Sustainability tips

To conclude plastic free july, we are highlighting some plastic-free businesses owned by forces wives!

What better way to make a swap & support a spouse-owned business?

Hedgewild products are completely natural, plastic-free, friendly to bees and have a minimal carbon footprint. Simplifying your skincare ritual can help to save plastic - swapping out a cleanser, toner and moisturiser for one plastic-free product such as Hedgewild's Beauty Balm will not only save you time but also will hugely reduce your single-use plastic. Hedgewild is on a mission to reduce plastic in its supply chain by working with suppliers to help them move towards a plastic-free future if not already. www.hedgewild.co.uk

Goosebury Bush makes beautiful, sustainable, vintage-inspired natural fibre clothing for children. All their clothes use natural fibres and are made of either cotton or linen. They are plastic-free from pattern to packaging - patterns are not printed but projected, clothing tags are made from bee-friendly seed paper that you plant and all packaging is recycled and recyclable card. www.gooseberriebush.com

Gillian Jones Designs offers limited edition and bespoke military art. Gillian produces wonderful colourful art, and her business is plastic free. Framed pictures use FSC-certified wood, glass, paper (made from cotton), card & paper tape. Unframed pictures are wrapped in cellophane that is made from plants, and they have discontinued the plastic keyrings & magnets and are about to replace them with metal alternatives. All packaging is all cardboard & paper (including the tape). https://gillianjonesdesigns.com/

Flying Teez create t-shirts inspired by the RAF. Their selection of Chinook and Puma helicopter-inspired t-shirts are all screen print using vegan water-based inks, and the t-shirts are 100% organic cotton. They are packaged with paper and card. https://flyingteez.co/

These are great examples of how small businesses can make the change! Next time you are shopping, think about reducing plastic usage, check the sustainability pages of the company and question what they are sending parcels in.

Sustainability tips

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 encourages people to 'Choose to Refuse' single-use plastic. We all know how hard that is, especially regarding food shopping and storage.

Thankfully supermarkets are getting better, and more are offering loose fruit and veg.

How can you go further and reduce plastic packaging in the kitchen?

Take reusable produce bags to the supermarket with you. These are inexpensive and available online.

Not all fruit and veg are available plastic-free - there is a balance to be had between food wastage and plastic packaging. Try and choose a cardboard pack if available.

Find your local greengrocer or farm shop, often good quality local produce, and they tend to use paper bags.

Find a milkman - a real simple swap, typically arrives before breakfast, and juices can often be purchased too. Find your local butcher - most allow you to bring your own tubs, and your food miles will reduce too.

Do you have a local refill shop? Grains, rice, oats, spices and even sweets can be purchased loose.

Once home, make sure you store things carefully and help reduce food waste and in turn, plastic waste.

Reuse jars - they are great for storing berries, half an onion, and tomatoes. It helps keep them fresher longer.

Sort out the plastic tub cupboard - get all the lids on the tubs and know what you have. Invest in decent-quality glass or metal storage if you need new.

Ditch the cling film and buy some silicone covers instead.

Do you have a top tip for reducing plastic in your food shopping? Let us know in the comments.

Sustainability tips

This week for 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆, we bring you cleaning swaps. Remember to check out www.plasticfreejuly.org where you will find some great resources and challenges to start reducing your single use plastic usage.

Every time we clean we wash chemicals down the drain and microplastics from brushes, cloths and cleaning products. When you buy cleaning products, one of the main ingredients is often water so the carbon emissions of transporting that product also adds up.

Eco Cleaning Swaps:

Swap your washing-up liquid for a washing-up bar. They tend to last longer than a bottle but be warned; they don't bubble!

Many brands now do sachets or cleaning pods you mix with water, and off you go! All you need is a reusable spray bottle (some brands provide them) or a glass bottle with a spray lid. You may find one of the sachets are cheaper than a new bottle!

Cloths and brushes - every time you clean the loo with a plastic brush, you are flushing plastic into our water system! Ecoliving do a range of plastic-free cleaning aids - toilet brushes, washing-up brushes, dust pans, mops. And they look nicer in your home too!

