Hopefully, you are already doing most of the things on our earlier blog post to help the environment, so here are 5 more you may not have already taken into consideration.
We all live on the same planet, even the small things we do can make a big difference if everyone tries to help. Here are some things that you may already be doing to help the environment, to remind you that even the little things can change the future.
1) Where possible, walk, cycle or take public transport.
The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 1 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and other human activities. This may not sound like a lot, but increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are responsible for about two-thirds of the total energy imbalance that is causing Earth's temperature to rise.
2) Recycle!
Recycling saves resources, prevents pollution, supports public health, and creates jobs. It saves money, avoids landfills, and best of all, it's easy. You can help to maintain a healthy planet simply by putting things in the correct bin. Recycling does not only mean putting cereal boxes and tin cans in the recycling bin, it also means finding uses for things that you already have instead of buying new things.
3) Local food is best for the environment.
Not only does buying food that is local to you often support a smaller business, but it also reduces the food miles that it has to travel. Not many people realise that most of the things that they eat come from places halfway across the country when it could simply be found a few kilometres away. The further away it comes from, the further it has to be delivered, which means more carbon emissions are being released. As you know, this will then lead to a further temperature increase across the world.
4) Plant more vegetation.
As previously mentioned, conserving natural spaces is one of the most effective ways to slow climate change. It gives nature a chance to live and become stronger again. Even if it's having a small part of your garden or any outside space designated for growing something, it all helps. Plants oxygenate the air and balance the amounts of carbon too. You could replace fake grass with real grass or grow some vegetables or even a small tree. Not only does this make greener spaces more common, but it gives bugs and other animals places to rebuild their ecosystems.
5) How are you using your energy?
It is becoming more and more common for people to switch to solar, wind, or even hydroelectric power systems. Globally, the use of energy represents by far the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. About two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to burning fossil fuels for energy to be used for heating, electricity, transport, and industry. If using an energy provider that doesn't emit carbon is not an option for you, you can still be aware of what you are using. So much can be saved by doing these three simple things- unplugging chargers that aren't being used, switching off lights, and turning off taps when they aren't being used.
Across the world, many campaigns are building traction to slow and eventually stop the effects of climate change and to increase biodiversity, one of these is 30 by 30.
30 by 30 is a worldwide agreement that ensures legal protection for at least 30% of land and ocean areas by 2030. Over 70 nations have agreed to this which makes the effects stronger- leading to a faster overall bringing of global warming to a standstill. It was promoted at COP15, where world leaders met and collaborated on ideas and thoughts on how we can save our planet.
In the UK, 26% of the land is already protected because it contains outstanding natural beauty or is a national park, but adding that extra four percent, - which is the size of the Lake District and South Downs national parks combined- will support the recovery of nature further. The government has already led, since 2019, the Global Ocean Alliance promoting a target to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. The Alliance now has 30 countries signed up, with Guatemala joining this week. It is super important that we conserve not only the beautiful parts of the world but more than enough for nature to have a part on this planet.
The natural world provides critical resources for humans to live. There is no substitute. This is why we must go to efforts to protect the world that we live in.
You can read more here:
https://www.campaignfornature.
and here
https://www.gov.uk/government/
Key takeaways from the IPCC report on climate change mitigation
Emissions are Increasing
Globally, CO2 emissions are increasing. We are all talking about reducing emissions but they are in fact increasing. From 2010 to 2019 emissions increased 12%. The improvements from increases in sustainable electricity generation have not been enough to mitigate the overall increase in energy consumption and population growth.
Temperature rises are still forecast
Current predictions are around 3.2C. If the commitments created by individual countries at COP26 are actually seen to happen, that could limit temperature increases to 2.2C.
Holding warming to within 1.5 degrees C requires cutting emissions of all greenhouse gases roughly in half by the 2030s, and achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions in the 2050s.
Reduced Economic Growth
Containing warming to 2 degrees C would require actions that limit global economic growth by 1.3% to 2.7% by 2050, the report says. However, that loss would likely be outweighed by the overall economic benefit of limiting warming.
We would all need to change our lifestyles and behaviours such as working from home and not using our cars when we could walk or cycle instead, and switching to plant-based diets.
Reducing demand for products and services that produce CO2 could be responsible for 70% reduction in emissions for some sectors. This means consuming less, buying less crap, creating less waste.
Brownie Points
There has been some progress since the last IPCC report. The cost of solar, wind and battery storage are all dramatically cheaper. In some countries, government policies have led to increased renewable energy and electric vehicle use, or have slowed the rate of deforestation.
What Now?
The report also weighs in on how market and regulatory tools can help stimulate innovation and technological competition, two strategies for boosting incentives to cut emissions. For example, removing fossil fuel subsidies and introducing carbon pricing would direct more investment toward renewable solutions.
In the agriculture sector, growing crops within forests and managing livestock more sustainably would help improve land productivity and resilience to climate impacts such as heat or drought.
Some climate-friendly options face significant hurdles, such as public resistance to nuclear power or to costly carbon-removal technologies.
Still, global finance for climate technology and solutions is far short of where it needs to be for curbing emissions enough to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C.
The report summarised that we are in control of our future. Governments are in control of changing markets and regulation - killing off subsidies for fossil fuels (yes we really are still fanning the flames) and introducing carbon pricing. We can all change our habits to consume less and support green initiatives.
It can be hard to think of tasty, nutritious things for your lunch, especially when it is early in the morning and you are trying to make your breakfast or juggle 100 other thoughts and priorities!
Let us help you out with some of our lunches ideas
With cooked red onion and spinach watermelon and a sweetcorn, tomato, cumber and red onion salad
The flatbread recipe is just 40g plain flour, 25ml of cold water. Mixed to a smooth dough, split into three balls, rolled über flat and dry fried for a couple of mins each side - so easy and so delish!!
Red chard, Cavelo Nero, Onion, Garlic, Sun dried tomatoes, Olives, Quinoa pasta, Olive oil
:
Fry all of the vegetables together and cook the pasta in salted boiling water as per the packet timings.
Drain pasta and add to frying pan, combine the vegetables and the pasta.
Add pasta to your Mintie lunchbox to eat straight away or to keep for another day.
Have it for dinner and take leftovers the following day (taste great cold too!)
1 medium onion, 100g edamame beans (green soya beans), 1 tbsp olive oil, 500g basmati rice, 1 broccoli - thinly sliced, 250g tofu, 1 red pepper, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1, tsp miso paste, 2 tbsp honey, Chilli flakes to taste, Sesame seeds
Boil the rice as per the instructions.
Heat oil in a wok or large frying pan over high heat, add the tofu, onion, broccoli and pepper and stir-fry for 2 minutes or until the tofu is starting to colour and the broccoli starting to soften; transfer to a plate.
Add the beans, soy sauce, miso paste and honey, toss until the mixture is well coated.
In a separate frying pan, gently dry fry the sesame seeds until golden
Serve the rice and top with tofu, veg mixture.
Garnish with chilli flakes and toasted sesame seeds
Simple, versatile wheat or corn flour wraps are super quick and are an easy swap if you find you eat bread too often!
Wraps with your favourite filling (we currently love fake ham, salad and sriracha!)
A little pot of cherries, some carrot sticks, half an avocado
Plus a little pot with some pudding in it (we love a few broken biscuits and some dates or prunes!)
Don't forget the teaspoon for the avocado!
Traditional sandwiches can easily be made lighter and more healthy with plenty of salad along with your favourite protein. If in doubt, add more veg!
This Mintie Max and Duo are packed with delicious and healthy sandwiches filled with cheese, onion, rocket, grated carrot, lettuce and a smidge of garlic mayonnaise.
On the side, a beautiful mix of heirloom mini tomatoes, raspberries and blueberries
There has been a significant rise in people making the change from single-use or even multi-use plastics to more sustainable and reusable materials. Our stainless steel lunchboxes and bottles are a great example of making simple changes to better the planet. So why not make the change in more aspects of your life, including your cleaning routine.
OceanSaver is a fantastic alternative to your usual cleaning products. Created from a deep love of the ocean and concern over single use plastic, OceanSaver has created their own power-cleaning refills solution, EcoDrops, a plant-based, non-toxic solution that transforms in water; creating a safe and powerful product to clean your home spotlessly.
OceanSaver, like Mintie, are on a mission to create a behaviour change. They’re dedicated to cleaning up the cleaning aisle, by using OceanSaver EcoDrops you commit to removing single-use plastic from your cleaning routine and saving our oceans for future generations. Their current mission is to save 2 million plastic bottles from reaching the ocean by the end of 2022; to date having saved over 1 million plastic bottles from reaching the ocean
What are EcoDrops?
