Tag Archives: environment

ANNA HOLMES ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL INSPIRATION FOR HER LATEST NOVEL

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The back cover blurb for my novel begins like this:

Set in the Indonesian rainforest, Blind Eye is a fast-paced environmental political thriller exploring moral predicaments and personal choices.

In a nutshell Blind Eye is about illegal logging.

Governments’ failures to stop this practice is depleting the worlds rainforest at alarming rates. In the eleven years since I first wrote my story as a screenplay, to when I turned it into a novel, forest cover roughly the area of Mexico has been lost according to figures compiled by Global Forest Watch (GFW) of the World Resources Institute.

My background is in dance, theatre, yoga and writing. I know a lot about these subjects and next to nothing about trees and timber. So what drew me to write about this subject?

My partner was a founder member of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which promotes responsible management of the world’s forests. He is still involved. At that time, he had a company supplying FSC timber and he had travelled to different places in the world to support community forestry projects. I felt there was a story waiting to be hatched in my brain.

Many of us recognise that distinctive logo incorporating a tree with a tick on it and the initials FSC. It appears on toilet paper packaging, books, wooden kitchen utensils, garden furniture and much more. All these wood and paper products can demonstrate a chain of handlers from a well-managed forest or plantation through the milling process to the finished product. Big projects that signed up to sustainable building include the Senedd building (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff Bay with its the magnificent curvy wooden interior and the hardwood decking outside leading to the waterfront. That is a project I know about as my partner’s company had a small role in this. Gosh, I even remember the name of the Brazilian hardwood decking: Massaranduba. Not bad!

As I said, the timber trade is not my thing, but I am environmentally conscious.

I love world-building and am a plot and character type of writer. With my debut historical novel, Wayward Voyage, (inspired by a true story) I thrust Anne Bonny into a harsh seafaring pirate life. In Blind Eye my protagonist, Ben Fletcher, is thrust into the murky world of illegal logging in an Indonesian rainforest.

With Blind Eye I am not interested in hammering readers over the head with a preachy, do-goody story. Who needs that? Readers should want to turn the page to find out what happens next. And I don’t want to just highlight the problems – we know what many of these are – so I leave readers with some hope and show that solutions are possible.

One review blogger writes: “Holmes has put together a first-rate thriller, mixed in a little romance, and shown the brutal side of business putting profits ahead of people. If the end result of reading this book is not just an enjoyable ride through some thrilling pages but also beginning to open our eyes a little wider, then we can be grateful for this story on multiple levels”.

Think about it. Don’t turn a blind eye when replacing your garden furniture or purchasing a new coffee table. That wood has a story to tell. What is it?

 

Links to Blind Eye retailers on Anna’s website

https://www.annamholmes.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mirabeau Launch Belle Année Rosé in a Box 

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2020 may not have been a Belle Année but we have some good news to share with our Rosé fans. Introducing a boxed wine that you can be sure to get some quality content from. Award winning Mirabeau, known for their ‘best rosé in a bottle for under £10’, have recently launched Belle Année bag-in-box wine and we cannot get enough of it! 

In a bid to create a more sustainable option for wine drinkers, they are forging the path to lowering your carbon footprint whilst indulging in their sublime Gold Medal, (Drinks Business Global Masters Rosé) wine. This beautiful pale pink wine is a dry yet aromatic rosé perfect and light enough to pair with food. If you think rosé is only for the Summer, well, this year we throw all the rules out of the window. If you love a decent rosé, you will love this! With a price point as attractive as the wine itself it’s actually much more cost effective to choose the bag-in-box option getting you more bang for your buck. 

As well as fitting onto the door of your fridge, this handy box holds three bottles of wine whilst lasting a whole four weeks after opened. Now if an increased life span for your wine isn’t what you’re after, I don’t know what is!! The fully recyclable cardboard box reduces space and waste with the pouches guaranteed to keep your wine fresher. This is the perfect aperitif whilst being the perfect size to share with your loved ones while we can over the festive period. What’s more, this would make the perfect gift for any wine lover in need of a little TLC this year. 

