2019 Yearly Round Up

1 January 2019 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 4 Year Tagged 5 Content Veiw

Welcome to our yearly round-up of news and products. Each month we blog about our latest finds and collate them all here. Subscribe to get our monthly updates delivered to your virtual door. There’s a subscription form at the bottom of the page.

You can see our past round ups here HERE.

Plastic Free Christmas

CHRISTMAS WREATHS Completely Plastic Free in Sheffield

We do use wires (& know its tempting to have a sparkly wreath!) But our wreaths have zero plastic or glitter.
We can also do gold, red and blue – more examples to come over the weekend in different designs!
But why not consider a natural, festive wreath!?

We make all our wreaths from scratch – from mossing to sprucing to decorating

This one has citrus fruits – oranges, lemons, grapefruit – apples, lotus pods and pinecones and it actually Smells Amazing!
Measures app 24″ £30.00

Will be Available to purchase from the Winter Gardens Next week or can be delivered this weekend!

Limited Orders being taken now for Christmas Wreaths start from £20.00 – message us know with your requirements!

#florist #sheffield #plasticfree #christmas #wreath #ecofriendly

https://m.facebook.com/auroraecofloral/

Elastic

But honestly, I’m more excited by this… organic, biodegradable plasticfree elastic!!

Find More

I have been updating my list of towns with refill shops and adding new shops. Have a look and see if there is one near you.. Plus how to get your shop added to the list.

Online

This is an interesting option that allows you to buy basic foods on line plastic free.
You can even use your own produce bags. Read more
HEREdd your own grisly finds and ghastly zero waste ideas.

And you can read up more about special days and general partying here.

Instant Coffee

Finally managed to score some plastic free instant coffee! Its back to the wonderful Leeds Market. Read more here.

Make

Conker soap

Like Soapnuts, conkers contain saponins, a soap-like chemical compound. Unlike soap it’s they don’t have to be shipped halfway round the world but rather picked up off the streets. They can be used to make

laundry soap and
shampoo.
Conkers are not as strong as soap nuts but are free.
WARNING: Conker juice, like saponin, is mildly poisonous and should be treated as such.

September

Cheese update how to buy and what to do with the wax.

BYOB

Bring your own bags?

If you want to shop plastic-free you often need to take your own packaging. While seems bothersome, it means no hormone inhibitors and toxic chemicals leaching from plastic packaging into your food, and less plastic pollution. Here are the win win alternatives.

The Curse Of The Single Cup Brew

coffee pods made up a nearly 5 billion dollar industry.
at least 16 million U.S. households currently have a single-serve brewer on their countertop.

Good job I found these. Coffee single-cup brewing system – compostable pods

Compostable Plastics

What is compostable? To be classed compostable, items must biodegrade within a certain time (around the rate at which paper biodegrades), and the resulting biomass must be free of toxins, able to sustain plant life and be used as an organic fertilizer or soil additive. For a man-made product to be sold as compostable, it has to meet certain standards.

One such is the European Norm EN13432. You can find out more here.

Composting Plastic At Home

While most agree that some plastics are indeed compostable, many say that it can only composted in large scale municipal schemes. As we don’t have many large scale municipal schemes this they say is a pointless advantage. I say the days of large scale municipal schemes is fast approaching as governments aim to divert biodegradable rubbish from landfill sites.

But more to the point, I have been composting my compostable plastic at home for years now, including Biobags, deli pots and disposable cutlery. Read more about that HERE.
It does take longer than other products and sometimes I have found shreds of it in my compost but I dig it into the soil where it quickly disappears.

Read more about compostable plastics here

Greenwashing
And never forget that bio-degradable plastic bags do not biodegrade where as compostable plastic bags do compost. Not all bio-plastics (plant derived plastics) are compostable. Read more here.

Compost Bins

How Do I Compost?
I have a Green Joanna compost bin and I compost up in the North of England.

More Drink

Tea, coffee, cocoa and drinking chocolate all bought #plasticfree and made with milk from a returnable glass bottle. Details here

Water

To make coffee you need water. Go to the water index to see all posts on water

August

On holiday

July

This month we are talking about

Merino and sunburnt sheep! Do we believe this? Check out U.V resistant clothes here http://plasticisrubbish.com/2014/05/25/love-your-layby/
Holidays
Why my blog has gone private!?!
Plastic Free July
Water in returnable glass bottles

Planning Your Jollies

Going on holiday or maybe a longer trip perhaps backpacking? Check out our #plasticfree travel experiences with links to how we #passonplastics when backpacking, where we have been and how to avoid #pointlessplastics abroad. Wish you were here

It’s that time of year when sitting on the balcony becomes a feat of endurance rather than a pleasure and it’s down to those vile biting mosquitos. Time to take action…

Notification of wonky links

It has come to my attention that some of the internal links on this blog lead you not to some plastic free loveliness but an abrupt notice saying the blog is private and that you need to contact me for access. The blog is not private so please DON’T email me for access as I don’t appear to be able to grant that either. another problem!
This is some kind of internal mixup and I am correcting the links as I come across them. Please let me know if you come across a bad link via the Plastic Is Rubbish Facebook or Twitter accounts.

Many Thanks

Titanium Dioxide

also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium, chemical formula TiO ₂.
It can be used in Sun Screens, Moisturisers, Powdered Make-up, Lip and Baby products and virtually any Skin Treatment product.

Read more here http://plasticisrubbish.com/2012/10/26/but-can-i-drink-the-water/

Of course every month is plastic free for me but plastic free July is a time to make a bit of extra effort, promote projects, look at my bin and join with other people all over the world who are taking this time to rethink their relationship with plastic.

