Valentine's Day can often be one of the worst days of the year for the environment. Gifts excessively packaged in plastic, tacky cards and overpriced chocolates, with so much waste ending up in landfill within days. But there are plenty of options if you are looking for an eco-friendly Valentine's Day that still shows your loved one how much you care.
Often the best things for the environment are experiences rather than gifts, so we have a few ideas below. But if you would like to give a gift, we have lots of eco-friendly choices for that at www.thegreenturtle.co.uk too!
Not only is a sustainable Valentine's Day good for our planet, it can also often be better for your bank balance. Experience ideas could include a voucher for meal at your favourite restaurant (at a future date when the price is not inflated because of the date!), or a home-made romantic meal at home. Shop together for locally-grown produce, share the cooking with a drink in hand, then turn off the phones, light some candles and ignore the dishes!
Alternatively, take the time out of busy diaries to go on a woodland walk, enjoy the cinema or find an exhibition or museum that you just haven't found the time to visit and make it happen. Tie these in with a 2-minute beach clean to truly feel you've done something for the planet too!
And of course, don't forget the simple pleasure of breakfast in bed!
You don't have to be particularly crafty to make something thoughtful for your other half. How about some love heart cookies or home-made fudge? Or make up a thoughtful lunch in an eco-friendly lunchbox? A handmade card from recyclable paper with a thoughtful message shows much more thought. Pinterest has a huge number of ideas for inspiration.
Why not agree that you will only swap gifts if they are eco-friendly? Charity shops are a fantastic source of gifts, with some real finds available and are the ultimate source for previously loved gifts.
We also have a huge range of eco-friendly gifts at The Green Turtle. How about an eco-love gift set or soap gift set? A love heart natural bath loofah or some Funky Soap beard and body shampoo? Or swap flowers for beeboms, which will flower for the benefit of bees in the future?
Check out lots more environmentally-friendly Valentine's day gift ideas here or check out our unique eco-friendly gift sets. Buy for a partner or treat yourself!
Lastly, think about your wrapping - reuse gift bags, newspaper or fabric wrapping. We also have some lovely plastic-free options here:.
What are your favourite eco-friendly Valentine's ideas? We'd love to hear your plans! Wishing you all a lovely day.
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Here we pull together our top tips for sustainable Christmas giving, helping you save money as well as supporting our planet.
Half of UK adults say they have received gifts they don't want and will never use. Some figures suggest 100m unwanted gifts are given in the UK every Christmas. Around 10 million of these go straight to landfill. 10 million. That is mind-boggling!
Reducing waste can be achieved by simply making sure you give items that people want, for example:
Reduce demand for physical resources and gift experiences instead, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination!
Thinking about eco-friendly gifts are a simply way to make your gifting a bit more sustainable but try to make sure it is something the receiver will really appreciate!
UK families use, on average, 4 rolls of wrapping paper every year! Most of it goes straight to landfill. Reduce your waste impact easily with these tips.
Check out some fantastic sustainable wrapping options at The Green Turtle.
Pop over to The Green Turtle and explore lots of other environmentally friendly options to inspire you!
We'd love to hear your top tips too. Why not contact us or share your tips on our social media? Follow us also on Facebook and Instagram @Thegreenturtleuk.
]]>We are all very aware of how much prices are rising at the moment, and showing no signs of abating in the near future. It can be so difficult in the midst of all that is going on to still try to live a bit more sustainably too.
There's no getting away from the fact that eco alternatives are often more expensive than the standard alternatives - after all, they are made with ethics in mind, usually by smaller family firms, paying fair wages, and use eco packaging (which costs more than cheap single-use plastic).
Luckily, there are lots of things you can do to try to live in a more environmentally-friendly way, whilst also saving you money. Every little helps after all! Here are our top eco tips to save money, whilst taking sustainable steps.
You don't have to become entirely vegan to have an impact on the environment. Think about reducing the amount of meat in a recipe and bulking it out with vegetables or lentils to help the environment and save money.
Learn to love pre-loved. There are so many good options these days to buy clothing or other items on second-hand sites such as gumtree, ebay and Depop. And make some money yourself by selling your unwanted goods.
Never buy a bottle of water again by bringing your own water bottle. Many places now refill reusable water bottles for free, and the number of refill stations in our streets are increasing every day – check out the refill app. Think about taking lunch into work, rather than buying (plastic-wrapped) food every day - more delicious and saves lots. And don't get back into the habit of buying takeaway cups of coffee - bring your own (these cups retain the heat for ages) or at least save money (and the environment) by bringing a reusable cup. Many coffee shops offer discounts when you do. Check out our range for Out and About.
