I wanted to use this short blog to highlight a great new product I came across in my bid to reducing the amount of plastic within my household; this time, replacing a couple of products we use on a daily basis ... shampoo & conditioner. Every year in Australia alone, it is estimated that over 10,000 tonnes of detergent and shampoo bottles are produced. Now while Australia is getting better at recycling these bottles, a large portion are still entering landfill, and the production of the bottles themselves has a large environmental footprint. The new trend on the market which I just had to try out, are shampoo and conditioner bars.
I purchased mine from Flora & Fauna, and chose the Dirty Hippie Cosmetics Brand. This bar is a vegan product, made from neem, tea tree, citrus, sage and bamboo powder. The neem oil soothes any itchiness from dry scalps and reduces dandruff while other components reduce frizz and provide vitamins to the hair and scalp. One thing I loved about the product is its packaging. It comes simply in a paper band (made in Australia) which is compostable. To use the product you just lather the bar into your scalp (or your hand and then rub the suds through your hair). As well as being available online, shampoo bars are available at a range of stores within Australia, including Lush. Now I understand not everyone will make the transition to shampoo bars, due to a range of reasons, including, cost, suitability of the product for your hair/skin and the convenience of being able to purchase larger bottles for families. Thankfully there are some other products out there doing their part to reduce their environmental footprint. One of these is Heads & Shoulders. In 2017, Heads & Shoulders introduced the first shampoo bottle made from recycled beach plastic! Since then, the company has produced over one million bottles with this recycled beach plastic, diverting more than six tonnes of plastic which could have ended up in our oceans. In addition to using beach plastic, the company has committed to introducing 25% of recycled plastic across its range of hair care products, estimating a saving of 2,600 tonnes of recycled plastic per year (the equivalent of 500 million bottles!). Whats even more exciting about this, is that Heads & Shoulders is the most popular brand of shampoo within Australia (with approximately 16.4% of Australian buyers, choosing Heads & Shoulders). Better still, Heads & Shoulders aren't the only product on the market doing the right thing. Another great example is the company Natures Organics (widely available in Australia). The company uses 100% recycled plastic in its shampoo and conditioner bottles, and their products are Australian made & owned, grey water safe, not tested on animals, sourced from plants and support the sustainable production of palm oil. So why wait to start reducing your environmental footprint, get started today and use your head ... & shoulders!
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Bread is an every day staple food in most house holds in Australia, with reports that on average every week 11 million Australians will purchased bread in some variety. The majority of bread sold at your local supermarket comes wrapped in plastic complete with a plastic bread tag. Although small, this item in itself can add up to a huge amount in landfill when you consider the number of people purchasing bread across Australia. The increasing amount of plastic entering the environment is also becoming an ever growing threat to wildlife. Now, thankfully there are a few options to reduce your impact when choosing your every day staple!
One option is choosing to purchase your loaf of bread loose from a bakery. You can purchase your own bread bag and bring it along for re-use at many bakeries across Australia. A range of sites sell these including Onya, Flora and Fauna, and Biome. The initial cost can be a deterrent to some, and the perceived inconvenience can be another deterrent. Thankfully, there is another option. Collect your tags and donate them for recycling with the company Bread Tags for Wheelchairs! Bread Tags for Wheelchairs has been running in South Africa since 2006 and recycles the tags into seedling trays, through a company called Zibo, which are then sold with the proceeds being used to provide wheelchairs to those in need. Since it began, the business has grown and has now launched an Australian arm of the business in 2018. Shortly after, in February 2019, they partnered with an Australian recycling business called Transmutation in Robe South Australia. Transmutation recycles the bread tags into bowls, with each bowl containing around 1,870 bread tags! The bowls are hardy, food-safe and microwavable — and can be melted down again by a recycler in future to create other products. To deliver your bread tags, there are over 180 collection points in Australia or you can simply post them! If you don't purchase enough bread yourself to justify posting your tags, you can set up a collection point and get your work place or school involved. My work place has recently set up their own collection point and its a great way to connect with like minded people. This business really creates a win-win situation - its helps reduce the impact of plastic waste on the environment, while helping those in need, so why wait, get involved today and start collecting those tags! The smartphone industry is a rapidly growing market worth billions of dollars world wide. The estimates for the number of people that use smart phones globally varies amongst researchers, however, the number generally falls at over 2 billion people with this number expected to continue rising. Furthermore, smart phones are typically a high turnover product, with short shelf life, and newer in demand models coming onto the market every year or two. This creates an enormous amount of waste in the industry. For example in 2016 alone it was estimated that 1.5 billion smart phones were sold to users, many of these will no longer be in use due to the high turnover. The environmental impact of this cannot be denied.
