Clean and green
How can we be more sustainable in day-to- day living and do our part in safe-guarding our home for generations to come?
We spoke to Pat Kane of Dublin based lifestyle shop reuzi, about the changes we can all make today. While Pat works to prevent, Flossie of Flossie and the Beach Cleaners works to repair spending each weekend organising clean ups of local beaches and educating the public on the damage they are causing.
Tell us how reuzi came to be?
After becoming a mom for the first time, I noticed our rubbish rising at an alarming rate. I started to think, if two adults and a tiny baby can generate so much waste, imagine an office or a school. I began to educate myself on recycling and composting but fast realised that they were not the solution – we needed to address the thoughtless consumption of single-use, disposable materials that we were bringing into our home. Today, I can say that we are a family that watches its consumption and tries really, really hard to avoid unnecessary waste. Based on my personal journey, my family guiding principles and a need to find sustainable living essentials all in one place, I decided to create reuzi.
Was your plan to always branch into education with your workshops?
100%! I didn’t want reuzi to be one more shop. I wanted people to understand the ‘why’ behind each purchase. To me, education is the way forward as we’ve been in the dark for so long.
This planet gives us all we need to live a happy and fulfilled life so it’s only right that we look after it.
Why is sustainability important to you?
Because it’s the right thing to do. This planet gives us everything we need to live a happy and fulfilled life so it’s only right that we continue to look after it. We are only passing by, we aren’t here to stay, so we might as well make sure the place is in good condition for generations to come.
You speak about the power of one. What are five changes that our residents can make to have a more sustainable home?
Ditch plastics for good! – It’s easier than ever to cut down on plastics at home. In the kitchen swap plastic serving bowls for bamboo alternatives, use metal straws, ditch plastic water bottles by installing a tap filter or use water filtering charcoal sticks. For storing food, beeswax wraps are a great alternative to clingfilm.
You don’t need to stop in the kitchen. Make your bathroom routine greener by choosing reusable products or those made from organic materials.
Many of our readers are looking to decorate their new homes. What are your favourite Irish homeware brands to inspire them?
I am obsessed with pre-loved, vintage pieces and have found true gems at Vintique and Bank in Dún Laoghaire. For new pieces, I’d visit local indie shops such as April and the Bear, The Wilds, Scout and Industry & Co.
What is your favourite thing in the reuzi shop?
I handpick each and every product so I love them all but if I had to pick one, I’d go with our own range of shampoo, conditioner, face wash and body wash bars – they smell incredible and are so practical!
Ireland is ranked among the worst climate offenders in the EU. What are your hopes for change?
Positive change is contagious. I strongly believe that the new generations of consumers are going the extra mile to shop in a more conscious manner. I also believe that the pressure on our government has increased over the years. We still have a long way to go but if collectively, we decide to adopt better habits, we will see a much greener Ireland!
For someone wanting to change their routine for the better, do you have any simple quick wins to help them get going on a more sustainable path?
Spend some time watching your habits, run an ‘habits audit’ for a week. You can’t fix a problem that you don’t understand so this is key. Map your downfalls and identify areas of improvement. From there, you can tackle one area at a time – for instance, think of your bathroom. Can you replace plastic toothbrushes for bamboo ones? Can you look for shampoo and conditioner bars instead of bottled ones? Or can you find a place to refill existing plastic bottles? My two golden rules are, finish what you have. Never just bin something because it isn’t sustainable.Secondly, try to find things you can reuse or repurpose before going out there to buy new bits and bobs. You might already have a solution, you just haven’t thought of it!
Fight for the future
Flossie Donnelly is the patron of ‘Flossie and the Beach Cleaners’, a popular marine charity which has been active for three years. Flossie’s passion for fighting plastic pollution and her love of marine life fuel her fight for change. She began striking for climate change outside of Dáil Éireann solo almost four years ago and now she leads school protests and weekly beach clean-ups, which have gained momentum around the country.
Ranked as one of the worst countries in the EU for acting on climate change Flossie reminds the Irish population that it’s our future, it doesn’t matter what age we are, we can stand together and make a difference if we ask for change.
Over 8 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in our oceans each year and fish, birds, turtles and seals end up eating it or getting stuck in it. It is stark figures like this that inspired Flossie to begin clearing local beaches of harmful waste with her mother when she was ten. This May alone they collected 169kg of plastic waste from our beaches, and this is sadly only the tip of the iceberg.
Education revolution
Education is key and the charity has grown to offer plastic pollution workshops for all ages. They are designed to empower the next generation to engage in effective, practical activities that make a real difference to our planet, both locally and globally. They believe that with positivity and focused action, our oceans and sea life can continue to flourish.
It’s our future, it doesn’t matter what age we are, we can stand together and make a difference.
Every Hali resident can help
As Hali residents you are blessed to have many beautiful beaches on your doorstep. Two of these are proud to have been awarded blue flag status – Killiney and Seapoint. Sadly, even these beaches are in need of a helping hand with 41kg of waste being collected during a one day clean up of Seapoint organised by Flossie in May.
Why not make the most of our fantastic location and for your next day out, join Flossie and her beach cleaners? You can join them at one of our local beaches by signing up on their website as a volunteer, and if you’re short on time you can text CLEAN to 50300 and donate €4 today.
