Sustainable(ish)

Who doesn't love a bunch of flowers?Well.....it turns out the planet might not be too chuffed with them if you buy a bunch of imported flowers.I don't know about you but I'd never really given much thought to the impact of flowers on the planet, other than to think that they're probably a good thing - they're natural, bees love them, what's the harm?DID YOU KNOW?A bunch of imported flowers from Holland or Kenya can have the equivalent carbon footprint of a flight from London to Birmingham!Tune into this great chat with Sara Willman from My Flower Patch where she talks about the impact of flowers and how we can lower that impact (by around 90%!!) by buying British flowers.Enjoy!Sara Willam from My Flower Patch (pic credit Katie Spicer)Useful linksMy Flower Patch - Website- Facebook- Instagram- Twitter- Waste and Recycling MastermindFlowers from the farm- The carbon footprint of flowers- Find a British flower grower locally to youThe Sustainable Cut Flower ProjectBlog post on chemicals on cut flowersBritish Flowers WeekFlower AngelsSustainable(ish) Facebook groupHow empowered (or otherwise!) do you feel about tackling waste at work?Let me know in the comments! AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN ALL GOOD BOOK SHOPS NOW! "Easily the most family friendly way to do your bit"The Sunday Times"Absolutely love this book - should be mandatory reading"Online review […]

This episode is going out at the start of July, and in the eco world, July is all about plastic, thanks to the brilliant Plastic Free July campaign that started in Australia and has since gained traction all over the globe.It’s also a time when more of us might be contemplating a return to work as coronavirus restrictions lift a little more here in the UK. So I figured it might be a good time to speak to someone about what we can do reduce the amount of waste that is produced at work – whether we work from home, in a traditional office environment, or somewhere a bit different, it can be  easy to feel like any efforts we ‘re making at home are cancelled out by the waste produced at work, and also to feel like maybe it’s not our place to be asking questions about work waste.So it’s great to be chatting to the wonderful Livvy Drake from Sustainable Sidekicks , who took part in two brilliant panels for us during the Sustainable(ish) festival, and who is helping us to feel more confident about some of the simple changes that can be made at work to reduce the waste that’s being produced, and how we can be a part of the solution at work as well as at homeEnjoy!Useful linksSustainable Sidekicks - Website- Facebook- Instagram- Twitter- Waste and Recycling MastermindLivvy on Linked InLivvy's sessions at the Sustainable(ish) Festival- Plastic not so fantastic- Behaviour change in ourselves and othersGuardian article about safety of reusablesScientists statement regarding safety of reusablesCity to Sea- Contactless Coffee campaign- Reusable mask instructionsShrewsbury CupTerracycle disposable glove recyclingTOP TIPS FOR REDUCING WASTE AT WORKDo an audit of what you're buyingWhat is currently being spent on disposables?Do a bin auditLooks at what bins you already have, what is being thrown away, and how much your rubbish collections costCreate a recycling stationMultiple bins for different waste streams, clearly signed, and with reduced aperturesRemove desk side binsLook in to the possibility of having a food waste collection added to your recycling collection ​​How empowered (or otherwise!) do you feel about tackling waste at work?Let me know in the comments! AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN ALL GOOD BOOK SHOPS NOW! "Easily the most family friendly way to do your bit"The Sunday Times"Absolutely love this book - should be mandatory reading"Online review […]

Welcome back to the Sustainable(ish) podcast!My goodness it’s been a while! I thought I’d have a little break after doing 12 podcasts in 12 days for the book launch, and then a month or two passed, and then a global pandemic hit. And now here we are 6 months down the line!How are you? How is life treating you? How has lockdown been for you?It’s a strange old time isn’t it?When lockdown started I descended into a massive funk. My husband was furloughed for the first four weeks, and it turns out he’s someone who likes to get on and do things, and was very productive in a tidying the house and doing all those jobs we never get round to type way. Me, not so much. I just wanted to lie on the sofa and read trashy novels, in between random bouts of tears and attempting to get my head around home schooling the kids.But today I want to talk a little bit about ‘lockdown guilt’.I’ve spoken to so many people, online, via e-mail, on webinars I’ve run, and in my six week coaching group, who are feeling really guilty that they’re not able to make some of the changes that they want to because of the circumstances we find ourselves in in lockdown.Enjoy...!Useful linksThe Sustainable(ish) Online FestivalFind me on Sustainable(ish) on social media:- Facebook- Facebook group - Instagram- Twitter​Have you ​been feeling any lockdown guilt?Let me know in the comments! JOIN THE SUSTAINABLE(ISH) REVOLUTIONJoin us at BASE CAMP to find free resources and receive a weekly guide to reducing your impact on the planet... one simple step at a time. I take your privacy seriously. You can unsubscribe at any time. JOIN THE SUSTAINABLE(ISH) REVOLUTION! […]

