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Navigating the issue of climate breakdown can be a heavy topic for anyone to face. Sometimes we need a little bit of help from someone who really knows their stuff.

Luckily for you, we've found the perfect woman. We spoke to the wonderful CEO of Ocean Conservancy, Janis Searles Jones, about fighting to protect our oceans, learning good sustainability practices and harnessing our passion for a better planet.

Her areas of expertise include environmental law, arctic conservation and policy as well as marine conservation, and Janis credits her time working with Native American tribes for her current understanding of legal issues spanning the management of public lands, waters, and natural resources.

The CEO began her career as a young environmental lawyer over 20 years ago in Alaska, "arriving with my dog and all of my belongings in the back of a pickup truck, ready to protect and defend public resources.

"As a young environmental lawyer, it was a profound experience working on natural resource issues in Alaska and alongside its citizens, and experiencing the state’s vastness and incredible beauty. The experience has shaped the rest of my career by helping me understand what it takes to make long-lasting, meaningful change, from fighting like hell to defend some of our nation’s core conservation provisions, to finding common ground, forging alliances and working with partners.

"Today, I’m proud to be leading an organisation that is working to create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it every single day."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@oceanconservancy) on

How did Janis discover her love for the ocean? We envisioned an epiphany moment reminscent of Ariel in The Little Mermaid when she spots Prince Eric, but it was Janis' upbringing that paved the way;

"The ocean has played a major role in my life ever since I was a kid. I was really lucky to grow up in a family that valued the outdoors and in a place close to the coast. I lived in the same neighborhood as a renowned environmental educator, Mrs. Terwilliger. She taught us about the impacts of plastic on wildlife, and how each of us, even as kids, could make a meaningful difference. Her favourite message for children was, “This is my country. Wherever I go, I will leave it more beautiful than I found it.”' 

When it comes to Ireland's ecological landscape, we're surrounded by ocean. Yet the conversation surrounding climate breakdown in this country hasn't brought the sea into mainstream dialogue.

The result of this is that we can feel overwhelmingly helpless when we discover our huge overfishing problem, the dangers of our agriculture industry and our lack of turbines. What can we do?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@cherry_kbphoto) on

"I would say one of the biggest things you can do is to help convey to your readers that what we do on land matters to the ocean. Choosing sustainable seafood when you eat, reducing the amount of single-use plastic that you use, and supporting Ireland’s goal of protecting 30 percent of its ocean waters by 2030 are good places to start.

"And renewable energy, like offshore wind power, is an important part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which is a critical priority for our ocean," Janis explains.

One great way to help is join Ocean Conservancy for this year’s International Coastal Cleanup on September 21, 2019. The ICC is the world’s largest single-day volunteer effort to fight ocean plastics.

Volunteers have the opportunity to keep more than 20 million pounds of plastic and rubbish out of the ocean, and the fruit of your efforts can be immediately felt within your community.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ocean Conservancy (@oceanconservancy) on

When it comes to saying no to unnecessary single-use plastics, there are plenty of things each person can easily manage;

"Reducing your single-use plastic consumption is imperative in the fight against plastic pollution. Carry a reusable bottle for drinks, make sure to bring reusable bags to the shop, switch out your paper towels and napkins for cloth and if you are able to, skip the straw and quit the cutlery. You’ve just got to commit and develop a routine," Janis says.

"When making purchasing decisions, many of us are faced with a great number of choices. For the most part, there is a growing desire among some consumers to be more sustainable and reduce their environmental impacts. We all know about Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—while these are evergreen habits that we should all practice regularly, we must be more proactive and have bigger aspirations," she adds.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ocean Conservancy (@oceanconservancy) on

"Take a second to think about or develop your personal priorities and make sure your purchases align with those values. "

Community action can go a long way, as can starting the conversation with those around you;

"Volunteer, sign petitions and educate others. You don’t have to be near a beach to pick up rubbish, start your own cleanup or even organise a group to pick up rubbish around your neighborhood. And we have a handy app, called CleanSwell that you can track your daily pick up. When you submit the items you’ve collected, it goes into our global database and helps inform policy solutions around the world."

What are the goals of Ocean Conservancy, and how do they stay motivated? Climate breakdown can keep us all up at night, but Janis Searles Jones doesn't come across as a woman who gives up easily;

"Ocean plastic is a complex issue because it’s about a whole global system of consumption – products, business models, infrastructure, policies, and consumer preferences and behaviours. The two ideas at the core of Ocean Conservancy’s strategy are to recognise the urgency of the problem and to stop plastic from getting into the ocean in the first place," she begins.

