2nd Feb 2023
This is an exciting first in the Origin Story series as we welcome our first Green Hosting friend to share theirs. Green Hosting friends are businesses, organisations and individuals who share our values and are a part of our network but not necessarily a client. We love to champion anyone who works to bring positive change for people and the natural world, so our next guest is a perfect fit.
Claire Lyons wears many hats in the world of sustainability. Her story here, however, is told with such a deep care for one particular aspect of her work, and that is at the Woodland Burial Company. This is a fascinating subject and something we don't give enough time to consider. So, here is Claire to tell us more...
I am part of quite a few environmentally focused groups both professionally and socially. I worked on my ‘eco living’ very publicly for over five years running The Frugal Family. Over that time we covered pretty much every issue, hint and tip, on ways to live more sustainably. My over sharing also moved outwards to helping small businesses to work in more sustainable ways (happy to share that some time too!).
What I never once talked about until recently, was how to have a sustainable funeral, or the impact of dying on the planet (Hint: It’s not good). They are not topics that people want to talk about, or think about. At all. With a background as a lecturer in personal development I was happy to talk about most subjects, had covered all taboos. I had also taught on lots of grief management courses and perhaps had a thicker skin on the topic?
What’s fascinating is that so, so many people are striving for a sustainable life, and yet never once consider their sustainable death. Or they do consider it, and the information and options out there are pitifully poor.
There seems no huge global action towards the shocking environmental impact of the funeral industry. Previously untouchable, only now are the industry themselves trying to make some headway, spurred on by the demands of being net zero. That’s a much longer article, but limited choices is a big factor in the decisions people are making.
When my own family suffered an unexpected tragedy in 2019, this issue became something I could no longer ignore.
While researching our options for an environmentally friendly burial, the only things I could find were ‘natural burial’ sites. Natural is an interesting word, it evokes happy thoughts about the planet. But a tsunami is natural and yet I still don’t want to be caught up in one.
Many of these sites don’t allow markers, seating or pre-booking graves. All things that are so valuable in processing and learning to live with grief. It was essential to me that I could be buried with my son whenever my time comes.
It was a crash course in research as time to make decisions is not unlimited. Reading the extensive research was fascinating, and one question inevitably led me to another. I had no idea that cremated ashes were harmful to soil, that plants grow away from them and in confined spaces often die.
It seems our basic needs as human beings can be ignored if we are told it’s better for the planet. On a mission to discover the answer somewhere in between these two extremes, I kept returning to the Woodland Burial Company.
I was lucky in that I already knew of the WBC, I had met them years before to write a blog post. I liked that they were in an established woodland that didn’t just line up burials in a field and plant a tiny sapling. It’s a 45 minute drive, but still absolutely worth the effort every time we go.
I became a bit obsessed with the toxicity of traditional burial and cremation, and more annoying with every question and suggestion I made to the owner of the burial ground. So annoying in fact, that I was offered to role of Manager – to get the message out that I was so distressed about.
Since starting that role, I have learnt so much and feel humbled to support other families at such a difficult time. The lack of a serious and swift response to the climate crisis generally is concerning, that this specific area, one we cannot do without and is in fact only going to increase, is still languishing in the ‘too tricky’ pile is simply foolish. Birth and death are the only truly shared experiences human beings have. We can’t avoid it, we need to face into it.
I have learned so much, and even though I considered myself well versed in sustainability issues I would do things differently now, lots of small changes can make significant improvements in how nature can deal with death. Just choosing a linen shroud instead of your own clothing helps. Such a simple thing.
There are real solutions, there is real research.
WBC has grown further, now able to work outside of the confines of its geography. Their scientifically researched RTN Soil can now be bought in Kits and used at home. I have also grown my self-employed work, now working alongside several excellent businesses in this new niche I find myself in.
Via my website www.clairelyons.co.uk I discuss grief, death and sustainability. You can also find me at the #EthicalHour twitter chat most Monday’s and ranting on Linked In.
If we want to make change, sometimes we have to take an issue by the horns and drag it into people’s consciousness. Sorry, not sorry.
Find Claire online
Website: clairelyons.co.uk
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/claireandgrief
Facebook: facebook.com/claireandgrief
Twitter: twitter.com/claireandgrief
18th Jan 2023
Hi, I’m Priya, founder of upcycled accessories and kidswear brand, Pri Pri. All designs use pre loved saris and are handmade by a charity in India that helps to upskill and empower underprivileged women with training in tailoring.