Well.... What can I say?We are living in unprecedented times - it feels surreal, scary, overwhelming, all of the emotions. And this is going out the day after the UK government announced that schools will be closed until further notice. I'm not going to dwell here on the c-word - I think we're all probably getting about as much as we can take right now, so how about a coronavirus free hour?In today's episode I'm chatting to Ann Storr, from the Storr Cupboard (do you see what she's done there? I do love a play on words) all about food waste. And specifically how to use meal planning to reduce it. We recorded this episode many moons (a few weeks) ago, and there isn't even a mention of the c-word (yay!) but listening back to it in the context of current events, it's actually a really timely episode. With pictures on social media of supermarket shelves stripped bare, we're all starting to think about food in a slightly different way - instead of seeing it as this plentiful and never-ending resource, some people are, for possibly the first time, really waking up to the idea that they need to make the very most out of every scrap of food in the house. With regards to the climate crisis, food waste is a huge issue, and c-word or not, we all need to get better at using up the food we buy. Listen in for some brilliant tips around meal planning, food storage, and clever ideas around using up leftovers, and then head on over to Ann's website to check out all the brilliant resources she has on offer there.Stay safe and well and sane(ish), wherever you are.Enjoy. Useful linksStorr Cupboard- Website- Facebook- Instagram- Leftover busting recipes- "Best before bullshit"[047] - Fighting food waste with Olio (podcast)[041] - Use your phone to fight food waste with CozZo (podcast)3 apps to help you fight food waste (blog post)Sustainable(ish) ideas for food (blog post)CozZo food management app​​How are you with food waste?Do you meal plan?Let me know in the comments! AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN ALL GOOD BOOK SHOPS NOW! "Easily the most family friendly way to do your bit"The Sunday Times"Absolutely love this book - should be mandatory reading"Online review […]

Yay! The podcast is BACK for series FOUR!!I intended to only take a short break in the New Year and now suddenly it's March - I'd like to say I have no idea how that happened, but the reality is that it turns out launching a book into the world is quite time consuming, and as ever I massively over-estimated what I'd be able to get done each day...!Right then, this week's podcast is with the wonderful Lauren Derrett, founder of Wear 'em Out, a new brand of reusable pad. We chat all things periods, obviously, but also lots of chat around taking the plunge and starting your own product based business, some of the barriers in the way of 'green living' and why lots of us might not necessarily resonate with, or aspire to 'green living' stereotypes.We recorded this episode way back in October last year, when Lauren had a brand, prototype pads and some great feedback from testers but was waiting for the first delivery of pads. Since that time, their first order arrived, the website crashed with the demand, they sold out, re-stocked and haves sold out again! Lauren posted today on Instagram that they've had 542 orders so far, meaning that over the next three years, 429,264 disposable pads will be saved from landfill (based on the average use of 22 pads per cycle). WOW!! This is where we quickly and easily see impact of individual action, collectively.Quick word of warning that Lauren is a self-confessed 'potty mouth' and I think drops the 'f-bomb' at one point - my suggestion would be not to listen to this one with the kids in earshot, or if you're not a fan of the odd expletive, to give this one a miss (although you'll be missing out on a great episode!).Enjoy!!Useful links​Wear 'em Out - Website- Facebook- InstagramThe introverts guide to climate marches (blog post) A beginners guide to eco-friendly and plastic-free periods (blog post)[031] - Plastic free periods and wipes with Natracare (podcast)[035] - #bleedredthinkgreen - the world's first reusable tampon applicator with DAME (podcast)[040] Pants for your period with WUKA (podcast) A beginners guide to period pants (blog post)Guppyfriend microfibre bag7 easy ways to reduce microfibre pollution (blog post)​Have you made the switch to reusables for your period yet?Let me know in the comments! AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN ALL GOOD BOOK SHOPS NOW! "Easily the most family friendly way to do your bit"The Sunday Times"Absolutely love this book - should be mandatory reading"Online review […]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG....!It is with HUGE excitement that I bring you this very special mini-series of the Sustainable(ish) podcast to celebrate, and to count down to, the launch of The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide - everything