Some Types of Fabric – Now that the colder weather is drawing near, you may find yourself at the shops looking for a nice warm jumper or three! Materials like fleece, polyester, acrylic and nylon all contain plastic in part or full. They are a by-product of the petroleum extraction process and shed microplastics when washed and pollute water supply. Sustainable alternatives to these fabrics are cotton, Tencel, linen, wool, hemp, bamboo, viscose and modal. Though these are more sustainable, not all these materials are appropriate for winter wear. If unavoidable to use as they are often more easily available commercially, the low impact way to purchase is buy from companies that use sustainable manufacturing practices where you can see the products will have a long life. Uniqlo have a recycle program where they have a clothing collection bin at their stores and old down fabric in their jackets and other products is repurposed to make new clothing. They also distribute wearable donated clothing to people and communities in need. Unfolded is a start up that is changing the relationship with demand by designing in partnership with real women, producing in small batches, paying workers fairly and using high quality fabric. This way they are reducing the millions of unsold clothes that end up in the landfill.
Dish sponges – One of the most commonly used household products, an almost unavoidable item in the home. The average household changes dish sponges every 1.5 to 2 weeks, meaning they have a short lifespan and over time, we use a large number of them. It is an easy change and worth looking for a plastic free alternative to these. We offer a variety of cleaning sponges made natural materials like cellulose wood pulp and loofah. Not only are they zero waste, they are also free of toxins that are unavoidable in plastic products. Shop plastic free sponges
Bamboo Cups and Plates with Resin - Reusable cutlery which contains plastic resin or melamine release microplastics and is a health risk. A recent article in the Guardian stated that the Food Standards Agency advised retailers to withdraw the products in June 2023*. Look for and carry your own reusable cup like the British made Sole Cup that you can buy from us. Shop reusable cups
Make up Wipes and Cotton buds – Seemingly innocent make up wipes clog and pollute waterways and harm wildlife. Cotton buds containing plastic have been banned in the UK from 1 October 2023. They also contribute to fatbergs – the term coined to mean rock like masses of waste matter usually made up of wet wipes, fat, oil and grease deposits. These products, which have been marketed as ‘flushable’, in fact, cause a lot of damage and cost local governments and councils a lot of money to unclog sewers. Campaigns have been launched against wet wipes because of their effect on sewer systems, most notably by Surfers Against Sewage and the Marine Conservation Society, among other environmental NGOs, who called on the UK's Advertising Standards Authority to end “misleading” branding and packaging.* You can buy sustainably sourced plastic free cotton buds on Orcaandbee.com and our OEKO Tex certified cotton crocheted make up wipes as well. Shop Orca and Bee Make Up Wipes
Dishwasher and Laundry Cleaning Tablets – Commercial dishwasher and laundry cleaning tablets are coated in PVA which is a synthetic plastic polymer and is meant to dissolve upon contact with water. However, it requires certain atmospheric conditions to dissolve so unless present, it does not completely disappear, it creates microplastic which then pollute the water bodies it flows into. A sustainable alternative is to use dishwasher powder or laundry liquid or powder. We carry different brands of refillable laundry detergent and are about to stock a refillable laundry powder and dishwasher powder shortly. Watch this space!
Did you learn something new about plastic pollution?
*Sources:
The Guardian 21 October 2023
Bath News Issue 21 September 2016 https://www.bathecho.co.uk/news/business/wessex-water-lodge-flushable-wet-wipes-complaint-advertising-standards-authority-68775/
]]>Enter the Repair Café – an initiative which has been growing in popularity. With the decline in the practice of shops doing repairs, one often throws away non-functioning electrical appliances.
]]>One of the areas that I found to be so valuable is reducing the electrical waste going to the landfill by creating a space where appliances destined to be thrown away are repaired instead.
According to an article by https://cleanstreets.westminster.gov.uk/ the amount of waste electrical and electronic appliances (WEEE) produced globally is rising three times faster than the world’s population. It is also one of the waste streams with the highest carbon impact, alongside plastics, food waste and textiles.
