earthly: Issue 2

earthly

may 22

vol. 2

little changes make a big difference

climate anxiety

a human emergency

it’s real. here’s how to handle it

how climate change affects migration

wild edibles the garden weeds you can actually eat

take earthly with you

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@theearthlymag

Natalie

I realised the amount of plastic waste that comes from toothbrushes, so I now use a bamboo toothbrush.

Jordan

I now look into more sustainable and eco-friendly brands and use worn wear websites to do my part.

Ashleigh

I have made a conscious effort to cut down on fast fashion and recycle as much as possible to do my bit.

meet the team:

Since starting work on earthly, what small changes have you made?

Persia

I have decided to become pescatarian and I now mainly use sites such as Vinted and Depop when buying clothes.

Tom

I now try to make an effort to get things not packaged in plastic. I now pay attention of the impact of what I eat.

Sophie

I take recycling super serious now! I now make sure everything is in the right bin and can be recycled correctly.

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in this issue Lifestyle earthly loves 26 off grid stays 28 greenify your home 31 survival of the smartest 34 climate anxiety 36 a plastic free day 38 well dressed 42

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Food protein power 49 wild edibles 50

World

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positive news 8 a human emergency 14 green hero Cate Cody 20 Sasha Sykes’ green cv 22

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earthly nuggets Our podcast is available now!

You can listen to ‘earthly’s nuggets’ on all podcast sharing platforms follow earthly on instagram and twitter @theearthlymag for podcast updates 6

r l o d w  positive news  climate change + migration  green hero

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positive news

Green gains The Green Party has had a significant boost to their ambitions ahead of a future general election. As the results came in, the party gained three councils and 87 councillors in England and Scotland. This is a good result for a party that, while only having one MP in the house of commons, is becoming more visible in an election dominated by environmental issues as well as the behaviour of government ministers.

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Negative is... positive?

Tasmania has become only the third place in the world to achieve a carbon negative impact on the climate. This was achieved by the near total cessation of logging in the area after Australian environmentalist millionaires Graeme Wood and Jan Cameron bought and then shut down Triabunna Mill – the largest wood chip mill in the world at the time – and turned the 43 hectare site into an arts and events venue. Adding to this, due to the state’s reliance on hydroelectric power, it was found that the carbon sinks of the area were actually absorbing more than was being emitted.

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Attack of the plastic eaters Scientists in Texas have created a new type of enzyme that can break down the plastic type PET, which makes up over 12% of all the world’s waste. According to the team that created it at the University of Texas this can result in the plastic being completely broken down in less than 24 hours. They also found that the process works best at temperatures under 50 degrees C, making the process cheap and energy efficient. The invention could lead to an acceleration in recycling of plastics, which would otherwise end up in our environment, where it would wreak chaos on ecosystems.

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Mushroom magic Danish biologists have discovered a new way to grow the morel mushroom in large quantities. The mushroom, which naturally is a highly seasonal treat that can’t really be grown in large quantities indoors, can now be produced in quantities of around 10 kilogrammes per square metre a year. While this doesn’t really make much of a difference to the average person now, further expansions of the process would bring the cost at the till down, which would be handy due to current prices going for around £650 per kilogram for the longer lasting dried variety.

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Moss be good Dutch start up company Respyre has pioneered a new type of bioreceptive concrete, which they say would allow for an abundant amount of moss to grow. Moss doesn’t use roots to extract nutrients, so this would not affect the structural integrity of any building the concrete is used in. Plus, due to its dense leaf system and ability to filter out harmful pollutants from water and air, it would be perfect for use on the facades of buildings in densely packed urban areas to keep air quality at acceptable levels.

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remember to

reduce, reuse, recycle

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a human emergency Natalie Cooper explores the massive impact of climate change on migration

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hat comes to mind when you think of climate change? Pollution, rising sea levels, forest fires? Perhaps something you hadn’t thought of was human migration. Approximately 41 people are being displaced every minute by extreme weather events. This is due to many climate induced factors such as hurricanes, heatwaves, storm surges and sea level rise. This may seem like an issue that will come and bite us in a decade or so, but it is happening now, to real people on our planet.

f o T u d v n al u a l s I Take the island of Tuvalu for example, home to 11,800 people situated in the South Pacific and part of the commonwealth. Already two of Tuvalu’s nine islands are on the verge of going under water, submerged by sea-rise and coastal erosion.

The people of Tuvalu are not only losing their homes, but their identities, food sources and livelihoods. During storms, waves swallow the islands from both east and west, and with the United Nations classifying them as a ‘least-deprived country’, the locals cannot cope, resulting in Tuvalu becoming heavily reliant on foreign aid. Most of its GDP is made up from donations from the UN and neighbouring countries. It has been found that 15% of Tuvaluans have already fled to neighbouring nations such as Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. But these are the people who can afford to do so, leaving the poorest behind, who are struggling to keep their food sources alive.

