sustainable lifestyle

It may be 10 days into 2019 but I think it’s still appropriate to wish one another a Happy New Year, right? I also think it’s still appropriate timing to start making changes and implementing new routines into our lives. I’m not one for strict resolutions (I wonder how many times you’ve heard that one?) but I understand that this time of year can be a great place for picking up some motivation…

With this and sustainable living becoming of interest to more and more people, it couldn’t be a better time to start implementing eco-friendly habits, tips and tricks into your everyday routine. This isn’t to say I think everybody should be getting into gear to start living plastic free for the next 365 days but it could be a great opportunity to at least start thinking about it, as well as the other many things you can do to ease your conscience.

For a very simple example, in the past few months, I’ve become a convert to the tote bag because not only can they be rather quite stylish, they’re also a great alternative to plastic bags on offer in stores or even ‘bags for life’, which in the UK, are still selling like hotcakes, even though the cost is supposedly a deterrent – according to the Environmental Investigation Agency, 1.18 billion were sold in 2017.

As somebody who was, up until quite recently, glued to their Paguro recycled rubber bag, the transition from handbag to tote bag, and remembering to pack my reusable water bottle and travel coffee cup inside it, did take some getting used to.

That sounds rather dramatic but if it’s said that it can take around 66 days to form a new habit then it’s not surprising that it’s easy to forget these things before popping out the door – whether it be a tote bag, a bottle or even saying no to meat if you’re a transitioning vegetarian.

~ ACCESS THE FREEBIE ~

This idea originally came from wanting to create some checklist style GIF stickers to add to my growing collection (over on GIPHY – I recently hit 1.9 billion views!), so, those are also available for you to use, too! Whenever you remember your reusable bottle and feel a little smug about it (😏), search “@tollydollyposh” under GIFs on Instagram Stories and get sticking! You can find out more about my GIPHY sticker animation work, here.

It would be amazing to know if you find this eco-friendly habit tracker helpful or whether you would like to see anything similar from me in the future. I’d love to know what you’ll be filling in the blank spaces in with – did I miss out any obvious habits to track? Let me know in the comments!

If you recall, I started off 2018 with a post all about hypocrisy and being honest about what I could be doing better sustainability-wise. I admitted that even though I advocate for using less single-use plastic, I was still using single-use plastic period products every month even though I knew of other alternatives. Fortunately for those of you looking to make the switch, I have since explored the realm of sustainable period products and I’m ready to review some of our options…

~ LET’S TALK ABOUT PERIODS ~

Firstly though, I want to begin by talking about period poverty. I don’t want to jump straight into talking about sustainable alternatives for something that some people struggle to afford regularly, especially in the UK.

According to research by Plan International, 1 in 10 girls in the UK have been unable to afford sanitary products and according to a study completed by Always, we now know that over 137,700 children have missed school due to period poverty, specifically.

Period poverty is a huge issue globally and it becomes even more complicated to face when you add the taboo of periods into the picture. So, before I talk about sustainable alternatives which ultimately, can be more expensive to invest in initially, I want to highlight campaigns and charities which are helping aid women, girls and period-having people who can’t afford even the most basic sanitary products because all of us deserve to experience our periods in a comfortable and hygienic manner…

Free Periods // Bloody Good Period // Always #EndPeriodPoverty

~ FACTS & FIGURES ~

For those of you who are fortunate enough to afford more sustainable alternatives or are interested in making the change in the future, I’m here to help! It’s important to understand why making the change is all so important though, so, let’s start with some facts and figures.

Over 3.9 million sanitary products are flushed down the toilet every day in the UK and that’s not including what is left to go to landfill. That figure is scary enough in itself without taking into account that most of these sanitary products are made from either plastic or harmfully bleached and treated cotton, which as we all know, is neither beneficial to the planet or our bodies. Click here to read more about the harmful materials often found in period products – it might shock you.

As we should all know by now, the phrase ‘throw away’ is essentially meaningless seeing as there is no ‘away’; everything always ends up somewhere and that somewhere is our planet.

For me, with just about everything now, I would rather know that I’m doing my part to avoid the negative impact of that at all costs, especially if it helps me avoid any affects to my health at the same time.

That’s why I made the switch and why I believe, if you are able to, you should too. There are many different options to choose from and below, I’m going to highlight my three personal favourites…

You may notice that I haven’t included any internal-use sanitary products within this guide – that’s simply because I don’t personally use them and I wouldn’t be able to provide an honest review. However, I have linked some products which some of you may be interested in, at the end of the post.

