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The move, which has been on the cards for almost two years, is aimed to cutback the estimated 4.7 billion plastic straws, 300 million stirrers, and two billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds that are used in England every year.

However, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (known as Defra) has pushed back the ban from May last 2019 to October 2020, because of complications due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The government’s response to the plastic ban delay

‘Given the huge challenges posed to businesses by coronavirus, we have confirmed we will delay the introduction of our ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds until October 2020,’ Defra said in a statement.

‘We remain absolutely committed to turning the tide on the widespread use of single-use plastics and the threat they pose to our natural environment. This ban is yet another measure to clamp down on unnecessary plastic so we can better protect our precious wildlife and leave our environment in a better state for future generations.’

When does the plastic ban come into force, and what does it mean?

The ban on supplying plastic straws, stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds officially came into force in England on Thursday 1st October 2020.

This is one month after ministers confirmed that the single-use plastic bag charge would be increased to 10p and extended to all retailers. 

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

‘Single-use plastics cause real devastation to the environment and this government is firmly committed to tackling this issue head-on.

We are already a world-leader in this global effort. Our 5p charge on single-use plastic bags has successfully cut sales by 95% in the main supermarkets, we have banned microbeads, and we are building plans for a deposit return scheme to drive up the recycling of single-use drinks containers’.

The government also stated that those with disabilities and those with medical conditions will be able to request a plastic straw when visiting a pub or restaurant, and will be able to purchase them from pharmacies.

What is the environmental impact of this plastic ban?

Dr Laura Foster, Head of Clean Seas at the Marine Conservation Society, said:

‘It’s fantastic news that the ban on plastic cotton bud sticks, stirrers and straws is now in place. The results of our annual Great British Beach Clean have shown a decrease in cotton bud sticks littering British beaches.

In 2017 we found an average of 31 cotton bud sticks per 100 metres of beach, and in 2019 we found just eight on beaches in England. This reflects that many companies have already made the switch away from plastic, in cotton buds and other items, something we need to see more companies doing. Only with ambitious policy and forward-thinking brands and companies, can we truly stop the plastic tide.’

Other key government actions on plastics include a world-leading ban on microbeads, consulting on introducing a deposit return scheme to drive up the recycling of single-use drinks containers, and committing to a ban on the export of polluting plastic waste to non-OECD countries. As announced recently, the 5p charge on single-use bags will be doubled to 10p and extended to all retailers from April 2021.

The ban on supplying plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds officially came into force in England on Thursday 1st October 2020. Find out what this means for you and the planet here. 

Plastic Bans In The UK: What You Need To Know

The ban on supplying plastic straws, stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds officially came into force in England on Thursday 1st October 2020. Find out what this means for you and the planet here. 

In May 2019, the UK government confirmed the phase-out date for plastic straws and drink stirrers, and cotton buds with plastic stems, banning the items from being sold in England from April 2020.

Flexitarianism is a diet that is rich in plants, with reduced consumption of meat and animal products. It is also known as semi-vegetarianism.

Lots of people love meat but recognise there are advantages to reducing meat consumption. For some, it may be for health reasons; plant-based diets attract people as it can help with weight loss and physical wellness. Lots of people also reduce their meat consumption for environmental reasons too, and in 2018 it was reported that a third of the British population were reducing their meat consumption, being either vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian.

Flexitarianism can work as a compromise between liking meat and wanting to eat more sustainably, as it allows people to incorporate more of a plant-based diet in their lives while also eating meat when they decide to. Flexitarianism is also quite a broad term because it can mean everything from being vegetarian or vegan once a week to eating meat only very occasionally. It is completely inclusive of anyone and everyone who wants to reduce their meat consumption.

Figuring out what to eat when you’re reducing the amount of meat you eat doesn’t have to be hard. It provides a great way of discovering new vegetables, grains and pulses for you to love cooking with and eating. Here are some top tips for eating more plants:

Find some vegetarian and vegan meat that you like. This can help someone cross over to being flexitarian, as it means you can have dishes that you might already eat fairly regularly (sausage and mash, chicken stir-fries, bolognese etc.) but made plant-based. It's a great example of how swapping your beef mince for vegan mince can significantly reduce your meat consumption in the long run. Here’s a guide to shopping for supermarket vegan meat to get you started.


