03 Dec

Vesica Christmas Gift Guide

2020-12-03
By Vesica
0 comments

It’s that time of year again! The gift-giving season is upon us, and along with the added stress of what to buy is the indulgence that it brings, but can we do this ethically?

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. Now that we have entered the new month of December and last shipping dates fast approaching, we’ve gone ahead and rounded up our top picks that will help you to take a more conscious approach to Christmas gifting this year.

Discover our sustainable gift ideas that keep on giving, not only to your loved ones but to the planet too. We’ve listed our top picks for food lovers, adventure seekers, festival lovers and travellers! Scroll down for some serious eco-inspiration!

Christmas gifts for food lovers:

Coconut bowl

No eco-food lover should be without a coconut bowl. The Vesica coconut bowls are 100% natural, biodegradable & hand-crafted to perfection. Each coconut bowl has it’s own unique natural shape and is perfect for serving fruits, ice cream, smoothie bowls, hot curries or any homemade foods.

Bamboo cutlery set

Perfect with the coconut bowl is a beautiful Vesica cutlery set with a natural wooden fork, knife, spoon, chopsticks, bamboo straw and steel straw cleaner in a Vesica roll-up pouch. This is everything you need for a plastic-free lunch on the go rolled into one. Refuse all single-use disposable cutlery and take the environmentally responsible option.

Both of these products are now available perfect gift bundle. Shop here.

Christmas gifts for travellers:

Shampoo Soap Bars

We may not have been able to travel very far from our homes this year but, now that we can roam a little further, no traveller should be without a shampoo soap bar. They are plastic-free, easy for travelling and carry-on safe. These Vesica shampoo bars are scented only by nature in four gorgeous flavours and FDA approved.

Bamboo Toothbrush

Think of every toothbrush you’ve used in your lifetime. Now imagine where it is now, most likely in a land-fill. The Vesica bamboo eco-toothbrush is made from bamboo, a fast-growing sustainable material, which is perfect for creating strong handles for toothbrushes. The bristles are a perfect balance of softness and durability to ensure a gentle cleaning experience. No traveller should be without one of these toothbrushes.

Gifts for adventure seekers:

Water Bottle Case

Easily one of our best-sellers and top eco-gifts this year is the Vesica water bottle case. They help to provide a sustainable solution to global waste! Every Vesica water bottle case is truly hand-made and unique, from the character in the hard-wearing genuine leather grain, the laser detailing, the embossing to the thread colour. Adventure seekers will love the shoulder strap for days in the mountains, climbing or at the beach!

Tea Infuser

Hiker and campers will love to keep their liquids hot in this bamboo coated stainless steel tea infuser. With a vacuum seal to insulate so that your tea or coffee can be kept hotter for longer, it can also be carried in a backpack or bag with confidence. The infuser also comes with a stainless steel basket for brewing loose tea leaves.

Christmas Gifts for festival lovers:

Bio-glitter

If you know a regular festival-goer who loves a great piece of body art or glitter bling on your face, it’s time that they make the switch over to bio-glitter! Made entirely from cellulose, this glitter is 100% bio-degradable and does not cost the earth. Give them the gift that will help them to keep their sparkle without harming the planet.

Sunglasses

Trendy, stylish and classic, these sustainable bamboo frames with a rich chocolate stain will have you the envy of the fashionable set. These frames are made from sustainable bamboo, approved by Mother Nature for their eco-friendly construction and polarised for healthy eyes. All our glasses come with a soft fabric case perfect for cleaning the lenses, as well as a gorgeous round bamboo hard case for keeping them safe.

18 Nov

Vesica blog

How To Throw A Zero Waste Birthday Party For Your Kids

2020-11-18
By Vesica
4 comments

Kids birthday parties are wonderfully fun for all, but in the way that they are traditionally celebrated, they are the enemy of zero-waste living. The average child’s birthday party generates vast quantities of waste. From streamers, balloons, cake, ice cream, pizza (all on disposable plates), presents stacked in one corner, plastic goodie bags stocked with cheap toys for all the children to take home, all of which eventually get thrown into a landfill by the end of the afternoon.

The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. A little planning well in advance will also take away the stress of trying to organise something a little different this year…or maybe it’s baby’s 1st birthday and you’re going green from the get-go. Throwing a zero-waste birthday party is absolutely possible, nor does it require a lot more work, but you’ve got a year to prepare.