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e r g p g i i c b tur e e h T We know this problem exists, but how can we stop this from getting worse and what can we do to help? Isabella Shraiman is a climate campaigner and researcher at the Environmental Justice Foundation, where she speaks to those being affected by the climate and uses mediums such as film, to tell their stories to a policy maker to urge them to act.

“We really need to be pushing our governments to uphold the Paris agreement, to be mitigating climate change, because every degree of heating, means a greater impact and more people at risk,” she says. “Obviously, the natural consequences to biodiversity are reasons to be scared about the climate crisis, but it’s the impact on people that is so terrifying, especially as the people who are most at risk are always those who are most vulnerable in our society. Those who have contributed the least to the problem.”

The data collection process does not appreciate the variation of this problem. It only looks at internal migration and does not capture different types of displacement such as seasonal displacement. “But we do know environmental migration is increasing but yet, it is hard to measure by how much, as we aren’t measuring the full scope of the problem. You have all these different projections which are currently 100 or 200 million by 2050 according to one study, then up to 1 billion to according to another. It’s a huge range depending on how you model it and who you do or don’t count as a climate refugee.”

“I guess the crux of the issue is that the climate crisis is making people’s lives harder and their livelihoods more insecure. People must adapt to that reality, which is typically done through moving, whether it is a desire or forced to do it, there is no spectrum.”

How you

Isabell

 Take action in your community. Reach do listen if enough people do. Tell them to take  Join protests, join strikes. The more hope we have that decision makers will h  There are lots of different charities and sustained level, volunteer 18

u can help

la’s tips:

h out to your elective representatives, they m how important this is and you want them e action. e noise we make about his now, the more hear us and take the action that we need. d organisations that you can join at a more ring in your community etc.

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green hero Find out what it is like being a climate change activist with

CATE CODY

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The 49-year-old campaigner talks to Sophie Hipkiss about the climate crisis, the government and daily tips to help our planet

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hen Cate Cody was just a girl, she had a love for animals, nature and being outdoors. Now, she’s a climate change activist and an elected politician for the Green Party. Cate believes that change must happen fast in order to stop the world from crumbling, and prevent future generations having to pay for our actions.

“I was a member of girl guides and rangers and I think that had a profound effect on me,” she says. “We did a lot of outdoor things as we were from an era when there was less of health and safety. We spent a lot of time ‘proper camping’, going off without adults and learning valuable skills. I was also a pony girl, and I lived on a smallholding when I grew up and I had my own little patch for growing plants”.

The Issue Fast forward a few years, Cate has her own daughter, her friends have their own children, and she is worried that their generation will be impacted. She says: “If we don’t take rapid action the lives of our children and loved ones and lives of generations to come are basically at risk, simple as that”.

Serious damage can already be seen, with temperatures in certain countries at an all time high. “You have only got to look at places like India, it is hotter there than it has ever been, and people cannot function, they can’t go out because it is too dangerous. We have seen heatwaves and things not that far away from Europe, this then leads to vulnerable people dying”.

Cate believes that we will get to a point when all of this is irreversible. Scary, but true! “There is an issue with the soil. People are saying we only have eight years left to save our soil. Without soil we cannot grow food and that’s the same with our pollinators, insects and everything we need in order to grow food! If nothing happens, it will be horrific”.

The government “We have a climate emergency; emergency means that if we don’t do something immediately it is all absolutely going to go to ruin,” says Cate. “The government isn’t doing enough about transport, active travel, walking,

cycling. They are building new airports and spending billions on new roads”.

Aeroplanes let out a huge amount of carbon emission and air pollution. This and fuel burnt while in the air, leads to air travel contributing to 2% of all man-made carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas that traps heat within the atmosphere.

As well, it is odd to see that food grown within the UK is far more expensive than food grown abroad. “Why is local seasonal asparagus more expensive than something that is flown here from Peru?” Cate asks. This is why the government should be lowering the prices of locally grown food items as the amount of carbon emissions just to get an item of food stocked onto supermarket shelves is immense.

Insulate Britain The climate crisis activist group Insulate Britain has gained a lot of attention due to the drastic actions they take to get the governments and public’s attention. Super-gluing themselves to roads and motorways led to mixed opinions from the public. “My answer to this is that I wish they didn’t have to exist, I feel awful for those who they disrupt but I also feel awful for them.

I’m sure people would rather be getting on with their own lives, growing their veg and doing the things they want to do rather than being glued to the road: “It’s frustrating, but they aren’t listened too. We must remember to think about the suffragettes.

They died to get us the vote. Look at race equality: Rosa Parks who refused to sit at the back of the bus and that was a protest. It was not that different from what insulate Britain do.

Sometimes a public protest is the only way to cause change”.