Avoid harsh chemicals and make your own. White vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are great for cleaning - a quick Google and you will find many uses.

Washing Powders - washing pods tend to be plastic wrapped even if they dissolve and they release chemicals in the water system. Check out Smol for dishwasher and washing powders, and they deliver straight to the door on a subscription so never run out again!

Next time one of your cleaning products runs out, see if you can find a plastic-free alternative and let us know what you plan to swap!

Plenty of other brands are available - these are the ones our Sustainability Lead Emily uses - try a few and find something that works for you!

Sustainability tips

This month is 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆, a time to think about how much plastic you use daily & where swaps can be made.

Throughout July, the Plastic Free Foundation challenges everyone to swap one plastic item, from there many will follow. Check out their website for how to get involved https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/

We will share some tips & swaps on reducing single-use plastic in your home & go beyond water bottles and coffee cups!

Don't go throwing perfectly good things away but as & when they are finished, research some alternatives. Plastic Freedom & Peace With the Wild are two great plastic-free one-stop shops where you can find alternatives for most household & beauty items!

Let us start with the bathroom, hair & make-up!

The most simple swap is to solid bar soap. This can save hundreds of bottles of liquid soap or body wash a year.

Now you have a soap bar, swap to a shampoo bar. As with the hundreds of shampoos in plastic bottles, finding one that works for your hair can be a bit of trial & error.

Bar conditioners are not so great, so look for powders or metal bottles that can be refilled.

Many hair ties are made of plastic, so as soon as you lose one in the street or the sea, you have created plastic pollution. There are a few brands that do plastic-free hair ties, & the quality is really good!

There is an excellent choice of plastic-free (or reduced) deodorants, some come in metal pots & go on like a cream, & some come with a reusable dispenser that acts more like a traditional roll-on.

Make-up is a tough swap, but brands are starting to do refills, although they do tend to be plastic for hygiene reasons. Zao comes in lovely wooden reusable pots, & then refills can be purchased.

Don't forget sunscreen - again, a hard swap but look for sugarcane packaging, which degrades easier than plastic. And make sure it's reef safe!

With many of these swaps, the ingredients will be more natural, so you will also be cutting out chemicals on your skin, so a win all around!

What's your favourite beauty swap, & what do you pledge to change this month?

Sustainability tips

Be a responsible adventurer

Do you go on adventures alone, with friends or with your family? There are ways that you can ensure your adventure maximises the benefit in the local area.

Buy a guide book! Most of us would buy one when heading overseas so why not get one for your local area or your UK destination? Bradt do an amazing Slow Travel series for some of the UKs most beautiful areas.

On day trips, try and spend some money in the local community - could be as simple as a cream tea from a local cafe or fish and chips by the sea at the end of the day. If you can, stay overnight - find a campsite and enjoy the area once the day trippers have gone.

Consider where to park - do some research and try and avoid the main areas, you may find a much quieter place to park and a better experience. Or leave the car in a town and get a bus for the final part of your journey. Always park in a designated car park, parking on the side of the road can cause erosion and loss of biodiversity or worse, block the emergency services.

Plan your routes and know shortcuts, use the local tourist information or National Park websites to plan a walk they have a plethora of options. Or use an online mapping app such as OS Maps or Kamoot to inspire routes that have been done by others. Make sure you know your limits and can read a real map too - don't rely on online trackers if going remote.

Consider making a donation to a local conservation charity or the National Park. This helps their volunteers maintain paths, gates and many are working towards making the outdoors more accessible - something we are passionate about at FWC! Better still see if there is a volunteer day that you can take part in - gain a new skill, meet new people and make a difference!

What are you top tips for planning adventures? Share in the comments!

Sustainability tips

Be a responsible adventurer

At Forces Wives Challenge we have a hugely supportive network of guides and activity providers that help us on our mission to unite women on adventures. Without these people, our challenges simply would not exist!

