Whether we like it or not, technology is, little by little, taking over the smooth-running of our homes. Our devices can switch our lights on and off, give us the news headlines over our morning coffee, answer probing questions from the internet, sing us songs, or bark like dogs should we so ask them to. Alexa’s dulcet tones chime from smart speakers in around 78% of UK homes, while 36% of Brits prefer Google Assistant, and sales of smart speakers tend to spike around Black Friday, when retail giants slash their prices and the home assistant technology becomes immediately more attractive.

Home assistant technology is only going to become more intelligent and more omnipresent in 2022, and it may not only improve your household organisation but save you money on your energy bills. Apps such as Nest and Hive thermostats study your household energy usage and adapt it to suit your needs, allowing you to save energy and lower costs. You can configure heat and light settings from these apps, controlling your energy usage far more accurately than turning a dial or flicking a switch on a boiler. It also helps on cold nights when heading back from work, or if you are caught unexpectedly in the rain – you can have your house toasty and warm for your return by remotely adjusting your heating from your phone. Also, if you are prone to accidentally leaving the heating on when you leave the house, smart thermostats allow you to correct the error of your forgetfulness when you’re on the go.

Ai is also making strides in home security, and sales of networked cameras, video doorbells, and smart speakers are expected to boom in 2022. Apps such as Ringo and Eufy allow you to answer your doorbell remotely when it rings, meaning that no matter where you are in the world you can see who’s standing on your front doorstep and speak to them directly. This should bypass any ‘sorry we missed you’ Royal Mail or delivery cards, but also fend off any unwanted guests you’d rather not answer the door.

Linking smart devices will be huge in 2022, thanks in small part to the arrival of Matter. The big AI home assistant players such as Amazon, Google and Apple have agreed that Matter will be a connectivity standard that allows all smart home devices to communicate with each other. In layman’s terms, that means your Siri and Alexa can be friends, and your TV remote can talk to your thermostat. This groundbreaking development is a huge move towards the technological utopia of ‘The Internet of Things’ which will see homes have an interrelated system of objects – from the app that tracks the location of your cat to your bedside lamp – which share data and learn from your surroundings without the need for human intervention. And if that sounds like the robots are planning to overthrow us in 2022, it’s probably because they are.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Smart technology can organise your home for you appeared first on Checklists.

We all want to clean safely and sustainably around the home, in ways that are not only effective but that will also have minimal impact on the environment. Whether it’s by buying the most eco-friendly cleaning products, or using clever, homespun eco-friendly cleaning techniques. If you have children, health conditions or even sensitive pets in the house, then this can also be a strong driver to make your home cleaner and greener.

Here we spoke to three experts in the field of greener cleaning, for their top tips.

Helen Bee, founder of the multi-award-winning, planet friendly and refillable cleaning brand, Clean Living, says: “Skip chemical scents. Air fresheners might smell pleasant, but they’re incredibly harmful to both the environment and to us. Particularly if you suffer from asthma! There are lots of alternative ways to freshen up the air in your home; add some air purifying plants, dot scented pouches of lavender around, or diffuse essential oils instead.”

Von Sy, founder of plant-based cleaning brand Nimble, agrees: “One thing to be wary of is fragrances. Although they make the cleaning up chore more pleasant with the smell of flowers, citrus, and lavender, fragrances are made with a complex range of chemicals. And don’t be deceived by clever branding – just because a bottle has an ‘eco’ look and feel, make sure you read the label for the detailed ingredients.”

And it’s these ingredients, from the chemicals in the products to the plastic packaging containing them, that cause even greater harm to the environment.

Managing director of Ecovibe, a dedicated eco-friendly products retailer, Stacey Skidmore, says: “Minimise plastic where you can, this can be through using refillable glass spray bottles in place of the traditional single-use plastic bottles, or even using soluble cleaning sachets, which dissolve in water. Also, avoid toxic chemicals where you can. A common myth is the stronger the chemical, the more effective the product will be. However, natural ingredients, such as essential oils and plant extracts work just as well alongside certain antibacterial agents.”

Von Sy adds: “Most of the mainstream cleaning products are over-formulated which means they contain unnecessary levels of chemicals that can be harmful to a young child and the environment. Manufacturers do this so they can make bold marketing claims like they are ‘10 times more powerful’, so with this in mind one thing you can do is dilute the regular cleaning products you use – they are just as effective but reduce the amount of chemicals you are using.”