Water

Well its finally getting warm and everyone has to stay hydrated so lets revisit the subject of plastic free water

Plastic Free Bottled Water

Returnable Bottles

“Crag water are the only bottled spring water company in the North of England that reuses its glass bottles. By that we mean that we will deliver and collect then send back to be washed, sanitised and refill the bottles.

read all our water posts here http://plasticisrubbish.com/2012/10/26/but-can-i-drink-the-water/

AugustJune

More Medical Stuff

Did you know you can recycle your inhaler?
Find your nearest participating pharmacy via this website.
Enter your post code
and its as easy as that to breathe new life into your old inhalers.

If you fancy making your own decongestant and with a reusable inhaler – check this out.

Try a reusable inhalers and eucalyptus oil. Breath easily and cut the trash.

Find more #plasticfree personal care products here.

And more refill services HERE

Talking of refills….

Supermarkets

Some time you have to use them.

Morrisons is to become the first supermarket chain to remove packaging from its fruit and vegetables.
The company said customers would be able to choose from up to 127 varieties of fruit and veg in many of its stores, buying them loose or putting them in recyclable paper bags.
However, there will continue to be a neighbouring section where customers can still buy packaged veg, if they choose
The move follows a ten-month trial in three English stores where the amount of loose fruit and veg bought by customers increased by an average of 40 per cent.
From the Scotsman.

Read more abut supermarkets, local shops and how we choose where to shop, HERE.

Plastic Free June

Want to really cut your plastics? Then this is a great campaign organised by the Marine Conservation Society (MCSUK).The MSCUK is a UK charity “that cares for our seas, shores and wildlife”.
The Plastic Challenge takes place every year in the U.K. in June.It is organized by them.

You can read more about it here

If a month seems too long why not do this instead. On 5 June 2019,UK-based activist group A Plastic Planet will be organising the the second annual One Plastic Free Day . here’s PICK, SNAP! POST.

Visit the website here

May

Back Home

Keen readers of this blog will no doubt have been devastated that there have been no monthly updates recently.
Why you ask desperately?
You may remember that back in 2018 May I wrote “back in the U.K. in Leeds after year backpacking. Re-entry has been rather bumpy. I have a horrible stomach complaint which has meant I’ve had to stay close to home or at least close to a toilet.”

A year later my complaint has finally been diagnosed and hopefully cured. I’m off my bed of pain but very much weakened. I have the energy to move about (a welcome improvement), but nothing extra. Writing the blog and maintaining my social media groups has definitely counted as extra. So I’ve had to take time off.

Given that I have written posts in deepest darkest Borneo back in the early days when internet access online was via some grimy café, you can appreciate how frustrating all this has been! In short its been a very long year involving a lot of plastic medicines.

Now I would never suggest you don’t take your plastic packed medication.

But surely we can do something about the onward packaging? Thankfully someone is.

Boots supplying prescriptions in plastic bags!

Hi Everyone!
I know you’re all as concerned about the use of plastic as me, so thought you would want the chance to sign another petition – this time to Boots who have decided its a good idea to start supplying their prescriptions in plastic bags!
Let’s them back to plastic free prescriptions – please sign and share this petition: http://chng.it/gswWWfqh
Thanks,
Rosie

However this fantastic news has had me back at the keyboard.

So glad to announce that fellow campaigner Michelle Cassar has written a kids book. As well working long and hard at raising awareness of the environmental damage caused by plastic pollution, she has always shown and encouraged practical solutions. Plastic pollution, that is the non-biodegradable throwaway plastic that is increasingly littering and damaging the land and sea. She has lived plastic reduced for decades and coined the descriptive term Being PALL, that is Being Plastic A Lot Less, to describe her lifestyle choice. She went on to become one of the original members of City to Sea, an organisation preventing plastic pollution at source.

Add to that Michelle has now written a book to teach children about the dangers of plastic misuse. Especially single use plastic plastic. That is the plastic products used once and then discarded. Yes it a big subject for small children and an incredibly complex one. But she has managed to write a heartwarming, kind and informative tale that introduces children to the problems without scaring the pants off them. She highlights the issues while gently suggesting ways children can change their habits to help change their future. It features snarky big sisters, goggle-wearing supersheros, leatherback turtles and Narwhals. Add a curious determined little girl who realises that one person can make a difference and what’s not to love? Written for kids but great for adults (and snarky big sisters), too. Read it and be inspired.”

You can help get this book published by supporting her crowdfunded. It goes live on the 5th June #WorldEnviromentDay up and running for the 8th June #WorldOceansDay. It will be a kind of ‘pre-order’ with some additional rewards for name in book, and kids party planner etc.

Keep track via her blog.

Buying British Made

Read up on how and why we buy, here

March

Hair Bands / Ties – Kooshoo- pleased to have found these made from 100% biodegradable materials. Read up here

It’s way too sunny so I am looking for some sunblock and some shady clothes. By which I mean clothes that protect me from the sun and not a dubious looking look.

Anything But Plastic online sell this

Shade Sunscreen for £9.75 for 100ml. I have bought some and will be writing a review.

But at that price I will also have to continue making my own. So far I have made a zinc based lotion and a zinc based suntan oil. You can read more about that and find my recipes HERE

February

Plastic free February is happening in leeds, right now and being run by Plastic Free Me. Find out more here

Events with Plastic-Free Me
FEB 5 Plastic-Free Youth Leadership Course
FEB 21 Plastic-Free Film Workshop
FEB 22 Plastic-Free Me Workshop

Check out their Facebook page

Crisps

Wahey…after years of no crisps….Its now possible to buy crisps in home compostable packaging! Find them here!

Refill Service

This is a very interesting article “A coalition of giant brands is about to change how we shop forever, with a new zero-waste platform. Loop will send you name-brand products, like Tide detergent, Crest mouthwash, or Häagen Dazs ice cream. When you’re done, you ship the empty container back, where it gets cleaned and reused for the next customer.” Read more here.

Of course we are already big fans of refill services. Here are a few we have found. #plasticfree refill index

Head on over here to get loved up!