The important part of a zero-waste birthday party is having the birthday-being involved and excited to make their special party zero impact. Make it an excuse to spend quality time with your child planning and making decorations. Here are some ideas on how to cut down on unnecessary waste, save money and have a fun celebration that won’t damage our planet.

Decorations

For decorations, skip the balloons – as pretty as they are, they are also incredibly destructive to wildlife and the environment (See Balloons Blow or ENC for info and visuals). There are many great reusable alternatives to help accomplish a festive appearance. Some of our favourites include:

making your own Happy Birthday banners by printing a personalized one at home.
bunting! Nothing says party like bunting, upcyclable or check out a fabric store for a unique pattern in an ‘end of roll special’. It does take some time to make, but you’ll use it again and again in the years to come.
crafting streamers from fabrics or recycled paper.

Food

Simple finger foods, cupcakes, fairy bread, fruit platters, and a pitcher of juice, coconut water or water are just as nice, easier to prepare, and you can get by with just napkins or recycled paper towel if you want. When it comes to birthday party snacks, avoid plastic-packaged foods and disposable dishes – instead, opt for:

shopping at local grocers, markets and small businesses in your area
loose plastic-free produce
snacks that can be bought in bulk (using your own containers), like nuts, pretzels, popcorn, candies
homemade items, like muffins, hummus, cookies, bread
a pitcher of orange juice or water with reusable cups, instead of juice boxes or bottled water or kombucha, non-alcoholic mixers and alcoholic beverages which are all available in glass bottles.
a container for food scraps. There’s always a few half-eaten plates leftover and have something to transport everything home without making a mess is essential.
asking guests to BYO their favourite plate and cup. Everyone knows whose drink is whose too.

Table

Ask the other parents to encourage their kids to bring their own plates, cutlery and drinking cups. Most kids will have a baby or kids bowl at home they use, depending on their age of course. Once arranged on your party table, it will give a bit more flair to the event by being somewhat more formal than your average get-together. If dishes, cutlery or straws are needed for the adults attending, stick to reusables, like bamboo cutlery and metal straws. Rather than disposable napkins/paper towel, use reusable cloths/towels and have a damp cloth ready for spills.

Entertainment

If you’re planning games for the kids, make your own instead of buying new. Use pieces of used cardboard or biodegradable tissue boxes and tissue wrap to make a pinata, pass-the-parcel or Pin The Tail On The Whale. It’s a great way to get the kids involved and a fun craft activity for a rainy afternoon.

If your kid has a fair-weather birthday, go with some sort of DIY outdoor activity – which not only saves money but also encourages nature appreciation and creativity. Obstacle courses (whether in a yard or local park), scavenger hunts (like a ‘trash hunt’, a.k.a. garbage pick up), sports (set up games of cricket, soccer, tennis, etc.) or a picnic in the park are fun family-friendly activities. Musical chairs, duck duck goose and hide and seek are all winners too.

Invitations

Make your own digital card and send to those invited or to their parent’s email. There are over 300 000 customisable cards available on Etsy.

Or get creative and make a little video to send out or privately on Youtube to keep between friends, which will make a great memory.

Goodie Bags

Skip the goodie bags. How long does your kid actually play with those cheap plastic items in a goodie bag? Usually, about the time it takes to drive home, and once you’re there they then move on to playing with their toys. Right?

If you want to offer something to your guests, try pre-loved books, pencils, paper face masks, seed packets (of herbs or wildflowers) or homemade snacks like cookies or granola bars in recycled fabric bags.

At the end of the day, nobody is perfect and you will probably make a little waste, but that’s ok; think about how much you have saved. Savour those memories, compost your food scraps and start planning for next year!

FREE PIN THE TALE ON THE WHALE
Printable A3 PDF

Download

PTTOTWhale Vesica Sml — Add your child’s name, download font CLICK

04 Nov

Vesica blog

5 of the best plastic-free swaps for No Waste November

2020-11-03
By Vesica
2 comments

If you missed our last Instagram post, this month is No Waste November – a global movement to inspire people to pledge to reduce or eliminate waste in their lives.

The initiative was started by Roots and Shoots, a youth-led action program in over 50 counties. Founded by Dr. Jane Goodall, the program’s mission is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs, and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for people, other animals, and the environment.

Why a month? The theory is that it takes a month to develop a habit – in this case, one that benefits the planet!

The No Waste November pledge aims to help people (especially young people) to create good habits and healthy habitats.