Ease yourself into eating less meat. Deciding one day to eliminate animal products from your diet is a very big decision, and while some people may take it in their stride, for others (myself included), it's a pretty intense thing to decide without working up to it. So, the beauty of flexitarianism is that every little helps. Two days a week on a plant-based diet for one year saves roughly 2,200 gallons of water, 60 sqft of land and 40 lbs of CO2, for example. 

Swap out animal products with vegan and vegetarian alternatives. Changing your diet may feel like more of an inconvenience if you spend each mealtime having to prepare a completely new dish. Cooking what you know is still important if you are reducing meat; having some veganised favourites or quick meals that can be whipped up on weeknights is important. And can be easily achieved if you use plant-based butter, cream, milk, and cheeses. That way, old favourites like a cheesy pasta bake or a jacket potato can still be weeknight classics.


Lastly, order a box of allplants for meals are completely vegan and 100% delicious, meaning you’ll have a set of meals in the week ready and chef-prepared for you to tuck straight into— a flexi-feast. 

More and more people are reducing their consumption of meat and dairy, leading to the rise of ‘flexitarians’. But what exactly does this mean, and how is this way of eating beneficial to individuals and the planet?

What Is Flexitarianism, And Is It For Me?

We’re not about withholding special treats over the winter period (or at all, for that matter). Instead, we can look at our impact on our world during this time, enabling us to see how we can make effective cutbacks that won’t stop us having fun. 

It’s time to name and shame the most wasted food items at Christmas – you might already be a superstar when it comes to wasteless food shopping, but if you’d like to learn more, take a look below. Here are some of the main culprits when it comes to Christmas food waste, according to Good To Know:

Gravy – apparently there’s enough wasted gravy to fill a swimming pool 

Roasted vegetables – we’re not sure why, but parsnips, carrots, potatoes and Brussels sprouts top the list when it comes to festive food waste

Plan, plan and keep on planning – making a shopping list and sticking to it is the most effective way to reduce food waste at home throughout the year, but especially at Christmas 

Ask your family, housemates and guests what they’d like to eat. If everyone loves mince pies, then don’t stop buying them; but if they’d all rather eat vegan biscuits  with their cups of tea, then ditch some of the mince pies from your shopping trolley before they end up in the bin

If you know you’re more likely to start eating out, at friends’ houses or craving takeaways, then factor that into your shopping habits by planning to cook fewer meals

Organise your fridge, rotate the contents of your cupboards so the old stuff is at the front and use your freezer to make your food last longer – you might be able to cook some of your festive favourites with what you’ve already got

Donate any spare food – this is always appreciated and effective, but especially so at Christmas. Here’s a useful site to help you find your nearest food bank.

If you’d like some more in-depth information on these steps, then have a read of this thorough guide on reducing food waste.

Some other ways to have a more sustainable Christmas

It’s not just food that’s a big hitter for waste at Christmas. We can turn our attention to what we’re gifting to how we’re wrapping them and how we decorate our homes. For the full low-down read 9 Ways To Help You Have An Eco-Friendly Christmas.

Christmas is the time for family and friends, merriment and indulgence – there’s no need to stop getting your fill of Bailey’s or vegan stuffing, but maybe it is time to think about how much we’re wasting and what we can do about it.

How To Reduce Food Waste At Christmas And Beyond

We all want to keep our food fresher for longer, opting for basic cling film or saran wrap. Whilst this has been a go-to for many for generations, this single-use plastic needs a sustainable upgrade. Enter reusable food bags and wraps. Eco-food wraps are becoming more and more common as people seek to reduce the amount of plastic they use, as well as find a cheaper alternative since they can last for a good while. Vegan wraps are made using cotton and plant-based waxes, and make for a nifty way of keeping your food in style — check out these cool ones from Oxfam.

These bags are cute and functional for your lunch sandwiches and snacks. They are water-resistant and keep your food fresher for longer; they’re especially great for any camping trips or hikes where you’ll need lots of food to fuel your days. Reusable and washable, you’ll say goodbye to plastic sandwich bags. Check out these ones from & Keep for some fun designs.

This one’s for when your eyes are bigger than your stomach and you’ve got a lot of leftover food on your plate. If you want to save it for another meal, these food covers are fantastic — just pop it on one of your bowls and you will have successfully sealed your food away without cracking out the foil. They’re reusable, easy to wash and come in lots of cute patterns, like this one from Wearth.

Make lunchtimes exciting and prove to your coworkers that you’re organised with these cute bamboo Tupperware boxes. Leon has released several eco-friendly products like this one with John Lewis — cute and eco friendly, these are great to take into the office or store food kept in the fridge. It is made from biodegradable and recyclable bamboo that is sustainably sourced. 

