I was asked the other day what was my inspiration? Well, I’ve covered some of that in the story so far, but it is also very much about the environment around me.
Having spent most of my life in leafy green Hertfordshire I hadn’t experienced the plastic epidemic quite as shocking as it is at the coast. I have had horses most of my life and the fields and bridleways are affected by litter, but not so obviously. You get lots in the towns and some of the easily accessible walks, but deep in the countryside it’s not such an issue as it is here on the Kent coast.
By now most of us will have seen the Blue Planet episode of plastic bags like jellyfish and plastic bottles floating around in the sea, along with the message about micro-plastics entering our eco system as they are consumed by the animals and plants we eat. It seemed so far away, and so easy to solve by recycling and picking up the rubbish we see…
And then I started looking closely at the beach, the Blue Flag beautiful beach where I live. Yes, there are plastic bottles and fishing net, and lately masks and gloves, and these are obvious and I pick them up as do many other locals and take them to the bins. But it’s the small things, the tiny bits of plastic that are more and more abundant the closer you look at the seaweed that gathers. The seaweed that the animals eat… I was upset, I was shocked, I started making some changes to my life… I’ll share a photo at the end of my ramblings. But you will see, there is NO WAY of removing these miniscule bits of plastic and waste from our seas and coast. And these are going to be in our eco system for 100s of years. It’s frankly bonkers that we have allowed this to happen, but out of sight out of mind eh?
Just small changes to start, less plastic in my purchases, going out of my way to buy local, being more pedantic about my recycling. And looking closely at the ingredients of the products I use on myself and that of my family. Aa a Chair and Judge for the Quality Food and Drink Awards I was used to looking at the ingredient deck of a product that is consumed, but I wasn’t as fastidious with the ingredients I put on my skin, or near my skin.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no eco warrior! I have no intention of being the next Swampy, I’m constantly learning and adapting. I just figure if we all make those small changes it will ultimately lead to big changes in our environment.
So if having nasty-free, natural shampoo and toys, with minimal packaging, that actually work and it makes a difference then that makes me happy.
The inspiration for Pup Suds…
I was asked the other day what was my inspiration? Well, I’ve covered some of that in the story so far, but it is also very much about the environment around me.
Having spent most of my life in leafy green Hertfordshire I hadn’t experienced the plastic epidemic quite as shocking as it is at the coast. I have had horses most of my life and the fields and bridleways are affected by litter, but not so obviously. You get lots in the towns and some of the easily accessible walks, but deep in the countryside it’s not such an issue as it is here on the Kent coast.
By now most of us will have seen the Blue Planet episode of plastic bags like jellyfish and plastic bottles floating around in the sea, along with the message about micro-plastics entering our eco system as they are consumed by the animals and plants we eat. It seemed so far away, and so easy to solve by recycling and picking up the rubbish we see…
And then I started looking closely at the beach, the Blue Flag beautiful beach where I live. Yes, there are plastic bottles and fishing net, and lately masks and gloves, and these are obvious and I pick them up as do many other locals and take them to the bins. But it’s the small things, the tiny bits of plastic that are more and more abundant the closer you look at the seaweed that gathers. The seaweed that the animals eat… I was upset, I was shocked, I started making some changes to my life… I’ll share a photo at the end of my ramblings. But you will see, there is NO WAY of removing these miniscule bits of plastic and waste from our seas and coast. And these are going to be in our eco system for 100s of years. It’s frankly bonkers that we have allowed this to happen, but out of sight out of mind eh?
Just small changes to start, less plastic in my purchases, going out of my way to buy local, being more pedantic about my recycling. And looking closely at the ingredients of the products I use on myself and that of my family. Aa a Chair and Judge for the Quality Food and Drink Awards I was used to looking at the ingredient deck of a product that is consumed, but I wasn’t as fastidious with the ingredients I put on my skin, or near my skin.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no eco warrior! I have no intention of being the next Swampy, I’m constantly learning and adapting. I just figure if we all make those small changes it will ultimately lead to big changes in our environment.
So if having nasty-free, natural shampoo and toys, with minimal packaging, that actually work and it makes a difference then that makes me happy.