Sustainability

Our mission is to create the world’s most sustainable beauty products in the world, and we are constantly challenging ourselves to do more and more to make this happen. Over the years, we’ve added a number of firsts to the Beauty Kitchen name - proudly becoming the UK’s first B Corp certified high street beauty business, launching our groundbreaking Return · Refill · Repeat program & automated refill stations and now…we are the first beauty & personal care business in the world to sign up to Canopy!   As the world deals with the growing impacts of the global climate crisis, we all need to consider how our packaging choices impact the natural world. Forest based packaging is growing annually by 5% and is forecast to double by 2030! Obviously, we want to shift the industry from single use plastic; however, substituting plastic for single use forest-based products is not a sustainable solution either.  It’s hugely important to us that we incorporate cradle-to-cradle principles and the reuse of materials using our Return • Refill • Repeat model in every aspect of our business which is why we are proud to take a stance and create change with Canopy.     In case you didn’t know, Canopy is a not-for-profit forest conservation organisation that works with leading brands around the globe across a range of industries - fashion, publishing, packaging…and now of course, beauty and personal care! Their Pack4Good initiative which we are supporting, focuses on eliminating the use of Ancient and Endangered forest fibres in paper and paper packaging whilst instead making use of lower impact materials such as pulp. You already know the sustainable choices we make with our packaging (read our blog on how we minimise waste) but we want to make even more of an impact alongside Canopy and encourage other businesses to follow suit.     What we are Committing:   To help reduce pressure on forests and freshwater systems, as well as to reduce the carbon footprint of the paper and packaging we use, we will continue to lead the market by:   The use of innovative design, recycled fibre and by implementing waste zero processes throughout all areas of our business  Choosing paper packaging with high-recycled content, specifically reusing waste content  Encouraging our suppliers to continuously improve and expand the availability of recycled content  Maximising the overall recycled fibre content of our packaging  Sourcing packaging from alternative sustainable fibres when possible  Supporting research and development of commercial scale production of pulp, paper and packaging   “We are thrilled to be early leaders in the beauty sector by making a commitment through the Pack4Good initiative. Like Canopy, our goal is to help create a future where precious resources, like forests, don’t end up as packaging for personal care products, and to prove that there can be a widespread democratising of the circular economy.” - Jo Chidley, Founder of Beauty Kitchen You can read our full Canopy Pack4Good policy here. 

We chatted to the B Corp certified Greenhouse PR recently as part of B Corp month and their new 'Beyond Zero' audio series! They are celebrating the B Corps that are on a mission to reach net zero beyond. “If you’re a certified B Corp, you have the framework, you have the support, and you very much have the community to be able to learn from other businesses." - Jo Chidley, our Founder We are at a critical moment where it’s essential that we cut net global carbon emissions by 45% in the next decade, reaching net zero by 2050. But, what if businesses could go one step further, reaching net zero and beyond by 2030. We’ll be interviewing game changing organisations throughout B Corp month to find out how we can create and communicate a net zero future. The B Corp accreditation has huge potential to inspire more businesses to drive positive and meaningful action on climate change.What is Net Zero to Jo Chidley?"Net zero refers to achieving an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere, like a bath with the taps on, an approach to achieving this balance could either be to turn down the taps – the emissions – or to drain an equal amount down the plug by removal of emissions from the atmosphere, which would include storage of emissions such as carbon sinks." Listen to the full audio show below to find out how we are on our way to Net Zero! Greenhouse · Beyond Zero Hero: Jo Chidley, Co-Founder of Beauty Kitchen

On the second week of B Corp Month, our Founder Jo Chidley had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Audrey Migot-Adholla of Yala Jewellery to discuss what B Corp means to us and how we are using our businesses as a force for good! It's al about balancing the pillars of B Corp: People, Planet, Profit. Yala is an award-winning African jewellery brand designed for the modern woman who create ethical jewellery that is made to last, working with collaborators who are paid fairly and materials that are eco-friendly. Watch the full chat with Jo & Audrey below! "I don't want you to just survive, I don't want you to only have the minimum wage, I don't want you to just live...I want you to grow and get better." - Audrey Migot-Adholla, Founder of Yala Jewellery

What Does it Mean to be a Better Employer? “Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.” – B Lab. So now you know a little more about B Corp from our last blog, we wanted to delve a little deeper into our own principles! Each week throughout B Corp Month, we will be highlighting each category that we get assessed on as a business which we are legally required to maintain forever more. This week, it’s about our workers. All B Corps, not just us, consider our employees in all business decisions, no matter what challenges they face (yes 2020, we are talking about you!). From employee ownership to innovative hiring practices and flexible work policies and committing to writing better contracts, we are leading the way in building better business. As the saying goes “it’s what’s on the inside that counts”, and this applies to every aspect of our business too including internally from our Beauty Kitchen HQ team, through to our supplies and down to our growers. How do B Corps Measure Impact – Workers As part of the B Corp community, we work towards reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose so we can build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. "The Workers Impact Area evaluates the company's contribution to its employees' financial, physical, professional, and social wellbeing. Companies are assessed based on financial security for their workers; the