January

PG tips threatening to bring out plastic free tea bags

http://plasticisrubbish.com/2010/09/13/bean-me-up/

coffee in compostable packaging

How & Where To Buy

1 November 2018 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 00 Featured Post, 3.2 Shops & Businesses 1 Comment

So where and how to buy your plastic free products? I try to apply as many of the following criteria as possible

Obviously first and foremost they have to be plastic free
Support independant shops.
Realistically I sometimes have to shop in supermarkets and chains. Then I have to consider which is the most ethical choice
Buy British made products
Support British companies
Online and plastic free

Plastic Free Products

By product. Organised by type, task, name, lifestyle hack and WHERE TO BUY right here

Local shops for local people

I love me my local shops and I make a real effort to buy local. Reasons why here.
Found this great directory of independent stores in Leeds

Loose Food Shops

Loose Food Find out if a shop near you sells bulk food loose.
Heres alist of towns with shops selling loose food.

Supermarkets & Chainstores Yes you can get plastic free and zero waste stuff. Read up HERE.

Online; It is possible to buy food online loose and plasticfree. You can even use your own cotton produce bags for some things. Read more here

Milk Delivered in glass bottles but double check before you order

Buying British

I also like to buy British made when ever possible and cut those air miles – read more here.
Here are somethings you can still buy made in Britain.Find them HERE.
And if I can’t buy British made or from local shops, I at least like to buy from British owned companies.

Which Chain Should I Choose?

And let me say right now I’m not overly keen on chainstores. They are killing off the local shops and take money out of the community. Before you enter please do consider shopping at your local shops. Reasons why here.
See all our chains/supermarket index here with links to the plastic free products available

On Line

Nothing more irritating then ordering a #plasticfree item to have it arrive swathed in plastic packaging.
These shops sell plastic free products and send them out in plasticless packages. Find them HERE

good shops Latest news

Found a company that makes all kinds of biodegradable things and send them a packaging free and less whether all night making themThe company is based in Sweden the product I made all over the world that have been carefully thought out and about incredible. They sell compostable mobile phone covers which is what I’m interested in but they also have pens and vegan dental floss.

And the self drying clay that comes plastic free. They also do a non-toxic stick in a recycled plastic tube so well obviously not entirely plastic free it might be an improvement.

They have cut a lot of the plastic out of the warehouse and transport so you know when you’re buying from them they really are trying to reduce the plastic behind the scenes as well as the stuff on the shelf.

N.B.

lines changes, products get removed. For more information why not ask the Plastic Is Rubbish FB group for updates. They are a great source of tidbits, personal experience and the latest news. Why not join them and share the plastic free love x

And before you go…

If you have found the #plasticfree information useful, please consider supporting us. It all goes to financing the project (read more here) or

Elastine

1 October 2018 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.1 General & Homemade Tagged 00 working 2 Comments

I wear mostly natural fibres but occasionally have problems with elasticine. I thought this referred to elastic. So when the label said 95% cotton 5% elasticine I thought the article of clothing contained elastic. I was kind of confused to find my jeans contained elastic but considered it essential in my knickers. Obviously more research was needed.

What is elasticine? also called Spandex or Lycra

elastane is a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. It can be stretched up to 7 times it’s own length and snaps back into shape. So yes like elastic in that sense.

BUT rather than a stretchy piece of white stuff threaded through your waistband, it is used in a blend with other fibres. It is often mixed with natural fibres such as cotton to help them keep their shape.

There are two principal methods used in processing elastane. One is to wrap the elastane fibre in a non-elastic thread – either natural or man-made. The resulting yarn has the appearance and feel of the outer fibre used. The second method involves using pure elastane threads, which are worked or woven into fabrics made from other fibres. The added elasticity makes such fabrics more comfortable to wear. Blends with elastane depend on the type of fabric and the end use.

On care labels elastane is often designated as “EL”.

For cotton clothes that need a lot of stretch like socks and knickers it is almost impossible to find them elasticine free.

Why is this a problem?

It is a polyether polyurea copolymer that was invented in 1958 by chemist Joseph Shivers at DuPonts Wikipedia

Basically it is a non biodegradable plastic. The problem with non biodegradable plastic fibres is that they shed when the fabric containing them is washed. They are then swooshed into the drains in the waste water and, too fine to be filtered out, they end up the rivers and sea. Once there, being plastic, they don’t biodegrade. They are now amongst other problems, being eaten by plankton with worrying effects.

And then there is this….”Spandex is made from several chemicals that are known sensitizers. TDI and MDI (Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate; Methylene bisphenyl-4,4-diiisocyanate) are precursors of the polyurethane used to make spandex. TDI, a toxic chemical, has proved carcinogenic and can cause severe dermatitis. MDI is also toxic. Manufacturers of spandex products must use strict quality control procedures to ensure that no residual unreacted MDI or TDI exists in the final product.

Why I boycott….

Seemingly, wherever scientists look, they’re finding plastic fibers contaminating the environment. Often, plastic textile fibers are the dominant source of plastic pollution found in surveys. Plastic fibers have been found in the sediment surrounding beaches, in mangrove groves, and in Arctic ice — even in products we eat and drink. “The average person ingests over 5,800 particles of synthetic debris” a year, a recent paper in PLOS finds. And most of those particles are plastic fibers.

N.B.

And before you go…

If you have found the #plasticfree information useful, please consider supporting us. It all goes to financing the project (read more here) or

Noodles

3 September 2018 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.1 Food & Drink Tagged 3.1.3 Groceries

Finally managed to score some plastic free noodles!Its back to the wonderful Leeds Market. I love it. Its a great place to buy #plasticfree almost everything. Read a review here

And its been made all the better by the opening of the JarTree where you can take your own packaging and buy just about everything you might ever need, plastic free.
Address: Leeds Kirkgate Market, Unit BS1, Leeds LS2 7HY

Phone: 07470 033404 https://www.facebook.com/thejartree/

You can see a picture diary here of all the products stocked including NOODLES!!!!

Or visit the website for more. They are continually updating the product list here:
http://www.thejartree.co.uk/store-product-list.html

And they welcome all suggestions in store too!