Throughout the UK there are small local businesses offering hikes in the hills, guided swims, supported canoe trips and guided cycling routes plus many many more. The benefits of hiring a guide or using an activity provider can really enhance an adventure. And with summer around the corner what better time to start planning?

A quick internet search of where you are planning on having your adventure will help you find a local guide (the local tourist board is a great place to start). These people are invaluable in creating routes that go off the beaten track and away from the crowds, and they take away the need to navigate so you can enjoy the experience. Also, they know the best place for an ice cream cake or local beer . Plus they will fill you with knowledge about the area they love, and support you on your adventures!

The ripple effect of money being spent with a local business is huge, more money stays within the community making it a great place for locals and visitors alike. Cafes and pubs stay open, the environment is protected and communities thrive.

We would love to hear about your experience of hiring a guide for your adventures! Please share in the comments

Sustainability tips

It's National Vegetarian Week!

This week is National Vegetarian Week, so why not commit to swapping a few meals to be purely vegetarian?

Eating less meat has been found to be good for the environment as plant-based foods generally have a lower carbon impact than meat-based foods.

Check out https://www.nationalvegetarianweek.org/ for some inspiration.

Swapping one or two meals a week to be vegetarian or vegan can make a difference, and considering where your meat has come from and making positive changes can also help.

When on adventures, protein-rich foods can be in the form of nuts (from your local refill shop), nut butter, vegan sausage rolls, and check out Firepot who do a range of Veg and Vegan dehydrated food pouches (and you return the pouches to be recycled!).

What's your favourite meat-free adventure friendly meal?

Sustainability tips

Summer is truly on the way, so there will be more time spent outside, on adventures and having picnics

May is a great month for spending time outdoors, as we have three, yes three, Bank Holidays!

What adventures do you have planned, or are you having a party for the King's Coronation?

Picnics can often be a sea of single-use wrappers, with crisps, chocolate bars and drinks being the major culprits.

Easy swaps can be made to reduce the impact of your picnic and ensure single-use items don't end up blown away into our precious environment.

Decant food at home into reusable tubs, take bags and cutlery - if you have invested in reusables, there is less chance of them being left behind

Check the packaging before you buy - Two Farmers crisps are plastic-free and for snacks for adventures: Outdoor Provisions use compostable wrappers

Choose cans or bottles of drinks over plastic bottles. They are easier to recycle at home and take reusable cups with you for hot drinks on the go.

Take all your rubbish home even if there is a bin, that way, you can sort into recycling and public bins often overflow.

Enjoy the Bank Holidays and Leave No Trace

Sustainability tips

𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆- 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁

Our sustainability lead Emily, lives in a military house and struggles with not being allowed to 'eco' it!

So, Emily has invested in the planet by adding green energy sources to the rental house that she does own.

In 2021 Emily installed solar panels to reduce the carbon emissions of the property. Whilst it was a considerable investment, it has reduced the need for energy from the grid (and lowered electricity bills!) Hot water and heating come from an air source pump, and the well-insulated home stays toasty warm throughout the year.

A car charger has also been installed, so charging a car on a sunny day is a great investment in the planet!

In her military house, Emily has made small changes that make a difference in our quarters - green energy tariffs, thermal curtains, and draft excluders across external doors all help.

With the MOD's commitment to Net Zero perhaps we will start to see more green energy initiatives installed in our quarters....

Sustainability tips

𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆- 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁

In 2010 Earth Day worked with the Woodland Trust in the UK to plant 13,200 trees as part of their Canopy Project! Trees are vital for carbon absorption and wildlife habitats.

In November 2022, FWC founder Heather gathered together a group of FWC members, their families, and the local Cubs groups, to plant a hedge around a local paddock. These will be nurtured and looked after by Heather and her community to ensure they thrive!

With a grant from the Woodland Trust, the team planted 825 hedge saplings and 25 oak trees. Once an oak tree reaches maturity, it will absorb between 10 and 40kg of CO2 annually (the average British person uses 15kg daily!) Planting more trees is a great way of investing in the planet.

For details on how your community can get involved in tree planting, check out the Woodland Trust:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees