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July 2020 | REDONLINE.CO.UKSustainability
Ella Dove,
Commissioning editor
Did you know that 20-40% of fresh
produce in the UK is wasted before it
even leaves farms? Shocked by this
statistic, not to mention fed up with
endless plastic supermarket
packaging, I have decided to embark
on a mission to eat both healthily and
sustainably. OddBox rescues wonky,
rejected fruit and veg from farms and
producers, packages it (in cardboard!)
and delivers it directly to your door.
What’s more, the contents of every
box are a surprise – which makes
cooking even more fun (oddbox.co.uk).
Julie Powell, Health director
While activewear is often made from plastic, Sundried’s Eco Charge range
is made from 100% recycled coffee grounds. What’s with the coffee? Not
only does it mean the used grounds don’t end up in landfill, but when used
to make exercise gear, their benefits include odour control and a drying time
that’s 200 times faster than cotton (sundried.com). I have also switched
to using Yogamatters’s Eco Everyday Yoga Mat (£60, yogamatters.com),
which is made from sustainably harvested natural tree rubber and recycled
material, and is recyclable and biodegradable. It is also well-cushioned
and has good grip for slip-free practice.
Plant-based diets not only help the planet but reduce the chance of heart
attacks, strokes and cancer, according to a 2017 study from Imperial College
London. I love the recipes in Eat Yourself Healthy by Dr Megan Rossi; they
help me eat a rainbow spectrum of vegetables. Also, I have just been given
Fear ne Cotton’s Happy Vegan cookbook. I’m not a fully fledged vegan,
but the recipes look delicious and family friendly.
I am also pleased that not only are periods finally being seen as something
fundamental and totally natural, but an army of period brands is leading the
eco way. ‘Bleed red, think green,’ says DAME, a brand that launched a green
reusable tampon applicator in response to what it says are the 1.3bn disposable
applicators that are thrown away each year – and that’s just in the UK.
Simply rinse, wipe dry and you’re good to use again.‘IN THE UK, 20-40% OF FRESH
PRODUCE IS WASTED BEFORE
IT EVEN LEAVES FARMS’