Boots

by Posted in 3.2.3 Supermarkets & Chains Tagged

About

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Latest Plastic News

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They have a range of plastic free products.

Other Products

From Louises database

BecoThings Potty and Step stool, reusable – Biodegradable and cardboard packaging
Boltanics Toiletry Range – Organic, midrange – Some items in glass with plastic tops
Bath Salts – Cardboard
Burt’s Bees – Some products in Glass with metal lids and tins
Double Edge Razor Blades 10’s– Cardboard and small plastic cover
Essential Oils – Glass – Various tops
Lip Tins – Metal
Mooncup – Cardboard
Nivea Creme – Tin
Naty by Nature Nappies – Biodegradable
Origins Toiletry Range, plant based and free from lots of nasties – A few glass items – Pricey
Reusable nappies and supplies
Wooden Handled Brushes with FSC mark, Boltanics and Ecotool range for Make-up and hair – Packaging unknown

Louises Data Base?
Louise Bayfields   “POSTIVE PRODUCTS LIST (UK) a list of High Street and Supermar-ket products that have no packaging or in some way help reduce packaging.”

The List
The original PDF will be updated as  Louise shops around so do check back there for updates. 
Remember not all stores stock all products. It might be wise to check ahead if you are making a special visit.
Once again thank you  Louise for such a fantastic resource!

Shopping Tips

If you want to buy loose, you will need to take your own reusable packaging – produce bags, tupperware even compostable disposables. You can find them here.

Sneaky Plastics

The plastic free freak should remember that
metal lids to glass jars are of course plastic lined .
Tin and cans including those for cosmetics are also plastic lined
Paper and foil wraps will be plastic lined.
Find other sneaky plastics here….

Choose Well
If you really can’t do without it and you have a choice a plastic wrapped products, choose to buy the one in simple plastics that can easily be recycled

More

Read our guide on how and where to shop, here

see all our supermarket info HERE.
Find out more about the individual products here via the food index
Other places to buy unpackaged food are listed 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.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

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Polyfiller

by Posted in 3.1 House, Office & Garden Tagged ,

Polyfiller – in a cardboard box with no plastic liner. Smooth that crack!

Of course you will need to use a scraper with a metal blade and wooden handle. We buy ours from the wholesalers so I cannot advise you on local stores but you could try these from Amazon (you can also get polyfiller here)

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Sweeping Up

by Posted in 3.1 Cleaning Up Tagged

When it comes to sweeping you cant beat a nice wooden brush with natural plant fibres.

Why?

  • Natural fibres have less flick than synthetic fibres which means less muck spattering.
  • They collect dirt more efficiently
  • They are heard wearing – we use them in our building work and they last forever.
  • You can replace the heads or handles as needed.
  • You can smarten or personalise them
  • Once done they can be burnt or composted

What Fibre?

But first lets talk fibre

Coco bristles are softer and ideal for collection of small dust and dirt particles. Good for indoors.

Bassine – a stiff fibre ideal for outdoor use.

Bassine and cane – super tough for mud covered pavements and small rubble

What Sweeping Brush

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAYou can buy sweeping brushes separately as head and handle or ready fixed I.e head and handle already joined. You can see some options here

NB check the heads carefully as they sometimes mix natural and plastic fibres.

Ready Made Sweeping Brush

Such as the  Charles Bentley & Son 10″ coco broom & handle for indoor sweeping, the  bassine broom & handle for out doors or bassine deck scrub. Like a scrubbing brush on a stick. Can be used to sweep up heavier particles like gravel but is also very useful for deep cleaning dirty floors inside the house. Like scrubbing but you dont have to go down on your knees.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASeparate’s

You can also get seperate heads that you screw or nail onto a wooden handle.

Screw Top Range

These brush heads come with a screw fitting. Easy peasy off with the old and on with the new. I say that but I have never yet had to change a brush head or handle. These brushes

The screw top heads are great if you have limited space or really dont use a deck brush that often. You can have different heads and only one handle.

Town and Country do a range of screw on brush heads. NB the handle has a plastic cap on the end so it can be hung up. See some options here.

Nailed Heads

The other option is a plain head and handle and you nail the head into place. See options here.

Buy from

You can buy complete brushes from Queensgate Market. Otherwise try your local market or a DIY shop.

Plastic Alert…. check the heads carefully as they sometimes mix natural and plastic fibres.

They can also be bought on line. Check out this selection.

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Leeds

by Posted in 3.2 Shops & Businesses Tagged 1 Comment

There is a wide range of plastic free and refill options in and around Leeds.

What Are Refill Stores?

Bulk buy or refill stores are places you can buy food loose.You take as much as you want/need from a larger container and you can usually use your own packaging.


 Packaging

While these shops provide bags and they are almost always plastic ones. You will need to take your own plastic-free and/or reusable bags.

Tare

The weight of the container may make a difference at checkout. Some shops  subtract the tare weight but other don’t. The tare weight is the weight of the empty container.

Kirkgate Market

Covered market hall and out door market. A wonderful fantasy of Victorian architecture. Loads of stalls
Open Monday – Saturday,  from 8am until 5.30pm
Some Quick Facts
Built 1857,
host to Jamie’s Ministry of Food
has a Shop & Drop scheme
home to the original Marks & Spencer stall where it all began
fantastic architecture

There is also an outdoor market
Monday: Second Hand Clothing
Tuesday: Friday & Saturday: General Market
Wednesday: Asian Bazaar
Thursday Flea Market
For more information visit the website

Buy

Food & Drink

The Teapot sells coffee beans and tea leaves loose.

The NUT SHOP cake related stuff to candied peel to spices & nuts all sold LOOOSE. Plus decorative things and sprinkles. See more here

The Jar Tree

you can take your own packaging and buy just about everything you might ever need, plastic free.
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!
Address: Leeds Kirkgate Market, Unit BS1, Leeds LS2 7HY
Phone: 07470 033404 https://www.facebook.com/thejartree/

And there are other shops now selling loose nuts elsewhere on the market.You have to take your own plastic free bags.

It is fantastic for unpackaged food, meat and veg,

Plenty of stalls selling loose sweets

Personal Care

Soap & Solid Shampoo

“Home to the very best 5* reviewed, natural & handmade soap bars & bath soap gift sets for every skin type. From Shampoo Bars to Foot Soap Bars we have a soap bar & bath soap gift set suit you, & all are SLS & Paraben free. Plus natural liquid soap, handmade bath bombs, eco accessories, gifts & more!” Visit the website here.
Many of them come #plasticfree
They do my favourite Friendly Soap from Todmorden who make a soap and a shampoo bar that is as effective but far cheaper than Lush. Read all about them, here.

Maya’s

for
Cocoa butter
Shea butter

Yes they come in plastic but they can be used  to make home made creams and lotions. Thereby saving you loads of other plastic. #plastictocutplastic. Read more here.

Sells

Fabric Stalls
A good range including Jacks,that sell end of line remnants of Yorkshire made wooden fabric. Read more here.
Plus sewing supplies stalls that sell bobbins and other stuff loose!

See a pictorial guide over at the Fb Page Plastic Is rubbish group

Supermarkets & Chainstores

Sometimes supermarkets can surprise you – check out the plastic-free and reduced packaging products here.

Don’t Live In Leeds

Loose Food A to Z

Find out if a shop near you sells bulk food loose. This is stuff that that normally comes plastic packaged i.e rice, pasta and salt. And yes these shops do exist in the U.K. There’s just not many of them.
Heres a list of towns with shops selling loose food.

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.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

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Earth Conscious

by Posted in 3.2 Shops & Businesses, 3.6 Businesses & social enterprises Tagged

Eco friendly business run by two mums, specialising in reusable over disposable products. We stock stainless steel straws to replace plastic throwaways. We also offer luxurious washable sanitary pads, aiming to reduce the huge 200,00 tonnes of landfill caused by sanitary products each year.

Our products are high quality and have a life span of many years, further reducing waste.

Links

Website: www.earthconscious.co.uk
Blog: www.earthconscious.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/earthconsciousuk

Please note

This post was written by the contributor. It is not a Plastic Is Rubbish review, does not represent my personal opinions and I have not used this product or service. Instead it is  a PfU.K. Directory submission.

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.

In 2014 I hope to feature 12 UK-based initiatives featuring refuseniks, trash slashers, businesses and the rest.

The DIRECTORY is to promote their work not mine. 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.

Follow us on facebook here

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Halloween labels and flour paste!

by Posted in 3.1 General & Homemade, 3.1 Special days & Parties Tagged ,

Print and stick  these creepy labels onto a wine bottles to make a suitably  themed halloween gift  – but don’t use avery labels as some suggest!  Print onto plain paper, cut out and attach to bottle of choice using homemade, boiled  flour & water paste.

I have included a boiled flour and water paste from this paper mache  making web page because it is easy and clear to follow but also because  I think the rest of the site looks fascinating. And inspiring. You could use some of the techniques to make ghoulish sculptures, masks or even reusable pumpkin lanterns. That would save you some work!

Obviously adapt the choice of beverage if it’s for a child’s party!

Flour and water paste attached labels wash off easily if you are using a reusable bottle… of course you are using a reusable bottle!

More ideas for Halloween can be found here….

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Halloween colouring pages for kids

by Posted in 3.1 General & Homemade, 3.1 Special days & Parties Tagged

The day of the dead skull and more nice stuff is over at cool moms.

halloween colouring
These are more kid focused. You print them out, colour them in.

And then use them to decorate your home made plastic free Trick or Treat bags?

There are more printables over on my Pinterest page.

And lots more plastic free Halloween ideas here.

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Shops, Business & Social Enterprises

by Posted in 3.2 Shops & Businesses

U.K. based enterprises that provide plastic free/reduced products and services. These people state plastic/packaging reduction as part of their business ethos.

More plastic free products can be found here
Where To Buy #plasticfree
How To Cut Plastic

If you have a service you want featured, do this.

a fine choice ltd.

reusable environmentally friendly products that substitute disposable plastic products I ...
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A to Z of Plastic Free

The A to Z index is constantly updated so some ...
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Branded Cups

Reusable plastic souvenir Cups for any event. Premier solution to ...
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Cleaning products – refill system

Planet Earth offers a range of household cleaning products with ...
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Do Your Bit Produce bags

DoYourBit is an organic cotton reusable bag company locally run ...
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Earth Conscious

Eco friendly business run by two mums, specialising in reusable ...
Read More

Ecoforce -recycled cleaning products

Increasing the use of recycled plastic products EcoForce's mission is ...
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Fabric Offset Warehouse

Offset Warehouse is a social enterprise which brings together a ...
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Greencane Tissues/ Paper Productsd

A while ago a company called Greencane sent me some tissues through ...
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Jerry Bottles

Jerry sell sustainable steel water bottles to raise funds for ...
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Kedel Recycled Plastics

The Problems Presented By Plastic Misuse & How To Combat ...
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Milk & Milkmen

British consumers got through nine billion pints of milk last ...
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Natracare Menstrual and Personal Care Products

Are you aware that most sanitary pads are made from ...
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Produce Bags Cotton From Spain

Co/Fo sell produce bags made from 100% organic cotton bags ...
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Refill/Bulk/Zerowaste Stores

Bulk buy or refill stores are places you can buy ...
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Vegware – compostable fast-food disposables

Vegware is the UK's first and only completely compostable packaging ...
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Whole Food Market U.K. Chain

Rushing through the Cheltenham suburbs, had to buy wine so ...
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Bramble Jelly

by Posted in 3.1 Food & Drink, 4.3 My Projects Tagged ,

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAToday’s action is to ‘share it’. 80% of people in a Cooperatives UK survey said that sharing makes them happy. By sharing our skills, time and stuff, we can improve our wellbeing and reduce demand for limited resources.

So I thought I would share the free food I foraged  and took a jar a bramble/port jelly to a ham based dinner party!
Free food, plastic-free, whats not to love?
And though it was late in the year I managed to get enough blackberries to make a couple of pots of jelly.

It is really easy, but then discovering jam sugar has changed my approach to preserves. Before this I found it a complex process needing tons of fruit and lemons  that resulted in a liquid syrupy gloop. However using this ready mixed sugar and pectin has (so far), been fool proof.
Even better you can use it to make really small amounts.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

So while I only got a handful of brambles, I could still preserve them and make this lovely looking, tasty gift!

Heres how…. Equal amounts of blackberries to jam sugar
Boil
Strain
return to boil
add cinnamon nutmeg and lemon to taste
Slosh of port

Take to dinner party – garner compliments!

More


Check out the #plasticfree cookbook here.