you need to know to make small changes that make a big difference.This book is pretty much the distillation of the Sustainable(ish) ethos and is being published by Bloomsbury on January 9th 2020 , and to mark such an auspicious occasion I've put together 12 shortish episodes of the podcast, one for each chapter of the book, where I have a good old chinwag with someone relevant to that chapter.Day 12! We made it!My goodness me, suddenly writing a 300+ page book feels like a walk in the park after 12 podcast episodes on the trot, mostly edited (and some recorded!) over the Christmas period - I need a lie down...But not before I introduce this last episode in the series, Activism(ish).Now I'm pretty confident saying that I think for lots of us when I say the words "Activism" and "Activist" can be a bit off-putting. A bit aggressive. I would never describe myself as an activist, but actually, when it comes down to it, we ALL have the potential to be activists just by making some different choices every day, and by taking action. In this episode I'm chatting to Jo Moseley, who @healthyhappy50 on Instagram, and is like a ray of sunshine to follow. She's another person who wouldn't describe herself as an activist, by my goodness she takes action! When she was facing an 'empty nest' as her youngest left home, she decided to set herself a challenge of paddleboarding across from coast to coast across the north of England, along canals, picking up litter as she went and raising funds for two great charities: 2 Minute Beach Clean, and Wave Project. Her enthusiasm and her passion is contagious, and if you want to brighten up what is a pretty dull grey January day as I'm sat here writing, I can't think of many better ways to do it than listen to Jo!Enjoy!Useful linksAll the places you can buy The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide online..!Jo Moseley- Website- Instagram- Twitter ​2 Minute Beach Clean Wave ProjectThe 12 Days of Sustainable(ish) - Day 3 - Plastic Free(ish) with Cal Major[010] - #2minutebeachclean with Martin Dorey​How do you feel about 'activism'?Will you join me in the quiet rebellion of 'everyday activism'?Let me know in the comments! AVAILABLE 9th JAN 2020 PRE-ORDER NOW!! "The most eco-common sense thing I've read!" […]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG....!It is with HUGE excitement that I bring you this very special mini-series of the Sustainable(ish) podcast to celebrate, and to count down to, the launch of The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide - everything you need to know to make small changes that make a big difference.This book is pretty much the distillation of the Sustainable(ish) ethos and is being published by Bloomsbury on January 9th 2020 , and to mark such an auspicious occasion I've put together 12 shortish episodes of the podcast, one for each chapter of the book, where I have a good old chinwag with someone relevant to that chapter.Day 11! The penultimate episode in this mini-series! Which calls for a celebration. And serendipitously this episode (and indeed Chapter 11 in the book) is all about celebrations! I'm chatting to Isabel Mack who is the founder of The Party Kit Network, which is a website that supports all of the Party Kits within the UK. Party Kits are a simple and brilliant solution to all the waste that comes with disposable 'stuff' from parties - it's a hireable set of plates, cups, bowls etc that can be rented, used for kids parties and then returned - GENIUS!There are now over 250 party kits in the UK - you can search the website to see if there's one near you. And if there isn't, why not have a think about starting one yourself..?!Enjoy!Useful linksAll the places you can buy The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide online..!The Party Kit Network- Website- Facebook- Twitter Party packs on the BBC​[037] How and why to set up a reusable party package for kids birthday partiesHow to set up a reusable party package for kids parties in your townPlastic-free(ish) Party BagsDo you have a party kit near you?Let me know in the comments! AVAILABLE 9th JAN 2020 PRE-ORDER NOW!! "The most eco-common sense thing I've read!" […]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG....!It is with HUGE excitement that I bring you this very special mini-series of the Sustainable(ish) podcast to celebrate, and to count down to, the launch of The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide - everything you need to know to make small changes that make a big difference.This book is pretty much the distillation of the Sustainable(ish) ethos and is being published by Bloomsbury on January 9th 2020 , and to mark such an auspicious occasion I've put together 12 shortish episodes of the podcast, one for each chapter of the book, where I have a good old chinwag with someone relevant to that chapter.Day 10 - just 2 days left to go...!Chapter 10 in the book is dedicated to travel and transport - both things that on the face of it, aren't particularly sustainable. But as always, there's lots of options for changing what we do, in big and little ways, to make it more sustainable(ish).In this episode of the podcast, I'm chatting to Jo Hendrickx who is the founder of an amazing organisation called Travel without Plastic, which works to reduce unnecessary single use plastic in the tourist sector. Probably because the vast majority of our holidays are now spent in our caravan with the kids, I simply hadn't really thought about the vast amounts of single use plastic that the tourism sector gets through, from single use plastic glasses at the poolside, to the free mini bottles of toiletries in the bathroom. Tune in to hear about Jo's work with hotels to help them to reduce this, and also what we as travellers can do to help.Enjoy!Useful linksAll the places you can buy The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide online..!