What could happen if there is a change?

If there is change for our planet (fingers crossed!), we would be in a much better position for the generations to come. “If we have incredible change overnight then in 20 year’s time we could see thriving communities, biodiverse areas, nature, wildlife and happier people,” says Cate. “Greener, environmental, sustainable lifestyles make happier, healthier people and a happier, healthier planet.”

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my green cv with sculptural artist Sasha Sykes

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n my practice, I look at nature and the use of environmental materials, especially in my buildings which are very sustainable. I just finished building a studio and one of my principals was to make sure that I was using materials that were as near to me as possible.

In the same way you try not to buy fruit and vegetables from Peru, you can try and buy your materials from local sources. All the timber came from a sawmill about 20 minutes from me in the Witcher Mountains. And the insulation is from sheep at different farms which are really near my house.

Generally being conscious of your materials as a designer is important. I use a lot of resin and make sure I save every last bit from previous projects to use again. I’m never wasteful and I make sure I get four or five uses out of it.

I studied architecture at Edinburgh university.

I did sustainable building as a module and through that I became interested in this world and the materials it provides. I did my part one in Edinburgh and then worked in an office and decided that wasn’t really for me. So, I started my own furniture company and went down that route. I spent some time in Wales doing some courses and taught myself some practical building methods.

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My work is very much about stories and narrative. I come from a family of writers and I think most of my projects have a narrative feel. Especially Bloom.

I’d gone to a friend’s wedding, and we were having drinks afterwards outside. There was a patch of mint leaves my friends were eating as we were drinking our champagne. I took a leaf from the plant next to it which I thought was trefoil, and I ate it. Turns out it was one of the most poisonous plants in Britain. I couldn’t believe I’d spent so much time in nature, yet I actually didn’t know much about it, especially wildflowers. So, I spent time educating myself about them, which lead to the Bloom series.

by Ashleigh Poole

Bloom Wildflowers screen from the Bloom series

Sasha installing a piece from the Gyre series

Gold Straw Cube from the Farm21 series 23

ride, don’t drive 24

t y s e l e f il  off grid stays  greenify your home  climate anxiety 25

2 Zao Makeup Definition Mascara This refillable mascara is 100% natural, certified organic, toxicfree, cruelty-free, gluten-free and vegan. Once finished, you can take out the old tube and switch it for a new one, saving on plastic waste. Very handy especially as you are supposed to bin your mascara every three months. £19 zaoorganicmakeup.com

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gngr bees canopy bra and leggings This gorgeous set is made from reclaimed materials and profits are reinvested into a wide Images range of sustainability projects around the world. They have so far 345 million fishing nets plus much more harmful waste for our planet. bra: £42 leggings: £68 gngrbees.com

the ear edi

Our picks for item and eco-fr

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OpalsTreasures polar bear keyring

Made out of old milk carton tops, this chic little polar bear can sit on your keys, while you take some plastic out of the ocean. Not to mention how adorable they will look to jazz up your boring keyrings! £9.50 opalstreasures.co.uk 26

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Soggy paper straws are a thing of the past! These silicone straws will brighten up your day while reducing single use plastic waste. Even their carbon footprint is small, as they are made in the UK, improving the local economy too! £5 each thesiliconestrawcompany.co.uk

rthly it

ms green, clean friendly!

The Silicone Straw Company

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JUNK LDN Flora Swimsuit

JUNKLDN believe that a swimming costume is seasonless, meaning you can bring your favourite costume out year after year. This trendy costume is made from recycled nylon, fishing nets and recycled bottles, a perfect sustainable addition to your collection. £85 junkldn.com

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3 off-grid stays Off-grid – “Places that rely on alternative renewable energy sources such as the sun and wind. All the power comes from a source that it generates on its own.”

Looking for a new type of break? Off-grid stays offer an escape from real life, encourage us to live in nature and are better for the planet. Travel and tourism are some of the biggest contributors to high level carbon emissions. Over the past few years there has been more of a desire to reduce carbon footprints leading people to indulge in activities such as walking or cycling. With an increased focus on the planet as more people project a concern for the environment, off-grid travel will become the answer to many seeking a getaway. Solar kits are included with many stays meaning you can have power anywhere whether that be a cabin, boat or even a tent up a mountain. Here are some of our top off-grid stays located in the UK -

The Secret Garen Location - Hertfordshire Price - From £155 p/n Sleeps - two

Canopyandstars.co.uk

Loacated on the outskirts of Cambrigshire, The Secret Garden is a truly unique getaway. The garden has a cool earth-covered cave with a double bed, your very own hot tub, kitchen, fire pit and hammock – and it’s all just 40 minutes for London. A stay includes accsess to the allotment garden, allowing you to pick fresh herbs to spice up your cooking over the fire pit. The entire site is powered by its own wind turbine and solar panels dotted around the site.

