Looking after our planet ♥

The concept of consumerism is becoming more and more commonly used in a derogatory sense. As the environment creaks under the ever increasing weight of plastic and industrial waste, increasing numbers of people are turning on what used to be considered one of the main motors of the world.

Minimalism is having something of a revival at the moment, although it’s questionable whether it ever went away. Having too much clutter can cause stress and having an organised home is easier if you follow minimalist principles. The most famous advocate of these at the moment is Marie Kondo...

‘The Buyerarchy of Needs’ by Sarah Lazarovic, is an idea that really makes you think. Whilst Maslow’s hierarchy of needs works it’s way up from our physiological needs such as food and water, to higher concepts like self-actualisation, this adaptation serves as a great reminder whenever you are considering making a new purchase.

There are loads of things that you can do to provide green gifts. Anything homemade shows real thought. A photo album of your favourite memories, or using one of your talents to share with that person what they mean to you. It will be unique, and from personal experience often even more appreciated than the gifts that cost the most money. Or how about some homemade food?

2018 has been manic. We’ve made some huge life changes, and that culminated in Kat starting Kalleco just over six months ago. The last six months has been such a huge learning curve for both of us. Since then, thinking about living a more eco friendly life has gone from being something I did frequently to something that happens everyday, and that’s why I’ve been reflecting so much in the last few weeks.

Committing to making changes in your lifestyle is quite scary. Whether it’s losing weight, kicking a bad habit, living more healthily, or making changes to live a more sustainable lifestyle, the first step is often the hardest.

 I have never really got into ‘hero-worship’, but that doesn’t mean that I am not influenced by others at all. In fact, I actively go looking for examples of behaviours that I would like to see more in myself in others, so that I can see how they manage it, and bring those examples into my own daily routine. Making any changes in our lives or ways of thinking is hard, and there’s no way that works equally well for everyone as we all have different personalities and experiences, so casting my net wide when I look for ways to improve means that I can take the ways that work for me.

I thought I’d share how I came to be interested in the environment. It wasn’t a eureka moment, it was a gradual process, and I feel like I’m still learning and developing. Every time Kat has a new product idea I realise that it’s something I haven’t even thought of (she’s my inspiration!), and increasing my mindfulness of the environment is one of the big changes that I have made.

Environmental damage affects us all, and ultimately it is individuals who can make a difference. Having a high profile person speaking out can also have a big impact, because of the size and diversity of the audience they can reach.  

One of the things that we have noticed as we’ve become more and more interested in sustainable living, is that traditional media isn’t great for giving you tips and advice on how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Luckily there are loads of bloggers out there sharing advice on how you can live a more sustainable life.

Worries about plastic pollution led to us launching our range of eco-friendly drinking straws. Reading about the damage being done to wildlife, seeing first-hand the damage that was being done to coastlines and beaches, and then researching about the extent of the plastic pollution inspired us to make a simple change to start to improve our environmental impact.

There is no question that it’s a challenge to change your way of life. Remembering to carry my tote bags, metal straws, reusable cup and refillable water bottle took a while. For me, the key thing to reducing waste is your state of mind, focusing on the positives means you are more likely to stick to it.