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Materials & ingredients

Here are the posts I’ve written about materials and ingredients, including my Plastics Series:

  • Plastics: Types #1-7 (health and environmental impacts)
  • Plastics: BPA (and its alternatives)
  • Plastics: What are resin codes and why do they matter?
  • Plastics: Other recycling-related symbols
  • Plastics: How to treat plastics
  • Plastics: Tips for reusing plastic
  • Aluminum
  • Silicone

 

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About

HeadshotI’m Leah, a writer, editor, and mom trying to live an eco-friendly life. I aim to share thoughts on sustainability in a way that inspires.

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Low-waste tips for public events! ’Tis the season for winter markets and craft fairs. Unfortunately, these sorts of public events also typically mean single-use plastic. If you stop to take a moment and look at all the vendors, it’s really amazing to realize how many single-use products are actually used at these events. It’s not just shopping bags: paper cups for drinks, tiny plastic containers for samples, straws, napkins, plates, cutlery…the list goes on and on. 🎄 I went to a Christmas market the other day with my family and it was so fun! I managed to avoid a lot of single-use waste, and although things weren’t perfect, I was pretty darn happy. Swipe for my top tips. 🚮♻️🥤🙅🏻‍♀️ I’d love to hear your thoughts: do you make use of these tips? Are you going to any fun events this season? . . . . . . . #lesswaste #reducewaste #zerowastetips #zerowasteblogger #lesswastelifestyle #lowwasteliving #plasticpollution #plasticpollutes #goingzerowaste #zerowastejourney #vancouverblogger #zerowastehome #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #plasticfreetips #reducereuserecycle #lowimpact #endplasticpollution #vancouverinfluencer #discoverunder10k #noplanetb #ecoadvocate #nontoxic #ecolife #refill #wasteless #zerowastefamily #zerowasteirl #ditchthedisposables #saynotosingleuse
How can you wrap experience gifts? 🎁 Let’s be honest: as amazing as experience gifts are, they’re not always the most fun to unwrap. When it comes to kids especially, they want something tangible! But experience gifts don’t have to mean that there’s nothing to unveil. ✨ • It’s my final post of my series supporting Metro Vancouver’s “Create memories, not garbage” holiday campaign! In my blog post (link in bio) I’m sharing how experiences can be “wrapped” to make them even more fun. These ideas aren’t just for kids—adults will get a kick out of them too. Take a look and let me know your thoughts! 🎄 • What about you? Do you give experience gifts? How do you “wrap” or “unveil” them? • I really hope you’ve enjoyed following along with these series! I had a lot of fun writing them! Sponsored post. . . . . . . . . #zerowaste #zerowastechristmas #zerowasteholidays #zerowastefamily #lowwaste #lowwastehome #greenmama #zerowastefamily #ecomom #reducereuserecycle #noplanetb #zerowastejourney #familytraditions #lowastedecor #lesswaste #vancouvermom #metrovancouver #creatememoriesnotgarbage #sustainableliving #theartofslowliving #reducewaste #lesswastelifestyle #ecofriendlygifts #wastefree #wasteless #ecofriendly #ecofriendlyliving #greenchristmas #zerowasteirl #lowimpact
G I V E A W A Y + promo code ! ✨ It’s my second-to-last giveaway before the holiday season. Today I’m highlighting a very special company that’s near and dear to my heart: @tradle.community. This new Vancouver brand offers a creative Zero Waste solution for dressing little ones. It’s a clothing subscription service for babies! 🤰👶 (Sponsored post.) • Parents know that babies grow FAST, and unfortunately tend to come with a lot of clutter. Clothing can be worn for a few months (or weeks, even!) before they’re already too small. Rather than burdening parents with the constant rotation of buying, and then storing or selling clothing, Tradle allows parents (or gift-givers) to buy a clothing subscription (for 3, 6, or 12 months). Better yet, the clothes are super stylish, and from popular, eco-minded local brands like @simply_merino, @jaxandlennonco, @havenkidsclothing, @paradeorganics, and @softsoulfootwear. After the child grows out of the clothes, they’re sent back to Tradle in exchange for the next size up (for the correct season, too!). Discover the details on their website, or read more about them in my blog post (link in bio). • Interested in trying them out yourself? Use code LEAH25 on their website for 25% off any Tradle membership! (Use the link in my blog post. 😊) • The giveaway prize is a 3-month subscription to @tradle.community, open to those living in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland (British Columbia). If there’s a new baby in your life, this is the perfect Christmas gift! To enter: 1️⃣Like this post. ️ 2️⃣Follow @leahstellapayne & @tradle.community 3️⃣Comment and tag a friend who’d love to win. Each comment is an entry. 4️⃣ Bonus entry: share in your stories! • The contest is in no way affiliated with Instagram. Contest closes on Dec 16 at 12:00 noon, PST. The winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted by Direct Message. If no reply in 24 hours, I’ll move on to a new winner.
