SERENDIPITY Conscious Living
Issue 1 / January 2019 - May 2019
16 IDEAS
Conscious brands
Conscious Lifestyle
Spring Edition
FOR YOUR HOME
DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING
It’s time to tackle the plastic graveyard
CONTENTS SERENDIPITY CONTENTS 1
Out with the Old
13
23
Eco-Brickin’ It
How you Buy
1 Out with the Old 3 Sustainable Swaps The Straw 5 5Ottowin Fashion 9 Bottle Transformation 13 Brickin’ It 17 Made at Home 19 WOSH 23 Old to New 25 How You Buy 1529 EcoWOSH Community 31 Zero Waste Recipe
27
Eco Community
9
Bottle Transformation
21
29
Old to New
Zero Waste Recipe
EDITOR’S LETTER It’s time to look at ourselves for the solutions rather than wait for someone else to do it for us With this first issue of Serendipity Magazine UK, I didn’t realise the journey I was about to take. I knew very little about sustainability and remember rolling my eyes at all the social media posts preaching about saving our environment. I knew that by providing a bunch of facts and figures on how harmful plastic is to our planet won’t necessarily convince you to make changes because we hear that every day on the news. My journey started when I began my research, and I was shocked at the amount of people who didn’t care about our environment. It really is the smallest of changes that make all the difference. Whether it’s sorting our recycling into the correct boxes, choosing to buy a reusable cup for your morning coffee run and shopping from our local producers at the fresh food markets, to help reduce our plastic usage. Yes, I said reduce. I’ve found that it is almost impossible to completely refrain from single use plastic, but what we can do is make a choice to choose from the companies that are making a difference. It’s hard to turn a blind eye and put your fingers in your ears to ignore all of the rubbish that is filling our planet once you’ve seen it. Serendipity, isn’t going to tell you how to live your life, preach about environmental issues or print shocking images of wildlife covered in plastic. Rather, it will show you how to become more sustainable in the comfort of your own home, with some fun ideas to try too. I’m very excited to share with you my magazine, and I hope you enjoy it!
Love Aemilia x Editor of Serendipity
Image by Daria Shevtsova
Image by Raw Pixels
Image by Lisa Fotios
OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE USED These household brands are transforming the plastic problem into an up-and-coming trend
Plastic may have been a revolutionary discovery 50
years ago, but with over 300 million tons of plastic being produced every year it has become the planets Achilles heel. Scientists predict that by mid-century the oceans will contain more plastic than any marine wildlife, with the consequences already showing. Shape-shifting from day to day items to plumbing pipes and children’s toys, plastic plagues the planet with 6.3 billion metric tons of landfill that takes up to 400 years to degrade.
which were most commonly found during their clean, pointing the blame at multi-billion companies for their reckless abuse of plastics. Nestle and PepsiCo were placed high within the list with Coca Cola taking the top spot as 40 of the 42 countries found coke-branded plastic bottles floating within the water. This is important as Coca Cola is one of the most popular brands worldwide, and even though they claim that their bottles are 100% recyclable it doesn’t stop them turning up on the beach or in oceans.
‘One Island One Voice’ is the biggest environmental clean-up event which aims to give tourism and the people in Bali a reality check with the amount of waste, specifically plastic waste, is being thrown on the streets. Having started in 2015, Bali’s Biggest Clean-Up now mobilises 12,000 people across 55 locations to clean up 40 tons of trash. Green Peace released a list of products
While we all have an imperative role to play when tackling the plastic pollution, by consciously not choosing plastic when there is the option to, consumers alone will not solve the problem. Corporations have to step up and provide more sustainable choices from how they are made to what happens when they are done, to cut the plastic usage off at its source.
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These major brands have teamed up to fight against plastic Procter & Gamble
Have launched the first Fairy Ocean Bottle which will include 10% ocean plastic with a partnership with recycling expert TerraCycle, resulting in diversion from landfill and use 8,000 metric tonnes to create the bottles for the best washing up liquid used by over 20 million people.
Image by Corona
Anheuser-Busch
Image by Procter&Gamble
who own Corona are taking the first leap by being the first global beer brand to pilot plastic-free rings which will be able to degrade within a matter of days. The rings are made from compostable organic materials which will not cause harm to wildlife if ingested, like plastic does. Similarly, Carlsberg are beginning to use a new type of glue to replace the deadly plastic rings.
Boston Tea Party took the initiative by completely banning all disposable plastic cups in all of their
branches across the UK. Customers have to either bring their own mugs, buy an eco-travel mug instore or pay a deposit and return it to any branch. Striving to make a difference within the coffee world by going cold “coffee cup” turkey, they have saved more than £80 thousand coffee cups from going to landfill.
Image by Adidas
Adidas
have teamed up with Parley to transform the plastic littering the oceans into high performance sportswear including the first ever Adidas X Parley trainer which uses 11 plastic bottles in its construction. As one of the most influential sportswear brands worldwide, Adidas have pledged that all of their shoes will be made by using recycled plastic by 2020. Kickstarting the essential changes needed to tackle the problem within the sport fashion industry.