Food & Drink

Here is a list of food types category with purchase details

Don’t Live In Leeds? More Plastic Free Food Shops Here.

There are a growing number of plasticfree/refill shops in the U.K. Here are our latest finds.

Buy On Line
None near you?. Sad face? Don’t worry. There are and increasing number of shops selling plastic free food online. And they send them out in plasticless packages.

You can find others, HERE

N.B.
lines changes, products get removed. For more information why not ask the Plastic Is Rubbish FB group for updates. They are a great source of tidbits, personal experience and the latest news. Why not join them and share the plastic free love x

And before you go…

If you have found the #plasticfree information useful, please consider supporting us. It all goes to financing the project (read more here) or

Cork

1 May 2018 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 6 archive Tagged 00 working, 4 plastivan 3 Comments

Flexible Rubber cork

Nitrile rubber is synthetic rubber. it can be used to bond cork to make a flexible sheet
like Klinger NI27 Rubber Bonded Cork
Klinger rubber bonded cork is bonded with synthetic rubber, it provides the compressibility of cork with the resilience of rubber. This material has high mechanical strength.
Manufactured from high quality cork oak bonded with synthetic rubber
Rubber cork sheets are made from cork aggregate and different rubber mixes, neoprene, silicone and polyurethane. The final product is incredibly elastic, durable and resistant against grease, oil, fuels, gases and many other chemical substances. It is used as a seal material for cars, agricultural machines and industry seals. Read more.

But you can get expanded cork boards that don’t use synthetic binders.
Expanded insulation cork sheets are natural, balanced and unbeatable cork products that, with this special type of agglomerated cork, do not contain polyurethane or any other fillers or additives. Due to the high temperature processing treatment it expands (similarly to popcorn) and suberin that is releases during is a natural adhesive that binds the expanding grains. This way we produce a wonderful, natural and sustainable material that offers a perfect vibroisolation, thermal insulation and acoustic isolation.
Find them here.

Heres some more information on expanded cork

and this about using cork in the green home.

Some notes on insulation

The green van. You can see all our related posts here Thermal conductivity, often denoted by the greek symbol λ ,measures …
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Some notes on insulation

3 April 2018 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 6 archive Tagged 4 plastivan, 5 Content Veiw

The green van. You can see all our related posts here

Thermal conductivity, often denoted by the greek symbol λ ,measures of how easily heat flows through a material, independent of the thickness of the material in question.

The lower the thermal conductivity = the slower heat will move across a material= good

It is measured in Watts per Metre Kelvin (W/mK).

0.008 W/mK for vacuum insulated panels = very good = retains heat

0.061 W/mK for certain types of wood fibre = not so good looses heat

R-Values

The R-value is a measure of resistance to heat flow through a given thickness of material.

The higher the R-value the better its insulating properties.

The R-value is calculated by using the formula

Where:

l is the thickness of the material in metres and

λ is the thermal conductivity in W/mK.

The R-value is measured in metres squared Kelvin per Watt (m²K/W)

“The R-value is therefore a relatively simple way to compare two insulating materials if you have the thermal conductivity for each material. It also allows you to see the impact of adding thicker layers of the same insulating material.”

But ” R-values only take into account conduction. It does not include either convection or radiation.”

so on to

U-Values

takes into account all factors and is the most reliable method of measuring but it is more difficult to calculate.

“The U value of a building element is the inverse of the total thermal resistance of that element. The U-value is a measure of how much heat is lost through a given thickness of a particular material, but includes the three major ways in which heat loss occurs – conduction, convection and radiation.”

To Conclude

Thermal Resistance = how fast heat passes through a material independent of thicknessshown as λ / W/mK .The higher the number the better
R-Values takes the thickness of the material into account – so thermal resistance in more detail. (m²K/W) Again higher is better.
U-Values.
The U-Value is the most accurate measurement of a material’s insulating ability, In this case THE LOWER the number the better.

Very good read HERE

Why should I insulate and where?

A useful ARTICLE HERE.

For our van, we used Elephant Bark 1/4″ rubber (also called Stall Mats) as an MLV-type layer on the floor. We isolated it from the stock wooden van floor using a layer of LowE foil-faced closed cell foam. The full stack of materials gives us a good combination of heat and sound damping.

On the walls, we used DB2-4walls. It’s a .75lb/sf. product, 1/8″ thick. We didn’t use it throughout the van, but we did put sheets of it behind the door panels before we re-applied them.

(thats 6.35mm thick!)

From a useful ARTICLE.

used rubber on the floor

Rubber rolls can be installed in minutes with 2-sided carpet tape, no messy adhesive needed
Rubberized flooring made from abrasion and wear resistant 100-Percent USA produce recycled rubber
Extremely durable which makes this product ideal for deck flooring or dog mats for kennels
This rubber flooring roll is an excellent way to turn your concrete floors into comfortable, warm, and protective rubber surfaces
Ideal for use as: sports flooring, garage floor covering, basement flooring, gym equipment mats, and horse trailer floor covering

First, let’s see where, on average, the most heat leaves the house, what the target insulation value should be and what measures are appropriate. This is found in Table 1.