You can get involved in No Waste November by:⁣

– Pledging to reduce your waste throughout November

– Getting your friends involved and joining the conversation through #NoWasteNovember

– Keeping it up for the rest of the month…and beyond!

If you have already pledged, we’d love to hear how you are doing and what kind of changes you have already made in your day-to-day routine.

If you are just starting, we wanted to share some of the easiest and cheapest ways that you can make a few swaps in your life which will make a massive difference to the amount of waste you create and reduce your plastic usage.

Reuse your shopping bags

Somewhere between five billion and one trillion plastic bags are used each year around the world, so get yourself some pretty reusable bags to take on your weekly supermarket trip. These are usually more attractive, bigger and last longer too. Plus there are so many great options of bags which fold up small so you can always keep one in your bag/pocket, just in case. Alternatively, grab an empty cardboard box from an aisle for an easy option to carry those extra items.

BYO reusable drinks bottles and coffee cups

Plastic bottles are the quickest thing to sink to the bottom of the ocean, and although coffee cups are made mostly from paper, they’re hiding an interior coated in plastic. Plastic particles from disposable water bottles are also slowly eroding into your water, so on the whole, they are bad for the environment, and bad for your health! Grab yourself a Vesica BPA Free, stainless steel bottle and a refillable coffee cup/tea infuser and keep these on hand whenever you’re out and about.

Swap tea-bags for tea leaves

If you’re anything like us and average upwards of 5 cups of tea each per day, every day then over the course of a year you’ll be sending over 2,000 tea bags to landfills. The numbers are shocking when you think about it! To reduce this swap your tea bags for tea leaves in a metal strainer instead. The tea leaves are often better quality too, so it’s a win-win for everyone.

Ditch disposables

Disposable items in your house like razors, plastic toothbrushes and disposable cutlery may seem small. Still, over a lifetime, they are going to add up to a lot of plastic in our landfills. Switch to safety razors which you can change the blades of or items made from natural/biodegradable materials like bamboo. Plus, they look much nicer on your bathroom shelf.

Avoid wrapped fruit and veg

One of the easiest things you can do is to refuse the pre-wrapped fruit and veg in the supermarket. Instead of buying that plastic-wrapped multi-packs or items like packs of 6 apples, visit your bulk shop or pick your own from the loose section and bring your own bag or put them straight in your basket. Even better if you are lucky enough to have access to a farmer’s market!

Are you taking the No Waste November pledge? Let us know in the comments!

07 Oct

At Home, Environmental concerns, Vesica blog

Easy Ways To Go Zero Waste At Home

2020-10-07
By Vesica
0 comments

Zero waste living aims to minimise the impact of modern life by reducing the amount of waste we produce. It’s said that the average Australian produces 540kg of waste per year so it can seem daunting to imagine not producing any waste of any kind.

Going zero waste is definitely not going to happen overnight but if there’s one thing we can do for the planet, it’s to reduce the amount of waste we produce. Especially in our own homes. There are some really easy steps you can take to move towards a zero-waste home, so we’ve put together a list of some easy and budget-friendly ideas below to get you started.

Remember, it’s not about being perfect. Small changes which we make collectively can make a big impact so pick a couple that is achievable for you and implement these in your home today.

EASY WAYS TO GO ZERO WASTE AT HOME:

Separate your rubbish

The first step to zero waste is separating your rubbish properly. Without this, you might be sending waste to landfills which could actually be recycled or composted or contaminating your recycling so it has to be sent to landfills. Contaminated rubbish affects what will and won’t be sent to recycling.

An easy way to do this is to install four bins at home. One for landfill (e.g. non-recyclable plastics, household waste), one for recycling (e.g. paper, glass, cans, card), one for soft plastics (e.g. any plastic your can fold in your hand) and one for compost (e.g. food waste). Your number one goal at home is to use the landfill bin the least.

It’s always a good idea to give any glass jars, can or packaging a rinse and let dry on your dish rack overnight to remove any food which might contaminate your recycling.

Some councils will take away your soft plastic but, if not, there are soft plastic drop-off bins at both Coles and Woolworths.

Recycle glass jars

Glass jars can be used for so many things around the house and that’s not just making your own jam. Save and wash all of your empties and use next time you head to the bulk food store, regrowing your food scraps, pickling food for long term storage, storing leftovers in the fridge or taking to work, new cocktail glasses and food storage. Plus, the right jars can make your kitchen shelves and pantry look beautifully coordinated and organised.

