Botanist Gin hosts clean-up event at Bondi Beach
The Botanist Gin is taking a stand against plastic pollution with an inspiring beach clean-up event slated for the 21st of April at the iconic Bondi Beach.
FOOD & DRINK, ARTS & CULTURE, LIFE & TRAVEL
Category: ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
Mark your calendars for Earth Hour 2024
Join the globe on Saturday, 23 March, for the 18th annual Earth Hour—our chance to make a massive impact simply by hitting the “off” switch. Between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm, we encourage everyone to dim the lights and spotlight our planet. Since its inception in Sydney in 2007, millions across 190 countries, covering over 7,000 cities, have rallied behind this community-driven initiative aimed at combating climate change and safeguarding our diverse ecosystems. This year, Earth Hour pushes the envelope with #Challenge60—championing pivotal conservation efforts through fun outdoor activities. Be part of the action; walk, run, swim, or cycle for 60 minutes to support these crucial projects. With Australia facing unprecedented biodiversity loss and climate challenges, now is the moment to amplify our efforts and protect the unique wildlife calling this land home. How to Join the Cause? ?? Simply visit earthhour.org.au, sign up for #Challenge60 either as an individual, a team, or represent your workplace. Set a fundraising target, spread the word, and get moving for nature from 1 to 23 March. Together, we can foster a sustainable future for our planet and its inhabitants. Don’t forget to power down on 23 March and make your pledge at earthhour.org.au
The easiest Plastic Free July swap you’ll ever make
It’s estimated that in 2021 Australians wasted 5,266 tonnes of plastic. It’s little wonder that as we become more aware of the harmful impact mismanaged plastic has on our environment, more of us are taking the time to make smart swaps. Plastic Free July is an entire month dedicated to just that – education and tips and tricks on reducing your plastic footprint! Here at The F, we’re here to tell you about the easiest eco-swap you will ever make – SHAMPOO BARS! What is a shampoo bar you ask? It’s essentially a bar of soap, but made of shampoo. They even come as conditioners as well! The idea is you remove the water, which makes up most of your shampoo ingredients, and keep all the good hair cleaning stuff as a compact bar that you then use in the shower and add water to create a lather while you wash those locks. They’re a truly genius product that’s lower on carbon footprint thanks to being lighter to ship, and fantastic for travel. We road tested the Anihana range, a NZ family-owned brand who handcraft sustainable hair and body care products, and can confirm we’re never going back to shampoo bottles in this house. Anihana’s shampoo and conditioner bars are all paraben, SLS and sulphate free, whilst also being 100% cruelty and plastic free. If you’re watching your pennies like the rest of us in this economy, you’ll be pleased to know that each bar is the equivalent of using three 250ml bottles worth of… Read More
How to live a more eco-friendly life
Protecting the planet has become a priority for thousands across the globe, but living a more eco-friendly life is easier said than done. It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to being green, but luckily there are lots of easy ways to get started. You don’t have to completely transform the way you live, but over time you might not recognise your day-to-day habits because of all the little changes you’ve been making. If you want to care for the planet without breaking the bank, take a look at these top tips. Save energy The cost of leaving appliances on standby isn’t just a financial one. The more energy you use, the more the planet suffers. While we need energy to live our daily lives, leaving appliances running when you’re not using them is just a waste. Make sure you switch off your TV and computer when you know you won’t be coming back to them for a while. Another way you can save energy is by switching off the lights when you leave the room and taking shorter showers. All these things can make a huge difference over time and you’ll be saving money as well as the environment. Reduce plastic waste Buying a bottle of water every day will mean you throw away 365 each year, so why not bring your water from home in a reusable water bottle? You can get all kinds of bottles these days, from ones with colourful patterns to those that keep your… Read More
5 tips to support World Environment Day
Every three seconds, the world loses enough forests to fill a football field, and as much as 50% of our national coral reefs have been destroyed. In addition, due to our own excess waste, more than 13 billion single use plastic bottles end up in landfill in Australia alone. However, this World Environment Day provides a fantastic opportunity for Australians to gather together and inspire positive change in our communities, by rethinking our consumption habits, developing green initiatives and learning to live more sustainably. Josh Howard, CEO and Founder of cult Australian sustainability brand, Single Use Ain’t Sexy, provides his top 5 tips for how any Aussie can support World Environment Day this Saturday, without investing a large amount of money, or even leaving your home (sorry Melbourne!). Read Product Labels Whether it’s the fruit or groceries you buy, or the clothing you wear, it’s important to read the labels on products you purchase. Be sure to look for clear signs the product is genuinely helping the environment and supporting safe working standards. If you’re not sure what to lookout for, a few logos include: Fair Trade Australian Certified Organic Forest Stewardship Council Green Tick Water/Energy Rating A full list of indicators can be found here, but be sure to understand which products are genuinely looking to help the environment, and which are just ‘greenwashing’ their branding without any real positive impact. Use ‘Water Wisdom’ A really simple and effective way to help look after your environment, is to use Water Wisdom. We’ve all heard… Read More
Good & Fugly: fighting waste has never been so delicious and healthy!
