Category: Lifestyle

With the world on pause, and our hands being forced to slow down, recalibrate and take stock, it seems there could be some positives appearing from these uncertain times. We can expect to see a more eco-conscious mindset in the way people travel moving forward, with a recent report by booking.com showing that 53% of global travellers want to travel more sustainably in 2021. It’s not surprising, then, that there are some exciting green hotels due to open in the new year – they are poised to push boundaries and offer us conscious passengers the escapes we’ve been dreaming about. 

With people still nervous to travel due to the pandemic, travellers are spending the increased time at home focusing on how they can have a heightened tourism experience in the future. In fact, next year, it’s expected that many people will only travel if there’s a greater good involved in their trip and if they deem it to be truly worth it.

The founder and CEO of Responsible Travel, Justin Francis, says: ‘Tourists will attach increasing value to genuine sustainability measures and the desire to reconnect with nature will see re-wilding and conservation breaks take root.’ Luckily for us, there are some new and pretty spectacular openings to discover in the near future. Here are some of the most anticipated and inspiring arrivals to get us dreaming about stepping foot in that arrivals hall again one day soon. 

HABITAS – Namibia, Saudi Arabia & Mexico

With every project that Habitas develops, a refreshing purpose is prioritised from the outset. Central to their ethos is a defining idea that each resort has to make a lasting impact on local communities through education, employment and by creating sustainable micro-economies. Sustainability is controlled carefully, ensuring that the design, manufacturing, development and operations of each new ‘home’ is in keeping with their ethos. In an exciting year for the brand, 2021 will see not one, but four, new properties launch.

First up, in January, Habitas Namibia is launching with a focus on sustainability, community and a shared experience centred on a unique safari experience. Also in early 2021, a new resort on Mexico’s Lake Bacalar will open. Built sustainably, it will feature 35 cabanas that blend with the surroundings and the work of the brand’s impact philanthropic arm, Habitas RISE, will play an integral role in exploring lagoon and stromatolite conservation. 

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Opening in spring, Habitas AlUla will be the brand’s first property in the Middle East and perhaps one of the most anticipated – you’re unlikely to have stumbled upon anything like this in this location before. Located in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, a historic region that has remained closed to the outside world until now, the hotel will be a community-inclusive, sustainable hospitality ecosystem with a localised approach to resourcing, training and employment. Finally, later in the year, you’ll find Habitas Todos Santos spanning over 10-hectares on Mexico’s Todos Santos beachfront and can expect a farm-to-table restaurant, holistic spa and organic herb garden.

GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION – Zimbabwe & Botswana, Africa

Leaders in conservation and philanthropic pursuits, Great Plains Conservation offers some of the best in conscious travel options for those wanting to give back when they journey. Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, they’ve used the time to refurbish and improve existing camps and create three new camps for 2021 openings. The new camps are entirely solar powered, and they also incorporate bio-digesters that convert vegetable scraps into methane cooking gas, composting, grey water recycling and the elimination of single-use plastics. Tembo Plains is being constructed in the private 130,000-hectare Sapi Reserve adjacent to the Zambezi River, and founders Dereck and Beverley Joubert are currently designing the camp themselves, paying homage to the ancient cultures in Zimbawian culture. A new camp is also opening in mid-2021 on Peperre Island in Botswana, just south of the Panhandle in the Okavango Delta. The design sits in the raised treeline and is aesthetically breathtaking, with each suite modelled on giant fishing baskets in homage to the great fishing clans of the northern Okavango.

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RITZ CARLTON MALDIVES

A taste of real island luxury, this low carbon footprint resort is due to open in the summer of 2021 and is all about minimising the impact of hospitality services on the fragile reef ecosystems, but celebrating them too. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives’ philosophy of ‘beru’ means to comprise and protect the circle of island life, while embracing ocean forces. Fari Islands is made up of three beautiful, lush islands, and a fourth water island, on the eastern rim of the Maafalhu Lagoon, part of the Fari Island chain of the North Male Atoll. The new structures are created upon existing sandbanks with a shallow reef ecosystem, so the construction of the new property focuses on respecting the natural environment. In fact, the design is incredibly humble and lightweight so leaves little impact on the natural location. Once you arrive here, it’ll be all about unwinding, re-wilding and disconnecting from the hustle and bustle.