Image by Green Tulip
Sustainable Swaps The everyday items that have sustainable stylish swaps with no extra cost
Beeswax Wraps
Image by Silver Bamboo
Replace your plastic wraps for something a little more stylish with the re-usable beeswax wraps. Made by infusing pieces of cotton with a mixture of food-grade beeswax, that creates a waxy coating making the material waterproof. The wraps can be used on everything and anything from cheese, half a loaf of bread to covering left over dinner in a bowl. The warmth from your hands forming the wrap to hold its place until it cools creating a seal. Once used simply wash with cool water and air dry until next time. Beeswax Wraps can be found in store at Waitrose and online at Beeswaxwraps.co.uk
Image by Bees Wax Wraps
Bamboo Products
Not only does bamboo produce 35% more oxygen than trees, they also have a self-replenishing growth cycle which eliminates replanting activities such as soil erosion and damage to the surrounding environment. This eco-friendly resource has become a popular alternative for millennials by substituting it for many plastic products. From toothbrushes, beauty products and towels, to phone cases, flooring and pet collars. Bamboo alternatives can be found in Ikea and online at Silverbamboo.co.uk Serendipity - Page 3
String Bags
Image by Lucy Newman
Give up the “Bags for Life” and go plastic free with the high-fashion sustainable trend The simple string bag is an open netted bag that is primarily used for shopping and other types of a packaging. With it quickly becoming the next big style trend, the string bag can be used for all types of shopping from the weekly food shop to a new pair of shoes. The durable material can be woven into any crochet pattern at home or bought in the store. Give up the “Bags for Life” for a bag that is eliminating plastic shopping for good. They can be found online Amazon.co.uk
Glass storage containers may seem like an aesthetic choice, but now they are the safer option. While they are heavier and more fragile, they don’t leach potentially harmful chemicals when in contact with food. Using plastic containers, the chemicals may migrate from the plastic into your food. Glass options not only promote a less malleable and chemical free approach they can also both go in the oven and in the dishwasher. You can find glass storage in the likes of John Lewis and Sainsburys and at Ikea.co.uk
Image by Sarah Marshall
Glass Storage
Image by Etsy
Re-Usable Tea Bags
The majority of teabags we use more than three times a day contain plastic and chemicals. Organic re-usable tea bags are made out of organic unbleached cotton which are long lasting, washable and a sustainable replacement to the everyday teabag. Not only does using cotton tea bags reduce energy and resources needed to produce commercial tea bags, it also makes a stronger brew. You can find these at Holland & Barrett or online at Etsy.co.uk
MINIMAL STYLE AND MINIMAL WASTE Celebrating their one year anniversary, Ottowin are an inspiration for slow fahsion
We all know how fast the fashion industry changes, and
to quote practically every fashion movie ever made “One day you’re in, and the next you are out!” But what does this mean for the environment? Clothing is an essential part of living, some people live for it more than others, but it is still something that every single person in the world has. The ways in which clothing is made and what is done with them after is the kicking point. In Britain it has been estimated that 300,000 tonnes of textiles end up in landfill with an average of £12.5 billion worth each year. It isn’t just our fault that we have so much going to landfill. The world now consumes around 80 billion new pieces of clothing each year, which is a staggering 400% more than the amount we consumed just two decades ago. It is a consumer and producer problem that needs to be addressed and fixed before it is too late. Slowing the processes down and deeply considering the approach to fashion is what Ottowin has been doing with their sustainable shop. Within their quaint shop on St. Nicolas Street, holds various sustainable designers from the likes of Pico, Polly Collins, Josie Mitchell and Bohobo Aromatherapies. They range from selling beautiful pieces of clothing, stunning jewellery to skincare regimes that boast eco-friendly ways of life. Celebrating their one-year anniversary and boasting ethical and sustainable products from brands close to them, they are showing how sustainable fashion is done. Owners Lucy Lloyd and Oliver Cross, who make handmade footwear with limited editions at their Ottowin Studio, speak to us about their journey to where they are now.
“For us it is massively important to create a community around sustainable fashion”
What inspired you to be a sustainable brand? Oliver: It didn’t seem like an option to us, we wanted to make shoes by hand and when it takes many hours to make a pair with a lot of love and devotion it only seemed right to use the best materials we could find. For us the best material is the one most suited to the product that has longevity quality and also ethical produced and sustainably sourced. To us it seemed like those qualities where just as important as the colour and shape of the shoes that we make. For us it is massively important to create a community around sustainable fashion. How does it make you feel knowing you are bettering the industry? Lucy: It feels good, but also the more you delve into it the more you are aware that there is more you could be doing it’s impossible to make a completely positive product. And there are so many lenses to view sustainability and ethics through - you can tick all the boxes in one column only to find that inherently by doing that you have to pass right by another measure of “good”. Serendipity - Page 6
How has the community reacted? Lucy: We have such a strong and positive community of independent brands around us. For us the community of makers and designers came before we opened our shop. The shop was a way of linking them all together and to curate a space with everything we love and with people and products who believe in us as much as we do in them. Oliver: Being part of a community of like-minded brands, the sustainable fashion scene has got some many amazing people doing great things and it’s a pleasure to be a part of that. It’s really positive, the shop is thriving and getting more and more customers. It means that we aren’t alone in what we believe in aesthetically and ethically, there is a market and its growing. How did you find the designers?
“If it was cheaper for a manufacturer to use wind power than burn oil, then they would”
Oliver: All of the brands we have in the shop are run by people that have become our friends over the past few years creating a support network that we couldn’t live without. The support network came first and developed and took on the form of a physical shop, rather than the other way around which is nice, it all seemed really natural. Lucy: The independent fashion scene at least the part we are in is a web of interconnected people and places - We meet people by chance who then introduce us to one of their friends who already knows someone that designs & makes in the same studio as us. I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence or just that as a small brand you have to put yourself out there and wave your arms about shouting “I’m here, I’m new & this is what we do!” apparently we are all just doing that at each other.