It is not just the phones themselves that impact the environment (largely through the mining & processing of the precious metals used in the production), but also the accessories that come with the phones. One such accessory is the phone case. Every time a new make/model comes onto the market, the shape and layout is slightly different from the earlier model, meaning your previous phone case is now useless. Now remember that figure from 2016 of 1.5 billion smart phones being sold to users? The same estimate has been provided for the number of phone cases being sold each year with the majority being made from non-renewable sources such as plastic! Now what other options are there for smart phone users? Your phone needs protecting and a case is one sure way to reduce the risk of damage. A great new product that I recently came across is the Pelacase. The Pelacase is a largely plant based product comprised of a compostable bioplastic elastomer and flax straw materials. Now as the cases are compostable, the company encourages users to compost these at the end of their life, but they also recognise not all people have the capability to compost at home and many local councils do not provide composting services. To counter this, Pelcase offer a Pela Cycle Program where users can forward their phone cases back to the company for processing and in return they offer discounts on future products! By supporting this company you are also helping keep oceans and coastlines around the globe clean and healthy as Pela are a member of 1% for the Planet, donating to worthwhile causes each year. So just in CASE you feel like starting your eco-friendly journey, why not make a start with a product you would use on a daily basis! I have been absent from this page for a while, but I am now determined to start posting regularly again, and what better day to start back up than Earth Day 2019! Earth day was first celebrated in 1970 on April 22 and is now celebrated each year with events hosted around the globe. One particular event that is worth highlighting is the signing of the Paris Agreement on Earth Day 2016. The Paris Agreements long term goal was to limit the increase in global temperature to no greater than 1.5 °C by focusing on mitigating greenhouse-gas emissions. Sadly many nations are well short of meeting their commitments and targets, however, interestingly the tide may be turning with a prominent mining company in Australia recently threatening to pull out of the Minerals Council if it does not support the Paris Agreement targets.
Now for this blog I don't want to get bogged down on the issues of greenhouse gases or climate change, but I did want to highlight a great new product that can help the average person live a more sustainable lifestyle on a day to day basis. So lets talk about Biork .... no not Bjork, Biork, marketed as the worlds first ecological crystal stick deodorant. There has been a recent push to steer away from traditional deodorants for a range of reasons, including environmental impacts, health, and economics. Despite claims on many sites across the internet about traditional deodorants that contain aluminium chloride causing cancer, these claims are not fully supported by scientific research with many studies showing conflicting results. Despite this, the environmental impact of deodorant cannot be ignored. The vast majority of deodorants in the market come in non-recyclable packaging, in particular plastic. The longevity of the average deodorant is also very short lived meaning the average person will go through several of these deodorants a year, all ending up in landfill. This is where Biork really sets itself a part. Not only is the packaging completely recyclable/natural, made from cork, but the crystal stick itself is extremely long-lived, outlasting the average deodorant by an order of magnitude. Furthermore, the product itself is not tested on animals unlike many mainstream cosmetics/deodorants. Another great initiative by the company that produces Biork, is the promotion of Upcycling. The cork packaging is great for re-using rather than just re-cycling, and the company provides some handy tips, such as using them as plant pots, and for storage particularly for small, loose items. I have personally used a range of natural, eco-friendly deodorants, and can honestly say I have had mixed results with many of them, including many causing a worse odour than if I wore nothing at all. I have had no such issues with Biork and would readily recommend this product to anyone looking for a more eco-friendly solution. I understand sometimes cost can be an issue for people when transitioning to new products, and the upfront cost of Biork is higher than most other deodorants on the market, however, it lasts far longer and will pay itself off in no time. Alternatively, there are a range of other options on the market, including many sites providing cheap DIY deodorant recipes (largely using ingredients such as coconut oil, bicarb soda etc. although I am yet to try any of these). So this Earth Day, why not make a commitment to start reducing your use of plastic on a daily basis by transitioning to a more eco-friendly deodorant! In Australia take-away coffee cups are not recycled and as a result it has been estimated that over 1 billion cups enter landfill each and every year. This equates to over 2,700,000 cups per day across the country. Now what options do coffee lovers have? Well here are just a few:
The rCup is a great product I came across recently at my local 7-Eleven. The cup is made from recycled coffee cups collected in the 7-Eleven coffee cup recycling scheme. The cup comes with a 360 degree sipper, is leak proof and insulated. Another great feature is that the company provides free seal replacement to ensure longevity of the product, and better still the product itself can be recycled at its end of life. Another great incentive for customers to use reusable coffee cups like Keep cup and rCups is in the back pocket. Many cafes are now rewarding customers for bringing in reusable cups by providing a small discount (usually around 50c). This saving might not seem like much but when it has been estimated that 3/4 of all Australians have an average of one cup per day the savings quickly add up! Now what should you do if your local cafe doesn't provide a discount for bringing in your reusable cup? Start a conversation with them, discuss the issue of waste and ultimately how this small change makes a difference, not only to the environment but to their bottom line (as they will no longer need to purchase as many takeaway cups etc.). Now I often hear the argument of "I am only one person what difference can I make?" Well imagine if you started using the re-usable cups and in doing so talked to your friends about this product, or better still they see you using the cup and the discount you receive. Now although all of them may not make the same change, some will. They will then use the product when out with friends and receive the discount for their coffee and the cycle continues. It doesn't take long until a small change in your every day life can have a far-reaching impact. Coffee pods have revolutionised the way people all across the globe start their morning routine, a nice quick convenient way to get gourmet drip coffee. In Australia alone it has been estimated that 3 million coffee pods are used each day, the vast majority of which end up in landfill. The environmental impact of these pods is undeniable, not only due to the shear volume ending up in our waste system, but also the source material used to produce these pods, plastic and/or aluminium. The inventor of K-pods in the USA has himself stated that:
"No matter what they say about recycling, those things will never be recyclable,” Mr Sylvan said. “The plastic is a specialised plastic made of four different layers.” Nespresso pods are not as concerning (if handled correctly) due to being made from aluminium. Aluminium can be recycled infinitesimally and the recycled product is still extremely versatile. It is estimated that 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today. Last year Nespresso announced a recycling scheme in the UK, and their recycling scheme so far covers 39 countries. Within Australia 19,000 collection points have been established as well as a postal service for recycling these pods. For the Australian Nespresso recycling scheme the residual coffee in the pods is sent to an industrial composting facility, while the aluminium is recycled to produce new aluminium products (including new pods). I think one of the biggest issues however is awareness, I know of large organisations and many individuals who use these pods without recycling through the proper avenues. Now, even with the recycling options, are there any other more sustainable options out there? A couple of products I have recently come across are the Re-usable steel coffee capsules from Flora and Fauna, and the certified Biodegradable Coffee Pods from EcoCaffe. I have recently tried the biodegradable coffee pods and can say the quality of the coffee is excellent and has not been compromised by the different packaging. These pods are made from vegetable fibre and starch, which degrades within 180 days according to the EN13432 standard, and no petrochemicals are used within any of the packaging. Whats more, is the coffee itself, with 7 varieties being certified as fair-trade. So who's to say you can't indulge a little? Have your morning coffee, but do the right thing! If using Nespresso pods, make the most of the recycling service they offer, or better still, seek out more sustainable alternatives. Our morning routines shouldn't be costing the earth. Food waste is a global issue, both environmentally and economically. Food waste accounts for nearly a quarter of all water used in agriculture and eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as costing the global economy approximately US$940 billion dollars each year. The extent of this issue has prompted global initiatives such as the Save Food Initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the ReFood scheme in Denmark.