TREE HOUSES – Dawson Lakes, Virginia, USA

This is one of those hotels that just looks sustainable, with its eco-credentials oozing from the very core of the design. Opening in Virginia in 2021, these eco tree houses from the renowned architectural studio, Peter Pichler, are set to be the next big thing in forest bathing. As an extension to an existing luxury hotel, the ethos of the new destination resort is to create an experience whereby guests can live in the woods and enjoy a maximum connection with nature. The geometry of the tree house design, with its sharp steep roof, is inspired by the surrounding maple, poplar, and oak trees and will be made of local wood. Each tree house will also host individual rainwater collection tanks and geothermal heat pumps. The project is conceived as a ‘slow down’ form of tourism where nature and the integration of architecture in it plays a primary role. ‘We believe that the future of tourism is based on the relationship of the human being with nature,’ comments the studio. ‘Well-integrated, sustainable architecture can amplify this relationship; nothing else is needed.’

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SIX SENSES BOTANIQUE – Mantiqueira, Brazil

A pioneer when it comes to eco-conscious travel, the Six Senses brand has been at the forefront of sustainably forward resorts since 1995 and is now opening its first resort in the Americas. Due to open in early 2021, Six Senses Botanique is nestled in the desirable Mantiqueira area, 2.5 hours from São Paulo and at 1,200 metres above sea level. The resort has a green thread built into its core – it’s beautiful on the inside and out. With the entire design inspired by sustainability, indigenous materials were used in the construction such as jacaranda wood, natural stone, and chocolate slate, and the 120-year-old wooden beams are reclaimed from farms in nearby Minas Gerais. Perfect for those who love to feel at one with the outdoors, huge glass panels line the property to evoke a sense of nature, inside, with uninterrupted views of Mantiqueira’s mountains.

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CASA DI LANGA – Piedmont, Italy

Opening their doors in spring, we’re excited for this luxury addition to the sustainable sleep selection of 2021. You don’t get much more beautiful than the rolling hills and breathtaking views of Piedmont. Located among the Barolo, Barbaresco, and Alta Langa wine-making regions, the property is opting to be more than simply a hotel – instead, it’s a sustainable experience where guests can connect with the extraordinary sights and tastes of the UNESCO World Heritage site it sits within. The team are dedicated to providing luxury experiences for guests that are intrinsically conscious of the environment too. You can expect tailor-made experiences, a home-from-home vibe and the opportunity to learn new skills and gain a wider understanding of our connections with the world. Overlooking more than 100-acres of working vineyards, you’ll find that the hotel has reflected the beauty of the view in the natural design of the buildings. Showcasing a commitment to carbon neutrality, Casa di Langa will use 100 per cent recycled water for irrigation and geothermal heating throughout, and will play host to zero single-use plastic.

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UNDER CANVAS – Maine & Joshua Tree, USA

The high-end glamping brand, Under Canvas, is introducing its first launch in East Coast America, with two new all-inclusive glampsites opening soon in Maine. The brand focuses on allowing people to connect with each other, with purpose and with the natural world, and does so in a way that sustains and protects the environment. Camps utilize solar energy wherever possible to mitigate electricity needs, reuse and recycle materials and water conservation is prioritised at every turn. Their development approach serves to protect and preserve our environment, and there is no WiFi on camp, encouraging guests to unplug and reduce the carbon footprint. So, if you’re on the hunt for a sustainable escape that is untouched and raw, Under Canvas Joshua Tree is located on 640-acres of beautiful desert landscape and Under Canvas Yosemite on 85-acres of forested land surrounded by stunning sequoia trees and beautiful meadows.

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The Christmas season is an exciting one, but it’s also one of excess and waste, especially when it comes to food and gifts. Much of this is sadly sent to landfill, releasing methane gas as it slowly decomposes, contributing to climate change. A lot of the wrapping paper we now use isn’t even recyclable, thanks to the pretty glitter, shiny texture or metallic detailing, and those that are recyclable often end up in landfill regardless. You can tell whether yours is by scrunching it up – if it springs back, it likely isn’t recyclable, probably due to a plastic coasting. If it stays firmly scrunched, it may be recyclable, but keep an eye out for glitter and metallic detailing, which clog up recycling plants, and thus aren’t able to be recycled. 

According to the waste-collection service Biffa, in the UK we produce around 30% more waste over the festive season. In 2016, Brits threw away 227,000 miles worth of wrapping paper, more than enough to stretch to the moon! And when it comes to Christmas cards, if we placed all our Christmas cards alongside each other, they would stretch around the world 500 times. When thinking about the world as a whole, that is an almost unimaginably large amount of waste.

There are many ways to reduce waste at Christmas, but one major way is by paying more attention to the way we wrap our Christmas presents. Buying from small, sustainable brands is likely to also reduce the amount of packaging on a present before you wrap it, and is a good place to start. After choosing your sustainable gifts, check out these more eco-friendly wrapping ideas.

