For the year of 2024, the team here at Fifty Shades Greener have decided to focus our energy and efforts into spotlighting small, community driven sustainability projects from anywhere in the world that are operating on a grass roots level.

The world of sustainability itself can often be perceived as a minefield. From the enormity of the climate crisis, CSRD regulations and measuring carbon emissions, the efforts being made on the field by individuals or groups can often get overshadowed.

However, we always say at FSG, that small actions do count, especially when being carried out by many. This blog series will endeavor to highlight those people or communities who are driving REAL action.

We hope their stories inspire you, and more importantly that they spark hope.

Our third story of hope focuses on Vedda organic herbal teas and natural medicines.

This company started by Revatha Shah brings you small batch, organic and ethically sourced time-tested...

In today’s opinion piece we are looking at the concept of ‘Urban Gardens’.  

People are becoming more and more creative, and inventive with very little space: planting vegetable & flower gardens on rooftops, salad and herbs on balconies and windowsills.  

Growing our own food is not only a tasty and healthy option, but also empowering. Having the knowledge of where our food is coming from and what has gone into its growth, for example, knowing that no pesticides have been used. Plus, it reduces carbon emissions as it does not have to travel miles to get to your plate! 

Space is a factor for many businesses considering urban gardening as they may not have what is needed for more commercial growth.  

There are now a number of companies who have come up with solutions.  I met with Dan O’Brien from ‘Farmony’  who provides indoor vertical farms, which use hydroponics and have a range of options:...

How many plastic bottles of water or soft drinks do you purchase every month? Or every week or every year?

There is a lot of talk about reducing plastic as it continues to end up in our oceans and rivers, but there isn’t too much talk about the possible harmful effects that plastic might have on our own health! 

We are not here to scare anyone or tread the fine line of coming across as a “conspiracy theorist". However many scientists have investigated plastic and the harmful chemicals it can release in liquids and food, so we want to take a look at the facts available to us.

A report from https://www.consumerreports.org/  states that researchers analysed 34 everyday plastic products made out of eight different types of plastic to see how common toxicity might be. 74% of the products they tested were toxic in some way or another.

Is it fair to presume that the average consumer such as ourselves presumes that if plastic is being used to package...

With the festive season fast approaching my focus has turned to a Greener Christmas.  How can I make more sustainable choices in my celebrations, decorations and gift buying? I am an advocate for shopping and supporting local businesses all year round and this time of year is no different. 

In research I came across based on the American shopping experience it showed that “for every $100 you spend at locally owned businesses, $68 will stay in the community.

What happens when you spend that same $100 at a national chain? Only $43 stays in the community” (What Happens When You Shop Local - Independent We Stand | Independent We Stand).  

In some cases, it’s not possible to buy everything locally but I encourage those who are choosing more sustainable gifts this year to make a list of whom they are buying for and select:

• Locally or nationally produced items
• Gifts made with less or no plastic material 
• Less packaging or choose reusable...