Waste(less)

I've never been one to enjoy wine, not even mulled wine. I keep asking my parents if that's an acquired taste that comes with age, but age keeps coming and my taste for wine won't budge. Cider, on the other hand, is right up my street, and as soon as the cold weather rolls around I try to make warm cider as many times as possible, and why wouldn't I? It's delicious, warming and comforting for the soul and I just can't say no to it.

My whole family is very much into reading, and there isn't one Christmas that goes by without us all buying each other at least one book, and this year it's no different, apart from the fact that I bought all books either secondhand or from a very old bookshop in my street that has been selling the same books since the 60s, so I feel as though I've been pretty good at not being a part of the ridiculous consumerist traditions with my Christmas shopping so far. Besides books, all they've asked for were "socks from the store next to your house", "cookies and tea" and "please bring us Portuguese coffee and cheese" because both my brothers live abroad and can't get access to these things easily, and I'm more than happy to oblige as all these items either come from local businesses or I can get them at my favourite bulk store, Granel da Rainha.

Along with what's already on their Christmas wishlist, I thought I'd make a few things myself, things I'd also love to receive, which are easy to make, easy to transport as we're all spending Christmas in Norway and quite sustainable to produce as well.

Hand Warmers

Even though I live in Portugal, which is quite sunny even in winter, the cold can really get to us, especially now that I'm getting my Masters and get home at 11pm every day. And if I'm cold, I can only imagine my brothers and their girlfriends who live in some of the coldest areas of France and Norway. So, my immediate thought was, why not make everyone some hand warmers? They're easy to make, easy to carry around, easy  to get warmed up and can be kept for years.

To make each hand warmer you will need:

Now that we got that loooong list out of the way, you'll need to place the squares on top of each other, with the right sides facing each other, and stitch around the square, leaving a small opening on the side. Turn the fabric right side out and stuff it with dry rice until it feels full. Now, simply close the opening and keep on repeating the method to make those hand warmers for the whole family.

To use you simply pop them in the microwave for 1 minutes and get them inside your coat pockets, these should keep your hands toasty warm for about 20 or so minutes, depending on how cold it is outside. If you don't have a microwave, you can warm them up in an oven at 190ºC for 10 minutes or so.

Candles

I'm very lucky for many reasons, but one of them is the fact that I get easy access to beeswax whenever I want. One of my boyfriend's dad's hobbies is beekeeping, and he's been doing it for so long that he's gathered quite a bit of beeswax, which is great for my next DIY. If you can't get beeswax as easily, you can try to find a local beekeeper and buy it from him or buy it online, as long as you make sure you're buying from someone responsible. According to this "beeswax candles are naturally dripless and smokeless, and they tend to have a longer burn time than candles made from other waxes. Beeswax also burns clean and purifies the air at the same time! In addition to supporting sustainable beekeeping, the consumption of beeswax candles is also good for the air we breathe. Unlike paraffin candles, which are made with a petroleum-based wax, beeswax candles have a completely clean non-toxic burn and produce negative ions when burning."

To make 3 candles (250ml each) you'll need

• 500 grams beeswax
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1 to 2 tablespoons essential oils (I particularly enjoy the sound of this little set)
• Glass jars to hold the candles
• Wicks, (I usually use simple cotton ones such as these, but I've always wanted to try these crackling wood wicks)
• Jars to set your candles in

Arrange your jars on a piece of newspaper in a steady place, such as your kitchen counter. Then, stick each wick into the centre of each jar, you can do this by using some wick stickers or simply glue them down with a hot glue gun. Use a clothes pin to keep the wick straight so that once the candle is finished it'll burn evenly.

Make a double boiler, by this I mean fill a pot halfway with water and place a heat resistant bowl that fits on top, but make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Bring the water to a simmer and add your beeswax to the bowl, stirring occasionally as it melts, making sure to use either a disposable wooden chopstick or something you'll only ever use to make candles, as this will never again be free of wax.

Once the beeswax has completely melted, add the coconut oil and stir until all is melted and combined. Once that's done, remove the bowl from the heat, and whisk in your chosen essential oil and quickly, but steadily, transfer the mixture into a container with a pouring spout, making sure to use a spatula to scrape your bowl as clean as possible. 