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The Withywindle Location - Devon Price- £140 p/n Sleeps - two

Canopyandstars.co.uk Set in the heart of Devon, The Withywindle offers a unique swedish bath as well as your own pizza oven. Located 15 minutes from the nearest building – expect privacy like no other. Owners Tina and Adam supply their guests with a hamper to enjoy during their stay adding an extra personal touch. The site is completely off-grid including a biodigester, bore hole and solar panels.

Hinterlandes Hidden Hut Location- Hinterlandes, Cumbria Price- £190 p/n Sleeps- two

Canopyandstars.co.uk This hidden hut located in the mountains is a twenty-minute walk up an unnamed fell in the north west of the Lake District. Completely cut off from the real world, the hut is a 30 minute-hike from the carpark. A stay includes a pizza oven and hamper. To make your break even more enjoyable, an Ipad, board games and cards are supplied. Bikes are also available to hire at an extra cost.

Words: Persia Lee

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reduce your plastic,

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it doesn’t have to be drastic!

greenify your home 7

ways you can make your home greener, all while helping the planet

by Ashleigh Poole

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THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE Keeping the temperature of your home to a minium can benefit the environment hugely.

Of course, everyone wants to feel cosy in their own abode, but you’ll be helping to save a huge amount of emissions. A preferable temperature would be around 18 degrees. The other benefit of this, of course, is that it would help you save a bit of money, too!

WASTE LESS

Another way you could make your home greener is by decluttering your life. Consumerism has led us to believe we need the latest, coolest gadgets out there, when, most of the time, we’d be more than fine with what we already own. Of course, the time will come when something needs replacing, but with a more ecoconscious head, you might want to choose to shop at second hand stores which you can find both online and in person.

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T LUT EC

ER YOUR S PAC E

Planning your meals is a great way to waste less food. By making a list of what you’re going to have each week, you’ll only be buying ingredients you know you’ll use. Freeze your leftovers - you’ll be saving money as well as helping our world. Limiting your food wastage saves emissions created by the transport and production of food.

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HE CHANG BE T E It’s great to make small changes to your lifestyle, but you can make an even wider impact by getting involved in activism. You can start small and it’s easy to get started. Perhaps you could send your local MP a short email about what they plan to do to tackle climate changes, or write to your council about investing money in sustainable energy.

By being more vocal you can encourage people in valuable positions to take action.

greenify Plants around the home can create a lovely display and make your home more inviting, but you might not know that they help cleanse the air, too. They clear the air of toxins and humidify the atmosphere in the process.

This is beneficial to the environment as well as your own health. Being near plants will increase your own oxygen levels and keep your house cleaner, so you’re not breathing in any dusty air, ew!

THINK ECO A simple way to help our planet is by using your appliances in more eco-friendly ways. An example of this is the way we boil water. Using a stove is a go-to method for most people, but did you know you can acryally use less energy by boiling your water in an electric kettle? It saves time too!

LET IT FLOW We all love a good soak after a long, hard day at work, but did you know that a bath uses almost double the amount of water that a five minute shower does? Using less water generally saves energy and your electricity bill, of course. Reducing water wastage means that there is more in our ecosystems. Granted, an occasional bath won’t hurt, but try to take showers regularly to reduce your carbon footprint.

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By Tom Hayhurst

survival

of the

A look into the world of cars and how it’s adapting in modern times The world is changing. Concerns about carbon emissions and global warming have made us all more aware of what our lifestyles put out in our atmosphere. Car manufacturers are no different. Emission regulations in critical markets such as Asia and America are getting tighter, and it seems like battery powered cars are to become the norm.

But the fact is, our infrastructure is just not ready for this electric car revolution. If 80% of the world’s cars were to be electric, in comparison to around 2% in 2022, the global power grid would need to produce 10 to 15 percent more power to cope with demand. So, while the grid might not be ready for the future, the technology for cars is definitely ready to step up.

Here are some examples of ways manufacturers are creating automotive technology for the future, as well as futureproofing existing technology to keep the world moving while the grid catches up.

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smartest

Here comes the sun W

hile it might not exactly make sense in some parts of the world, solar power is an idea that to the average person seems attractive, allowing someone to drive along while their batteries are recharged on their own by capturing the energy from sunlight. American company Aptera have some experience in this, having been developing their technology since 2005. Their solar powered car has a claimed range of over 1,000 miles and, according to the co-founder Steve Anthony, will not even necessarily need to be plugged into a mains connection, such is the power of its solar panels, which can give an extra 41 miles per day in optimal conditions. However, some people are sceptical of this. Gareth Henricx, a veteran motoring journalist had this to say. “Unless

battery technology moves on big time, sun-powered cars will be the preserve of a few halo lightweight projects with zero everyday practicality. That said, production cars with solar roofs are already a thing. However, they are heavier than a standard roof and I understand the electricity produced is only enough to provide power to ancillary systems.”

