottle after bottle, make sure it’s a reusable one filled with tap or filtered water. Remember, it takes three times the amount of water to create a plastic bottle than it does to fill one.
Did you know an estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in coral reefs globally each year? While you’re on the ban-single-use-plastic wagon, it also pays to remember that sunscreen contains certain chemical UV filters, particularly oxybenzone, which has been found to cause coral bleaching.
While there are some reef-friendly oxybenzone-free chemical options, in many cases your best bet is to reach for a mineral sunscreen that uses zinc or titanium dioxide to deflect damaging rays.
One last thing: just turn off the tap when you brush your teeth… mmk?
So now you’re an expert on sustainable beauty, let’s move on to your beauty sleep. Find out how choosing eco-friendly silk will help your complexion in more ways than one.
]]>If eating sustainably adds a whole new level of “to-do” to your list, don’t fret. There are a multitude of ways the food-conscious can easily switch up, reduce and recycle to prevent waste, right now.
]]>Aside from growing your own produce, drinking Fair Trade coffee in your keep-cup, and ditching anything containing palm oil, these sustainable habits will help to keep the planet (and your tummy) happy.
1. FOOD SHOPPING
Question; why do you always need to go to the supermarket? You’re not prepared. This is the first step to reducing your food shopping footprint. Go once. Make a shopping list, note down your meals for the week, and stick to them. As you reduce your car pollution, potential wastage, and plastic consumption - you’ll end up buying enough food for the entire week, which might even save you money.
Did you know: An average household food wastage can account for upwards of $2,200. Yikes!
While you’re there, take reusable shopping bags, food pouches to stash those floating fruits and vegetables, and only pick up what you’ll eat. Oh, and those half pumpkins you love so much? That just means more plastic wrap. Buy your melons, cauliflower, or cabbages whole, and try new recipes to ensure you use them up over the week. And you can forget about squeezy-top honey and sauces; opt for glass jars that you can repurpose.
2. COOKING
Cooking at home is a no-brainer when it comes to your sustainable choices, with your eagle eye over every step of the process. Cooking sustainably also relies a lot on preparation; it’s so easy to grab the soup in the plastic container when your mind is elsewhere. Learn how to make your favourite condiments, soups, and pasta sauce yourself, and batch prepare and freeze if you know you’ve got a busy week ahead.
Think about the parts of your meats and vegetables that you normally throw away; many of these stems, leaves and animal parts can help you prepare delicious stock, jams, pickles, and other tasty morsels.
And while we can’t pickle everything, you can always add your fruit and veggie scraps to compost. The simple rule for safe composting is not to add any animal or meat byproducts. Add your leftover plain-cooked pasta and rice (as long as it hasn’t been salted) and even your eggshells, as long as no egg itself hits the soil.
3. SEASONAL EATING
Avocados too hard? Leave them alone, it’s just not their time. Do a little research and when possible, try to include seasonal produce from your local farm shop or greengrocer in your diet.
As well as supporting your local economy, you can strike up a conversation with your local producers who will love you picking their brain on how to prepare, select and get the most out of seasonal foods.
Visit your local farmer’s market to ensure that your food is fresh and brimming with its intended nutrients. Eating food without ingesting pesticides and chemicals… just makes sense.
4. DINING OUT
Post-pandemic, it’s important we support our local eateries, and with so many restaurants pro-farm-to-plate and bars scrapping single-use plastics, just a tad of research will have you eating and drinking like a sustainable champion.
A few rules of thumb; when eating out at a restaurant don’t be afraid to ask questions. Yes, be that customer. Find out where your food has come from, and if their suppliers are compliant with sustainable resourcing. If you know you’re not about to demolish a large serving, think about splitting your appetisers and mains or go for the share plates. Alternatively, get a doggie bag, and yes, be that customer who brings their own container. Just say no to the buffet.