Making sure to not pour any wax on the clothes pin, fill each jar, but not all the way up, and let it set for two days at room temperature, keeping the wick straight the whole time with the clothes pin. Once everything is set, trim the wick to about half a centimetre and you're done. 

You can leave the jar as is, or you can decorate it a bit, personally I would add something related to the scent so if you're doing a sweet orange candle, maybe thread a few slices of dried orange around the top of the jar, if the scent is pine go with a few pine needles. You can also add a few other bits to the thread that once the candle is gone can be used as a decoration, such as these little jingle bells or these bigger silver ones, also available in gold, or even these cute little wooden snowflakes.

For a faster, but still good alternative, why not buy some beeswax sheets, a long piece of cotton wick which you can cut into the right size, such as this one, and simply roll the sheets into candlesticks, making sure to warm up the sheets with your hands as not to break them, and rolling them tightly in place. If you have all the good intention to do this but not the time, you can also gift your loved ones with a DIY kit so they can make it themselves, prepared by yourself with all the items you bought already, or you can actually buy ready-made kits like this one or this beautiful one.

Chai Latte Mix

Whether you prefer your chai in a powder form or all natural, this is the recipe for you, I based it on one of my favourite teas, but used bulk bought ingredients and added more of my favourites to tweak the mixture to fit my taste. I'll definitely be making this one for a few people in my family.

For 100 grams of tea you'll need:

• 50 grams of Assam tea (or your favourite black tea)
• 10 grams of Rooibos
• 10 grams of cinnamon sticks (around 5 sticks)
• 10 grams of cardamom pods
• 5 grams of dry ginger
• 5 grams of fennel seeds
• 5 grams of cloves
• 5 grams of black peppercorns

Then, all you need to do is place everything, apart from the tea, in a mortar and pestle and gently grind all the ingredients into smaller bits. If you prefer a powder mix you can grind it all into a fine powder instead, but I like to see all the bits and pieces. Then, mix it all up with the black tea and the rooibos and place in a nice jar that will keep everything dry.

Tea Bag Cookies

To go along with my Chai, and to feed all the cookie monsters in my family, I thought I'd try this idea I've been seeing on Pinterest for years, cookies in the shape of a tea bag, which fits perfectly with the tea obsessed family I come from. I decided to go with shortbread because, ever since I started baking Jammy Dodger's for my boyfriend's birthday, I've fallen in love with them, but I feel as though my gingerbread cookies would be a good option too, you can find the recipe here.

For the shortbread you'll need:

• 250 grams softened unsalted butter (I use lactose free one and it works perfectly)
• 120 grams icing sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 350 grams plain flour
• 20 grams cornflour

Beat the butter and icing sugar together until fluffy and pale, which should take around 3 minutes. Add the yolk and beat to combine. 

Wrapping

If you're wondering how to wrap all this, my new favourite way to wrap is by using the furoshiki method, which I've mentioned before. There are quite a few ways to do this, and you can find a very helpful article about it here, but if you don't know what it is, furoshiki is a traditional Japanese wrapping technique, based on the philosophy of reusing something simple, a cloth, and use it in different ways. I use this method everyday to wrap pieces of fruit when I'm in class, but there are many other different uses.

If you've been reading my blog for a while you might know one of my main goals when it comes to sustainable living was to cut out disposable period pads. I've already made a few changes to my period routine (you can read more about this in my Let's Talk Periods post), from changing from regular tampons to organic ones, to buying a menstrual cup (mine is from OrganiCup), to having the very first reusable tampon applicator, D (you can read its' review here), so my next step, and the one I was most excited for, as I much prefer pads to tampons, was to start using reusable period pants and pads.

I've finally taken my first step towards a more sustainable period, I've bought my very first reusable pad and period panties. Reusable pads might seem like a sort of throwback to what our mums and grandmas wore, and when I first told my mum I had bought a reusable pad she was surprised and told me I'd hate it. Luckily for us, modern reusable pads have been improved and are nothing like my mum remembers them. There are plenty of options when it comes to brands, these reusable pads by GladRags are one of these options, available in different sizes (day, night/postpartum, and pantyliners), these are "a healthy alternative to disposable products we're used to, made of premium quality certified organic cotton flannel and terry cloth, they offer protection and comfort, lasting for over 5 years". This means that not only are they environmentally friendly, using minimal resources, but they're also easy on your wallet. Also, you can customise them to fit your needs, depending on how heavy or light your flow is. I'm currently eyeing up some of these beautiful handmade ones* by Made by Tyng, who also sells other great handmade products to help you live a more sustainable life. If you're in Portugal, Pegada Verde, Mind The Trash and Maria Granel also have these available, so go show them some much deserved support. And as for period pants, there are quite a few brands already available, such as Lunapads, Dear Kate, Wuka and, the already famous, THINX* (by following this link you will get €9 off your order and I will get €9 too, yay).

