My Zero Waste Bathroom // Plastic Free July

Happy Plastic Free July!

I hope that you're all enjoying the challenge of trying to cut ditch single-use plastics and look for zero waste alternatives.

Of all the rooms in my flat, my bathroom is definitely the most zero waste. It was the first area of my life that I really tackled, and I'm proud that it's a plastic free zone. So I thought I would share the products I use to inspire you to make some plastic free swaps this month.

(Left to Right)

1. Natural shampoo bar - I've recently made the switch from a Lush shampoo bar (I'll blog more about this later) and I'm still in the transition stage. My hair felt oily the first few times I used it, but it seems to be settling down now which was just a sign of old residue build up from years of using shampoo full of unnatural ingredients. There's lots of natural shampoo on the market, but the one I'm using just now is from Zero Waste Path Shop and I really like it.

2. Face soap - I was actually gifted this facial soap bar a few months ago from Lush when I was in one of their shops promoting my work's mountain hare campaign (you can read about the campaign here) and it's been amazing so far. It leaves my face really smooth and it always feels very clean too. And judging my how small it is in this picture, I'll need to buy a new one again soon.

3. Nail clippers

4. Apple cider vinegar rinse - To combat the transition to a natural shampoo bar, I'm using this apple cider vinegar rinse as a conditioner to help with the build up of old hair products that are still lingering in my hair. It's just a mix of water and ACV and it's been leaving my hair feeling really soft.

5. Safety razor - I've been using my safety razor for a while now, and did a first impressions video on it here if you're interested. It works really well for me just now, but I am still scared I'll cut myself whenever I use it. However, it's a million times better than using plastic disposable razors which are really harmful to the environment.

6. Bamboo toothbrush - I ditched plastic toothbrushes last year, and have been using a humble bamboo brush ever since. I've not had any problems with my teeth since I switched over, and I love the fact the company helps children who can't access dental care too. I've really enjoyed moving to a zero waste lifestyle and finding new companies to support, especially ones doing such good things.

7. Toothpaste - I make my toothpaste with coconut oil, baking soda and peppermint oil and it honestly leaves my teeth feeling cleaner than they did when I used normal toothpaste. I can buy zero waste versions of all the ingredients so it cuts out the regular plastic toothpaste tubes that you can't recycle.

8. Body soap - I was gifted this by Lush when I got my face soap but I can't find a link on their website or the name of it. I used to get through so much shower gel, but now I only use soap and I have now become a little obsessed with all the different soaps I want to try.

Where To Bulk Buy in Edinburgh | The New Leaf Co-op

Want to know where to bulk buy in Edinburgh?

Well The New Leaf Co-op has all your zero waste needs.

I discovered this shop last year, and these days I can often be found there scooping chickpeas into jars and looking at all the shelves of spices.

The store is open from Monday to Saturday and is the best place in Edinburgh to buy in bulk. The shop sells loose fruit and veg, bread without packaging, and lots of bulk foods including grains, pulses, pasta, spices, herbs, dried fruit, cleaning products, and they have a nut butter machine!!

 

The staff will happily weigh all your jars and containers for you, but there's also paper bags in the shop if you don't have your own. You can also take your own washing up bottles and fill them with washing up liquid,

I still had a quite a bit of food in my cupboard so I only needed a few things when I popped in at the weekend.

I picked up some chickpeas, vegan chocolate drops, organic apricots, exotic muesli, and rice. I was really excited to find the vegan chocolate drops cause finding vegan chocolate in bulk is not something that happens every day. Plus, it tastes delicious!

If you're in Edinburgh then you should definitely take a visit to The New Leaf Co-op. Remember you don't need any fancy jars or anything. I used a katsu curry sauce jar to fill with apricots and my boyfriend's takeaway container to fill with rice.

This is Edinburgh's biggest bulk buy store, but I'll be blogging about other places in the city you can do some zero waste shopping in the coming months. If you have any suggestions, then please let me know in the comments.

Zero Waste Shaving - Safety Razor First Impressions

I've been waiting for a couple of months now to use my last remaining disposable safety razors before I could order myself a safety razor. A few weeks ago, I finally finished my last plastic razor so I took the plunge and bought myself a safety razor.

I did a little bit of research and decided to go for the Edwin Jagger DE89L which you can purchase from Amazon here and enough razors to last me a lifetime from Astra here. The best bit about Astra is that the blades come in a cardboard box with the blades wrapped in paper. It might have been more expensive that disposable razors, but that's the last time I will need to purchase any hair removal products for the rest of my life.

I'm still getting used to using the razor d taking it slow, but so far it's been a success!

Watch the video below for my first impressions and I'll be sure to update you as I carry on using it.

Have you tried a safety razor yet? I'd love to know what zero waste hair removal products you use in the comments below.