If you’re run off your feet (or a little hungover) and only Uber Eats or the nearest take-away will do, you can still make sure it’s as sustainable as possible. Say no to plastic straws, bags, silverware, and extra napkins. Decline extra condiments (because you make them yourself now, right?), and recycle the paper bag you’re left with.
5. CONSCIOUSLY EAT SEAFOOD & MEAT
Farming animals for meat and dairy requires space and huge amounts of water and feed. The livestock industry alone generates nearly 15% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
Roughly 94% of fish stocks are overfished or maximally sustainably fished and aquaculture has its own issues.
When responsibly produced, seafood can benefit people, nature, and the climate. Try a diverse range of species from well-managed sources, eat lower in the food chain and opt for lower carbon emission seafood.
According to WWF, 75% of the world’s food supply comes from just 12 plants and five animal species. The lack of variety in agriculture just isn’t nature-friendly and is a threat to food security.
The bottom line is, it’s time we ate more plants, and it’s time we started mixing it up. And yes, that means your canned tuna habit.
Thought about overhauling your makeup collection in favour of slow beauty? Here’s how to get a greener makeup bag.
]]>The World Economic Forum says by 2050, our oceans could contain more plastics than fish. But there is good news. We can urge manufacturers to change the way they produce, simply by changing the way we consume.
]]>In the meantime we'll be back to what we do best in lock down... making numerous cocktails, playing zoom trivia and throwing epic house parties for one. But this time more than ever we need to be conscious about the decisions we are making when it comes to single use plastic.
Let’s do the math:
The plastic straws you bought for the cocktails? Used for maybe 10 minutes, will take 200 years to break down. The plastic containers your sushi takeaway arrived in? 400 years. The plastic toothbrush you’re vigorously using to scrub away the sins of the night before... yeah, that is going to take 500 years to disappear. Plastics will outlive us and our children.
According to Greenpeace, every year, 500 billion plastic bottles are produced worldwide. The World Economic Forum says by 2050, our oceans could contain more plastics than fish. But there is good news. We can urge manufacturers to change the way they produce, simply by changing the way we consume.
Here are five ways you may not have considered yet (especially if you like to party):
1. GET A SODASTREAM
Yes, we may drink water out of a stainless steel water bottle, but we’re still storing bottles of soda water to mix with our spirits, and reaching for the orange juice bottle to flavour our mimosas.
Sodastream soda makers are perfect for any time you need a little fizz. Even though the soda maker itself is plastic, the carafes are glass, and the soda maker replaces hundreds of disposable bottles. What’s more, the reusable CO2 cartridges are returned to the manufacturer for refilling. If it’s the juice you’re after, juice your own fruits. Bonus: your hangover won’t be half as bad without all those additives and preservatives.
2. CLEAN CONSCIOUSLY
Waking up to the post-party mess hurts. But not as much as it hurts the planet. To clean, well... make cleaner, try a mixture of 1 vinegar with 3 parts water as an all-purpose spray. You can continue to store the mixture in a reusable spray bottle it in a reused spray bottle as it doesn't have a use-by-date.
One of the many uses of baking soda is that it makes a scouring powder that leaves dishes squeaky clean. If there are just too many dishes to hand-wash, make sure to use powdered dishwasher detergent that comes in a cardboard box instead of those pesky individually wrapped gels or powders.
To wash dishes without any plastic, opt for compressed natural cellulose sponges sold without packaging, natural fibre brushes, and good old rags that will replace a tonne of paper towels.
3. LEFTOVERS NOT LEFT-FOREVERS
If there are pizza and barbecue leftovers hanging about (still good!), skip the plastic wrap and look to beeswax wraps or aluminium foil to store them consciously. Alternatively, storage brands like Seed and Sprout are devoted to creating practical, innovative, and ethical products that lessen the impact on our world. Their storage essentials for the kitchen are not only eco-friendly, but will add a beautiful, streamlined look to your pantry and fridge.
