Plastic Free July

anna shvets

It’s Plastic Free July and while we like to be as plastic free as possible all year round, this month is the perfect time to look at new ways to ditch the plastic and find low waste, eco friendly swaps that are good for people and planet.

Plastic doesn’t biodegrade, hanging around on earth polluting land, water and mammals including us. Shockingly microplastics have recently been found in plancentas of unborn babies and it’s estimated we’re all consuming a teaspoon of it a week. Worryingly less than 10% of plastic produced has been recycled, so we’re just tipping into landfill and filling up the earth.

Over 300 million people got involved last year in reducing plastic for the month of July, the campaign encouraging us to consider our consumption and make small changes that can add up to a big difference.

small swaps

It’s time to ditch all the pandemic disposables and bring back all our reusable cups, water bottles and containers. The WHO say there’s no evidence viruses are transmitted via food packaging, just wash your reusables with warm soapy water.

Shop loose fruit and veg and use local famers markets.

Grow your own herbs on the windowsill rather than purchasing those sad little packets.

Use your resusable bags for shopping and stash by the door or in your car for easy access.

Buy in bulk, there’s often less plastic packaging than individually wrapped smaller items.

Find your local zero waste store for refillable soaps and food products.

karolina grabowska

Swap out your bathroom with eco friendly alternatives like a reusable safety razor, shampoo bars and washable cloth face wipes.

Switching from bottled liquid soap to soap bars, chosing reusable cleaning cloths/brushes, and switching to paper or cardboard wrapped products.

Seek out planet-friendly materials such as wood, paper, cardboard (all biodegradable) and metal or glass, both of which are more easily recyclable than plastic along with more durable and longlasting.

Choose to reuse wherever possible, jam jars are perfect for storing anything from food to bath salts.

Look to the 5 R’s: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot

Feeling inspired? Take the pledge here

Though our packaging is plastic free, we’re always looking at new ways to eliminate or reuse plastic that comes into the studio from other sources or finds its way into our home, it’s always a work in progress. While we wait for government and big business to get their ducks in a row, we can lead the way.

Little acts can add up to a big difference - we got this.

Jo

Plant a tree for the Jubilee

Gary Barnes

Did you know for every pair of glasses or sunglasses we sell, we plant a native tree right here in the UK. This year we’re also planting trees for the Platinum Jubilee in celebration of The Queen’s 70 years of Service. The Queen’s Green Canopy is a tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the country to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

Everyone can take part in enhancing our environment by planting trees from October, when the tree planting season begins, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. The Queen’s Green Canopy are also dedicating a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the country and identifying 70 Ancient Trees.

There are lots of ways to get involved - you can plant a tree in your own garden and pin it to QGC map or with our charity partner Trees for Cities, one of the official QGC partners, we’ll do it for you every time you purchase a pair of glasses or sunnies from us 🌳

Gary Barnes

Mass tree planting is one of the simplest ways to help the environment and trees are vital to our wellbeing... storing carbon, cleaning the air, and helping to increase biodiversity, not to mention the benefits to our mental health by just being in their company. ⁣

Our tree planting partner charity Trees for Cities strengthen communities by creating green spaces through volunteering opportunities and have planted 1,117,899 trees and counting. ⁣

⁣⁣From urban forests to the creation of edible playgrounds, getting stuck in with local communities to cultivate lasting change in neighbourhoods across the country – whether it’s revitalising forgotten spaces, creating healthier environments or getting people excited about growing, foraging and eating healthy food. ⁣

Gary Barnes

⁣Every pair of glasses or sunnies we sell plants a native tree where it’s needed most, right here in the UK.

How will you plant yours?

Jo

Sustainable Living - Plastic Free July

aldo delara

It’s Plastic Free July and we’re looking at sustainable living - how we can ditch the plastic and introduce more planet friendly alternatives.

Microplastics are everywhere, swimming in our oceans, filling up our earth and now raining down in the air we breathe. It’s time to wean ourselves off the plastic - here’s our take on sustainable living and where to start.

plastic free july

marten bjork

Now more than ever single use plastics are clogging up our planet, polluting our oceans and our lives. Choose to refuse single use plastics this July and search out low waste or no waste alternatives, it’s easier than you think.

The Plastic Free July site is the perfect place to start with lots of hints and tips on ways to get started. There’s no judgement, just great planet friendly ideas to help the earth and ease your conscience.

I’ve been on my eco journey for a few years now, slowly but surely reducing my plastic consumption and swapping out products and habits in favour of eco friendly alternatives where and when I can. I’ve ditched the clingfilm and the kitchen towels (cloth napkins all the way) and I’ve invested in a home composter for my food waste. It’s a work in progress, I’ve taken inspiration from vintage lifestyles, when we used to live much more simply.

Before you buy, stop and think about the low or no waste options. Buy things made to last and not single use throwaway destined straight for landfill. Seek out planet-friendly materials such as wood, paper, cardboard (all biodegradable) and metal or glass, both of which are more easily recyclable than plastic along with more durable and longlasting.

Look to the 5 R’s: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot

Plastic Free Swaps

Luisa Brimble

Here’s some simple swaps to get you started on your plastic free, low waste journey…

Reuse your old jars - jam and pickle jars are perfect for rehousing, from dried beans, to seeds, to paperclips - it’s a win win.

Shop small - buy from smaller suppliers with sustainable processes and packaging.

Reusable silicone lids or beeswax wraps - perfect for popping over leftovers of all shapes and sizes, though the old plate over a plate tactic works just as well.

Replace - water bottles, coffee cups, sandwich bags and plastic bags with reusable versions and keep in a tote bag by the door.

Swap your soap - from liquid to solid bar soap, it’s an easy swap plus it lasts a lot longer.

Buy refillable - toiletries and cleaning products can be purchased from your local or online zero waste store in bigger sizes.

Buy in bulk - and buy loose produce, less individual wrappings equals less plastic.

Wave goodbye to wipes - wipes of any kind make up over 90% of icky fatbergs, go back to basics with washable cloths.

Wash with care - wash at low temps and use a GuppyFriend washing bag to capture microplastics.

kiki siepel

Besma, Curiously Conscious, has a great article on making simple plastic free swaps. Check out The Story of Plastic (Discovery) for more.

Feeling inspired? Take the pledge here

Little acts can add up to a big difference - we got this.

Jo