health, wellness, and safety of their employees; employee satisfaction; workforce development efforts and available career growth opportunities." - B Lab. Women In Business B Corps are 68% more likely to have a majority in women workers, and this certainly applies to our female led business! Seeing as International Women’s Day is round the corner this is something to shout about. On another note, Jo is an Ambassador for Women’s Enterprise Scotland who aim to strengthening the Scottish economy by creating an environment where women-led businesses can flourish and grow. If you are a woman in business, Jo has some advice for you! “We all have to start somewhere, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Start your business, get your product or service out there, fail fast, fail cheaply, get feedback…and move on.”Supporting the Local Community75% of B Corps are more likely to hire workers from chronically underemployed populations and collectively, B Corps have hired more than 16,000 workers that traditionally have high barriers to employment.Beauty Kitchen is based in a small town called Wishaw which is not one of Scotland’s most wealthy parts of the country. One of our long-term goals to bring more jobs and business to the town and the majority of our employers have been hired locally! A Question for Jo…What do you Love about Working for a B Corp? “I started Beauty Kitchen to use business as a force for good with an equal weighting on the community, the environment and profit in every decision we make. I always thought there was a better way to do business where everyone who touches the business gains something positive from it. B Corp gives the framework and the community to understand how to do this every day, and at Beauty Kitchen you know you are part of something that is truly trying to make the world a better place through business!” Jo Chidley, Founder This is what a few others from the Beauty Kitchen team had to say when we asked this same question! “There’s hundreds of reasons! Beauty Kitchen balances purpose and profit constantly to create change for the better. Giving back is more important than profit for the business and this has influenced my own lifestyle and choices!” Patryk - Sales “The company aligns with my own personal morals.” Kyle - Operations “I love that we pledge to use our business to do good things and to leave the world in a better place than it was before.” Lisa – Office Manager “I love that we are always looking to the future, and how this future will be in a much better place when we all balance our actions with positive purpose. Everyone involved in Beauty Kitchen can be proud to say that they are creating positive change in some way. It’s all about collaboration.” Amy – Marketing No matter what comes our way, we will always have B Corp values at the core of everything we do - stay tuned for more info throughout B Corp Month!

March marks the month of B Corp, and while most of you will be fully aware of this already, we thought we’d give you all a bit more detail on what it means to us! There are over 2,500 B Corp certified businesses globally (just look out for the logo on packaging), and we were so proud to become the first certified high street UK beauty business back in 2017! What is B Corp? Put simply, certified B Corporations aim to choose people over profit - and we believe that as a business we have a responsibility to use our voice as a force for good! It’s also about being committed to acting in a sustainable and transparent way while meeting the highest environmental and social standards. By becoming B Corp certified, we are legally required to consider the impact of our decisions on our workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. How to Become a B Corp There are 3 hugely important steps that a business has to go through to become a B Corp. Firstly, you have to genuinely believe in the movement and ethos that surrounds B Corp. By that, we mean your business should believe in making money while doing good, and you should have clear, specific social or environmental goals to achieve. Secondly, you need to undergo a thorough B Corp assessment which allows you to benchmark your social and environmental performance against other companies. By doing this, you will get access to a B Impact Report, which includes a ‘B Score’ that rates your company’s performance as a social enterprise. A business needs to score at least 80 points out of the maximum 200 to be eligible for B Corp certification. Finally, but arguably most importantly…you need to maintain your hard work! To maintain a B Corp status, you need to get re-certified every few years to ensure that your performance is still matching B Corp values. We are in the process of undergoing recertification so stay tuned! Our B Corp Score You can see our overall score here of 139.8! There’s many reasons why we gained B Corp certification, and here’s a few of them… Beauty that gives back - we donate 2% of our sales (not profits) back to charities that are close to our hearts, such as Plastic Soup Foundation and The Seahorse Trust. We decided to give away a percentage of sales instead of profits because it means no matter what, we’ll always be giving something back. Beauty without Beasts – absolutely none of our products contain synthetic ingredients or microplastics and we only ever use sustainably-sourced and natural ingredients. All our products are cruelty free too! British Beauty - we develop all our products here in the UK for two reasons. Firstly, so the products travel less as they are made locally so have a much lower carbon footprint. Secondly, it was important to Jo & Stuart (our Founder & Co-Founder…also husband & wife) to play our part in building a more sustainable ecosystem by creating jobs in local communities. “I always thought there was a better way to do business where everyone who touches the business gains something positive from it. B Corp gives the framework and the community to understand how to do this every day, and at Beauty Kitchen you know you are part of something that is truly trying to make the world a better place through business!” - Jo Chidley, Founder of Beauty Kitchen We have our score…now what? Well the idea of the B Corp score is that it acts as a benchmark to maintain and improve upon this. Our aim now is to reach a higher score (which we are in the process of doing right now!) so that we can constantly improve and become the best version of ourselves. We never claim to be perfect, but we want to at least try. Stay tuned for more, as we will be highlighting and celebrating other incredible B Corps throughout B Corp Month!  

