Tag: environment

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Zero Waste – 1 Month Update

So, how’s it going?

Photo by Adrienne Andersen on Pexels.com

Well, not as poorly as I’d worried. But not as good as I’d hoped.

Let’s begin with the struggles, because getting this out the way might help me feel better. Why does it cost so much to refill things? Initially, my impression of the refill shop wasn’t so bad. I was purchasing the refillable bottles, making an investment that would help me save money in the long run. By my second visit, I couldn’t help but wonder why one refill of laundry detergent (in a very small bottle) would cost so much more than one of the main brands washing powder (which comes in a large cardboard box). This is the kind of price disparity that makes doing the right thing and making environmentally conscious choices, very difficult.

But then I got to thinking – am I comparing the right products? Because my favourite liquid laundry detergency that comes in a plastic bottle is £10 in ASDA this week. Compared to that, it’s not so bad. But when an alternative product comes in a (very) recyclable cardboard box, for less than half the price, perhaps the responsible choice is the buy that instead.

I think this is the sort of issue that might come down to the limited brand choice we have when refilling items. So, I’m trying to be open minded about this. There are some products I love that I can’t find, or find in eco-friendly packaging, elsewhere. There are some that the refillable version isn’t economically or even sustainably worthwhile. So, I need to find the balance.

Photo by Sarah Chai on Pexels.com

There is a tendency to think of amending goals as giving in or failing. But I think when you’re trying to make meaningful change, making sure your decisions are personally sustainable, not just environmentally sustainable, is where the real battle lies. You’re going to do no good for yourself or the planet if you burn out quickly. That early period of adjustment is where you do all the experimenting, figuring out what works, what doesn’t, and where your red lines are.

The perfect example of the refill shop introducing me to a very sensible eco-friendly swap is white cleaning vinegar.  Gone are the days of fabric softener, I’m telling you. White vinegar has my washing machine smelling fresh, my clothes soft, and my oven spotless. And don’t get me started on how perfect it is for washing the cats tiny little nose smears and paw prints off the windows.

But I must caveat this with the fact that washing powder has a major advantage over liquid detergent – and that’s the inclusion of sodium percarbonate (the ‘per’ meaning peroxide). Hydrogen peroxide is fabulous for also keeping your washing machine fresh – and if you’re dealing with acne (or folliculitis), switching from liquid to powder in your washing machine may make a huge difference. AND be the sustainable swap you’ve been overlooking.

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Buying crap

In the lead up to the most relaxed Christmas Rob and I have had in years, a simple question began to reoccur everywhere we meant. Do we need this? And often the answer was, you guessed it, no.

Where does the instinct come from to consume as much as possible over Christmas? The chocolates, the desserts, and a new one for me, candles with built in LED lights that come on when you light them. Seriously, don’t candles already light up enough? When the urge to buy takes over, I become a MONSTER.

Wilbur, caught attacking the christmas decorations at every opportunity.

I started thinking about my upcoming new year’s resolution quite early this year. I wanted to spend less, and put more into our savings. After a culmination of what I’m going to call multiple blackout ‘spending events’ – I realised how out of control I’d become. My impulse control for buying crap had always been low. But in 2024, it was non-existent.

My latest obsession – maybe even hyper fixation – was on cordless vacuums. Allow my own behaviour to a cautionary tale. My last vacuum was a fabulous little rechargeable thing. It was tiny, didn’t take long to replenish the battery, and did a pretty good job of keeping the tiny flat we used to rent relatively clean. However, when it came the end of its life, far too quickly in my opinion (after about 3 years of use), I decided to opt for a slightly more expensive corded alternative. My Shark vacuum has not only saved me money in the long-run as it doesn’t require the little bags my rechargeable one did, but it also does a much better job of cleaning. My rugs and carpet look gorgeous after a 15-minute whip round. And better yet, I’m not creating more e-waste as the lithium-ion battery begins a quick descent into uselessness.

But there I was, convinced that now we have two cats, and the need to clean more regularly than before, what I desperately wanted was something that I could whip out to do the little daily touch ups my home needed to stay fresh. And keep the cat hair at a manageable level. Despite the fact, I already have a much better vacuum cleaner – that albeit a bit heavier – works wonderfully well.

Penelope (left) and Wilbur (right)

In years gone by, I have also been a sucker for sustainable gimmicks. The Eco Egg laundry, uh, thing? Yep, I was an early adopter. And you know where it got me? Eventually my clothes began to take on a faint smell of damp. Even though everything was properly washed and aired. Bar cleansers were another obsession of mine, along with solid shampoos and conditioners. Though I must admit these were far more successful. As they are sensible alternatives to hygiene products that come in bulky or complex plastic containers.

I have to tell you though, one of my all-time favourite shampoo and conditioner bars are by the brand Ethique. And when they’re on sale in Holland & Barrett, I’m like a dog in heat. They are lovely, work well, and I adore their subtle scents. Side note – do Holland & Barrett still do the penny sale? (Oh dear, here I go again…)

But as I go into 2025, my goal is to simply use things up before buying more. Stop the accumulating, the hoarding of things ‘just in case’. And swap products out, where I can, for more environmentally conscious alternatives. Ones that work and aren’t just useless crap or convincing greenwashing.

One way of doing this is to create a ‘want’ list in my journal of the things I’d like to try. If I still think it’s a good idea in a month’s time, after plenty of research, then I’ll buy it. If not, well, it wasn’t meant to be.

For my birthday, Rob bought me an Aarke carbonator. A fancy looking alternative to the Sodastream he found on QVC of all places. I am in love – and no longer buying sparkly water or fizzy pop.

Me sipping my guilty pleasure – Diet Coke.

But what about the stuff that isn’t as easy to swap out – like household cleaning sprays, laundry detergent, toilet roll, fragrances, candles, moisturisers. Sure, there are loads of alternatives, but I’m not sure there’s a clear consensus on whether they’re actually any good, or better for the planet. Well, allow me to be your lab rat. That’s also what I’m going to be trying this year. I’m on the hunt for environmentally friendly, sustainable alternatives to the plastic crap I’ve been buying at the speed of light. And hopefully, I’ll be saving a bit of money along the way. I’ve recently been to my local refill store ‘Siop Sero’ in Roath, Cardiff. And will be sharing how I got along shortly.