Picking up your groceries? Bring these produce bags with you, which are perfect for fruit, vegetables and bread. Check out these classic ones from Greenerlyfe: They’re made from organic cotton, reusable and better yet, they're machine washable, so you’re covered on your next trip to the shops or farmers market.

Decrease food waste, fight single-use plastic, organise your fridge space and vamp it up with cute designs? Sign us up. 

5 Eco-Friendly Products To Help Keep Food Fresh

Sustainable forestry is about finding ways to responsibly balance our need for forest and woodland resources whilst also mimicking the natural processes of disturbance and regeneration to maintain the health of the forest in the long-term.

Sustainable forests are important because, without proper maintenance and care, forests could become a thing of the past. We must support natural ecosystems in forests, as well as supporting industries and livelihoods. It is a fine balance that should be maintained to ensure that forests are being looked after and not exploited, while we can also responsibly use the resources that forests offer. This means that future generations will also be able to reap the benefits of forest resources, which needs to be carefully managed. 

Burning trees selectively is a means of increasing sustainability and of ensuring the forest is able to regenerate. The carbon dioxide that gets released when burning the trees are balanced out by newly planted trees that absorb the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, making it a carbon-neutral process.

It is important to keep the composition of woodland in the right conditions to ensure that wildlife, diverse tree species and ecosystems are maintained. Unsustainable forests lead to species threatened with extinction, so making biodiversity a key priority is a huge part of sustainable forestry. 

As well as this, considering the needs and impacts of humans is also key to striking the balance necessary for sustainable forestry. Ultimately, there is the business element to forestry that means people live in forests, depend on it for work and livelihoods, and the materials collected are essential for many of us in our everyday lives. Ensuring that forestry suits our needs in the most effective and environmentally friendly way possible is key to ensuring its success.

What’s being done to encourage sustainable forestry?

There have been great strides globally to ensure forest practices are more sustainable. The UK has shown a fairly modest effort to protect land, which is perhaps a little unsurprising when considering that the average amount of woodland in the UK is far lower than the average in Europe. 

Even though most of the UK’s native forests have gone, cleared for farming and settlement centuries ago, the amount of woodland in the UK has doubled in the last hundred years due to a focus on maintaining green spaces. The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) set the standard of and measures to follow for sustainable forestry, and it must be adhered to— regardless of who owns it, all woodland in the UK must meet its criteria. It has certified all state forests in the UK as sustainably managed, showing a commitment to sustainable practices that we hope only continues to grow. 

Eager to learn more? Check out this blog post from the Woodland Trust, and head to Rainforest Alliance for more information about sustainable forests globally.  

Currently, 13% of UK land area is made up of forests, and the key to good management of these forests is sustainability. This is vital in order for the woodland ecosystem to remain in good health, enabling it to provide for both people and wildlife for the long term. Here’s the full lowdown on what a sustainable forest is and more of why they’re so important.

Everything You Need To Know About Sustainable Forestry

For a long time, Halloween has been associated with America and has only in the last few decades become a popular holiday to celebrate in the UK. This is interesting when considering the fact that Halloween is originally a British festival, Samhain, celebrated by the Celts. It has found a resurgence as a modern celebration, and it’s now time we brought the holiday up-to-date in terms of sustainability, too. 

So, how can you have a scarily sustainable Halloween?

Although decorating your house for Halloween is more typical in America, it is also becoming popular to do so here, particularly if you plan to hold a party. Instead of buying your decorations, try making them yourself. Store-bought items are usually made from plastic, which is not ideal when they will only get used on one day of the year; instead, get some inspo from Pinterest and paper mache, daisy chain and glitter up some cool decorations. It will be cheaper, more unique, and more sustainable, not to mention it’ll help get you in the spooky mood. It’s a great activity to do with your close friends or your little ones, too. 

Pumpkin carving is a fun activity every October, but it can also be a massive contributor to food waste; 99% of pumpkins sold throughout the year are bought for Halloween specifically, and most of these then end up getting the bin treatment. Why not cook up a storm with offcuts? Pumpkin is great in everything from curries to pies. Try our recipe for vegan pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin pasta bake, or pumpkin and roasted onion toastie to get the most out of this versatile veg.

Make your own Halloween sweets and treats

Seeing trick or treaters is a highlight of Halloween, but with this tradition comes the problems of food wrapping waste. If you’re looking for an alternative, try making your own sweet treats without wrappers. Try our recipe for white chocolate bark and out chocolate tahini truffles for vegan delights that can be whipped up quickly.