Every year, residents and businesses in the UK throw away a staggering £1.6M tonnes of WEEE. This volume of WEEE is enough to fill 160,000 of our refuse collection trucks. This £1.6M tonnes works out at nearly 24 kg for every person living in the UK, one of the highest figures in Europe. This means that every possible effort to reduce and save these items from the landfill makes a difference.
Enter the Repair Café – an initiative which has been growing in popularity. With the decline in the practice of shops doing repairs, one often throws away non-functioning electrical appliances.
What is a repair café then? It is exactly as it sounds. You bring your in-need-of-repair appliances as well as items of clothing repaired instead of sending them to the landfill, thereby, making a significant contribution to reduction of waste. No appointments necessary, there may be a wait time if a particular station is popular that day. There is no charge for the repairs done, and you can give a voluntary donation which goes towards the cost of the event.
The Amersham venue is at the St Michael and All Angels Church on Sycamore Road in Amersham. Different stations are set out to fix a variety of items from electrical (toaster, CD player, drill with stuck battery, lamp, vacuum cleaner, hedge trimmer, hair dryer, pressure washer), sewing (dress hems, watch straps, handbags).
In addition, there have been stalls for eco-friendly products and eco refills, charity organisations selling greeting cards and much more. Check out the individual event poster for information.
From the first repair café which ran in July 2022, it takes place once every two months and has grown with the incredibly skilled volunteer repairers who take on different items and the cosy café area where you can have a slice of cake and a cuppa while you wait.
Repair cafés are run by amazing climate community based groups across Buckinghamshire on a monthly or once in 2 months basis in Chesham, Hazlemere, High Wycombe and Amersham. More information about the Amersham Repair Café can be found at https://sustainableamersham.org/repair-cafe-2/
Would you like to start a repair café? Check out https://www.repaircafe.org/en/ and be the change in your community.
]]>A great way to start going plastic free, is to tackle one room at a time. This way, you can break the process down into manageable chunks and it doesn’t get too overwhelming.
Q: Where are the refill products manufactured?
A: Orca and Bee has partnered with Miniml, a Yorkshire based cleaning and personal care manufacturer who share our values of zero waste by creating natural, eco-friendly formulations and use a closed loop system (where the containers that are used for stocking their products get sent back to them and reused) so there is no unnecessary plastic waste.
Q: What type of products do you refill?
A: We offer refills of home cleaning solutions such as laundry liquid, fabric conditioner, dishwashing liquid, anti-bacterial spray, floor cleaner, toilet cleaner, as well as personal care like liquid hand soap, shampoo and conditioner. At the moment, we stock Miniml products which are vegan, cruelty free, zero waste and British manufactured.
Q: Why refill when I can buy from the store or online?
A: Here are a few reasons but we could go on and on…
Q: When do orders get delivered?
A: We dispatch within 1-2 days for orders placed before 8pm. If you would prefer to be at home when your order is delivered, please let us know and we can arrange it.
Q: Are the bottles for my own use?
A: We deliver in our reusable bottles and you can decant the product into your own containers, and we collect the empties on your next purchase.
Q: Where can I buy bottles?
A: We recommend the first purchase to include your forever bottles, so that you have all you need for your zero waste and refill journey.
Q: I am not at home on the delivery day, where will you drop the items?
A: We drop at your door or at an assigned safe place that you can advise when ordering. You can also contact us after the order is placed to advise a safe place by...
email: orcaandbee@outlook.com
or phone/WhatsApp: 07394 528088
Q: I forgot to leave the empties out, what can I do to return them?
A: We will ring the doorbell if you have empties to be picked up.
Q: Can I order other products from your website when ordering refills?
A: Yes, just place your order and check out as normal. We will deliver all items ordered with the refills.
Q: How do I cancel further orders?
A: As we do not run on subscriptions, there is nothing to cancel. If you simply wish to discontinue after ordering once, please let us know and we will pick up the empties.
Have we not answered your question? Feel free to call or message me at email: orcaandbee@outlook.com
or phone/WhatsApp: 07394 528088
Carry your own water bottle – I know what you are going to say… airports ask you to throw away your water at security check. They didn’t (perhaps because we were travelling with children) but in case that isn’t your experience, here is a loophole – carry an empty water bottle and you can fill it after Security check.
