06 May
Travel

Travelling more sustainably – our top tips!

As countries start to open up again post-Coronavirus, you may be starting to think about getting that Wanderlust fix you’ve been dreaming about for the best part of the last year. In Australia, overseas travel is resuming to New Zealand, and Singapore may not be far behind, so many are rushing to book a trip as soon as they can. 

This is a great opportunity to create the new ‘normal’ that you want to live by. A clean slate almost to live a life that you are more fulfilled by. You’ve started to transform your home into a more planet-friendly and human-kind friendly environment so you may be wondering how you can bring these new practices into the way you travel. 

So, we want to show you how to travel sustainably, so that you can be a little bit friendlier to the planet when you travel in the future.

The impact that tourism has had on many countries is massively damaging. Many destinations which once had thriving communities have seen people pushed out from their homes in order to make way for huge, corporate-owned hotels. Local businesses have been crushed by American-owned restaurants and coffee shops taking their customers. Areas of beauty have also been destroyed by the sheer footfall of tourists visiting popular and well-published areas. 

One example is Maya Bay, on Ko Phi Phi Leh island in Thailand. You would recognise it from the movie The Beach with Leo DiCaprio (yep, that one!) which has been closed indefinitely to tourists thanks to an overwhelming amount of pollution on the island. At its peak, the island was receiving almost 5,000 tourists and 200 boats a day, who brought litter, boats and sun cream caused. It is estimated that more than 80% of the coral around Maya Bay has now been destroyed.

Travelling sustainably doesn’t mean that you need to stop flying altogether, or leave the life you know and take to the road for 6 months. However, there are a few simple changes you can make to your mindset and your actions that can make a huge difference. Here’s how:

1. Think carefully about your destination 

Obviously, the distance you are travelling will impact the environment but it’s good to check how eco-friendly the actual city you are visiting is. One of our favourites, Ljubljana in Slovenia, has been voted one of the greenest in Europe⁣⁣.

2. Stay in one place for longer⁣

⁣If you can, base yourself in one city or area for long enough to soak up the culture, meet the locals and get a sense of your surroundings⁣. Book homestays or local apartments to stay in instead of big hotels. Spend time getting to know your hosts if you have the time, ask them for recommendations, take up offers of dinners and be more flexible with your travel plans.

3. Travel by road or train to your destination to save on carbon emissions

Choose a location that you can explore on foot or by bike. Take the road less travelled. Visit destinations and attractions that are a little bit less known, don’t just follow the guidebook’s recommendations or go to that clifftop on everyone’s Instagram. Avoid crowded areas so that you’re not contributing to the damage to the flora and fauna.

4. Seek out local guides to show you the area, rather than big tour companies⁣

Tip generously⁣. Ignore the guidebook and contribute to the local economy by shopping and eating in smaller, locally owned businesses⁣⁣. By support locals, instead of global corporations, you will be enabling the community to thrive and survive for years to come.

5. Pack smart! 

The most important thing is to pack light, especially if staying in homestays which won’t have a porter service. Try to think about which toxic products, like sunscreen, soaps, shampoos, you are taking with you and look for natural alternatives.

6. Share your stories with your friends and family afterwards⁣. 

Pass on contacts of what you enjoyed, encourage others to do the same! Lastly…leave the throw away little trinket souvenirs there and complimentary hotel toiletries alone. You’ve probably got plenty from pre-corona time travel still sitting in your bathroom. 

Do you think about how sustainable you travel? What are some of your favourite eco-friendly methods of travel? Let us know in the comments below.

22 Apr
Vesica blog

Sustainable Mother’s Day Gifts

Mother’s Day is just around the corner! (Sunday 9th May, mark your calendars!)

It’s a time for us to come together and share out wishes of love with the Mother and Mother figures in our life, past and present. Whether that be a Mum, a Step-mum, a Grandma or just a friendly neighbour these women have helped to shape who we are today and for that, we should be thankful. If you haven’t already thought about a gift then you’ve come to the right place!