Halloween is all about dressing up, but there are certainly ways of sourcing a costume in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Have a look at our article on Halloween costumes for tips and tricks, including raiding your local charity shops and getting creative with scissors and a glue gun. 

It’s spooky season! And with it comes many ways that we can create a more responsible, environmentally-friendly way to celebrate this iconic holiday. Here are our top tips for a sustainable Halloween. 

Our Top Tips For A Spooky and Green Halloween 

Love Halloween? You’re not the only one; last year the UK was expected to spend £472 million on the holiday, largely on costumes. This is huge when considering a massive proportion of those costumes are worn just once.

So how do we make sure that we source costumes responsibly and ensure our outfits are environmentally friendly? Here are some top tips for sustainably sourcing your Halloween costume this October.

As a major advocate of a clothes swap between friends, I always find it so interesting to see how you can use a piece of clothing and style it so differently to one another. Have a look at your friend’s closet for inspiration for a new outfit — you might be surprised to find they have the missing item you need to make your costume idea become a reality. If they have a full costume or onesie from another year that you like the sound of, even better.

Charity shops and thrift shops are underrated when trying to find a Halloween costume. Charity shops are given donations all year round that may include costumes, which they then shelve until around September in preparation for Halloween (some insider knowledge for you, as a former charity shop sales assistant). This means that you can often find full costumes, cool vintage finds or bits and bobs that can be made into your favourite characters and famous figures. Buying second hand extends the life of a piece of clothing by an extra two years on average, making it a great way to dress for Halloween sustainably. Plus, it means you can absolutely get stuck in and take advantage of Oxfam’s second hand September campaign.

If you’re one to go all out with your Halloween costume, renting is a fantastic way to dress to impress sustainably. Renting costumes is already popular in the US for the holidays, but is slowly but surely making its way over to the UK as a way of replacing buying clothes. Renting your outfit means you can find a detailed or accurate costume for cheaper than if you were to buy it outright yourself. It also makes a fun day out with friends or family when picking them out.

With YouTube tutorials and dedicated Pinterest boards, it’s easier than ever to get creative and make your own costume. With dramatic Halloween makeup looks and some old clothes that can be upcycled or repurposed, it is entirely possible to revamp yourself into whoever or whatever you want!

Halloween is fast approaching, so stay on trend and stay sustainable with our top hacks for your fancy dress costume.

There are things that are certain to get you into the Christmas cheer: Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas, your local high street light switch-on, or maybe something as simple as supermarkets starting to sell mince pies. But the top of the list has got to be a beautifully decorated Christmas tree; a universal symbol for Christmas, it is truly one of the best things about the holiday season. So what can we do to make this tradition more eco-friendly?

There is lots of confusion over whether plastic or real trees are more sustainable. Plastic trees are not very environmentally friendly unless you plan to use it for 12-15 years; only at this point will its carbon footprint have matched buying a real tree each of those years. This is still with the assumption that it will be recycled after rather than ending up in a landfill, which is unlikely since most trees are made with PVC, a notoriously difficult plastic to recycle. 

So, given that a 6.5ft artificial tree has a carbon footprint of around 40kg of greenhouse gas emissions versus 2.5g of emissions from a natural tree, it is more eco-friendly to buy a real tree than a fake one. In fact, buying a real tree can actually have a positive impact on the environment. The demand for Christmas trees means that there are more trees being planted than cut.

Things to consider when buying a real Christmas tree

Although buying a real tree is more environmentally-friendly than an artificial tree, there are still several things to consider.

The Christmas tree market continues to grow as more people are interested in buying real trees. An easy way to cut emissions is to pick up a tree locally, rather than have it imported into the UK from elsewhere. This also means they will be fresher for longer.

Make sure your tree comes from a nursery that sells them rather than those cut from natural forests

Buying your tree from a farm rather than a place that sells trees cut from unspoilt forests keeps the process more sustainable. 

Consider chopping your own Christmas tree

The National Trust offers the chance to cut your own tree, as do lots of farms around the country. This makes for a lovely opportunity to spend the day with friends or family while selecting your tree. This is also often cheaper than buying a real tree as you don’t pay for shipping and transportation costs. 

Find out more about its recycling process

Most farms have a collection point service for trees after the holidays are over, so it is worth finding out whether you can return your tree to be recycled come January. Christmas tree farms can turn this into something climate positive, as they can transplant trees or recycle them to be used for chipping. 