Save the Headphones – OK I am excited to share this one as well! I lose headphones all the time and it seems like a waste not to take the disposable headphones (but totally reusable if you are not hung up on the ‘look’ of your headphones). I plan on keeping mine for a long time, and they work with multiple devices.
Airport Shuttle Services - Depending on the destination you may be able to take advantage of airport shuttle services from the airport into the city – it is a safe and more economical option compared to taxis. Do your research beforehand and if it applies, use it and see your green quotient rise and your expenses fall.
Hotel Amenities – While this tip didn’t require any action on my part, it had a lot of feel good value. We broke our journey with one night at a hotel. While I know that IHG Hotels have been transitioning out of the small shampoo, shower gel and conditioner amenities in rooms in the UK, I was happily impressed when the Holiday Inn we stayed at in Mumbai had a Dove Shampoo and Conditioner dispenser instead of the thumb sized bottles that were previously available.
Vacuum Packing – I can’t take credit for this one, it was my husband who discovered it and it saved a ton of space in our very full bags! Works just like when you’re storing away winter clothes, with the additional benefit of making more room to fit in all your odds and ends instead of carrying air across continents! While not plastic free, the bags are reusable and sturdy and various brands are available at Savers and Robert Dyas stores.
Keep your cool, don’t stress if you are not perfectly zero waste – Though we tried to fit as many zero waste solutions from home into our trip, we couldn’t manage everything. We did our best and enjoyed the time with loved ones.
Photo by Maria Tyutina
]]>We wanted to make it easier and so here we are! We now offer doorstep refills of everyday cleaning and personal care products from washing up liquid, laundry liquid, floor cleaner to shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. We have selected and partnered with experienced producers who share our ethos of making the Earth a cleaner, less polluted place to live.
If you live in postal codes SL9, HP8, HP5, HP6, HP7, HP9, UB9, SL2, SL3, zero waste just got a lot easier. The process - shop online at www.orcaandbee.com choose your product in the size you prefer, we deliver to your doorstep within 1-2 days. Like the milk man, sans milk!
Delivery is free when ordering over £10, orders below £10 have a fee of £1.50
We deliver in our reusable bottles and you can call us to pick up the empties or we will do so at your next delivery. We offer sizes at 300ml, 500ml and 1 litre, so if you are dipping your toes, you can select the size that works for you, there is no commitment required or subscription to buy. You can also purchase our other products and we will deliver it along with your refills! As of December 2023, we have added a subscription option, but you can order even without it.
By leveraging online shopping and doorstep delivery, we want to bring Earth friendly living a step closer for busy families – and keep the Earth a beautiful place for the Orcas and the Bees!
Original article 28 February 2022
Edited on 26 January 2024
]]>Gift an experience
While kids always enjoy toys, there is always a chance that more than one person has thought of the same thing, or that the potential recipient already has it. Tickets to an age appropriate play, movie tickets, or any local Adventure park are great gifts and will create memories that can be treasured.
Gift a service
Free babysitting for a night, offering to cook a favourite meal that your friend loves, voucher to your friend’s favourite mani/pedi or for a blow dry at their favourite salon are special gifts that tell the receiver you care about them
Zero waste gift hamper
For someone who is starting their eco journey or has shared that they are thinking of the environment, a starter kit is a great way to share the experience of products that have worked. Browse our Hampers and Gifts on orcaandbee.com for ideas or to curate one.
Christmas Lights
Make sure your Christmas lights are all working and put them on a timer so they switch off when you go to bed. This will ensure that you are not wasting electricity when no one can see them.
Party Planning
When shopping for gifts or consumables, make a list so you stick to your plan and don’t end up buying on impulse. Check your list for what you already have in your pantry so you don’t end up buying more of an item you use only once a year. Cook in batches and this will help you be better prepared for those in between days too so you can heat up leftovers when you’re wiped out from the previous days’ entertaining.
Real or Fake Christmas Tree
The debate of whether a real tree or a fake one has been discussed endlessly, but I would say, if you have a fake one, use it for as long as you can. If you plan to get a real tree, compost it after so that it returns to nourish the soil, or get it from a retailer that will accept it after the holiday season.
