Cutting plastic and living compostably
All the plastic free products sourced as part of the boycott
Often hard to find plastic free….
Who knew? Baking – it’s not that bad! Check out the plastic free cook book here
An introduction to some of the stuff you need to make the above
Natural fibre nets…..
Antiques Centre York
Sell a range including these
“Paula Victorian Style Cream cotton Lace Curtain Panelling By The Metre- Width 90cms – 36 Price: Sale price £10. “
Made by the manufacturer of Laura Ashley cotton lace panels in the 1980’s. The design dates to circa 1910, a very intricate floral design typical of the edwardian period with trademark flowers.Made on the original Victorian lace looms for Nottingham lace.
They say they are cotton…. I will let you know
Looking for some natural nets?
“Automation has killed off much of the UK’s industrial heritage, but at MYB Textiles it may just be its saviour. Based in Ayrshire, Scotland, the 100-year-old lacemaker is the only place left in the world working with traditional looms” Read more here
They do the most wonderful but expensive lace made from wool & cotton. Some are 100% natural some have 5% polyester added. The prices are …. well here are some examples
CAMPBELL
Material 100% Cotton £104.28 inc VAT
KERRY
In the sale Width 152cm
Material 95% Cotton/5% Polyester Oat Sky Maize Straw Earth
£28.40 inc VAT
RHONA
Not in the sale Width 150cm Material 95% Cotton / 5% Polyester
£44.30 inc VAT
Busy product testing this…. So far so fragrant. I will report back later.
Make Waves Starter Pack https://wearemakewaves.com/
Rather gruesome website that makes it difficult to order individual items. But eventually I got there. L
Our starter packs include 1 applicator and either 1 or 2 refill capsules.
☑️ 100% made in the UK
☑️ Cruelty free & vegan
☑️ Dermatologically tested
☑️ No waste (100% circular refill capsules)
Each refill capsule lasts 4-8 weeks
https://wearemakewaves.com
To Do
Late to the party but still plenty of time to get involved. Once again Keep Britain Tidy are organising The Great British Spring Clean, a massive litter pick of the U.K.
Back for its eighth year, the Great British Spring Clean is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign.
The Great British Spring Clean and Great Big School Clean 2023 will take place from 17 March to 2 April, and you can pledge to pick up a bag of litter – or more – from today.
Hooray for cakes but increase your chances of a lovely light cake with this plastic-free baking powder.
Ingredients Baking Powder ingredients: Wheat Flour, Raising Agents (sodium pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate). About Baking Powder Classic raising agent for adding to plain flours when making cakes, scones and puddings.
Buy online from Real Plastic Free. They sell almost everything your greedy heart could desire.
We don’t sell product packed in plastic
We sell Real Foods brand packed in biodegradable cellulose bags
We will pack your order using only paper-based materials
We are committed to reducing all waste
We partner with Real Foods who have been selling natural, organic wholefoods (packed in cellulose) in Edinburgh for over 40 years
Real Foods brand is fully accredited by the Soil Association so you can buy our organic products with confidence
We only charge fair rates for postage & packing
We really appreciate your custom and work hard to offer you the best prices we can on your plastic free products”
Plus they have a great product range. I use them all the time and they are great.
Want more? Try quick tips to cut your plastic trash for more ideas and of the Live Plastic Free Index for alternatives to plastic products.
Who knew? Baking – it’s not that bad! Check out the plastic free cook book here
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
If you have found the #plasticfree information useful, please consider supporting us. It all goes to financing the project (read more here) or
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There’s no doubt yoga is a very plasticky business. How do I do yoga plastic free? Well for a start I use this yoga mat.
The Eco Mat by Ecoyoga
The following is taken from their website
“Almost all Yoga mats currently on sale around the world were made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride: commonly known as “vinyl”)…. In order to make PVC soft and ‘sticky’, as is required for yoga mats, many chemicals are added.”
