Explainer: Floods, farms and fashion
Find out how the storms in South Africa reveal the connection between climate change, agriculture and the clothes we wear
Tag: Plastic Free
Explainer: Beautiful, low-waste wrapping
Our tips for planet-conscious gift wrapping.
Explainer: Your clothes contain more plastic than you think
Even garments labeled “100% cotton” are often held together with polyester thread – making it impossible to avoid plastic in our clothing. Almost all your clothes contain plastic – even ones labeled “100% cotton”. Learn how this hidden plastic affects...
Easy steps to make your beauty routine more sustainable
Choosing to thrift, upcycle, swap, or shop sustainable brands is an easy way to gradually align our wardrobes with our sustainability ideals. But what about our beauty cupboards? As fast disposable fashion has surged, the world of makeup, skincare and...
What is a paraben and why are so many products advertised as ‘paraben-free’?
You might have noticed many skin and haircare products are advertised as “paraben-free”, or come across online influencers warning parabens are terrible for your health. But what is a paraben? And could a minor ingredient in products that many of...
7 Fresh Produce Subscription Boxes to Help You Support Small and Local
In South Africa, the movement to support local, small-scale growers and farmers is on the rise as citizen-consumers have become more aware of the effects of large-scale commercial farming on their health and the environment. Supporting local food systems is...
Tiny plastics hiding in your skincare could be damaging the ocean
It is no secret that our production and over-reliance on plastic is responsible for many of the environmental issues we face. In fact, a new study found that the production and release of plastics, pesticides and other pollutants is happening...
10 ways to living an eco-friendly life according to Nourish’d’s Natasha Napoli
With over 26,000 followers on Instagram it is safe to say that self-proclaimed ‘crazy urban hippie’ and founder of plant-based cafe and juice bar, Nourish’d, Natasha ‘Tash’ Napoli is an eco-warrior trailblazer. After leaving a very different life on the...
What does the SA Plastics Pact mean for fashion retail?
When the South African Plastics Pact launched last month most of the buzz was about reducing, recycling and reusing plastic packaging. Conversation was thin regarding the synthetic fibre content of our clothes, the largest source of micro-plastics in the ocean. ...
Book extract: Ten small things we can do to make a difference
No man is an island. Everything we do, even the smallest gesture, can make a difference. This is not just an expression, it is a scientific fact: sociological research has shown that when a person or a group does the...
Sarah Farrell: How plastic-free living led me to grassroots activism
Five years ago when I first realised how complicit I am in contemporary throw-away culture, I started my sustainable living journey, trying to eliminate plastic, and other waste, from my life. I dedicated my Instagram to this. The more I...
Why you should give up these 3 items this Plastic Free July
Peter Ryan has been studying the impact of plastic on marine life since the 1980s. Here he explains why The Beach Co-op, WWF South Africa and Twyg are challenging South Africa to give up certain plastics this July. Peter is...
Talking Rubbish: You Think You Know What’s Plastic And What’s Not
The pervasiveness of plastic is no surprise to anyone: plastic shopping bags, food and cosmetic packaging, earbuds, nappies… it’s everywhere. Plastic is polluting our beaches and oceans, affecting sea and human life. Microplastic particles are found in tap water –...
Talking Rubbish: Sarah Farrell has sorted out her trash and tells us how to recycle ours
Recycling was one of the first changes I made when I decided to live more sustainably. At first I implemented a two-bin system in my home. One bin was for recyclables like plastic, glass, metal, Tetra Pak and cardboard, and...
Talking Rubbish: How to celebrate Valentine’s Day without trash
I am not a fan of Valentine’s Day. I am all for celebrating love, sure, but I prefer to do that without mindless consumerism and unnecessary waste. I’ll give cheesy store-bought Valentine’s goodies a miss: they usually end up in the...