~ COTTON PERIOD BRIEFS* – THINX UNDERWEAR ~

Trust me, I was a sceptic over reusable period underwear. Ever since I started having periods, I’d always used sanitary towels (and dabbled in tampons but never quite found they worked for me) and relied on the ability to strip away what I was wearing and refresh when it felt fit, so, the idea of not doing that throughout the day made me feel a little uncertain and honestly, a little uncomfortable.

However, I am now a changed woman. Admittedly whilst writing this, I am only half-way into my first day of wearing the Thinx Cotton Briefs (funnily enough, reviewing period products means waiting a few weeks even though you already own them; who would have thought?) but it’s safe to say, I am happily surprised by how good they make me feel.

With sanitary pads, I find myself readjusting and fidgeting all day because I’m concerned about where my flow is really going (we’ve all been there, right?), so, this makes a care-free change.

Thinx is one of the leading brands for this sustainable option and I’m really happy that they recently introduced organic cotton underwear not only because I want to avoid plastic materials as much as possible but also because breathability is a big Must when it comes to ‘down there’.

Although unfortunately there isn’t too much information about their ethics and factory, I believe that it’s important to embrace an option of sustainable sanitary wear that avoids throw-away plastics and unnecessary waste, especially in such a comfortable way. I’m already contemplating adding more to my underwear drawer…

~ REUSABLE SANITARY TOWELS – BLOOM & NORA ~

Before I tried out reusable period underwear, I was starting to balance out my single-use period products with reusable versions and once again, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy they were to adjust to.

If you’re used to ‘ordinary’ pads and sanitary towels, then I would think turning to a reusable option would be a fairly smooth transition.

I own the Bloom & Nora reusable sanitary towels but there are many different options on the market. What makes their sanitary towels slightly different though is that they’re partly composed of bamboo fleece.

I would say that reusable sanitary towels of the clip-on variety are a nice way to bridge the gap between wearable period underwear and traditional options and they are, fortunately, really quite easy to wash and maintain (I own two and have managed my period fairly easily by hand washing them in turn).

Now that I’ve had a taste of what Thinx has to offer, the movement and fidgeting that I experience with these is now even more noticeable but that may just be caused by the size of my underwear and the size of the pad.

If you’re looking for a quick fix and want to dip your toes into the reusable, washable and all round, far more sustainable period product water, then I highly suggest reusable sanitary towels if you can’t quite make the leap into a fully wearable option.

~ ORGANIC BIODEGRADABLE SANITARY PRODUCTS – NATRACARE* ~

Trust me, if the idea of reusable sanitary products doesn’t quite float your boat, I understand. Fortunately, there are single-use options out there which aren’t quite as toxic and damaging as the rest. Before I purchased any reusable items, I was trying out organic options where I could. I am actually really surprised by the growing selection found in supermarkets these days!

In all honesty, I still have a big selection of plastic based period products stocked up and in my opinion, it’s best to use them up rather than ‘throw them away’ wastefully. But when I’m through with them and I am still in need of products for in-between days and for when all of my reusable sanitary towels and pants are in the wash, brands like Natracare are what I will look to.

For a lot of us, the week or few days of bleeding that we experience aren’t the only days when we need some added underwear protection and luckily, Natracare offer products for those days too.

Natracare is great as all of their products are completely plastic free, from the actual products – whether they be sanitary towels, tampons or liners – to the packaging.

The organic element means you’re avoiding any nasty chemicals coming into contact with your skin or entering your body (as well as avoiding harmful pollution further down the line).

~ SEARCH “@tollydollyposh” UNDER GIFS TO ADD THIS STICKER TO YOUR INSTAGRAM STORY ~

Fun GIF right? If your period is becoming more sustainable each month, then feel free to proudly embrace that all over social media. It’s time we break the taboo around periods and talk about them more openly. We all need to become more comfortable with them, whether we experience them or not.

Other options for sustainable period products include the likes of menstrual cups, which are a perfect option for those of you who prefer internal sanitary products to keep your period neat, tidy and manageable.

There are also new products on the market such as the DAME, which is a reusable tampon applicator so you can avoid using throw-away plastic but continue to use tampons comfortably. I’ve linked some options below…

DAME Reusable Tampon Applicator // OrganiCup // OHNE Organic Tampons 

What do you use to make your period more sustainable? Suggest your favourite products in the comments!

