E is for Eco-Friendly

Inspiring our Mini Earth Lovers…

Having the integrity to make the right choices when it comes to our planet isn’t always easy - time, money and resources are not always on our side but as we say at Stib, just making small changes in our everyday lives, in the things we do and do not choose to buy, the actions we take and the brands we choose to support, can all add up. And of course, instilling this mindset and encouraging our mini earth lovers starts from a young age! So here are our five eco-friendly brands doing more than their bit to support a safe and sound future earth.

One Green Bottle

We love One Green Bottle. Started over 12 years ago by a parent looking for a drinks bottle for her son to take to school (see why we love it), they’ve calculated that their customers have already potentially saved over 10 billion single use plastic bottles from going into landfill or oceans. A One Green Bottle goes on for years and years, and even when it does come to the end of its lifecycle, it’s recyclable! The brand use zero waste packing and are aiming for zero waste emissions too. What’s more their product is shipped using Seafrieght which uses a fraction of the CO2 emissions airfreight does. Did you know that the brand does metal straws too and lunchbags made from recycled plastic bottles in lots of fun designs for kids! www.onegreenbottle.com 

Batoko

Not technically for children (though they did have a limited edition mini me range so fingers crossed they bring it back again) but we just had to include this amazing British swimwear brand. Featuring a range of super fun prints, Batoko swimsuits are made from 100% recycled plastic waste! Genius! To date Batoko has recycled the equivalent of 300,000 plastic bottles in to swimwear but that’s not all. They have teamed up with the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow - for each Lobster Swimsuit they sell, a baby lobster is reared and released back into the sea! Plus every year they donate a proportion of their profits to the Marine Conservation Society UK! And, mindful that the very nature of their business is contributing to climate change (through the manufacture of clothing and their worldwide distribution channels), they are members of Mossy Earth’s reforestation and rewilding projects designed to offset the carbon they are currently unable to reduce. Finally, as a micro-business, they consciously keep their collection small, operating at a sustainable pace that’s kinder to the planet; they are careful never to over-produce; use a short, vegan supply chain enabling them to better ensure people making the swimwear are safe, happy and fairly paid; their workplace is powered by renewable energy with a focus upon using compostable, recyclable and recycled materials wherever they can; and they use digital printing which means less wastage and saves water and energy too! Phew! It’s easy to see why we’ve included them. www.batoko.com

Oakdale Bees

We couldn’t have a run down of our favourite eco-friendly brands without including one of our very own partners, Oakdale Bees. Oakdale are passionate about bee conservation and obviously we’d do anything to support our very own Stibler Bee (who has of course helped to make our new Children’s Beeswax Wraps which have been produced in conjunction with Oakdale - check them out here). Founded in 2015, Oakdale Bees is set in four acres of wildflower meadows bordering the Royal Windsor Forest. Through their work and products, the passionate team are raising awareness of bee management and how each of us can help save bees, supporting the Bugs Life Charity which aims to create pollinating highways throughout the UK. They run regular fun and factual experience days too where you can learn new skills and greater insights in to the bee, bug and butterfly environment around us, introductory bee keeping courses and lotion, balm and candle making days. Hope on over to their website to find out more about bee conservation at www.oakdalebees.co.uk

Mud & Bloom

Mud & Bloom subscription boxes have been designed to inspire children to connect and engage with nature, in turn growing a deeper understanding and appreciation of how it works, its importance to our existence and a desire to help protect it. Compiled by qualified teachers to support the national curriculum with input from Forest School, Steiner and Montessori education, the boxes are suitable for children aged 3-8 years old and include four seasonal activities, gardening and nature crafts along with instructions, nature news and a quiz aimed at teaching little ones about the seasons, plants, insects, birds, soil and rainfall. All seeds are certified organic and biodynamic and they also provide organic peat free compost pellets in each box, so you can get planting straight away. We love the ethos of Mud & Bloom and the caring culture towards nature which it promotes. www.mudandbloom.com

Smalltot

This beautiful modern Scandi-style lifestyle shop features a carefully selected range of products including toys, decor, gifts and clothing with a real focus upon sustainable, ethical and organic brands. And for every order they receive they plant a tree! Wow! Since October last year they have been working with One Tree Planted and each month they choose a different location around the world. You can even choose to plant extra trees by simply adding them to your order and don’t forget to tell your kids how they are helping the environment. www.smalltot.co.uk