What changes need to happen within society? Lucy: Big question - I mean it starts right at the top, laws need to be passed to introduce taxes and reduce subsides for harmful industries - The consumer has been led to believe that they play a much larger role in sustainability & ethics of our culture than they do. To allow large issues like global warming to be curved by consumer spending habits in a financial climate where more and more people are feeling the squeeze of austerity seems like a fallacy. Oliver: People don’t have the power individually to change the industry. Our industries are run so that they take the most profitable route which can include using dirty fuel, sweat shops & harmful chemicals. If it was cheaper for a manufacturer to use wind power than burn oil then they would, if it was more profitable to produce a long-lasting quality product than one with a built-in obsolescence then they would. Serendipity - Page 7
“You have to have tough times to appreciate the smooth. Without the challenges you don’t have anything to accomplish and no sense of achievement!�
Image by Kelly Sanchez
4 WAYS TO TRANSFORM A PLASTIC BOTTLE Take matters into your own hands with these nifty transformations of the everyday bottle
Believe it or not, only an estimated 25% of plastic
produced is recycled. Worldwide people are buying a million plastic bottles per minute with 91% of them ending up in the trash, and with the average plastic bottle taking 450 years to decompose.
Beach in Bali is regularly covered in plastic waste, as well as the Kamilo Beach in Hawaii which is known as one of the dirtiest places on the planet due to the amount of plastic debris on the beach.
While big corporations are yet to change their production of plastic bottles to complete We are unwittingly creating a toxic legacy of plastic biodegradable bottles, the change comes down to us. waste that will burden the future generations to While many people push aside recycling as “too much come. There were more single-use plastic items of an inconvenience” and “too much of a hassle” manufactured more in the last decade than in the whole of the previous century. This has a catastrophic recycling actually takes 88% less energy than creating plastic from raw materials. impact on the environment. A staggering and, to be completely frank, shocking amount of plastic debris is currently floating around some of the most beautiful oceans in the world. Kuta
Other than simply placing plastic bottles in the correct recycling boxes, here are some creative ways to transform one of the world’s toughest problems.
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Concrete Pendant Lamps
What You Need: - Quikrete 5000 Concrete Mix - Electrical Socket, Switch and Cord - 2 Plastic Bottles (One larger and one smaller) - Threaded Tube and Nuts (3/8th Inch diameter tube) - 3 ½ Inch Deck Screw - 120 Grit Sandpaper - Knife and Scissors - Wire Cutters - Cordless Drill -Metal Can
Firstly, poke a hole in the plastic bottle with a box knife and use the scissors to cut the bottom of the bottle. Then drill a hole in the caps of the plastic bottle, which is easier to do when the caps are attached to the bottle it should be big enough to screw the metal tube through. To connect the bottle caps, screw the tube through both caps and use the nuts on either side to hold them in place. Then screw the bottles into the caps and use deck screws to stabilize the bottles. Suspend the two plastic bottles in the metal can and then mix the concrete together. Use a large spoon to fill the mould. Shake and tap the mould after each spoonful to make sure the concrete settles. To create a two-tone effect with the concrete, try blending different colours of concrete together instead! Once the concrete is dry, remove the bottles from the mould by using a knife and scissors to remove the plastic bottle. Sand down the lamps to a smooth down any rough edges. Use the threaded tube to insert the power cable and fit with a bulb of your choice. Make sure the pendant is securely fastened before use. Don’t forget to get an electrician to check before switching on for the first time!
Images by Ben Uyeda
How To Make:
Garden Lights What You Need: - Plastic Bottles (Preferably clear with a smooth surface) - Painter’s or Masking Tape & Mounting Putty - Knife or Scissors - Frosting Spray (compatible with plastic) - Drill - Cord / Yarn - Battery Operated Tea Lights
How To Make: Trim the bottom of the bottom 1 ½ inches up from the bottom. Use the painter’s or masking tape to design the bottle by blocking out shapes. Then spray the bottle with the frosting spray. Take precautions when working with aerosol products and always spray outside or in a well-ventilated area. Drill a hole into the bottle cap and run the cord or yarn through it. Screw the cap onto the bottle top and roll out the mounting poster putty. Make sure you turn on your tea light before attaching the putty to the bottom of the tea light. Place it upside-down into the plastic bottle and press down firmly. Image by Rita Stuchan
Hanging Planters What You Need: - Plastic Bottles with Caps - Craft Paint - Painter’s Tape - Yarn / String - Scissors or Craft Knife - Soil - Plant of choice
How To Make: Cut the water bottle around 1/3 from the bottom with the scissors or the craft knife. Then cut out graphic shapes from your painter’s tape and place on your water bottles. Then paint the water bottles with the craft paint, most water bottles need two or three coats of paint. When dry peel off the tape. Cut four holes halfway down the water bottle, one on each side. Thread your yarn or string through the holes and tie large knots on the inside of the bottle.Fill your planter with soil and your plant of choice, I suggest picking a plant that doesn’t need to be watered all the time. Then hang your planter in the place of choice and watch your plants grow! Serendipity - Page 11
Image by Kelly Sanchez
Plastic Bottle Ottoman What You Need: - 32 Big Plastic Bottles - Cling Film - Cardboard (37cm x 37 cm) - Foam (37 cm x 37 cm) - Tape - Glue - Stapler & Scissors
-(Alternate) A Crotchet Pattern to Cover
How To Make: This guide makes a 37cm x 37cm x 37cm cube Ottoman, but can be used as a template to create a round Ottoman as well. Start by taking one bottle and cutting in half then taking the bottom half and placing it on top of a complete bottle. Tape around the two connected bottles and repeat until you have 16 complete bottles. Place them in a square of 4 by 4, alternative placing the bottles with the caps on up and down to absorb weight. Tape the bottles together within this formation before wrapping with cling film. Cut the cardboard 37 x 37 twice to create a base and a top, then tape to the structure. Repeat with the foam, as well as cutting out the foam for the sides. Wrap the entire structure in cling film again. Cut the fabric into a plus shape with each edge measuring 37cm, then cut a separate square which will then become the base. Place the square on the bottom of the structure and staple to keep the material in place. Then place the rest of the material to cover the sides and the top to then staple to the structure. If you are using glue, cover the base with glue and stick the square to the bottom and repeat with the sides and the top. If you would like to add legs to the Ottoman, glue a thin piece of wood to the bottom instead of the material. Then glue four blocks of wood to the corners of the base. Press firmly down to secure the legs to the Ottoman.