You can buy potted Christmas trees so that by the years’ end you will have a respectable tree to decorate with all of your favourite decorations. This way, you could, in theory, use it every year — provided you look after it well. 

There is plenty of confusion about whether Christmas trees can be sustainable, and which type is the most environmentally friendly — so here are your questions, answered.

Sustainable Christmas Trees And How To Find Them

Whether you’ve taken a sneaky cutting from a plant in the office at work, or you’d like to divy up your existing stock, propagation might just become your new favourite hobby. The idea of plant propagation is a fun, simple and effective way of gaining a whole new selection of green pals to brighten up your home or give a new lease of life to your garden.

To put it simply, the term plant propagation covers a whole host of ways to create new ‘baby’ plants from existing ‘parent’ plants.

Here are a few of the easiest ways to propagate plants for beginners, with each method suiting different types of plants better dependent on how best they grow. 

This is most commonly seen in the agricultural world, and it is how the fruits and vegetables we buy and eat are grown. Seeds are either widely scattered across a prepared field, or individually sown in small trays until they’re big and hardy enough to be transferred on. 

This process is well suited to the home propagation of seeds we’ve collected ourselves. Think of the pips from and oranges or lemons, or the countless small seeds inside a pepper. 

This is perhaps the most common form of Instagram-worthy propagation and is easy to accomplish. It works by:

Cutting new growth from your plant of choice.

Submerging the base of your new cutting in rainwater to develop roots – this can take anything from a few weeks to a few months, so be patient!

And finally repotting them when they’ve got a substantial root system. 

If you’re nosy and would like to be able to see what’s going on with your new plants, then submerge them in a glass jar or vase for a front-row seat of root and shoot development. 

This technique works especially well with spider plants (chlorophytum comosum) or cheese plants (monstera deliciosa)! For a full-blown guide to cuttings, read this post from Paper & Stitch.

This is another method that’s easy to give a go at home. As you may have guessed, this involved digging up a healthy and established plant then separating it into two or more sections with roots attached. Then simply replant is separate pots with enough room for your new friends to grow in to.

This is a great method for anything multi-stemmed like a Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) or a calathea. For the full insight on plant division, read this post from Our House Plants.

Plant propagation is a fun way to exercise your green thumb and not spend a fortune on new house plants. 

How Do I Propagate My Own Plants At Home? 

You might think that offering a vegan menu or even being wholly vegan means that a restaurant is 100% automatically planet-kind. But some of the spots included in this article go that one step further into introducing more sustainable practices from produce to plate (and everything in between).

Somerset House, Lancaster Pl, London WC2R 1LA

Spring is at the top of this list because it has so many different initiatives at play. While they do have vegetarian and vegan options, this is a good choice for all you flexitarians. With renowned Australian chef Skye Gyngell at the helm, Spring has its Pre Theatre Scratch Menu which uses ingredients that would otherwise go to waste, so each menu is altered daily with zero waste in mind. Spring has also pledged to reduce their use of single-use plastics, to be one of London’s first plastic-free restaurants. On top of all this, their produce is organic and brought in from Heckfield Place Home Farm who use a biodynamic calendar to grow their fruit, veg and flowers. Oh, it also has a stunning interior, ideal for the ‘gram.

With their motto ‘from soil to sun’, Farmacy serves fully plant-based, seasonal meals that are free from dairy, refined sugar, additives and chemicals. The ingredients they use for each delicious dish are grown on their very own farm based in Kent or sourced from sustainable, conscious suppliers. The Farmacy farm, too, works off a biodynamic calendar which grows fruit, veg and herbs. These are delivered weekly to their restaurant in Notting Hill in an electric van, no less. Their aim through biodynamic farming is to challenge traditional food systems and reconnect the food we eat back to the soil it’s grown in (while eating nothing but plants). 

11 Pimlico Rd, Belgravia, London SW1W 8NA

Each restaurant part of the Darwin & Wallace group is thoughtfully created and impresses every time. With a vast vegan menu, each dish is cooked from scratch daily. Being part of the Sustainable Restaurant Association since they began in 2013, Darwin & Wallace have always been conscious of controlling food waste, product packaging and sourcing British or local produce. Darwin & Wallace also have outdoor spaces and bar gardens in a number of their restaurants, which they recognise as crucial to creating more green space in an ever-growing concrete city. You can read some more about their sustainability practices here. We particularly love the sites at No. 11 Pimlico Road if you’re based in the West of London, or No. 35 Mackenzie Walk if you’re further East.