Many ‘eco’ products last far longer than the plastic alternatives e.g. shampoo bars and soap bars. Extend their life by letting them dry out between uses and using a soap saver bag or cut them in half, keeping one half completely dry until you need it.
As we become more aware of the waste we produce, and the eco credentials of what we’re using, we often find that we buy far less 'stuff'. Shopping happens through necessity rather than a regular occurrence, reducing the volume of 'stuff' you have. When it comes to food, get friendly with your freezer - make batches of pancakes, muffins etc to avoid buying plastic packaging and save money (as well as avoiding all those additives). Plan your week's meals to avoid buying too much in the supermarket.
Never buy a new gift bag again by reusing (again and again!) the ones you receive. Or try the Japanese tradition of furoshiki wrapping in reusable fabric for a beautiful gift. We wrap all Ailsa's birthday gifts in scarves!
Sounds simple, but how many of us buy items we don't need when there are alternatives at home to use? Great examples include kitchen roll (cut up old t-shirts or holey pants and use these instead!) or storage boxes (use cardboard boxes from deliveries instead - you can even cover them in paper for a streamlined look).
Get into the habit of mending rather than replacing. Fix-Its have a multitude of uses, only limited by your imagination! When clothes need fixing, and you're not good at sewing, take them to a local mender instead and save pounds on the cost of new clothes. Look into local lending libraries for tools or decorating items, for example, too.
Remember that it makes sense to replace things over time, not just from a cost perspective but also from an eco point of view – it’s far worse to throw something away just because it’s packaged in plastic than to use it till done then replace with a more eco alternative
There are lots of examples where buying something now will save lots in the long run, A safety razor, for example, is far cheaper than a plastic razor, with replacement blades costing just 25p. Reusable baby wipes and sanitary products don't take as long to get used to as you might think and can save lots of money in the long-term. And consider organic soapnut shells for your laundry – a zero waste and natural alternative, with a 1kg bag costing only £11.99 and lasting up to a whopping 480 loads of laundry.
Lastly, be kind to yourself. Small positive steps in the right direction absolutely help the environment, but not everyone can do everything, so give yourself a break and do what you can.
]]>Are you looking to reduce the chemicals and unsustainable materials in your home cleaning regime, whilst still maintaining your required level of cleanliness? Here we give you a quick guide to setting up an eco-friendly cleaning kit at home.
The first rule in living a life with less waste is of course to use up what you have. So don't go throwing out all of your plastic products: instead, gradually use up what you have and then think about more eco-friendly alternatives when you go to replace. This approach also saves you money.
Here are a few tips to help you along:
Often, we have items lying around the house that are just begging to be repurposed. Instead of buying new cleaning cloths, you might want to cut up old towels, t-shirts or even underwear and use them as your cleaning cloths around the home! These are a fantastic eco-friendly alternative to paper towels. Just pop them in the washing machine when used and they'll last you a long time. If you want to avoid microplastics in the washing supply, then natural fibres will be best.
If and when you're ready to replace your cloths or brushes, you'll find a multitude of natural and plastic-free options available, from coconut fibre dish brushes, to compostable cleaning cloths and loofah cleaning pads.
White vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and citric acid all go a long way to creating natural home cleaning products. You'll find lots of helpful guides online or in green cleaning books to inspire your creative genes.
There is now no need to keep buying plastic spray bottles, which are discarded after use and, despite best intentions, often don't make it to recycling. The environmental cost of transporting water all round the world is huge too! There are now several natural options for cleaning surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms on the market:
There is so much innovation in sustainable living nowadays. Often, thinking just a little bit differently can open up a huge range of possibilities!
Studies have shown the chemicals in standard household cleaning products can be bad for your health. Small children and animals can be especially vulnerable. Natural cleaning products can reduce the chances of developing asthma, for example and you may find other symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, skin rashes and headaches reduce when you move away from more toxic products. They can also help reduce pollution and waste. And of course, you'll know exactly what's in the product you're using.
Once you have created your eco-friendly cleaning kit, make sure you give it plenty of use before allowing it to naturally biodegrade or compost as appropriate.
Unfortunately, we can't make cleaning fun, but hopefully we can ease your conscience when you have to do it! And leave you free to enjoy other things!
