Offline Moment: Celebrate Earth Day
Our hectic modern lives are increasingly dominated by screens. As a digital company we know first hand how tough it can be to take a break from that addictive blue glow. So consider this your weekly offline moment. A moment where we explore different ways to quieten your mind by taking you offline and back to real life.
Image: Stella McCartney
On 22nd April we will celebrate Earth Day. It’s a day to reflect and consider our impact on our earth, and what we can do to ensure her long and healthy life. Climate change, saving the oceans and the fate of the rainforest are just some of the causes that have inspired us to be kinder to our planet. Because as we all know – there is no planet B. What can you do to celebrate Earth Day? We’ve put together a few helpful hints to get you on your way. However, if you simply want to get outside and back to nature, we think that that is a wonderful way to celebrate too.
Plant A Tree
We couldn’t live without trees. They provide food, shelter, energy and income to millions of people on earth. Not to mention their positive environmental impact – in one year a mature tree produces as much oxygen as 10 people inhale. But they are under threat from deforestation caused by the farming and agriculture industry as well as the fashion industry. At her AW19 show, Stella McCartney launched her #thereshegrows initiative with Canopy. Their aim is to reforest the precious Leuser Ecosystem in Indonesia. Why not plant your own tree in your garden if you have the space. The Woodland Trust provide handy packs to get you started. Otherwise, head to organisations such as Trees for Life or One Tree Planted to donate to their important work.
Image: @Canopyplanet
Image: @therawhoneyshop
Support The Bees
Did you know that honey bees must collect nectar from two million flowers to make a pound of honey? Many of the world’s food crops depend on bee pollination too. Without bees, it would cost UK Farmers an estimated £1.8billion a year to manually pollinate the crops we need. In urban areas especially, the natural bee population is struggling, so what can you do? Why not plant Bee friendly flowers in your garden or window boxes. We love this Wildflower Seedball as a simple way to get you started. If you want to get more hands on, Planet Bee have details of various workshops and cooperatives that you can join.
Stop Using Single Use Plastic
Thanks to David Attenborough’s Blue Planet, we’re all aware that our prolific use of plastics is slowly suffocating the oceans. A recent image of a whale with a stomach full of plastic was enough to really put us off the dreaded stuff. The key to cutting back is to have a plan. This means taking a moment to think about your day, where will it take you and what might you need to ensure that it is plastic free? Can you stow some reusables in your desk drawer or in your car boot for easy access? Another great positive is that you will eventually save money by not buying bottles of water, plastic bags or paying a premium for your coffee cup. Here are a few handy switches that will ensure you can really reduce your plastic use.
Use Brands With Take Back Schemes
Whilst many of us think that simply popping old or unwanted clothes into the recycling bin is ‘doing our bit’ unfortunately it’s not that simple. If a fabric isn’t made from virgin fibre (just one fibre and not a blend) then chances are the technology needed to separate and properly recycle these fibres isn’t in use yet. Only a small percentage of clothing can be recycled currently, the rest goes to landfill. So reuse is a much better way to go. Fashion brands such a MUD Jeans offer take back incentives. When you are done with your denim, you simply send it back to receive a €10 MUD voucher. MUD will shred the jeans and use the cotton to make new pairs. Beauty brands such as Lush Cosmetics and Kiehls offer customers incentives when they return their empty pots and bottles for reuse.
Image: @kiehls
Image: @kinn_living
Switch to Eco Friendly Cleaning Products
Many household cleaning products contain scary looking ingredients and carry warning labels cautioning users to protect their skin, eyes and airways whilst using them. These chemicals are harmful to us when we come into contact with them, in some cases they have been linked to serious illness and cancer. They are also detrimental to the environment as we wash them down the drain and they end up in the soil or ocean. And we won’t even go into the problem of non recyclable packaging used to hold these cleaners! By switching to eco friendly cleaning products, you can ensure that you aren’t using anything harmful in your own home. Plus you won’t be contributing to the contamination of water ways or the environment. Click here for some recommended products.
Switch to Refillable Products
If you want to go one better and really cut down on your packaging waste, then look out for brands that offer refillables. That way you can use products to your heart’s content, knowing that when you run out, you can simply buy a refill. It also works out cheaper in the long run as refills cost less than the packaged version. Ecover have Refill Stations across the UK which allow you to reuse your cleaning bottles. Even luxury beauty brands are offering this amazing choice to their customers. Kjaer Weis and La Bouche Rouge both offer beautiful, hard wearing cases that can be refilled with your favourite product. For more beauty ideas click here.
Cream Foundation Refill, £30, Kjaer Weis at Content Beauty & Wellbeing
Disclaimer: The people and models in the images featured are not associated with The Vendeur and do not endorse it or the products shown. This post may contain affiliate links. Prices correct at time of publishing.