 Belle Année literally translates as ‘beautiful year’ and with 2020 not being so beautiful, we hope some wishful thinking from our friends at Mirabeau can help you to ring in the New Year with this beautiful wine. 

Belle Année bag-in-box is available to buy at Waitrose stores nationwide.

Waitrose.com and Waitrosecellar.com

RRP: £25.99

Pura Baby Wipes Launched by Parents on a Mission to Democratise Eco-friendly Baby Care

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I am obsessed with Pura, a new brand who make baby wipes that are 100% plastic-free, 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable and are made from sustainable plant fibres.  Guy and Abi Fennell are making parenting green and we at Frost are fully behind them.

Launched from lockdown, Pura is a new, UK based, family-run company that is taking on the environmental challenges of traditional wipes, with the launch of 100% plastic free baby wipes. A massive 90% of the wipes currently sold in the UK contain plastic and they can last over 100 years in landfill, yet the vast majority of consumers don’t realise they are using wipes that contain plastic.

pura founders

For maximum affordability, Pura is “cutting out the middleman” and selling direct-to-consumer with free next day delivery 7 days a week, at a price point that’s comparable to traditional disposable wipes and lower than leading eco-friendly brands. In the first month since launch, Pura received more than 250,000 visits to the website, with 45,000 customer orders.

About Pura wipes:

  • Pura baby wipes are 100% plastic-free, 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable, made from sustainable plant fibres
  • Each Pura wipe contains 99% water and organic aloe vera and no perfume, alcohol or chlorine
  • Pura baby wipes  are available in flushable, with the Fine to Flush accreditation, and non-flushable options.
  • The baby wipes are suitable for sensitive and eczema-prone skin, certified vegan and are accredited by the British Skin Foundation, Allergy UK, the FSC and the Soil Association
  • Launch film with a powerful message has already received 6.6 million views on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZaIcRX6Jxv8
  • Pura is the most accredited baby care brand on the market, with a unique, simple labelling system listing the product’s eco-credentials for parents
  • The first baby wipes in the UK with a Fine to Flush stamp of approval, and an ambition to be the first Carbon Neutral baby care brand
  • The only baby brand to be teaming up with the Woodland Trust to help support the sustainability of the UK’s natural environment
  • Pura’s baby wipes are approved by midwives and are dermatologically and clinically tested

Pura has reduced all its subscription prices by 20%:

  • 100% Plastic Free Flushable Baby Wipes, 70 wipes per pack, 10 packs per case, 700 wipes in total. Subscription price: £19.84 (£1.98 per pack/2.8p per wipe); one time purchase £24.80.
  • 100% Plastic Free Non Flushable Baby Wipes, 70 wipes per pack, 10 packs per case, 700 wipes in total. Subscription price: £18.24 (£1.82 per pack/2.6p per wipe), one time purchase £22.80.
  • For all wipes: free next delivery. Certain postcodes restrictions apply.

 

About Pura

Pura is on a mission to provide high quality eco-friendly yet affordable baby products for all, with plans to launch an eco-friendly nappy range later this year and to launch into Europe.

Pura wasn’t born in a boardroom, but in a home in Cheshire in the North West of England, where founders, and new parents, Guy and Abi Fennell created their vision to disrupt the current baby care market, and make being ‘eco’ affordable for all. Co-founder Guy Fennell, explains; “It’s all about driving change and leaving the right legacy for our children. We’d love to see everyone make the switch to plastic free wipes and we’re working hard to make that happen. Parents too often have to compromise on quality or price for environmental friendliness. We want to empower all families to care for their family, their environment and their budget without compromise.”

Simple, transparent labelling

Founders and new parents Guy and Abi want to empower parents to make informed, eco-friendly decisions so they developed a unique labelling system, breaking down complex accreditations into simple visuals that help parents understand at a glance whether the products are plastic-free, biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, flushable.   They are calling on all brands to start using a system similar to the colour labelling on food, to bring greater transparency.

 Website: https://www.mypura.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypura/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mypura
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyPura/

Pura is the exclusive partner of Nappicycle, the only UK nappy recycling company, working to maximise the number of disposable nappies that are recycled for use as affordable housing materials and notice boards for nurseries, schools and businesses.