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n a less Star Trek-looking universe, Holland based company Lightyear have been taking orders for the One, a solar powered four door coupe that they claim has travelled 725km (450 miles) on a single charge. And this was done with the EU’s WLTP (Worldwide Light Vehicle Test Procedure), which relies on real life driving data and means this figure is actually relevant in the real world. It achieves this by using 5 metres of solar panels located along the top of the car, which they claim can allow an owner to go for months without ever needed to be plugged in.

Despite all this focus on efficiency, the One can reach 60 miles per hour in less than 10 seconds and has space for 5 adults to travel in comfort.

The company claims it will go on sale in 2022.

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f owning a car isn’t your thing, then German start-up company Sono may have the solution.

Their upcoming Sion is being developed as a no nonsense, simple form of transport that puts the customer first and works on minimising raw materials during production instead of focusing on recycling at the end of production.

Sono claims it will be ready for sale by 2023, with a clever car sharing service devised that would mean each car would have 12 users on average, reducing running costs by 85 percent while boosting its usage by 150 percent. By 2025, Sono expects this service to generate £250 million in revenue. Gareth, despite his scepticism, seems to think that solar power would have its place in projects like this. “This is really interesting, and it sounds like hydrogen fuel cell technology could be the best way to power large commercial vehicles in the future, in which case embedded solar panels on large roof areas might help to squeeze more range out.”

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Just add water

F

or a time in the 2000s and early 2010s, hydrogen was seen as a superior way of creating zero emission vehicles to conventional batteries. Producing similar if not more power than batteries, while being less damaging to the environment to manufacture and its only emissions being water, it seemed like the silver bullet for all our problems. Even Gareth sees them in a positive light. “I do like hydrogen-powered cars. They were all just like driving an EV the difference is that they produce electricity using a fuel cell powered by hydrogen, rather than drawing electricity from only a battery.”

However, hydrogen storage proved too big of a hurdle to clear and the idea fell out of fashion, though Gareth seems to be of the opinion that the UK government missed a trick by not providing further investment at an earlier date.

“I know Transport Secretary Grant Shapps recently announced plans for the UK’s first-ever hydrogen transport hub on Teesside, which is promising, but we are lagging behind European countries such as Germany and France when it comes to investment.”

Despite all of this, Japanese automotive giant Toyota kept developing their 36

technology, resulting in the Mirai. This mid-sized saloon car is available anywhere in the world like any other car, but instead of batteries, it carries 122 litres of high pressure hydrogen gas, which is used to generate energy to drive its electric motors. Toyota claims to be the most successful manufacturer of hydrogen cars worldwide, which is not saying much considering that only one other manufacturer, Hyundai, currently makes hydrogen cars. There is also the ever present issue of infrastructure restricting usefulness of hydrogen vehicles, with only 14 hydrogen refilling stations in the UK compared to nearly 9,000 normal petrol stations.

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his does not mean that hydrogen is an irrelevant technology in our world’s pursuit of net zero emissions though. If sufficiently scaled up it could be used in large cargo ships, which are among the largest polluters in the world. Globally, the shipping industry produces 3% of global emissions, which if it was a country would make it the 6th biggest emitter of pollutants.

Converting ships to run on hydrogen power would make a huge difference in our global emissions.

Evolution not revolution

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hile the rapid development of battery vehicles is encouraging for the future of motoring and the future of our planet, there are still pitfalls in this process. Mining for lithium, which is a key element for batteries, is a highly toxic process and the generally higher weight of electric cars mean that there is more wear on components like tyres, which can’t be recycled easily. With this line of thinking, updates to existing engine design and also to the fuels that power them can act as a stop gap until less damaging battery technology can be developed.

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ne of the most significant developments in the UK at least is the adoption of E10 fuel at the pumps. The E refers to ethanol, which is sourced from waste biomass, which now makes up 10% of the fuel. This does have the side effect of making engines less powerful but reduces tailpipe emissions and also reduces environmental damage in it’s production.

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urther along the spectrum sports car manufacturer Porsche are developing fully synthetic fuels. These fuels are not only less complicated and so potentially easier to make than conventional fuels, but Porsche claims that they could reduce an engine’s emissions by up to 85% with no losses in power and only minor changes needed to existing engines to work. A wind powered production plant in Chile is ready to start production later this year, with plans to ramp

production up to around 55 million litres by 2024.