If you are going to treat yourself with the odd takeaway during lock-down, try to order food which you know will arrive in less plastic, such as pizza. YUM!
4. NO BAGS
For bread, before, during, and after the good times - forget the Wonder White. Other than clogging your insides, the plastic bag it comes in just won’t do. Seek out your favourite bread from artisanal bakeries and take a cloth bag to pop your loaf in, and keep it fresh by storing it in an airtight tin. Fresh bread is a little more expensive than its plastic-packaged cousins, but with all the money you save scrapping single-use plastics, it all works out.
Cheese and wine. What’s a lock down without cheese and wine? Source a local deli that sells wheels of cheese without the plastic wrap, and choose wine bottled in glass with natural cork stoppers over plastic stoppers or metal screw caps (which contain BPA in the lining). Both these options just happen to be much more aesthetically pleasing, too.
5. RECYCLE PROPERLY
Although recycling can help reduce the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills, waterways, and ecosystems, only a few types of plastics can be recycled by most municipal governments. The fraction that does get recycled still requires a lot of energy and water which just isn’t a good proposition when it comes to single-use items.
Jump over to the City of Sydney website, to learn how to discern your soft from hard plastics, and to make sure you’re dumping your recyclables in the right bins.
Keen to consciously consume plastic in more ways? Find out how to eat more sustainably, and keep your beauty routine earth-friendly.
]]>
What’s the difference between Ahimsa Silk and commercial silk?
Is there any tactile difference? Can someone tell you're sleeping on Ahimsa silk as opposed to commercial silk?
The question is: can you live with yourself not sleeping on Ahimsa silk?
Now used in designer collections all over the world, first and foremost - Ahimsa silk is a much happier alternative to commercial silk for those whose values are along these lines.
On the plus side, both types of silk production are considered to have a very low water footprint - that’s almost zero percent water waste. Silk is also biodegradable within a couple of years, compared to hundreds of years it will take for that viscose dress you bought to break down. And, both types of silk don't emit toxins while they degrade, unlike synthetic materials.
However, by now it’s no secret that the commercial production of silk kills the very organism that produces it, but did you know that 30,000-50,000 silkworms are killed to make one six-yard sari? Yikes!
While our gluten-free, plant-based Bombyx Mori Moth is eating mulberry leaves in the lap of relative luxury, the Eri Silk Moth eats the leaves of the castor bean or cassava leaves. Eri silk is made from the cocoons of these particular insects and is also produced using less violent methods, but the quality of Eri silk is often seen as inferior to that of the silk created by the offspring of the Bombyx mori moth.
An extra 10 days are required to allow ahimsa larvae to grow into moths and hatch. Moreover, ahimsa silk cocoons yield around one-sixth of the fibre volume. Ahimsa silk is made on a very small scale as a cottage industry in India, and its production supports a wide community of rural silk farmers, spinners, and weavers - who are mostly women. A win, win.
Fortunately, in comparison to commercial silk, Ahimsa silk has an incredibly soft texture and gorgeous hand-feel - in-demand by celebrities and royals alike. It’s just as durable, with all the beauty-enhancing, fave-saving properties as regular silk.
In a nutshell; Organic Peace silk is the more humane and sustainable way of making silk that produces the kind of high-quality silk thread we know and love while skipping the harmful chemical, pesticides and fungicides step of the production.
Even though Ahimsa silk is costlier, more time-consuming, and labour-intensive to produce than regular silk, it’s the non-violent, organic, and long-lasting nature of the silk product that makes it worth the extra investment.
And the benefits don’t stop there - find out why sleeping on Ahimsa silk is your best night’s sleep, ever.
]]>
For those of us opting for vegan leather jackets and recycled cashmere sweaters, did we stop to consider the tiny silkworm? The worm who produces the beautifully soft yarn we know (and love) as silk?
