Hello, hello!

It’s Plastic-Free July in New Zealand, where annually since 2011, grassroots movement groups, sustainably-minded businesses and local influencers gathered to expose the reality of our plastic consumption, the consequences, and discuss solutions to possibly reverse the tide. Previsions show that more plastic would be produced within the next decade than was manufactured since the 1950s. As per 2021, there is not a single corner of our planet not polluted by plastic, microplastics, from the top of Everest to the Mariana trench or in our drinking water. Atmos, the online magazine, covered the how on their latest Sunday spot. Weekly, we consume a credit card’s weight in plastic. And while the task of repairing the damages engendered by this global consumption is astronomical, the response lies in the action.

Though for all the effort we make, considering where our waste goes and how we can consume and produce less of it, without legislative change, petroleum-based plastics will continue to dominate. Corporates and economic forces govern how plastic gets recycled—or doesn’t. It’s often cheaper to produce virgin plastics. And unfortunately, plastic recycling suffers from poor economics—something to think about when electing your representation.⁠ Packaging and consumer products comprise 59% of global plastic waste. Why does society produce so much plastic in the first place?

In any crisis, particularly looking at the two we’re currently living through at the moment—coronavirus and global warming, people [and governments] are thinking, when will things go back to normal? The talk about a ‘new normal’ gives us this idea that a few things will change, that mostly we’ll try and keep our current state of living. However, with the pandemic, we’ve seen governments impose regulations overnight, close non-essential businesses, confining and quarantining populations. And we saw cross-industry collaboration to produce vaccines.

Addressing the climate crisis calls for equal enthusiasm, and while there is very much an individual versus corporation mindset with regards to climate, really it’s capitalism, consumerism, colonialism that is the virus. It can be defeating, to consider long enough the implications if nothing of significance is achieved at any level, government or individual. That said, the climate crisis should empower us. It should be informative, inspiring—not overwhelming. Solutions already exist.

This crumble is our interpretation of classic comfort food which has oats, almond meal and coconut oil — all nutrient-dense, with the fat, fibre and life-giving force of plants. Rhubarb is around, but use what fruit you have on hand. It makes for a warming dessert [ideal now our Auckland nights are so cold!] or quick breakfast—it’s equally good chilled. This version was made using all oats as we were out of almond meal. So you can either use oat flour or blend oats and make your own—it also saves you money.

Plastic-Free July provided the prompt to revisit our interview with James Denton, founder of GoodFor Store. We discussed the beginnings of GoodFor, thoughts on waste, local versus imported food, organic versus the rest of our food system—how as a society we value food, self-exploration and a new vision of activism.

For the sake of reducing waste, resourcefulness and productivity we gathered our beauty samples [all cruelty-free, vegan and formulated from clean ingredients], opened, tested and reviewed them. So if you had been contemplating your next cleanser or mask purchase, you might find it in this article!

This turmeric split pea hummus is a super convenient way to add spoonfuls of grounding nourishment to your meals—split peas provide 16 grams of plant-protein and fibre per cup, so for anyone seeking to increase their intake of either, buy yourself some split peas in bulk and make this! Making more of our food from scratch also provides the opportunity to produce less waste and reduce the amount of curbside recycling.

1. Further to Trace’s piece on pesticides and cancer risk—a team of scientists based in France recently proved the link between pesticide’s exposure and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Cross-referencing worldwide data published between 1946 to 2020, researchers analysed over 4,000 cases and 10,000 testimonies through fourteen international medical publications. And the conclusions are crystal clear. High exposure to pesticides increases the risk of contracting AML by 50%. As most of the patients in the studies were farmers, this will without doubt question if AML could become classified as an occupational disease. In the meantime, we can also wonder about the consequences on the broader population in the context of pesticides spreading near houses or drinking water sources.
   
   
2. I recently read this piece from NZ based water specialist Mike Joy on green growth. It helps to understand (and be reminded) of how “growth” and “green” are opposite concepts. And why the future is about less—less consumption, less making, less waste. Apt timing for Plastic-free July.
   
   
3. On the everyday effort, for those who switched to a plant-based diet for the sake of our planet. I follow vegan nutritionist Simon Hill on Instagram. He has a podcast and creates insightful content on food, focusing on the nutritional aspect of a diet. This has always been relevant to us—and he does it without shaming any diet, never. He recently released a book in May, The Proof is in the Plants, and I just received it! I am starting reading this week and expect the book to become a new bible.

1. Both Amandine and I, and our partners eat sourdough, a lot of Daily Bread. Though the other week we discovered Kōpiko and now we’re alternating. We go for the Seeded Rye Sourdough. Kōpiko makes incredible bread from organic and spray-free grains grown in Canterbury. These nutrient-dense loaves are fermented for 22 hours, packaged in home compostable wrap and delivered to your door for an additional $2 [for those in Central or West Auckland]. If you eat some gluten and are in the serviced delivery areas, I recommend picking up a loaf or two.
   
   
2. While I'm an avid bar soap user, there's always a body exfoliator hanging out in the shower. I never enjoyed the experience of the pouch, so I purchase tubes. My favourite to date has been the Bangn Body Smooth Skin Scrub. It's made in Australia, cruelty-free, 100% natural — that's what beauty and wellness looks like to me. Their tubes are aluminium—100% recyclable with BPA free lining. The cap is also recyclable, and they use eco-friendly dyes. Their commitment to sustainability is refreshing.
   
   
3. Good nut milk is the perfect nutrient-dense addition to coffee, oatmeal, and smoothies. And while I still buy cartons, I prepare 2 litres of homemade almond or hazelnut milk each week—the small things. Feel free to play with your water ratio, as less water will yield a thicker, more creamy milk [which is great for rich pasta sauces, by the way]. And always soak nuts prior to enhance digestibility.

Thoughts, questions, you can always direct reply to these emails.
We look forward to hearing from you!

Tracey Creed & Amandine Paniagua