(This post is not sponsored or paid for but it does include gifted products from THINX and Natracare. All thoughts and opinions are my own. You can read my full PR disclaimer here.)

My illustrated posts seem to go down well around here so to mix things up a bit and fully embrace what I recently had to say about wishlists (they’re not just for Christmas), I’ve put together an illustrated version to showcase some items I’ve had my eye on for a while…

 Items marked with  are from brands included in my ethical directory.

PO-ZU SNEAKERS // TRIBE OF LAMBS RING // POTYERTITSAWAYLUV // WAIT BY WILSON ORYEMA // GEORGANICS BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH // ALBATROSS RAZOR // LUCY & YAK DUNGAREES

Po-Zu Sneakers 

If you read my post on my ethical wardrobe priorities, then you’ll be of the understanding that shoes aren’t high up on my list. This is mainly because I don’t buy new shoes very often – the last pair I purchased was a second-hand pair of Dr Martens – but that doesn’t mean I’m never in need of new ones or that I never have the urge to fill a gap in my collection.

A gap that currently needs filling is in the shape of a pair of shoes that go with everything and that are suitable for every season. The closest I have to that is a pair of white platforms but they’re not necessarily the comfiest option for long distance walking. This is where Po-Zu comes in; Po-Zu is a brand that offers ethically made shoes using sustainable practices and materials and I’ve had my eye on this pair of trainers (or sneakers), for a while now.

Wait by Wilson Oryema

Truth to be told, I don’t know a whole lot about this book but when Tamsin Blanchard shared a picture of it, I was instantly intrigued. Wilson Oryema is a fashion model who has written and published ‘Wait’, a book of poetry and short stories centred around the topic of contemporary consumption. 

Coeval describes it as a “witty moral code for our ever consuming, ever impatient society” and with that, I know I need to get my paws on it.

Tribe of Lambs Ring

This isn’t the first time I’ve included a Tribe of Lambs ring in a post related to wishlists and it most certainly won’t be the last. If anyone who knows me hasn’t taken the hint yet… I would really love to stack one of these rings upon my fingers.

Tribe of Lambs are a brand featured in my ethical directory. They produce all of their stunning jewellery ethically in India and use the profits to give back, supporting HIV positive children in local communities. So far, they’ve helped over 500 children and by purchasing a ring, you can help that number grow.

Georganics Bamboo Toothbrush

One of the least glamorous items on my wishlist is in fact, a toothbrush. There comes a point in every toothbrush’s life when it must be retired; the bristles are too spread out and it simply isn’t doing a good enough job according to your dentist’s standards. Fortunately, we have brands like Georganics to provide us with a biodegradable version which won’t leave you feeling guilty when you need to replace it with a new one.

The next time my teeth are in need of a new friend, I won’t be going straight to the supermarket to pick up a plastic one which will most probably end up on landfill, I’ll be ordering one of these instead. (And maybe an Albatross razor whilst I’m at it – because hair removal is something to be conscious of, too.)

Remember, wishlists are great for understanding what you truly need rather than what you think you’d fancy on a whim. Compile them gradually and infrequently to make more considered and conscious purchases and when you’ve finally mulled it over, enjoy making a quality investment you know you’ll end loving for more than a few days.

What’s on your ethical wishlist? Share some of your latest findings in the comments!

🎆🎉 Longtime no-write, huh? Happy New Year to all, even if it’s a little late to celebrate. 🎆🎉

Recently, I saw a tweet which was in regards to a cutting down on single-use plastics. The tweeter was on a flight when she used her Ecoffee cup (a reusable and biodegradable bamboo coffee cup that you can use in replace of throw-away options given out in public) and she wanted to praise the airline for allowing her to do so. However, the point that she was on a plane was highlighted and that became the major issue and talking point.

My initial thought was that I could relate. For Christmas, I received an identical Ecoffee cup and I was undeniably excited about the prospect that I could now take it with me and be an example to others when I go to buy my next hot chocolate (I don’t drink coffee, ironically).

In fact, I even contemplated keeping it in my hand luggage when I, myself, took a flight after Christmas because I knew I would be faced with the same issue once I’d boarded the plane. I wanted an overly-priced cup of tea after a long day of travelling but do I really need to receive a cup with a plastic lid on it, in order to enjoy it? (As well another plastic cup I was given to keep my plastic milk sachets in – @Ryanair; what’s that all about?)

I didn’t use my cup mainly because I’m unsure of the regulations regarding them with the airlines I use (they still count as a liquid container over 100ml, right?) but the thought was still there, nagging at me.