"We’re calling for an end to the flow of plastic waste into the ocean by 2030. And we need all of our ocean allies to come together to achieve that goal. While ambitious, it’s what the ocean needs. Otherwise, if plastic use continues to rise, there could be almost 100 million more tonnes of plastic in the ocean by 2030. That is simply unacceptable."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ocean Conservancy (@oceanconservancy) on

Educating ourselves is imperative, but we can't ignore the fact that greenhouse gas emissions changing the ocean-scape as we know it. Janis stresses that this will affect each and every one of us as a result, whether we live on the island of Ireland or in a land-locked nation;

"Climate change is profoundly an ocean issue. Ocean Conservancy is working hard to make the ocean-climate connections, and make sure that countries who have committed to the Paris Agreement take the ocean into account and develop ocean-smart policies to protect our ocean and our future."

Imagining what our oceans will resemble in 50 years' time can be an anxiety-inducing thought, but it forces us to be realistic about our hope for the future;

"The ocean will be different. No question. We have already drastically altered the ocean as a result of climate change and human activities, and we will need to learn to adapt to those changes."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Solutions 4 Plastic (@solutions4plastic) on

"But we do have a choice about how much more change is going to happen," the CEO adds. "And we are at a tipping point both in terms of the importance of action now, and in terms of broad and worldwide commitments to that action.

"I truly believe that in 50 years, many fish populations will have stabilised, thanks to improved management. I believe we will collectively agree that geo-engineering and deep-sea mining is not worth the risk and those activities will be unacceptable from a profit and public standpoint," Janis continues.

"We will have fewer coral reefs, but they will continue to exist."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@oceanconservancy) on

"Most importantly, I believe we will have a collective understanding – from people, governments, companies – that the ocean is critical to life on this planet and we need throw everything we have at protecting it."

If you want to get involved in the 2019 International Coastal Cleanup on September 21, use this interactive map and sign up to clean up here.

#TeamOcean includes everyone from Glenn Close to The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Ocean Conservancy are expecting another million volunteers to come together in an effort to keep our oceans clean. 

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Plastic Free July is upon us, but the question is: Will you take up the challenge?

The initiative is a global movement that helps millions of people to be part of the solution to plastic pollution in order to have cleaner oceans, cities and environments.

The overall action is simple: Choose to make small, easy changes and refuse single-use plastics. 

Plastic Free July is all about reducing plastic consumption in order to free the world from plastic waste.

The initiative itself is run by a non-profit organisation called The Plastic Free Foundation, founded in 2011 by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz in Australia.

Organisers say that the movement is "designed to help people refuse single use plastic and improve recycling practices". Single-use or disposable plastics are used once before thrown away into landfill.

It's hoped that the large-scale challenge will "drive positive change through simple solutions that help communities live more sustainably".

Plastic-Free July also aims to "kick-start long-lasting solutions and influence business and governments to take action" to improve their environmental approach in a number of areas, including recycling.

Businesses desperately need to move towards a "circular economy"(promoting the reuse of materials) and for producers to take more responsibility over the end-of-life of products.

The consequences of plastic

Plastic bags often break ups into micro pieces that can easily blow into nature and, if mistaken for food and ingested, end up being fatal to animals

Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down in landfill, if it even breaks down at all, and reducing our use of plastic can help to counteract this.

Reducing waste overall is a better alternative to recycling, which uses a lot of water and energy, but we're all doing our best and changing what we can in our lives to alter our carbon footprints.

Top tips for Plastic Free July:

-Buy a 'KeepCup' and refuse to use a takeaway coffee cup. Even the 'recyclable' ones end up in landfill, so choose to dine in at your local café or bring a reusable cup.

-Plastic straws: Buy a metal straw and refuse plastic or paper straws as often as you can. There are now options to buy foldable metal straws to slot into your purse easily.

-Choose not to buy pre-packaged fruit and vegetables when you're doing the weekly shopping. Go to a local grocer, organic shop or farmer's market with a tote bag and collect your own loose fruit and vegetables instead, and save yourself all that single-use plastic. Support stores that offer paper bags rather than plastic bags, and who grow the food in Ireland.

-Don't buy pre-packaged meat: Support local butchers and bring your own containers to the shop. This scenario is only if you even eat meat at all, a plant-based, vegan diet is better for reducing waste and your carbon footprint.

