Introducing ‘5 things’ aka ‘I’m too lazy to write 5 blog posts so I’ll write 5 in one’.
This year hasn’t gone according to plan for many of us, myself included, and my January hopes of writing a few blog posts each month set sail by around April.
But, I love writing, and there are so many things I want to give space to on my blog, so I’ve decided to cut myself some slack and will be checking in each month to share ‘5 things’.
5 Things – October
1 – Form Nutrition
I’m not a huge gym bunny, but protein powder is a staple in our house. After buying the market leading brands for around a year, I began to get my usual feeling of ‘there must be a more sustainable option’, and then I found Form. Form is an impact-driven, plant-based nutrition brand that’s core belief is that you can realise the greatest version if yourself while being mindful of others. Aside from their dreamy brand identity (pat on the back marketing department) they’re:
– A certified B Corporation
– Supports the Form Feeding Fund at Bansang Hospital in The Gambia
– Uses compostable packaging
– Offers a reuse program
Check them out here.
2 – UK bioplastics standards
Bioplastics, biodegradable, degradable, compostable…these terms all sound planet-friendly, right? Wrong! Many of us are being led to believe that these “eco-friendly” alternatives are better for the environment, when in fact they:
– Can’t break down unless they’re in certain conditions (that a natural environment cannot replicate)
– Degrade into smaller microplastics over a shorter amount of time
– Can’t be recycled due to their unique material composition
– Often end up in landfill or incinerated
All of these terms are confusing for the consumer and are leading to increased greenwashing by brands.
The good news? The UK government is calling on experts to develop recognised standards for bioplastics and biodegradable plastics.
Read more here.
3 – Fuel from whisky
Whisky? Good! Cars? Good! Cars powered by whisky? Very good! Scottish start-up Celtic Renewables has developed a sustainable biofuel that uses whisky residue that would otherwise go to waste.
Find out more here.
4 – Coffee Talk podcast
We made a podcast! Listen to BEYONDPLASTIC founder and materials aficionado Ulrich Krzyminski and myself chatting to this year’s BEYONDPLASTIC Award winners over coffee.
Listen here.
5 – Ottolenghi SIMPLE
Yotam Ottolenghi’s cookbook SIMPLE has been on my bookshelf for 2 years, and I’m still hooked! I love food, I love eating, but cooking? There are a lot of things I’d rather do. Then Ottolenghi came along with his super quick, easy and flavour-packed feasts and changed my life. The thing I love most is that he truly treats veggies like the stars they are…perfect for when you’re doing #MeatFreeMondays, or if you’re flexitarian, or vegan.
Buy it here.
Cool, well that was my first attempt at ‘5 things’ and I think it went pretty well! Come back next month and see if I can make it stick…
Photo credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/A-fubu9QJxE