“Rubber/ latex comes from a tree called Hevea Brasiliensis and is a lectin from the bark…. Trees can be tapped for up to 30 years after which they can be used for building or furniture construction.”
And
“Jute is a sustainable plant that is grown in regions of India and Bangladesh in a 4 month period just prior to the rainy season. It is fast growing and uses land that would otherwise be dormant at that time so increasing revenue for farmers.”
They sell a range of mats through various outlets worldwide (find stockists here)
These mats are it is said less resilient than the PVC mats. Well I guess that would be the case – and isn’t that rather the point? However I’ve been using mine since 2019 and its standing up well to the wear. It’s still good and bouncy and the rubber has not disintegrated. There are a couple of slighty worn patches on the top but I think that’s to be expected as I drag my great feet about.
N.B. It smelt strongly of rubber when I first got it but that has worn off.
I bought mine from Yoga Studio – visit their web site here
I was delighted to find it came, unwrapped, in a cardboard box i.e. with no other packaging. There was some plastic tape to seal it but on the whole I was very well pleased. Though that was some time ago. You may wish to check if this is still the case
Price
From Yoga Studio, the Eco Yoga Phoenix Yoga Mat – 6mm, currently retails at £48.00
If you find that a bit pricy you can buy seconds direct from Ecoyoga
Go on – get streching!
For making jelly and gels…….
Clearspring Organic Agar Flakes Vegan, 30g
Price: £5.79
Agar Flakes Vegan, ORGANIC
Packaging – Inner bag: Compostable Recyclable Outer carton: Recyclable. Made from bio-film from renewable sources.Comprises cellulose from wood-pulp, produced in carefully managed plantations Compostable certified by the EU and the USA
You can buy it and lots more here….
Real Plastic Free
We sell Real Foods brand packed in biodegradable cellulose bags
We will pack your order using only paper-based materials We are committed to reducing all waste
We partner with Real Foods who have been selling natural, organic wholefoods (packed in cellulose) in Edinburgh for over 40 years Real Foods brand is fully accredited by the Soil Association so you can buy our organic products with confidence
Visit the website
What is biodegradable?
Biodegradable products break down through a naturally occurring microorganism into simple, stable compounds which can be absorbed into the ecosystem.More about biodegrading here
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.
Want to start composting but dont know how? Find the answers here
Talking of composting, theres a new logo on the block. “The Home Compostable verification logo clearly identifies and differentiates packaging materials as biodegradable and home compostable. This means that the biodegradable packaging will break down under specific home composting conditions back into water, carbon dioxide (CO2) and biomass.”
Who knew? Baking – it’s not that bad! Check out the plastic free cook book here
An introduction to some of the stuff you need to make the above
Everything Else
My Woolovers cardigan has turned up. Hooray. A kitted hoodie. the best of all worlds.
I ordered from them because the garment is made from natural fibres and they send their cardigans out in almost plastic free packaging.
The sealing strip and some thread reinforcement on the top were the only plastic to be found on the outer paper bag.
This was exciting enough but I opened it to see the cardigan itself packed in a degradable compostable cornstarch back. People will tell you that you cannot compose them in your garden composter. They are wrong I have composed of many of these bags.
The label was cardboard and attached with string
The receipt, sadly, had a plastic liner attached. I don’t really know why.
But on the whole a fantastic effort.
They also make a range of other environmental claims including
They sell other plastic free products. I got these tea lights in cardboard a box.
Langholm CapitalWoolOvers is a UK based direct-to-customer retailer of own-brand knitwear and jersey apparel. It was founded in 1989 and acquired by Langholm Capital in 2015.
More about fibres & clothes….
Check out the Wardrobe Index here with links to
One of the much touted benefits of plastic is that it reduces pressure on natural resources. Nowhere is this more true than in fabric and fibres.Producing natural fibres is certainly resource intensive. And synthetic fabrics have moved on since the early days of crimpolene and can now convincingly replace anything from wool to silk. They used to make the sheerest of stockings to the thickest and woolliest of fleece jackets. Dirty old fishing nets can be recycled into saucy bikinis.