Mercato Metropolitano pride themselves on being ‘London’s first sustainable community food market focused on revitalising neighbourhoods and protecting the environment’. Based in Elephant & Castle and Mayfair, with another set to open in Ilford (fab news for East Enders,), they’re leaping ahead with their sustainability initiatives and supportive development processes. These include the banning of single-use plastics, a partnership with Too Good To Go (one of London’s best food saving apps), reducing office waste with Paper Round, and the inclusion of water refill stations as part of the Refill London Campaign. With over 40 food stalls to choose from, many of them are vegan or have tasty vegan food and alcohol options.

208-212 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London W11 2RH

Daylesford is arguably one of the biggest names in the organic farming market, but they also have a few cafes in London where you can have a taste of their fresh produce in action from a few of their vegan options. Their farm in Gloucestershire is rooted in pioneering the future of organic farming through zero waste, using clean energy (they aim to be 75% energy self-sufficient by 2020), using 100% recyclable reusable or compostable packaging (like our packaging at allplants) and finally, sourcing ingredients responsibly and naturally. 

It’s incredibly exciting to see all of these restaurants place sustainable development at the forefront of their practices and beliefs, and how veganism is increasingly a part of that.

Know any other great sustainable restaurants in London that fit the bill? Let us know in the comments!

London’s restaurant scene is set to cater to almost any dietary requirement, food preference and culture, but what about restaurants that place fresh seasonal vegetables, locally sourced produce and zero food waste at the forefront of their ethos and practices?

London’s Most Sustainable Vegan..ish Restaurants

TIP: keep track of what new wildlife these tips help bring to your garden. Little ones will love it, and learn more about who they’re sharing their back garden with.

A great way to immediately attract wildlife into your garden is by introducing bird feeders. Here are some of our favourites: 

Birdseed mixtures like this from Happy Beaks, which includes sunflower seeds, cereals and red dari – perfect for all varieties of tits, finches and sparrows. Avoid mixes with lentils, beans and split peas in and only larger birds can eat them.

Want to make your own mix? Peanuts, sunflower seeds and nyjer seeds will make a great snack for flying friends. 

Bird cakes or food bars are a great well rounded meal because they include fat from margarine or coconut oil as well as seeds – here’s a bird food recipe to try with little ones.

Extra tip – the more variety you put out, the likelier it is you’ll see many more species of birds. 

If you’re able to dedicate a little corner of your garden to use as a woodpile, then you’ll be pleased to know that it will be used by butterflies and wasps to hibernate during the winter months. They’ll take up residence with frogs, toads and shrews who will all happily eat the woodlice, sure to be there too.

If you’d like to invite up to two thousand species of insects to come and stay, then how about making a bug hotel? Again, it’s a great weekend activity to share with kids big and small. 

Another wildlife-positive choice we can make is by planting a good variety of native plants (indigenous to an area). This doesn’t mean that you should dig up all of your non-native flowers, but try adding a few of the following into the mix. 

This not only helps keep our flora history alive, but they’re also ideal for pollinating insects, as they’ve evolved to feed, and rely, on them (plus they’re beautiful flowers in their own right). 

Along with native species of flowers, butterflies love nectar-rich plants to feed from, that will flower throughout the year. These include: 

Butterflies are cold-blooded, so you should plant these flowers in a sunny patch of your garden. Bonus points if you’ve got large, leafy shrubs for them to shelter under in the rain.

Creating a compost heap in your garden is not only a great way to reduce your food waste, but will also offer a haven for worms and many-legged mini-beasts. When the time is right, you can use your compost to help grow flowers or vegetables.

When we’re tucked up at night, there’s plenty going on in our gardens. The most common creatures to come out when the sun goes down includes; hedgehogs, owls, foxes and bats. There are 18 species of bats in the UK, and a great way to make sure they’re getting their fill of nocturnal insects is by planting night-scented flowers like honeysuckle.

Their orientations skills can be affected by our artificial lights however. If possible, try switching any of these off in your garden and around your house to ensure an easy journey.

Whether that’s a fully realised pond (with sloped sides so animals can get back out) for frogs, toads and newts, or it’s a large, shallow dish for birds, adding water is a great step to encouraging more wildlife to come, and stay, in your garden. 

Here are the Wildlife Trust’s tips on how to build a thriving pond in your garden.