So, whatever practical steps you take to cleaning greener, there’s one that will make a huge difference overall, and that lies in your consumer purchasing power – all of us should take the time to purchase more thoughtfully.
Helen Bee says: “A more sustainable lifestyle starts by making considered purchases. Before you purchase any product, ask yourself if you really need it. Or whether you can buy a more planet-friendly alternative. There are incredible brands out there offering eco-friendly alternatives. Just read labels carefully to ensure products really are as good as they claim to be.”

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Ways to make your home cleaner and greener appeared first on Checklists.

The festive season is synonymous with plenty of food, presents, and all-round over consumption. But this takes its toll on the environment. So, how do we ensure that we do our best for climate change this holiday season without giving up the things we love?

Every aspect of the party season can become more ethical, with just a slight change. Instead of the traditional turkey, why not have a nut roast? Or, if the family insists on turkey, get it directly from a local farm. If you do go for the supermarket shop, you can do your bit by choosing items marked Fairtrade wherever possible. Since it is the season of giving, the least we can do is contribute to a fair and ethical supply chain.

Christmas trees come in many forms. Plastic reusable trees, that can conveniently be stored may seem like a sustainable choice, but the production process and end-life of these PVC-based trees release harmful gases into the environment.

Many people opt for a cut tree, often embarking on a family outing to the tree farm, and handpicking this year’s centrepiece. These trees can be farmed sustainably, so if they’re bought locally, and recycled at the end of the season, their footprint can be minimal.

The most ethical choice, however, is to choose a living tree – growing in a pot. Bring it inside for the Christmas season, and then come January, just bring it out into the garden to thrive until next year.

One overlooked aspect of the giving season that hugely contributes to waste, is present wrapping. Wrapping paper in itself is often recyclable, so this is an easy switch. Simply avoid glittery or plastic-based wrapping papers and opt for a recyclable tape – perhaps a decorative, paper-based tape which will also add a special touch to your gifts.

When it comes to gift shopping, the perpetuated idea may be that department stores are havens of convenience, with everything you need under one roof. But where’s the festive spirit in that? This should be a time of buying local, knowing where your products come from, and giving back to the community. Often, the ethical gift choice is the more unique and luxurious one.

Making Christmas that little bit more ethical is easily done, and could have a hugely positive effect on climate goals. So, why we all may be dreaming of a white one, perhaps it’s time to make a change, and enjoy a greener little Christmas this year.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Have yourself a greener little Christmas appeared first on Checklists.

Many of us love treating ourselves to a new beauty product and wait eagerly for the delivery day to try it out. But how often are we shocked by the amount of packaging that comes with one little bottle of foundation?

Statistics report that 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry, including lids and cellophane, much of which is superfluous, non-recyclable and ends up in our landfills and in our oceans. It’s estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastic makes its way into our oceans each year. A trend, which if continued, will mean we’ll have more plastic in our oceans than fish by 2050, according to the United Nations.

Now is the perfect time to take a look at the beauty cabinet and make some simple swaps to reduce the amount of plastic we use in the packaging of our beauty essentials.

Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of the UK’s top free sharing app OLIO, comments: “The fact that the beauty industry creates so much waste is shocking, and it’s easy to make a difference by making a few simple swaps.

“It’s also worth looking at the products we no longer use. Instead of binning them, why not try giving them away via the OLIO app? The shampoo that doesn’t work for you could be perfect for someone else, and those old eye shadows could be just the ticket for a craft project. By giving things away, rather than throwing them away you reduce waste and help a neighbour out.”

Switch shower gel for a bar of soap

Hand washing has taken on a whole new importance during our pandemic era. Many believe that soap dries out your skin but it’s simply not true – there are some great, moisturising soaps available. Buy a big box of soap in bulk to reduce packaging through multiple orders, and why not make it enjoyable with a soap bar from luxury British fragrance house Miller Harris?

Get rid of disposables

Use either a safety razor or a reusable razor with disposable heads. Try Freedom Razor – you will never have to buy a new handle again because once the investment is made you will only have to purchase replacement blades – economical for the wallet but also the environment. Also, replace your plastic toothbrush with a bamboo one instead, such as a Matana toothbrush. If you have an electric toothbrush, there are also bamboo replacement heads.