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n the more mechanical front of engines, Swedish supercar specialists Koenigsegg, in collaboration with Chinese manufacturer Qoros, have been developing Freevalve, a new technology that could revolutionise engines as we know them by replacing them with valves independently controlled by compressed air and a form of artifical intelligence. The benefits of this engine design over a conventional design are considerable. For one, Freevalve engines are simpler and smaller because they don’t need a lot of the parts that conventional engines need. They are also more efficient as they can more accurately control when fuel and air enters and when waste gases leave to allow for more complete combustion. Finally, and probably most importantly for a

speed obsessed company like Koenigsegg, Freevalve engines can make 30% more power and torque, while giving a much more responsive throttle. The prime example of this is the Gemera, their upcoming four seat hybrid. This revolutionary new design uses a tiny 2 litre 3 cylinder engine which will be the first use of Freevalve technology in a production car. The engine makes 600 horsepower on its own, while being 20 percent more efficient than a 4 cylinder engine of the same size. combined with it’s four electric motors it produces roughly ninetimes the power of a typical family car. For less extreme applications, this technology, when combined with synthetic fuels, could prolong the life of the internal combustion engine for decades.

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my plastic free day Sophie Hipkiss spends 24 hours trying to avoid plastic use.

So, I have come up with the idea of trying to reduce the amount of plastic I use on a day-today basis. I want to see if it is easy to go into a supermarket and avoid plastic, and have a look at all the products I use on daily basis to see if I can cut them out. As much as I would love to go completely plastic-free, it just isn’t doable on a student budget.

I cannot afford to buy brand new fancy food containers, or toothpaste that includes zero plastic.

Therefore, I have set myself the challenge to go out and use as little plastic as I possibly can!

I am well aware that this is going to be a challenge, but I am willing to give it a go.

COFFEE STOP I grabbed my reusable coffee mug and headed straight to my local café and asked for a large oat mocha to get me through the day. They asked if I wanted it in a paper cup, so of course I said no! I handed over my green reusable coffee mug and went to pay. I was amazed at the fact I got a discount on my order, just from bringing in my reusable cup!

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GROCERY SHOPPING With my oat mocha, I went to browse the supermarket, it is filled with immense amount of plastic. However, my local Waitrose has a massive plastic free-range, a place where you can take your own bag and fill it up with different food items, weigh it and pay for it. So that’s exactly where I went.

What I discovered straight away is that the plastic free range is huge. The amount of food choice they have was so uplifting to see, I thought I would struggle buying food that has very little plastic. There were different types of rice - from white, to brown to long grain, different coloured pastas and shapes, couscous, nuts, dried fruit- the list is never ending. All these food items were filled to the brim in long, glass containers, and all you have to do is grab the spoon, fill up your bag that you have brought from home, or a bag you can purchase from Waitrose (obviously plastic free!) and then fill up your bag with as much pasta as you like. You then, weigh it and then pay for it. That simple!

They also had a frozen food section where you can pick out and weigh your own fruit and vegetables- similar to the rice and pasta however these were in big containers.

You grab a spoon, fill your bag up, weigh it and then pay for it.

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Now it was time to pay. I like how you have to pay for carrier bags, as it encourages you to bring your own.

There has been a serious debate over plastic bags and if they should just not be sold- some argue that they are such a small invention and yet make our lives easier when doing the shopping. However, plastic bags are so bad for the environment. They are not biodegradable, instead they break down into smaller pieces of plastic until they become plastic dust. Animals can ingest them, which leads to death and many plastic bags end up in the sea through garbage dumps at the seaside.

Since supermarkets play a massive factor in overusing plastic, it was nice to see that some shops are introducing things like this- it proves that it is easy to do. It would be nice to see this getting introduced in other supermarkets or widening the range of food that are included within the plastic free range! I wanted to explore more ways of using little to no plastic.

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FRUIT MARKET I came across a food market. I thought this would be the perfect place to grab some fresh fruit and still use hardly any plastic. I was able to buy some apples and bananas, where plastic wasn’t wrapped around them. I simply chose the fruit I wanted, paid for it and placed them in my tote bag.

Using tote bags whilst out shopping is another way to cut down on plastic. There are thousands of different tote bags out there. They come in all different sizes and colours and cost from little of £3-£8.

My current tote bag I got as a Christmas present two years ago now.

I have used it pretty much every day and has lasted me this long! All you need to do is wash it frequently which therefore helps cut down on plastic used every year!

CHARITY SHOP I came across a charity shop on my way home so I thought I would have a quick peep. To my surprise there were loads of cool pieces! From jumpers, t-shirts and trousers all from the price range of £3-£10. I found a jumper that I couldn’t leave behind- so I brought it! Buying clothes from a charity shop is so much better then buying clothes from shops such as Pretty Little Thing or Zara as it is far better for the environment for clothes to get a second life in someone else’s wardrobe!

Just from this little challenge of trying to use a smaller amount of plastic then I usually do had proven to me that it is easy to do. It also showed me how much unnecessary plastic there actually is. I highly recommend anyone trying something like this.