EcoDrops are created using GreenClean Technology, an OceanSaver formula that is plant-based, non-toxic, and vegan that guarantees a superior clean. Instead of buying a cleaning solution that is 90% water, you just have the formula that you add water too. By purchasing an OceanSaver bottle for life, made from prevented ocean plastic with a 100% recyclable trigger, you not only save plastic from heading to the ocean you also save money by purchasing just the formula. The formula sachets are 100% biodegradable too.
Why Mintie loves EcoDrops?
At Mintie we love EcoDrops because they are helping to disrupt the plastic industry, helping to educate consumers that making small changes are not only easy to do but also have a big impact. As supporters of Surfers Against Sewage and Sussex Dolphin Project we share the same values as OceanSaver that every day should be made World Oceans Day.
]]>The issue of Carbon Emissions is becoming more and more pressing. The more we learn, the more we realise that human beings need to act to reduce our carbon footprint.
There are lots of human activities that produce CO2 such as taking fossil fuels from the earth and burning them. Others include degrading peatlands and forests to allow carbon trapped in the soils and plants to be released, and damaging sea beds that are rich in plant life.
We may wish to reduce our emissions but it can be hard to find reliable information to help us to make informed decisions. This can result feeling baffled, overwhelmed with greenwashing and can often lead to a "why bother?" attitude such as when you are told that the recycling that you carefully cleaned and sorted is sent to landfill!
Mintie Lunchboxes has decided to offset the carbon emissions of the production of our lunchboxes. This means that for the carbon dioxide emissions of every product that you buy, the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide will be absorbed through the carbon offsetting scheme run by Ecologi. There are several types of carbon offset schemes in place around the world and they include forestry, alternative energy, carbon capture and community projects. The projects we use are forestry (growing trees).
Steel production is an energy intensive process. It requires mining Iron, Nickel and Chromium; refining these ingredients and converting them to sheet stainless steel. This is where the bulk of the CO2 is emitted - in the generation of electricity. As you probably know, the CO2 that is emitted from alternative energy (wind, hydro, solar) and nuclear is very small, whilst gas is greater and coal being the worst. The energy mix is therefore a key factor.
Further to this, newer steel production methods that use electrical furnaces are more energy efficient than older blast furnaces that burn fuel directly.
The production of stainless steel products uses a relatively smaller amount of energy to cut and press; clean and polish. Other materials such as silicone used for seals and lids; and paper products used as packaging also create a small amount of CO2.
Then shipping from the factory to the warehouse and from the warehouse to the customer are similarly small.
Generally, across the industry, stainless steel production utilises up to 60% recycled content and 40% new materials. Of course, using recycled content reduced the carbon emissions dramatically as it avoids the first two steps of the process.
Here is a breakdown of the figures we use to calculate the CO2 emissions equivalent to the production of a Snug Midi Lunch Box
Source | Quantity of CO2 in kg |
Production of Stainless Steel | 0.77 |
Manufacture of Lunchbox | 0.19 |
Packaging | 0.12 |
Silicone Seal | 0.09 |
Shipping to UK | 0.09 |
Shipping to Typical Customer | 0.05 |
Total | 1.31 |
We have assumed a rate of 2kg CO2 per kg of Stainless Steel. This is the figure that research from the ISSF (The International Stainless Steel Forum) calculated.
When considering the carbon emissions of a product, the complete lifecycle should be taken into consideration. The two main factors here are the length of use (its life) and the recyclability. These are two areas that stainless steel really excels. Firstly, it lasts a really long time, it is tough and doesn't corrode, leading to a product that is useful for a really long time. Secondly, it is 100% recyclable. It is as good as new stainless steel when recycled, so it can be recycled over and over again.
Once produced, stainless steel has good long term utility and minimal environmental impact.
If you would like to talk to us about this, please email us
info@environmentallife.co.uk
]]>❄ Wrap gifts with recycled paper or fabric
Despite more than half of us re-use last year’s wrapping paper according to Any Junk, rubbish clearance specialist, most of us don’t realise that many rolls of wrapping paper contain non-recyclable elements like foil, glitter, or plastic.
Opt instead for recyclable wrapping paper, reuse paper from other places such as old books or maps. Or how about wrapping gifts with fabric instead? Try using colourful fabric squares that can be re-used again and again.
❄ Invest in a reusable advent calendar
Another great eco-friendly Christmas decoration, invest in a reusable advent calendar and fill it with a variety of gifts ranging from the classic chocolates to little trinkets for the family.
❄ Reduce your food waste
Most of us are pretty good at getting creative with our leftovers throughout the year, but when Christmas comes we can be a little more wasteful. One option is to buy less or to use a food waste app such as Olio to help you connect you with people in need in your local area. If you do have excess food waste, don’t forget to use your Mintie Lunchbox to store everything and keep it fresh.
❄ Switch to LED Christmas lights
If every UK household swapped a string of incandescent lights for its LED equivalent, we could save more than £11 million and 29,000 tonnes of CO2, just over the 12 days of Christmas. When it comes to eco-friendly Christmas decorations, LEDs are far better than traditional twinkling incandescent lights, because they use up to 80% less energy.
❄ Rent a Christmas Tree
Looking for the most eco-friendly Christmas tree option? Real Christmas trees are much more sustainable than artificial alternatives. However, between 7 and 8 million Christmas trees are discarded, many left at local parks and recreation grounds to be collected by the council or taken to the local tip. Left to rot in landfill, these trees can emit up to 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year. So, why not rent a Christmas tree this year from The Eco Christmas Tree Company and know that it will be replanted and used again next year.
❄ Send Forest-Friendly or plantable Christmas Cards
A quarter of us no longer write Christmas cards, but there is a way to send seasons greetings without costing the planet. Look for cards with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) mark. This guarantees the paper has been produced sustainably and ethically. Plantable cards are growing in popularity too. Wildflower Papers have a brilliant range of seed packet cards that the recipient can sow in the Spring.
❄ Buy eco-friendly Christmas crackers
Replace single-use crackers with reusable ones. Some are made from natural linen and some allow you to add your own personalised gifts. These are great eco-friendly Christmas decorations for the lunch table.
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Waste Not, located within the Open Market, is Brighton’s original zero waste shop selling bulk produce and household items to help you cut down on your waste and reduce your impact on the planet.
Barnes and Binns, located on Portland Road Hove, is a homeware and body care store founded in 2019 by Rache Barnes and Sarah Binns. The vision of the shop is for customers to buy everyday home essentials, facilitating a sustainable and local experience. Barnes and Binns care about the products they sell and they care about the journey each item has made to reach your home.
Store Next Door, located in the Fiveways area of Brighton, is the sister shop of Store Brighton and was born out of growing customer demand for more product choice on their journey to reduce waste in their homes, choosing refilling and reusing over recycling wherever possible. Store Next Door aims to give options for anyone wishing to live a more sustainable, plastic free lifestyle by offering an expanded range of bodycare, hair care, eco homeware, and gifts.
Harriet’s of Hove, located in the heart of Hove, was born from a passion for the environment and a desire to lower the amount of single use plastic in the world. Harriet’s of Hove also supports other small businesses who share their ethos for environmentally friendly produce and source as many of our products as they can from local independent suppliers. As well as their refill shop in Hove they have an online store where you will find an extensive range of plastic free and plant-based products available for delivery.
Technically the Best Health Food Shop is located in Worthing but they are too good not to include in our independent business list. Best Health Food Shop is a health food shop with a difference, educating customers on the product and how they can help them improve their health and prevent ill health and disease; empowering consumers through the choices they make about their health and the food that they eat.
Whether you’re a seasoned eco-shopper who is always the first to find the latest unique independent shops to buy from or if you’re just branching out, we’ve got you covered. Our ultimate eco-friendly gift guide comprises gifts from independent shops across the South East with a range of prices ensuring there truly is something for everyone.
Why not personalise your Mintie Lunchbox to make it your own? Making an excellent personalised gift for him, her, or children, you’ll be sure to never mix-up your family lunchboxes or water bottles again. Using a laser cutter your design will be rendered in a dark, crystal clear engraving that will wash perfectly every time. Our bamboo bottle lids are engraved using computer controlled laser engraving, bringing any design to life.
Get cosy and festive this Christmas with Toby Tiger’s organic Christmas pjyamas. Your little ones will embrace bedtime in these super soft organic pyjamas, with all their favourite animal friends surrounded by festive treats. Toby Tiger uses 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, environmentally friendly AZO-free dyes, and their products are machine washable at 30 degrees.
Straws can be for life, not just Christmas, thanks to Suck On That’s bamboo reusable straws available from Fair. Suck On That aims to reduce the use of plastic straws by providing a sustainable, affordable, and 100% natural alternative. The bamboo used is sustainably grown in Cambodia and doesn’t require a high energy process to make into straws as they are handcrafted by Khmer villagers, creating employment opportunities for disadvantaged Cambodian communities.