Reuse the container

Choose a moisturiser which comes in a glass jar or metal tin. There are lots of different brands available and once you have finished it’s easy to recycle or reuse the jar. And it’s not just moisturisers, but face serums, foundations, and many other cosmetic essentials. Have a look at the brand Ethosa, which launched its Powder-to-Gel Body Wash Blend Your Own Home Kit which includes a reusable aluminium bottle, shower powder, and oil-based fragrances.

Try refillable

It’s estimated that 1 billion lipstick containers end up in landfill each year, so it is best to buy refillable make-up and beauty items wherever you can. Charlotte Tilbury does a fantastic refillable lipstick range. Great for those that care about sustainability, New Wash shampoo comes in a handy subscription so you can sign up for regular refills at a frequency of your choosing. Imagine never having to pick up a bottle of shampoo, ever again?

Go slowly, you don’t have to become a green machine overnight!

If you’re not ready to give up your bottled shampoo and conditioner, don’t fret. Natalie Elliott, campaigner and global speaker on toxic beauty, and founder of SAKRID self-care products offers some advice. She says: “Make small changes at first. Change your shampoo and conditioner or your facewash and moisturiser first and see how your body responds to this change.

“You may find you experience small break-outs in acne at first as the body can finally effectively detox itself of all of the toxins that have been building up. But it usually only takes one to two weeks for the body to love the changes you have made.”

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Start your day with a plastic-free beauty routine appeared first on Checklists.

With the monumental shift in working patterns that occurred during the 2020 lockdowns, the nation as a whole saw a huge drop in commuter numbers, the closure of office spaces and most of their retail services, such as food and hospitality, fall silent. With this vast change in working and living patterns, one would think there would be a net-energy saving, as cars and trains didn’t run, offices were not switched on, and sandwich shops and restaurants remained dormant with no consumables created.

However, broader analysis is now showing that an overall fall in workplace energy consumption as a result of UK lockdowns in 2020 was largely cancelled out by an increase in personal usage, as the government’s work from home advice increased the nation’s reliance on personal gas and electricity.

According to research by business energy supplier, Gazprom Energy, 37% more personal energy was used in 2020, due to increased reliance on home lighting, heating and the use of home appliances while working from home. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) estimates the average household uses 3,731 kWh per year. A year-on-year consumption increase of 37% adds a further 1,380 kWh per year to each household’s consumption – over one-third more energy per household – as homeworkers charge laptops and phones, watch television, heat water and run the heating throughout the day.

Daniel Sullivan, head of UK sales at Gazprom Energy, commented on the increase: “While we have all been taking the necessary health and safety precautions during the pandemic and reducing business travel, it is interesting to look at the consumption of energy by the nation and see where fluctuations happen. A fragmented workforce has resulted in fewer shared appliances and electronics, and an increase in individual activity has increased electricity and gas consumption as a result.

“Energy-saving measures that are present in the workplace may not be present in the home, such as energy-efficient lighting and smart metering, meaning efficiency is lost as a result of hybrid working. Businesses also benefit from economies of scale when their workforce is in one location using shared heating, cooling and energy for appliances and equipment.”

Although a net increase in energy consumption is inevitable for many businesses due to more hybrid working, as the energy use of their more disparate workforces increases, there are ways that individuals can reduce their consumption depending on their situation and businesses should be actively communicating these to their employees.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Is working from home actually better for the planet? appeared first on Checklists.

When it comes to the mysteries of the recycling bin, there can often be some confusion as to what goes in, and where. How clean do the bottles need to be? Can I recycle this pizza box? What symbols do I need to look out for?

Recycling practices change from borough to borough, based on council facilities or even which companies services are contracted out to – so what are the general dos and don’ts of recycling and how can you maximise your efforts?

Where possible, sort your recycling by type

Sort your recyclable materials by the following types: glass, aluminum and plastic together, mixed paper, cardboard, and compost separately.

By separating your recycling it ensures your rubbish stays ‘clean’ during transport to the recycling depot, which makes the processing easier and more efficient. Separating your recycling leads to higher recycling rates and significant cost savings.

