FAQs
Each week we receive many emails and messages from people and brands from around the world. Many of those are questions from individuals seeking specific information about how to start living a sustainable lifestyle. They seek eco product recommendations, advice on how to live a greener lifestyle in the city and they even ask about my personal life, like what sustainable beauty products I use, where I go shopping for ethical clothes and how I navigate the food issue with my partner who unlike me, is non-vegan.
I created this FAQ section in order to help people find the answers they’re looking for and reduce the burden of emails and messages that we receive.
If you still can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please contact us.
Love,
Jen xx
Editor-in-Chief
Shopping ethically and sustainably
Do you have some shopping resources I can check out?
Actually, yes we do! Head over to our ethical shopping resources page which provides lists of responsible and sustainable brands that sell ethical sneakers, sunglasses, women’s and men’s ethical fashion, yogawear, activewear and much more.
These apps and online tools will also help you in your sustainable shopping journey.
I’m decorating my home. Where can I find eco-friendly home decor and furnishings?
We recommend purchasing second-hand in the first instance and you’ll find some great bargains on eBay, Gumtree, Craigslist and garage sales. If however you prefer to purchase new eco-friendly home decor, these articles will point you in the right direction:
What tips can you give to people (like me) who want to shop sustainably?
This is the question we get asked most frequently here at Eco Warrior Princess. People ask it. Journalists ask it. Our friends and family ask it.
We’re more than happy to help you shop sustainably.
Here’s a video that editor-in-chief Jennifer Nini created that might help you:
And we encourage you to read these sustainable shopping articles as well:
- How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe
- How to Conquer Your Closet Madness
- Green Up Your Closet
- 6 Steps to a Sustainable Wardrobe
- How to Create an Eco-Friendly Capsule Wardrobe for Under $150
- 5 Apps & Online Tools for Conscious Shopping
- Struggles of Curating a Cruelty-Free & Vegan Wardrobe
- Local Matters: Why I Shop Local, Eat Local & Support Local
- The Do-Gooder’s Guide to Shopping Ethical Christmas Gifts
- 11 Ways to Be a Better Earth Citizen That’ll Save You Money Too!
- 101+ Tips to Help You Live a More Sustainable Life
How do I build a capsule wardrobe?
Great question! We’ve covered the topic of capsule closets on Eco Warrior Princess.
These articles will provide you with all you need to know to help you build a capsule wardrobe:
- How to Build a Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe in Just 5 Easy Steps
- 6 Steps to a Sustainable Wardrobe
- Minimalist Lifestyle Tips: Conquer Your Closet Madness
- How Fast Fashion Destroyed the Capsule Wardrobe & What You Can Do To Reclaim It
Where can I find ethical shoes and sneakers?
Eco Warrior Princess has published several comprehensive posts listing the ethical brands that manufacture and sell ethical, fair-trade and sustainable shoes and sneakers.
Please see the following posts:
- Where to Shop Eco-Friendly & Ethical Sneakers Online
- 8 Ethical Shoe Brands for the Conscious Consumer
- Stylish Vegan Shoes, Heels & Sandals That are Worth the Investment
Where can I buy ethical yogawear and activewear?
Eco Warrior Princess has published several comprehensive articles listing the ethical activewear brands that manufacture and sell responsibly-made, fair-trade and sustainable yogawear and activewear.
Make sure to check out these posts:
- 10 Australian Ethical Activewear Brands You’ll Want to Get Behind
- Australian Ethical & Eco-Friendly Activewear: Surrender Apparel
- 5 Reasons You’ll Love the Girlfriend Collective Eco-Friendly Activewear Brand
Where can I find sustainable and ethical sleepwear?
Seeking ethically-made pyjamas, nighties and sleepwear for yourself or your family? Make sure to check out our list of ethical and sustainable sleepwear brands here
Where can I find plus-size ethical and sustainable fashion?
Glad you asked! We’ve written a post on this topic and you will find some tips in this article:
Going vegan
I’m thinking about going vegan. Do you have some useful tips?
A huge congratulations on taking this vital step to reducing your environmental footprint and saving the lives of countless animals.
