living lightly in ireland

My Experience of ‘No Poo’

I’ve managed to streamline my skincare down to just water and a cotton flannel followed by some almond oil for moisturiser at night or Day Solution moisturiser by Green People, which is 88% organic for daytime. It’s the simplest and most effective skincare routine I’ve ever had and it’s cheap as chips. My transition to this skincare routine was seamless and stress-free, which is something I can’t say about my hair care.

Second-hand Stores in Ireland 2026

One of the simplest ways to be live more sustainably is to buy second-life goods instead of new. Not only does it save you money, it also reduce the amount of waste we generate it also saves resources that would go into making new items. An updated assessment by the UK based NGO WRAP calculates that every 5 preloved items prevents the purchase of 3 new items. A veritable win, win, win.

We all know that charity shops can be a great source of second-life goods but where else can you source them? Well look now further. This article lists sources for pre-loved of every imaginable description

Sustainable Christmas Gifts 2019

A thousand apologies for publishing a Christmas gift list so early in November but I have to be realistic. People are going to be getting their shopping mojo on soon and by suggesting alternatives I’m hoping to steer some away from all that mass-produced toxic crap that goes straight to a charity shop in January!

If you’ve read some of my Christmas articles from previous years you’ll know that I’ve given up buying Christmas gifts for anyone other than my kids and godchildren. Even the hubbie and I have given up getting gifts for one another, preferring to spend the money on a night out. Honestly having a (practically) gift-free Christmas is one of the best Zero Waste decisions I ever made. It frees up so much time every November and December, allowing me to enjoy the festive season and spend more time with the people I care out. If you’re tempted to give it a go you can read how I went about it in my Christmas Gift Article from 2018.

If you’re still in the market for Christmas gifts then consider some of these beauties for under the Christmas tree.

How to Host Sustainable Events

It’s been a very busy few weeks, with all manner of events to attend. One on B Corps, one called climate cocktails, one on business opportunities in the circular economy. If you’re involved with organising events there a few simple ways to make it environmentally lighter. I’ve previously written articles on hosting a sustainable wedding, a sustainable barbeque and a sustainable party, so now here are some tips for more formal gatherings.

Sustainable Day Out in Dublin

In this article I’ve decided to take a tour of the sustainable happenings in my home town of Dublin. I’ve lived in this county, albeit different spots, since birth. I love it’s historical architecture and general friendliness but I hate the lack of civic pride a lot of Dubliners and our governments interest in making it a sustainable city. By supporting those that are trying to lead the way hopefully we can nudge it in the right direction. So if you’re planning a trip to Ireland, or you’re a local looking to reacquaint yourself with the capitol here are some tips on how to do so with a lighter footprint!