Liz Earle Botanical Shine™ Nourishing Hair Oil, £22

Powered by ingredients expertly selected for their efficacy, including Kalahari melon oil, coconut oil and radish seed oil, this works to smooth, soften, nourish and boost shine.

Plantscription™ Multi-Powered Youth Peptide Serum, £69

Origins’ number one anti-aging serum is formulated with six peptides, Anogeissus and Hyaluronic Acid to support your skin’s natural collagen to reduce the look of lines and wrinkles.

Dr. Organic Pro Collagen Bundle, £41.98

Perfect for anyone seeking a powerful anti-ageing routine, this duo delivers visible results for a firmer, youthful glow. Infused with biotin and hyaluronic acid, they work to enhance firmness, smoothness, and hydration, boosting skin moisture by over 50% in just two hours.

Faith In Nature Stimulating Rosemary Conditioner, £7.99

Especially formulated for a normal hair and scalp, this conditioner’s 99.5% natural origin, free of parabens and silicones – and features a blend of three organic active naturals, designed to leave locks smooth and healthy.

Delilah Cosmetics Wake Up Radiant Eye Perfector, £28

Vegan and cruelty-free – as well as being PETA certified – this brightening, smoothing, and hydrating under-eye treatment hydrates as well as acting as a concealer base and eyeshadow primer.

Rituals Bleu Byzantin Eau De Parfum, £52.90

Keep yourself smiling until that much-needed January payday with this aquatic perfume, which combines mint with fresh juniper berries and pine wood; fabulous for everyday wear.

Fadeout Advanced Concentrated Brightening Serum, £13

This serum brightens your complexion while delivering rapid hydration. Apply daily to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation, enhance texture and tone, and dial up radiance.

Philip Kingsley Density Thickening Conditioner, £61

With a unique blend of polymers and peptides to instantly volumise, this treatment replaces lost lipids in damaged hair, sealing and smoothing the cuticle to help detangle and improve resistance against everyday threats.

Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm, £43

Created as a cleansing balm, this glow-giving and nourishing plant-based formula helps protect the skin’s natural barrier – and is completely certified organic, vegan-approved, and cruelty-free.

Revive Collagen Vegan Collagen Drink Supplement, £29.27

With its blend of plant-powered, scientifically formulated collagen, plus vitamins B, C, D, and E, with consistent daily use the brand states you can expect to see results to your hair, skin, nails, and overall wellbeing in just four to eight weeks.

Necessary Good Bright & Hydrated Moisturiser, £27

This sorbet-textured cream delivers deep hydration, a visible glow, and barrier support in one high-performance formula designed to work as hard as you do. When tested, 93% agreed their skin felt hydrated throughout the day.

Urtekram Nordic Beauty Tune In Soothing Lavender Body Lotion, £7.60

A hydrating, nourishing lotion for the body that’s 100 % vegan, ingredients include aloe vera, shea butter, and natural oils. Ideal to use after showering using Urtekram Soothing Lavender Body Wash.

Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo, £22

Formulated with micelles and white vinegar to gently clarify hair without stripping, this shampoo removes product build-up and other impurities and is suitable for fine, medium, and thick hair types and all textures.

Jane Iredale Skintuition SPF 30 Radiance-Boosting Liquid Foundation, £55

This foundation with SPF30 comes in a variety of easy to match shades that look real and stay true all day. What’s more, its silky formula glides on and melts into skin seamlessly – and it’s even water-resistant up to 40 minutes.

Green People Scent-Free SPF30 Sun Cream, £32.50

A top-pick for those prone to prickly heat, this cream protects against 97% of UVB rays, is naturally unscented, and is enriched with over 60% organic aloe vera, sun-shielding Edelweiss, and non-nano, non-toxic UV filters.

Weleda Revitalising Hair Tonic, £14.95

Light enough to be used daily to revitalise your locks, this tonic’s formulated without artificial preservatives, colourants, and fragrances, and is proven to reduce hair loss, encourage growth, and help with dandruff and dryness.

Dr Idriss Major Fade Hyper Serum, £70

Tackle dark spots and an uneven skin tone with this vegan serum. Clinically tested and fragrance-free, it brightens and refreshes all skin types, leaving your complexion radiant and luminous.