Zero waste laundry

If I'm honest, I probably didn't think much about what I was washing my clothes in until a couple of months ago. Aside from looking for a vegan product, I would generally just pick up whatever
washing detergent was on offer. However this zero waste journey has not only made me think about my plastic use, but it's also made me aware of all the chemicals around me.

A few months ago while browsing in my local health food store, I noticed this bag of Soapnuts or soapberries. I'd heard about them online, but this was the first time I'd found them, so I bought a bag and my washing has never been the same since.

Soapberries are actually a fruit which produces a natural soap meaning you can wash your clothes free of any chemicals, parabens or additives. They're vegan can be recycled in the compost too!

The ones I have are from Green Frog Botanic and they couldn't be easier to use. You just put a few shells into a small cotton pouch that comes with them, and you just throw it into the wash. The soapberries shells can be reused for multiple washes so they're much better value for money too. I also add a few drops of lemongrass essential oil to my wash so my clothes come out smelling good.

I was definitely a little sceptical at first, but my clothes feel great and I know that I'll never go back to using chemical filled laundry detergent ever again.

So that's my new way of washing my clothes, and I love it!

I'd really like to know in the comments below what steps you take for zero waste washing.

Zero Waste Shopping

I've been using reusable shopper bags like this one for years, long before I had even knew what zero waste meant.

In Scotland, there's been a 5p charge on single-use plastic carrier bags since 2014, but even before then I carried around one of these shoppers. I've had a fair few over the years but this green one is my current favourite. I picked it up from Chiaralascura at a vegan festival last year. It's really thick material and has a clasp on it to keep it closed. I would estimate that I probably carry this bag around pretty much every single day without fail. It's always in the bottom of whatever bag I'm using just in case I need to pick up some shopping.

If you're trying to cut down on plastic or take some steps to becoming zero waste then this is probably one of the easiest things you can do. Plus, if you like in the UK then it's going to save you money in the long run if you keep having to purchase single use carrier bags.

Zero Waste Periods

Let's face it, no one likes getting their period. I am currently sitting on my sofa with a hot water bottle on my stomach because of cramps and I'm not exactly thrilled by it.

However, we (women) all get periods so we need to think about what products we want to use. I'm lucky because I get light periods due to the birth control I use (it's a UID if anyone is interested).

I read something a few weeks ago about how the average sanitary pad contains the equivalent of four plastic bags. We've become a nation who are trying to cut down on our plastic bag use, yet women are using lots of plastic each month without even thinking about it. Then there's tampons which come with plastic applicators, the name alone tells you they aren't good for the environment.

So what options do we have?

I know quite a few people who swear by the menstrual cup. I have tried one, but it just wasn't for me. I'm sure it probably takes a while to get used to. I just didn't have the patience and found it all a bit awkward.

So I decided that I would try reusable menstrual pads which I bought from this great shop on Etsy here. They're really comfortable, soft, and they look so much more fun than regular disposable pads. Plus, while each pad costs a few pounds to buy you'll be saving money in the long run and really cutting down your plastic use.

So how do you wash them?

I just soak them in some cold water and then throw them in the washing machine with my regular washing. Once the wash is done, I just hang them up to try and they're good to go again.

If you haven't thought about how much plastic you use each month for your period, then I recommend that you do. There's a few different options on the market which will not only save you money but will also dramatically cut down the amount of plastic you. I'd also love to know what products and companies you're using in the comments.

Making my own almond milk

Guess who made her own almond milk at the weekend?

I had wanted to make it for a while, but I kept putting it off. I thought it would be really difficult, but in actual fact it's really simple. So here's my step by step guide to making your own almond milk.

1. Soak 2 cups of almonds overnight or for at least 8 hours. Place the almonds in a bowl and cover with an inch of water. The longer you soak the almonds, the creamier the almond milk will be.

2. Drain and rinse the almonds. Use cold water to rinse the almonds which should be quite soft if you pinch them.

3. Blend almonds and water. Put the almonds in the blender with 4 cups of water and blend until the almonds are broken down.

4. Strain the almonds. Pour the mixture into a nut milk bag (I use this one from Lovetree products) and squeeze or twist the bag until the liquid comes through the bag and you're just left with the almond meal.

5. Refrigerate the almond milk. Store the milk in a air tight container. It usually last between 2-3 days.

If you like your almond milk sweeter then you can pick a sweetener of your choice, but I usually only use my almond milk in porridge so I don't need it to be very sweet because whatever porridge toppings I use will do that for me.

There's also lots you can do with the almond meal whether it be adding it to energy balls, nut bars or smoothies. I just put mine in the fridge for now until I decide what to do with it, but I'll write another post about it when I make my mind up.

Most plant based milks come in either plastic bottles or cartons with plastic tops, so making your own is a great way to cut down on your waste while also cutting out any additives that can sometimes be added to it.

Have you ever made your own non-dairy milk before? I'd love to hear your recipes.