With a challenging 2020 almost behind us we all deserve a fresh start, and we are so excited to bring in the New Year! We’ve just launched our Sustainable Sale with up to 50% off our favourite plastic free treats and waste zero goodies, making it even easier for you to start making sustainable choices ready for the new year. This prompted us to start making and sharing our new year’s resolutions! If we continue to use and produce plastic at the same rate that we do now, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. Small changes make big difference so here’s some simple but sustainable swaps to add to your list for an easy way to Join the #ReuseRevolution for 2021:Education then Action You’ve started educating yourself on how to take action just by reading this blog! It’s really important to understand what sustainability is and why it’s beneficial so we’ve outlined some helpful books, including ‘Cradle to Cradle’ which is the core inspiration for everything we do here at Beauty Kitchen. Just make sure to look at second hand books before buying them new, and pass on to friends once you’ve finished: Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by Michael Braungart & William McDonough How to Go Plastic Free: Eco Tips for Busy People by Caroline Jones Six Weeks to Zero Waste: A Simple Plan for Life by Kate Arnell There is No Planet B: A Handbook for the Make or Break Years by Mike Berners-Lee Ditch the Disposables Plastic straws are so 2020…quite literally seeing as the UK banned them this year! From here on out try to refuse disposable items when they are offered to you, and instead opt for reusable wherever and whenever you can. It sometimes requires a bit of pre planning but our advice is to always be prepared. Reusable straws, cutlery, tupperware…you name it, there is generally an easy reusable alternative to most single use items. Over 4 billion plastic bags end up being thrown away every year, so make sure your prepared for some last-minute shopping errands by always carrying a reusable tote with you. Another shocking fact is that 2.5 billion coffee cups are STILL being disposed of every year with less than one in 400 being recycled. Well stop right there, because our reusable Premium Hot & Cold Water Bottle will take care of that issue! Shop Second Hand First of all, make the most of what you already have before buying into any trends. If you do need (rather than want) something new, try shopping second hand. Think of it as a fashionable treasure hunt, you never know what incredible finds you will end up with. Charity shops are a must, but for a virtual option try Facebook Market Place or apps like Depop and eBay. Shopping for second hand is the best way to reduce your impact when it comes to clothes waste as you can instantly avoid creating demand for raw materials. Don’t forget to also donate any clothes you don’t wear anymore too! Choose Natural Materials Still on the topic of clothes and textiles - when you do purchase clothes, pay more attention to the materials they are made of. Over 60% of materials used in the textile industry consist of synthetic materials that pollute our land and oceans with tiny plastic fibres (microfibres) each time we wash these materials. It’s actually estimated that around 165,000 tons of plastic fibres enter the sea and an additional 176,000 dumped across land EACH YEAR. Steer clear of polyester, nylon, acrylic and Lycra and instead opt for natural materials like bamboo, hemp and cotton. It’s why we created our new reusable bath accessories as sustainable alternatives to your usual single use/plastic bath accessories. Find out more about these here! Do It Yourself DIY is the foundation of where Beauty Kitchen started so we have no hesitation in encouraging this! DIY products give you full control over what goes into them, whilst tailoring them to your own needs. Starting with a handful of small simple and natural ingredients will be easier to manage and less wasteful – look in your cupboard for these essentials: White Vinegar diluted with 3 parts warm water – a cheap & effective natural surface cleanser Bicarbonate of soda mixed with water into a paste – makes for a powerful stain remover Lemon juice – the citrus acid is a great natural bleaching agent so pop a capful of it in with your whites next time you wash your laundry Try Something New Making sustainable swaps often calls for having an open mind and trying new things, which to us is the exciting and fun part of living a waste zero lifestyle! Hair care bars are something new to our line up and a completely different Waste Zero experience to your usual shampoo and conditioner routine. SLS free, cruelty free, waste free…there’s no nasties here. Just be sure to let us know what you think if you try them out! Say no to Plastic Packaging Potentially the simplest swap listed here as you’re already in the right place for all your sustainable bathroom needs! It’s our mission to create the world’s most sustainable products in the world, from the inside out. Considering 95% of beauty packaging waste is thrown out after one use, we are here