Whilst volunteering I met some amazing young people, just like me, from all around the world. Volunteering abroad often means you’re living and working in a group 24/7 together. Getting to know everyone, I was surprised how many had struggled with panic attacks, social anxiety, OCD and depression back home. It wasn’t something that came up straight away, but a few...
Hey men, I’m so sorry. The world of eco beauty products has completely flourished, but it’s left you behind. These days, you can find a blog post for every type of beauty product or regime possible, but the word ‘woman’ is always in the title. You’ve been reduced to one little section on beauty sites...
According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, each year roughly one-third of food produced globally for human consumption is either lost or wasted. It finds its way into landfills, oceans, and incinerators, creating a negative impact on the ecosystem. In fact, globally, landfills are the third largest source of methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is 30...
Growing up, I didn’t think it was weird that my Asian parents never said the words ‘I love you’ to me and my siblings. To me it was kind of obvious that they did; I personally didn’t need for them to say it. I could see they loved me just by their actions. They moved...
Not many entrepreneurs would cite a three-month volunteer trip in Africa as the major influence for their business, but then few are quite like Lauren Shuttleworth, the founder of eco-friendly print and stationery social enterprise Words With Heart. Volunteering at a school in Kenya, Shuttleworth quickly realised the enormous challenges facing girls in trying to...
Searching for an affordable ethical Christmas gift set to give your family and friends this Christmas? Look no further than GlobeIn, a leading US subscription box company that offers handmade and ethically sourced artisan goods from remote regions around the world. It is also the only subscription box company to receive the official Fairtrade stamp...
With Christmas literally around the corner, it’s peak panic time for people to buy shoddy presents that will inevitably be thrown out by February. There are endless lists of ‘conscious’ gifts out there, but have you considered buying an experience with purpose for your loved one? Experience gifts can be life-changing, educational or just plain fun...
If you’ve ever visited New Zealand, you’ll know ‘kiwis’ (the locals) love to be outdoors. You’ll find them hiking mountains, doing yoga on the beach, running the streets, and adventuring through New Zealand’s lush native forests. Plus, just like everywhere else in the world, you’ll find them wearing activewear on the daily; even if they...
Keen to give thoughtful Christmas gifts that help to empower small-scale farmers and workers in the developing world and give them more control over their future? Consider giving a Fairtrade gift. Fair trade is all about negotiating better prices, providing decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers giving them a more...
“Why?” This is a question I am asked approximately twice every five minutes when in the company of my three-year-old niece, Ella. It used to annoy me at first, I’d get increasingly frustrated, and conversations would often go like this: Ella: “Why are you having a cup of tea?” Kate: “Because I want to.” Walks...
Editor’s note: This Plastic-Free Christmas Guide is published as a two-part series. We recommend you read Part I for ideas on hosting a plastic-free party and plastic-free Xmas decorating. Plastic-Free Gifts Packaging. It’s the hardest thing to avoid when going plastic-free and one of the most ubiquitous forms of single use plastic. Most major companies ship...
The holiday season, it’s practically unavoidable. No matter your creed, you’re probably going to be making merry, going to or hosting a party, and giving gifts — especially if you’re in the US where Christmas and the shopping frenzy that precedes it are a way of life, as I recently wrote. So, can you have...