Buying gifts can often mean hitting those big department stores, buying things people don’t need and creating waste from wrapping paper and packaging but doesn’t always have to be this way! We’re here to help you choose affordable and thoughtful gifts which are both ethically made and plastic-free, no matter what kind of ‘mum’ you have. We’ve crafted a list of gorgeous low-waste gifts depending on whether your Mum is a zero-waste newbie, an adventurer or a tea lover.

For the Mum Who Loves Adventure

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You’re after sustainable, practical and fashionable right? Look no further! Vesica Water Bottle Cases are handmade right here in Queensland and can be completely customised, so you can give her a gift that’s just as unique as she is. The strap on our cases is perfect if your mum loves to go hiking, to the beach or on camping trips as it makes them easy to hold and the insulated bottle will keep her water cool all day.

For the Zero Waste Newbie Mum

If your mum is just starting her zero waste journey or if she’s looking to update her zero waste essentials, then our Coconut Bowl and Bamboo Cutlery Bundle is everything she needs. Here, you’ll find a beautiful cutlery set with a natural wooden fork, knife, spoon, chopsticks, bamboo straw and steel straw cleaner in a Vesica roll-up pouch. Everything your mum needs for a plastic-free picnic all rolled into one. 

For The Mum Who Needs a Treat 

This is the perfect gift for the mum who needs 5 minutes of ‘me time’ or just an extra bit of luxury to her daily shower. Mum’s are so busy looking after everyone else that they often forget to look after themselves. Vesica shampoo bars are safe, scented only by nature and don’t come wrapped in plastic.

For The Tea Lover Mum

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Mum’s are always on the go. If your mum loves a cup of tea but doesn’t seem to be able to finish one before someone calls her name and she dashes out the door, give her the gift of a warm cuppa. The Vesica Tea Infuser is vacuum-sealed to insulate to keep tea or coffee nice and hot and is available in two sizes, 300 or 400ml.

For The Mum Who Has Everything

If your mum is one of those people who appears to just have everything she needs, why not let her choose her own present? We’re re-releasing our Vesica gift cards for Mother’s Day (this is also a great option if you’ve left things a little late. We know, t happens! Gift cards can be loads with $1 – 300 and have a choice of 3 different designs…whatever her style.

09 Apr
Vesica blog

6 Ways to Celebrate Earth Month

April is Earth Month! While every day in our house is Earth Day, we are always trying to add more and more ways in our business and as individuals to help to fight climate change and save the planet. 

As we look forward to Earth Day on April 22, now is a great time to start planning how you might want to celebrate and what you can do to take part! Here, we share our top six favourite ways to celebrate Earth Month.

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Adopt the 3 R of sustainability and help to save the planet! 

Reduce what you buy. Before you make a purchase, ask yourself if you genuinely need it or if you can repurpose other items that you already have. Shopping for secondhand clothing and products helps contribute to less waste. Avoid products wrapped in plastic, and limit your food waste by only buying what you need.

Reuse plastic items as much as possible or take to a secondhand store where possible, so they don’t end up in landfill.

Recycle correctly, and choose to buy recycled products to close the loop. Focus on the proper disposal of the items which you don’t need or use any more. 

2. Ditch single-use plastics

Reduce the amount of plastic you use by switching from single-use plastic items. Think of anything you throw away after you use them, like razors, water bottles and coffee cups and instead buy a reusable water bottle that you can keep refilling and take your reusable bags with you when you next go shopping. The planet, and your wallet, will thank you!

3. Tune in to Earth Day Live

Join billions worldwide on April 22 to watch world leaders, youth activists, and social media influencers all come together to talk about ways in which we can #RestoreOurEarth. 

Most events are still online, as EARTHDAY.ORG will have its second Earth Day Live digital event. Workshops, panel discussions, and special performances will focus on Restore Our Earth™ — we’ll cover natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking to restore the world’s ecosystems. 

Some local communities are also holding in-person tree planting and beach clean-ups, where possible.

4. Be An Advocate For Our Planet!

Education is one of the best things you can do to start your journey in fighting climate change. You can do this in so many ways, like sharing facts about climate change & our ocean on your social media, sparking conversations with friends & family, and even organising regular clean-ups with your community. 