Instead of starting with any of these, I decided to go with a more local business instead. As I couldn't find any store in my town that sold them, I turned to the internet and found an Etsy store based just a few cities from where I live, I did have to make my order online as it can be quite time consuming to travel all the way to this specific city, but I was quite happy I was still helping out a small local store. The pads aren't currently available, but the period pants I choose were these, the Period/Incontinence Reusable Underwear. I'd recommend you favourite The Natural Way shop so you're always updated on their products, as they sell only sustainable products at very reasonable prices. 

I must admit, I was quite concerned about trying any of these, and decided to test them around the house first, before going to bed. I woke up scared to look down, thinking I'd find a pool of blood all over my white sheets, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The first thing I tried was the pad. It felt unbelievably soft and comfortable, it was definitely weird not feeling any plastic between my legs, which sometimes made me panic thinking I hadn't put on a pad. Not only did it feel comfortable, I was also happy to know there was no scent coming off of them, I'm so used to pads being perfumed with floral scents to mask any blood smell, but there was nothing to mask, and, surprise surprise, THERE WERE NO LEAKS. I wore it for the first time to bed, woke up at 7am to pee, took it off and let it soak in cold water while I went back to sleep. At 9am, when I got up, most of the blood had come off already, all I had to do was rub some detergent soap on it, let it set for a while, and then washed it as normal by hand. There were no stains, no smells, no waste.

As for the period pants, I decided to go all out, I tried them out while I was out and about. I wore a tampon with them for a few hours while I was on the bus on my way to class, and when I got to university I took it off and relied on the pants completely. Once I got home, I treated them exactly as I did the pad, soaked them in cold water while I showered, and washed them by hand. They looked as good as new. They were so comfortable I decided to wear them to sleep the next day and I couldn't believe how different it was between wearing a plastic pad to sleep and a cotton pair of panties. My favourite thing about these pants is how wide they are at the back, I can move comfortably without fearing any leaks, and aside from how strong the elastic was in them, which could be a bit uncomfortable at times, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about them.

My period sleeping routine now relies completely in wearing period pants, and nothing else. I can't imagine going back to regular pads when I go to bed and I've just ordered another pair to keep me nice and comfortable. As for the pads, I'm sold on them. Unfortunately, I'll still have to use some regular plastic pads while I get my reusable pad collection going, but at least I'm saving two plastic pads a day from going into landfill, which is a great start.

I'd definitely recommend trying any of these products if you haven't already, whether you go with this brand or any of the others I mentioned, taking the first step towards a completely sustainable period really excites me and inspires me to do better, and I hope it inspired you too.

Let me know, in the comments below, if there are any other brands or products you'd recommend on this subject, as I'm always eager to know more.

There was always something about plastic bags in grocery stores that irked me, the way they feel against your fingers when you try countless times to open them up, how easily they rip and leave me with pears aimlessly rolling around the supermarket floor, the way they sound... they were never my friends. And, once I first started learning more about plastic pollution and waste, I really refined my aversion to them, they were now the enemy. Shopping bags were one of the first things I really cut off my day-to-day life, I saw no point to them seeing as I had so many tote bags around the house, I made this change early on, way before I even started delving into the whole plastic-free-living subject and I have regretted nothing. 

Produce bags, on the other hand, are a completely different subject. As much as I hated them, I really didn't know there were other options, no one tells you when you're young "Hey, you don't have to use plastic bags for your vegetables, just bring some cloth ones from home" and so, for a long time, I continued to use the crappy and detestable plastic bags we all know and hate. Once I moved out, and started buying groceries way more often, it really bothered me the amount of plastic bags I had to use every week and so I simply stopped, I bought fewer fruit and vegetables each time and I would just carry them in my hands while I did the rest of the shopping. Every cashier in town hated me and always tried to stick everything in a plastic bag themselves, most times I was successful at avoiding them which always made me happy.

