Tag Archives: sustainability

The City, The People

New zero-waste store aims to make ripples in Cardiff

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You might have spotted the super exciting Kickstarter campaign for a new zero-waste store in Cardiff called ripple. As you know, we LOVE small actions that turn into big changes. So today, Sophie Rae – the kick-ass woman behind the idea – tells us all about her amazing concept…

Sophie Rae KickstarterRipple, Cardiff’s first not-for-profit zero-waste store, has launched a Kickstarter to bring the shop to the city in time for a new wave of conscious consumers.

Inspired by the independent community of Cardiff, ripple founder and Cardiff native, Sophie Rae, launched the crowd funding campaign on 16th July at fellow not-for-profit business Big Mooose Coffee.

Pledgers have shown their support in vast numbers, with the campaign reaching 25% of its target within 72 hours! Here’s why you should back the project too:

So, what’s ripple about?

It’s simple really. Ripple is all about conscious consuming; from food to fashion choices. We think everyone deserves the chance to shop more ethically. When one person makes a change, everyone else pays attention, because ripples create waves. That, and you know… plastic.

Ripple_KickstarterCampaign_09 (1)

What’s wrong with plastic?

Don’t misunderstand us, we’re not anti-plastic. It’s a material that’s saving lives and has a much-needed purpose worldwide.

But single-use plastics? Yeah, they suck. BIG TIME. Plastic bags, water bottles, coffee cups, straws, packaging, wet wipes, sanitary products… the list is endless and it’s getting longer.

The ugly truth

By 2050, it’s estimated there will be more plastic than fish, in our world ocean. Studies estimate that 8 million tonnes of plastic waste is dumped into the ocean each year and by 2025, that’s set to double.

Worried yet? Us too. Plastic packaging accounts for an eye-watering fifth of the cost of your weekly shop. What if you could shop package free? Well, we’d all be saving a lot of money and precious resources.

refillable containers at ripple

So what is a zero-waste store?

To help the people of Cardiff pass on plastic, ripple will offer over 120 bulk wholefoods and encourage customers to bring their own containers, jars, tubs and bags to refill every time they shop. And because the team believe in treating every creature with kindness, they’ll be be stocking the best natural and cruelty-free home and beauty products too, from eco laundry detergent to shampoo, soap and washing-up liquid.

There’s even going to be some sustainable homeware and ethical fashion thrown in for good measure. Think bamboo socks and organic cotton underwear!

Sophie tell us:

I watched Blue Planet II in 2017 and was deeply shocked to see the devastating harm humans are having on our planet. Since then, I’ve felt pretty ethically queasy. My zero-waste journey started not long after, I’ve been making small changes to help lighten my personal plastic footprint.

The campaign is helping create sustainable foundations for ripple, so our impact can be bigger and bolder than we could have ever imagined on our own. It really is a  community project, led by the people of the city.

I hope ripple will change the way Cardiff consumes, so that we can turn Wales’ capital into a true green city. That’s what ripple is all about:making small, sustainable changes to help create a bigger impact.

Ripple_ToteBag-Kickstarter (1)

Ripple’s Kickstarter campaign will close at 11:59pm on Sunday 29th July, when the target of £30,000 must be reached or no funding will be released.

To help entice supporters to pledge, ripple has collaborated with local independent businesses to offer rewards, including zero-waste starter kits, Hot Pod Yoga class passes and ethical accessories from Cardiff-based fashion brand Maykher.

To support the campaign, find the pledge page here or follow ripple’s
journey across social media at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

kickstarter tickets (1)

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Whats on

Global Gardens needs your vote!

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Global Gardens, a wonderful Cardiff project that supports intercultural exchange through gardening, cooking and eating, is one of five Welsh projects in the running for a share of up to £150,000 of funding.

But they need your vote! Now in its 13th year, the Big Lottery Fund, ITV Wales and The National Lottery are teaming up to give the public a chance to decide how National Lottery funding should be put to good use in their local area.

The Global Gardens Project runs weekly garden sessions at the allotment site and monthly suppers at the Embassy Café in Cardiff. If successful, this funding will help Global Gardens Project to develop the gardening and cooking activities offered and facilities on site. This includes development of a small kitchen so that dishes from the garden can be cooked on site. Their aim is to make the site more welcoming and accessible to people.  

Please take a minute to vote for this lovely project at www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk.

Fancy getting involved with their work?

The Garden also won funding from Grow Wild to to deliver a series of practical workshops and identification walks, with the aim of inspiring and educating a future generation of seed-savers and fungi enthusiasts.

The Seeds and Spores Project will start on 21 April (10.30am-4.30pm) at the Global Gardens site, with a workshop on outdoor fungi cultivation with fungi enthusiast Rich Wright.

In June, Annwen Jones (Rhizome Clinic) will be leading a workshop on a range of healing native plants found. They will also be hosting a seed-saving workshop with Green City.
There will also be opportunities to develop identification skills later this year-Rich Wright (Feed Bristol) will be leading a fungi identification walk, and Julian Woodman (Glamorgan Botanical Group) will lead a walk on native plants in the local area.

International fungi expert Prof Lynne Body will talk about the good, the bad and the ugly (in fungi terms).

The workshops and walks are free but places are limited so book a place to avoid disappointment.

Throughout the project they will be creating a zine and various artwork, and the project will culminate with an exhibition in the Global Gardens Greenhouse. So, if you are an artist who would like to get involved, they also want to hear from you!

To find out more and keep up to date with activities, follow the Global Gardens Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/globalgardensproject/

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The Arts, Whats on

Make Noise Wales – swap broken electricals for fixed-up electronic beats!

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Love ace music? Love recycling? Combine these loves at the launch party for an exciting new venture from Make Noise.

make_noise_wales_poster

The Make Noise manifesto offers programming cutting edge electronic music events and making entry 100 per cent FREE in exchange for a piece of electrical recycling.

Party-goers just need to bring something to hand over at the door; a broken mobile phone, hairdryer or laptop – anything with a plug or a battery! Since it began, Make Noise has packed out venues all round the UK and recycled tonnes of electronic waste.

To kick start the 2016 tour, Make Noise will take over Cardiff’s Gwdihw on Tuesday 19th July 2016 for a very special and intimate launch event. The evening will feature a special live performance from Heavenly Recordings very own Stealing Sheep plus support from R.Seiliog.

Make Noise started in 2016 and is a unique partnership between ERP (European Recycling Platform) Heavenly Recordings and for this new Welsh chapter, Resource Efficiency Wales

MAKE NOISE WALES

Parti Lawnsio gyda gwesteion arbennig:
Launch Party with very special guests:

Stealing Sheep + R.Seiliog playing live + Heavenly Jukebox and Nyth DJs

Nos Fawrth Gorffennaf 19 – Mynediad am ddim gyda teclyn trydanol i’w ailgylchu!
Tuesday 19th July – Free entry with a piece of electrical recycling!

Cyflwynir gan / Presented by Heavenly Recordings, ERP, Resource Efficiency Wales + Nyth

Gwdihw Cafe Bar
6 Guildford Cres
Cardiff
CF10 2HJ

Make Noise Wales Facebook event

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The Arts, Whats on

Swap it! design competition from Green City

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swap

The wonderful Green City‘s giant swap shop Exchange in Roath is back and so is their design competition!

They are inviting budding artists, designers (and everyone else!) to enter a design. The 3 winning entries will be available to screen print onto second hand t-shirts and tote bags at Exchange in Roath at The Gate on Saturday 17th October.

The theme for the design is SWAP IT /SHARE IT. It can feature the words ‘Swap it/share it‘ or ‘Exchange in Roath 2015‘ but neither are a requirement – just get creative with the theme!

Your design must be no larger than A3 and in one colour. Deadline for entries Thursday 8th October.

All entries to be emailed to swapit@greencityevents.co.uk as a high res jpeg or pdf.

Green City is working with the wonderful Printhaus who will be running live screen printing workshop on the day.

Check out this awesome video of last year’s event:

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Whats on

Love art? Care about future generations? Get to the Abacus on Saturday!

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AFFG-FinalWebA group of artists are holding an exhibition at the Abacus on Saturday to call on the Welsh Government to improve the Well-Being of Future Generations Bill. They think the current proposals do not go far enough, and want to create a truly strong and effective sustainable development law for Wales. 

The Art for Future Generations exhibition will run from the 21 to 27 February 2015.

The exhibition will kick off with an opening party on Saturday at 7pm, featuring a number of celebrated poets, performers and musicians.  These include Mab Jones, the poet in residence for the Botanical Garden of Wales, folk singer-songwriter Maddie Jones, and rock bands Third Party and Art Bandini.

Exhibition organiser Gareth Sims said:

“All the art work on display is inspired by our natural environment, the recognition that she is being destroyed at unprecedented rates and that we must act urgently to enhance and protect her. 

We are also lucky to have some wonderful performers for the opening night who share a passion to make Wales a sustainable nation – so it should be quite a party!”

The exhibition is supporting the Sustainable Development Alliance’s campaign for a stronger law. Gareth said:

“We are calling on the Welsh Government to pass a law with a clear definition of sustainable development and a strong duty on public bodies to actually achieve sustainable development.

To do this it must also properly address key issues such as climate change, our global responsibilities, and living within environmental limits.”

Tickets can be bought on the door or in advance for £5 with all proceeds going towards the campaign, for more information visit the Facebook page –https://www.facebook.com/events/881188991944819/?fref=ts  .Banner idea 4-1

Whats on

Get your folk on for future generations!

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Folk for future generationsA group of musicians will be holding a gig on Friday 5 December at Koko Gorillaz in Cathays asking for a strong sustainable development law for Wales in the shape of the Well-Being of Future Generations Bill.

Folk for Future Generations will feature a number of local folk acts and is being held to support the Sustainable Development Alliance’s campaign for a stronger bill. The Alliance is a group of nearly 30 Welsh charities and NGOs.

The night will be a call to action by concerned members of the public who want to tell the Welsh Government that they want Wales to be a truly sustainable nation and want a law that addresses issues such as international impacts, living within environmental limits, and setting legally binding carbon reduction targets.

Event organiser, Gareth Sims, said:

“It will be a great night with some very talented musicians playing. We would like to invite as many people as possible to attend and be a part of the campaign to make Wales a truly sustainable nation that prioritises the well-being of people, communities and the environment. 

The people of Wales are becoming increasingly concerned about these issues and want the Government to take urgent and robust action.”

The musicians playing are Harri Davies and band, Aled Rheon, Kirk Morgan and the Dock Town Pearls, and Art Bandini.  Local artists and photographers will also be displaying environmentally themed pieces of work.  The night will start at 7pm at Koko Gorillaz, Miskin Street, Cathays. Tickets are £4 in advance. 

For more information contact Gareth Sims on garethcsims@foe.co.uk