Image by Veronica Ticha
- Chosen Material to Cover
Image by EcoBrick Exchange
WE’RE BRICKIN’ IT! We take a deeper look into Bristol’s recycling revolution and how it’s going to change the world
A simple plastic bottle filled with plastic bags may
not seem like much, but this plastic pollution solution is helping more than just Bristol’s community. While plastic is everywhere and almost impossible to avoid, the Ecobrick movement is the newest movement to come from Bristol to tackle the plastic problem that is spreading like wild fire. While the innovative movement is allowing people to take personal responsibility for their own waste, it is also ensuring that we can make sure that our plastic is getting fully recycled. Ecobricks are designed to leverage the longevity and durability of plastic, which plagues more than 10% of our oceans, and put it to good use by turning them into building blocks. While a normal bottle of coke taking up to 100 plastic food wrappers to fill, this innovative revolution is being used to build walls, garden spaces and even full-scale buildings. Impressed? There’s already a second type of Ecobrick called the “Ocean Ecobrick” where the brick is formed of only plastics found on beaches, rivers and oceans.
It’s no surprise that Bristol is at the forefront for pushing this long-term solution towards communities, and getting positive results.‘Bricking-it Bristol’, a voluntary group behind the movement, have been spreading the Ecobrick love by installing drop-off locations to facilitate the donations of Ecobricks. Being a city known for bringing all local communities together through various food and music festivals, introducing Ecobricks is the start of working towards a more sustainable way of living and reducing plastics entering the environment. Speaking to Madeline Severn, of ‘Bricking-it Bristol’, she said “The project will end at some point, but it’s to manage what’s going on now and help Bristol manage its waste in general. We’re not saying it’s okay to buy plastics because we can make a brick out of it, we ultimately want to stop the use of plastics.” While Ecobricks were first invented in the 70’s and took off in the early 2000’s, regulations within the UK that stops us using them to build schools and homes
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Image by EcoBrick Exchange
as other countries do. Communities are taking it upon themselves to use them in gardens and other projects bringing the community closer together. Madeleine hopes that this innovative solution to our plastic problem will be taught in schools and youth groups with various workshops making the bricks, using them within art projects and educating them on the benefits. “We hope for funding and sponsorship, so we can do more. The response has been so good, it just shows that people in Bristol want change and they want to do something!” With the community starting to get into the habit of creating Ecobricks, Owen Rowland who works at The Gallimaufry, had the brilliant idea to create drop-off points where Ecobrickers can contribute to the cause. With support from the owner of The Gallimaufry and the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, they have gained the support and storage they needed to get the project really up and running with a drop off point just outside
“It really makes you realise just how much plastic we use and throw away!” The Canteen and The Gallimaufry. While Owen understands that a lot of people try not to use plastic bottles anymore, he encourages resourcefulness in sourcing them and talks about saving those items from landfill. “When you look at what’s happening in the oceans, the harm caused by plastics, this is a way of containing and reusing the problem locally in the city. We are setting ourselves up as a community hub for different community groups who want to be involved.”
The bricks will then be collected and sent out to community projects, gardens, art installations and more. Bristol is starting to save the planet one plastic bottle at a time. To get involved check out their Facebook page at BrickingItBristol.
Image by EcoBrick Exchange
So how does it actually work? It is actually a very simple concept with massive results. First grab your plastic bottle, then save every kind of plastic wrapper you can think of including plastic bags, cling film and cellophane. Then wash and dry it before packing it tightly within the bottle and then drop it off at one of the drop off points mentioned earlier.
Make It All At Home Sick of buying endless amounts of single-use plastic? Try these super easy homemade recipes
Laundry Detergent Fed up of paying for expensive detergent? Experiment with these homemade laundry detergent cubes! All you need is 1 bar of castile soap, 2 ½ cups of washing soda, 1 cup of distilled white vinegar, essential oils of your preference, 2 ice cube trays and a box grater or blender. (Pre-warning – avoid touching the mixture directly with your hands as it can dry out your skin!) Firstly, grate the castile soap using the box grater or cut into chunks and blend. In a large bowl add the soap, washing soda, vinegar and 10-15 drops of the essential oils. Stir immediately until combines and chunks begin to form. Spoon the mixture into ice cube trays and leave them to sit to dry overnight. Image by Jill Nystil
Mason Jar Oil Lamps Sick of buying overpriced candles which lose their smell after the first use? Be blown away by these effortlessly beautiful and fresh mason jar candles that really do smell as good as they look. All you will need is a mason jar, sliced citrus fruits, water, cooking oil and a floating wick. Start by filling the jar around 2/3 of the way with citrus slices. One of the best combinations of citrus fruits is oranges, lemons and grapefruit’s which release a flurry of fresh tropical scents. Fill the jar with water, leave ½ an inch or so at the top for the oil. Then add 2-3 tablespoons of cooking oil to the jar, right on top so that the oil floats on the water. Carefully place the floating wick onto the layer of oil. By lighting the wick, the heat warms up the water below which encourages the citrus to release more of its scented oils. Image by Crystal Hatah
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Reusable Dryer Sheets Have too many t-shirts that you don’t wear? Here’s a simple yet effective way to turn those unwanted t-shirts into reusable dryer sheets. All you need are a couple of t-shirts, 1 cup of distilled white vinegar, 15-20 drops of essential oils of your choice, scissors and a resealable container.