Building feature	Heat loss (%)	Target U-value (EPC Band B)	Possible solutions
Table 1: heat loss through building elements, target insulation levels and insulation solutions
Walls	35 %	0.15	Cavity, internal or external wall insulation
Windows and doors	15 %	1.6	Double/triple/secondary glazing / shutters and curtains
Roof	25 %	0.10	Pitched, warm deck or cold deck roof insulation
Floor	15 %	0.15	Floor insulation
Gaps, cracks, draughts	10 %

Image (click to zoom) Material K-value (W/mK) Notes

Material	Depth
Table 2: depth of insulation required to reach a U-value of 0.15W/m²K

Expanded polyurethane	130 mm
Unfaced polyurethane	160 mm
Rockwool (60 – 100kg/m³)	195 mm
Glassfibre slab	205 mm
Expanded polystyrene	215 mm
Mineral wool	225 mm
Flax	230 mm
Expanded Corkboard (110kg/m3)	240 mm
Glass fibre quilt	240 mm
Cork slab (160kg/m³)	250 mm
Woodwool board	250 mm
Cellular sheet glass	280 mm
Foam glass (140kg/m³)	305 mm
Cork slab (140kg/m³)	325 mm
Foam glass (130kg/m³)	330 mm

Material	Depth
Table 2: depth of insulation required to reach a U-value of 0.15W/m²K

Table 5: Summary comparison of different insulation materials
Organic sources
These have absorbed carbon from the atmosphere and so are more climate-friendly
Sheep’s wool batts and rolls 0.038 – 0.043 Can absorb some moisture whilst remaining efficient
Wood fibre batts 0.038 – 0.043 Good for most walls, ceilings, roofs, timber joisted floors.
Cotton-based batts and rolls 0.038 – 0.043 Best for horizontal surfaces.
Cellulose (loose, batt or board) (e.g. Warmcel, Homatherm) 0.038 – 0.040 Recyclable, renewable, made from finely shredded newspaper, easy to install, best for horizontal services.
Flax batts, slabs and rolls approximately 0.042 Hard to obtain and expensive.
Hemp batts 0.043 Relatively expensive.
expanded-corkboard Expanded Corkboard (e.g. Amorim, Korktherm, Westco) 0.040 – 0.050 Commonly used as underlay under hardwood and ceramic floors.
Wood fibre board (eg. Pavatex) 0.039-0.46 Good for wall and pitched roof construction
Hempcrete (e.g. Hemcrete, Canobiote, Canosmose, and Isochanvre) 0.12 – 0.13 Made of hemp shiv with a lime matrix. High elasticity and vapour permeability. Used for external wall insulation. Typical compressive strength 20 times lower than low grade concrete. Density: 15 per cent of traditional concrete.
Naturally occurring minerals
Usually environmentally ok but some have high embodied energy – see Table 3
Aerogel (e.g. Spacetherm) 0.013 Flexible sheets and laminates, a type of glass and composite materials including plasterboard and sandwiched within PVC panels. Expensive but useful where width is limited as performance is so good. Not breathable.
Fibreglass mineral wool batts and rolls (BSI kitemarked available) (e.g. British-Gypsum Isover, Knauf, Superglass) or Fibreglass board (e.g. Isowool, Dritherm) 0.033 – 0.040 Made from molten glass, sometimes with 20 to
30 per cent recycled content. The most common residential insulant. Usually applied as batts, pressed between studs. Most include a formaldehyde-based binder – exceptions are beginning to appear.
Mineral (rock & slag) wool batts and rolls (BSI kitemarked available) (e.g. Rockwool) 0.033 – 0.040 Used for loft and cavity wall insulation.
Foamed glass slab (e.g. Foamglas) 0.042 High, durable compressive strength, non-permeable. Needs bitumen or synthetic adhesives to install.
Perlite 0.045 – 0.05 Naturally occurring volcanic glass that greatly expands and becomes porous when heated sufficiently. Must be installed in sealed spaces.
Exfoliated vermiculite 0.063 Clay-based, otherwise like perlite
Multi-foil insulation (or ‘Radiant barriers’) disputed Thinness makes it ideal for places where little width is available. Made from non-renewable petrochemicals and aluminium. Can have poor airtightness. Expensive, vulnerable to being punctured, which will render it useless.
Fossil fuels
These have emitted carbon to the atmosphere during manufacture. Avoid unless you don’t have the space or budget for natural products. All manufactured at high temperatures, derived from fossil fuels. Extremely high embodied energy. Non-breathable, so may cause damp problems.
Phenolic foam board (e.g. Kingspan Kooltherm) 0.020 – 0.25 For roofing, cavity board, external wall board, plaster board dry linings systems, floor insulation and as sarking board.
Expanded polystyrene board and beads (EPS) 0.032 – 0.040 Beads are used primarily in masonry cavities.
Extruded Polystyrene board (XPS) (e.g. Kingspan Styrozone) 0.028 – 0.036 Very high compressive strength.
Polyurethane/polyisocyanurate board and foam
(e.g. Kingspan Therma) 0.02 – 0.033 Foam or rigid board. Foam is sprayed in at high temperatures; within seconds it will expand by over 30 times giving a seamless rigid covering. Good for plugging gaps or leaks. High compressive strength.
Eco-wool (e.g. non-itch) – batts 0.039 – 0.042 Alternative to glass wool, made from 85 per cent recycled plastic. Comes in rolls or slabs. Suitable for loft and stud walls.
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) variable approximately 0.040 A building method using pre-cut expanded polystyrene (EPS) or extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) to erect an airtight structure quickly that eliminates thermal bridging.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Thermal Conductivity: 0.036-0.38 W/mk for a declared value of EU label 0.04 W/mk

Thermal Resistance: R-3.6 to R-4.2/inch, declared value for EU label of R-4/inch

Density: 7.0-7.5 lbs/ft3 or 100-120 Kg/m3

Perpendicular Face Resistance:60 Kpa or 8.7 PSI

Compression Resistance: 10% at 100u Kpa (14.5 PSI)

Permeability:

1 1/2″ thickness:2.15 US perms
2″ thickness: 2.04 US perms
4″ thickness:1.26 US perms

Maximum Moisture Content: 8%, with water absorption declared at 0.5 kg/m3

Longitude Tolerance: +/-0.1 to 0.2″ or +/-3 to 5 mm

Thickness Tolerance: 0.04 to 0.1″ or +/-1 to 2 mm

Fire Resistance: Euro Class “E”

Why can insulation cause damp?

As you’ll know, insulation is designed to slow down heat transfer, keeping warm air in and cold air out. However, the more airtight your house is, the less natural ventilation it gets – and airflow is key for maintaining a healthy level of humidity indoors.

