How many times do you empty your bins each week? OK, so in our house bin emptying is definitely a man’s job. Yet, I still end up traipsing out the front door several times a week bin bag in hand, praying Laurie doesn’t escape & Daisy doesn’t lock me out.
I’m sure you’d agree we create too much rubbish. The packaging from a weekly supermarket shop alone can fill a bin bag. So I’m always on the look out for ways to reduce rubbish & save money.
& Keep
& Keep is an online boutique designed to help us to do just that. Their ethos of “today, tomorrow, forever “ means they’ve curated a range of items that are inherently useful, affordable, eco friendly and designed to last. Oh and of course beautiful too, owner Natasha clearly has an eye for design. And she’s found some surprisingly nifty items, things I’d never even considered. Do read on.
Abeego Wrap
For instance let’s take a look at the Abeego Bees Wax Wrap. Made from beeswax, tree resin, organic jojoba oil infused into a hemp and organic cloth, this is a fantastic eco friendly replacement for cling film. It’s sturdy, yet easily folds around food. If you scrunch it in your hand, it stays in that shape. To clean it you just wash it in cold water. Plus you can’t get into a mess with Abeego. You know, where cling film becomes impossible to cut and sticks to everything except the food you’d like to cover! We used it to take a few items on a picnic the other day and it worked remarkably well. Please note you can’t use Abeego in a microwave.
A Slice of Green
& Keep has a great collection of reusable food storage containers from sustainable brand, A Slice Of Green. Like this Two Tier Rectangle Lunch Box, made responsibly in India from high quality, food grade 201 stainless steel. It ticks all the boxes: good design, practical (it’s dishwasher safe) and eco-friendly, the only downside is because it is metal you clearly can’t put it in a microwave. That said it is a definite upgrade to endless discoloured plastic Tupperware that lives in my kitchen. I like the fact it has two tiers and a mini container, the different compartments have been great for Daisy’s packed lunches.
A Recycled Picnic Blanket
I love the contemporary blue & white geometric pattern on this picnic blanket. But you may be surprised to hear that it is is made out of approximately 50 recycled plastic bottles. When I ordered this I was slightly nervous about how the yarn would feel. Now I can say, it has a similar feel to an acrylic/wool mix but with the added benefits that it’s machine washable, moths can’t eat it and apparently it won’t go mouldy (I haven’t had it long enough to verify that!) It’s from a brand called Weaver Green, and all their textiles are hand loomed, ethically produced and 100% recycled. Plus at £45 it’s very affordable.
Soy Candles
No picnic is complete without a wine and a candle or two. And those candles should be made from soy; yes it’s not all just wax! Soy candles are natural and made from soybeans, whereas paraffin candles are made from petroleum oil. In short soy candles burn longer, cleaner are non-toxic and their scent is much stronger. Natasha has curated a fantastic range of soy candles and stocks both Parkminster and Isle of Sky candles. My particular favourite is this ceramic bowl candle from Parkminster. The bowl is handmade in a Sussex Pottery that helps train young people with difficult pasts. 5% of the profit of this candle goes to support this charity. It’s a gorgeous bowl that can be used after the candle is used. The candle smells incredible, of the ocean. It’s been living in my study this week, and each time I walk in I’m hit with the beautiful aroma! The candles are handmade here in the UK.
Oo and just before you go, I should mention that &keep aren’t just an online boutique, they also have a Rehoming Scheme for household items you can’t fix or recycle with any profits made given to charity. Please click here to go to their website to find out more.
Shop The Edit
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Abeego Bees Wax Food Wrap Variety Pack | & Keep
A Slice of Green Two Tier Rectangle Lunch Box | & Keep
Geometric Picnic Blanket | & Keep
Parkminster Ceramic Bowl Candle | & Keep
Parkminster Soy Wax Candle | & Keep
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This post was written in association with & Keep, but as always all opinions are my own.
Love the idea of reusable replacement for cling film.
Some great ideas there worth investigating.