My dears,

I’ve been working on this post for quite some time and I had to re-write it time and again. That is not uncommon concerning topics that are either destined to rise headwind or that I care about much. This time I’ll talk – again – about sustainability. Bear with my inner tree hugger. In many recipes I make an effort to give some advice on local and seasonal ingredients. But there is so much more.

I have been working on a change from reusing to reducing for some time now and to live more closely by the waste hierarchy. From reducing at the top over reusing to recycling – reduce, reuse, recycle. This means that the most sustainable way is to not create waste at all, then it is good to reuse stuff where logical instead of just kicking it out and then there is waste where you just re-feed it to the cycle of materials. I know, this sounds pretty theoretical, but it is actually quite simple and easy to do.

At first it seems contraditcory. I bought stuff in order to reduce waste. It makes sense, though. For example, about 10 years ago I got a cloth-made set of make-up remover pads, which I can just throw in with my laundry and I am still using the very same set. I guess I saved loads of cotton wool pads so far. By now I accumulated a pile of thingies: bottles, boxes, cups, linen bags, ice pop- and ice cube-makers and the newest additions are reusable straws and string bags for weighing / buying produce. Some reducements don’t even need a replacement: for example, I haven’t used paper towels in my kitchen for four years now. If there’s really a big and messy spill, I cut up old (drying) towels which either go into the laundry or are thrown away (e.g. if they a re full of little shards) – them being worn out I would’ve kicked them out anyway.

All these little things sum up to a lot of waste that I DIDN’T produce in the end of the day. And that is a great feeling 😊

I have no intention to tell anyone how to live or what to buy. As well, I am aware that some of the products I mentioned are expensive and that not everyone can afford this, although they are more then worth it during their long-lasting lives. To be honest I’d be more than happy if this post animates just one single person to overthink their ways and starts switching from recycling to reusing and in the end reducing. Each person is a win. See, many a mickle makes a muckle. 😉


Take care!

XOXO

Sarah

PS. I took that picture in the Las Médulas, Spain. I figured that I am no good in product photography and I don’T want to tell anyone what to buy.