Looking for a comfy yet stylish Christmas day outfit? If you’re a Brightonian you will have definitely seen the wonderful dungarees and jumpsuits from Lucy and Yak being worn around town. Treat yourself to the unisex and oversized iconic Original ‘farmer project’ dungaree, in blue raspberry velvety organic corduroy. Lucy and Yak’s farmer project dungarees were created using fully traceable cotton in partnership with their organic cotton supplier Herbal Fab.
Christmas can be a tiring time of year, so why not treat yourself or a loved one to a little pampering. This skincare gift set is ideal for an instant glow containing a rose quartz facial polish and a daily renew facial cream. The exfoliating rose quartz facial polish uses real quartz crystal particles to smooth skin, and the organic daily renew facial cream soothes and hydrates, revealing clear, glowing, nourished skin, ideal for the winter months.
If your New Year's resolution is to be on time next year, why not buy an elegant watch that’s cruelty free too? All of VOTCH’s watches are not only beautiful but are vegan and cruelty free, their vegan leather utilises sustainable technology that rivals the performance and durability of traditional animal based leather. With every VOTCH order they plant a tree in Madagascar, in addition to donating 10% of the profits from each product purchase to their charity of the season.
Put your phone down this Christmas, on a sleek and stylish wireless magnetic charger made from plastic waste. Zero Waste Club helps make your daily routine more sustainable with products that are plastic-free, cruelty-free, and made ethically and sustainably. The charger is designed to magnetically stick to your iPhone 12, compatible with other iPhone models and accessories including AirPods, able to charge twice as fast as regular lightning cable charging. Handmade in Brighton from recycled plastic packaging waste, that is deemed non-recyclable by councils in the UK.
Shopping for a friend or family member but not sure what to give them? Give them the gift of choice with a gift voucher for Harriet’s of Hove. Harriet’s of Hove is a local plant based refill shop, offering a variety of organic vegan food, gifts, and eco-friendly household products to buy in store and online.
Let us know what you select from our eco-friendly gift guide and tag your friends or family with their new Mintie lunchbox or water bottle.
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When we import food to the UK, it often comes with a massive carbon footprint. Eating seasonally reduces the demand for out-of-season produce and subsequently the energy and associated CO2 emissions released through refrigeration, transportation, artificial hothouses etc., needed to grow and transport the food we eat.
Food that is grown and picked in season will taste much riper, fresher, and sweeter than food transported long distances which is often picked ahead of its ripeness. Foods in season also contain nutrients, minerals, and trace elements that our bodies need at that particular time of the year.
Eating local food that’s in season reduces the cost of food as there’s no large transportation or storage costs, if there is a particularly large harvest of in-season produce costs naturally decrease. Eating seasonally also supports the local economy, with the majority of produce coming from local farms across the U.K.
Sometimes locally produced food suffers from over production, supply can sometimes exceed demand, resulting in food waste. If more people consumed the fruit and vegetables that are grown locally, this problem could be minimised as the demand would better match the supply from local farmers, helping our local economies in the process.
A healthy, seasonal diet in autumn might be a mixture of the following:
The fantastic nutritionist Farzanah Nasser keeps it nice and simple here with her guides to living a little more healthily.
Where better to start than with the things that are so often the source of unnecessary extra sugars, additives and other crap?
Yep - Snacks!
Here is Farzanah's guide to putting a little more thought into those bits between meals.
Farzanah says:
"Here I am giving you several ideas on blood sugar balanced snacks. Blood sugar balanced means that your meal/ snack contains some protein, fat and carbohydrates to keep your blood sugar levels stable. This give you better energy between meals, supports balanced hormones, supports mood, immune health and also supports microbiome health.
I’ve used different varieties of nuts/ fruit etc in the above example so that if you were to include a different snack daily, it also means you would incorporate a different plant food, increasing plant points and encouraging microbiome diversity. It also means that you would have incorporated about 15 different plants foods during the week just from snacking! Majority of the ingredients are store cupboard ingredients that you can keep at home. Save this post as a reference to help you with healthy snacking ideas and also easy ways to support microbiome diversity.
For example:
Monday: Edamame Beans
Tuesday Dark chocolate with hazelnuts and raisins
Wednesday: Red apple and Brazil nuts
Thursday: Green Apple & Almond butter
(different colours of the same food count as different foods for your microbiome)
Friday: Banana and walnuts
Saturday: Boiled egg with some seeds
(I use furikake sesame seed seasoning that has mixed coloured sesame seeds and nori by Sanchi)
Sunday: Yoghurt & blueberries
(Or could add mixed berries for extra plant points)
Total Plant Points: 16
That's more the half the number of different plant foods we should be consuming weekly!"
For more awesome nutritional advice that is simple but well researched, please visit her instagram
]]>A Bento or Bento Box is the name given to a Japanese lunchbox. The word Bento mean "Food brought on the go" so generally refers to a takeaway lunch - either made at home or bought. Also, the word refers to the container that a Bento is served in. These can range from single-use containers to elaborate and expensive hand-crafted wooden boxes.
Typically, we associate things with a Bento, such as beautiful presentation, colour and healthy nutritious food, made with real care and attention. Sometimes Bentos are made to create images or art such as Kyaraberi or Oekakiberi where the contents look like anime character, people or flowers. Of course, more commonly Bento boxes are more straightforward and consist of the staple ingredients that you may want to have for lunch without as much time spent on the preparation!
The reason Japanese cooks go to so much effort is to make a healthy meal that is enjoyable. It is enjoyable to buy or give, enjoyable to anticipate eating, it is very enjoyable to eat it, and you will feel good afterwards if it's satisfying and healthy.
Another important factor here is that they aren’t necessarily healthy because of the specific food they contain. They may contain some foods considered to be unhealthy. They are healthy because the meal is balanced. Rather than a large portion of carbs with some protein on top, there will be the rice and fish or tofu along with a variety of grilled or steamed vegetables, fresh vegetables or salad leaves, and pickles to complement the meal.
Of course, all these different elements would lose some of their charm if they were all mixed up together in a heap, so separate compartments are used to keep the portions apart. This way not only are the better protected, they can be individually savoured in their own right.
I think in our often busy lives, making time for such elaborate works of art might be leap too far for most of us. I think we can take parts of this wonderful thing and still reap some of the benefits.
Why not try bringing some of the Bento mindset to your packed lunch? Think about having 5 or 6 elements to your meal
You can size the portions as you wish but a good starting point is to get the veg, carbs and protein in equal amounts.
Don't forget - see what leftovers you have from last night, mix up some cooked veg in a fresh salad works great. Any little bit of sauces or dressing from a cooked meal can liven up a lunchtime salad too. With this in mind, cook a little extra rice or past in the evening, safe in the knowledge that if it doesn't get eaten for that meal, it will help build another meal the next day.
We are big fans of doing things well. I think we can take a lot from this practise - putting in the care and attention to detail to create something really valuable. As one person to another to show love through food shows that you care in a very direct way.
Of course Mintie lunch boxes can be partitioned with dividers to create compartments. Mini snack pots can be added, or our larger round containers with the leakproof lids. For this we would recommend the Snug range, coupled with any of the pots, placed either inside or out.
Create your own take on the Bento meal with the kind of foods that you find tasty. Click the levers down in the snugs and stack it up in your lunch bag and off you go with your own airtight bento box! Spread it all out on your desk with a tea towel and tuck in!!!
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As with most things in life, there is a short answer (bad news), and a long answer (good news).
The short answer is "probably not" (the bad news). I am sorry, but stainless steel is a good conductor of heat, this means the heat from your curry is likely to find its way to the surface of the metal box and conducted to the next closet surface such as your bag or surface it is placed on. If you don't take special care, your nice warm curry will be tepid after an hour or so.
The long answer! (The good news) Well there are actually a number of things you can do to help keep your delicious meal nice and warm.
1) Place your lunch box in an insulated lunch bag! Just as insulated lunch bags help to keep you food cool in conjunction with some ice packs, they can help to keep hot meals hot! The insulation can be further improved by wrapping your lunchbox in a tea towel or cloth before placing in the bag.
2) Warming your lunchbox first. This will help to increase the overall temperature of your meal + lunch box combination, improving its chance of being warm later in the day.
3) Give yourself a large portion! Yes, this is probable a win-win.. the larger the mass of warm curry, the longer it will take to cool down. Imagine if you just put a small spoonful on curry in a large lunchbox, it will obviously cool down quite quickly. Now fill that same lunchbox to the brim and it will take much much longer to cool down, all other things being equal.