What people are often not told by insulation installers is that warm air holds more moisture, and this has got to go somewhere. If insulation means this water vapour cannot escape through walls or ceilings, it sinks into the fabric of the building, or its contents. It is important therefore to counter increased humidity with increased ventilation. Make sure to use extractor fans and/or open windows – especially when you’re doing something that creates a lot of steam, such as showering or cooking.

Damp after loft insulation

So you only “decided to insulate the floor of the space, rather than the roof. This is because there is very little point paying to heat your attic – and the nature of heat rising means that a lot of heating escapes up there! Insulating this space effectively will keep warm air in the main body of the house below, and your loft will get pretty cold as a result. As long as it is dry up there, this shouldn’t be an issue if you’re only going up now and then to grab boxes. Potential problems can arise when damp air gets into the space and reaches its dew point in the low temperature, condensing on surfaces, (and in some cases, the insulation material itself). Damp can set in and lead to mould, which can be tricky to get rid of. This is why it’s important to have adequate ventilation in the roof, and make sure any insulation doesn’t cover the vents. Something else you should consider carefully is the material you choose, as their abilities to resist damp vary hugely. If you use an insulation material that is not breathable, it soaks up water and keeps it there. Fibreglass, for instance, is easily soiled – and once it’s wet, it stays that way. Pure sheep wool, in comparison, helps regulate humidity in the air wherever it is. It can be more easily dried out, and its thermal performance is not affected when it holds water vapour.

Swaledale 50 Pure Wool Carpet Underlay
Never before has carpet underlay been this good.Swaledale our heavy weight pure new wool carpet underlay manufactured from 100% pure Swaledale wool. It is suitable for heavy domestic & heavy commercial use, ideal for all areas in your home especially stairs.Please Note: This product is now made with 100% Swaledale wool and has a new improved Jute scrim which is ideal for anyone wanting a totally natural product.

Buy per square metre £5.99 +VAT

KEY FEATURES OF OUR OPTIMAL SHEEP WOOL INSULATION:

Our Optimal insulation is 100% natural
Irritant free, it is easy to install and offers excellent heat and acoustic insulating properties.
Our Optimal insulation absorbs moisture, helping it regulate humidity in the roof space.
Optimal insulation has a density of 18 kg/m³
Available in widths of 380mm or 570mm to suit the distance between the joists in your loft
Available in thicknesses of 50mm or 75mm.

HOW TO CALCULATE HOW MUCH YOU NEED:

Using the thermal conductivity of this product (0.0385), you can work out either the thickness you require or the U-Value you will achieve. Simply divide the thermal conductivity by the thickness to work out the U-Value, or divide it by the U-value you want to reach to work out the thickness required.

0.0385 / Thickness = U-Value

0.0385 / U-Value = Thickness

SaveSave

Sponges

1 March 2018 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.1 Personal Tagged 00 working

You want a sponge? You could try a natural one but please do be sure it is sustainabley harvested… like these
Sustainable Sponge Farming
Sustainable Sponges are grown in the sheltered lagoons of Pohnpei, Micronesia. Sponge farming in Micronesia was started by the Marine and Environmental Research Institute of Pohnpei (MERIP) as a means of generating a sustainable livelihood for local community members, many of whom have no access to running water or electricity, and little means of earning money.
Read more and buy here.

If that doesn’t appeal you can buy biodegradable, cellulose sponges such as these.

ProDec Cellulose Large Size Sponge
Details:
100% cellulose for extra absorbency
Holds up to 20 times its own weight in water
150 x 115 x 40mm
100% natural cellulose sponge. Ideal for washing down and sugar soaping surfaces, hanging paper and cleaning tiles. Can also be used to help create special stippling effects. The super absorbent cellulose structure can hold up to 20 times its own weight in water, and when wrung out will wipe down surfaces leaving them virtually dry.
Buy them From ebay.

N.B.
You can get bath time versions that are more attractively shaped.
I have yet to find one in #plasticfree packaging

For washing up and wiping down I use these biodegradable cellulose sponge in compostable #plasticfree packaging. Fantastic. And I composted them in my bin when done. Read more here.

Kitchen

27 February 2018 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 6 archive Tagged 3.2 house, 3.2.2 Kitchen, 3.2.3 Buy On Line

Kitchen

We really try to reduce the amount of plastic in the kitchen. So we use
Metal ladles and serving spoons
Wooden spoons and spatulas
Metal pans not non-stick just normal. With metal handles
Sabatier knives metal and wood handle. Mine have been fantastic. Bought decades ago and still going!
Wooden chopping board
Kilner jars for home made jams and dried beans.
A metal kettle that sits on top of the stove

We have bought our stuff from a variety of places. If you really can’t find this in your local shops here’s a list of stuff on Amazon.

Amazon Catalogue


Tala Waxed Spoons, Set of 3 £3.00	5 Piece Wooden Kitchen Cooking Utensils Set… £2.98	Tala Utensils, Set of 3 £3.00

Kitchen Craft Deluxe Small Stainless Steel … £4.50	Richardson Sheffield V Sabatier 9 Piece Kni… £88.00	T&G TV Chef’s Choice Large Board in FSC… £42.99

Kilner Jar Round 1.5 Litre £6.75	Kilner Square Clip Top Bottle 250ml \| Kilne… £2.38	Kilner Jar £4.97


Safesip Drinks Glass and Cups Cover £5.99	4 Straight Metal Drinking Straw Stainless S… £5.49	4 Metal Drinking Straw Stainless Steel Reus… £5.49

6 Metal Drinking Straw Stainless Steel Reus… £7.49	Kitchen Craft Stainless Steel Two-in-One Dr… £4.25	Stainless Steel Zack Vitis Straw Spoon Set/4 £12.00

Sustainable Bamboo Drinking Straws – 12 Pack £14.95	Lifeventure Knife, Fork, Spoon Folding Cutl… £13.89	Travel Stainless Steel Foldable Pocket Chop… £2.42