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Well dressed

Four green menswear brands making a difference Eco-friendly and sustainable brands are gaining popularity. And you don’t have to cut back on style to put the planet first. “In the market in general there is certainly an increased demand for sustainable products, or at least brands with sustainable practices,” says E-Commerce Manager of The Chimp Store, Rob Cupper. “I think the consumer feels less guilty purchasing sustainable clothing, they’re not impacting the Earth as much but are still getting clothing they like.”

Smaller brands are improving their green credential and “larger brands including Tommy Jeans and adidas have introduced sustainable cotton into their lines as well as recycled polyester and biodegradable packaging”.

“There is still a long way to go,” says Rob. “But it won’t be long until sustainability as a message will be the norm and any brand not participating will no doubt be left behind”.

Patagonia Originated in 1973, and based in California, Patagonia clothing is made with a high proportion of recycled fabrics, including polyester, nylon and wool. The company belongs to both sustainable apparel coalition and 1% for the planet. Plus, it rejects fast fashion by creating high quality long lasting products and offers a repair and reuse program.

In April 2017, the company announced that items in good condition can be returned for new merchandise credits. These will be cleaned, repaired and sold on its ‘Worn Wear’ website. Since April 2020 ‘Worn Wear’ has sold more than 120,000 items.

Doing it’s part for charity in 2016 the company pledged to donate 100% of black friday sales to environmental organisations totalling $10million.

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Houdini Houdini is another sustainable clothing brand first originating in the late 80s and 90s, founded by Lotta Giornofelice. She started making underwear in fleece for herself and her friends. Word spread, and the brand grew and grew. Houdini is now 100% sustainable with all the fabric used being recycled renewable biodegradable and bluesign certified.

Houdini operates circular design, meaning that they use either synthetic fibres that are recycled and recycable or natural fibres that are inherently biodegradable. They never blend natural sythetics because “then their clothes would be neither recycled or decomposed.”

The brand uses two natural fibres excusively; Merino wool and Tencel Lyocell. These two fibres have many benefits, both in terms of performances and sustainability. Both the fibres are natural, strong, fantastic insulators and take up moisture well, all things needed for the type of beating the clothes will face.

Houdini have also deveoped a reuse marketplace for epople to sell and buy it’s garments online. Their motto is: ‘no clothes deserve to be abandoned’ makes the new online platform not only sound sustainable but also adds to the green nature of the brand.

The reuse of clothing is becoming a more saught after market with websites and charity being more in demand then ever such as Depop, one of the biggest online selling website in the UK.

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Toast Toast began its journey as lounge and nightwear designed in a farm house in Wales founded by James and Jessica Seaton in 1997. The brand is open about its commitment to support sustainable traditional textile techniques and craftmanship using natural materials.

Toast regularly works with fair trade co-operatives and smaller workshops on artisanal crafts such as block printing, and embroidery weaving and more. Deliveries from the company are now used with Go Green DHL. It also avoids express shipping of raw materials from around the world and sources their materials as close to the place of maufacture as possible.

The company also have developed a swapping scheme in which customers can swap their worn Toast garments and exchange them for others to take away, reliquishing the problem of throwing out wearable clothing.

Toast also uses kraft paper which is 100% recycable and completely biodegradable. It is also incredibly strong so it can be reused, adding to the brand’s eco friendly nature and carbon footprint.

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Rapanui All made from organic and natural materials, Rapanui are all for sustainability. The brand’s ethos is not to waste any time or money on unessesary things and use a circular supply chain – it makes new clothing from the materials it recovers and instead of wasting products and making waste, and makes revived products from it.

Products are printed to order on the Isle of Wight and made from organic cotton using renewable energy.

Using clean and renewable energy is a vital tool to reduce the worst effects of climate change. The brand uses solar farm and power manufactoring operations with renewables, making the manufactoring processes better, meaning the brand is carbon netural and therefore more beneficial to the environment.

Rapanui also uses plastic-free packaging and splash-proof mailer bags made out of paper. Their bigger orders come in cardboard boxes, with paper based tape.

By Jordan Gower

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spotlight on:

climate anxiety

Ashleigh Poole explores how we can be affected by the fast-changing world around us

“

You’re the only generation left to do something about this!

It’s up to you do save our planet.’ We’ve all heard this phrase in one way or another, and it’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it? Climate anxiety is a real thing and it’s especially common in young people. We have little power to limit its effect. Of course, we can make small subtle changes that will eventually make a difference, but overall, our governments and people in charge of the big industries 46

play a vital part in saving our world. With this being out of our hands, we feel helpless and panicked, and this has led to climate anxiety.

Adolescents and young adults have been exposed more than ever to a constant stream of heavy devastating information as our scientists learn more and more about the destructive reality of climate change. As the evidence of the problems we’re facing develops, so does the stress and fear in our own lives. To an extent, this could spur an

individual on to make small changes in their life to benefit the planet, using less plastic and making less car journeys, for example. On the other hand, it can overwhelm us and make us feel helpless and terrified for the future.