If you’re able to dedicate some space outside to growing a little wild grass, then you’ll be amazed at who comes to stay. By letting a patch, or strip of grass grow long it will not only invite frogs, dormice and slow worms to join the wildlife-party in your garden, but it will also promote wildflower growth and shelter for all types of insects. 

Lastly, why not be a buzzin’ hero and help save the bees with 7 ways to make your garden more bee-friendly?

Let us know the tips you’ve tried out in the comments. 

This guide is filled with our top ideas on making your garden more wildlife-friendly, to turn your garden (big or small) into a haven for some of earth’s smallest creatures.

9 Ideas On How To Attract Wildlife To Your Garden

Here’s our guide to some of our favourite environmentally-friendly and plastic-free toiletries out there.

This refillable glass soap dispenser from Milly & Sissy comes with three delicately scented refills in compostable sachets.

After a plastic-free bar soap? This extensive range from Faith in Nature has all bases covered.

This seaweed, sea salt and lemon shampoo bar from Lush is one of our favourites on the market.

If you’re not crazy about shampoo bars, then we think you’ll love Hairy Jayne’s refillable plastic-free shampoo and conditioner metal bottles. You’re also able to custom pick scents too.

This organic body wash from London Bathers is something you’ll want to add to a birthday wish list.

Zero-waste body wash from Norfolk based Sop might just be a new favourite too. 

This shea butter facial cleansing bar from Friendly Soap is velvety smooth, fragrance free and will leave your face feeling thoroughly refreshed.

If you need a plastic-free exfoliator, then this gingersnap face scrub from Ethique will gently help reveal glowing skin. 

Been thinking of making the switch to bamboo toothbrushes? With Anything But Plastic, you can reduce your single use waste and brighten your morning with one of their toothbrushes available in five beautiful colours.

Why not gift this entire oral care kit from Wearth London? It comes with biodegradable toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste tablets, interdental floss brushes and a copper tongue cleaner.

This reusable razor from Up Circle is perfect for anyone with hair they want to shave, body or face. You can return your used razor blades to them to be recycled and they say you can save £163 a year by choosing them over disposables. That’s a win in our books. 

If you’re ditching the plastic razors, then next you’ll be needing a great plastic-free shaving cream. This lemongrass and tea tree shaving soap from Wild Sage & Co is one of our favourites.

Try this refillable deodorant subscription from Wild today. They’re stylish, 100% natural and flexible with the scents and subscriptions.

Want a sustainable toilet paper subscription, delivered straight to your door? Then you need Who Gives A Crap Their products are made from waste paper, recycled textbooks and bamboo and they donate half their profits to various charities. Bonus points because you can hold on to the rolls’ arty individual coverings and use them for wrapping presents. 

Get yourself some bamboo cotton buds from It’s All About You and reusable cotton pads for cleansing or makeup removal from Holland & Barrett to reduce some final bits of bathroom waste. 

For the full lowdown, read 7 ways to make your period more sustainable. Top recommendations include the reusable menstrual cup from Saalt and biodegradable pads from & Sisters 

If you’re looking to reduce the amount of single use plastic in your life, then why not start in the bathroom, and treat yourself to some plastic-free pampering?

How To Go Totally Plastic Free With Your Toiletries

If you’re looking to reduce the amount of single use plastic in your life, then why not start in the bathroom, and treat yourself to some plastic-free and eco-friendly pampering?

From recycling at home, to eating more plants, there are lots of things  we can do to help our planet that aren’t a compromise. This idea can be extended to the way we travel, book holidays and make memories that will last a lifetime.

To paraphrase Green Ideas for Tourism, sustainable tourism is making optimal use of environmental resources that play a positive role in maintaining natural heritage and biodiversity. Respecting the host's communities and cultural traditions, and supporting businesses that are visibly rooted in community investment.

What does that look like, and how can I make a positive impact? 

This can enhance the experiences we have whilst we’re away by having authentic and culturally-sensitive experiences that are constructive to the communities we’re visiting.

Choosing where we eat more carefully – look for restaurants and cafes serving locally sourced food.

Thinking about where we stay –  one of the best things we can do is to find a sustainable hotel or hostel, which is mindful of resources that might be scarce and will have greener solutions to things like water and electricity use.

Supporting locally owned businesses – the above for both is especially true if they’re owned and run by local residents.

Souvenirs – it’s wonderful to bring beautiful crafts home to remind us of our time away, and the most sustainable way to do this is find something which is locally and consciously made.