While throwing everything into one bin is the simple option, sorting by type retains the value of the materials as much as possible, reduces cross-contamination and significantly increases your recycling rate.

Clean food containers, bottles and packaging

Although time-consuming, any plastic, metal and glass materials containing foodstuffs must be completely emptied and fully rinsed clean before going into your recycling bin.

Do not recycle any materials that have food or drink contamination because they will soil the whole load and that means the potentially recyclable materials will be made useless and end up in landfills. And do not recycle greasy pizza boxes!

Any cardboard or paper contaminated by foodstuffs – grease, oil or otherwise – cannot be recycled because the oils cannot be separated from the fibres. Never recycle fibrous materials that have been soiled in this way.

Plastic bottle tops

Probably one you hadn’t thought about – plastic bottle tops can throw a spanner in the works.

Although on the whole, most plastic bottle caps can be accepted by your recycling centre, it is dependent on your local facilities. In some areas you can keep them on, and some require you to remove them all together and place into the normal bin.

The important thing to do is to check with your local recycling centre beforehand. You can easily check on your local council’s website.

Don’t recycle plastic shopping bags

Plastic shopping bags are generally made from thin plastics, which can clog up processing equipment at the recycling centre. Plastic shopping bags require special recycling facilities.

Most supermarkets or food shops will collect and properly recycle your plastic bags for you. Instead of using plastic shopping bags, reusable bags made from recycled materials or from natural fibres are a much better alternative.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post The dos and don’ts of recycling appeared first on Checklists.

Environmentalists, human rights campaigners and animals are all against it. It makes up a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry and you can find it in food as well as beauty products and cosmetics.
Yet despite being such a common, everyday ingredient, palm oil is facing increasing opposition due to the widespread deforestation it has led to, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia.

A vegetable oil made from oil palm trees, its cultivation has grown rapidly and seen rainforests razed in order to grow it. It is estimated that an area equivalent to 300 football fields of virgin rainforest is cleared each hour to plant the palm.

Greenhouse gas emissions are produced when clearing forests. The lack of forest then also leads to less carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere, making the practice doubly problematic.

Much of Indonesia’s forest grows in deep, swampy peat which stores huge quantities of carbon.
For a healthy oil palm plantation, dry land is needed, yet draining the peat – as is the practice – leaves the peat highly flammable. Huge forest fires have broken out as a result, causing major health problems for those living downwind.

Palm oil cultivation is estimated to be responsible for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions globally. People and animals indigenous to the forest are also displaced and many animals will not survive outside of their natural habitat. Added to which, plantation workers in Indonesia consider orangutans a pest and are believed to have killed as many as 1,500 orangutans in a single year.

Having seen first-hand the implications of palm oil production while living in Bali, Preyanka Clark Prakash felt compelled to find alternatives. This led to her and her husband setting up Bloomtown, an ethical beauty brand which uses no palm oil.

“Those who argue that palm oil is necessary because it’s a high yield crop don’t seem to understand that no crop can be high-yield enough to justify such widespread deforestation and species annihilation,” said Preyanka.

Lower-yield crops planted in less ecologically sensitive regions would be far more preferable. “They do exist, they’re just not as cheap.”

In 2004, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was set up to reassure consumers that palm oil didn’t have to be a no-no. Members include Unilever, Cadbury and L’Oreal. Around 19% of the world’s palm oil is now RSPO-certified, but not everyone is convinced it’s the solution.

“Sustainable palm oil really just means using already cleared land, and because the global demand for palm oil is ever increasing, we need to prevent more virgin forest from being cleared by reducing overall demand,” said Preyanka. “Reasonably priced, palm oil-free alternatives are a necessary part of the sustainability equation.”

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Palm oil – a catalyst for destruction appeared first on Checklists.

With our mental and physical health in the spotlight like never before, increasing numbers of us are taking to the streets and parks to improve and maintain our health through exercise and other outdoor pursuits. With this rise in active lifestyles, combined with increasing ethical awareness, footwear manufacturers are rising to the challenge and meeting consumer demand head on; getting fit and being friendly to the planet can go hand-in-hand.