to change this. All of our packaging is created with the end in mind, from our compostable pouches, FSC approved cardboard, wood pulp film and most importantly…our reusable packaging that is part of our Return·Refill·Repeat programme. This is where we wash and reuse our packaging ready to be reused again and again – it’s completely Waste Zero! Waste Zero Shopping Similar to above, single use food packaging is also a huge issue. Around 40% of plastic is used in packaging and whilst it preserves our food for a few days longer, it’s definitely not doing any good in terms of preserving our planet as most of it is of course single use. Be mindful when doing your next food shop, look out for paper bags to pop loose fruit & veg in but the best option is to reuse (as always) your own veggie bags or tupperware.We’ve supported Zero Waste stores a lot this year and definitely recommend that you visit your local one for easy accessibility to sustainable choices when it comes to food and household essentials. Start Composting Make the most of your organic food waste by composting! It’s simple – start by building or purchasing a large bin to compact your waste into. Just make sure there’s enough space for water to drain and worms to easily get into (they will covert your waste into compost!) and let them do the work! Over time, your compost will become dark brown/almost black and soil like with a spongey texture – this is when you can use it in the garden to improve your soil quality. To include in compost: Vegetable & fruit peelings Garden cuttings & leaves Teabags (that don’t contain plastic fibres) Crushed eggshells Ripped up cardboard For some more simple sustainable swaps, take a peek at our Join the #ReuseRevolution blog. Becoming sustainable doesn’t have to be challenging at all. Take it simple and slow to start with for the New Year - it will soon grow to be second nature to you!

I’d like to talk about racism and #BlackLivesMatter. I am not an expert in this subject but I have personal experience of discrimination and I find it abhorrent. I and Beauty Kitchen, have a voice and it is time to use it.   We’ve always been active in supporting a diverse culture and range of causes but have rarely talked about them. We are always listening, learning and will continue to act. But right now we have something to say to you about the systemic disease that is racism and I’d like to thank Marta Canga for challenging me to do this.   The “R” number, which stands for “Reproduction”, is headline news right now as we fight the pandemic disease that is coronavirus.   As the first high street beauty business to become a B Corporation we have a continuous commitment to use business as a force for good, protecting the environment and the community.   We believe that the collective worlds rapid response to reducing the coronavirus “R” number sets a new benchmark on what can and should be done when lives are at stake. The target for the coronavirus “R” number is zero and together we will achieve that soon enough with a vaccine.   However, there are two other global pandemics that we cannot treat with a vaccine. Racism and the Climate Emergency pose an even greater threat to life. They are both systemic issues that need rapid action on a massive scale.   I started Beauty Kitchen to use business as a force for good with an equal weighting on the community, the environment and profit in every decision we make.   We are pioneering unique change within the circular economy, in particular to impact the “R” number that is “Reuse” of packaging. We are getting results from small changes that have a BIG IMPACT. We keep doing the right thing and are influencing customers and other businesses to follow us. Our voice has grown loud and we are leading the conversation on this topic whilst others follow.   Our voice has not been so loud on the “R” number that is Racism. We have supported charities with donations and pro-bono work since 2014, but rarely talked about it. That is no longer enough.   We are not experts in the subject, but we want to use our voice to amplify a zero tolerance approach to racism. We have been listening, learning and acting. We have been and will always: Look internally at our own business and culture Donate to charities (see list below) Review & audit the ethics of who we buy from and sell to Review & audit the ethics of the people and businesses we work with   From now on we will also force the topic of Racism onto the agenda of as many events that we participate in as possible.   We will continue to fight this pandemic until the “R” number that is Racism reaches zero.   We encourage you to listen, learn and act to eliminate racism. Small changes make a BIG IMPACT.   