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SO, WHERE WERE WE? Apologies for the radio silence. 🙈 Work became unexpectedly crazy busy, then my family arrived for a visit from South Africa, so I haven’t been able to take time for IG. How arrrre you? I’ve missed connecting in this space, as great as it is to take time away from screens. . I’m back & keen to keep sharing as I learn about how to live more sustainably & be kinder to this extraordinary planet of ours. Is there anything you’d like me to cover in the coming weeks? Let me know in the comments below or feel free to drop me a DM. 😊 . . . #lifehappens #wherewerewe #allconsidered #sustainableliving #instasustainability (at Hampstead Heath) https://www.instagram.com/p/By4xx59H4qG/?igshid=1h0lo6oqexmei

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AIR DRYING CLOTHING I've always preferred to hang up my washing, even our little flat in London, but I know that tumble drying is a go-to method for many. Is air drying the done thing where you live or are most people set on using a tumble dryer? 🌬Here are 4 reasons why it's better to let clothes air dry: 1. It's way kinder to our planet.   If all households with a tumble dryer air dried one load of washing outside each week instead of tumble drying it, they would save over a million tonnes of CO2 in a year. Bam. 2. It’s a step towards slower living.  Taking time to hang clothes can be therapeutic. :) It reminds us of what we own & it's a chance to feel gratitude for each item rather than chucking it into a machine. 3. It's better for the clothes. #lovedclotheslast  Tumble dryers weaken the fabric’s fibres faster than if they had been air dried. Also, air drying doesn't shrink clothes. 4. The sun is a natural whitener. Great for work shirts & the like. 🌬 Even on cold days, the lower humidity aids the drying process so, if you can, leave a window open where your clothes are drying in Winter. Hanging the items up straight after the wash instead of leaving them to sit in the machine helps too.  . . . #ecoconscious #themoreyouknow #allconsidered #theartofslowliving #mindfulfashion #mindfullysustainable (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw4wcfnnCRE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11sq7su4k63oh

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Do you have a sustainability “buddy”? How very grateful I am that my awesome sister @greenteachertess decided to go zero waste at the same time as me. What started out as simple moves to cut down on how much waste we produce has become so much more as we learn about the challenges facing the planet. . It makes such a difference to have someone you can go bulk shopping with, share great new recipes & DIYs, vent to about the insane amounts of plastic continuing to be produced every day, cry together about palm oil & orangutans & protest against evil fossil fuels side by side. 💪🌍💕 . Tag your fellow eco warriors below: 🤗 . . . #ecowarriors #zerowastesisters #sustainableliving #allconsidered #considered #gogreentogether (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BurbeU0nesy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xrh9yyw45om6

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Three to go, in my own container please. :) It's impossible to say no to the sweet treats when I visit @babylonstoren .  🥐 Baked goods are so quick and easy to buy zero waste. Some suggestions on how you can take your faves away sans single use packaging: 🥨 * A cotton bag. * A tupperware (single use plastic is the worst, but use what you have at home until it reaches the end of its useful carrying days). * A metal tiffin tin. * Your hand. Eating on the go in its purest form. * An old ice cream/hot chocolate/biscuit box. * A large jar. * A basket with a lid. * An old pillow case. 🍩 What about paper bags, you ask? A *lot* of energy goes into producing paper bags and this often includes the loss of beautiful old trees, so try to avoid any single use packaging if you can. Plus, if paper is covered with food it can't be recycled. Most bakery packets are lined to avoid oil seepage too, so they can't be composted. All in all, your hand is looking pretty good right now. ;) 🍪 Do you have a favourite local bakery you like to support, or place you always pop into when you travel back to the same city? . . . #nosingleuse #easyzerowaste #allconsidered #supportlocal #bakedgoods #packagingfree (at Babylonstoren) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs_FvqLnX3l/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2gcaico1nec8

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Harsh truth. Big,fossil fuel guzzling corporations; fast fashion brands; the banks that support them; the people who run them... please don’t put profit before planet. . As individuals, let’s be mindful & remember that little things really do add up. Some tips on you can be kinder to the planet: * Choose walking, cycling or public transport over driving. * Use less electricity & switch to renewables (it’s SO easy in the uk- it honestly took us 5 mins to switch our provider to @bulbstagram & we saved money too!) * Avoid single use plastic. * Avoid using unnecessary paper & card. Recycle what you do use. * Eat less meat & local, seasonal, organic food where possible * Vote for parties that truly value the environment & prove this through their actions & decisions. * Trains over planes, where possible. . Feel free to add any ways you are living more sustainably in the comments below... 😊🌍✨💕 . . . #planetoverprofit #ecoliving #allconsidered #wegotthis (at Kensington, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs8nWV6HT6o/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1r7462eer7231

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Tidy. Have you seen "Tidying Up" on Netflix? I enjoyed the show and I love Marie Kondo's positivity and kindness. I also loved her book and for years we have had our drawers organised with the konmari method. However, while watching the show I couldn't stop wondering where all the discarded items were going? 🤔 . Charity shops are overwhelmed at this time of year with an influx of donations as we declutter our homes. A third of everything goes to landfill and huge amounts are shipped across the world for developing countries to deal with (it's nice to think that our unwanted items may find a home with those in need, but there's so so much brought in that it often ends up being a burden or in landfill emitting greenhouse gases). . Ideally, everyone who declutters their home will complete the process with a change of mindset. We can focus on only buying what we need and considering the raw materials that have gone into producing the "stuff" that we see as disposable. It's not easy when we are constantly being told that we need new things to make us happy. I am still working on this too! Let's all practice gratitude, caring for what we have and repairing over replacing.  . Thank you to my lovely cousin @mrs_nixie87 for inspiring this post! 🤗💕 . . . . #konmari #tidyingup #allconsidered #themindfulapproach #alifeofintention (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs0tGaQnBIq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10ja390yyyct5

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As we edge closer to 2019, what changes will you be making & what will you continue doing? 🌿 Living sustainably sometimes means going a bit out of the way, planning ahead or coming up against resistance from people who are used to things being a certain way. This year has shown me that change & challenges help us grow & there is so much in joy in having a clear purpose. 🌿 I’m heading to Wales to stay in a yurt for a few days. Excited for hikes, reflecting on the year that’s past & setting intentions for the new year. I hope you’re all enjoying this delightfully slow time of year. :) . . . . . #mindfulliving #zerowaste #allconsidered #zerowastelife #ofsimplethings #motivation #livingsustainably #newyearsresolution #livingintentionally #dowhatisright #slowliving #embracetheseason https://www.instagram.com/p/Br5S2qTHEwv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=m1c63n0j7ooo

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Keep it simple. Sometimes when people hear the term "zero waste" they think it must be impossible to achieve. What I've learned since starting this journey in Feb, is that it's a marathon, not a sprint. You can't go 100% zero waste overnight. We live in a society that favours convenience and most things we consume come in some form of packaging. What has helped me is to start with the easy stuff- like bread! 🥖(For those who don't eat bread, please picture a watermelon in place of this loaf.🍉) Carrying a reusable bag (or 5 in my case) means you can always buy things when you see them package-free. Plus... it looks pretty 😬 and feels good to avoid a nasty plastic bag. 🚫 #connect2earth #zerowaste #plasticfree #packagefree #wastefree #zerowastelifestyle #minimalwaste #nowaste #plasticfreeliving #lifestyle #eco #ecohome #greenlife #shoplocal #greenlifestyle #greenliving #allconsidered (at Hampstead, United Kingdom)