Tag: plastic free

Lifestyle, Recycle Less

Recycle Less Find and Update

by natjtanLeave a Comment on Recycle Less Find and Update

Earlier this year we had holiday vacay in the USA. Hawaii and Northern California. I was so excited to see what Wholefoods Market had in the way of plastic free kitchen cleaning utensils, cosmetics. Okay, I was excited for the whole shop. Here Europe we hear a lot about how good it is. The London one a few years ago I was impressed by so I was hoping the range would have grown. Just before going I had found an online plastic free shop, stalking a few items I thought I could get in America cheaper. I’ve come to the conclusion I have to stop thinking that organic shops are onto plastic free alternatives unless they started catering for plastic free alternatives demand. 

To be honest, Wholefoods was a little dissapointing. Not from the kale point of view. So many varieties and a large stock of it. Here it goes quickly. The Wholefoods near Sand City the cleaning isle I walked down a few times without noticing. I wasn’t looking for products I was looking cleaning and kitchen utensils and they were just added bits hanging of the shelfs. The Wholefoods near Redwood Shores was better. The time we got there after out exploring we had just enough time to race around the produce sections. 

Our last morning before returning we stopped by Half Moon Bay and oh my. New Leaf is like Wholefoods on speed. The best vegan BLT sandwich and huge cosmetic section. Again the cleaning utensils still not as plastic free as I’d hoped however I had to put things back as the suitcases were already full. A long winded way of saying the best place to buy plastic free utensils is still online. Edit: while editing I’ve found a few plastic free stores in Barcelona. You bet in phase 2 I’m dropping by. I’ve already checked their online shops and this girl’s excited.

What I did find:

Patch Natural Bamboo Strip Bandages. Light Bamboo Hypoallergenic Breathable Bandages

I’ve yet to use these, but I’d been stalking them online. I think I did a happy dance inside finding them! Everything, packaging to the plaster itself is biodegradable.  New Leaf  Plastic Free Shop

Continue reading “Recycle Less Find and Update” →
Lifestyle, Recycle Less

Recycle Less: Netflix and Linen

by natjtan2 Comments on Recycle Less: Netflix and Linen

While this Recycle Less is about all things linen, it’s also a reminder to myself why I’m recycling less. Or trying too. As I’ve mentioned many times animals, nature are 2 things I care very deeply about. We as humans tend to discard nature by keeping up with the Joneses.

I started watching on Netflix, Broken. A documentary looking at the true price of things we buy. Not in any particular order and I did leave it by the wayside for Korean dramas. Just saying. The one that made an imprint was Makeup Mayhem. The episode focusing how people’s need to have the latest beauty products fuels counterfeit goods. What shocked me more was the amount of waste. Watching the legit independent beauty brand ColourPop’s production line I was amazed by the amount of plastic packaging for just one pot of eye shadow. This is just an independent label. It blew my mind how much say an established beauty house uses plastic, what’s sold, what’s not, what’s discarded. The the amount of plastic and transport involved in counterfeit goods. Even the amount of plastic at the Port of Los Angeles! 5.5 million containers go through that port every year. Imagine the plastic inside! I also started watching Deadly Dresser episode looking into fast furniture of the furniture industry such as Ikea. I only watched 3 minutes but seeing the trees cut down illegally from National Forests in Eastern Europe for is enough for me to say no more cheap furniture. Thankfully the Ikea products in the house are lasting (I also think this is down to assembly. Yes a nod to P!). I’ve read forest wardens are being killed in the last primeval forests of Easter Europe by illegal loggers. Ikea has been taken to court for purchasing illegal primeval forest land in Romania. I know people need furniture and not everybody can spend money on items that will last as they need something now. It’s a huge mess, it’s complicated and I don’t see a way out.

H&M Home Linen Cushion Covers

I’m not sure how to continue this post after that. Little steps can make big steps cooperatively. I guess I didn’t need to replace the cushion covers. They were about 4-5 years old and I wanted a change which I didn’t realise until out shopping. Excuses! In perhaps the worst place to recycle less I was in H&M Home. I came across a tan/light brown 100% linen cushion cover that said NAT over here! Long story short, linen is a great alternative to polyester or nylon cushion covers. Easy to recycle at the Continue reading “Recycle Less: Netflix and Linen” →

Beauty and Skin Care, Lifestyle, Recycle Less

Recycle Less Update: Updated Finds

by natjtan2 Comments on Recycle Less Update: Updated Finds

Welcome back to another Recycle Less Update! Some items may have been featured in previous Recycle Less Updates however below are improved finds. As some long time readers know I’ve been on a journey for a few years to reduce the amount of plastic I consume and stuff in general. It’s not easy and any plastic free finds, eco environmental finds I find, I share!