MEASURE: Take a discrimination test at https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/selectatest.html   READ: No Problem Here: Understanding Racism in Scotland by Neil Davidson Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge How to be an anti-racist – Ibram X. Kendi White Fragility – Robin Deangelo’s We Should All Be Feminists – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie   DONATE: Minnesota Freedom Fund Bail Project Black Visions Collective Reclaim the Block North Star Health Collective Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter UK Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust The Movement for Black Lives​ Stop Watch UK Girlfriend Collective    So Far Beauty Kitchen Donations Have Benefited: Uganda – directly supporting 3 community projects Bradford District Community Empowerment Network Muslim Council of Britain Charitable Foundation Black Arts Alliance Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre Trust Pakistani Resource Centre Action For Refugees In Lewisham Agency for Culture and Change Management Inspired Rise Community Action Bengali Workers Association Iraqi Welfare Association Central Africa's Rights & AIDS (CARA) Society

TV presenter, eco blogger, mum of one and author of the incredibly motivating and beautifully illustrated ‘Six Weeks to Zero Waste: A simple plan for life’ – Kate is here to ease you into a more conscious and mindful lifestyle! Read on for some insightful tips on sustainable beauty, how to live a more zero waste lifestyle (yes even in London, and with a newborn!), and some sneaky previews into Kate’s new book…   Beauty Kitchen: - What does ‘zero waste’ mean to you? Kate Arnell: For me, the term zero waste is something to work towards but currently it’s impossible to actually produce ZERO waste. It means, refusing what I do not need, reducing what I do need, reusing and repairing before buying new and only recycling as a last resort. It’s a lifestyle and it’s not about being perfect, but it is about taking steps to get close to “zero”. BK: Was there a specific moment or event that sparked your interest in a zero waste lifestyle, or has it always been ingrained in you? Kate: I think I’m naturally interested in topics such as being kinder to the environment, soil health, choosing organic etc. so when I discovered that I didn’t HAVE to contribute towards our growing waste problem I felt empowered and it really aligned with my values. The specific moment that changed everything was my husband bringing home one of the free newspapers they give out on the tube in London, and he pointed out an article about a family of four in California who produce one jar of trash annually. I just thought “wow, how is that even possible?!” And they didn’t look like a crunchy hippy family either! Almost overnight I decided to start embracing reusable alternatives, refilling where possible and saying “no, thanks” to freebies. BK: How has your sustainable routine changed since giving birth to gorgeous little Arthur and how important is to pass on your planet friendly choices to him? Kate: Well, we certainly create a little more waste than we did, but for the most part it’s been about discovering what reusable and eco-friendly options there are for everything baby-related. Whilst I usually buy second-hand where possible, having limited time with a newborn in the early days meant I prioritised buying sustainable and non-toxic new options instead. I believe in supporting brands who are making a positive change so feel it’s often a good thing to buy new in some cases. I also really struggled with breastfeeding in the first month (I got there in the end, but my goodness it was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever experienced!) so ordered everything from nipple shields to breast pumps. There was definitely some panic-ordering happening in the early weeks. And now, we’re introducing solids and trying baby-led weaning which has meant there’s a lot more food waste these days. But I know it’s all just a phase and I’m fine about it.Arthur has only ever worn one disposable nappy which the hospital put on him straight after the birth and I didn’t have the energy to instruct my husband where I’d packed the reusables and how to put them on! We love using reusable nappies and wipes (I chose a brand called Babee Green which is made from organic cotton and hemp with wool soaker outers). We do about 3 extra washes a week for the nappies which actually isn’t a lot. Kate: His clothing is either second-hand or from sustainable brands such as Frugi, Dilling, Little Green Radicals, Engel, Piccalilly, he has second-hand wooden toys and his non-toxic playmat is entirely plastic-free and made from tree-foam and cork by Little Earth Baby. His mattresses and bedding are made from organic wool and cotton by Naturalmat and I managed to find the nappy changing table, wooden highchair and co-sleeping crib all on eBay!  