Ask your local cafes to ditch plastic straws (if they haven’t already) or supply plastic-free takeaway containers. Better yet, bring your own! Encourage your friends, family and colleagues to use their thermos’. Call out those rubbish tossers! Write an email to your local council and get involved in activities that can spread awareness among your community.

5. Get on your bike

Limit the number of unnecessary car journeys to reduce your carbon footprint. The fewer cars on the road, the fewer carbon emissions polluting the air and contributing to global warming. 

Riding your bike and just taking a walk are two of the best options available. Adding a basket or panniers to your bike instantly increases its versatility. And if you don’t have a bike or don’t know how to ride one, carpool or take public transportation.

6. Invest in Green Technology and Businesses

Support green advancements in technology and businesses striving for change by investing in them. Ultimately, businesses can significantly impact the climate, with only 100 companies responsible for 71% of global emissions, so the obligation lies with businesses to make crucial changes that provide a positive impact on our planet. The big change comes when consumers demand it. 

If the threat of climate change has you questioning where your money is being invested, you may want to consider an ethical exchange-traded fund (ETF). An Ethical ETF is simply an ETF that excludes certain industries or companies from their investment holdings. Ethical ETFs can also require companies to meet certain sustainability targets in order to be eligible for inclusion. Always do your own research about which ETF is best for you and ensure you only invest what you can afford to lose. 

You can help hundreds of ways, but these are just a few easy ones to get you started. Make these a habit in April and continue them for the rest of the year. Each small effort we make to keep the Earth alive for our future generations adds up to a significant impact. 

How will you be celebrating Earth Month? 

24 Mar
Vesica blog

How to Compost for Zero Waste Living

Take out the plastic, and food is just about all that’s left in your rubbish bin. In zero waste living, your glass, paper, cardboard and metal are all commonly recycled so your scraps is all that remains.

Food waste makes up almost 40% of the typical domestic rubbish bin, including spoiled fruit and vegetables, the peels, the skins, the outer leaves, the cores, the husks, the seeds. The ‘inedible’ bits, basically.

Composting is one of the most effective ways that you can help the environment. By sending food waste to landfill, Australians are generating methane equal to around 6.8 million tonnes of carbonic acid gas. Methane is 30x more powerful than your average Co2.

Here, we show you options for composting in gardens or smaller spaces as well as environmentally-friendly ways to deal with your food scraps.

Types of Compost Bins

If you’ve got a backyard, you’ve got it pretty easy. You’ll be able to have a tumbler bin, an interior bin that stands alone, a worm bin or you have the option of trench composting.

Trench composting involves digging a minimum of a foot deep into the ground to throw your scraps in and then you bury them. Remember with this option, it’s important to make sure that you’re digging pretty deep so that animals aren’t able to dig them up.

If you reside in an apartment or inner city, there are other ways to compost, like bokashi bins and electronic composters that can be kept in your kitchen cupboard or on your counter tops.

Worm farms (also called vermicomposting) are also a good option if you only have indoor options available to you as they thrive in stable temperatures. They use composting worms, which are fast growing and fast eating, instead of earthworms that you just might collect from your garden.

Options for City and Suburban Living

A standard compost bin requires a patch of soil or dirt about 1m² so they are easy to accommodate in tiny gardens or small areas outside of your house.

Even if you don’t have your own garden, look for shared areas where might be able to put one. It might even be possible for you to borrow or share an compost bin with friendly neighbours in your local area. It doesn’t hurt to ask, and it’s an opportunity to build good relations with others in your area.

If you live in an apartment but have a balcony, a tumbler compost bin would work well as they don’t require being dug into the ground.

If you don’t have space to compost bin in your home, community gardens are an excellent place to take your waste for composting. Many accept food scraps without the necessity for you to be a member (although being a member may be a good way to support a neighborhood organisation doing good within the community). Research where the closest community garden is to your home, and get in touch to find out how you can use their bins.

Many areas are now collecting scraps within the organic waste / garden bins so it’s also worth checking with your local council about what they’re currently accepting.