Kitchen Craft Stainless Steel Double Handle… £3.99	Tea Ball Infuser 2″ 18/8 Stainless Steel. £0.72	Tea Ball/Strainer Mesh Tea Infuser Tea filt… £1.52 – £2.19

Kitchen Craft Le’Xpress Tea Strainer, Stai… £3.00	Stainless Steel Spoon Tea Leaves Herb Mesh … £1.60	2 Cup Glass Tea Pot with Infuser £15.25

Glass Stainless Steel Loose Tea Leaf Teapot…	VonShef Modern Stainless Steel 600ml Glass … £4.99	Sabichi 750 ml Glass Teapot with Infuser £23.50


VonShef Satin Polish Stainless Steel Tea Po… £6.99	Designer White Ceramic Tumbler Brewing System £15.00


Large Natural Bristle Dish Washing Brush – … £7.79	Natural Bristle Flask Brush £7.49	Eddingtons Grill Brush with Brass Bristles £3.95

Eddingtons Light Short Bristle Radiator Brush £7.00	Eddingtons Conical Bottle Brush £3.29	Grunwerg Cafe Ole Stainless Steel Stove Top… £11.82

Wesco Classic Line Stainless Steel 2 Litre … £49.99	Garden Trading Enamel Stove Kettle – Flint £31.50	Yoshikawa 1 Litre Stainless Steel Fons Drip…


BergHOFF 26 cm Earthchef Frying Pan £36.67	Stainless Steel Ice Cube Tray – BPA Free £40.00	Tala Snowflake Cutters £6.33

If You Care Baking Sheets Cut Unbleached 24… £8.21	THREE PACKS of If You Care Mini Baking Cups… £7.94	If You Care Baking Cups Mini £5.83

Waxed Paper, All Natural, 100% Soybean Wax,… £5.99	Wood and Pure Bristle Pastry Brush £1.40	Large Natural Bristle Dish Washing Brush an…

PLEASE NOTE

While the products look very similar to the ones we use, we have not actually bought or used these particular items. Nor can we cannot guarentee they will come free of plastic packaging.

es we do get an affiliation fee for this, and no we are not entirely happy with Amazons recent history. However, we have always found their service to be good and their packaging usually compostable.

Any money raised (!) will go to supporting the blog.

Wood treatment

1 February 2018 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 6 archive Tagged 4 plastivan

Building a new van and I want it to be as environmental and as plastic free as possible. Decorating is very dirty work and needs a lot of research.

You can see all our related posts here

Timber finishes include
varnishes –
paint –
oils –
waxes –
sealing

Timber finishes fall into 2 basic categories, those which provide a protective coating on the surface and those which penetrate (or soak into) the surface.
Varnishes, lacquers and paints provide protective surface coatings.
Oils provide penetrative finishes.
Waxes can be either, they can be applied to a varnished/painted surface (in which case they give a surface coating) or to bare timber (in which case they give a penetrative finish).
read more

Varnishes
Traditional varnishes and lacquers were made from resins and natural oils
Components of classic varnish would include a
Drying oil
Resin
Solvent Traditionally, natural (organic) turpentine was used as the thinner or solvent,

Most modern types of varnish are based on synthetic resins and thinners although low-fume, water based acrylic varnishes are also available.
Polyurethane is the most common solvent used in modern varnishes.and mineral-based turpentine substitutes such as white spirit or “paint thinner”, also known as “mineral spirit”.
Polyeurothenes are are petrochemical-based polymers.

Common polyurethane applications include:

Building insulation
Refrigerators and freezers
Furniture and bedding
Footwear
Automotive
Coatings and adhesives
Other applications read more here.

Catalysed varnishes provide a chemically cured surface which is harder than the normal Polyurethane varnishes and which gives a robust surface.

Water based acrylic varnishes are also available which give off less fumes during application, they cure by water evaporation. These tend to have shorter dry times than solvent based varnishes so that the job can be completed quicker. The finish look tends to be less natural looking than solvent based varnishes,
Normally all varnishes are available as clear or coloured varnish, even clear varnish will tend to darken the timber and, being a surface coating, a coloured varnish tends to ‘subdue’ the wood grain of the floor – to change the colour of the timber, it is often better to first stain the timber and then use a clear varnish rather than using a coloured varnish.

Oils.

Danish oil, Linseed oil, Teak oil and Tung oil are all suitable for both hardwood and softwoods and give the wood a natural looking finish, slightly darkening the timber while enhancing the grain.

Waxes.
Wax protects and enhances the appearance of the wood but can become easily marked especially by water spills.

Wax can also be applied to a varnish finish to give it additional protection. read more

Sealing.
Sealing is not a finish in its own right, just a requirement to treat the timber before a finish is applied.

Depending on the type of timber, ‘sealing’ has one of two functions – to keep the oils of the timber in or to prevent the subsequent finish from soaking too far into the timber. Most often the first applies to tropical hardwoods while the latter to softwoods.

Softwoods can generally be sealed by applying one or two coats of thinned varnish (30 to 50% – but check what the manufacturer states), this is suitable for both varnish and wax finishes.

Hardwoods can be more difficult to seal as they must first be ‘cleaned’, it is recommended that a specific ‘wood sealer’ is used and the manufacturer’s instructions followed as appropriate to the type of hardwood involved.

Shellac
This finish is actually a natural product (it’s made from combining a secretion from the female lac bug with a solvent such as alcohol) that is very safe once dried and hardened. In addition to adding a protective coat, it also can add a warm amber color to wood. It can be affected by heat (white rings will appear under a hot bowl or mug) or chemicals, so a kitchen table might not be the best place to use it. Fine furniture items can be greatly enhanced with shellac. Some shellac manufacturers recommend using it as a protective coat on non-wood items. Apply it with a natural bristle brush or with a cotton rag.

So which existing products shall I use?