To start, cut up the t-shirts into squares, around the size of your outstretched hand and fold into thirds. In the resealable container, add the vinegar and essential oils, then simple place your folded cloths in so that one end of each touches the vinegar. They will automatically begin to soak up the mixture. Keep the container sealed and simply selected a towel or two to add to your dryer for each load. When the container dries up, and the t-shirts have been used, simply add more vinegar and essential oils and repeat! Image by Crystal Hatah
Rosemary Liquid Soap Sick of buying hand soap and throwing away single-use plastic bottles when they run out? Try this heavenly rosemary and grapefruit homemade liquid hand soap. All you need is 5tbsp of Castile Soap, 1tsp Vegetable Glycerine, 2 Springs of Fresh Rosemary, 2-3 Strips of Grapefruit Peel, 3-6 drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil, 2-5 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil and a Foaming Soap Dispenser. Simply add the castile soap, vegetable glycerine, and essential oils to the foaming soap dispenser. Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water and give it a shake. Add the springs of fresh rosemary and the strips of grapefruit peel and leave for 2-3 minutes to infuse. Image by Victoria Moore
Shower Jellies
Try these super soft shower jellies! All you need are 2 packets of unflavoured gelatine, 3 or 4 cups of water, ½ a cup of castile soap, 30 drops of chosen essential oils, 1 tsp of salt, a silicone mould, and cosmetic-grade colouring.
Image by Jill Nystil
Start by boiling the water adding the gelatine. Then add the castile soap, salt, essential oils and colouring. Gently pour the mixture into the mould. Place in the fridge and let the cubes set until firm. Gently pull the silicone mould away from each pod and store in a cool dry area. Just pick them up and allow the water to run on them until they foam for that feel of luxury.
CHANGE THE WAY YOU WOSH Abbie Fawcett’s award-winning sustainable design is changing the game on cooking waste
From frying pan to your sink, cooking waste is an
unwanted and to be quite frank an utter nuisance within the kitchen. With more than three thousand homes flooding each year due to cooking oil blockages, as well as problems such as pollution of lakes and sewage floods, it’s a massive problem that needs to be addressed. Every household uses and produces cooking fats in almost every meal per day, this can range from eggs and bacon in the morning to a pasta bake in the evening. While you can use alternatives like using coconut oil for high-heat cooking and even low-fat yoghurt to replace cooking oils, Abbie Fawcett has other ideas to solve the problem. Prior to graduating the University of the West of England with a first honours degree, Abbie Fawcett took strides in designing innovative products to tackle serious sustainable problems within households, cue her award-winning sustainable design WOSH.
The conscious solution presents itself as a small compact kitchen appliance which turns cooking oils and fats into natural soap, a design which took the Wilko & Winnovate Award at New Designers 2018. In 2016 there was enough cooking fats and oils to fill 7 Olympic sized swimming pools that were poured down the sink of UK homes. By keeping your cooking fats and oils for WOSH, it would contribute to saving Britain ÂŁ3 Billion on unblocking sinks. As well as, reducing the risk of flooding for entire residential areas across the country. The simple yet genius method of using cooking fats and oils as the basis of natural soap, mixed with essential oils to produce a premium bar of soap, is the first of its kind. I spoke to Abbie about the highs and lows of creating a product which is taking the design world by storm, kick-starting her career straight from university.
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What inspired you to create WOSH?
How did you take it from idea to product?
I was looking at household waste and other ideas like that because I’m really passionate about sustainable design and solving waste issues with a design that kind of embeds itself into your routine, so it’s not like a chore to recycle. The one serious problem that wasn’t being talked about a lot was the cooking oil. I talked to loads of people and asked them “What do you do with it?”
It took a while… Lots of trial and error. It was basically a two-part project as you had to get the soap recipe right so that the soap you were making was the correct ratio and you had to get the right ingredients to smell nice and work together. That was one side of the problem, the other side was actually making the product to make the soap. Getting the soap maker to make the product as efficiently as possibly and become something people would actually use.
Literally all of them said they tip it down the drain, so with that I looked at ways cooking oils could be used as a material and what it can be used for. It turns out in the research that animal and vegetable oil has been used for hundreds of years to be the basis of all bath soap. So why can’t we filter out the food and instead of farming for new oils we just up-cycle the ones we’ve already got? That’s how the idea started. There are a lot of soap kits where you get all the ingredients, but it actually takes longer to get and assemble all of the ingredients and utensils than it does to make the soap!
After finding the right material, I chose to make the product out of poly-proof because it is the most sustainable plastic to be manufactured. It is a conscious use of plastic which can be fully recycled at the end of its life. Plastics get a bad press and for good reason, they don’t break down! A lot of designers are tailoring their ideas so now they are recyclable and only use plastic if they have to. You just have to think about if it can be re-used at the end of its life. People are starting to think more consciously which is obviously really good!
“People are starting to think more consciously, which is obviously really good!”
If you are using bacon and egg fats, how does it not smell like it?
What has been your favourite experience from WOSH?
Once you’ve blended all the oils in with the lye it combines them into soap. I promise it won’t smell like bacon! Everything is pre-measured, so it is super quick and easy. All you need to do is save up around two weeks’ worth of cooking oils and fats in a glass jar, this way it integrates into your daily routine and don’t need to think about it too much. I promise you it won’t smell like bacon!
For me, it has been the reception that I got from it. I never thought that it would have so many people talking about it, people asking for interviews and asking where they can buy one, and winning the award at New Designers… I just never expected it!