Did you know up to 25% of Australian produce doesn’t leave the farm because of their ‘imperfections’? But even imperfect fruit and veg deserve some loving, right? And the best part is, your love for rescued fruit and veg will help towards reducing wastage. The statistics are pretty alarming – in Australia alone, we throw away 3.1 million tonnes of food – the equivalent to 17,000 747 jumbo jets. A step in the right direction, Good & Fugly are fighting waste by selling boxes of perfectly edible, seasonal produce direct from farmers that just don’t make the cut for the supermarkets because they simply don’t meet their cosmetic standards. It could be that your capsicum looks a little wonky, or your plums are too big or too small. But this is also actually a win for the consumer who much prefers to purchase their produce direct from the farmer. So does it work? You simply choose the box size you’d like delivered (small is $39 and large is $59). Each week, produce may vary depending on what farmers have available, however, they aim to provide staples such as potatoes, onions and leafy greens on a regular basis. Delivery is included in the price and can be weekly or fortnightly. Deliveries can be cancelled at any time. Good & Fugly currently deliver to the following areas in Sydney: –Wednesday – Lower North Shore and Eastern Suburbs (Order must be in by Monday 9pm) –Friday – Inner West, Inner South and CBD (Order must be in by… Read More
Earth Hour: save the date, save the planet
Because if Earth dies, we literally have no hope, why don’t you try taking part in Earth Hour 2020? Born in Sydney, Australia in 2007, Earth Hour has since gained millions of supporters in 190 countries and territories, and more than 7000 cities. This year, 1 in 3 Australians are expected to switch off their lights for one hour as a symbolic event to support climate change action. Will you join the call? What do you need to do to participate? Easy! Switch your lights off for an hour, flick on some candles and enjoy the cosiness. Do it from 8.30pm AEDST from wherever you are. Find out more at Earth Hour!
4 trendy ways to go eco friendly in 2020
The sad and harsh truth about today’s society is that we’re destroying our beautiful planet. We’re now living in 2020, and now is the best time to begin making changes to help live a more eco-friendly life, which, in turn, will help slow down the deterioration of the earth. While you may not be able to make catastrophic changes to the planet alone, every little effort you make will make a difference. Not sure where to start? Here are some trendy and effective ways to go eco-friendly in 2020. Switch to vegan meals at least once a week Veganism is about much more than not eating anything that comes from animals – it’s a lifestyle choice. Being a dedicated vegan means refusing to use anything harmful to the environment in any way. Don’t worry; nobody is forcing you to become a devout vegan; we’re merely suggesting to sub in a vegan meal once a week to reduce damage to the environment. There are many delicious and fulfilling vegan meal ideas out there, so don’t be afraid to experiment! Ditch the car as often as possible We all know how harmful cars are to the environment, yet we continue to use them to commute around day in and day out. Consider ditching the use of your car now and then and switching it up. You could try alternative methods of transport such as: Public transport is easy and relatively cheap to use. Electric bicycles are much better for the environment and reasonably cheap to run compared… Read More
We’re all killing the planet: The Waste Less Workbook will help you be better
Try as we might, being more green can be hard. So, environmentally-friendly movements like Banish – a fast-growing Australian waste-reduction education platform and online market place – are doing what they can to make it easier! Say hello to the Waste Less Workbook, the answer Banish has come-up with to tackle our unintentional (hopefully) contribution of over 64 million tonnes of household waste each year, or the equivalent of 2.7 tonnes per person (*National Waste Report). It encourages and enables everyday Aussies to quit single-use plastic with ease, with 87% of consumers who completed the trial seeing an improvement in their habits in just one week*. Complete with an interactive guide that shows users how to recycle better, cut down on their household waste, live more sustainably and reduce their environmental footprint, it’s a first in putting the power of planet-saving into the hands of those who did it harm in the first place. While the majority of Australians recycle it’s estimated that ?10 to 15%? of the stuff we chuck is actually put in the wrong bin; this new book will aid the thought processes behind tossing stuff in the first place, eradicating waste with every toss. “Now more than ever people are wanting to change their habits to reduce their impact on the world around them but many are confused about how to start,” Banish, founder Lottie Dalziel says. “That’s why I created a step-by-step guide to make sustainable living a little bit easier.” How does the book work? The self-paced workbook covers… Read More
Help this start-up launch their 100% plant-based disinfectant
As Australia slowly opens up its borders after lockdown and people return to work, now more than ever is a good time to think about how you will keep surfaces clean from viruses and bacteria in the workplace or when travelling. Sydney based start-up A Cause for Good is raising funds and awareness in order to launch their 100% plant-based disinfectant, approved by both the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) and US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). The crowdfunding campaign can be found on the GoFundMe platform, and donations over $50 (that are not anonymous) can request a complimentary starter-pack. What is it? The disinfectant spray is a plant-based formulation and has an antibacterial log reduction of 6, or 99.9999% bacterial kill rate. This is 1000 times stronger than most disinfectants on the market which have a kill rate of only 99.9%. The products: The formulation and the aerosol cans are made in Australia, eliminating the need for imports, leading to a reduction in the organisation’s carbon footprint. The aerosol cans are 100% recyclable materials, so they can be thrown straight into the recycle bin. A Clean Room: This product is an antibacterial fogger used as a lock-down aerosol to disinfect high traffic rooms. This product guarantees a safe working (and playing) indoor environment. Being 100% plant-based, the possibilities of use are endless. This scented fogger covers a room of up to 25 square metres and continues to disinfect the room for up to 24 hours. A Clean You. This handy sized antibacterial personal spray can… Read More