Hello Sunday The One For Your Eyes SPF50 Eye Cream, £18

Protect and brighten the delicate eye area with this cream. Featuring 100% mineral filters, peptides, and prebiotics, it works to hydrate, lift, and shield against UV damage for a radiant finish.

ZOEVA 142 Concealer Buffer Brush, £14.50

Ideal for liquid and cream primer, as well as foundation and contouring products, this vegan, cruelty-free brush blends effortlessly, perfect for targeting imperfections and brightening under your eyes.

Hask Keratin Smooth Smoothing Hair Oil, £2.99

Formulated to smooth, control frizz and improve hair manageability from the first application, this oil is enriched with keratin protein, suitable for wet or dry hair, and absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue.

Lush Let The Good Times Roll Fresh Cleanser, £12.50

Ingredients including maize flour, polenta, and popcorn give your skin a polished performance, gently removing dirt for a healthy glow, while vegan glycerine and corn oil leave your complexion hydrated and soft.

Maria Nila Gloss Coat, £24.50

With a fresh scent of red apple and sandalwood, this heat-activated smoothing treatment transforms strands with long-lasting shine, frizz control, and humidity protection from heat damage up to 230°C.

ATTITUDE Super Leaves Men 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner, £11.99

Meet ATTITUDE’s grooming range: Super Leaves™ MEN. Powered by plants and designed for modern routines, this 2 in 1 product is a hard-working, multitasking essential available in four luxe scents.

Nature Spell Growth Complex Salt Free Hair Mask, £8

Enriched with oils and natural butters, this transforms the hair with smoother texture, shine, and renewed strength, while working to revive the scalp, add lasting moisture, and help prevent breakage.

The post Vegan hair and beauty musts for Veganuary appeared first on Checklists.

The animals residing at Lotus give visitors a real opportunity to interact with them; something that visitors may not otherwise have the opportunity to do. This is a really important step in helping to enlighten and change the perspective that many people hold around certain species of animals.

The Lotus residents will serve as a reminder of the sentience and emotional capacity of each and every animal – a far cry from the packaged and barcoded supermarket ‘products’ they become. Through meeting the animals, adults and children alike will be able to identify that these species have exactly the same needs, emotions and behaviours that they see and feel from the pets that many of them share their homes with.

Regardless of species, all animals have a desire to live their lives and care for their babies. These animals have the ability to give and receive love, the desire to be with family and friends, the ability to grieve and be sad, to feel pain and terror, to experience pleasure and happiness, to play and be mischievous – they are non-human animals just like cats and dogs. All animals are earthlings who are interconnected and exist together on planet Earth.

As the Lotus team say: “Animals are not here for us, they are here with us. Always remember, the only difference between species is human perception.”

A big focus for Lotus Animal Sanctuary has always been on cattle. There was a requirement for a sanctuary in Scotland that would provide a forever home for cows, bullocks and calves. Some Scottish sanctuaries would take highlanders, but in 2016 when Lotus rescues began, no Scottish sanctuaries would take other breeds of cows; so the cows rescued by Lotus had to make the long journey south to sanctuaries in England.

At Lotus, they will always aim to welcome other species, and they do have sheep, but they want to make sure that Lotus will always have space and an open door for cattle in Scotland. A purpose-built cattle shed was beautifully erected in 2019 to specifically cater to the needs of these large and beautiful animals.

Ultimately, everything comes down to perception – this sanctuary exists to challenge and rebuild the way people have been conditioned to view certain animals, alongside providing cohesive and important information about animal rights, the huge impact animal agriculture has on world hunger, the environment, and how to successfully go about leading a compassionate, healthy and cruelty-free lifestyle.

Visit lotusheartsanctuary.com for more information. Follow their great work on social media @LotusHeartSanctuary and donate via PayPal or Patreon.

Lotus are currently offering the opportunity to win an overnight stay for two at the Lotus Camping Pods.

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

The post The sanctuary where animals and humans coexist in harmony appeared first on Checklists.

Over the last few years, the use of CBD has massively risen in popularity; and the industry is growing in line with this boom too. Innovative products are regularly being released as the general public is starting to discover more about how CBD works.

However, it can sometimes be a little bit overwhelming when trying to choose the right product, as there is such a wide variety of CBD products on offer. So, to take the hassle out of working out how to begin your CBD journey the right way, Nooro are here to help.