Fast forward until now, still refusing to use those annoying little bastards, still making cashiers angry for refusing them, and finally finding a way to replace them. In case this is a change you're yet to make, I thought we could go through it together. I've already started making my own, I simply got an old pillowcase I had and didn't use, cut it in four sections, and made four little bags, this way there was a lot less sewing to do and all I needed to add was a few strings I always save to help close them if needed. I was also lucky to find some lost ones at my grandma's which she told me to keep, so my little collection is growing. Cashiers still find this strange, and often wonder if I'm trying to steal something, and I get a few looks while I'm filling them up with my veggies, but I'm learning to ignore them, or sometimes teach them when they actually come up to me asking about them.

I prefer both my produce and shopping bags to be either in cotton or linen, and I usually just make them myself out of old pillowcases, tablecloths, whatever I have lying around that no longer serves its' original purpose but could easily make a bag. I've also made a big tote bag out of some scraps of fabric my mum had bought years ago to eventually make a dress (the dress was never made as the fabric was a bit too stiff for it, but it has been turned into a tote bag, a toothbrush pouch, and a little bag to keep my stainless steel straws, and there's still plenty to go around). If I'm buying my own fabric, I'll make sure I'm going for organic cotton and I usually like to buy the off cuts that the fabric stores tend to throw away because they're too small to sell by the meter. If you're interested in making your own, here are a few tips:

If sewing really isn't your thing and you'd rather buy them I also have a few places to recommend. If you're in Portugal you can't miss Pegada Verde, Mind the Trash, Círculo Bio and, my local store, Granel da Rainha. Internationally, you can find them at Plastic Freedom, Veji Bag, Dans Le Sac, and so many others. If you'd rather go with small makers, there are plenty of beautiful options available on Etsy, I particularly love this linen* one by EcoBugBags, and the print makes it really special, or this set of 5 cotton drawstring bags* by MadebyTyng, whose work I love so much, or any of the Cool & Mellow's products really. 

As most of you trying to lead a greener life know, the bathroom is one of those places that produces the most amount of waste and garbage. From bottled shampoo, conditioner, body wash, to plastic toothbrushes, toothpaste, you name it. Every little thing comes in some sort of container and it's such a huge waste. When I first noticed this, and when I first began realizing I had to do something to create less waste, there were a few things I switched immediately, and there are some I'm still trying to conquer. I thought I'd write this post so I could share my accomplishments and failures and also try to inspire others to look into their own bathrooms and make a few changes.

My very first step was switching from hand wash and body wash to soap bars, this seemed like the easiest switch, and I honestly haven't missed the bottled stuff at all. Once the soap becomes too small and brittle to keep in the shower, I simply press it into the one I have by my sink and let them blend. If you'd rather not do that, you can keep the soap in a little soap bag such as this one by Made by Tyng, not only does it keep you soap but you can use it to gently scrub. This one is made from bamboo terry and woven cotton, which is great for you and for the planet, and you're supporting a very talented artist when you buy it. Regarding soap bars, you should buy your favourite, I like to buy a locally made one that comes wrapped in paper, and if you have such an option, you should definitely take it.

Next on the agenda, I hit a big gun: conditioner. This one was a big one to actually change because my hair desperately needs moisture to keep the curls looking nice, but it also dreads anything that will make it oilier. I decided to try an ACV rinse, which you can read all about right here. I've had a few bad days with it, used too much for too long and got my hair incredibly oily, and I've even used conditioner when visiting other people because I simply forgot to bring my ACV rinse, but otherwise, I've had nothing but nice things to say about it.

Once my regular plastic toothbrush was absolutely used to death, I made the decision to never buy one again, and so I turned my attention to bamboo toothbrushes. Plastic toothbrushes are one of the biggest problems we're currently facing when it comes to pollution as only one small part of them actually gets recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills and our oceans. Luckily, there are now plenty of brands that make better options. The one I use and love is from The Bam & Boo, a wonderful Portuguese brand that offers the chance to have a new toothbrush delivered right to your door every 1/2/3 or 4 months, without all the hassle of having to remember to buy a new one and with much less plastic. Each toothbrush costs just under €5 and shipping is free, worldwide. Additionally, they all come in recycled and recyclable paper packaging and a biodegradable PLA protection bag. The actual toothbrush is made out of bamboo (for the handle) and nylon 6 bpa free bristles. How amazing is that? If you'd like to know more about this amazing brand, just follow this link. I've also managed to influence my brother and his girlfriend to get some too, it's all about the little steps guys.