Danish oil is a wood finishing oil, often made of tung oil or polymerized linseed oil, although there is no defined formulation so its composition varies among manufacturers.

Danish oil is a hard drying oil, meaning it can polymerize into a solid form. It can provide a hard-wearing, often water-resistant satin finish, or serve as a primer on bare wood before applying paint or varnish. It is a “long oil” finish, a mixture of oil and varnish, typically around one-third varnish and the rest oil.[1][2]

Dapwood furniture have this to say about danish wood oil

What does Danish Oil contain?

The ingredients contained in Danish Oil is extremely varied with each manufacturer having their own proprietary mixtures and percentages. However, most Danish Oils contain many of the following:

Toxic Waste
Mineral Spirits
Aromatic Petroleum Distillates
Mineral Oil
Stoddard Solvent
Tung Oil
Linseed Oil
Man-made and/or Natural Resins
Man-made and/or Natural Varnishes
Unspecified Vegetable Oil
Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether
Naptha
Japanese Dryers
Cobalt Dryers
Heavy Metal Dryers

On the radio…

15 January 2018 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 4.4 As Seen In 2 Comments

So over the last two days I have done to radio interviews about plastic rubbish. Which is two more radio interviews and I have ever done in my life. BBC Leeds was first. When they contacted me, I didn’t quite understand that they wanted to interview me. I thought they were looking for background information. We arranged to chat as I thought. But when they called it was to record me. Cripes.

I had prepared all the usual information including data on sneaky plastics. That is plastics where you might not expect them…. such as tampons. And I failed to change the script. Indeed it hardly occurred to me that this might be a difficult subject. When you live in the #plasticfree the world you get used to discussing everything.
As plastic gets everywhere.
And this is one of the most unsettling aspect of plastic for me. That a product that we know leaches chemicals is being used in the most intimate places. Long story short I talked menstrual products.

Luckily this interview was pre-recorded and they cut out to my waffle about tampons. For which I am grateful. Yes it needs to be discussed but no, I am not sure that the good people of Leeds are ready for chatter about lady gardens over breakfast. Indeed, in my experience, chatter about lady gardens, (and the maintaining thereof), is often met with a cool reception!

The second interview was live with radio Humberside. By now I had realised my mistake and instead talked teabags. Yes they do contain plastic. Sigh!

Oh its so stressful being an activist. I do hope that they ban non-biodegradable, oil-derived plastics soon; I don’t think I can take much more.

You can hear my interviews here
BBC Leeds the Liz Green show 8.00 am. Link here. Right at the beginning.

And here
Radio Humberside 1:08 into the program.

Watch out for Sneaky Plastics – in places you might not have known about.

You can see my other forays into media HERE.

Anything But Plastic Online Shop

11 November 2017 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.2 Shops & Businesses, 3.6 Businesses & social enterprises, 3.6 P-f U.K Directory Tagged 3.2.6 Plasticfree Packaging

Anything But Plastic sells alternatives to plastic products in order to reduce everyday plastic consumption and help tackle plastic pollution. As well as trying to provide plastic free alternatives, this shop wants its customers to make informed purchases and promote sustainable buying practices.

The aim of Anything But Plastic is to bring together as many as possible of the individual brands and companies that produce plastic free alternative products and provide a platform of convenience for the average consumer to purchase these goods. Cutting down on plastic should not have to be hard, inconvenient or time consuming. With this site I hope to get rid of these obstacles, which will hopefully bring about some positive change and make going plastic-free an easy choice.

Website:
www.anythingbutplastic.co.uk

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/anythingbutplastic/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/trashplasticnow
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/anythingbutplastic/

This shop sells plastic free floss… and you know how hard that is to find.

Please note…
This post was written by the contributor. and is a PfU.K. Directory submission.

And the Pf U.K. Directory is…?
…a directory of UK-based groups, organisations businesses and individuals who are responding to the problems presented by the misuse of plastic. That does not mean anti-plastic necessarily but certainly plastic-problem aware.

The DIRECTORY is to promote their fantastic work. Read more here…

Got a project?
It is very easy to get a project featured. Each contributor submits a short synopsis of their project, focussing on the plastic aware element and I post it. You can read the submission guidelines here.

Mouthwash & Tooth Whitener

18 September 2017 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.1 Personal Tagged 3.1.7 dental care, 3.1.7 Health

A peroxide mouth wash can help whiten the teeth. But only do this occasionally as there are lots of conflicting reports on the healthiness of such activities. This is a useful read

Mouthwash Mix: 1 part hydrogen peroxide mixed with 1 part water. Rinse mouth, then spit out. Discard and left over solution or use it as extra solution.

For another great mouthwash recipe try this blog
or this one for lots more
And don’t stop at the mouthwash, there are lots of wonderful sounding things in there.

Ingredients

An introduction to some of the stuff you need to make the above

Disclaimer
Be aware of the risks of listening to someone who
a) doesn’t have any training in this field,
b) most of what they know comes from Google,
That’s me I mean.

I am telling you of my own experiences for your information only. You should do a lot more research before proceeding.

Plastic Free Christmas

Elastic

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Instant Coffee

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BYOB

The Curse Of The Single Cup Brew

Compostable Plastics

Composting Plastic At Home

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August

July

Planning Your Jollies

Notification of wonky links

Titanium Dioxide

Water

Plastic Free Bottled Water

AugustJune

More Medical Stuff

Supermarkets

Plastic Free June

May

Back Home

Boots supplying prescriptions in plastic bags!

Buying British Made

March

February

Crisps

Refill Service

January

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Local shops for local people

Loose Food Shops

Buying British

Which Chain Should I Choose?

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good shops Latest news

N.B.

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Food & Drink

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R-Values

U-Values

Why should I insulate and where?

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Why can insulation cause damp?

Damp after loft insulation

KEY FEATURES OF OUR OPTIMAL SHEEP WOOL INSULATION:

HOW TO CALCULATE HOW MUCH YOU NEED:

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Amazon Catalogue

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Ingredients

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