Did you know that the glitter on greeting cards is plastic? ✨ With a few rare exceptions, the vast majority of glitter (on cards, holiday decorations, crafts, etc) is microplastic. And like everyone who has ever tried to clean up glitter knows, it’s impossible to get rid of it! 😫 Glitter ends up contaminating the environment in one way or another. In waterways, microplastic is consumed by tiny organisms, and it eventually makes its way up the food chain, including, of course, to us. Don’t eat seafood? It’s still in drinking water (tap and bottled). Some reports tell us that we consume the equivalent of 5 grams of microplastic every week! 💧🌊 We don’t know the full health effects of humans consuming microplastic yet, although common sense tells us that it certainly can't be positive! Current research show that microplastic is negatively affecting water-dwelling creatures. Microplastic also has a tendency to absorb toxins over time, such as persistent organic pollutants. 🌏🌍🌎 So back to our very merry holiday cards. Here are some tips for choosing better options: ❄️ Opt for no cards altogether! (Because low-waste isn’t just about plastic, it’s about *all* resources.) ❄️ Find secondhand cards, reuse cards, or make your own out of materials you already have. ❄️ If buying new, try to choose ones made with recycled paper, nontoxic dyes, and no glitter or plastic packaging. ❄️ If you buy many cards at one time, buy directly from a local artisan, and request them without plastic sleeves (which are so ubiquitous these days!) • I realize this post got a bit away from me, since there are so many things to discuss! But I’m curious: do you try to avoid glitter? What do you do for holiday cards? . . . . . . . #lesswaste #reducewaste #zerowastetips #zerowasteblogger #lesswastelifestyle #lowwasteliving #plasticpollution #plasticpollutes #goingzerowaste #zerowastejourney #vancouverblogger #zerowastehome #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #plasticfreetips #reducereuserecycle #lowimpact #endplasticpollution #vancouverinfluencer #discoverunder10k #microplastic #noplanetb #ecoadvocate #natural #nontoxic #ecolife #refill #wasteless #ecochristmas
G I V E A W A Y closed. Promo code still valid! 🕯✨ I have a few more giveaways before the holidays come to a close, and I couldn’t be happier to share with you today’s: @malathebrand, a handcrafted candle company from Vancouver. • Melody is the founder of Mala and the one-woman show behind the brand. She creates the candles with vegan (non-GMO) soy wax, essential oil blends, and FSC certified wooden wicks, in small batches by hand. Plus, the tins and all packaging are fully recyclable. The candles are absolutely gorgeous, and they smell divine too. You know I love small local businesses, so it was a natural fit to do a giveaway! 💗 These candles would be perfect for a low-waste holiday gift or even as a housewarming gift. • Interested in trying them out yourself? Use the promo code LEAH15 on the @malathebrand website for 15% off! 🙌🏻 • The giveaway prize is 2 Mala candles, and it’s open to residents of Canada and the United States! To enter: 1️⃣Like this post. ️ 2️⃣Follow @leahstellapayne & @malathebrand 3️⃣Comment and tag a friend who’d love to win. Each comment is an entry. 4️⃣ Bonus entry: share in your stories! • The contest is in no way affiliated with Instagram. Contest closes on Dec 11 at 12:00 noon, PST. The winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted by Direct Message. If no reply in 24 hours, I’ll move on to a new winner. . . . . . . . #MALACANDLES #lesswaste #reducewaste #zerowastetips #zerowasteblogger #lesswastelifestyle #lowwasteliving #plasticpollution #plasticpollutes #goingzerowaste #zerowastejourney #vancouverblogger #zerowastehome #plasticfree #plasticfreeliving #plasticfreetips #reducereuserecycle #lowimpact #endplasticpollution #vancouverinfluencer #discoverunder10k #ecochic #noplanetb #ecoadvocate #natural #nontoxic #ecolife #refill #ecoluxe 📷 First 3 photos courtesy of @malathebrand
It's World Soil Day! What does this mean, and why should we care about soil health? It's a lot more important that you might think! Here, I'm delighted to share with you an interview with @hollyrose.eco. She's an environmentalist, a writer, and a regenerative agriculture advocate from whom I have learned so much since first following her blog and Instagram. If you haven't heard of her or regenerative agriculture before, you're in for a treat! It holds so much promise in the fight against climate change and building resilience. 🌾 To read the interview, please check out the link in my bio. I sincerely hope you enjoy this interview, and I highly recommend following Holly online to learn much, much more. 🌱 I'd love to know: have you heard of regenerative agriculture before? Perhaps you've watched the documentary @thebiggestlittlefarm, know about @kisstheground, or already follow @hollyrose.eco? Do you grow some of your own food or compost your food scraps? 🌿 • 📷 courtesy of Holly Rose 🌎🌍🌏 . . . . #organic #zerowaste #lesswaste #reducewaste #sustainablefuture #waronwaste #greenhouseemissions #protectourplanet #climateaction #climatechange #environmentalprotection #greenearth #greenplanet #plasticfreeliving #wastefree #noplanetb #ecowarriors #foodsystems #foodwaste #seedbank #noplanetb #vancouverblogger #vancouverinfluencer #discoverunder10k #foodsecurity #foodinsecurity #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativeliving #environmentalist #worldsoilday #soilhealth
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