Still on oral hygiene, next came dental floss. As I was already familiar with The Bam & Boo, I decided to try theirs. The Bam & Boo Dental Floss is made with 100% natural products, such as bamboo charcoal fibre and candelilla wax, which means it's vegan and plastic free. It also comes flavoured with peppermint oil which just makes it feel fresher, which I love. Plus, it doesn't fray or get caught in your teeth, amazing!!

Lastly, cotton buds. Yet another product that seems to find its way more into our oceans than it does to recycling centers. Plastic cotton buds, as much of an enemy as plastic toothbrushes, can't be recycled after they're used, so they either end up in the regular trash or go down the toilet, eventually ending up in our oceans. The Bam & Boo have their own bamboo cotton buds, 100% biodegradable, zero waste and vegan and, because I already used their products, buying these was a no brainer. Sure, I could have gone with a stainless steel ear cleaner, and I still think I will, but that wouldn't really help me when I'm trying to fix my makeup, and sometimes you just want something you're already familiar and comfortable with. 

Sure, I've already changed a few more things besides these, such as buying a loofah sponge, like this one from Mind The Trash, instead of using a plastic one, I've stopped using disposable makeup removers and started using cotton towels instead, and I've also stopped using plastic tampon applicators, which you can read more about here: Let's Talk Periods & D. Reusable Tampon Applicator Review, but I think these 5 were the ones with the most impact in my life so far.

(picture by Daria)

As to those I'm still aiming to change, I think my next step will be toothpaste and mouthwash. If you're at all into the zero waste subject, you must have heard of Georganics, their goal is to create "a full natural oral care range which is 100% cruelty-free, plastic-free and environmentally sustainable", what more could you ask for? They sell everything from natural toothpastes, oil pulling mouthwash, whitening powders, eco toothbrushes, natural floss, and so much more. I'm really curious about their Activated Charcoal Toothpaste and their English Peppermint Oil Pulling Mouthwash. Their toothpastes and mouthwashes are free from fluoride, SLS & glycerin, promote remineralisation, are PETA cruelty-free & vegan, and come in recyclable glass jar, aluminium lid and compostable box, so many things to love.

Something else I've been eyeing up is switching from regular shampoo to shampoo bars, I've mentioned this before in another post, and I've yet to make the change, simply because of convenience, which I'm sad to admit. My first excuse was "if I'm truly aiming for a low waste life, is ordering a shampoo bar online really the best idea?" but now, I've run out of excuses, I found a handmade shampoo bar sold right in my city, 10 minutes away from my house, made with 100% natural products and by someone who actually knows what they're doing. As I'm growing more and more into the idea of helping smaller commerce, this seems like the perfect opportunity to do two things at once and so, as soon as I get my paycheck, that will be my very first purchase. I'll let you know how it goes. 

While we're on the subject of hair: hair brushes! I don't think I've ever really thought about them as waste, not until I grew up and started taking care of mine. They simply were there when I needed them and replaced when they're weren't doing their job, which I think is the reality for many things we use, and the reason why we use so much. Now that I know better, I'm seeking a better option as well. My first thought were these wooden combs I remember having when I was young, and I can't seem to understand why those ever went out of fashion, not only are they cute but they also are much better for your hair (read more about that here). I'm currently looking into getting one like this one from Mind The Trash, but I'll try to find a local option before I resort into buying something online, no matter how much I trust the store itself.

And there we go, a few changes I've managed to make and few more still to go. What changes have you made to turn your bathroom into a greener place? Much as I mentioned on my Zero Waste Swaps: Bathroom post, reducing is the most important step and consuming sustainable products is still consuming. Don't simply throw away all your things and buy sustainable ones to replace them, you’ve still put your plastic into the environment and it hasn’t been used to it’s full potential, given that it’s already been produced, which means you're still polluting.