The concept was born out of my love for Indian clothing, those luxurious fabrics and rich colours have always appealed to me. One of my first sewing memories is from when I was 10 years old and Patti, my Indian grandma, taught me how to use a sewing machine. It led to my first little business venture, using zips from the big sacks of rice at home to make pencil cases and raise money for charity. It was my grandmother who also first introduced me to the zero waste concept. Every scrap of fabric would somehow be put to use.
Zero waste/sustainability is what I guess we call it now, but coming from a generation and a country where throwaway fashion wasn’t really considered an option, she made sure I learnt the importance of these values too.
This passion started a very long time ago but it’s something that has stayed with me through my life. I didn’t study textiles, I didn’t have a career in design, but I’ve just always loved making and repurposing stuff. When my niece was born, I found myself drawn back to the treasure chest of my mum's beautiful old saris and had the idea of making little party dresses for our new family member. The colourful fabrics were so vibrant, and the silk so soft, that they were ideal for remaking into kids’ partywear. After a few encouraging comments, I added some dresses to the online marketplace Etsy, and it became my side hustle.
In 2021, the business moved from being a side hustle to my primary job. I decided to outsource the making of my products and I found a wonderful charity to work with, back in my grandmother’s home of Mumbai, to help make up my designs. The organisation trains underprivileged women in tailoring, upskilling them and enabling them to gain employment at the end of their training. Research shows education and empowerment in women leads to living a healthier, happier life and can break the cycle of poverty, and it has been great to hear how many of the women who work on Pri Pri designs, feel more confident after their training and employment.
Find Priya online at:
Website: pripri.co.uk
Twitter: @PriPriCoUk
Facebook: facebook.com/PriPri.co.uk
Pintrest: pinterest.co.uk/PriPriStore
Instagram: instagram.com/pripri.co.uk
11th Jan 2023
17th - 23rd January sees Big Energy Saving Week here in the UK. Usually for a business like ours, this would be a great opportunity to talk about effective ways to save energy and as a result help save the planet.
This year the world feels like a very different place (again) and, honestly, at a time when so many people don't have any choice but to switch off their heating, ovens, kettles (the list goes on) it frankly feels insensitive for us to join in. I'm not saying we shouldn't be saving energy, we should. If we are in a position to choose and stay safe and healthy, let's cut out the energy waste in our lives, the climate crisis is co-existing alongside the financial crisis. Right now, there are plenty of articles, videos and resources online suggesting ways we can do this.
Instead I've been researching organisations that may be helpful for people in the UK who might be struggling to pay their bills or buy food right now or may need someone to talk to about their mental health, which could be exacerbated by such anxieties.
I hope these are useful. Please feel free to share this list on your socials and add your own. Let me know if there are any essential support organisations I've missed and I can add them here...
Citizens Advice - Guides on how to get additional help with energy bills
Groundwork's Green Doctors - Can provide support with ways to stay warm and safe and access other services and initiatives
National Energy Action - National fuel poverty charity, providing help for people who cannot afford to heat their homes
Ofgem - Offer a range of advice around high energy bills
National Debtline - Their Cost of Living Hub contains a lot of information and advice, including other organisations that may be able to help
Energy Savings Trust - Article about how high energy bills are affecting people's mental health, along with some useful links.
Trussell Trust - For information about foodbanks and other ways to get help if you're struggling to afford essentials.
Mind - The mental health charity's page on money and mental health, with useful links to get support.
For urgent mental health support - Contact the Samaritans for free on 116 123 or the NHS Urgent Mental Health Helplines or text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19
You may also be interested to visit the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute website. Founded by Martin Lewis, this organisation is working to breat the link between mental ill health and financial difficulties.
If you're reading this, I genuinely hope that you don't need any of the information above. But if you do, please know there is no shame in letting someone know you are struggling and that you need help. These situations can happen to just about any of us.
Take care.
14th Dec 2022
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9th Nov 2022
Hi, I’m Sam Attard, founder of Ethical Revolution. I also spent 3 years as manager of the UK’s first ever high street sharing shop (Library of Things). I’ll tell you about both of them below but first here are my own origins:
Born in the early ‘80s to an artist mother and entrepreneur father I have always been heavily in to music (playing, listening and dancing!) and sport (football, cricket and snooker being my top 3!)