​Travel Without Plastic- Website- Facebook- Twitter ​- InstagramWyatt & Jack[039] - Recycle your paddling pool with Wyatt & Jack - my podcast interview with Wyatt & Jack founder[017] - Sustainable(ish) Travel with Earth ChangersRefill appWater to go bottleWater at airports​Have you been horrified at the amount of single use plastic you've seen on holiday?​Do you feel a little bit braver now about asking hotels to change?Let me know in the comments! AVAILABLE 9th JAN 2020 PRE-ORDER NOW!! "The most eco-common sense thing I've read!" […]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG....!It is with HUGE excitement that I bring you this very special mini-series of the Sustainable(ish) podcast to celebrate, and to count down to, the launch of The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide - everything you need to know to make small changes that make a big difference.This book is pretty much the distillation of the Sustainable(ish) ethos and is being published by Bloomsbury on January 9th 2020 , and to mark such an auspicious occasion I've put together 12 shortish episodes of the podcast, one for each chapter of the book, where I have a good old chinwag with someone relevant to that chapter.Day 9 - nearly there..! And today we're exploring Chapter 9 and how to be more sustainable(ish) at school.Whether you've got kids of school age, (or indeed, are a school age kid!), have been coerced on the PTA, or are involved in education in a more formal way, this episode is for you!Edd Moore is a Year 3 teacher at Damers First School in Dorchester and when he arrived at the school seven years ago there was nothing eco going on at all. Tune in to hear his journey of how he transformed the school into one of the country's leading Eco-Schools, who have won a host of accolades including the first ever Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Schools award.Enjoy!Useful linksAll the places you can buy The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide online..!Damers First School- Website- Eco Schools section- Damers First School Eco News - check out all their awards!- Damers Eco Crew on FacebookSurfers Against Sewage Plastic Free AwardsCool MilkEco Schools - there's a TON of info on here to help you get started!Terracycle schemesHow sustainable(ish) is your school?Would you love to help it be a bit more sustainable(ish)? Has this episode inspired/empowered you to do that?Let me know in the comments! AVAILABLE 9th JAN 2020 PRE-ORDER NOW!! "The most eco-common sense thing I've read!" […]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG....!It is with HUGE excitement that I bring you this very special mini-series of the Sustainable(ish) podcast to celebrate, and to count down to, the launch of The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide - everything you need to know to make small changes that make a big difference.This book is pretty much the distillation of the Sustainable(ish) ethos and is being published by Bloomsbury on January 9th 2020 , and to mark such an auspicious occasion I've put together 12 shortish episodes of the podcast, one for each chapter of the book, where I have a good old chinwag with someone relevant to that chapter.OK, so Day 8 of the 12 Days of Sustainable(ish) – are you keeping up?!I love pretty much every interview I do for the podcast – getting the chance to speak to fabulous people about the wonderful stuff they’re doing is an absolute honour, but this one I know is going to be one of my highlights on 2020. I’m chatting to Cat Fletcher, resource Goddess and one of the co-founders of Freegle. A conversation with Cat could undoubtedly have suited any of the chapters in the book, but alongside chatting about her journey, and the fabulousness of Freegle, we chat about being Sustainable(ish) at work, and she shares some great ideas and resources for both employees and employers to make some simple, but far reaching changes in the workplace. Enjoy!Useful linksAll the places you can buy The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide online..!Cat Fletcher- TwitterFreegle - Website- Facebook- TwitterBrighton Waste HouseWarp-itTech Take Back - BBC coverage- London eventsJulies BicycleThe Sustainable Restaurant AssociationClimate Change CoalitionGreen AllianceEllen MacArthur Foundation​How sustainable(ish) is your work place?​What changes would you love to see implemented?Let me know in the comments! AVAILABLE 9th JAN 2020 PRE-ORDER NOW!! "The most eco-common sense thing I've read!" […]