Social media is both a great and awful platform. We’re bombarded with terrible news and why the government needs to do this, that and the other but we’re just us! It’s amazing to use social media wisely and spread important information, if you’re feeling daunted by the prospect of our planet’s struggles, though, you can always take a break. It’s important to give your brain some time away from media outlets.

Being glued to apps like TikTok, Twitter and Instagram means that young people are much more exposed to the scary reality of climate change. Even the news can become overwhelming with all the negativity of this world in one place, and the media is everywhere. So, take some time for yourself and give your brain a rest.

There is a positive to this emotional distress, however.

When manipulated with, you

can use it to fuel good. Take climate anxiety for example.

You’re anxious, right? But you’re truly angry, angry at what our government hasn’t done, angry at where their power and money is going – why haven’t they taken action?

So, being angry can inspire and motivate us as young individuals.

Britt Wray is a researcher who investigates climate ‘grief’.

Her study, which focused on ten countries, discovered that the distress of young people is linked to their sense of betrayal by their governments. Young people feel that older people have left them in this situation, and expec the younger generation to deal with the

problem.

Many young people do not want to have children, because of the possibility of a terrible future due to climate change.

With the highly likely climate catastrophe that, to an extent, has already begun, no one wants to put their children at risk of this awful future we’re facing, in just a few years’ time.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom because non-profit organisations such as Fair Start Movement are doing something about it. They’ve filed a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council saying that the United Nations have failed to protect the rights of young people to safely have children.

It’s important to support these organisations that are helping the public to do something about climate change’s impact on our world.

Also, making simple changes to your own lifestyle will help, although it might not seem like much at the time. But when we all work together, we can help to combat climate change.

Keep checking in with yourself and be sure to give yourself time away from news outlets.

It’s great to keep updated but prioritise your own mental wellbeing.

At earthly, we understand you might need support and you can always check in with us on our social media. Stay positive and keep making those small changes!

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d o o f  wild edibles  protein power 48

powerful proteins Looking for some packed plant-based proteins? Here are six alternatives to meat based options Tempeh

Edamame beans

Lentils

Chickpeas

Tofu

Potato

Proteins are an important part of our diet. They help your body repair cells and make new ones. Protein is also key for growth and development. A diet without it would result in fatigue and weakness and a loss of muscle mass. When switching to a plant-based diet or one with less meat intake, it’s easy to get confused as to what food sources can give you the same or simular protien. For a meat alternative that is the star of your dish, look to tofu or tempeh. These products immatate meat and are easy to cook with and infuse with flavour. Besides being delicious, tofu has roughly nine grams of protein per 100 and tempeh has 19 grams per 100. Legumes (a catogory of pulses) contain good amounts of protein, too: Lentils contain around nine grams per 100, chickepeas contain 19 grams per 100, and edemame beans contain 11 grams per 100 – all making great additons. Although potatoes hold the least amount of protein with two grams, they make a great addition to plant-based dish and are full of nutrients.

Words: Persia Lee

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wild edibles

Are you throwing away perfectly good weeds from your back garden? Some weeds are even considered more nutritious and better for us then the vegetables we grow – with less maintenance work too! It’s important to make sure you’re identifying the correct weeds that are safe to consume. Here are five edible weeds you’re

likely growing in your back garden

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Dandelion: Nearly the entire plant can be eaten and even the flower petals can be used in foods such salads, pancakes, and risottos – anything you fancy. The only inedible part is the stem, this contains a bitter milky substance.

Words: Persia Lee

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Chickweed: This weed appears very similar to spinach. It can be boiled or enjoyed as it is. Apart from its grea flavour, chickweed contains healing and soothing properties, such as reducing inflammation and fighting bacteria.

Purslane: One of the more common weeds, purslane makes a highly nutritious and edible vegetable. Its natural flavour is salty making it a great addition to salads and other dishes.

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Curly docks: Both curly and wide leaves are edible. The tastiest leaves are those from young plants as the taste appears of lemon. Pick two to six youngest of the leaves from each plant for the best results.

Plantain: This broadleaf weed can commonly be seen in the back garden and often is picked and thrown away.

But the entire weed can be eaten, and the young leaves are the tastiest. The taste is similar to spinach and can be used in salads or even sandwiches.

Words: Persia Lee

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d i d

s i s m i s s u ue 1 o y

?

earthly

no. 1

march 22

little changes make a big difference

green hero

saving our seas

hooked on crochet

activist Tolmeia Gregory on fashion, protests and podcasts

how 3 marine animals are struggling and need your help!

the new trend in town part of the slow fashion movement

read it now: www.issuu.com