Plastic Free July

 Plastics, Shopping  Comments Off on Plastic Free July
Jun 232017
 

Hi everyone,

Here’s a campaign that’s close to my heart.

It’s Plastic Free July again this year! This campaign is all about raising awareness of the problems of single-use plastics and challenges us to do something about it by avoiding them for a month. I’ve been gradually reducing plastics in my life over a number of years. I can’t remember the last time we had plastic wrap in the house or I got a plastic bag from the supermarket and I’m always on the lookout for alternatives to plastic when out shopping.

What’s the challenge?

  1. Attempt to refuse single-use plastic during July.
  2. Remember it’s not going to be easy! It is a challenge, not a competition so don’t worry about being perfect.
  3. Collect any unavoidable single-use plastic you buy. Keep in a dilemma bag and share it with the Plastic Free July crew at the end of the challenge.
  4. It’s up to you how long you participate. You might decide to go plastic-free for a day, a week, a month or longer! However long you choose will still make a contribution

If avoiding all single-use plastics sounds too hard, try what’s known as the top four challenge where you choose to refuse plastic straws, plastic bags, plastic bottles and takeaway coffee cups.

When you sign up for the challenge, you’ll receive tips and tricks, news and support related to the campaign. The Plastic Free July website is also full of new resources to help you live plastic free, including a nifty Action Picker. Check it out at:

http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/living-plastic-free.html

For more information and to sign up, go to:

http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/

Source: Plastic Free July http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/

Join me on the Plastic Free July challenge and help reduce the amount of plastics in our lives.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

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 Posted by at 8:09 am

GoodOnYou app for fashion brands and accessories

 Shopping, Social Sustainability, Sustainable Tools  Comments Off on GoodOnYou app for fashion brands and accessories
Oct 212016
 

goodonyou_logo_menu-header-180515

Hi everyone,

We’re more than half way through Buy Nothing New Month and a good time to take a look at the companies that make the fashion products we buy.

The Good On You App has been developed to help us make better choices. The App rates brands using the three categories of people, the planet and animals. The rating are based on a set of principles and independent date sources. So far the App has rating for almost 1000 . The aim is to provide a rating for every brand you can readily buy.

When we decide to buy something new (after this month) we can support companies doing the right thing for our people, our planet and our animals.

You can download the App from Apple App Store or Google Play.

For more information, go to: www.goodonyou.org.au/

Source: The Good On You app makes shopping fairer, Buy Nothing New Month email dated 17/10/2016, Good On You web site, www.goodonyou.org.au/

Get more informed about the companies that make your favourite brands and help to support the good ones.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

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 Posted by at 8:37 am

Buy Nothing New Month and the Online Op Shop

 Recycling, Shopping  Comments Off on Buy Nothing New Month and the Online Op Shop
Oct 172016
 

Hi everyone,

 

I think most of you know by now how much I love Op Shops. There is so much choice and I’ve found some really great stuff over the years. I’m a sucker for books and DVDs and have also found lots of really good quality clothes. I can’t remember the last time I went to a shopping mall or bought new clothing.

 

That’s why I’m excited to let you know about a great web site called OpShop.org. And there’s no better time to check it out than during Buy Nothing New Month. It’s a one stop shop to find Op Shops all over Australia. Simply enter your suburb or postcode and a list of Op Shops will be displayed in your area.

 

You’ll find it at:

http://www.opshop.org/

 

Give OpShop.org a go and have fun finding something special that also helps to get great stuff back into being used.

 

Many thanks

 

Lila

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 Posted by at 12:21 pm

Old Tyre Recycling

 Plastics, Recycling, Shopping  Comments Off on Old Tyre Recycling
Sep 272016
 

Hi everyone,

Can you believe Australia discards almost 48 million old tyres each year? Only 16 per cent are currently recycled. The rest end up in landfill, stockpiled, illegally dumped or shipped overseas.

The good news is the Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme has been set up to tackle this huge issue. The main objectives of the scheme are:

  • Increasing resource recovery and recycling
  • Minimising the environmental and health and safety impacts
  • Developing Australia’s tyre recycling industry and markets for tyre derived products.