Other ways to cope with veggie scraps

Food scraps can be used in a number of easy and useful ways; vegetable stalks and skins are great in homemade stock, apple cores and skins fermented down into apple cider vinegar, roots sprouted in water and planted in your veggie garden, stale bread makes the perfect croutons when roast or fried for french toast, soft fruit and veg can be used in baking, banana skins can even be used for cleaning! What you can’t, or don’t want to reuse, can then be thrown into the compost bin.

How do you deal with your food waste? Do you compost, or have a worm farm, or a bokashi? Which one is your favourite? 

11 Mar
At Home, Vesica blog

7 Budget-Friendly Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps

Along with the kitchen, the bathroom is probably one of the key rooms in the house where we can create the most waste. 

If you go into any bathroom, it seems to be full of brightly coloured toxic plastic items like toothbrushes and hairbrushes, disposable items like razors and cotton pads and then there’s toilet paper. 

All that waste before we’ve even started thinking about our water waste or cosmetic products. But let’s just tackle one thing at a time.

There are some really simple, and budget-friendly, zero waste bathroom swaps you can make, which we have listed below.

Try to implement these on a one-in-one-out basis to reduce the number of products you use overall, and retrain your brain to a more minimalist approach.

Toothbrush

It’s estimated that the average person uses 300 toothbrushes a year. That equates to billions of toothbrushes lying in landfills and oceans which never break down. 

Swap your plastic toothbrush for a brush made from biodegradable natural fibres like bamboo instead. Even if you’re a lover of the electric tooth, there are some eco-friendly bamboo electric toothbrush heads out there.

Cotton Pads & Buds

Another easy swap you can make is to ditch the face wipes and cotton pads and swap to eco-friendly, sustainable cotton pads and buds.

We use these reusable pads every day and think they are more luxurious and effective than regular cotton pads. Just pop them in the washing machine when you’re done and they’re good as new (even after that green face mask we’ve just applied!).

Hairbrush / Comb

Another plastic product that can be easily swapped for natural material alternatives is your hairbrush or comb.

A plastic-free bamboo bristle hairbrush will add a lovely natural tone sat on your bathroom shelf and can also improve the condition of your hair and scalp. There’s plenty of options out there that are available in a few different sizes for the needs of every mane.

Soap & Shampoo

Somewhere between our parents’ generation and the present day, soap got a really bad reputation. It’s probably because when you imagine soap you think of horrible mass-produced bars that seem to take forever to lather up and do absolutely nothing for you except dry your skin to the bone. Well, not any more people!

If you’ve got a pump bottle sitting in your shower, make it your last and put ‘plastic-free soap’ on your shopping list. There are some fantastic, and eco-friendly, soap and shampoo bars which are nourishing, cleansing, free from any nasties and include zero-waste packaging, like our Vesica Shampoo Bars.

Razor

If there’s one thing we recommend you do this year, it’s to stop throwing away a plastic disposable razor. Instead, you can significantly reduce your environmental impact (and take it easier on your skin!) with sustainable shaving tools. By making the switch to safety razors that remain durable over time, you’ll cut down on your razor and refill usage for years to come. Pair that with sustainable shaving oils or bars, and both Mother Earth and your skin will thank you in the long run.

Toilet Paper

Toilet paper is full of chemicals that are terrible for our water systems, but there are some really easy swaps you can make. Instead, choose tree-free alternatives like bamboo toilet paper or 100% recycled paper for your bathroom. 

Recycled toilet paper is absolutely better for the environment when you consider the amount of paper that is re-used to make the toilet paper. It also takes less water and energy than making paper from timber. Plus, it creates less pollution.

Cleaning Products

Not only are your bathroom cleaning products full of toxic chemicals harmful to our waterways, oceans and ourselves but they also usually come in chemically coloured plastic packaging.

One of the easiest, and cheapest, ways to cut this waste is to go all-natural and use a warm water and white vinegar (1:1) solution in a glass spray bottle or buy non-toxic eco cleaners.

How zero waste is your bathroom? Head to our blog HERE for more at zero waste home ideas.