  • The brand is also working in partnership with The Hygiene Bank, a grassroots community initiative that provides personal care products to those who need them across the UK, as well as making both financial and product donations to the NSPCC to help families in need. The brand is also offering a 10% discount to NHS staff on all Pura products, available through the NHS Benefits website.

 

LastRound: Resuable Cotton Swabs, Tissues & Cotton Rounds Review

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As England’s ban on single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds finally came into effect this month LastSwab has come into its own.

By now there are plenty of reusable options out there to replace plastic straws, not to mention stirrers, but less so for cotton buds.

LastSwab is the first-ever sanitary, reusable Q-tip. In England an estimated 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds are used and thrown out each year after just one use, these are one of the most significant ocean pollutants today. Each LastSwab lasts up to 1,000 uses and comes in a biodegradable case that keeps it protected and makes it easy to carry on the go. It comes in two styles, one for cleaning and one for makeup.

Danish eco-startup LastObject have a few different products and each one is brilliant. Frost loves LastObject and the work they are doing. We all need to do as much as we can for the environment, and swapping our tissues, cotton buds and tissues for the reusable ones that LastObject make is a significant step. We have to all stop saying it is ‘just one’. Read this great piece on LastObject’s site. The products are easy to clean and are high quality. 

 

last round, environment, sustainability, the last one, last round, environment. , last tissue
What problem does LastTissue solve?
Every year around 8,000,000 trees are cut down to make facial tissues for the US alone. As individuals we can make a difference by changing our own habits. Every time you blow your nose with a LastTissue, you save 2 liters of water.

last round, environment, sustainability, the last one, last round, environment., last swab,
What problem does LastSwab solve?
Every day 1.5 billion single-use swabs are created. A vast amount of these end up in our oceans and landfills. By using a reusable swab, you prevent around 1000 single-use swabs from being used and discarded.

last round, environment, sustainability, the last one, last round, environment.

LastRound is a reusable cotton round made from 100% renewable raw materials – 70% wood fiber and 30% organic cotton, making it more sustainable than a 100% cotton option. Unlike other reusable cotton pads on the market that are cloth, LastRound feels and looks like single-use rounds used for makeup removal and applying serums. LastRound comes in a case with seven rounds and can be washed and reused over and over again.

Single-use cotton rounds made with non-organic cotton use vast amounts of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers. According to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), cotton production is the largest use of water among all agricultural commodities; It takes 2,640 gallons of clean drinking water to produce 1,000 regular cotton rounds.

You can buy these great products here. I highly recommend that you do.

 

The Power of Plants: eco-friendly, 100% natural and organic cleaning products

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organic, eco friendly, cleaner, cleaning , environmentally friendly

Anyone who reads Frost regularly will known that I am a fan of sustainability. Anything that is good for the environment and cuts down waste has my attention. I also hate nasty chemicals and the fact that most mainstream cleaning products come in single use plastic bottles. Not okay. 

Squeeky cleaners caught my attention because they are 100% natural, organic, eco-friendly, pet safe and vegan friendly cleaning products. I tried out the multipurpose cleaner and I was impressed. It works well and, unlike loads of cleaners I have used, it does not feel like you are breathing in nasty chemicals. No stinging eyes. It works and it is good for you and the environment. What is there not to love? It is also made in the UK. I hope this company goes stratospheric. I cannot recommend them enough. 

It is no surprise that modern day living is more toxic than 30 years ago, more chemicals are used in the home than ever before and pollutants are all around, effecting people, pets, wildlife and our planet. With more pollutants in a normal home than air in some major cities, we do not always think about indoor air quality.

According to the British Lung Foundation types of indoor air pollution include particulate matter (PM) – microscopic particles of dust and dirt in the air, gases – carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide.

We may think our homes are sparkling clean, but air poor quality can affect asthma, COPD and allergies. Indoor air pollution can be caused by many things. These include: cooking, poor ventilation, damp, toiletries and chemicals in cleaning products.

Harsh toxic chemicals found in many household cleaners affect skin, airways, lungs and eyes, with long term research suggesting that certain chemicals cause cancer and can even change our DNA over a period of time.