Everyone has a gadget for everything in the kitchen, but they need plug sockets. So, I made WOSH completely portable so that it makes it super easy to
I knew they did awards but it took me by surprise as my favourite other design was there. Honestly, he made this incredible device which solves medical waste with needles, where it releases a warming device into the skin to bring your veins to the surface. Which stops nurses and doctors using more than one needle.
“I promise you, it won’t smell like bacon!” use anywhere. The next step would be a recyclable exchange system where you would get a discount if you brought back the containers or something like that.
When I saw that I was like “WOW!” I just thought it was so clever! Products that do solve waste and do solve things like that are really good to see.
When I spoke to Wessex Water they were asking about how many you would buy and I was thinking of people buying one and then you would get a discount if you brought back the containers.
It is really amazing to see that there are other people who are passionate about it too. There is definitely a proportion of us that show there is a chain reaction with sustainable designs that are trying to improve products for the future. We have plastic in our drinking water now, we’re polluting the ocean to such an extent that we need to have a change.
I think sustainable design is the route I want to go down. Whether I do it straight away or get experience elsewhere first, I think every product I design from now on will always think about sustainability. I think that is what you have to do now, and the right and responsible thing to do.
The inspiration behind WOSH was that you aren’t having to buy soap anymore, so it’s the ideology of “You invest £35 into this product and you can prevent blocked drains and buying soap ever again” it is just a fun thing to do. I love making soap!
Do you have any advice for people who want to go into designing? I would say just keep at it. You have days where it just won’t work and you can’t give up on those days because you will figure it out, it is just persistence. I was having serious crises with WOSH because every other week I was thinking “Will people like it?” And you just need to take a step back. I was lucky at university because I had so many friends on my course where you could ask them to take a look at it with fresh eyes and say “Look I’ve been going at this for hours now and it’s not working!” It was intense, but from this I got the award which came with a two-week placement and from that placement they offered me a job! It all stemmed from WOSH, with a little bit of social media, and that was all I had asked for really, that someone would see it and had liked it so much that I got a job. Serendipity - Page 20
Turning Something Old To New Image by Vicolo Paglia Corta
Transforming old furniture into fashionable pieces of art Like the dynamics of the fashion world, furniture trends come and go as easy as a blow of the wind, from plush velvet sofas to minimalistic marble kitchens. Walk into any furniture store and you’ll see an overwhelming variety of designs, colours, patterns that look cool now but may not last. For years designers have played around with the idea of up-cycling old worn out furniture and transforming it into modern one-of-a-kind items with a nostalgic charm.
Take Rupert Blanchard from London for example. His unique cabinets made from vintage “To Let” sign and “Pratt’s Perfection Motor Spirit” signs. It is a three-door storage cupboard made with original enamel signs and a matching pair of wardrobe drawers, perfect for bringing colours into Welcoming in up-cycled designs into a household a room while keeping the vintage style. Blanchard makes isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, there is always various items from cabinets and tubular chairs to vintage something for everyone whether it’s making your own up-cycled furniture or buying from a designer. It’s unique, graphic prints on cardboard boxed drawers. sustainable, affordable and easy to find! The vintage design is a common style choice for many designers who up-cycle. Keeping part of the furniture in its current state and highlighting parts with their designs is what makes each individual piece unique and personal to the designer. Take Zoe Murphy, her outstanding printed furniture brings new life to design. The images printed on furniture and textiles are inspired by her home seaside town of Margate which praises deeps colours of blues, greens and oranges that subtly sink into the furniture.
Image by Zoe Murphy
Similarly, Italian designer Vicolo Paglia Corta up-cycles everything from apple keys into jewellery and vintage suitcases into table storage stands. Her design features reinforced suitcases with wooden panels decorated with wallpaper and steel legs with wooden feet for finishing touches.
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Image by Rupert Blanchard
Another designer who tests the limits with innovative furniture design is Ira Maurya, who believes that up-cycling is a long-standing ethos of Indian Homes. Her blending of contemporary and classic designs makes every part of her furniture truly unique. Take the up-cycled pallet drawer that turns into a portable coffee table. The tinted emerald colours, the storage space for the ever-lost remote controls and the perfect space on top for a cup of coffee and a book.
Image by Ira Maurya
Taking things down a notch, Thomas Wold transforms beaten up cabinets and uses them as building blocks to beautifully balanced pastel storage pieces. His creative designs, rightly called “Fractured Fairy Tales”, assembles various popping pastels with a delicate touch to create amazing up-cycled furniture.
Image by Joann Berman
Image by Thomas Wold
Up-cycling can go one of two ways, keeping the vintage or completely transforming it. Replacing typical wooden colours with eye-catching popping prints is what Joann Berman does best. Having worked with the likes of Michael Jackson, Salt-n-Pepper and P.Diddy, her trippy aesthetic is down to screened 3D images on neon up-cycled furniture that are all one-of-a-kind treasures. Berman’s designs create a huge splash of colour that can carry a room from dull and plain to an explosion of trippy prints.
No matter what the style or the colour that these designers choose, they all have one special desire in common. The want for no furniture to go to waste. Every year the UK alone throws away around 1.6m tonnes of furniture, most of which is buried in landfill. Up-cycling furniture, as these designers are, saves valuable resources, creates employment benefits and has the potential to provide affordable items to local communities.
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU BUY, IT’S HOW YOU BUY!