My hope is that the way we’re living will just be his “normal”. I’m extremely aware that the future generations need to understand and appreciate our natural environment and treat it with respect, so starting that early is super important. I want to lead by example and hopefully he won’t think I’m too weird or embarrassing - although perhaps that’s inevitable! Ha! BK: You recently launched your book “Six Weeks to Zero Waste: A simple plan for life” – We love the title – and appreciate that transitioning into a zero waste lifestyle can be difficult, so this is perfect. Without giving too much away, please tell us a little bit about it! Kate: I have a lot of friends and family members who are really keen to start making changes to work towards zero waste but they either felt overwhelmed by the idea and didn’t know where to start so my brother actually suggested breaking it down into week-by-week tasks/suggestions so that it feel more manageable. And so, Six Weeks To Zero Waste was born! But, as I say very early on in the book, whether it takes six weeks, six months or six years, every swap counts and it’s really about figuring out what realistically works for your own lifestyle and budget. I simply provide various options and you can pick and choose what you like.I also wanted to show how zero waste can work in situ, so the second part of the book gives examples of what to do for events, at work, when travelling, etc. Finally, there’s a recipe section at the back featuring some of my favourite simple food, cleaning products and beauty recipes. I’m actually terrible at DIY-ing my own products so I’ve kept it super simple and am very much in favour of supporting brands who make amazing products and offering refills (like Beauty Kitchen!). BK: Of course, we have to ask you about sustainable beauty! Do you tend to gravitate towards natural and organic products whilst keeping zero waste in mind? You’ve also tried a few things of ours too – do you have any favourites? Kate: Finding zero waste beauty products has actually been the most challenging part of a zero waste lifestyle. I found it fairly easy to find loose or refills for food and cleaning products but personal care and beauty items have certainly been a challenge but I feel that brands are finally starting to realise that there’s huge potential to offer refills or plastic-free and reusable alternatives. Shampoo and conditioner was super tough to find and I found that most shampoo bars really didn’t work very well on my hair so I was thrilled to find that you have included them in your The Sustainables range. I love them!Personally, I like to choose brands that use organic ingredients too, as I like knowing that the production of those ingredients has helped to protect wildlife and work with nature, not against is.Make-up is still a bit of a tricky one, so for the time being I have reduced what I use and looked for multi-purpose products that come in easy to recycle metal or glass containers. I’m hoping that refillable and organic make-up will become more mainstream soon! BK: Do you find it easy to live a zero waste lifestyle living in London? Speaking of London, we don’t suppose you’ve had the chance to check out our refill machine yet in Covent Garden? Kate: Oooh, I didn’t know you had a refill machine in Covent Garden! I must check it out! That’s a little day out for me and Arthur sorted (lucky chap!)I think I’m super lucky to be living in London when it comes to living a zero waste lifestyle. There are SO MANY new zero waste bulk refill stores opening up almost on a weekly basis now which has been really exciting to see and there are so many places to buy loose fruits and vegetables from - London has a great network of farmers’ markets that pop up every weekend. I think whilst a city can be a huge cause of waste thanks to our convenience-led culture and busy schedules, I also feel it’s somewhere that drives change. BK: You’re of course a city gal living in London, but would you say you’re an outdoors person and enjoy being in nature?Kate: Oh man, I love being in the woods! I secretly dream of owning a log cabin in the woods one day so I can escape to it for the summer or hunker down for a few weeks in the winter months. But yes, I’ve always lived in the city. I grew up in Portsmouth and then moved to London fourteen years ago but we’re lucky to have family based in Cornwall, so we often go there for a few weeks several times a year. I would love to do some foraging courses and learn more about our native species. I’m definitely keen to explore more of the UK this year and of course, visit Scotland again! It’s just so beautiful and wild. BK: We’re also big advocates of being mindful of yourself as well as the planet. What are your favourite ways to relax and forget about the hustle and bustles of life? Kate: Oooh, good question! Well, before a baby (when I had more time), I loved getting an organic massage at Neal’s Yard and I tried some meditation sessions at Re:Mind studio too - but honestly, even just enjoying a hot cup of tea, a walk in the park or relaxing by a fire with a book work just as well for me. Right now, a cup of tea (and slice of cake if I’m lucky) are all I seem to have time for but I make them a priority each day.  To celebrate the launch of Kate’s new book, we’ve teamed up to give you the chance of winning it along with a bundle of our bath and body products from The Sustainables range! Follow Kate’s zero waste life by staying stay tuned on her Instagram or blog. If you fancy reading “Six Weeks to Zero Waste: A simple plan for like” for yourself, you can support and visit your local book shop – or purchase online here!