Squeeky cleaners have created and range of 100% natural, organic, eco-friendly, pet safe and vegan friendly cleaning products which are great for the home and planet. Their products can bring comfort to householders who worry that modern day living cannot be clean and natural without the use of harsh chemicals. All their products are plant based and made with essential oils they are safe, yet powerful and kill over 99.9% of all germs and viruses.

Squeeky cleaners have a range of products to make all areas of the home and garden super clean. One of their most popular products is the Organic Limescale Remover Life Bottle Bundle which brings a super clean shine to bathrooms and kitchens, even to the most toughest stains. The bundle includes a reusable UK aluminium life bottle and refils for just £14.99. For more information visit Squeekyshop.co.uk

 

Saalt menstrual cups review

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Anyone who reads Frost regularly will know that I care about the environment and I am always trying to lower my carbon footprint. My period is not environmentally friendly. I struggle with this and have even bought environmentally friendly pads and cotton tampons. I want a more permanent solution so I was excited to try the Saalt menstrual cup. I have seen them in shops but I was a cynical. I have a heavy period and  I was not sure whether or not they worked.

Now the review! First, always sterilise it first and make sure it is cleaned regularly. The cup comes with instructions. It is fiddly to put it in the first time but you soon get used to it. I worried that it would be hard but it is not. It is not uncomfortable either. You forget that it is there.

Taking it out is fiddly the first time but everything becomes easy quickly. I cannot recommend this cup more. It holds a huge amount and I had no leakage. It is also comfortable and easy to use. Great for the environment and for your pocket. It lasts up to ten years and you can wear it all day or night. It is odour free, which is more than I can say for some other period products, and non-toxic. It has no BPA, no latex and no chemicals. I cannot recommend it more.

saalt period cup, menstrual cup, period cup, environment,

  • Reliable: wear up to 12 hours
  • Comfortable: soft silicone moulds to your shape
  • Natural: naturally non-toxic and odour free. Maintains the body’s natural Ph
  • A cup for every ‘body’: Saalt cups in two firmnesses (Saalt Cup/Saalt Soft) and two sizes (small/regular) – a perfect fit for all!
  • Rounded Cuff: reinforces the seal to prevent leaks
  • Soft Grip Hold: helps you get a grip on the cup/ get a grip on life 😉
  • Soft Flex System: easy removal and comfort

Saalt cups are available at Feelunique.com, Amazon and Saaltco.com.

 

periods, what your period is trying to tell you, saalt, menstrating cup,

The Restory: To Be Fashion Thou Shalt Restore Not Replace

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The Restory- To Be Fashion Thou Shalt Restore Not ReplaceOur consumption of fashion is evolving. The throwaway days of ‘new season, new wardrobe’ seem to be numbered as we seek a more sustainable approach to all aspects of our lives, not just the fashionable ones. This evolution is fuelled for some by pragmatism, for others by altruism, but for the majority by a desire for our purchases to exist beyond a few seasons, or even just a few outings. Maximalist founder of the website, Man Repeller, Leandra Medine, recently told British Vogue that she wished she only owned 15 things.

 

A more circular approach is taking hold; yes, we buy – both new and pre-loved – but we also repair and rent and sell. We buy less but we buy better and we expect more. Some brands have always understood customer’s demand for products that have longevity and therefore provide aftercare and repair services to that end; heritage names such as Mulberry and Hermes spring to mind. Whilst eco-brand Patagonia has a lifetime guarantee on all its products.

 

However, it seems that for many luxury brands, everything beyond a legitimate product defect is simply outside their scope … and maybe that’s true but it can still leave the customer in a lurch.

 

This is what happened to native New Yorker, Vanessa Jacobs when she moved to London in 2006. “A high-street cobbler made an unapologetic mess out of what should have been a simple heel tip replacement,” recalls Jacobs. It was this experience, and nearly 10 years of subsequent ones of a similar nature, that spurred her to launch The Restory, an on-demand shoe and handbag restoration service that brings together quality, service, convenience and craftsmanship.