Image by Syvlie Tittle
Get your containers at the ready, it’s the rise of the sustainable shops
Zero-waste shops are both the newest and
oldest trend in the book and are opening up in up-and-coming areas around the UK. If we go back a few decades we would be transported into a plastic free way of life that included the essential food shop. Not until the middle of the last century did pre-packaged goods pop up on supermarket shelves, which slowly but surely poisoned the public’s life with numerous amounts of single-use plastic. Only more recently have consumers become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of plastic waste, presumably after viral videos of turtles having plastic straws pulled from their noses and dead whale carcasses filled with plastic circulate social media. While the plastic straw industry has fallen to activist’s delight, there are still numerous ways the general public can take a stand against the worlds biggest problem. Adjusting shopping habits is one of the best
Not only does it tackle the global plastic problem we are facing, it also brings the community together. More often than not sustainable shops have little to do with size, unlike their super-sized opposition, and is all about their customers which generates a community of sustainable shoppers. This shopping not-so-new revolution came to Bristol just after they were announced as the UK’s most environmentally friendly city in 2017. Bristol’s first ever zero-waste shop to join the streets of Bedminster was Zero Green run by two Bristol friends Stacey Fordham and Lidia Losada. After seeing shocking footage of non-recyclable waste on Blue Planet, they decided to take on the task of opening the first ever plastic-free store. “We couldn’t believe that there wasn’t anything like our shop at the time” Stacey Said. “We wanted a plastic-free shop for ourselves, but most important for other people too!”
“We have a responsibility on the decisions we make” ways to reduce waste and have a positive impact on the environment. But what are the realities of zero-waste shopping? The five R’s help your produce less rubbish; Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot which all help you produce less trash. Refusing is being conscious of the what you use in restaurants, supermarket shops and everywhere you go, to help you avoid single-use products. Reducing is being mindful of only purchasing what you need and bypassing throwing things away. Reusing and recycling are concepts which we all have done at one point or another. Finally, rotting refers to getting your gardening gloves on and composting food and paper waste.
“This isn’t a new way of shopping; in reality it is an old idea just brought back to life. Some people are not used to it, and it hasn’t been easy to translate that to people who aren’t in a zero waste or eco-friendly mindset” Lidia explains. “This has happened to us when we are looking for suppliers. We’ve had to refuse working with some because they wouldn’t be up for a change with their packaging, luckily Bristol is an amazing city with amazing small businesses who are open to a conversation.” While big manufactures are the main culprit of using single-use plastic to cover items from peppers and bananas to pasta bags and milk cartons, the usage also lies with us. “As individuals we also have a responsibility on the decisions we make. The information is out there but not everyone can access or is willing to shop sustainably because they have other worries or ‘bigger problems’…” Lidia says.
Image by Zero Green
“People’s positive reactions is one of our favourite things. We’ve seen recently how young people are speaking up and showing courage and discomfort on what the planet preservation is heading if we keep doing the same, we need to listen to them!” Stacey confirms. Thousands of students across England skipped school in March to protest for more effective ways to tackle climate change. A Student even told the BBC that there was no point in learning when their future is at risk, if that’s not a big enough sign for the UK to start thinking eco then we don’t know what is! With environmental concerns starting to build-up from the younger generations demanding change from the government, zero waste shops are becoming increasingly popular. Serendipity - Page 24
Grant Mercer, owner of plastic-free shop Smaller Footprints in Clifton, spoke to us about what more can be done to get the public involved and what really needs to be done. “The exposure is massive now compared to what it was eighteen months ago, and I think at this stage, most of the people that are willing to care, do. What we need now is more transparency of waste and its effects which would help people to progressively evolve their habits and more shops to make switches.” Smaller Footprints was created to add to the growing rebellion against single-use plastic packaging that most supermarkets overuse. Having a view of the earth as this sensitive concept of beauty, with more abusive behaviours of single-use plastic will damage it completely. Grant prides himself on actively making changes that helps the environment. “I had a desire to ensure I could tell my children, who are likely to be dismayed as I am about the decline in biodiversity globally, that at least I tried to do something about climate change. The reaction from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, our customers are beautiful people and it is nice to have a community with a common agreement that avoiding waste is a positive idea.”
it can take a toll on the personal lives that have committed to making this change. “It’s affected my personal life massively! I’ve far less money and far less free time than I previously had but the decision to open Smaller Footprints is not regretted for an instant.” Soon after the shop opened, Greg unfortunately went through the end of a lengthy relationship which admittedly made things significantly trickier. However, with the community around the store being strong he was able to focus his energy into inspiring more to choose a plastic-free shopping lifestyle. “Seeing people so enthusiastically embracing the opportunity to re-use things that would previously have gone into recycling or general waste has got to be one of my favourite things. We’re living in a politically divided country at the moment, so it’s nice to have a community that is positive about change.” The amount of plastic that is lying in plain sight is unbelievable, and we have been somewhat brainwashed to believe that it is also recycled once it is out of our hands and into the recycling bins. In the UK only 43.2% of our waste gets recycled.
“We want to spread the love as much as possible” While it all seems relatively easy from the consumers side to up and leave your job to open your own store,
So how hard is it to go plastic free? The general assumption of these aesthetically appealing zero-waste shops are that they are far more expensive and more effort than popping down to your local. This is an overstated opinion of someone who has yet to step foot inside one of these unique shops. Striding inside the wonderland of various grains, pastas, dried fruits, herbs, nuts, coffee and confectionery is just the iceberg of what a plastic-free world would look like. Perhaps a view to take is that exploring through these quirky shops can turn into a fun adventure; From weighing your containers and filling them up, to feeling the sense of accomplishment when you walk out plastic-free.
Image by Grant Mercer
“We want to keep our prices as affordable as we can so that everyone wants to shop this way. Zero Green has completely changed both of our lives, and we want to spread the love as much as possible!” Lidia said. Not only are these shops a classic and a revolutionary way to tackle single-use plastic products, but it is also a way of life that puts the environment and your pockets first. To see more of Zero Green and Smaller Footprints, check out their websites at zerogreenbristol.co.uk and smallerfootprints.co.uk.