There are plenty of excellent pros that come with the tourism industry. So with a little bit of consideration, our holidays can help boost:

The economy of where we visit – be that Margate for an afternoon, Ibiza for a week, or two months across South America (we’d only be a little jealous). It’s pretty simple in theory, by spending money in local restaurants, in independent shops and on tours or activities, our money goes directly into the pockets of the places we’re visiting.

Visiting that hidden gem of a town your friends went to last year? There are definite positives to helping put somewhere on the map, and allowing local businesses to have a slice of the tourism pie. 

There are also good environmental incentives to travelling too. Tourism, and strong interests in national parks, or responsible uses of protected natural areas, incentivises local governments to put more money into protecting and preserving them. 

The same goes for places of cultural and historical importance too. Think of theatres, museums and markets, as well as important developments to infrastructure, such as roads and education and medical facilities which will benefit locals long after our holiday.

Booms in tourism also means the need for more jobs. Bars, hostels, hotels and tours have to meet the demand of travellers, and this is a great opportunity for local enterprise, and the employment directly from the neighbourhood, village or town. 

This idea invites local residents to share their lives and experiences with travellers on their own terms. Responsible Travel says ‘community based tourism enables the tourist to discover local habitats and wildlife, and celebrates and respects traditional cultures, rituals and wisdom. The community will be aware of the commercial and social value placed on their natural and cultural heritage through tourism, and this will foster community based conservation of these resources.’

If you’re looking for some great examples of how you can have a positive impact on your travels, have a look at the 50 plus projects TreadRight run across the world. Maybe you’ll be inspired for your next trip

To secure long term viability, meaning that not only future generations are able to enjoy the same stunning natural scenery as we can now, but even more importantly that local communities to these tourist rich areas, can continue to live in their homes 

Wondering what to read next? Then here’s our team’s tips and thoughts on breaking veganism when travelling.

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Want to see the world and make a positive impact? Keep reading to discover how you can easily play your part in sustainable tourism, plus how to experience an authentic time away by supporting community-based tourism.

You may have already made the switch to cruelty-free and vegan skincare products, but how sustainable really is your routine? If you’ve recently been watching Skincare by Hyram videos on YouTube or flicking through Caroline Hirons’ new book ‘Skincare’ to brush up on your skincare knowledge, or are simply interested in how to curate a sustainable and vegan beauty routine, then this has you covered.

Vesta Living Reusable Face Wipes, £12 (photo credit: Vesta Living)

Making simple swaps to your routine can make a big impact:

As well as being bad for the environment (face and makeup remover wipes take years and years to decompose) they are also bad for your skin. All they do is rub whatever product you’re trying to remove around your face. Switch to using a cleanser and flannels, muslin cloths or reusable cotton pads to take off your makeup instead. 

2. Replace products with vegan cruelty-free versions

But don’t throw everything out all at once as that would be wasteful. We recommend that you make these switches once you’ve run out of your current product, and really research whether your replacement is vegan, cruelty-free, and uses fairly eco-friendly ingredients. You can do this by downloading the Think Dirty app, where you can look up most products to view its ingredients and their rating on how ‘clean’ or ‘dirty’ it is.

While it may sound silly, don’t leave the water running. Also don’t fill the basin with water, that just wastes the water and means you’re washing your face with dirty water! Splash your face and use the flannels or cloths to clean your face instead.

Skincare fridges are a bit of a TikTok trend at the moment, and they might look cute, but they are a waste of electricity and your products are more than fine to be kept at normal room temperature. Unless, of course, you live in a super hot and humid environment then they might be a good investment, but this shouldn’t be an issue in the UK with our five days of sun a year.

When you're replacing a product that you’ve finished, maybe consider buying one in a glass bottle you can buy refills for. We love the range by Evolve Organic Beauty where you can buy your first bottle with a pump, and the option to buy replacement bottles without a pump after. 

6. Buy solid products in recyclable packaging

This way, you’re not buying products in any packaging at all (other than cardboard, most likely), and you can just use the bar until it vanishes – voila!

Ethique cleansing bars, from £12 (photo credit: Ethique)

Now we have the products, what about the routine? We’ve added some vegan beauty products and cruelty-free brands to help get you started.

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, from £8 (photo credit: Glossier)

It’s up to you whether you prefer chemical or physical exfoliation, but it’s a necessary step either way to help remove dead skin cells.

Pixi Glow Tonic, £18 (photo credit: Pixi)