-Choose to refuse single-use plastic shopping bags. Save yourself money by bringing your own reusable bags, and prevent as much landfill building up as possible. Plastic bags are incredible dangerous for wildlife and environment. You could even consider making your own reusable shopping bags using repurposed fabric, like the 'Boomerang Bags' movement. Bags made from natural fibres are a better option if possible, made from ethically-produced cotton, jute, hemp or recycled plastic bottles.

-Choose to refuse plastic bin liners: Line the bin with a few sheets of newspaper, or try using certified compostable bin liner bags. You can even use the bin as a ‘naked bin’, and simply washing it out as needed, or try home composting. Composting helps food scraps to deteriorate rather than producing methane from anaerobic landfill.

-Use lunch-boxes instead of packaging for food, and support vendors that offer cardboard or recyclable utensils and packaging rather than plastic knives and forks.

-BYOB: Bring your own bottle. Buying single-use plastic bottles year-round can cause a huge amount of damage, but it's incredibly easy to carry a reusable water bottle around with you. Carry small tote bags in your purse too in case you're in a situation where you need to reject using a plastic bag.

-Bamboo toothbrushes: Plastic toothbrushes can take 500 years to break down, but buying bamboo has never been as easy. Try buying organic toothpaste in recyclable packaging too.

-Avoid clingfilm like the devil: Wrap your food in cloths or keep it in containers instead rather than using single-use clingfilm to keep items fresh.

-Bin audits: Make sure the bins in your workplace, home and anywhere else are separated by category. Divide them into recyclable waste, general waste and compost bins, or by material (glass, cardboard, paper, plastic, etc). 

-Community clean-ups: Organise a group of friends, colleagues or community members to clean up specific areas around you. As well as improving your local environment, it shows a good example of teamwork for positive change and engagement. Use social media to gather and include as many people as possible.

-Cosmetic industry and wipes: There are many options for removing your make-up or washing your face that don't use micro-plastics and harmful irritants like wipes. Reusable cloths and biodegradable wipes are sold on numerous online beauty websites and are extremely effective, and try bringing your make-up palettes to be refilled in The Body Shop. Going make-up free for the month of July would be a big challenge, but reducing cosmetic waste and using skincare products made with recyclable packaging will create a beneficial impact.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by (@reduceplastic1) on

-Ask your local shops to use biodegradable products, and to support brands that use recyclable packaging or minimal packaging. Companies will listen if enough customers speak out.

-Spread the word: Talk to your co-workers, your friends, your family and neighbours about their lifestyle choices and how they may be impacting the environment. It may just take some encouragement for them to change small aspects of their lives and reduce their plastic usage.

Head over to the website here to take the Plastic Free July pledge, you'll be glad you did.

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Lush is back, and better than ever for Mother's Day 2019.

Fresh from their Valentine's Day success; they're introducing gifts for your lovely mum with personalised messages included, for the perfect expression of your appreciation.

The cruelty-free, eco-friendly company are introducing an extensive and colourful collection of bath bombs with notes hidden in the bath bombs, little scrolls of love delivered straight to your mum. 

Lush are asking their customers to change the way they convey their love, and we are SO on board;

"You can tell your loved one how you feel by removing the scroll and writing a message in one these personalised bath bombs. They’ll discover your note as they take a well-deserved soak," their website reads.

They've got jasmine, chamomile, iris and Marigold flower bath bombs, at €7.95 each. As the bombs fizz away, the flower pattern gradually rises to the surface and expands, creating a gorgeous spectacle.

Next on offer are their Madame President and Incredible Mum bath bombs; we're floored by these.

Their Madame President products are priced at 6.50 each, and are formed petit-grain oil, grapefruit and cornstarch for soft skin, antiseptic properties and calm vibes. According to Lush; "No matter what you stand for, rest assured that you run the world."

We like the sound of that. The Incredible Mum bath bomb is priced at €5.95, and is created for being there when nobody else is, and knowing the right time to appear with chocolate;

"When she feels stretched thin, why not treat her to a hot bath of mood-brightening bergamot and ylang ylang oils. A splash of orange flower absolute will have her raring to go and back to full power in no time."

Their butterfly bath bombs are captivating with their colourful patterns and luscious scents; we want them ALL for our mums and ourselves too. Self-care, and all of that…

Priced at €6.50 each, Lush have Wild Butterfly, Rose Butterfly, and Lemon Butterfly bath bombs on offer. and each one smells like pure joy.

A cocktail of soothing and uplifting oils will make your mum's bath experience her best yet; allow her to cocoon herself in a sweet and fruity experience of indulgence;

"As this butterfly-shaped bath bomb floats on the water, shimmery orange and yellow tones combine and fizz, surrounding you in scents of citrusy sweet wild orange oil and herbaceous olive leaf absolute."