Check out the full range cleaning range at The Green Turtle.
Happy cleaning!
]]>The world is waking up to the plastic problem we humans have created. Microplastics can be created as plastic starts to break down and degrade, and find their way into our environment. They are in our seas and have even recently been found in the placentas of newborn babies.
But there are now so many fantastic easy swaps, which avoid single-use plastic and provide a better alternative for the planet. You can use your spending power to encourage bigger firms to change to more environmentally-friendly options.
In this blog, we have a look at some of the items you might not think of as containing plastic, and, once you know, you can't forget. Sorry about that, but don't worry - we'll suggest some alternatives for you!
Yes, you have likely been chewing on plastic. Lovely. Modern chewing gum has a gum base, which is usually essentially plastic. Swallow that glob of gum and it's coming out in exactly the same way at the other end, but who know what it's leaving behind in you?
A fantastic and reasonably priced alternative is available from Chewsy, a plant-based, plastic-free gum, which is 100% compostable, natural and vegan.
Think of all that tape you use for gifts or other uses around the home. Not only is it often packaged in single-use plastic, but the product itself is plastic and will be around for years to come.
Why not simply avoid tape in your wrapping by using string, ribbons or lovely fabric to wrap gifts? There are loads of inspirational ideas on Pinterest. Or use an eco-friendly paper tape, which is made from renewable kraft paper and can be recycled with paper.
In the UK we print over 11 billion receipts a year and 9.9 billion of these go unused. Think of the trees cut down to produce that, as well as the carbon emissions in producing and transporting it and you can start to see the environmental impact. But 'paper' receipts from shops often contain plastic and/or chemicals, which means the receipts aren't recyclable. Have you also noticed how often they are excessively long with too much information?
A big step forward would be to avoid receipts for all those small items as much as possible, and consider electronic receipts for those bigger items if you're comfortable to do that.
Plasters are often individually wrapped in plastic-coated paper and may contain plastic themselves, as well as be contained in plastic packaging.
Avoid all of that and the chemicals involved too with Organii Patches - plastic-free, made with natural materials and free from chemicals.
Paper coffee cups are a misnomer - although they appear to be made from paper (and are often marketed in that way), they usually contain a plastic lining inside the cup to make them waterproof.
Save money and help the environment by taking your own reusable cup into coffee shops. There are so many options from bamboo and corn cups to insulated cups and bottles to keep your chosen drink warm for hours.
This is another item where it is not just the packaging that contains plastic - the tea bags themselves often contain a sealing plastic to keep the bags together in use. They are not compostable and will be around for years to come.
Look out for bags that don't contain plastic or simply ditch the bag altogether. Tea leaves are readily available in supermarkets and refill stores and can be used directly in a tea straining pot or by using a reusable teabag or tea basket. Make tea drinking a pleasure again!
Dental floss often contains teflon and nylon to give it the strength it needs. Not only does that not break down, it often makes its into the environment, where birds and marine animals can get tangled in it.
Eco-friendly floss alternatives are made from biodegradable and natural materials, and of course packaged plastic-free.
Some disposable menstrual pads are made up of up to 90% plastic, and it has been quoted that a pack of pads is equivalent to 4 plastic bags. The average person uses around 10,000 period products in a lifetime. That's a whole lot of plastic!
There are now so many fantastic reusable options available. This is one switch that many people wish they had done earlier.
From reusable pads, to menstrual cups (which simply gather the menstrual fluid rather than soak it up) and period pants you won't look back! These eco-friendly period products are all also less toxic for closeness to your bits.
Pop over to The Green Turtle (www.thegreenturtle.co.uk) and explore lots of other environmentally friendly options to inspire you!
Follow us also on Facebook and Instagram @Thegreenturtleuk
Let us know your favourite plastic-free swaps!
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Plastic-free July is a movement that helps millions of people all over the world be part of the solution to plastic pollution. The aim? Cleaner streets and oceans, as well as beautiful communities.
Of course, plastic-free July will be different in the bizarre year that is 2020. The worldwide pandemic has refocused minds on what is important in life. First and foremost is health and safety. For many, part of that thinking also extends to thinking about their personal impact on the environment.
Covid-19 has also understandably made people nervous about how and what they are buying. Supermarkets have become a minefield of challenges and it is heartening to see the increase in the use of small, local businesses.
But, for all the reduction in air pollution and other environmental benefits that have been a silver lining to covid-19, there are also stories where it feels like we have taken a backward step in the fight against plastic pollution.