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WELCOME TO THE
Here are some of Instagrams most inspiring eco-friendly lifestyles that show you that eco-life is really that easy! Lottie Woods @Intotheeco
Lottie Woods, who by day is a freelance designer and blogger and by internet is a sustainable warrior who is showing just how easy it is to be sustainably fashionable. Living in Cambodia currently, her Instagram boasts an eco-friendly future through ethical fashion, equal pay for women, and joining plastic clean-up projects in Bali. From talking at TedXTalks to her amazing travel snaps. Follow her inspiring journey and be a part of the change. “I am learning every day to allow the space between where I want to be and where I am to inspire me and not terrify me! Fashion is a feminist issue not a trend!”
Rob Greenfield @Robjgreenfield
Rob Greenfield is a pure inspiration to us all. Not only is he an activist and a humanitarian, he has also been growing and foraging all of his own food for an entire year. Living a complete self-sustained life married with his adventures across the globe makes him a huge inspiration for everyone wanting to make a positive change in their lives. From growing his own food to becoming a bee keeper and taking a few stings on the face! “I see food as the largest getaway to wake up to the state of the world we live in and to begin the journey down a path to a happier, healthier and more sustainable existence.”
Tania Gabriela @Sustainablystylish
Tania fights for social justice, climate change and is one of the most stylish fashion activists out there. She proves that you don’t need to sacrifice your favourite styles and fashion trends in order to help the environment. Getting her killer looks from thrift and vintage shops, she is the queen of up-cycling old clothes and slowing down the fashion world. Vintage fashion has never looked so good! Not only is she an inspiring fashionista, she also has a full-time job in politics! You go girl! “If you’re buying to only wear once, first check to see if you can borrow something or rent it!” Serendipity - Page 27
ECO COMMUNITY
Follow these on Insatgram and join the growing community where everyone is welcome no matter the experience Dan Reynolds
@Plantpoweredtravel
Dan seems like your typical fun-loving backpacker who is on a mission to see as much of the world as possible and share his discoveries with everyone he can. Going from personal trainer to planet activist, he has flown leaps and bounds since leaving his job and funding Pure Clean Earth NGO. Travelling around and cleaning up the planet is exactly what Dan plans to do for the rest of his life and boy is he doing it! His Instagram is flooded with all of the activities he hosts and joins in. Watch this space, he is paving the way forward! “Are you just reading quotes or are you going to start executing your dreams like a bad-ass?”
Jo Vegan @Treesnpeace
Jo comes from Dundee and brands herself as an active citizen for low waste, low emissions and promotes the vegan life. Promoting the motto “You have two homes, the earth and your body, take care of them” She shares her epic journey through various protests around the UK, her zero-waste mission and her daily picks of books, articles and products. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to change your habits and do good in the world, she is your gal! “Starting a sustainability society was the best thing I could of done at Uni. Creating change locally, meeting like-minded people, getting inspired and sharing my passion. So many benefits!”
Nimai Delgado @Nimai_delgado
Nimai is a vegan IFBB, International federation of bodybuilding and fitness Pro, who opens his arms to a sustainable diet but shows that you can still reach your ultimate fitness goals without meat. Not only does he share incredible dishes and work out videos, he shows a balanced lifestyle of traveling, fitness talks and how he handles his long-distance relationship. His Instagram is bound to make you want to go to the gym and smash up an avocado on top of every meal! “During your transformation, you might feel like everything is falling apart, but in reality, everything is coming together for your highest good. Welcome the change!”
ZERO WASTE RECIPE
Image by Kathryn
Image by Kathryn Kellogg
Image from Kathryn Kellogg
Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares
Kathryn Kellogg shares her favourite zero waste snack After moving to California with her husband, she was shocked to see the mount of plastic littering the streets. She started her blog “Going Zero Waste” to help others improve on their personal health, help the planet and most importantly let her audience know that their choices do matter. Her popular blog boasts alternatives to plastic, zero waste recipes, and her activities that are cleaning up the planet. Not only does her Instagram have 90.3K followers, she has brought out her own book “101 Ways to Go Zero Waste” which is the ultimate beginners guide on how to become eco-friendlier and live a sustainable life. Take your pick from the guide to ensure you can make little changes to your life. From a variety of recipes for make your own beauty products, cleaning products and zero waste food recipes. “Going zero waste has been such a liberating process for me, and I want to share everything I’ve learned with you. Together we can make a difference, and maybe in our lifetime we can significantly reduce the amount of waste going into landfills, and become healthier and more fulfilled as people.”
Ingredients This recipe makes 4 squares - 1 / 2 regular cup of Cocoa Butter - 1 / 2 regular cup of Coconut Oil - 1 / 2 regular cup of Organic Cocoa Powder - 1 / 4 regular cup of Honey / Maple Syrup - 1 / 4 regular cup of Melted Peanut Butter - Optional 10 – 12 Chopped Pretzels - Rectangular silicone square mould
Recipe 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
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Grate all of cocoa butter Place into a bowl with the coconut oil Stir until melted Turn the heat off and stir in the cocoa powder Add the honey and let it sink towards the bottom Stir until glossy Pour 2 – 3 tablespoons into the silicone mould Place the chocolate in the freezer for 30 minutes Remove from the freezer Place a tablespoon of peanut butter on each square Spread it out in a thin layer Pour the remaining chocolate over the top Place chopped pretzels on top (If you want to) Place the bars back in the freezer for another hour And Enjoy!
Image by Kathryn
Credits Front Cover Daria Shevtsova
Contents Scott Webb
Editor’s Letter Scott Webb
Credits Jeri Tovar
£5.99