In meeting this demand, footwear manufacturers are increasingly looking for sustainable, durable and carbon neutral materials to work with, and when it comes to sustainability, the environment and ethical production, then bamboo – yes the plant – comes near the top of the list. It’s the fastest growing plant in the world, is 100% biodegradable and requires no fertiliser. As the bamboo grows, it sequesters carbon, making it carbon neutral and harvesting methods do not kill the plant, allowing for perpetual growth. It can easily be turned into a durable, moisture-wicking, breathable and antibacterial fabric, perfect for leisure and sports shoe applications.

Processing the raw materials and creating the multiple components means making a standard pair of sports shoes generates approximately 13.5kg of CO2 emissions – in an average of 300 to 400 processing steps – so one way manufacturers are creating footwear that is better for the environment is to simplify the process, design and materials they use in their shoes, not only saving on labour intensity (money which can then be paid to the workers themselves in fair and ethical payments), but also on pollution and extraction of materials from the planet itself.

Brazilian footwear company, Cariuma (cariuma.com), are one such manufacturer making waves, offering carbon neutral footwear in leisure, sports and even skateboarding ranges. Uppers are knitted from a blend of bamboo and recycled plastic, avoiding older processing methods that involve dissolving the bamboo with toxic chemicals, and instead mixing bamboo ‘powder’ with recycled PET plastic. This can then be turned into a durable thread as using woven thread instead of larger pieces of fabric reduces waste.The foam in the sole, normally made from petrochemicals, is made from sugarcane, which sequesters carbon as it grows and the insoles are made from recycled cork. Any remaining emissions the company create, including from shipping and transport, are offset through projects protecting the Amazon rainforest.

So, buying sports and leisure footwear that is environmentally conscious is now easier than ever. Buyers should keep their eyes peeled for recycled materials, such as post-consumer recycled plastics which are repurposed into yarn or shoelaces. Of the plant-based materials, eucalyptus fibres, flax, hemp and organic cotton also have significantly smaller environmental footprints than virgin plastics.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Footwear with soul – taking strides towards sustainability appeared first on Checklists.

Has vaccinating the country given us our freedom back?

Do you remember the days when we were begging the media to talk about something – anything – other than Brexit? There can’t be many of us now, who wouldn’t give a bumper pack of face masks to return to the naïve exasperations of picking a side in the case of Boris vs Barnier.

Desperate to move on from the bereavements, traumas and sacrifices of coronavirus, into a happier summer of freedom and hope for better things to come, our government promised a return to ‘normal’ on 19 July. Yet, as the much-touted Freedom Day edged closer, doubts and anxieties about the wisdom of easing restrictions clouded that cautious optimism. Did we dare to hope that our brave new world might be within touching distance, or was it reckless irresponsibility to even consider throwing our facemasks and hand sanitiser to the winds?

Boris’ Churchill moment stolen by the ‘Pingdemic’

As Freedom Day dawned and Boris was denied his Churchillian moment, holed up in his bunker of self-isolation after shooting his own PR in the foot, it’s reasonable to imagine that the speech, now playing only inside his own head, might have undergone a re-write or two. Who knows what words he’d have borrowed from his hero? Perhaps: “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Or possibly, “Everyone has his day, and some days last longer than others.” Some of Boris’s days recently must have seemed pretty interminable.

Now that the dust has had a chance to settle, what does Life after Lockdown look like in reality? Have we really been released? Should we even be released? Amid desperate pleas from exhausted NHS staff, who surely are placed to know the answer to these questions better than anyone, many of us believe that restrictions were lifted far too early and feel safer continuing to behave as if lockdown has not been lifted.

Perhaps Boris had planned to use one of our wartime prime minister’s most famous lines in his speech and if he hadn’t, he certainly should have: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” perfectly describes our debt to the remarkable army of over-worked, underpaid and in many cases, emotionally traumatised, individuals that make up NHS Team UK.

We can never adequately thank this formidable and selfless army, but we should never stop trying. And amid the absurd weight of expectation that is daily fulfilled by this skilled and compassionate staff, a vaccine rollout has been undertaken, whose success is unrivalled by any comparable undertaking in history.

Vaccines, antibodies and herd immunity

Herd immunity is an inexact science. Calculations for the level of population protection required to reach herd immunity, vary between around 80 and close to 100 per cent.