Clean and green
How can we be more sustainable in day-to- day living and do our part in safe-guarding our home for generations to come?
We spoke to Pat Kane of Dublin based lifestyle shop reuzi, about the changes we can all make today. While Pat works to prevent, Flossie of Flossie and the Beach Cleaners works to repair spending each weekend organising clean ups of local beaches and educating the public on the damage they are causing.
Tell us how reuzi came to be?
After becoming a mom for the first time, I noticed our rubbish rising at an alarming rate. I started to think, if two adults and a tiny baby can generate so much waste, imagine an office or a school. I began to educate myself on recycling and composting but fast realised that they were not the solution – we needed to address the thoughtless consumption of single-use, disposable materials that we were bringing into our home. Today, I can say that we are a family that watches its consumption and tries really, really hard to avoid unnecessary waste. Based on my personal journey, my family guiding principles and a need to find sustainable living essentials all in one place, I decided to create reuzi.
Was your plan to always branch into education with your workshops?
100%! I didn’t want reuzi to be one more shop. I wanted people to understand the ‘why’ behind each purchase. To me, education is the way forward as we’ve been in the dark for so long.
This planet gives us all we need to live a happy and fulfilled life so it’s only right that we look after it.
Why is sustainability important to you?
Because it’s the right thing to do. This planet gives us everything we need to live a happy and fulfilled life so it’s only right that we continue to look after it. We are only passing by, we aren’t here to stay, so we might as well make sure the place is in good condition for generations to come.
You speak about the power of one. What are five changes that our residents can make to have a more sustainable home?
Ditch plastics for good! – It’s easier than ever to cut down on plastics at home. In the kitchen swap plastic serving bowls for bamboo alternatives, use metal straws, ditch plastic water bottles by installing a tap filter or use water filtering charcoal sticks. For storing food, beeswax wraps are a great alternative to clingfilm.
You don’t need to stop in the kitchen. Make your bathroom routine greener by choosing reusable products or those made from organic materials.
Many of our readers are looking to decorate their new homes. What are your favourite Irish homeware brands to inspire them?
I am obsessed with pre-loved, vintage pieces and have found true gems at Vintique and Bank in Dún Laoghaire. For new pieces, I’d visit local indie shops such as April and the Bear, The Wilds, Scout and Industry & Co.
What is your favourite thing in the reuzi shop?
I handpick each and every product so I love them all but if I had to pick one, I’d go with our own range of shampoo, conditioner, face wash and body wash bars – they smell incredible and are so practical!
Ireland is ranked among the worst climate offenders in the EU. What are your hopes for change?
Positive change is contagious. I strongly believe that the new generations of consumers are going the extra mile to shop in a more conscious manner. I also believe that the pressure on our government has increased over the years. We still have a long way to go but if collectively, we decide to adopt better habits, we will see a much greener Ireland!
For someone wanting to change their routine for the better, do you have any simple quick wins to help them get going on a more sustainable path?
Spend some time watching your habits, run an ‘habits audit’ for a week. You can’t fix a problem that you don’t understand so this is key. Map your downfalls and identify areas of improvement. From there, you can tackle one area at a time – for instance, think of your bathroom. Can you replace plastic toothbrushes for bamboo ones? Can you look for shampoo and conditioner bars instead of bottled ones? Or can you find a place to refill existing plastic bottles? My two golden rules are, finish what you have. Never just bin something because it isn’t sustainable.Secondly, try to find things you can reuse or repurpose before going out there to buy new bits and bobs. You might already have a solution, you just haven’t thought of it!
Fight for the future
Flossie Donnelly is the patron of ‘Flossie and the Beach Cleaners’, a popular marine charity which has been active for three years. Flossie’s passion for fighting plastic pollution and her love of marine life fuel her fight for change. She began striking for climate change outside of Dáil Éireann solo almost four years ago and now she leads school protests and weekly beach clean-ups, which have gained momentum around the country.
Ranked as one of the worst countries in the EU for acting on climate change Flossie reminds the Irish population that it’s our future, it doesn’t matter what age we are, we can stand together and make a difference if we ask for change.
Over 8 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in our oceans each year and fish, birds, turtles and seals end up eating it or getting stuck in it. It is stark figures like this that inspired Flossie to begin clearing local beaches of harmful waste with her mother when she was ten. This May alone they collected 169kg of plastic waste from our beaches, and this is sadly only the tip of the iceberg.
Education revolution
Education is key and the charity has grown to offer plastic pollution workshops for all ages. They are designed to empower the next generation to engage in effective, practical activities that make a real difference to our planet, both locally and globally. They believe that with positivity and focused action, our oceans and sea life can continue to flourish.
It’s our future, it doesn’t matter what age we are, we can stand together and make a difference.
Every Hali resident can help
As Hali residents you are blessed to have many beautiful beaches on your doorstep. Two of these are proud to have been awarded blue flag status – Killiney and Seapoint. Sadly, even these beaches are in need of a helping hand with 41kg of waste being collected during a one day clean up of Seapoint organised by Flossie in May.
Why not make the most of our fantastic location and for your next day out, join Flossie and her beach cleaners? You can join them at one of our local beaches by signing up on their website as a volunteer, and if you’re short on time you can text CLEAN to 50300 and donate €4 today.