I got to a decent level playing cricket at county level until serious injury as a 19 year old curtailed that career. I had just returned from a gap year playing cricket in Australia when it happened. I had already enrolled at Cardiff University specifically to enter their cricketing centre of excellence and it was only a few weeks before starting that cricket had to stop. I was left to go and study a course I had chosen merely as a side note to the cricket: Communication.
Whilst at university I worked on an events team, looking after various musicians from The Darkness to Sugababes and Anthrax to Ice-T. The highlight for me was a 2 month stint as PA to Super Furry Animals. They had been my favourite band as a young teenager so this was a dream come true. After the course finished I continued in this line of work until the injury had become so bad that I could no longer walk. Signed off whilst on waiting lists I finally got an operation which gave me the bionic hip I have today!
During the downtime I’d moved back home with my folks. I drew on some of the publishing skills I’d gained from my course and got some heads together in my hometown of Cheltenham to try to revive a previously rife music scene using an arts magazine as the vehicle. We had tried to revive the old arts centre in the process, an endeavour which ultimately failed, although the buzz around the magazine did create a fantastic little scene in the mid-noughties. It was for the magazine that I built my first website and when the magazine came to an end a couple of people asked me to make websites for them. From that point on I became a web developer. Fast forward to 2013 and Ethical Revolution was born.
Without the help of my PA, Ted, I'd never get through my daily emails!
Something people find strange about me is that I don’t own a mobile phone. It happened by accident. My phone broke in 2012 while I was living in Spain. By not immediately finding a replacement I realised what a difference it made to my life. Pure bliss! I decided to keep going without one and the more time goes on the more I’m adamant I won’t get one.
Ethical Revolution shares steps that anyone can take to help contribute towards a more sustainable future. Understanding that from a consumer point of view the more sustainable options can often be more expensive, Ethical Revolution teams up with ethical companies to offer exclusive discounts and coupon codes on various such products & services to help you consume consciously for less.
There is also an Ethical Directory on the website to help connect you with ethically-minded brands, plus a whole host of pages dedicated to alternative methods of interacting as a consumer to help contribute to a positive future. One such example is the Amazon Alternatives page which includes an Ethical Bookseller Search Tool - Use it to search a myriad of more-ethical booksellers than Amazon in one click. Spoiler Alert: The cheapest result is usually as cheap or cheaper than Amazon anyway!
Ethical Revolution first came about in 2013 when I made a concerted effort to shop more ethically. I soon found this didn’t come cheap, quite the opposite. I began searching for ways to save money, finding the odd discount code here or there, but it was a long drawn out process finding them in the first place. I realised I could share my findings and Ethical Revolution was born as the world’s first ethical discounts site. It’s evolved since then but the discounts section still remains, with plenty of coupon codes and offers available from sustainable goods and services.
A Library of Things works like a normal library: you sign up as a member and borrow items you need. It can be tents and camping gear, disco items, DIY and gardening tools and machinery, household and kitchen items … the list keeps going. By borrowing instead of buying people save money with those who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford certain items getting easy access (think of a projector for a film night, a gazebo for a garden party or a thermal imaging camera to help find less well insulated places in your home); the environmental impact is huge with literally tons and tons saved on greenhouse gas emissions, raw material usage and manufacturing use by sharing instead of owning; people save space in their homes; a community connection is forged, giving people a sense of belonging and pride in what they’re achieving together.
For three years, alongside Ethical Revolution, I became manager of SHARE:Frome - the UK’s first ever high street Library of Things. An inspirational lady named Anna Francis saw a similar project in Berlin and brought the idea back to ol’ Blighty, handing it over to Edventure who inspire young adults in to meaningful ventures by setting them loose on such projects. After launch it was handed over to members of the community to run. A few years down the line the project was on the verge of collapse. It had always relied heavily on Edventure to fund it, something they could no longer afford to do. That’s when I took over. I’m proud to say I helped steer it on a road to prosperity, converting it from a neglected arm of an umbrella company to a standalone charity that was financially self-sufficient. In doing so it became a beacon for other such sharing libraries around the country and, alongside my friends at Oxford Library of Things and Crystal Palace Library of Things, we created a UK network for sharing. Within that network there are now dozens of thriving sharing libraries up and down the country.
Ethical Revolution on Social Media:
Mastodon: @climatejustice@ethicalrevolution (It’s better than Twitter: @ethicaluton)
Pixelfed: @ethicalrev (It’s better than Instagram: @ethicalrevolution)
Diaspora: @ethicalrevolution (It’s better than Facebook!)
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