4) Eat it sooner! Yes, this goes without saying that if you prepare your meal a little closer to the time you plan to eat it, it will more likely be warm. So maybe have your lunch a bit early.. it was always going to be hard to resist tucking into that currey anyway :)
Remember, it is the air that is the insulator. Even a cloth wrapped around your lunchbox will be a good insulator as it traps the warmth in little air pockets within the fabric. Insulated lunch bags are effective as they trap air inside them. If your metal bento box is placed on a metal worktop, it will conduct the heat very well through to the worktop. You can see this by the fact that the metal worktop will be warm after you have taken it away. If you place it on a wooden worktop, less heat will be lost through the base.
]]>When you are pushed for time and not sure what to make for your kids packed lunch in the morning and want to offer something healthy in your primary school or teenagers lunchbox, you needs some basic premises to rely on. Also, let's be honest, sometimes we are lacking inspiration first thing in the morning, and for lots of us, clarity doesn't magically appear until at a couple of cups of tea or coffee!
If you want to cut to the chase, and avoid any unnecessary froth, we will let you into a secret - are you ready for this revelation?!?
Yes, that's right, if you are looking for a starting point for a healthy pack lunch idea, keep it simple and just have a look at what veggies you have in the fridge or cupboard. Healthy snacks are normally comprised of vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds and not messed around with too much.
Keep it simple! Take a carrot or cucumber, wash it, cut it, put it in a small pot and put it in your lunchbox. There, instant colour, instant good healthy part of your or your kids meal.
Now, you are off to a great start, add some fruit. There is no harm in mixing some fruit and veg together in the same pot. Your kids may enjoy the variety of texture from grapes and carrot or sweet pepper and olives. Or put in an apple or cut it up if they prefer that. Ok, so now you've covered the basics, you can prepare something carby such as a sandwich, wrap or similar. Perhaps sneak a few salad leaves into the sandwich while you are at it!
Now you can sit back and admire the healthy meal you have prepared for you girl or boy and you can just finish it off with a treat such as a chocolate biscuit or piece of cake.
If your kids are fussy eaters, create lots of sections with dividers and pots to make a bento style lunch box. This allows the child to clearly identify what is on offer and to choose what and how to eat it, one thing at a time. This will also help with identifying what went well or otherwise, by looking at what came back home again.
If you start with the vegetables and fruit, you know that the chance if it being a healthy meal is high, and you can then fill it out in a more straightforward way.
If your kids are a little more adventurous, why not include some toasted seeds (check you schools policy on allergens) or dipping sauce or salad dressing in a small pot inside the lunchbox?
Give a try and see if it comes back empty!
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If you feel like you have exhausted all the snacking options for the kids, then I highly recommend the @thehealthboost and their Easy Peasy Healthy Cookies. These are super simple to make, really delicious and full of healthy grains and fruit. They are so easy, the children could get involved too. Pack these up as part of a picnic or as a healthy bite on the go. YUM! Thank you to the @thehealthboost for allowing us to share this recipe with you.
INGREDIENTS
Makes 8-10 cookies
150g gluten free rolled oats
Juice of one blood orange
1 tablespoon maple syrup
3 tablespoon dark chocolate chips
METHOD
preparation: 15mins
cook time: 20-25mins
Preheat oven at 180°C.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, place the peeled bananas and mash with a fork.
Add the oats, maple syrup and orange juice and combine well.
Now is the time to add your choc chips
Stir to combine.
Take a tablespoon of the mixture at a time and place on to the baking sheet, shape and leave space between cookies.
Repeat until all your mixture is used up.
Place in the oven and cook for about 20 minutes.
Take out of the oven, leave to cool for 5 minutes.
They are best eaten warm straight out of the oven.
These cookies are especially delicious straight out of the oven, but keep well. The choc chips can be replaced by another nut or seed of your choice.. Sweetened only by fruit and maple they are the perfect healthy treat and provide a good source of fibre with the oats.
Check their website here for a printable version and more great cooking inspiration
Munch brings you resources to build a healthy attitude to food that will last children a lifetime. As well as offering health-giving recipes aimed at families and children, Munch also run workshops and provide information on how to eat darn delicious food and inspire our kids to do the same.
Sometimes I love Instagram for the connections you make. Munch is one of those occasions!
I came across Libby's deeeeelishous Jammy Thumbprint Cookies and knew I just had to share these with you. Head over to her recipe here and find out how you can make them too!!
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About 5 Super Simple Ways You can Support Small Businesses
Keep supporting small... your efforts and contributions really make a humongous difference.
Gift Cards are a great way to show a small business you are supporting them, it doesn’t have to be a big spend, they also make a great present for friends and family members you can’t get to see.
Check out https://stockupsmall.com/ to find local suppliers that stock lots of things you might normally go to the supermarket for
Leave a positive review and share the love - leaving lovely words or comments about a product or service you have bought from a small business makes an incredible difference, it not only gives others the confidence to purchase products from them but the small business owner I can guarantee will do a happy twirl each time they get a positive review from you.
Comment and like their social media posts - we are all sitting at home scrolling through social media more at the moment Don’t forget as you flick through the images and posts to give a little thumbs up, heart or best of all leave a little ‘hello’ comment show your support for your favourite small business
Thinking of buying presents for a friend or family member? Consider shopping small for their gifts, small businesses will often go the extra mile to make sure your gift has the personal touch.
Reach out! You might have special small businesses that you love, so why not reach out to them with any suggestions you have on supporting them or just to say ‘hi I see you’. Tell them if you like what they are doing or if there is content or products you’d like them to develop or stock let them know that too… don’t be shy, give it a try :)
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This week we made jam tarts with the kids, we took it back to basics, no fancy ingredients, just 3 simple things to make a delicious old school treat that even my Nana would be proud of.
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
Rub together the butter or margarine with the flour in a bowl until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in a few tablespoons of water to form a dough. Roll out on a lightly floured surface. Use a pastry cutter to cut out about 20 circular shapes.
Put each pastry case into an individual cupcake tin. Add a teaspoon of jam to each case – not too much or it will ooze everywhere. If there is any leftover pastry, re-roll it and cut smaller shapes, either circles or stars, and put over the jam to act as the lids.
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the pastry has gone pale brown (check the tarts after 20 minutes).
Which is from this recipe here from Paul Hollywood on the BBC
A little bit of planning can go a long way to saving time preparing meals. Especially if working at home, having something to hand to put in the oven whilst you are doing other things is very satisfying!
To give it a try, start with an easy meal that reheats well and is simple to prepare.
Here we run through a quick pasta bake that is cheap and tasty. Even the meal prep needs little actual hands-on time. You can get on with other things while the sauce is bubbling away.
This guide will show you how to prepare several pasta bakes in stainless steel containers (Versa Mini) with enough leftover to have a meal today. This recipe makes enough for 5 portions to store and 2 portions to have now. So have some now, put one in the fridge for tomorrow and put the rest in the freezer for later.
When storing our lunchboxes we recommend that you write on the boxes with a sharpie to say what they are. This way you can easily identify them when they are stacked up in the fridge or freezer.
When reheating from the fridge, allow 30-40m in the oven at 150C or if reheating from the freezer, either leave on the side to defrost at room temperature (leave the lid on) before reheating, or put in the oven for an hour at 150C. If you like the top crispy, remove the lid for the last 10m.
1 x onion
2 x sweet peppers
2-3 cloves of garlic
Some olives (pitted is easier)
Small tin of anchovies (optional)
3 x tinned tomatoes
Olive oil, salt, pepper.
Dried oregano or mixed herbs
1kg dried pasta
Cheese (about 100g to top)
Fresh tomato (to slice up and put on top)
5 x Storage containers
Big pot to cook the sauce in
Big pot to cook the pasta
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Apart from being huge, they are also:
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Why do we use stainless steel in our lunchboxes and bottles? We recognise it as the best material to make a useful product that will last a long time and have the least impact on the environment and our health.
Here we take a more in-depth look at the main contenders for materials for food containers and consider their merits and drawbacks. We are under no illusion, there is always a certain amount of resources required to make anything and the choice you make is dependant on the application.
What follows are summary points of a very large and difficult subject, simplified to give an overview to help educate and inform. It consists of research that has been done by others and shared in the public domain. If you would like to dig deeper on any of the points, the references are given below.
We focus in the following three areas:
1) Energy impact of the material creation, production and distribution
2) Recyclability
3) Lifecycle
What is your lunchbox made of?