And at a fraction of the price. So much so that synthetics now make up 60% of the market.
While using synthetic fibres means that less space is needed to grow cotton or flax, less pesticides are used and vegans can be pleased that less sheep need shearing and silk worms dont need to die for us.
But of course synthetics come with their own very real and severe environmental costs.
Synthetic fibres have the same qualities as plastic. The problems with a polyester sock are the same as with a PET bottle. Though you get more wear out of a sock eventually it gets thrown away and because it is now non-biodegradable rubbish it needs to be specialy disposed of. Cheap clothes and fabrics go on to pollute the environment in the same way a bottle may.
Plus all the other problems attendant with plastic products (you can read more about the problems with plastic here).
Micro Pollution
And it’s not just end of life disposal that is difficult, synthetic fabrics pollute through out their life time. Everytime they are washed they shed thousands of non biodegradable micro plastic fibres that wash down the drains and into the oceans where they are now affecting the ecosystem, (see micro plastics for more)
The energy used (and the CO2 emitted) to create 1 ton of spun fiber is much higher for synthetics than for hemp or cotton.
So I am researching natural fabrics
Fibres to fabrics
My ongoing experiences with fabrics
The more I sew the more I realise all fabrics are not the same – even if they go under the same name! The following are my ongoing notes on the subject. I have a lot to learn!
http://plasticisrubbish.com/2024/09/26/cotton-fabric/
Lawn is a very fine cotton though as with everything in life it seems you can get different grades of fabric that have, predictably, slightly different qualities. The Ebay lawn I used to make my wrap around top creases far more than the Thai lawn from Japan I used to make the back packers bloomers. I am not complaining about the Ebay lawn. It is still good and at that price, a real bargain. But if you don’t like ironing but do mind looking crumpled than it might be better to try and source a higher grade fabric.
I though I had when I bought some grey lawn from the Button Box in Huddersfield to make the Choir Boy Top. This is more like a muslin more crumply than the Japanese lawn but nots as creased as the Ebay stuff.
Printed Cotton
ROse and Hubble for loon pants. Seems to be indestructible.
Batting
Looks like a kind of cotton wool used for quilting and stuffing things. Can be bought HERE
Reading up on wool. How eco is it? This wonderful blog is my go to for this stuff. Heres their introduction to wool.
And while we are on the subject did you know about peace silk?
“When it comes to peace silk, the moth has been allowed to complete it’s full transformation, emerging from the cocoon alive and able to continue with mating. Additionally, the eggs are raised every year from one strain, assisting in the conservation of the species. ”
You can buy peace silk here
Silk is measured in mom’s. the more moms the thicker the silk. One momme = 4.340 grams per square meter; 8 mommes is approximately 1 ounce per square yard or 35 grams per square meter.
https://www.lilysilk.com/us/what-is-momme-silk/
10 momme = 43gm per square meter
Die silk
Acid dyes – Jacquard Acid Dye 14g
Hot-water powder dyes, producing vibrant colours on protein fibres including silk, wool, feathers and most nylons. The “acid” is the vinegar that you add for fixing. Dye in an old saucepan, in the microwave, or paint or print and steam-fix. Ideal for dyeing silk scarves a constant colour, silk fibres for silk-papermaking, or wool for feltmaking.
Each pack will dye approx 2lbs of fabric
https://www.rainbowsilks.co.uk/ProductDetails.cfm?SubCatId=107&Code=JACA
Chiffon is a translucent fabric, or gauze, it is a lightweight, balanced plain-woven sheer fabric, or gauze, woven of alternate S- and Z- Twist crepe (high-twist) yarns. Chiffon is smoother and more lustrous than the similar fabric, Georgette.
Early chiffon was made purely from silk Under a magnifying glass, chiffon resembles a fine net or mesh, which gives it some transparency.