Invest in reusable food and drinks containers

One the easiest ways to reduce your waste is by storing your food properly, so it’s important to invest in reusable food and drink containers. Glass jars can be great for storing your coffee, nuts, smoothies, dried foods and pulses, but it’s a great idea to also invest in some natural, reusable containers like Pyrex-style glass dishes, stainless steel bento boxes or silicone lids which you can use for meal prepping or saving your leftovers.

Compost your food waste

A compost bin is a great addition to your kitchen or garden. There are some really good options out there for cheap and easy to implement composting options for your garden, and there are also clean, tabletop versions which you can keep in your kitchen available or community bins in your local area. Worm farms are ideal for those with limited space as they fit neatly on a balcony.

Use food scraps to make your own cleaning products

Food can be used for really effective cleaning products. Ingredients like distilled white vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda and sugar can be used to polish kitchen worktops, clean windows and remove stains whilst killing that pesky bacteria. Combine these with essential oils for a beautiful smelling home.

Swap tea-bags for tea leaves

I don’t know about you but we average upwards of 5 cups of tea each per day, every day. That equates to almost 2,000 tea bags in our landfills per person in a year! Some teabags are made from, or sealed using plastic which not only sheds billions of particles of microplastic into each cup you drink but also end up in our landfills. To reduce this, swap your tea bags for tea leaves in a metal strainer instead. The tea leaves are often better quality too, so it’s really a win-win.

Repair holes in clothes

It may sound obvious, but too often clothes are thrown away for having small holes, a broken zipper or a lost button even though these can be sown up very easily, without the need for any seamstress skills. Make an excuse to visit an older relative and ask them for tips if you’re really stuck, it’ll be a great bonding experience which you’ll find therapeutic.

Ditch disposable for natural materials

There are some really great natural fibres on the market which provide brilliant and budget-friendly alternatives to disposable products like bamboo cotton pads, metal razors, natural loofah’s, plastic-free q-tips, natural tampons, cloth face wipes.

Save food scraps for homemade stock and natural dyes

Food scraps can be used in a whole heap of ways like turning root veg stalks into homemade stock, apple cores and skins into apple cider vinegar, regrowing your roots, baking old bread into croutons and french toast, using banana skins for cleaning…I could go on…but one of our favourites is natural tie-dying.

Simply using your food scraps and water, turmeric can be used to create yellow tones; red onion for pink; red cabbage leaves for purple and avocado skins for dusty pinks and browns. Plus, it’s a great way to bring life back into that white t-shirt you split red wine on!

Request for no junk mail to be put through your letterbox

Another easy one, add a small sign to your front door or letterbox requesting that companies do not post you junk mail. Chances are you’re probably not interested in selling your house right now or need another plastic tradie magnet for your fridge. But when you do, you’ll open a web browser not your letterbox to find the best options.

Use cloth nappies instead of disposable

A staggering 3.75 million disposable nappies are used each day in Australia and New Zealand, and it takes about one cup of crude oil to make each nappy. This is a lot for landfills, with conventional disposable nappies estimated to take up to 150 years to break down. Making a switch to cloth nappies is the more environmentally-friendly option, and is easier than ever with the modern cloth nappies currently available. You might also like to consider a cloth nappy washing service, but bear in mind the energy and emissions associated with transportation.

Swap to rechargeable batteries

Never again find yourself hunting around in that draw you dump everything from pens, foreign coins, remote controls, keys that you have no idea what they open, letters you’re saving for…what was it again, random cards and pairs of glasses, for batteries again and switch to rechargeable types. Keep your batteries in two small glass jars, write ‘Flat’ and ‘Charged’ on the lids. Invest in quality rechargeable batteries and a charger. Charge a group of batteries and store in the ‘Charged’ jar, put the rest in the ‘Flat’ jar and charge as needed. When the remote goes flat, you know where to go. Thank us later.

Prep!

Making meals instead of buying takeout or ready meals is a great way to reduce waste and save on all of those disposable take-away containers. You’ll use all the food you purchased at the supermarket, cut down on packaging of food items, and reduce the carbon footprint of your food while you’re at it. Dehydrators are great too for healthy snacks to store in your cupboards. Keep it really easy, and save time, by cooking food in bulk and eating it throughout the week.

What do you think of these tips? Do you have any other steps to add?

23 Sep

Environmental concerns, Vesica blog

10 Ways to Conserve Biodiversity this Biodiversity Month

2020-09-23
By Vesica
0 comments

September is the National Biodiversity Month. Every year Biodiversity Month is held to advocate the importance of protecting, conserving and improving Australia’s biodiversity.

