Notes on Nature

At this time of year - Veganuary especially - it’s tempting to go cold-turkey (vegan turkey of course) in a bid to become your ‘New Year new you'. While we love the intention, we know that sustainable change takes a sustainable pace. Thinking of joining the plant side this Veganuary? Here are some realistic ways to start a habit and keep it for good.

We’ve been making bigger bottles for decades, so we’re thrilled that so many of you have joined our refill revolution. It’s simple – refill means less landfill. And setting up your at-home refill station couldn’t be easier.  

When time feels all over the place, the arrival of the solstice can be the anchor we need. With roots in the Latin words for ‘sun’ and ‘stand still’, this moment - when the shortest day meets the longest night (or vice versa) - comes as a welcome pause. A chance to be still, to connect with nature, and to celebrate new beginnings. 

When it comes to saving plastic, all it takes is a simple change in habit. In the bathroom, switching to shampoo and conditioner bars is a solid place to start. Thinking of making the swap? Here are some reasons to become a bar believer.

When we think about ‘home’, we think about our houses. And rightly so - our spaces are our sanctuaries. Whether you’re a daily duster or a once-a-week mess buster, keeping our homes clean is the ultimate act of self-care. It’s a human nature thing. Think, fresh sheets, sparkly dishes, and you’re about to put the kettle on. Bliss. But (sorry to interrupt your daydream) we need to remember the other place we call home. The one we all share.

We might have been doing this for nearly 50 years, but nature inspires us as much now as it did on day one. We’ll never not be amazed by the powerful benefits to be found in humble fruits, nuts, leaves and shrubs. And when ingredients have been used for hundreds, even thousands of years, we reckon that can only be a good sign. Rosemary, we’re looking at you. 

Starting a refill routine is a super easy way of cutting our plastic footprint. It’s also super fun and lo-fi. You know how it goes: Take your empties to your local refill station, fill them up, take them home and use them, repeat. Just like we’ve been doing since the 70s. Only now it goes a little bit different because — together with Embargo — we’re dragging refill into the 21st century. Still charming, still fun… but money saving too!

Even with the power of nature on our side, we know hair care isn’t a one-stop-shop. Hair types can be tricky business, and curls are often misunderstood. We think you deserve a shampoo as naturally beautiful as you are.

Outside, the winter landscape may look sparse, but behind the scenes, nature knows what it’s doing. Look at the cherry tree, it actually needs the winter chill for its buds to burst open come spring. This really is the season for slowing down and preparing to bloom, and for us humans, that means moisturising!

We all know what a vegan diet looks like. But what about a vegan beauty brand? How are vegan cosmetics actually tested? And does vegan also mean cruelty-free? November is World Vegan Month, so we thought it was the perfect time to do some demystifying.

We’re planting a forest and we want you to join us. Actually, we hope to replant many forests. To restore lost ecosystems. To support local communities. And to make giving back to nature as normal as buying your favourite shampoo. Thanks to our friends at TreeSisters - you can plant a tree every time you shop online with us. 

We want our products to be as kind to you as they are to the planet. That means going back to nature. Keeping things like surfactants, parabens and silicones to a minimum, as well as being vegan, cruelty-free and as close to zero-waste as we possibly can. These words can get thrown around a lot these days, and while they’re everyday vocab for us, you might not know exactly what they mean. We think labels matter, so let’s break it down.