Welcome to 'Sustainability Stories', a feature to share our communities experiences of a zero waste way of living that will hopefully help you on your journey.
Today I'll be chatting to you as the founder of this brand, to tell you a little more about what prompted me to become a little more conscious about what I am consuming.
So here goes...
I'm Charlotte, I'm 37 years old and live in North Warwickshire, right in the centre of the UK with my husband and two young daughters.
What drove you to make the decision to live a more sustainable lifestyle?
I've always been aware of the plight of the planet, ever since seeing Swampy on the news aged about 11, and knew it was something I needed to care about but then unfortunately I became a teenage girl and fell into the consumer trap. At university my housemates teased me for being a tree hugger because I was pretty strict about recycling. However it wasn't until my eldest daughter came along that I really woke up and thought about how much waste we were creating, especially with the nappies we were getting through, just thinking about that landfill we created makes me feel guilty.
What do you feel has been the biggest change you’ve made in your life?
The biggest change has most definitely been in our diets, we have been vegetarian now for almost 5 years and it's been the best decision we've ever made. We never encouraged our children although by proxy they have always had a predominantly vegetarian diet, both girls have joined us though in being veggie, I imagine it has a lot to do with the fact they can hear the cute lambs all around us.
Is there anything you have found more difficult than you first thought it would be?
Toothpaste is my biggest issue, I'm struggling to find a toothpaste that I like the taste of but also makes my teeth feel clean, especially as we don't have electric toothbrushes anymore. I'm currently using a toothpaste that comes in a metal tube which is winning me over.
What has been your favourite switch so far?
Ditching the cling film! We haven't bought cling film for almost 2 years now and instead have a big stash of glass containers and old pots which we use for leftovers for things like sandwiches we opt for reusable beeswax wraps.
What do you think will be your next switch?
I've been trying to switch to a full vegan diet, but I'm struggling with letting go of cheese and chocolate, however I do try to be a conscious consumer of these items. That said, I never thought I would give up milk in my tea, but after successfully completing Veganuary earlier this year, I've not bought a bottle of cows milk since, opting for soya instead.
Favourite simple sustainable living tip?
I love the fact we have a heatproof glass bowl which we pour our leftover oil from sunday roasties into and save it for the next week, its a tiny difference but over time it adds up! I'm pretty sure it adds to the flavour too.
Any tips for others trying to live more sustainable lifestyles?
Keep making little changes often, they soon become habits. Remember those little actions add up and before you know it you'll have adapted your lifestyle without even thinking. Start small with things like reusable cups and bottles, its an easy habit to form and can make a huge difference.