1. Newspaper. Many of us have a lot of newspaper lying around, and it makes great wrapping paper, reducing waste in multiple ways. It also makes for interesting reading during the unwrapping process! Although maybe not if it’s from this year…
2. Try these wrapping bags by British designer Giles Deacon.
3. Old packaging. If you receive lots of parcels or gifts throughout the year, save up the packaging to wrap your Christmas presents in. Crepe paper makes for pretty wrapping and saves you throwing it out too!
4. If other people use wrapping paper at Christmas, ask them to carefully open their presents so you can collect it and use it next year – the longer the life of the paper, the less wasteful it is. 
5. If you are keen to use wrapping paper, use recycled and recyclable options over anything else. Make sure it is FSC certified if not recycled so you know it is sourced responsibly. This is not as good as using none at all, but reduces waste. 
6. Try Furoshiki, the Japanese tradition of using cloths rather than paper to wrap presents. This allows for the recipient to reuse the cloths too, and looks beautiful. Leave a little note on the gift so they know to keep the wrapping for future gifts. Check the ones we have from FabRap.
7. Check out Etsy’s reusable gift wrapping section – this way you can support independent sellers too. 
8. Use a reusable gift-bag. Most shops will offer these, and they save you painstakingly wrapping up presents. They also look great and festive, so the perfect option if you’re looking for something a little glam.
9. Send e-cards. While not strictly gift wrapping, card giving is disappointingly un-eco-friendly. The Royal Mail estimates at least 1 billion cards are thrown out after Christmas. Opting for sites such as Paperless Post (which are often free) reduces waste and is quick and easy too – you can even choose the date you want the ‘card’ delivered to their inbox.

In the lead up to Christmas, many people’s minds jump straight to shopping. Decorating, mealtimes, gifts – the average UK household spends an extra £800 in the leadup to Christmas, providing a much-needed boost to the economy. This year especially, Christmas spending is sorely needed by many businesses, especially smaller ones. Almost 2/3 of small businesses in the UK report that the very existence of their business is under threat due to a slump in trade this year, putting 16.6 million jobs at risk. Small businesses contribute 52% of the £2.2tn turnover generated by the private sector and employ 60% of all private sector workers, so a threat to small businesses is a threat to our economy and countless communities too. 

It’s always important to support small and local businesses, and this year Christmas is a great opportunity to put your money where your mouth is. Many of these businesses are also more sustainable, meaning that your presents can have a small impact on the planet, while having a large impact on local communities. 

So, why should we support small businesses this Christmas (and always!)?

1. They make a positive impact on the local economy. Small, local businesses encourage local spending and for other businesses to open in the area, drawing more entrepreneurship in and boosting local development. This helps the whole local community prosper and benefits local residents.
2. Job creation. Small businesses create local jobs – as of 2015, US small businesses employed 58 million people, or 48% of the private workforce. In the UK this is even higher, at 61%. Local businesses help employ and train up local residents of all ages.
3. They are more sustainable. Many small and local businesses have, by their very nature, more sustainable practices than massive corporations. This may be due to a shorter manufacturer to consumer journey, reducing pollution from transport, and improving transparency about ingredients and manufacture methods. They may produce goods in small batches and source local ingredients too. This isn’t always the case though, so make sure to enquire!
4. You make a difference to someone’s life. Shopping at Amazon may be convenient, but how much does your money make a difference? By shopping locally and at small businesses, your custom helps support someone doing what they love. It puts food on the table and helps their family – that’s something you can feel good about!
5. Better customer-consumer relationship. It is hard (or even impossible) to form a good relationship to a faceless corporation, but shopping local and small businesses can be incredibly rewarding, as you can get to know the people who run the business. 

So now we know the benefits of shopping local, how can we better support these businesses?

1. Buy gift cards. If you’re not sure what to purchase someone as a gift, get a gift card to your favourite small business instead. This means the shop is guaranteed your custom, and it also means you introduce someone else to that shop!
2. Support them on social media. Without large marketing budgets, small businesses are often unable to get the reach they deserve. Social media is a great way for these businesses to reach more potential customers, and by following, liking, saving and sharing online, you’re helping them do what can be an extremely difficult job. This is also free so even if you can’t afford their products, you can still support them this way!
3. Find small business collectives – online collectives share a range of hand-picked small businesses, where you can find lots of different items. Know the Origin is a collective of brands that promote sustainability and transparency.
4.  Shop Black-owned businesses. Black-owned businesses are more likely to hire from local communities, and provide a trickle-down effect on local area, benefitting everyone. People from minority ethnic groups, particularly black African, black Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi minorities, face much higher risks of unemployment and have much lower levels of earnings than do their white British counterparts over the life course. Support these communities by looking at Jamii, a collective of small, Black-owned brands.
5. Write a positive review. Many brands and businesses rely on word of mouth for their custom, and online review sites like Trustpilot and Google reviews can spread the word even further. If you had a good experience, leave them a nice review – it helps more than you know!