* “In order to produce plastic products, energy resources are consumed. Currently such energy resources are almost entirely obtained from nonrenewable sources and by using them, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are produced. Nevertheless, even more energy would be consumed and more GHG emissions emitted, if plastic products were to be substituted by alternative materials.”[1]
* “In addition, some plastic products enable energy savings to be made during their life-cycle, even without being compared with other materials. Examples are insulation materials (valid in fact for all insulation materials), wind-power rotor blades, plastic packaging materials that reduce food losses or help avoid damage to durable goods (valid to some extent for other packaging materials), new products substituting heavier plastic products, and products that incorporate improvements by ongoing innovation, concept changes and dematerialisation.”[2]
* “In all fairness, no plastics are made from crude oil. They are made from feedstock that is derived from crude oil, for sure, but not straight from oil. Of course, this does not have any bearing on their environmentally unfriendly properties: whether its derived from crude oil or from a crude oil feedstock, plastic still takes centuries to degrade, and in the meantime, thanks to wind and rain, they shed tiny particles that enter the food chain.”[3]
* “Interestingly enough, many plastics are actually made from natural gas feedstock. In the United States, for example, the most common feedstock for plastics, be it for packaging or anything else, is natural gas liquids, liquid petroleum gases, and natural gas.”[4]
* “Plastics production accounts for about 4 percent of global oil production. That’s according to figures for 2012, so now it may well be higher.”[5]
* “A 2017 report on global plastics found that plastic production in the United States was growing at an annual rate of 1.6 percent, while China was producing 3 percent more plastics every year on average. According to the same report, plastics for packaging constituted 19 percent of the total plastics production in 2016--the second largest segment after “Other Plastic Products”.[6]
* “Until we find a reliable and cost-competitive alternative to these sorts of plastic packaging, the point of how much oil—or gas—goes into plastic packaging is moot.”[7]
* “Plastics take an awfully long time to decompose naturally, and only a small amount of the plastics used on a global scale gets recycled. The problem is serious.”[8]
* “The problem with recycling plastic is that it doesn’t really happen. For example, plastic litter is not separated during collection in The Netherlands. It can’t be used to make the same products again; for example, food packaging that is recycled cannot be used again as food packaging.”[9]
* “ Until recently, some of the western world’s plastic waste was exported to China to be recycled. China, however, no longer wants our plastic rubbish. The flow of rubbish has shifted to other Asian countries, but they, too, are beginning to implement restrictions or are closing their borders to foreign plastic waste. Countries need to deal with their own plastic waste. In theory, all plastic can be used again. The suggestion, however, that the issue of plastic pollution can be solved through recycling is a myth. In reality, only 9% of all plastic in use worldwide is recycled, and the majority of this recycled plastic is of inferior quality. The process of recycling is, for the time being, downcycling, which results in an undiminished use of new or ‘virgin’ plastic.”[10]
* “About half of all plastic on earth has been produced in the last thirteen years. If the current trend continues, around the year 2050, there will be about twelve billion tons of plastic in landfills and in the environment. More plastic is being thrown away than we can clean up, even though we are doing our best. The only way to reduce and prevent plastic pollution is to produce and use much less plastic.”[11]
* “Larger pieces of plastic in the sea or on land, such as bottles and plastic packaging, become brittle and gradually break down. This is due to sunlight, oxidation or friction, or by animals nibbling on the plastic. This plastic break down process goes on forever, although the speed depends on the circumstances. There are beaches where you not only see large pieces, but also countless fragments, colored or faded — the smallest pieces can no longer be distinguished from grains of sand. Fragments become microplastics and microplastics become nanoplastics. The latter are so small that they are barely visible even under the most advanced microscopes.”[12]
* “All these small particles of plastic never fully decompose and are literally everywhere: in water, soil, and air. Because they are light, they are easily transported across long distances. In 2014, it was discovered by accident that polar ice appears to be full of microplastics. It was then assumed that microplastics were carried along with ocean currents and then caught up in the ice. It is now clear that microplastics are also carried by the wind. It ‘rains’ microplastics every day…”[13]
* “It has become evident that microplastics can no longer be completely removed from the natural world. This would not be a problem if we were sure that they are harmless in the environment. The point is that there are various indications that they are harmful. What we know is that all animal species, including humans, ingest them and that the smallest particles – the nanoplastics – can spread throughout the body and possibly reach the organs, including the brain. We also know that the concentration of these small particles in the environment is increasing, and it’s likely that the concentration of particles in humans is likely doing the same. There is no escaping it, and we can only hope that the consequences in the short and long term are better than expected.”[14]
* “Ferroalloy production and the fabrication of stainless steel in electric arc furnaces are energy-intensive processes. By examining the energy requirements to produce stainless steel throughout the entire life cycle, and isolating the effect of scrap recycling on energy use, one can understand the true energy needs and opportunities for conservation. The World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) found that a ‘‘low energy path is the best way toward a sustainable future’’. Determining the energy intensities of materials (i.e., the energy required per unit mass) under different scenarios aides in understanding and identifying this low-energy path.”[15]
* “Methods for manufacturing steel have evolved significantly since industrial production began in the late 19th century. Modern methods, however, are still based around the Bessemer Process, namely, how to most efficiently use oxygen to lower the carbon content in iron.
* Today, steel making comes from both recycled as well as from raw materials. Two processes:
Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (BOS)/ Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) and
Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) account for virtually all steel production.”[16]
* “Steel production has a number of impacts on the environment, including air emissions (CO, SOx, NOx, PM2), wastewater contaminants, hazardous wastes, and solid wastes. The major environmental impacts from integrated steel mills are from coking and iron-making.”[17]
* “The stainless steel industry has proven to be extremely environmentally friendly. This is because it uses primary energy sparingly, saves non-renewable sources and limits the waste stream.”[18]
* “A product which is made from stainless steel such as stainless steel wire or stainless steel banding will never become useless at the end of its life and this is because stainless steel can be separated systematically and thus can enter the recycling system.”[20]
* “Recycling is deemed viable when applied to stainless steel because within the stainless steel is iron, nickel, chromium all which are raw materials and so the process of recycling stainless steel is carried out globally all over the world.”[21]
* “Production and recycling are not separate stages in the life of stainless steel it is important to notice that they are one and the same process. Any stainless steel object has about 60% recycled content within it.”[22]
* “Stainless steel therefore isn’t consumed but is rather sustained; although it is recycled and thus produced it is important to note that it does not degrade in any way once recycled.”[23]
* “Stainless steels have traditionally been specified in applications where the primary requirement is for corrosion resistance. However, since their invention over 100 years ago, stainless steels have also been recognised for other attributes such as durability, versatility, quality, sustainability, hygiene and aesthetic appeal.”[24]
* “Even if stainless steel is not recycled and it does find its way to a landfill or disposal site, it will have no detrimental effect to the soil or groundwater.”[25]
* “Stainless Steel is the preferred material for green building throughout the world. Its impact on the environment is minimal when compared to other materials and its life impact reduces significantly as it used and recycled.”[26]
* “Stainless steel may not always be the cheapest candidate material for an application when considering upfront costs. However, its durability and ease of maintenance compensate for the sometimes higher initial purchasing costs and it is often the least expensive choice in a life cycle costing comparison. This ability to provide long-term performance with a minimum of downtime and cost associated with maintenance is determined by calculating the material’s life cycle cost (LCC). Life cycle costing (LCC) is a technique developed for identifying and quantifying all costs, initial and ongoing, associated with a project or installation over a given period.”[27]
* “Bamboo is truly a wonder plant. It is a symbol of strength, flexibility, and sustainability. For many reasons’ bamboo, is often called ‘the world’s most renewable material’. It can grow up to one meter a day. This fast grower absorbs five times more carbon dioxide and produces 35% more oxygen than trees.”[28]
* “To grow like this, bamboo requires little water and neither pesticides nor fertilizers. When bamboo is harvested, the plant regenerates itself from its roots system. These root systems also prevent erosion and nourish the soil with potassium and other nutriments.”[29]
* “This renewable “Superhero” remains impressive when crafted into products. Its strength makes it the first choice to create scaffold in Asia. Bamboo has also natural anti-bacterial properties, which makes it an excellent choice for cutlery or straws. Improved techniques make it possible to create textiles from bamboo. Bamboo fibre is extremely soft, light weighted and a more sustainable alternative to cotton.”[30]
* “Why is it that then a plant is able to grow most places we still impart of Asia? My guess is because labour is cheap, just like with fast fashion, and actually lots of bamboos are not certified from third-parties which makes the production of it rather untransparent.”[31]
