Tag: environment

The Environmental Impact of the Loo Taboo

How the last taboo is costing the environment.

It’s something that nobody talks about, which means the environmental consequences go unchecked as well. We’re talking tampon disposal and it’s a polluter of our rivers and beaches.

Ground-breaking new research has uncovered shocking ignorance and angst about the simple question of how to dispose of tampons. Just 41%* of women surveyed know that tampons should never be flushed.

Tampons are often considered ‘flushable’ as they can usually make it past the u-bend, but the problems occur further down the line. Unlike toilet paper, tampons don’t disperse, in fact they expand significantly when submerged in water; so they start to form blockages. Blockages cause overflows, with sewage seeping into homes and gardens and rivers; rivers lead to the sea…this is how used tampons (and other non-flushables such as wipes and condoms) end up being swept into the waterways, polluting our beautiful natural landscapes.

Continue reading The Environmental Impact of the Loo Taboo

Tips to Reduce Household Waste

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – a mantra we’ve all heard, and for the younger generations, three words drummed into you practically from birth, and for good reason too! Millions of tons of household waste ends up in landfill sites every year, with a lot of that actually being recyclable! Here are some tips to reduce your household waste so we can all work together towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle! Continue reading Tips to Reduce Household Waste

Do You Know The Dangers Of Microbeads?

“The numbers are staggering: there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean. Of that mass, 269,000 tons float on the surface, while some four billion plastic microfibers per square kilometre litter the deep sea.” – Laura Parker in National Geographic. Have you noticed that sometimes in your exfoliators, shower gels, facewashes, toothpastes, etc, contain little balls? These plastic balls are called microbeads, and they’re becoming a bit of a problem. Continue reading Do You Know The Dangers Of Microbeads?

Enjoy Fairtrade and Environmentally Responsible Coffee from Cafedirect

The only thing better than a cup of coffee in the morning is a cup of Fairtrade and organic coffee in the morning. Cafedirect was the UK’s first and largest 100% Fairtrade hot drinks company and at least a quarter of their products are certified organic by the Soil Association.

CafeDirect Logo2Cafedirect works with smallholder farmers and producer groups in 14 countries across Latin America, Asia and Africa and have forged strong relationships with each one. The team at Cafedirect meet with these producer organisations each year, receiving updates about the crops and hearing issues faced by the smallholder farmers. Not only do they pay farmers a Fairtrade premium, they also reinvest at least a third of profits into local communities to help the farmers and their families thrive and gain economic stability.

As well as supporting small farmers in developing countries, Cafedirect ensure their production process is environmentally responsible as possible. As a company that strives to be more sustainable and ensure they have as little negative impact on our planet as possible, they work with their supply chain and key partners to monitor the production process carefully. As such they help farmers develop sustainable farming methods and created the project Reforestation Sierra Piua which shows how farmers can adapt to the effects of climate change and protect their own futures. Check out the video below!

Cafedirect are always looking to develop environmentally friendly packaging that is recycled or recyclable too. You can see how their coffee, tea and hot chocolate is packaged and how it can be disposed of below

cafedirect-packaging

What’s your favourite Fairtrade Coffee? Do you drink Cafedirect? Let us know your thoughts below!