Chiffon is most commonly used in evening wear, especially as an overlay, for giving an elegant and floating appearance to the gown. It is also a popular fabric used in blouses, ribbons, scarves and lingerie.
Habotai is a soft, glossy, medium weight Chinese silk in ivory. It is popular for silk painting. It can also be used for making scarves or cushions, although other silks are preferable for the more hard-wearing uses.
Habutai or habotai is normally a lining silk
It comes in a variety of weights (thicknesses) which is measured in mommes (abbreviated mm). A lightweight and sheer habutai silk might be 8 mommes (“8mm”); a 16mm habutai is considered quite thick.
I bought this
good quality silk habotai, 10 momme, 140 cm wide, ivory, suitable for lining and craft
And you can get organic 100 % cotton lace here
Was in Wilcos the other day and was delighted to see these snack packs of nuts and other tasty treats in biodegradable recyclable yet sealed packaging. Just like plastic but better. Recyclable or compostable paper that should it end up on the streets will not go on to choke wildlife.
Yay.
From U.K. company Evolution Foods based in Telford.
They are a dried fruit, nuts and seeds producer and have introduced the paper packs as part of its new Natural Selection snacking range,
available at Wilko stores across the UK but they also supply a range of other retailers in the UK.
the breakthrough innovation could potentially save over 1,350 tonnes of plastic in the dried fruit, nuts and seeds market in the UK.
There are 25 products in its ‘Natural Selection’ snacking range. All packed in paper.
This includes such delights as yoghurt covered peanuts.
The range also includes snacking trays and shot packs which have been redeveloped to ensure that the packaging can be widely recycled.
You can visit their website here though honestly it is not that good and fails to explain clearly their innovative packaging. Better to read about them here.
Compostable Packaging
There’s the old school stuff – paper, cardboard, leaves and other plant based materials. And then there is the new. The biodegradable plastics.
Biodegradable products break down through a naturally occurring microorganism into simple, stable compounds which can be absorbed into the ecosystem. More about biodegrading here
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.
Want to start composting but dont know how? Find the answers here
Talking of composting, theres a new logo on the block. “The Home Compostable verification logo clearly identifies and differentiates packaging materials as biodegradable and home compostable. This means that the biodegradable packaging will break down under specific home composting conditions back into water, carbon dioxide (CO2) and biomass.”
I’m so excited by this… organic, biodegradable plasticfree elastic!! I haven’t used it yet as I’ve only just found it, but drawstring trousers are a thing of the past. The following is taken from Offset Warehouse website.
What’s so great about this elastic?
Not only is it made using certified organic cotton, it also uses natural instead of synthetic rubber to make it stretch and recover. Both of these materials provide a more stable income for farmers, allowing the local economy to grow. Generally, groves where natural rubber is tapped, is also a protected conservation area. At the end of its life, or at the end of your garment’s life, this elastic can biodegrade unlike its synthetic counterpart. Read more about this elastic, and why we’re so thrilled to be stocking it, over on our shop.
This is an introduction to why you might want to, and how you can start, sewing plastic free
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
If you have found the #plasticfree information useful, please consider supporting us. It all goes to financing the project (read more here) or
When I first started my boycott, the only way to get plasticfree coffee was to buy the beans loose and grind them. Now theres all kinds of options from instant in your own bag to compostable pods
For other coffee posts check out our index. You will also find tea, cocoa, milk in glass bottles and something stronger.
But back to the coffee….
Finally managed to score some plastic free instant coffee! Its back to the wonderful Leeds Market. I love it. Its a fantastic place to buy local, #plasticfree almost everything. Read a review here
The JarTree is where I got my coffee. Its a great stall 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
Don’t Live In Leeds? More Plastic Free Food Shops Here.
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.
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
HERE
If you have found the #plasticfree information useful, please consider supporting us. It all goes to financing the project (read more here) or