* “Bamboo can grow in places that would otherwise not have been fit for vegetation, like rocky hills and slopes, so ideally bamboo production would not have to replace natural forests. Bamboo also grows fast, much faster than trees. Where a tree can take 30-50 years to become big enough to be used as timber. Whereas bamboo will take about 3 years to get established, and then it will take the new shoots 60 days to grow to a proper size.”[32]
* “Bamboo has a lower carbon footprint than FSC certified tropical hardwood. Bamboo products imported to Europe have more eco-costs than local European softwood.”[33]
* “Because of the increased production of bamboo, as a result of higher demand from new consumers in Northern America and Europe, bamboo generates higher profit for farmers than trees, and that, although it sounds good, is actually a problem. In China, it was reported that many farmers where turned natural forests, fields, and farmland into bamboo forests. As a result that could be a problem for China’s food supply, as well as a problem for the environment. When you cut down natural forests, in order to produce a certain product you create a mono-culture, in this case, it’s bamboo and a mono-culture can have devastating effects on natural habitats for animals, diversity, soil quality, and microbial activity, all elements that need to thrive in order to have a functioning ecosystem. On report found that between the late 80’s and the late ’90s 23-30% of China’s national forests were converted into bamboo production.”[34]
* “(an) investigation revealed many environmental concerns associated with growing, harvesting, and converting bamboo to useful products. Problems reported throughout bamboo-producing regions included clearing of natural forests for the establishment of bamboo plantations; creation of monoculture plantations; loss of biodiversity; substantial use of fertilizers and pesticides despite claims that bamboo crops required neither of these treatments; and unsustainable harvesting of natural stands of bamboo. We concluded our earlier report with the observation that the unquestioned green status accorded bamboo products needed serious re-evaluation and that, at a minimum, third-party certification should be required before awarding any kind of green status to bamboo products.”[35]
* “not any bamboo product is as sustainable as it could be, and going tons of aesthetically pleasing bamboo products from cheap suppliers or eBay/Wish like shops are properly produced very poorly. So when buying a bamboo product find companies and suppliers that seem transparent about their products or that offer details like if they use fertilizer, if it’s organic, where it’s grown etc. But if we buy a bamboo spoon as use that hundreds of times rather than a disposable plastic spoon, it’s still more sustainable, because reusables products always beat a single-use product.”[36]
2. Recyclability
* “Bamboo products can be sustainable if they are reused and cared for, but disposable bamboo products that are just thrown away actually has a higher carbon footprint than plastic, and if it ends up in landfill it won’t biodegrade. The only upside is that it does not release microplastic and it is not based on fossil materials, but that’s a relatively low bar for sustainability. So reuse above all. At least to me, zero waste living is not only about refusing plastic but also refusing other single-use products, especially if they can be replaced with a reusable one.”[37]
3. Lifecycle and Lifespan
* “Processed bamboo fiber products are not always free from plastic and can make the materials harder to compost and they are not necessarily free from harmful chemicals just because there is bamboo in it.”[38]
* “The durability of bamboo is directly related to how well it is treated at all stages of its use, including how it is grown, harvested, dried, stored, transported, and installed. Well grown and harvested bamboo, protected from excessive rain, sun and ground contact can last for 10’s of years, while poorly treated bamboo may only survive a year or two at best.”[39]
* “At end-of-life, it is assumed that 90% of the bamboo products are incinerated in an electrical power plant and 10% will end-up in landfill, a realistic scenario for Western Europe.”[40]
* “Bamboo has an astounding strength and lifespan whilst remaining light and easy to carry around. With proper care, your bamboo goodies can be used time and time again without the worry of them deteriorating.”[41]
* Plastic is problematic in multiple ways. When it is recycled it cannot be used for food packaging, which greatly limits how it can be recycled. It is totally non-biodegradable, returning into our eco-systems in harmful ways.
* There is contradictory information regarding how much energy it takes to make stainless steel and how environmentally friendly the production is and will vary according to specific practices in place with different foundries. However, it is made from recycled materials, is sustainable and durable, making it a great reusable alternative to plastic.
* Bamboo is a great material in theory. But there is not enough regulations on the manufacturing of it yet. It is often used as a single-use plastic alternative due to its biodegradability – but it must be composted to do this, which few people actually do. This results in more energy consumption than plastic. Reusable bamboo products are a useful alternative – although the sourcing of the bamboo must be carefully tracked. The finished products are not as durable as stainless steel and will need replacing sooner.
1 Microsoft Word - Final_Summary_Denkstatt _Vers.1.3__September2010.doc (plasticseurope.org)
2 Microsoft Word - Final_Summary_Denkstatt _Vers.1.3__September2010.doc (plasticseurope.org)
3 How Much Crude Oil Does Plastic Production Really Consume? | OilPrice.com
4 How Much Crude Oil Does Plastic Production Really Consume? | OilPrice.com
5 How Much Crude Oil Does Plastic Production Really Consume? | OilPrice.com
6 How Much Crude Oil Does Plastic Production Really Consume? | OilPrice.com
7 How Much Crude Oil Does Plastic Production Really Consume? | OilPrice.com
8 How Much Crude Oil Does Plastic Production Really Consume? | OilPrice.com
9 The Process Of Recycling Plastic is a Myth - Plastic Soup Foundation
10 The Process Of Recycling Plastic is a Myth - Plastic Soup Foundation
11 Plastic Production and Decomposition - Plastic Soup Foundation
12 Plastic Break Down and Fragmentation - Plastic Soup Foundation
13 Plastic Break Down and Fragmentation - Plastic Soup Foundation
14 Plastic Break Down and Fragmentation - Plastic Soup Foundation
15 doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2007.08.028 (mgg-recycling.com)
16 Steel production & environmental impact (greenspec.co.uk)
17 Steel production & environmental impact (greenspec.co.uk)
18 Stainless Steel Environmentally Friendly (bsstainless.com)
19 Stainless Steel and the Environment (sassda.co.za)
20 Stainless Steel Environmentally Friendly (bsstainless.com)
21 Stainless Steel Environmentally Friendly (bsstainless.com)
22 Stainless Steel Environmentally Friendly (bsstainless.com)
23 Stainless Steel Environmentally Friendly (bsstainless.com)
24 Stainless Steel and the Environment (sassda.co.za)
25 Stainless Steel and the Environment (sassda.co.za)
26 Stainless Steel and the Environment (sassda.co.za)
27 Life Cycle Costing and Stainless Steel (sassda.co.za)
28 Production Process – Bambaw
29 Production Process – Bambaw
30 Production Process – Bambaw
31 THE IMPACT OF BAMBOO // the most sustainable material? (gittemary.com)
32 THE IMPACT OF BAMBOO // the most sustainable material? (gittemary.com)
33 THE IMPACT OF BAMBOO // the most sustainable material? (gittemary.com)
34 THE IMPACT OF BAMBOO // the most sustainable material? (gittemary.com)
35 THE IMPACT OF BAMBOO // the most sustainable material? (gittemary.com)
36 THE IMPACT OF BAMBOO // the most sustainable material? (gittemary.com)
37 THE IMPACT OF BAMBOO // the most sustainable material? (gittemary.com)
38 THE IMPACT OF BAMBOO // the most sustainable material? (gittemary.com)
39 Microsoft Word - Bamboo fact sheet 2.docx (humanitarianlibrary.org)
]]>We have made a list of our Top 11 Eco-conscious Influencers to help you get started on your sustainable social media journey! These range from profiles specialising in sustainable fashion, veganism and climate change. Why not get following and feel inspired?
Blue is a popular Brighton-based influencer who creates content surrounding slow living, sustainability, plant-based eating and well-being. Blue makes sustainable living look easy and luxurious – because it can be! Her recipes for food and cleaning around the home are super useful and her tips for sustainable fashion could change how you shop forever! We think it is really important to focus on self-love too – fill your social media with content that is going to make you treat yourself and your world with care!
As a marine biologist, @ayanaeliza knows first hand the impact we are having on the planet and through the urbanoceanlab.org is helping to steer environmental policy for the good of the oceans. A thoroughly inspiring figure that often making appearances in the media, notably on the @how2saveaplanet podcast. If you haven't already, check out her book All We Can Save - a collection of essays from women at the forefront of the climate movement who are harnessing truth, courage, and solutions to lead humanity forward.
Tolmeia Gregory is a 20-year-old digital artist and climate justice activist. Tolmeia is an incredibly inspiring individual who started her online activism and blogging when she was just 11 years old. She is predominantly a self-employed illustrator who has done work for The Green Party, Greenpeace and Global Action Plan. Tolmeia’s Instagram not only focuses on the climate emergency but also on social injustice, with a focus on the Black Lives Matter movement. She has her own online art shop with 30% of profits being donated to Black Girls Hike UK (@bgh_uk). We admire all the work Tolmeia is doing!
Francesca Willow is a professional performer and artist from Newcastle. Francesca posts about environmental and societal issues in interesting and innovative ways – sometimes using her performance background to do so! She uses her platform to educate her followers on fast-fashion, well-being and the natural world, amongst other things! Francesca covers so many bases, so if you want to stay educated through your feed, she is a great person to follow!
These inspiring sisters can teach us a lesson or two. These young activists keep themselves incredibly busy with workshops, conferences and campaigns. They have been campaigning for over a year to get schools to stop using single-use plastic in their ‘Plastic Clever Schools’ initiative. Amy & Ella have even taught lessons on BBC platforms. Why not get the whole family to follow them on social media? You will learn tips on how to reduce your plastic waste and keep in tune with what the next generation wants for our planet!