Within Australia the issue of food waste is no different. It is estimated that approximately 25 per cent of produce is rejected due to imperfections or "cosmetic" damage, with up to 31 percent of carrots never leaving the farm. Further more Australian consumers throw away approximately 3.1 million tonnes of edible food each year, with a further 2.2 million tonnes being disposed of by the commercial and industrial sectors. This amount of food waste is estimated to cost the average Australian household between $2,200 and $3,800 per year, and the Australian economy approximately $20 billion each year. The Australian Government has recognised the extent of the issue and committed to develop a National Food Waste Strategy to halve food waste in Australia by 2030. The Strategy was launched in November 2017 by Hon Josh Frydenberg (Minister for the Environment and Energy). Several required actions have been highlighted including support for agricultural efficiency, effective and sustainable use of packaging, education and community initiatives, diversion of food waste from the commercial sector and creating value from food waste. The Australian Government has also recognised that a substantial amount of food waste is diverted from landfill through partnerships major grocery retailers such as Coles and Woolworths have with services such as Foodbank and OzHarvest. However, the complexities around food waste means adaptive integrated management is needed to tackle the problem. One additional approach was launched in 2014/2015 by Woolworths, with "The Odd Bunch". This attempts to reduce food waste by supplying consumers with the choice to purchase produce that would normally be rejected due to cosmetic imperfections. As you can see from the image above however, you will forgive their looks based on the savings at the checkout! We have been regularly buying these since discovering them at our local Woolworths and have not experienced any issues in terms of freshness or longevity of the produce. Better still it results in big savings to the weekly food bill. Find them at your local Woolworths today and start saving your cash and the environment! Further reading
Carp are an invasive pest within the waterways in Australia and are a major problem not only for native aquatic fauna but also for overall water quality and river health. Arguably the worst case can be found in the Murray Darling Basin. The carp are a bottom feeding species which impacts our river systems in a number of ways, including increasing the turbidity (suspended particles in the river) which can in turn have a causal impact on the dissolved oxygen, light penetration and a suite of other water quality variables. A range of control measures have been used to try and tackle the problem of carp, including commercial fishing and harvesting, barriers to restrict movement and migration, and radio-tracking carp to identify spawning areas.
A new potential solution for the control of carp is the release of a herpesvirus (Cyprinid herpesvirus 3). The virus is highly specific to carp, so there is high confidence our native fish fauna will not be infected with this virus. In fact CSIRO have conducted over 8 years of research and found the virus does not pose a danger to 13 native species, and the virus only replicates in common carp. With that being said however, the release still presents its own difficulties and potential consequences, that may impact our native aquatic fauna indirectly. It is also acknowledged that the virus will not be a silver bullet as such, due to the potential for carp developing an "immunity" to the virus, and it will need to be used as a much larger, integrated management plan. So back to the theme of GO Green; how can you help by living a more eco-friendly lifestyle? Well, thankfully there is a great product on the market that helps tackle the issue of carp in Australia's Rivers, Charlie Carp fertiliser. If you have a green thumb and love watching your plants grow, you must give this product a try. The product stimulates root growth, improves the nutrient uptake and reduces overall plant stress. It can be used on a wide variety of garden plants* and crops, including our native flora, but each category require their own concentration/mixing rate. I have regularly used this product on my garden, both on my native plants and my veggie/herb garden with great success. There are a couple of varieties on the market, with one All Purpose Fertiliser made from 100% Carp, and the other Organic Premium Fertiliser made with carp plus seaweed extract, and better still, both are economically friendly options! The fish used in the product are harvested from Australian Rivers using either netting or electro-fishing, and as discussed above, the ethical battle of harvesting the species for use is outweighed by the damage caused to our native wildlife and river systems by the carp. For more answers to a range of queries about this product, head over to their FAQ page. *Please note for use in WA this product is not recommended for use on lawns - Charlie Carp FAQ Page "WA have very sandy soils and as such phosphorus does not "hold" well in any soil. It leaks out quickly and goes into the water systems and rivers. Other states have less sandy soils and therefore the phosphorus is retained in the soil for the plants to absorb and does not end up in the waterways. Therefore, all fertilisers for WA need to have a very low level of phosphorus to help protect the waterways and keep them clean." Further reading