The hard facts: A silkworm gives about 1000 yards of yarn. Amazing creature. However, it becomes difficult for the silk manufacturer to get a single, unbroken thread of silk as long as the silkworm is in the cocoon (aka, home). To obtain the silk easily, the cocoons are immersed in boiling water, which, surprise - kills the pupae inside and long, unbroken silk yarn is ready to be spun into (unethical) garments.
So, what exactly is Ahimsa or Peace Silk?
This cruelty-free yarn is exactly as it sounds - peaceful. In fact, you’ll wonder why you haven’t heard of it sooner. Ahimsa translates to ‘non-violent’, and Ahimsa silk is the product of non-violent silk breeding and harvesting. Yes, get around it.
“Ahimsa is not a mere negative non-injury. It is positive, cosmic love.”
- Swami Sivananda
Wild silk moths are bred, rather than the domestic variety. You can think of it like caged eggs versus free-range eggs - we know what we’d choose. The breeding of the wild silk moths allows the metamorphosis of the silkworm to its natural, completed moth stage. Commercial and domestic silk breeding, as we mentioned early, ends the silkworm life cycle in the cocoon.
There are many types of silkworms but Bombyx mori is chiefly used to cultivate silk. Bamboo baskets to mulberry leaves, these silkworms basically live in the Hilton of silk production. The silkworms are kept in a bamboo basket and mulberry leaves are given to the worms as food. As the worms eat, the leaves help them to ooze out the protein that they use to create their cocoons, a protein harvested as raw silk. No, these aren’t your regular earthworms.
Why we choose to use Peace silk
Sustainability is at the centre of everything we do. It is an ever-evolving mission, and we want to focus on efforts that have the biggest impact. While we can’t stop the production of commercial silk, we can always ensure our own silk is non-toxic - as chemicals may be used in the cleaning or degumming of the cocoon - and that we use GOTS-certified dyes and natural dyes and pigments found in nature.
We aim to always create products that are as sustainable as possible, leaving as little a footprint behind as we can.
We are committed to having a positive impact on both the environment and the global community, in all areas of our brand. And, although worms can’t show their distress in ways that humans easily recognise, they are known as sensitive creatures.
It’s knowing that we don't have to inflict pain, however small, that aligns with our values of authenticity and ethical mindedness… and just generally helps us sleep more peacefully at night!
NIDRA’s Ahimsa (Peace) Silk
The silk used for our Face Saver Cases is organic and a 'non-violence' Mulberry silk. The company we partner with is certified Organic and Fair Trade and is the world leader in producing organic silk from cocoons without killing the pupae inside or without sacrificing animal life.
We use Grade 6A organic peace silk in our pillowcases and scrunchies. As we source our silk from India, we do not use the Japanese rating system of momme, hence why we do not market this in any of our communications. However, grade 6A silk universally is converted to 22 momme count so you can get an idea of the weight and feel of this luxury fabric.
100% of our cutting, sewing, and manufacturing for our Face Saver Cases and Hair Saver Scrunchies is done in Sydney, Australia. All other garments currently in design stages are produced by responsible manufacturing partners here in Australia or overseas in Bali and India, using our same sustainable standards and materials.
Ahimsa Silk is our best foot forward toward creating a more eco-friendly environment. And though there’s a long way to go for silk production, for the peace-lovers and non-violence supporters, the value of Ahimsa silk is its ability to promote conscious sleep.
At NIDRA, we come in peace.
]]>Did you know you spend roughly one-third of your life in bed?
If you just shuddered thinking about the synthetic, makeup-stained pillow slips you’ve rolled around in for the past week... keep calm and read on.
Long considered the epitome of luxury, silk is a natural fibre that offers daily indulgence with the bonus of adhering to an organic, conscious lifestyle (and sleep style). Silk is a tale of opposites, a paradox of delights; one of the strongest natural fibres and one of the softest. A sweet sleep wrapped in warmth, or one that keeps its cool. The NIDRA difference? Our pillowcases are spun from Ahimsa (Peace) silk, which uses a method of nonviolent silk breeding and harvesting for sleep that’s never been more peaceful.