Immy not only has fantastic content, her account is also incredibly aesthetically pleasing. Her colour scheme is to die for. But much more than that, her content is so valuable! Immy’s posts range from easy-to-do vegan recipes, to camping tips, to starting discussions about the environment in larger contexts. Immy makes sustainable living accessible to all and she makes it enticing and exciting too!
We are loving the energy of Instagrammer, Podcaster and Youtuber: Sustainable Squad! She provides fantastic content on a wide range of activities and lifestyle hacks that will reduce waste and help you to live more sustainably – and we do enjoy seeing the Brighton-based posts too! Sustainable squad has great humour in her posts and she makes sustainable living even more fun!
This is not an influencer as such, but an account with glorious content none-the-less. Everyday Climate Change is a diverse group of photographers from all over the world. They post breath-taking photographs of how climate change can be seen physically across different landscapes and continents. Occasionally, they have guests from different sectors take over their account to provide different insights on the world we are living in. Most recently, Rainforest Collection took over the account and posted interesting content about how they study and monitor ecosystems. Anyone interested in climate change or photography should follow these guys!
Bea Johnson was named as the “Mother of the zero waste lifestyle” by CNN and her 268,000 followers are nothing to be sniffed at! She prides herself on her minimalist and zero-waste lifestyle. Bea is a motivational speaker and author. She is currently living full-time on the road in a travel trailer. Her travels and discoveries across the US are very insightful and fun to keep up with. She is always giving tips on how to live more sustainably, in simple steps!
OK, so this is more of a shopping suggestion. Fast-fashion is becoming common knowledge, so there are no more excuses to continue buying from corrupt sources! We love a good charity shop, but for those of you who prefer a more glamorous shopping experience, @slowvintageshop is here for you! This British, pre-loved clothing shop collects beautiful pieces that are ready to be worn with style. This is also a good way of shopping small and each clothing listing has all measurements and any faults noted. We love some honest clothing, don’t you?
Georgia is our very own Brighton based vegan influencer. If you are a new-comer in the world of plant-based eating, she would be a particularly useful person to follow. She does reviews of supermarket and branded vegan products such as Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Rowntree’s sweets, ready-meals and everyday vegan goodies! Georgia tries all the vegan products so that you can choose the ones you really want to sink your teeth into! There is often a misconception that vegans are missing out on some of the tastiest foods, but Georgia’s account is proof that being plant-based can be just as yummy!
This is such a simple yet effective swap to make to reduce your plastic waste. Bamboo toothbrushes have a wooden handle that is biodegradable and they work just as well as any other toothbrush. If you want to compost your handle when you are finished, just snap the head off and dispose of it with the landfill waste.
Plastic bottles of soap and shower gel are not 100% recyclable, and even the parts that are recyclable will eventually go to landfill. Make the change to bars! There are so many delicious smelling bars of soap and shampoo out there now, it can be really fun to source your favourite scents. Most bars of soap and shampoo are packaged with biodegradable cardboard or paper, and you can go the extra mile and source some vegan and cruelty free bars too.
Instead of throwing old or tatty clothes in the bin, put them to use. Cotton t-shirts make great dusters and old tights are useful for cleaning mirrors. Before you throw away anything, consider what else you can use it for. This sustainable, up-cycling approach to cleaning is zero waste and helps us to move further away from throwaway culture.
Forget those dishwasher tablets that are each individually covered in plastic and inside a plastic bag. There are tablets on the market that are 100% plastic free, biodegradable, vegan, cruelty-free, and made from all-natural minerals and essential oils. What a fantastic way to reduce your household waste!
Did you know that classic paraffin wax in candles is made from petroleum and is not renewable? That is why we all need to replace our candles with soy wax candles! Soy wax is 100% natural and made from vegetable soybeans. It is a fantastic fragrance carrier that doesn’t require fragrance amplifiers. It also burns much slower than paraffin wax, so your candle lasts longer - What more could you want!?
There are more and more recycled paper toilet roll and kitchen towel suppliers popping up than ever before, several with plastic-free packaging too. Brands such as ‘Who gives a crap?’ use 100% recycled material and donates 50% of all profits to help provide proper sanitation across the globe; why not make a difference on more than one level with your loo roll!?
We all need to get back to washing our faces with face cloths, not just because it’s better for your skin but because it’s just one more way you can reduce your carbon footprint. Bamboo face cloths are an effective choice; you can wash and re-use them repeatedly, and when you do throw one out it is biodegradable! If you use cotton pads to wipe away make-up, there are plenty of bamboo cotton pad packs out there too. You can buy a large pack of them and wash them all together – ready to be reused!
Do you feel bad about the amount of plastic waste that comes from your weekly food shop? We recommend keeping some glass jars to store all your extra bits, such as leftovers and snacks, and to use in any local refill stores alongside your Mintie pots. There is an increasing amount of waste-free, refill shops popping up and it is important to support these to support your local community, economy and environment!
Toothpaste may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think about how to be more eco-conscious. However, most conventional toothpastes use plastic packaging and some may contain harmful ingredients that can cause pollution. We often forget that our toothpaste ultimately ends up down the drain and can enter waterways – so it is important that it’s eco-friendly. We love the Brighton-based providers, ‘truthpaste’. They produce mineral-based toothpaste with all botanical ingredients using recyclable packaging, are totally vegan and cruelty free!
Treat yourself to everything reusable! We know we are biased but just think how handy it is to have a water bottle, snack box, lunch box and coffee cup to hand wherever you are. You will reduce your waste immensely and save money on food and drink! Imagine being good to the environment and your bank account simultaneously – a dream come true!
Treat these changes as little treats to yourself. If you feel it will be too much to do all at once, set yourself a goal of making one sustainable change every month or so. We know some sustainable alternatives can seem like an expensive change at first – so pace yourself. They will make so much change for good in the long run, and we guarantee that you will feel better for it! Enjoy your journey to being more eco-friendly and waste-free!
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Back with more lunchbox yumminess. Libby at Munch has created another fantastic looking feast to help us ease in with the back-to-school packed lunches. I have found these recipes so useful. They have been a great way to get me thinking about the nutritional needs of the kids as well as making interesting lunches which will stay fresh and keep them full till they get home.
To see the recipes and read more about Libby's balanced lunchbox ideas and top advice head over to The Munch Hub to find out more.
]]>R E C I P E S - incredibly tasty recipes to fill your Mintie with from Munch. Huge thank you to Libby creating some sensational back-to-school boxes which we can all enjoy. Both balanced and beautiful.
Sweetcorn Fritters (makes approx 4)
These little fritters combine protein-rich eggs and fibre from the sweetcorn to make a delicious lunchbox alternative to sandwiches. They are quick to make, fun to eat and taste great cold with a little pot of guacamole, some cherry tomatoes and cubes of halloumi.
Sweet Potato Wedges (makes enough for 2)
Sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse - packed full of beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin a) and a great source of vitamins b1, b2, b6 and c, copper, manganese, potassium, dietary fibre and phosphorus.
Flatbreads
These flatbreads contain lots of healthy fats and protein from the different seeds and have a satisfying crunch that children love. They’re great for dipping into hummus, salsa or our pea dip (recipe below).
Green Pea Dip
The humble pea contains lots of vitamin c, protein and fibre, making it a great addition to the lunchbox. If you’ve always got a bag of frozen peas on hand then you can whip this up in minutes.
The pea dip will keep in an airtight jar in the fridge for a couple of days.
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Here’s a simple formula that we keep in mind when packing lunchboxes to make sure we’ve got all of the nutrition bases covered. Pick one or two foods from each section below: Protein + healthy fats + complex carbs + fruit and veggies + water. Using this formula will create a lunchbox that’s well-balanced, nutritious and satisfying. It will fill children up and provide them with all the energy and nutrients they need to keep them going throughout the afternoon.
Feel free to tailor to what your children like and what you’ve got in the fridge / cupboards.
Protein
cubes of cheese
falafels
frittata
edamame beans
smoked salmon
cubes of chicken
hard-boiled egg
crispy chickpeas
greek yoghurt
chia pudding
sweetcorn fritters
hemp seeds
halloumi
lentils
nuts and seeds
nut and seed butter
Protein is essential for the body’s growth and repair which is super important for our fast-growing children. It’s one of the fundamental building blocks for muscle development as well as being important for children’s growing immune systems and brains. Children need protein on a daily basis so include one or two of these in their lunchbox every day.