It seems that 2018 finds us in a, fortunately, very conscious and understanding time when it comes to our relationship with plastic. It’s still a major issue and once you open your eyes and walk around a supermarket, the idea of plastic ever going anyway anytime soon seems like an impossible feat.

Although Scotland may have just banned the use of plastic cotton buds (Q-Tips) and although the UK has now abolished the usage of microbeads, we still have Marks & Spencer selling slices of cauliflower as ‘Cauliflower Steaks’ boxed in, you guessed it, more plastic – it’s my understanding these ‘steaks’ are to be removed from stores but the point still stands.

More and more of us are starting to realise how toxic and unhealthy our relationship is with plastic and more and more of us are at least, attempting to make changes. Yet, according to the experts who responded to the tweet I used as an example – what good is a reusable coffee cup doing if you’re still using and drinking from it on a plane?

Their point is valid and I agree with the argument from a certain perspective but following on from that, I could respond with another question – what good is pointing out the hypocrisy in front of you, if at least something is being done? In this instance, it’s safe to say that air travel isn’t about to be eradicated.

Anyone in their right mind would prefer if it flying was a more eco-friendly form of getting from A to B but often, travelling in the sky is the only realistic option. (May I also remind you that the fashion industry is more polluting than the whole of aviation put together.) So, if we as travellers can then try and make our experience on board more sustainable, why not?

I later discovered that the tweeter was in the field of plastics and its effects on the environment and that those responding to her were likely criticising the irony of the fact she was using this mode of transport to do a job to fix issues that are caused by it… but this isn’t the only place I’ve seen hypocrisy being called out. It’s everywhere and I even have personal experience.

Especially when it comes to being an ‘influencer’ or somebody with an audience that now expects me to approach and tackle these sorts of topics, it can be extremely difficult to be open and honest when it comes to my own hypocrisies.

What am I doing which goes against another? What am I saying yet not doing simultaneously?

There are lots of things I could list and I’m unashamed to share some of them…

But we achieve nothing when these hypocrisies are pointed out. There’s enough guilt put upon individuals already when it comes to tackling the issues at hand.

We’re essentially in a time where we need to reverse a lot of the processes we’ve come to normalise – fast-fashion, plastic production, pollution caused by transportation, meat and animal produce – yet we also need to live our lives and get through each day as it comes. We can advocate and get behind as many issues as we like yet it’s almost impossible to be a perfect image for each and every one.

After taking a social media break for personal reasons at the end of 2017, I realised how much social media emphasises this and how we’re continually reminded of what we are and aren’t doing to aid the fight against what is, technically, killing our planet.

If we weren’t on social media, we wouldn’t be consuming endless stories about the detriment of our world and ways to fix it or how the ways we’re trying to fix it, just aren’t enough. I felt that relief of guilt when I was disconnected from it all but it doesn’t mean it was completely forgotten. I saw it with my own eyes and I was able to understand what I personally could realistically try to change in my life.

I wasn’t constantly being told what I could be doing better and that pressure of doing so is what will, in turn, scare many people away from actually trying.

Praising one person for making one change, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, can lead to another person making the same, who also might be adapting to other causes elsewhere. It’s a domino effect and pointing out that there’s a domino we’ve missed leading in a different direction, stops us from completing the journey we’re already on.

However, it would seem ignorant of me to not point out that this is a very rose-tinted-glasses way of looking at things. I’m able to discuss this and believe that small actions lead to bigger things because I’m relying on an element of hope.

Essentially, as a millennial or a teen from Generation Z (or whatever other buzz word or phrase you want to use), I have to. My generation is the rose-tinted-glass for past generations; I am the hope for others but that doesn’t mean I don’t need hope for myself.

Hope is the pair of rose-tinted glasses we all need. It’s a comfort blanket (or sleeping bag, for the purpose of the analogy I’m about to use) and it protects us from insanity and giving up before we’ve even started. It shields us away from the mountain of fears that I, and I suspect, we all have.

All of these issues in regards to the earth we live on, have created a mountain of fears of colossal size and hope provides the ropes and the hiking gear so that we can reach the peak or the sleeping bag that keeps us warm at night. Without it, most of us would be lost at base camp.

So, let’s not be too harsh on ourselves when we accomplish reaching the peak of all the smaller, less dauntingly sized mountains, first.

How do you feel about hypocrisy when it comes to fighting the good fight? Do you feel the same pressures in your own life? Let’s discuss in the comments!