 

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Apple Juice & Leeds Urban Harvest

by Posted in 3.1 Food & Drink, 4.3 My Projects Tagged ,

Today’s action is to ‘grow it’. Did you know that being immersed in a natural setting or even viewing greenery from your window can reduce stress levels and improve relaxation? Today we’re asking you to give yourself and nature a helping hand by growing something.

And it is a great way to get plastic free and very tasty food. However when you live in a van that can be a bit tricky. So why not let nature take its course and go foraging instead. Theres loads of food out there to be had for free.

And if you are in Leeds and like apples you can join in the urban harvest. This weekend Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September 2014 Leeds Urban Harvest will be picking a tree near you.

What is Leeds Urban Harvest? The following was taken from the website…

Leeds Urban Harvest is a voluntary run project that collects and distributes soft fruits that grow unharvested around our city on trees and bushes in both public and private spaces.
Fruits are distributed to groups, volunteers and the local community.  Damaged fruits are turned into juice, preserves, jams and chutneys.  Any money raised is put back into the project to help with running costs.
As part of the project we aim to raise awareness of the great abundance of local tasty and healthy food that is available for everyone and for free!
To be affordable to anyone, we decided to sell our juice at £1 minimum donation and if you bring back your bottle, we give you back 50p. We also collect the tops of the bottles as the Scrap Creative Reuse Art Project in Kirstall can re-use them in their projects.
Leeds Urban Harvest have teamed up with All Hallows Church in Burley and we now have a great kitchen for juicing, space for sharing and lots of friendly faces too.

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Tomato ketchup

by Posted in 3.1 Food & Drink, 4.3 My Projects Tagged , , ,

Today’s action is to ‘borrow it’. How many things do you own which you hardly ever use? We’re asking people to be resourceful by borrowing rather than buying. Whether it’s joining your local library, signing up to a neighbourhood borrowing scheme or even borrowing a dog (yes, that’s right, there are websites that allow you to do this), borrowing is a great way to access what you need and meet others in the process.

So here goes…. borrow it ketchup using yesterdays puree
Got the ketchup recipes from the internet. I used them more as a guide because I was using what I had in and what I could borrow!
So it said apple vinegar but I only have balsamic vinegar and white vinegar. White seemed a bit harsh so I went with WLLM FOOD8balsamic.
I used white instead of brown sugar as I cannot source plastic free brown sugar.
I borrowed the spices and they did have plastic lids BUT I can get them plastic free. I didn’t because  I am on holiday living in a van. To buy a load of spices to make some experimental sauce seemed daft. So…I used those listed below because they were the ones I could borrow.

Here is my ketchup recipe

Splash of olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped medium
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 cup tomato purée – hand made yesterday!
1/5 cup sugar
25 ml balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon all spice
Salt and pepper

Fried the onions added the spices cooked it up and blended it.
WLLM FOOD12I would be the first to admit that this not quite tomato ketchup. Its the wrong colour for a start! Thats the balsamic vinegar for you.
The texture isnt quite silky enough either.
But it is sauce and it tastes really good! I can’t quite believe it! It is tomatoey and vinegary and sweet.
It will last a month in the fridge apparently but if I was doing it at home I would freeze it in small batches.

So impressed with my homemaking skills.

Find more recipes in the plastic free cookbook

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Tomato puree

by Posted in 3.1 Food & Drink Tagged ,

Day one of Wasteless live more and I am tackling tomato puree one of the few plastic wrapped products I use. Of course tins ad metal tubes are plastic lined, as is the metal lids of glass jars.  Read about this and other sneaky plastics, here.
So  I thought I would try to make tomato puree and guess what? It is really easy.
I finally understand why, tomato puree! Its a way of storing loads of food in a very small space. The idea is to reduce the tomato to its very essense and remove as much as the moisture as possible. The result is a thick flavoursome paste.

So lets get pureeing…
Cut toms in half remove the white bits put in a pan with a bit of water and steam until soft and pulpy and the skins come away easily.
Peel them
Push the pulp through a seive.
Put in a pan and bake in the oven till it thickensI took it out before it got really thick but it was good enough for me. 10 tomatoes reduced to a small glass.


Cant bear waste tomato soup
Couldnt bear to throw the skins and seeds away so I chucked them in with some lentils and the water I drained off from steaming the tomatos. Cooked and blended.
Ta da!

More

Check out the plastic free cookbook here

More


Check out the #plasticfree cookbook here.