Since starting being more conscious buying less plastic I’m actually buying less as well. Double whammy! When you see plastic everywhere you realise just how much there is, sometimes despair now it’s here it’s never going to go away. I’m not anti plastic everything. It has valuable use when used right. I try to avoid unnecessary plastic whenever I can. Food and beauty items are still my number one plastic hurdles. Whenever I can grocery shopping I use cotton produce bags (I even take them on holiday!), go for skincare without nasty ingredients (since starting being plastic freer, it’s evolved in avoiding petroleum plastics and it’s derivatives in skincare, food), do my best to find the plastic free alternatives. I’m no angel, shoes are plastic as I’m vegan too. For example I didn’t know shoe glue can contain animal gelatine for the bonding. What’s that got to do about being plastic free? Sometimes you have to compromise, give and take and do the best you can caring as much you can for the environment. 

Kaiapuni Eco Dental Floss and Refills

Previously I was compromising with a silk floss. It came in a glass container however being silk and me being vegan I was never happy about it. But it was better than nylon or ‘plastic’ floss. Even since I saw a photo of a seal with floss wrapped around its neck cutting into its flesh, I’ve been anti plastic floss. An Amazon recommendation was Kaiapuni floss £5.99 plus shipping. A corn based floss making it 100% biodegradable and clumsy friendly container being metal. Refills are cheap, £6.99 for 2 Continue reading “Recycle Less Update: Updated Finds” →

Beauty and Skin Care, Lifestyle, Recycle Less

Beauty Finds: Hair Care Bars Part 1

by natjtan5 Comments on Beauty Finds: Hair Care Bars Part 1

I’ve been reducing or trying to reduce my plastic waste for the past few years. Somethings are easier than others to replace with non plastic. Hair products aren’t going to to be anytime soon unless part 2 of The Hair Care Bars do a miracle on this girl’s fine wavy stubborn hair.

A friend recommended Lush hair bars. She’s also on a plastic freer journey. I should have taken my own advise from my last trip to Lush. Lush is a I like concept brand, the products just don’t do it for me. My hair however wasn’t fairing well from Freshly Cosmetics duo, it was that time of the month making me feeling a little down with I need a boost (with shopping. I always say shopping is modern day hunting. The thrill of the chase hunting down items adrenalin low key pumping) so I was okay lets try Lush hair bars to see if they’ll revitalise my hair. Something I’m working this year is to listen to my intuition more. So many times I’ve gone against that voice, not listened and I should have. That and not buying unwanted things, saving pennies. 

Anyways, my hair time is fine, oily easily damaged. You’d think not colouring it, no heat treatment, eating as healthy as I can, all the hair foods and taking brewers yeast tablets my hair would be in okay condition. Nope. I blame pollution! And the wrong products. Continue reading “Beauty Finds: Hair Care Bars Part 1” →

Lifestyle, Recycle Less

Recycle Less Finds/Update #5

by natjtan1 Comment on Recycle Less Finds/Update #5

I’ve been on a using less plastic and recycling less in general journey for nearly 2 years and it’s still not getting easier! Much of the time thinking outside the box is needed or just saying no to plastic is general is easier. Many non plastic alternatives might at time seem more expensive but in the longer run are more cost effective as you’re not replacing them as often. Sometimes I ask myself is it worth it when I see the amount of disposable plastic that’s used, how many people don’t bat an eyelid using it. When I read about turtles and whales being found with plastic straws lodged up their noises or stomachs full of plastic bags mistaken for jelly fish it is.

I’m gradually fazing out items for plastic free items. Rather than go all out changing everything, when something needs replacing I opt for the plastic free or less free option. I’m not throwing out (she says) good items if there’s no need yet. It’s not easy. Sometimes I find the item I’m after only for it to arrive covering in plastic! Smh. Here are some plastic free alternatives I’ve found the past couple of months.

Bamboo/Wood Toothbrush and Toothpaste Holder

I wanted to replace my existing toothbrush holder Continue reading “Recycle Less Finds/Update #5” →