As you can see, there are so many ways to support local and small businesses this Christmas. When you buy from them, you make an individual very happy, and when you buy a gift for someone else, you’re spreading that joy even further! What are your top tips for supporting small and local businesses? Are you shopping local this Christmas? 

Sustainable or green cleaning refers to cleaning your home naturally without unpleasant chemicals as well as reducing the use of plastic or non-biodegradable products and appliances. These brands won’t pose a threat to your health or our earth and generally aim to be more considerate and sustainable.

Using green cleaning products is sustainable because it’s a way of protecting the ecology of the earth by not emitting harmful-by products into the atmosphere and waterways. Unlike smog-producing chemicals, green products won’t contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. They’ll almost always be available in recyclable packaging too which means there’s a reduction of single-use plastic too.

But if you needed another reason to go green when it comes to cleaning – well then you’re in luck. Using eco-friendly products means your home will essentially be healthier too – you’re less likely to breathe in any harmful chemicals – which can even be absorbed through your skin too. Past studies have shown that using cleaning sprays as little as once a week could heighten the risk of developing asthma, whereas green cleaning reduces these chronic illnesses.

Lastly, government regulations don’t require ingredients to be listed in chemical cleaning products. Whereas you most definitely would have heard of the ingredients used in eco alternatives – think vinegar, olive oil, and lemon juice.

With this in mind, here are our top 7 eco-conscious brands

ECOVER
A pioneer of natural cleaning, Ecover was founded over 40 years ago and has worked toward bringing natural products to the mainstream. After launching their original phosphate-free washing powder in 1979, they’ve branched out to create plant-based home cleaning products, including laundry detergent, dishwashing tablets, glass cleaner, multi-action spray, limescale remover, and more. Additionally, Ecover are now working on crafting bottles from recycled plastic and collaborating with suppliers locally who share the same core values.

NEAT
Neat produces beautifully-designed cleaning products in order to cut down on waste and single-use plastic. Their aim is to help protect our planet by creating simple solutions that inspire everyone to make sustainable choices. Neat’s home cleaning collection includes refill bottles crafted from lightweight and durable aluminum that will stand the test of time and a selection of small but mighty concentrated refill bundles in grapefruit and seagrass fragrances, and another that is fragrance free.

BOWER COLLECTIVE
Bower Collective was created to help you reduce waste from your homes. It’s both natural and sustainable and focuses on creating refill pouches and reusable glass or PET dispensers – you can even refill your pouch through the post to be washed and reused so that single-use packaging is reduced again! They offer a selection of washing up liquids, cleaning sprays, floor cleaners and more; alongside glass bottles and reusable dispenses for you to keep and recanter your product into. Check out their other household items including 100% recycled aluminum foil, unbleached parchment baking paper, and beeswax food wraps.

NORFOLK NATURAL LIVING 
Green cleaning also applies to appliances too. Norfolk Natural Living crafts a collection of home utensils including pot scrubbing brushes made with beechwood handles and natural bristols, copper pads, linen cleaning cloths, feather dusters, and more. Each of their products is handmade at their workshop in Norfolk, where they also produce a range of natural cleaning products with ingredients that are non-toxic and free from chlorine and bleach. As they use PET packaging, these products can also be refilled at their store in Holt.

ECOEGG
Ecoegg is an innovative and effective way of doing laundry without single-use plastic. Its hero product is the Eco Laundry Egg which acts as a complete replacement for laundry detergent and fabric conditioner by replacing it with natural mineral pellets. They work by lifting away dirt without fading colours or leaving chemical residue on clothing and last roughly for 70 washes. Additionally, the Ecoegg is free from harmful chemicals as well as palm oil, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, parabens, petrochemicals, enzymes, and phosphates.  It has been approved by Allergy UK and is ideal for those with sensitive skin.

KINN
KINN Living’s collection of cleaning products is made in the UK and crafted from only pure essential oils. It’s free from harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, dye, and animal by-products. Its collection features neroli fabric conditioner and detergent, lavender & rosemary washing up liquid as well as a range of organic skinca