At the time of writing, 70% of the adult population has had both doses of a vaccine. Based on available government data that over-18s make up 79% of the population, around 55.7% of the entire UK population is currently double vaccinated. (This calculation discounts the small number of under-18s who have been double-vaccinated, for which no figure is available.)

Approximately 14% of the entire UK population has had a single dose. Both these figures are rising, but there is of course no way of knowing for how long and where they will level off. Booster planning is now underway, projected to begin in September this year and there’s no doubt that science is hot on the heels of emerging variants.

A considerable proportion of the population has also previously been infected with coronavirus. A UK Coronavirus Survey, produced in partnership with the Universities of Oxford and Manchester, Public Health England and the Wellcome Trust, on 21 July 2021, estimates that around 9 in 10 UK adults would have tested positive for Covid antibodies in the last week – whether as a result of vaccination or past infection.

Although we do not yet know whether the recent decline in cases is set to be a reliable trend, these figures might suggest some level of herd immunity is contributing to the decline. We should also consider that even with immunity levels below those required for herd immunity, the more we slow the spread, the easier it becomes to control the virus though ongoing and proven public health measures. We might feel as though not much changed since 19 July, but there are at least glimmers of hope that, while the road ahead will be bumpy, it might be easier than the rollercoaster behind us.

Relentless news coverage means we’re constantly reminded of the spectre of the virus and there’s a lot of residual caution remaining: since 19 July, social contact levels have remained at two-thirds of the pre-pandemic figure of 10 contacts per day. Out and about, you’re unlikely to have noticed a significant drop in numbers of mask-wearers and people are still conspicuously distancing from each other in queues and on public transport. What should the new world order look like? Vaccine passports went from a controversial possibility to all but essential for travel and soon-to-be mandatory for anyone wishing to set foot in a nightclub and probably football stadia, other entertainment venues, university lectures and certain professions. Like Brexit, very few people are ambivalent and are likely to come down hard either for vaccine passports or against them.

Whatever your view, it might not be the same as it was two months ago when Freedom Day first became a probability. If we have learned anything from events of the past 18 months, it’s that the only thing we can predict is that the future is unpredictable. Perhaps Churchill really did sum it up best after all, “It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.”

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Opinion: What does life after lockdown look like in reality? appeared first on Checklists.

Once seen as quite a radical departure from the typical European cuisine, veganism is now firmly in the mainstream.

Fast-food chains who made their name selling beefburgers are now offering vegan options as standard and various dairy-free milks are becoming a popular alternative.

For those who want to truly embrace a diet free of animal products though, it’s important to look more closely at all consumables.

Many drinks contain ingredients that might not be immediately recognisable as non-vegan.

The most common non-vegan ingredients found in alcohol are isinglass, made from the dried swim bladders of fish; gelatine, made from boiled bones, flesh and ligaments; casein, a protein derived from cow’s milk, and albumin from egg whites.

More unusually, some drinks use castoreum, a musky flavouring derived from the castor sacs (next to the anal glands) of dead beavers.

Because some of these components are used in the production process rather than the finished drink, producers are under no legal obligation to list them as an ingredient.

So it’s not always possible to tell from the label alone.

However, there are many vegan beers, wines, ciders and soft drinks which can be enjoyed without worry.

And if you’re unsure about your favourite tipple, barnivore.com lists more than 44,000 vegan-friendly alcoholic drinks and checks individual products for you.

Viva! Vegan Wine

Available online from the Viva! Shop, all wines here are sourced from independent vineyards around the world.

They describe their wine as ‘grown in harmony with nature and free from animal products.’

The site also sells prosecco, organic rum, gin, lager and Armagnac.

See vivashop.org.uk

Bird and Blend

Experiment with ‘sour power’ with a light and refreshing tea-infused sour beer.

Crafted by Basement Beer this Strawberry Lemonade Kettle Sour is made with Enigma hops and a big hit of strawberry.

Best served chilled, it is billed as a ‘one-of-a-kind taste sensation,’ to which the tastebuds may need to acclimatise.

It is unrefined and vegan-friendly, with 3.9 per cent alcohol, hand-brewed in Basement Beer’s Bristol brewery.

See birdandblendtea.com or basementbeer.co.uk

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Veganism doesn’t have to stop at the bar. Plenty of animal-free drinks mean you can party with a clear conscience appeared first on Checklists.