So, what else is going on under the covers? Here’s why you’ll never want to hit the “hay” again.
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Not just a crazy fairy tale. Why wake up to the kiss of your “Prince Charming”, when waking up to a creaseless face is much more realistic and long-lasting?
Cotton is not your friend. Cotton doesn’t text you back. Cotton creates friction between your face and the pillow, which causes face creases that turn into permanent wrinkles. Yeah, fine thanks! Silk, on the other hand, has your back (and your face). It doesn’t tug, stretch or drag your delicate facial skin. Albumin, a natural protein compound found in silk, also prevents premature ageing by promoting cellular regeneration.
Silk is a dream for your peepers and allows your face to glide over the pillow even between nightmares, sleep paralysis and things that go “thud” in the night. Absorbing significantly less face cream than cotton pillowcases, silk is made up of tiny, bouncy spring-like fibres that are super resilient, crease-resistant, and leave your products and natural moisture where they belong. So, go nuts on the night cream.
BYE BYE, BEADHEAD
We’re calling it, silk pillowcases are the new GHD. No more bad hair days. Sleeping on silk is a time-honoured, hair stylist-recommended, game-changer for hair. Curly, straight, thick or fine, if you’re done with static-inducing, damaging, snagging, oil and frizz-promoting cotton, polyester and whatever else you’re unknowingly resting your locks on - join the club.
Silk fibres are gentle and hair-friendly and will do their best to preserve your styling, and keep your hair shiny, smooth, and frizz-free. Book in for a blow-dry on Saturday, and keep doing the hair-ad-swish-thing for days to come.
STAY COOL
That loud, weird-looking air conditioner your rental won’t get rid of? Forget it. Look to silk instead. No seriously, hear us out.
Silk is a superstar as far as thermo-regulating is concerned, so your face will benefit from a regulated snooze, leaving you to enjoy a log-like 8 hours at the ideal temperature. Silk pillow slips will ensure that there’ll be no static electricity or heat conductivity (unless you’re conducting it - wink). Enjoy waking up fresh, in more ways than one.
LIKE A HUG
It’s morning. The last thing you remember is head-banging to some 80s metal song. Luckily, as your head is now resting on your gorgeous silk pillow, the fibres are soothing that hangover heat, dryness and pounding headache you’re experiencing...
Silk soothes sore skin by being extremely soft. That strange rash, first sunburn of the season and lizard-dry skin doesn’t stand a chance. The fabric glides over these sore areas, without snagging, catching, chafing or further irritating - which is great news for shingles or eczema sufferers. Silk is tightly woven to allow easier movement and less resistance, eliminating points of contact and sticking to your (perhaps unwashed, make-up ridden) face.
HYDRATION STATION
So you did that thing where you had a big night before a really important meet-the-parents scenario, right? While your insides might resemble a desert plain, your outside doesn’t have to. Never worry about your morning-after face again with silk.
The breathable fibres and natural hydrating properties of silk help you to retain all your beautiful essential oils, and still allows your creams and other beauty products to fully absorb into your skin and hair (you know, assuming you slathered them on post-night-out).
All this retained moisture and the amino acids in silk will give you a superb chance of waking up every bit your radiant self. You can thank us later for your effortlessly hydrated and supple complexion as you struggle to remember where you put your phone.
Plus, the removal of extra moisture prevents dust mites from living in your pillow. YUCK. Silk eases dust mite-related allergies by being a naturally hypoallergenic fabric. You know the drill; more silk, less dust-mites.
Silk pillowcases will be the number one reason you won’t want to get out of bed in the morning, and the number one reason you’ll call it quits on an all-nighter (sorry, team!).
Chemical-free, consciously-inclined and really, really good looking. Silk is your best sleep ever.
]]>