"Petition signing constitutes a means of protest at the non-confrontational end of the protest spectrum" - Jill Sheppard Australian National University
Many of my earlier short blogs have focused on being active in the industry or making a statement as a consumer, however, there are many other ways people can help with larger environmental issues. If you can't spare time to volunteer with local community groups tackling these issues, that doesn't mean you can't help, you can ... even right from your own home! One such way is by signing online petitions. You may think adding your name will not make a difference, however, people power certainly has the potential to cause major policy change both in the environment sector and in other sectors. Petitions have become increasingly popular online (e-petitions), with this platform providing rapid widespread access. A recent study by Jill Sheppard explored the world of online petitions including access, opportunity and gender. Unsurprisingly skills and voluntary experience were strong predictors of petition signing. Her findings however identified that women were more likely than men to sign and distribute petitions (both written and e-petitions), and Australians of non-English speaking backgrounds were less likely to participate in written petitions however, they were well represented in e-petitions. The overall findings led to the conclusion that e-petitions are helping to reduce the barriers of participation and their widespread popularity is going to continue to increase. Within Australia and NZ there are many non-profit and community groups leading the charge with online petitions such as the Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA), The Wilderness Society WA, and Greenpeace. Each group has their chosen campaigns which the petitions generally align with, such as Plastic Free WA, Frack Free Future, Uranium Free and Renewable Energy. If any of these issues speak to you, help these groups help the environment by adding your voice to these petitions today. Is there an issue you are extremely passionate about that isn't covered by these groups? Well, thankfully the website Change.org enables anyone to get out there and start a petition. Find your voice and make a change! Further reading
One way of living a more green sustainable lifestyle that is often over looked, is that of responsible pet ownership. This short blog will focus on highlighting the impacts of cats on our native wildlife, and ways you can reduce this through responsible cat ownership.
In recent years the public have been bombarded with news articles which have estimated that cats are killing millions of native animals each year, and many people would read these articles and immediately assume it is purely the feral cats in the arid interior contributing to this and not the domestic cats who sit in your lounge by day but begin roaming the streets at night time. A recently published study however, has shone the spotlight on just how wrong this assumption is. Woinarski and co-authors recently published the paper "How many birds are killed by cats in Australia?". Previous research on the impact of cats has usually focused on feral cats predating on native mammals, with birds being somewhat of an after thought. This study however has estimated that between 161 million birds and 757 million birds are killed each year by cats (dependent on cat densities, rainfall conditions etc.). What is more alarming is that they have also estimated an additional 61 million birds are killed each year by pet cats. Now while the study did support previous research, in that feral cats are a larger problem in the arid interior than in urban areas, it has highlighted the devastating impact our pets are still having on wildlife. In my local area (living right next to a regional park) domestic cats have been a massive problem, and we witness them on a daily basis entering the bushland, attacking frogs, birds & have even witnessed them chasing goannas. In Western Australia unfortunately cat laws do very little to protect our native wildlife (other than requiring cats be sterilised, microchipped and registered), and my queries to local councils and MP's about my concerns fall on deaf ears. Thankfully as a pet owner you don't have to close your eyes to the problem (like our friend in the image below). You can take several easy steps (listed below) to help reduce your cats impact on the environment (particularly if you live near a bush reserve) while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle for your pet.
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AuthorMy name is Garry and I am extremely passionate about the environment. I have completed my BSc. Conservation and Wildlife Biology with First Class Honours and have worked in the Environment sector since 2009. Archives
October 2019
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Local Food Initiative, mitchell haindfield, everyoneisgone, Montgomery County Planning Commission, Takashi(aes256), ilyayakubovich.com