Diamonds are without doubt the world’s most popular engagement ring, yet traditionally mined diamonds produce over 125 pounds of carbon for each carat, with many of them harvested using practises that exploit workers. As consumers become more eco conscious and ethically aware, lab-grown diamonds, which release just 6 pounds of carbon are fast growing in popularity. With other lab-grown gemstones, such as moissanites, also becoming popular engagement ring alternatives to traditionally mined diamonds. So thinking of proposing this year? Here are five reasons why you should choose an ethical enga ..read more

Most people have experienced draughts in their home at some point, but it can be a challenge to discover where it is coming from. There are many ways to reduce draughts in your home that are simple and inexpensive. It will reduce heat loss so you’ll save money, meaning less money in the energy companies pockets and more in yours. How to detect draughts in your home? A draught in your home can be caused by several factors and originate from different sources. You may only notice them when the weather gets cooler in the winter months, or you may hear a whistling or humming sound. Finding and sea ..read more

Best-selling author, graphic designer and sustainability advocate, Octavia Lonergan recently launched her latest children’s book ‘Cats’ Eye View of Being Green’ to help children understand how to look after the planet. Can you tell me about yourself?  I’m a graphic designer by profession and have had a passion for poetry since I was a child. I’ve always found writing poems to be cathartic, and have written about serious topics such as my postnatal depression, and the loss of my brother to suicide, as well as many poems about love and other happier subjects! A mother of twins, a singer, an ..read more

Raakhee Stratton is an eco blogger who helps mums to adopt sustainable living practices for their homes and families without stress, overwhelm or judgement. When did you start being eco-conscious? I’ve been eco-conscious since I was a child. I remember learning about not dropping litter on the ground and the importance of recycling cans at primary school. My mum used to find it a nightmare washing my clothes because my pockets would have the odd crisp or sweet packet because I couldn’t find a bin. I’ve also taken a more active interest since watching ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ and ‘Blue Planet’ w ..read more

This year, electricity and gas bills for a typical household will increase by £693 a year in April, which is a 54% rise. There are also fears the Ukraine crisis could lead to further increases from October. So as you prepare for warmer spring days, saving money is critical to try and offset the huge increase in energy prices and avoid bill shock! Below are ten energy saving tips for Spring to help make your household greener, more energy-efficient and save you money: Turn the lights off in a room if you’re not using them. If you switch any light off for a few seconds, you will save more energ ..read more

Finding that perfect skin routine can be hard, so to spruce up my nighttime routine, Tea and Tonic gifted me their Saving Grace ‘Rich Face Oil.’ The oil is designed to comfort and restore your skin leaving it smooth and supple, perfect for nighttime use. It’s made from 100% natural products like rose geranium and sandalwood, high in nutrients and antioxidants, vegan friendly and cruelty-free. The oil contains over 80% of seed oils sourced from UK farms, like Borage (Starflower) Oil, Crambe Abyssinian and cold-pressed Camelina Oil. These are all grown as part of the Bee Friendly project ..read more

Cathy tells us about her Community Interest Company (CIC) that helps businesses give their unwanted items to charities in need. What’s your background? When did you start being eco-conscious? I am the Co-Founder of A Good Thing, a CIC aimed at reducing waste, but my professional background was originally in publishing. I studied modern languages at university and then went on to work in editorial teams, writing, editing and proofreading. I have always been a bit of an eco-warrior – I first became a member of Friends of the Earth back in 1986 and at the age of 8 I was using my own plastic bag i ..read more

Christmas is normally one of the happiest times of the year, having fun with family and friends. But while it’s the season of giving, there’s so much excessive shopping and overconsumption, it also has a huge impact on the environment. Each year, there’s a significant amount of waste generated including plastic packaging, Christmas cards, leftover food and unwanted gifts. Unfortunately Christmas has become far from sustainable.  So, to reduce the impact on the environment, we need to be mindful of waste and shop responsibly. This not only reduces our spending but also makes sure we buy wh ..read more

Earth Breeze gifted me their eco laundry detergent fresh scent sheets to try. They’re easy to use, you just place the pre-measured strips in your laundry drawer or washing machine drum which then dissolve quickly in hot or cold water.  Made from plant powered ingredients, Earth Breeze eco laundry sheets are vegan, cruelty free and free from phosphate, paraben, chlorine dyes and bleaches meaning they’re sensitive to your skin and kind to the planet. They’re also wrapped in plastic free, zero waste packaging which is biodegradable and recyclable.  For every package purchased, Earth Bre ..read more