Here are some articles that will help you get started on your new vegan lifestyle:
- Free E-Book ‘Questioning Meat’ by Robin Schaper is for the Wannabe Vegan
- Digesting the Idea: Ethical Eating for Beginners
- Why I’ll Be Eating a Whole Foods, Plant-Based Diet (AKA Vegan Diet) in 2017
- Top 5 Tips for Taking Up The Vegan Challenge
- Why I Will Never Be A Perfect Vegan
- Vegan Amateur Reality Check: My First Vegan Diet Fails
- How to Get Enough Calcium on a Vegan Diet
- 6 Simple Rules for Eating Ethically on a Budget
- Why Vegan Activism Sometimes Fails and How to Advocate Veganism More Effectively
Zero-waste lifestyle
I want to start composting. Do you have any resources and tips on how to start?
We’re thrilled you want to reduce the food waste and scraps you send to landfill. Here are some articles that will provide you with the information you need to know to start composting:
- A Step-by-Step Guide to Bokashi Composting – For Urban City Dwellers Part I
- How to Set Up Worm Composting (Vermicomposting) at Your Office or Workplace
- Composting at Work: A Clever Solution to the Food Waste Epidemic
- Eco-Friendly Pet Waste Composting with Ensopet
I want to go zero-waste. Do you have any advice or tips?
Well done on making such an important decision. We’re super thrilled that you want to live a zero-waste lifestyle.
Of course being as ‘old’ as we are, we have covered the zero-waste topic many times on Eco Warrior Princess and have even sought advice from zero waste experts to help you on your journey to waste-free living.
These articles will help you get started:
- 5 Zero Waste Lifestyle Advocates Open Up About Going Waste-Free
- 22 Steps Closer to Zero Waste Living: Disposable Items to Stop Buying Right Now
- 101+ Tips to Help You Live a More Sustainable Life
- Travelling Zero Waste: Travel Tips from the Zero Waste Experts
- Zero Waste Periods: Ruby Cup Menstrual Cup
- How Reusable Sanitary Pads Empower Women in Developing Countries
- How to Have a Zero Waste Christmas
- How to Transition to a Plastic-Free Lifestyle in Just 8 Simple Steps
- 20 Steps to Plastic-Free Living
Going plastic-free
I want to go plastic-free, what advice and tips can you give?
Congratulations on wanting to live a plastic-free lifestyle! We have covered this topic in great length on Eco Warrior Princess.
Here are a few articles that you will find useful in your plastic-free journey:
- How to Transition to a Plastic-Free Lifestyle in Just 8 Simple Steps
- 20 Steps to Plastic-Free Living
- 5 Zero Waste Lifestyle Advocates Open Up About Going Waste-Free
- 22 Steps Closer to Zero Waste Living: Disposable Items to Stop Buying Right Now
- 101+ Tips to Help You Live a More Sustainable Life
- How to Solve the Plastic Pollution Problem in our Oceans
Minimalist living
I’m thinking of becoming a minimalist. What advice can you give?
If you’re thinking of becoming a minimalist, we applaud you. We firmly believe that mindless consumption is one of the reasons we have such a materialistic culture and the huge environmental problems we see today.
We encourage you to read these articles as they will help you become a minimalist:
- How to Become a Minimalist in 7 Simple Steps
- Become a Master Minimalist: 5 Steps to Help You Make Do With Less
- Debunking the Myths of Minimalist Living
- Minimalist Lifestyle Tips: How to Conquer Your Closet Madness
- A Minimalist Lifestyle Challenge #LifeOverStuff
- 5 Podcasts for Conscious Living Enthusiasts
- How Advertising Has Contributed to Wasteful Consumption
- Minimalist Living Tips: How to Take Advantage of Small Spaces
On mindfulness
Do you practice mindfulness? Do you have any advice or tips?
At Eco Warrior Princess we’re big believers of living a life of mindfulness. Here are some articles that will help you in your journey to cultivating a more conscious mindful life:
- A Journey to Mindfulness
- Why I Embraced Mindful Living
- Digital Minimalism: It’s Time to Declutter Your Digital Life
- A Mindful Blogger’s Frustrations with the Cyberlife
Living off-grid
What’s it like to live off-grid and not depend on fossil fuels for electricity?