You can help support the scheme by dealing with Tyre Stewardship Accredited suppliers. This will ensure your old tyres are recycled in the most environmentally sustainable way.

Look for the logo or go to our website to find your nearest supplier:

www.tyrestewardship.org.au

Source: RoyalAuto, Aug-16, pg 39, TyreStewardship Australia http://www.tyrestewardship.org.au/

Supporting a Tyre Stewardship Accredited supplier is a good thing to do for our environment next time you need to replace your old tyres.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

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 Posted by at 1:43 pm

Green Message: “Ark of Taste”

 Community Gardens, Food, Shopping  Comments Off on Green Message: “Ark of Taste”
Sep 252016
 

Hi everyone,

The Ark of Taste is an international project run by the Slow Food Movement that helps protect food products from becoming extinct. There are over 3000 products on the list so far that are at risk due to industrial agriculture, standardisation and large scale distribution of global food markets as well as environment issues. In Australia, the Slow Movement Ark of Taste focus on our diverse climate, culture and unique flora and fauna. In particular, the food from the diets of indigenous Australians and culture e.g. Finger Limes from Australia’s East Coast.

Currently, the Australian Ark has 23 products with more at the nomination stage. Anyone can nominate a food for the Ark of Taste.

The categories include:

Endangered – produced in limited quantities and may not be around in next one or two generations

Good – prized for their special taste or process

Clean – not engineered and can be grown, raised or produced without harm to the environment

Fair – food that anyone can champion, produce, sell or share – no commercial or trademark items

To nominate a food for the Ark of Taste, go to:

http://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/what-we-do/the-ark-of-taste/nominations-from-around-the-world/nominate-a-product/

For more information, go to:

http://slowfoodaustralia.com.au/what-we-do/ark-of-taste/

Source: Ark of Taste – Protecting Biodiversity, Slow Food in Australia, http://slowfoodaustralia.com.au/what-we-do/ark-of-taste/

 

Hop on board the Ark of Taste to protect our food biodiversity.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

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 Posted by at 1:39 pm

Spring Cleaning Naturally

 Shopping  Comments Off on Spring Cleaning Naturally
Sep 022016
 

Yippee! Spring is finally here. This is the time when many of us think about having a big clean-up. The weather is improving and we all start to get out of our Winter Hibernation mode.

If you’ve caught the Spring Cleaning bug, instead of reaching for cleaning products made of a cocktail of stuff with long names there are many environmentally friendly alternatives that do just as good a job without harming our environment.  I arm myself with some micro fibre cloths, spray bottles of water & vinegar and the most versatile cleaning agent of all bi-carb soda

Here’s some ideas for those big jobs:

Windows & Mirrors:

  • Remove dust with a broom or dry cloth then use undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle & wipe over with a micro fibre cloth, tissue paper or newspaper

Tip: It’s best to clean windows on a cloudy day to avoid streaks

Bathroom Tiles:

  • Make a paste using liquid castile soap and bi-carb soda and apply to tiles, leave overnight then rinse off

Tip: You should do a bit of a test on modern surfaces before going all out with the bi-carb just in case it doesn’t like it.

Oven Cleaning:

  • To clean the oven, mix bi-carb soda with water to make a paste then apply over racks, walls and base with a pastry brush. Turn oven on low and cook for 10 mins then turn off and allow to cool a little. Remove racks and take to sink area. Lightly buff bi-carb soda from racks while still dry with a stainless steel scourer then wash with soapy water. Scrape inside of the oven with a plastic spatula, then wipe over with warm soapy water

Washing glass:

  • To remove stains from flower vases & glass water bottles, soak them in warm water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of salt for a few hours

Fridge Cleaning:

  • Wipe the inside of the fridge with a solution of 1 part bi-carb soda and 7 parts water. Wash removable parts in hot water and environment friendly detergent. To finish off, wipe over with a damp cloth and a few drops of vanilla essence

De-scale Kettles:

  • Cover the element with vinegar, top up with water. Bring to the boil and leave overnight then rinse. I’ve also used slices of lemon which works a treat

Carpet Cleaning:

  • To deodorise carpets, sprinkle with bi-carb soda  then vacuum

Furniture Polish:

  • Use 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts olive oil or beeswax. I used the lemon and olive oil option on some wooden stuff and it came up beautifully

Tip: You should test an area that can’t be seen first

Metal Polish:

  • To remove tarnish or rust from copper, brass or steel, make a paste of salt and lemon juice and apply with toothpaste

Tip: As per above, you should test an area that can’t be seen first

 

For more hints & tips from Planet Ark courtesy of the NSW DECCW, go to

http://www.planetark.org/documents/doc-258-natural-cleaning-guide.pdf

 

Source: Organic at home, Murdoch books, 2005, ACF GreenHome Guide, pg 50, 21 Ways to Spring Clean your Whole House Naturally http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/21-ways-to-spring-clean-your-whole-house-naturally-47139/#.Vd-HniWqpBc

 

Let’s all spring around our homes naturally and do something really good for our environment.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

 

Spring Flowers By Anita Martinz from Klagenfurt, Austria (Colorful spring garden) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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 Posted by at 7:46 am

A sustainable Father’s Day

 Events, Shopping  Comments Off on A sustainable Father’s Day
Aug 262016
 

Hi everyone,

It’s Father’s Day on Sunday 4 September. If you observe Father’s Day, here’s some ideas to give it a bit of a green theme.

  • If ties, socks or clothing is on the list, look for organic cotton, bamboo or hemp items
  • If giving shaving products is a preference, avoid synthetic and chemically based and choose items with organic and natural ingredients
  • If your Dad enjoys a drink, choose from the ever increasing selection of organic wines or green beer ranges
  • Lots of Dads are into gadgets – there’s a great range of solar powered chargers, clocks, watches and even wind-up gadget options available these days
  • If your Dad is a keen gardener, a tree or shrub will be a long lasting gift to enjoy
  • Check out antique shops, op shops and garage sales to find that extra special vintage gift
  • Opt for a service instead of a gift such as a massage voucher or movie tickets
  • Give an experience such as a BBQ cooking class, Barista course, winery tour or sailing trip – the Internet has a stack of sites that offer gift experiences
  • Consider a sponsorship or a donation to your favourite charity e.g. Oxfam Unwrapped, World Vision Gifts, Greenfleet, Fuel for Father’s Day
  • Grab a green gift certificate from the many online eco-stores available on the Internet
  • For the avid readers, consider a subscription to an eco-magazine or online newspaper
  • Homemade gifts are a good choice or offer to spend an afternoon doing something that your Dad chooses to do or even a disliked chore like cleaning the car or mowing the lawn
  • Serve local and/or organic food at your Father’s Day lunch and avoid disposable cups, plates etc

Enjoy Father’s Day and help to make it a green day too.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

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 Posted by at 10:03 am

The Shop Ethical! App – From Lila

 Shopping, Social Sustainability, Sustainable Tools  Comments Off on The Shop Ethical! App – From Lila
Aug 052016
 

Hi everyone,

Going to the supermarket is mind boggling these days. The shelves are packed full of so many choices. If you’re like me and want to choose products from companies that are socially responsible and doing the right thing for the environment then you’re going to love the Shop Ethical! App.

The App provides us with access to over 5000 products with related company information to help us make better choices in what we buy. It even covers fashion and gadget brands. Companies are rated based on information sourced from lots of areas including organisations such as Greenpeace, Choose Cruelty Free, WWF, Free2Work and Friends of the Earth. It’s regularly updated with data from the Shop Ethical! website. By shopping ethically you can help make change and support practices that make our world a better place.

The App is available for iPhone and Android at a cost of $4.94. This helps to fund the Ethical Consumer Group which is a not-for-profit community based organisation set up to help consumers like us make more sustainable purchases.

For more information, go to:

http://www.ethical.org.au/3.4.2/get-involved/resources/shop-ethical-app/

Source: Shop Ethical! App http://www.ethical.org.au/3.4.2/get-involved/resources/shop-ethical-app/

Making better choices and working towards being an ethical consumer is a good thing to do for our planet.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

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 Posted by at 9:57 am