Tree Ornaments and decorations
Our church does a fantastic Advent workshop where kids create Christmas ornaments and we treasure those year after year. The children love decorating the tree with their masterpieces and what could be cuter than sharing the stories of when they made them.
Christmas cards
Plantable Christmas cards are great, but if you get a bunch of Christmas cards from colleagues and friends that have glossy paper, you can still save and use them as gift tags next year. Shop plantable Christmas cards at orcaandbee.com
Gift Wrap
At our house, we started using plain brown paper to wrap gifts and the kids have a ball colouring the wrapping. We use Kite brown paper packing tape which is biodegradable. Some brightly coloured string ties it together and you can use some festive holly or pine cones for decoration. Cloth to wrap gifts, which can be used again and again is called Furushiki and originated in Japan and is a time honoured tradition.
Photo by Irina Iriser from Pexels
]]>The New Year has begun and we are all settling back into our working routines after the holidays. When that happens I always find myself more fraught than usual in trying to cut down on waste. I have a few changes that have worked well for us, and while some of them have required forethought, these are what we have stuck with. I hope you find some among these that would work for you.
Milk in glass bottles – We are lucky to live in an area where farms abound and there is a great supply of fresh dairy and foods. We use wrendavis.co.uk who deliver milk and other groceries right to our door – and we don’t have the plastic milk jugs to recycle anymore. I am not affiliated with this business, just a happy customer.
Natural oils like Almond or coconut oil as moisturiser – I switched to almond oil for my then 5 year old, about two years ago, and haven’t looked back. It is odourless and if you prefer a scent (I like Lavender), you can infuse it yourself. A friend showed me that adding a few sprigs of fresh lavender makes it smell great. A 250ml bottle lasts me 3 months. Coconut oil has anti-fungal properties and is also a great moisturiser. I would recommend using a small amount to test for any allergies before using more.
Compostable dish sponges and coconut fibre brushes to do dishes - In the UK alone, 600 million dish sponges go into the landfill every year. When I use a compostable sponge, and I am done with it (usually 2-3 weeks of use), I just cut it up and throw into the compost. For baked on food stains I use my trusty coconut coir dish brush which has lasted over a year.
Reusable cutlery for travel or in the office – This may not quite apply if you are working from home at the moment, but having your own reusable set helps significantly to avoid the number of plastic utensils from buying lunch in. Added bonus when your fork doesn’t break while cutting into a broccoli stem!
Switch out toothpaste for dental tabs – If they contain fluoride (Denttabs, as well as Ben and Anna have fluoride options) they offer the same degree of cleaning as toothpastes do – I have been using toothtabs and natural floss for since 2020, and other than not quite foaming up like commercial toothpaste does; many dentist visits later, they work great. Moreover, you don’t have to worry that the kids will squirt a huge blob of it and empty it all because the tabs are premeasured as 1 per use.
Homemade glue for art projects – Did you know that cooked rice (actually, slightly overcooked rice) is a great adhesive. It is especially effective for sticking paper.
Handkerchiefs instead of tissues – Though tissues are not made with plastic obviously, but they do use finite resources and often are wrapped and / or packaged in plastic; but I also find they are a charming habit that we miss today.
Metal Razors – Metal razors last a lifetime and there are so many aesthetically pleasing options on the market today, you can even blend them into your décor. We like the Wild and Stone Shaving Razor which comes in different colours. The blades cost less than plastic razors do so they are the ultimate economical solution in the long run.
Natural deodorants – There are many natural deodorant options available today, thanks to some very talented essential oil mixologists (as I call them). Kutis has a variety of scents which we have tried and come in cardboard tubes which can, you guessed it, go into the compost or recycling.
Reusable cup or water bottle – When I am looking for a pick-me-up cuppa, I carry my reusable cup or in a pinch, my water bottle to get a cup of coffee in so I don’t have to use a takeaway cup from any café I visit. Most places oblige and are ok even if its your water bottle!
Photo by Mali Maeder from Pexels
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