Eco Warrior Princess editor-in-chief Jennifer Nini lives off-the-grid. Her household relies on solar energy. She encourages more people to embrace renewable forms of energy to help reduce reliance on non-renewable and highly-polluting fossil fuels.
Here are a few articles that will help you understand what it’s like to move away from fossil fuels and rely on renewable energy:
Watch this video to learn what it means to live off-the-grid:
Being an activist
Do you have any tips on becoming a better activist?
We’re passionate political and environmental activists here at Eco Warrior Princess. We know it’s not an easy road which is why we’ve created several articles to help you stay strong:
- Women Activists Who Inspire Me When Environmental Activism Seems Futile
- 5 Podcasts for Conscious Living Enthusiasts
- How to Fight Activist Burnout
- Why You Need to Get ‘Political’ If You Truly Care About Saving the Environment
- Ban the Bag: How to Encourage Your Local Government to Ban Single-Use Plastic Bags
- Donald Trump is President: How a Divided America Can Start to Heal Again
- Do You Suffer From Ethical Living Burnout?
- A Quick Guide to Ethical Investing
Green beauty
I’m embracing green beauty. Can you share some tips and advice?
Wonderful to know you want to green your beauty routine! We think the best thing you can do for your health and the planet is to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals you expose yourself to on a daily basis.
Here are some green beauty articles to help you get started:
- Sustainable Beauty Embraces Minimalism
- New Year’s Resolution: Adopt a Green Beauty Routine
- Ethical Beauty: Why You Should Choose Cruelty-Free Cosmetics
- 9 Low-Tox, Eco-Friendly Perfumes for Natural Beauty Enthusiasts
- My Best DIY Natural Beauty Tips for Dealing with Acne
- Loving the Body You’re In: A Guide to Ageing Gracefully
- The Beauty Game: How I Learned to See Right Through It
Which beauty brands are toxic and should be avoided?
We’re happy that you care about your health. The skin is our largest organ and absorbs so many nasties in our environment. Transitioning to clean beauty products will go along way to reducing exposure to toxic chemicals which can cause serious illness.
We encourage you to read this article for the beauty brands to avoid:
Which eco-friendly haircare and beauty products does founder Jennifer Nini use?
I try not to use many ‘green’ products, even eco-friendly hair and beauty products as natural and simple is the most sustainable form of ‘beauty’ there is. I am a minimalist and prefer to keep my beauty routine as natural as possible. I try to follow the beauty principle: Keep it Simple & Sustainable (KISS).
However given the size of this sustainability platform and the fact that Eco Warrior Princess is viewed as a publication, we are often sent eco beauty items as gifts.
With all that said, here are the eco-friendly haircare products I use (as at Sept 17 2017):
Note: I’m currently wearing my hair boy short and therefore don’t use shampoo or conditioner. I follow the ‘no poo’ method.
The sustainable skincare products I’m currently using:
- Biology Smart Skincare Moisture Therapy Body Lotion for when my hands feel dry
- Dr. Bronner’s Organic Fair Trade Hand Sanitizing Spray in Lavendar
- Inika Organic 83% Certified Organic Pure Primer as a base and only on the rare occasions I wear makeup
- No Pong all-natural anti odourant deodorant only at times when I really need it (like when I’m working at the farm)
The eco-friendly makeup I’m currently using:
- Adorn Mineral Cosmetics Eyeshadow in ‘Quartz’
- Eco Minerals Byron Bay Mineral Blush in ‘Uluru’
- Burts Bees Natural Moisturizing Lipstick in ‘Suede Splash’
- Nude by Nature Mineral Eyeliner in ‘Black’
- Sugar Venom Natural High Performance Mascara
- Sugar Venom Mineral Eyeshadow in ‘Hutton’
- Dr. Bronner’s Naked Organic Lip Balm Unflavoured
- Clean & Pure peppermint cruelty-free (but non-vegan due to honey) lip balm
Note: As make-up remover, I simply use organic coconut oil from my kitchen cupboard and use a wash towel that I can throw in the washing machine.
The vegan nail polish and non toxic nail care products I wear for special occasions:
- Sienna Byron Bay vegan nail polish
- Sienna Byron Bay Soy Nail Polish Remover
The eco-friendly bamboo toothbrush I use:
- Go Bamboo toothbrush
Disclosure: Some of the products listed were gifted by brands and listing them in no way means I endorse their products.