 

“It felt like moving heaven and earth to find someone you trust only to realise you could trust them with some things and not others,” continues Jacobs. “I had to make up a web of lies to take a half-a-day off from work to travel to their out-of-the-way shops and then do it all over again to collect my things. Often, they were nice but wouldn’t really go out of their way. I thought someone ought to do something about this and it turns out that someone was me.”

 

Jacobs spent 2 years assembling an A-team of cobblers, leather restorers, shoe blacks and cordwainers from across Europe; she even relocated several here to London. Coupled with charming service-oriented consultants, the company prides itself on devising solutions to almost any challenge.

 

“We use the term restoration because it connotes a what-ever-it-takes-to-bring-it-back approach,” says Jacobs.

 

Boasting a collection of services ranging from bespoke repairs to leather restoration to complete refashioning, The Restory is earning some impressive admirers. British Vogue recently crowned the company its’ go-to specialist and Vanity Fair and Fabric have also praised the company’s work.

 

“Currently, we are concentrating on providing The Restory’s services in London but we will be expanding across the whole of the UK,” continued Jacobs.  “Looking further ahead, the plan is to offer new services and products and then we will look to bring The Restory’s much needed skills to other markets.”

 

So, how does this service work? Simply book a collection online (and soon via app), and a consultant will collect your items from any home or office in Central or West London. Your items will be taken to their atelier, beautifully restored and returned at a time and place of your choosing. “It’s like buying you favourite pieces all over again.”

 

www.the-restory.com

 

CanO Water Opens Educational Hub to Encourage Londoners to Think about Swapping Single Use Plastic Bottles

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CanO Water Opens Educational Hub to Encourage Londoners to Think about Swapping Single Use Plastic Bottles 1 CanO Water Opens Educational Hub to Encourage Londoners to Think about Swapping Single Use Plastic BottlesCanO Water, the alternative to single use plastic bottles, is launching a new campaign to encourage Londoners to be more environmentally friendly. The #canthebottle education hub, in Old Street station, will raise awareness of the damaging effects of using plastic. The campaign encourages Londoners to visit the hub, and drop off their plastic bottles, receiving in return, a more sustainable can of water. 

 The Stats

In the UK, we consume 18 billion plastic bottles a year and only a quarter of these are recycled. 

38 million plastic bottles end up in landfill every day and drinking one bottle of water a day has the same impact on our environment as driving a car for a kilometre. 

Plastic water bottles also contribute to several health issues due to BPA which is the industrial chemical that is used to make plastic. The ripple effect of BPA on our health effect your sleep, mood and has even been proven to promote risk of breast cancer cell growth. 

A report published by the NHS reveals that it also increases risk of lower sperm count or creates an erectile dysfunction. By making smarter choices with such a simple swap, CanO Water is encouraging people to become part of a much bigger movement and come down to #canthebottle. 

 The temporary space features powerful imagery, showing the current state of our beaches and oceans, contrasting with projected imagery from 2050, highlighting the devastating consequences of continuing to use plastic bottles. There will be educational talks hosted by a range of experts, as well as drop in opportunities to speak to the founders about their mission.

The educational hub runs until the 20th. Come down to take part in the #canthebottle campaign and learn how you can make a difference. 

CanO Water launched in 2015 hoping to inspire other millennials to work together in hope to ban ‘eco-unfriendly’ products.  Determined to offer everyone an alternative to single – use plastic bottles, CanO Water created  a simplistic and stylish aluminium can. Aluminium has the highest recycling rate of any drink on the market, recycle your can and it could be back on the shelf in as little as 6 weeks. Cans provide a long shelf life by protecting products inside from light, oxygen and other factors that can affect taste, and product safety. The ‘can’ also has a smart releasable lid making it the perfect on – the – go product. 

CanO Water has recently caught the eye of several high profile environmentalists such as David Gandy, Ellie Goulding and Dougie Pointer by offering a simple alternative that can really make a difference. Most notably, the brand was flown by Vanity Fair to feature at their prestigious Vanity Fair’s 2017 Oscar party. The state of California has banned plastic bottles, and the guest list for the event included well known sustainability personalities, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Meryl Streep.