As if this wasn't enough beautiful-smelling perfection, Lush have also procured MORE luxurious treats;

More Tea and Sympathy bath bomb (€9.95), Floating Flower bath bomb (€7.95) and GrlPwr bubble badge (€7.95), Strawberry Hill shower bomb €2.95, Mamma Mia shower scrub (€14.95), Hunny Bear massage bar (€7.95), and Raspberry Milkshake soap (€9.95).

After long days of running the world, these gorgeous items are the LEAST your mum deserves. Soothing fizz and foam will give your mum a fragranced cleanse like never before.

If all of those stunning purchases haven't solidified your faith in Lush, why not create your own gift using one of their limited edition Mother's Day knot wraps.

They're basically a piece of ornately decorated fabric which replaces disposable wrapping paper or a carrier bag, so you're saving the environment and your Mother's Day gift guide.

Inspired by furoshiki, an ancient Japanese tradition which uses techniques akin to origami, you can literally wrap pretty much anything regardless of shape or size.

Just pick out a product (or 10) that you love, and choose a Knot Wrap in store or online, ranging between €5.50 and €6.75 and made from recycled PET plastic. Simply gorgeous.

If you're prepared to give your mum the all-time Lush experience, the gift packages are NEXT LEVEL amazing.

Consider them chocolate box-style gifts full of treats for the sole purpose of pampering.

The floral designs are printed on 100 percent recycled cardboard and inspired by coral; the indulgent products inside are ready for restful soaks.

Ranging from €17.95 to €64.95 depending on your budget, there's something for everyone in each special set.

These fresh and fruity eco-friendly beauty products will have your mum in the best mood she's ever been in, all thanks to you. Lush, of course, can take some of the credit. We heart them.

The Lush Mother's Day collection is now available online and in Lush stores nationwide as of last Friday, February 15.

Go forth and purchase, but don't forget to buy something for yourself too….*winks*

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It seems that every day, another company is trying to become more environmentally-aware and it's fab.

The latest to make new moves towards helping our world be a better place is the leading beer company, Carlsberg.

They obvs use a lot of wrapping and plastic in their six-packs, but no more!

What's the solution, so?

Recyclable glue!

From now on, the cans will be held together by this glue – pretty cool right?

When the new multi-pack of beer cans arrive, it will be a world first and it is set to cut back the Danish brewer’s use of plastic to package by more than 75%.

Called “Snap Packs”, they have spent three years in development and are strong enough to make it unscathed from shelf to home, but will break when twisted. 

Brits will be the lucky ones to debut the eco-friendly packaging innovation as Carlsberg has chosen the UK market, as it consumes 30% of its beer yearly.  

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), is a big fan of this new development and has hailed it as a “big step” in efforts to tackle the deteriorating situation regarding plastic pollution. 

The company will reduce its plastic use by 1,200 tonnes a year, i.e. 60 million plastic bags once the ''Snap Packs'' are rolled out. 

As the plastic rings can trap birds and animals, this issue is serious.

Bo Oksnebjerg, secretary-general of WWF Denmark said in a press release that, ”our wildlife is drowning in plastic. We, therefore, need to act now. We need less plastic to end up in nature. That is why we consider it huge progress that Carlsberg is now launching solutions that significantly reduce the amount of plastic in its packaging.”

So, we can now buy a six-pack of beer without harming the environment?

Count us right in. 

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Plastic waste is a massive issue for the environment, with tonnes of it entering our oceans and being dumped in landfills every day. 

Scientists have discovered that an enzyme exists that breaks down plastic components in a matter of days, and there is hope that it could be utilised to alleviate the global plastic disposal issue. 

'What we are hoping to do is use this enzyme to turn this plastic back into its original components, so we can literally recycle it back to plastic,'  Prof John McGeehan, at the University of Portsmouth, told The Guardian.

'It means we won’t need to dig up any more oil and, fundamentally, it should reduce the amount of plastic in the environment.'

The enzyme, described as a 'mutant' was born from the plastic landfills of Japan, where it was discovered. 

The enzyme digests the element polyethylene terephthalate, used in plastic bottles.

'There is strong potential to use enzyme technology to help with society's growing waste problem by breaking down some of the most commonly used plastics,' Oliver Jones, a chemistry expert at RMIT University in Melbourne told ABC.

We'll be sticking to our paper straws and reusable water bottles for now until this discovery is given the trial period it deserves.