Healthy Fats
olives
olive oil
nuts and seeds
nut butter
seed butter (tahini)
fish and meat
cheese
cream cheese
nat unsweetened yoghurt
avocado
coconut
coconut yoghurt
energy balls
Fat has many functions in the body including growth and development of the brain and nervous system, building hormones and helping the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Healthy fats have been shown to improve attention and decrease hyperactivity, impulsiveness and restlessness in children. Pick one or two from the list each day.
Complex Carbs
vegetables
oats
oatcakes
chickpeas
beans
lentils
sweet potato wedges
wholewheat pasta
nuts and seeds
brown rice
quinoa
wholegrain bread or wraps
flatbreads
Complex carbohydrates are a great source of energy, which children need a lot of during the school day. My preference is to get most of the complex carbs from plant sources like veggies, oats, chickpeas etc. but if you’re including pasta or bread then opt for wholegrain types rather than white which will provide longer-lasting energy.
Fruit and Veg
cherry tomatoes
celery
red pepper
carrot sticks
cucumber slices
raw sugar snaps
roasted broccoli
sweet pot wedges
green beans
peas
roast beetroot
sweetcorn fritter
avocado
edamame beans
olives
berries
apple
melon
grapes
banana
kiwi
dried mango
dried apricots
pear
peach
plum
pineapple
mango
orange
coconut
satsuma
Mix and match the fruit and veg you pack in your children’s lunchbox to get a range of vitamins and minerals in there. Giving children a couple of portions of their daily fruit and veg in their lunchbox is a great way to care for their bodies and minds - helping their immune systems to work effectively, supporting their brains and providing long-lasting energy.
Aim for a minimum of 2 portions each day in the lunchbox - with one of them being a vegetable. As a rough guide, one portion will be about the size of the palm of their hand.
Something to dip into
pea dip
natural yoghurt
These dips are all loaded with protein, good fats, and sustaining carbs to promote healthy growth and development. Dips are an optional add-on but I find children always love having something to dip their crackers or veg sticks into.
To keep things interesting, consider textures and variety - put something crunchy (cracker) with something soft (avocado), something juicy (melon) and something chewy (dried fruit). Chop veg and fruit in different shapes and sizes.
Drinks
Always pack a full water bottle with the lunchbox and encourage your children to drink it throughout the day. Water is the most hydrating drink, and the only one we recommend packing for school. As an occasional alternative, you could pack coconut water, milk, a green smoothie or our fruit soda.
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Another fantastic recipe from Libby at Munch, I am super excited about these as not only do they taste deeelish but they make for a perfect healthy treat on the go (which lets face it - is most of the time with kids!)
]]>Another fantastic recipe from Libby at Munch, I am super excited about these as not only do they taste deeelish but they make for a perfect healthy treat on the go (which lets face it - is most of the time with kids!)
Free of refined sugar and packed with digestion-supporting fibre, good fats and a host of vitamins and minerals, these little balls are almost too good to be true. They are quick and easy to make, keep brilliantly in the freezer and travel well in lunchboxes.
Ingredients:
1) Blitz the pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and oats in a food processor until they resemble a fine dust. Put two Tbsps of the mixture into a bowl and leave to one side.
2) Add the dates, cinnamon and cacao powder (and the vanilla or orange zest, if using) to the food processor and blitz again for another 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides down a couple of times. The mixture should come together in a ball in the food processor — this can take a while, keep going!
3) Tip the mixture out on to a plate, and with wet hands, divide and roll into 24 balls.
4) Put the balls into the seed dust and shake them around the bowl to coat.
5) Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 weeks, or in the freezer for a couple of months. You can put them straight into the lunchbox from the freezer and they’ll defrost by lunchtime.
You can also find this and other amazing recipes perfect for lunches and beyond over at Munch.
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This is so easy that I can hardly call it a recipe, but it’s very handy to have a jar of this in the cupboard ready for lunchboxes, snacks and car journeys. A little pot of trail mix is an exciting and nourishing alternative to a bag of crisps or popcorn.
]]>Get Ahead - Trail Mix
This is so easy that I can hardly call it a recipe, but it’s very handy to have a jar of this in the cupboard ready for lunchboxes, snacks and car journeys. A little pot of trail mix is an exciting and nourishing alternative to a bag of crisps or popcorn. The key is to include a variety of foods to increase the range of nutrients your children are getting whilst still including some of their favourites.
Choose any items from this list, put in an airtight jar or box and mix together. Keep sealed in your cupboard for freshness.
A huge thank you to Libby from Munch for suggesting so many treats to put in our tasty trail mix. I for one am going to get stocked up on lots of these goodies and let the children choose their favourites for their lunchboxes each day! You can find out more about Libby and the work she does over at Munch here.
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We are delighted and honoured to be working with the wonderful Libby from The Munch Hub. Libby has put together a fantastic back-to-school series. Not only jam packed with lunchbox ideas but sound nutritional advice too.
The Munch Hub believes in the power of 'real' food to nourish our bodies and minds, keeping us healthy and enabling all to meet our full potential.
I'd like to say a special thank you to Libby for all her hard work and passion for real food filling our bellies and keeping us and our kiddos nourished through the day. Over to Libby.....
Welcome to this four-part series in collaboration with Munch where we’ll bring you lunchbox ideas and time-saving tips and tricks to make the back to school period run a little more smoothly for you. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll break down some practical nutrition info alongside simple recipes and tips to ease any stresses and turn lunchboxes into a pleasurable experience both for those packing and eating them.
One of the most important things we can do for our children to help them get the best out of their bodies and brains is to give them good food. So let’s start by looking at what our children actually need to get them through the school day feeling full of energy, motivated and ready to concentrate.
1. Balance Blood Sugar Levels
Keeping our kids sugar levels balanced throughout the day will help to keep their mood and attention levels balanced too. Children’s brains are particularly sensitive to changes in their blood sugar levels - this is because the brain uses around 25% of the body’s glucose supply (our main source of fuel that comes from our food).
We want to help ensure even and sustainable levels of energy for our children, so it’s important we give them slow-releasing forms of complex carbohydrates such as vegetables, sweet potatoes, oats, brown rice, nuts, seeds and whole grain pasta and bread.
Some foods, like those with refined sugars (found in fizzy drinks, sweets and biscuits), and fast-release carbohydrates (white bread and pasta) cause a big spike in sugar levels, which can make children hyper and distracted, leading to poor concentration.
Packing a lunchbox that will keep your child’s blood sugar levels balanced gives them the best possible chance to keep focussed, calm and motivated in the afternoon without dips in energy or mood.
2. Fuel the brain
Approximately 60% of the human brain consists of fats - so it’s no surprise that our brains need fat to work at their best. The more healthy fats our children eat (like those found in oily fish, avocado, olive oil, nuts and seeds) the better the cells in their brains will function.
On the other hand, trans fats, which are commonly found in processed and fried foods, pastry, sausage rolls and baked goods like cakes, muffins and biscuits, can cause more harm than good. They can make kids feel sluggish, adversely affect memory and lower mood.
3. Provide Variety
Vitamins and minerals play lots of important roles in our body such as in energy production, growth, brain development, building strong bones, for vision and ensuring optimal health.
Our bodies can’t produce all of the vitamins and minerals we need so it’s important to make sure our kids are getting them in their diet by eating a wide variety of foods. One way to do this is by changing up what we put in their lunchboxes, and try to avoid sticking to the same items every day - that way they get a wide range of vitamins and minerals, providing them with all the nutrients they need to learn, grow and stay healthy.
4. Build up the immune system
Vitamins are also a vital part of a strong immune system, helping children to resist infection and to speed up healing. Although we can’t always avoid our children getting sick, a nourishing diet that’s rich in vitamins will make it harder for children’s bodies to pick up illnesses - super important for minimising back to school bugs. A healthy diet is the best ammunition we can give our children to fight off the bugs and germs that surround them at school.
5. Provide Energy
Children have relatively high energy needs for their size. They need energy to maintain bodily functions and to be active, just as we do as adults. But they also need energy for all of the physical growth and learning that they do each day. The best way to meet our children’s energy needs is to give them real food and regular meals that are nutritious. Getting a good balance of protein, fats and carbohydrates will drive energy production, allowing children to be active and providing them with the massive amounts of energy that they need to grow.
6. Hydrate
When it comes to concentration, being properly hydrated is key. The body is 60% water, and brain tissue contains a lot of water. Our brain depends on getting enough water to function properly - it isn’t able to store water and so we need to replace however much gets used up during the day, or else cognitive function is impeded.
Some drinks can be a sure-fire way for children to quickly ingest unwanted sugars, artificial sweeteners and chemicals that are detrimental to their mood and memory. Fizzy drinks, squashes and even fruit juices are highly processed and low in nutrients and can immediately affect children’s ability to think clearly and negatively impact their mood.
Look out for Part 2 where we share a super speedy but nutritional snack to get ahead.
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