The littering of single-use face masks and plastic gloves, shops and takeaways banning the use of reusable coffee cups and the reintroduction of single-use plastic bags are just some of the examples. I have also heard anecdotes of people going back towards chemical-based, plastic-wrapped cleaning products and single-use cleaning wipes. This is understandable in the fear of the virus but is it necessary?
Scientists have now come out with the good news that reusable systems can be safely used by employing basic hygiene. Read the full statement here, with a summary below.
The statement notes that:
At The Green Turtle, we are hopeful that we can all continue the momentum that was starting to build up pre-covid towards a more sustainable world so this news is heartening.
We are passionate about helping people make that change. We advocate small changes, over time, as the best way to manage your change in a less overwhelming way, as well as making use of what you have and spreading costs. We will be taking part in plastic-free July to try to identify new ways we can reduce our personal impact on the environment. By taking one step at a time, we can all make a huge difference!
You can get involved in plastic-free July and sign up for lots of tips and support.
Let us know how you get on!
]]>So, you've decided the next item to chuck in your journey to zero-waste is that plastic bottle of shampoo? Swap all those chemicals and plastic for a shampoo bar made from natural ingredients and wrapped in minimal packaging instead. What's not to love? But some people find this change one of the most difficult zero waste swaps to make - there are so many horror stories of 'the purge'!
In reality, most people don't have any issue with the transition, although it might take a few washes of their hair before it reaches that luscious, soft stage. It is worth persevering! Here's our helpful guide to explain how you can make the transition as easy as possible.
When you first use a natural shampoo bar, your hair can feel waxy or greasy, or it might feel dry or frizzy. That's normal. It's just your scalp's way of rebalancing its natural oil production, which was stripped away by the use of shampoo in plastic bottles. Once your scalp and hair has adjusted, it produces its own natural oil again and will feel softer and more manageable.
First off, how should you use the bar? You can't just put a dollop of liquid on your head and lather up - shampoo bars usually don't contain SLS so they won't lather as well as shampoo in plastic bottles. Instead, run the shampoo bar over your hair, from roots to tips. Don't be afraid to put a decent amount on there, then massage into your scalp. Rinse thoroughly and repeat if you wish (often the second shampoo lathers a bit more than the first).
Apply an apple cider vinegar rinse after shampooing instead of conditioner - this aids transition by helping to balance the PH level of your scalp. Prepare the rinse by combining one part apple cider vinegar (use one that has 'mother of vinegar' - it will look a bit cloudy) with 4 parts water. You can add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance, or try leaving some lemon peel in the vinegar for a few days before preparing it. Once your hair has transitioned, you can use an apple cider vinegar rinse every few washes to keep your hair in tip top condition.
Brush your hair regularly, at least couple of times a day, from roots to tips to spread the natural oils.
Try leaving it a bit longer between washes. Indeed, many people find they don't need to wash their hair as often with a shampoo bar.
If you are in a hard water area, or have lots of chemical build up in your hair, try a baking soda clarifying rinse prior to shampooing. Combine one tablespoon baking soda with 1-2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle or cup then apply to wet hair. Work it through your hair, then rinse thoroughly before shampooing.
Don't be disheartened! Most people will make the transition to a natural shampoo bar successfully, and these tips should help this happen. Occasionally it just doesn't work, even if you've given it a few weeks to transition. This may happen if you live in a hard water area, for example, or if you have dyed or treated hair. If all else fails, you can still find some eco-friendly alternatives to shampoo bars, such as our Funky Soap liquid shampoo in a recyclable glass bottle.
Check out our full range of eco-friendly shampoos here. Happy hairwashing! Let us know how you get on and share any of your own tips.
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Many of us are thinking about how best to live in a more environmentally friendly way. One key consideration you might have is how to reduce your consumption and ultimately the waste you produce.
But money is tight! People often think choosing to live in a more environmentally friendly way is more expensive. It's certainly true that eco alternatives often cost more than the standard option. It's hard to resist the fantastic prices that supermarkets and shops do on shampoos, shower gels and 'buy one get one free' deals, especially when money is tight. Environmentally-friendly products can't often compete on price alone, because they look to ensure they are sourced from more environmentally sound materials, with reduced air miles, fair wages for workers and packaged in more expensive but environmentally preferable packaging.
But living in a more environmentally friendly can also save you money and precious time! How?
All of us making a small change is what can make the difference! Why not choose one of these areas and get started?
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