So, what is biodiversity? Why does biodiversity matter to us? What can you do for biodiversity?

Biodiversity means the abundance and variety of life on the planet. A biologically diverse natural environment is essential to human health, well-being and prosperity. It provides us with everything from the air that we breathe, to the water that we drink, the food that we eat and the environment we live in. Right now, biodiversity is in crisis – because of us.

“Work with nature, rather than against it.” – every successful organic gardener, ever

Australia is one of the world’s biggest biodiversity hotspots. Still, we are losing it at an unprecedented rate, according to the Living Planet Report of 2018, which shows us a 60% fall in just over 40 years. Most of our plant and mammal species, and nearly half of our bird and marine species are endemic (Department of the Environment and Energy, 2019).

Protecting biodiversity is one way that we all can plan for the future. We can participate in the protection of biodiversity by becoming knowledgeable about the things we buy, consume and use. How we treat the environment is also how we treat biodiversity so it’s time to stop and appreciate the web of life that surrounds and sustains us.

Here are 10 ways that you can help to conserve biodiversity this Biodiversity Month:

HELP THE BEES!

As pollinators, bees play a part in every aspect of the ecosystem. They support the growth of trees, flowers, and other plants, which serve as food and shelter for creatures large and small.

Support pollinators in your backyard by planting a variety of wildflowers and native plants to provide nectar that will bloom throughout the season.

CUT PLASTIC POLLUTION

Plastic pollution is choking every part of the world. Every year, an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans — that’s one dump truck every minute. To protect biodiversity, we need to avoid plastics whenever possible, and where we cannot avoid them, then we must reduce, reuse and recycle.

PROTECT NATURAL HABITATS

All animals and plants need suitable and high-quality habitat. That’s not to say that we can’t enjoy the habitats of animals, like national parks, wetlands and bushland but everyone has a role to play in protecting and maintaining these areas. Next time you’re out and about, try to leave habitats undisturbed by sticking to designated paths, cleaning up after yourself and not picking wildflowers.

CREATE A NATURAL ECOSYSTEM IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Whether you live on a farm or in an apartment in the city, you need plants, and it’s not difficult to create a garden in your own backyard which has a permaculture design.

From kitchen gardens, orchards, zen gardens, wild areas and hedgerows, there are many different types of gardens that can be designed in ways that increase biodiversity.

Get started by researching the plants and vegetables that are local to your area and grow a variety in your own backyard. Each plant and vegetable helps to protect biodiversity and supports the broader ecosystem of your local area.

REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE

Look at ways to reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfill and the waterways. Reducing, reusing, and recycling ca n help preserve biodiversity by limiting the number of resources needed to make new products. The more we can reduce our demand for new resources, the less habitat conversion will be necessary in the long run.

PURCHASE PRODUCTS THAT HAVE ECO LABEL

Ecolabels (like a PETA certification or Green Tick) are a great way of determining which products are green, safe, and environmentally sustainable. These labels allow you to learn precisely products are made from and the percentages of the ingredients in a particular food or household cleaning items so that you can determine how much impact they have on the environment.

SUPPORT FARMERS

Be an informed eater and purchase your food from socially and sustainably responsible growers.

Farmers play a key role in conserving biodiversity. With the help of biotechnology and plant science, farmers can grow more food on the same amount of land. This takes the pressure off the need to convert natural habitats into farmland.

SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

As we know, climate change has disastrous consequences for all living things on earth. We use huge amounts of fossil fuels, which directly cause climate change.

If you can, choose to use alternative energy sources and natural or sustainable products in your home. This will reduce the effects of climate change and requires a worldwide effort.

WALK, RIDE, DON’T DRIVE

Each litre of gasoline burned releases ~2.3 kg of the greenhouse gas CO2, so reducing car use is a considerable step towards protecting biodiversity.

Where you can choose to walk instead of drive, take local transport, save errands so you can take fewer car trips and stay local at the weekend.

10. EDUCATE

Education is essential for the future of the planet. We depend on the global collective action of an educated society, including efforts to promote local and indigenous knowledge of biodiversity. As awareness increases, it becomes easier to incorporate eco-friendly practices into your day-to-day life, spread the word to your friends and family and influence your local government. With even more time now being spent immersed in social media, don’t forget to share or post those positive and simple practises that can bring change to your online community at the moment.