The business of Eco Warrior Princess:
I’m an ethical fashion and green lifestyle blogger. Do you have any blogging tips for me?
Yes we do! Given how large our site has grown we can’t possibly reply to every single request for help which is why we’ve created some ethical blogging resources. Please check them out here and if you find them helpful, we’d love to know!
What inspired you to launch Eco Warrior Princess?
This is the question we are most asked. We hope the posts and videos below will help answer this question for you:
- What Do You Think of the New Eco Warrior Princess Vlog series?
- Less Concrete, More Greenery: The Tree Change
- Cest La Vie: Leaving the City for Greener Pastures
- Why I Embraced Mindful Living
- A Journey to Mindfulness
- A Melbourne City Girl and the No. 2
- About Us
How does Eco Warrior Princess promote sustainability in the workplace?
As a small business, Eco Warrior Princess aims to practice what it preaches.
Used furniture
Its office furniture has all been sourced second-hand from websites such as eBay, Gumtree and local Facebook selling groups.
Paperless environment
Eco Warrior Princess embraces a paperless office environment. All office communication is done through email and instant messaging systems.
Minimalist office
Increasingly seen as a ‘green’ online publication, Eco Warrior Princess is sent a range of eco-friendly products for collaborations, product reviews and as part of advertising partnerships. In most instances, the products are either bundled together for a giveaway contest g or gifted to employees. (Jennifer Nini, the founder and editor-in-chief, is a practising minimalist.)
Work composting
Eco Warrior Princess headquarters has a Bokashi composting system in the office kitchen to encourage employees to compost their food scraps and waste at work.
Office balcony garden
The office also has a balcony garden filled with potted edible plants. Jennifer Nini encourages the regrowing of vegetables from food scraps.
Fair-trade tea & coffee
Eco Warrior Princess provides employees with coffee in reusable glass and fair-trade tea. Dairy milk is sourced from a local dairy farm. Organic oat milk is provided as well.
Waste monitoring
The office has only one rubbish bin and anything put into the bin is closely monitored. Recyclables are separated out and put into its own box which is then taken to the recycling bin.
Office supplies
Office paper purchased is recycled paper. It also stocks eco-friendly toilet paper from Who Gives A Crap and Planet Ark.
Sugar-free office
Eco Warrior Princess encouraged a sugar-free office. Instead of stocking sugar, we purchase locally-produced organic honey.
Transparency
Eco Warrior Princess is committed to running a sustainable business and is transparent about how it makes its money. To read our transparency reports, click here.
Off-grid office plans
It is expected that Eco Warrior Princess headquarters will move back to Jennifer’s off-grid certified organic farm as this is the most sustainable way for the business to operate. Once it has relocated its operations which is expected to occur in the latter part of 2017, the business will continue to operate on remote staff based predominantly in Australia, United Kingdom and United States.
Does Eco Warrior Princess accept guest posts and writer submissions?
Yes we do. If you’re looking to contribute a piece, please read our submission guidelines. This is a pre-requisite for guest writers as it provides all the information that you need to know in order for your article submission to be accepted.
If your submission does not follow requirements, Eco Warrior Princess reserves the right to reject it. Eco Warrior Princess reserves the right to reject any article and is not obligated to publish any piece.
When was Eco Warrior Princess launched?
Eco Warrior Princess was launched as a WordPress blog in August 2010. Founded by writer and activist Jennifer Nini, its original title was “Ramblings of an Eco Warrior Princess”.
It was eventually moved to its own domain (the one you are now on) and the title was shortened to “Eco Warrior Princess”.
While it is still considered a blog by many, it’s increasingly viewed as sustainability platform or ‘green’ website.
Where is Eco Warrior Princess main headquarters located?
Eco Warrior Princess office headquarters are located in a regional town in Queensland Australia lovingly referred to as The Middle of Nowhere otherwise known as Glen Echo. The town’s history is firmly rooted in gold mining but nowadays it’s known for its agricultural industry as the climate is ideal for growing a range of sub-tropical produce such as mango, pineapple, strawberry, macadamia, avacado, rosella and pomegranate.