As the first beauty brand in the UK to receive B Corp status, it has always been our mission to choose people over profit – and in this case seahorses over profit! In our last blog we mentioned everything relating to our Seahorse Plankton+ range, and we also let you know a little bit about The Seahorse Trust. We think they deserve more than a mention, so here’s a whole heap of info on them and how we help the Trust to ensure the safety and conservation of seahorses. Why help Seahorses? I doubt we need to convince you much on why these sweet little creatures are so valuable...but here goes: Seahorses have excellent eyesight and their eyes can work independently on either side of their head - this means they can look forwards and backwards at the same time! There are about 54 species of seahorses worldwide, and possibly as many sub-species Seahorses pair for life - they meet first thing in the morning to reinforce their bonding with an elaborate courtship display Females have a territory of about 100sqm metres and males have an overlapping territory of about 0.5sqm – lets hear it for the girls! The seahorse is the only creature where the male has a true reversed pregnancy Baby seahorses are known as fry - less than one in a thousand will survive long enough to become an adult due to predators Seahorses can change colour very quickly and match any surroundings in which it finds itself - they have even been known to turn bright red to match floating debris They rely on their dorsal fins to swim - beating at 30-70 times per second to propel it along!   The Threats they Face We know what you’re thinking – why on earth would anyone bring harm to a seahorse? Well, they are under threat worldwide for three main reasons. Firstly, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Trade takes in excess of up to 150 million seahorses a year from the wild or through illegal, trading and these are used for all types of medicine. The Curio Trade (those seemingly 'innocent' mementos from seaside visits) takes approximately one million seahorses from the wild. Along with shells and starfish; they are deliberately taken from the sea and left to die in the boiling sun. They are then sold as souvenirs, a sad and sorrowful reminder of once beautiful creatures. The pet trade takes an estimated one million seahorses from the wild and It is thought that less than 1,000 survive more than six weeks.   What does the Seahorse Trust Do? The Seahorse Trust was set up in 1999 to preserve and conserve the natural world, especially the marine environment and of course seahorses. They work in partnership through a Seahorse Alliance with many other organisations and people from all over the world - it is this unique partnership that allows The Seahorse Trust to achieve so much in the conservation of seahorses and their environment for the future! They are also responsible for overseeing and working in partnership with several research and conservation projects around the world too. These include surveying for seahorses, behavioural studies, captive breeding and nutritional work. Most recently, they have worked in partnership with the Professional Diving Schools Association (PDSA) and Nature Trust Malta (NTM) to set up a seahorse research project to understand more about 2 species of seahorses found in the clear Maltese Mediterranean waters. These projects are then shared with researchers and students around the world, to spread awareness. Hear about all the previous and ongoing research projects here!   How Beauty Kitchen Help We donate 2% off all our sales (not just profits) to charities that are close to our hearts - including Plastic Soup Foundation, In Kind Direct and of course The Seahorse Trust. With our bit of help The Seahorse Trust have let us know some incredible things they’ve achieved so far with our Seahorse Plankton+ range. For example, we’ve helped turn some places such as Studland Bay into protected areas for the seahorses! This range is 100% cruelty free and vegan as we grow our own plant-based microalgae in bioreactors so we never have to take any from the sea, or the seahorses themselves (find out more about this range here).   Win a Seahorse Adoption Pack To celebrate the work that The Seahorse Trust do, we are giving you the chance to win a few Beauty Kitchen Seahorse Plankton+ goodies along with your very own seahorse! A gorgeous bright yellow Spiny Seahorse (see below), this cutie was found in Studland Bay in Dorset when she was 1-1 and a half years old. She’s an important one this gal as she’s allowed The Seahorse Trust to learn more about her species, and put forward Studland Bay as a Marine Conservation Zone! Head to our socials to enter, all you have to do is make a name suggestion for her, and we’ll pick the best one!   You can get involved to help protect these beautiful creatures through direct donations, becoming a member, or even adopting a seahorse! We are so proud to support this incredible organisation - to find out more about The Seahorse Trust visit their website here.

There are loads of things that make Scotland a great place to be - beautiful scenic views, lots of fresh air and of course, Highland Cows. Not everyone knows this, but Scotland is actually our home - Beauty Kitchen HQ is based in Wishaw, just 30 minutes outside of Glasgow.