Here's to hoping for a fully recyclable plastic future. 

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We've all done it – purchased a delightfully refreshing bottle of water from the shop and drank the entire bottle.

However, instead of recycling the bottle straight away, we've kept the disposable bottle to reuse in the future.

'Everyday wear and tear from repeated washings and re-use can lead to physical breakdown of the plastic,’  according to a 2007 article in the Practical Gastroenterology journal.

This can lead to the breakdown of the chemicals in the plastic, tainting the water, and bacteria can then grow and flourish in the cracks. 

There is a particular concern about a chemical called Bisphenol A, or BPA.

BPA has been noted by the NHS as having the potential to cause breast cancer, heart disease and genital birth defects.

'The science is not yet completely clear on how BPA may affect humans,' the NHS told The Independent. 

'BPA may mimic hormones and interfere with the endocrine system of glands, which release hormones around the body.'

This sentiment has been reinforced by medical experts. 

'Certain chemicals found in plastic bottles can have effects on every system in our bodies,’ Dr Marilyn Glenville, PhD, warned Good Housekeeping.

‘They can affect ovulation, and increase our risk of hormonally driven problems like PCOS, endometriosis and breast cancer, among other things.’

Cactus Bottle €9.46, Mermaid Bottle €9.45, Corkcicle bottle €27.03

The best way to avoid any potentially nasty side effects? 

Invest in a reusable water bottle to take with you on the go. 

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Every now and again, a fashion item comes around that divides the nation and causes a bit of confusion. 

From latex leggins to platform runners, sometimes the weirder side of fashion can cause major debate.

Topshop recently came under criticism for their 'clear knee' jeans, but their latest style of jean is a step (or a leap) further. 

Forget plastic knees, how about plastic pants?

The newest style of trousers on the Topshop website is the MOTO Clear Plastic Straight Leg Jeans, retailing for €76.00, and they are, as you may have gathered, totally see through.

Or, as some Twitter users have pointed out, they 'defeat the entire purpose' of wearing jeans. 

While there is definitely some scope to potentially style these up for a festival or some kind of out-there rave type of scenario, we can't really imagine anyone strolling down Grafton street in these on a Saturday morning. 

Oh, and while we have you; don't forget to have your say in the inaugural SHEmazing Awards this May! It's time to vote, and you can do it right here!

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Billions of plastic containers are thrown away annually.

It's an activity which creates countless environmental catastrophes and causes unimaginable damage to the natural world around us. 

However, now a simple solution is really taking off: edible water bottles that look like a miniature water balloon.

Dubbed Ooho and jointly created by Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, Guillaume Couche, and Pierre Paslier of Skipping Rocks Lab in London, the biodegradable device has the potential to change the way people around the world hydrate.

It is created by taking a frozen ball of water and then encapsulating it in an edible membrane layer constructed from calcium chloride and brown algae.

The total cost of creating a single unit is around a cent and the process is actually inspired a culinary technique called spherification.

Although it was originally unveiled last year, Ooho recently received a €20,000 sustainability award from the EU – an investment which could signal that we're about to see a lot more water blobs.

Mr Paslier told The Guardian earlier this month: "At the end of the day you don’t have to eat it. But the edible part shows how natural it is.

"People are really enthusiastic about the fact that you can create a material for packaging matter that is so harmless that you can eat it."

He added: "So many things are wrong about plastic bottles: the time they take to decompose, the amount of energy that goes into making them and the fact we are using more and more."

 

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So you know when you go buy yourself some new fab earrings and you're like "Thank God they come with that handy plastic back to hold them in place better"? Well turns out, if you've been leaving the plastic on, you have been doing it all wrong. 

Yes, we have all been living a lie, once you purchase earrings the plastic back has to be removed to create the regular tiny earring backs and we're a tad embarrassed that we never figured this out. 

Over the weekend, 19-year-old Chelsea Smith had an epiphany and realised those plastic backings were to be taken off. 

She shared her newfound knowledge with Twitter, resulting in a total meltdown by everyone who has ever made this mistake. 

"After nineteen years of living I have now realized that you are supposed to take the plastic part off" wrote Chelsea.

It turns out she wasn't the only one in shock following her discovery. Her tweet has been retweeted over 40,000 times by people who are equally as mind-blown by this fact and she even tweeted saying "If only I had a dollar for every retweet that tweet got."

However, following this discovery, others are claiming that the backs actually do have a purpose. Some people tweeted to say if you are wearing over-sized earrings, you need the plastic to hold them in place. In fact, the tweet has now started quite a debate online. 

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