Uplifting ingredients

The CBD snacking brand Nooro, started in 2019 when the founders, JD and Jacques began to think blending CBD and certain nootropics could be a game-changer. After much rigorous testing, tasting and trialling, they found the sweet spot between focus and calm. Thus crafting a winning combination of snack bars using uplifting ingredients.

The delicious Smarter Snack bar uses clever elements starting with CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in the hemp plant, which has a myriad of claimed wellness benefits for both active and restful states. 

Then there’s nootropics are natural plant extracts that have a positive effect on cognitive performance, Nooro use Maca and L-Theanine. From the Greek words ‘noo’ for ‘mind’ and ‘tropos’ meaning ‘changing,’ nootropics have been designed to live up to their name by helping support normal brain function. 

Smarter snacking

Each bar of Nooro is packed with 25mg of relaxing CBD, focus-supporting nootropics and smooth, moreish, gluten-free oats. Nooro comes in three flavours: Lemon + Ginger, Banana + Cinnamon & Sour Cherry + Chocolate. All bars are high in fibre and vegan with 100% natural ingredients and no artificial sweeteners.

Use discount code CHECKLIST20 at checkout for 20% off all products across the website. 

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

The post The beginners’ guide to CBD products for ‘smart snacking’ appeared first on Checklists.

When you regularly try new vegan foods, the ones you like quickly work their way into your everyday diet. However, our classic favourites can always take a little persuading.

Here are some companies offering amazing vegan alternatives that you need to give a shot.

1. Plenish

Award-winning plant-powered drinks brand Plenish has launched a new range, Enriched M*lks, that are the most nutritionally complete plant-based m*lks on the market.

Their Enriched M*lks are fortified with calcium, iodine and vitamins B12 and B2, as well as essential nutrients that many are deficient in, like vitamin D and omega 3.

Created by expert nutritionists, they come in almond, oat, and soya. They can take your latte, breakfast and baked goods to the next level.

Doing something good for the planet has never been easier!

Find out more at plenishdrinks.com

2. Miami Burger

Plant-based health hackers Miami Burger declare they have created ‘probably the healthiest burgers in the world’. With their Classic imitation beef patty containing just a fraction of the saturated fat of other burgers and only 167 calories, it’s hard to argue with them.

Miami Burger’s patties are free from cholesterol, heme, palm oil, and coconut oil, and unlike some other vegan burgers, they are made in northern Europe, reducing their burgers’ total carbon footprint.

The burger makers also offer a plant-based Louisiana chick’n patty with a panko crumb. The Louisana is wheat-based and has 17 grams of protein while still only 0.7 grams of saturated fat.

Find out more at miamiburger.co.uk

3. Banhoek Chilli Oil

The idea for Banhoek Chilli Oil stemmed from a fear of average-tasting chilli oils. When chillies are mixed with olive oils, the taste of the olives gets in the way of the pure chilli flavour. That’s why they use high-quality rapeseed oil – it does not get in the way of the chilli taste.

On the other hand, made-to-fresh or dried chillies served in oil never quite cut it consistency-wise and so they infuse the chilli flavour to keep the chilli flavour and hotness consistent.

Find out more at banhoekchillioil.co.uk

4. Crazy Bean

Crazy Bean aim to be the world’s number one online platform for buying and selling vegan products. They support producers by enabling sellers to list products and sell completely free. They know how hard it is to start a business and want vegan sellers to secure market share and beat the bigger companies.

They want to support these new startups by helping them through their first steps to market. Crazy Bean also aim to create a vegan seller community where forums and events will bring people together to tackle challenges that all new businesses face. Sharing stories and solutions will help businesses through the risky and difficult first years.

Find out more at crazy-bean.com

5. Faith in Nature

One of the original pioneers in natural beauty, hair and skincare products, Faith in Nature has been creating recipes from naturally derived sources for over 40 years, and from humble beginnings at the kitchen sink.

Established in 1974, they believe in harnessing the raw power of nature without harming it in the process. They don’t use animal ingredients in any of their products, making them suitable for vegetarians and vegans, and are proud to be registered with the Vegan Society.

All their formulations are biodegradable to ensure that they are gentle on the planet, minimising the impact they have on the environment.

Find out more at faithinnature.co.uk

6. Moo Free

Moo Free have been creating delicious chocolates for the last decade, perfecting recipes brimming with milk chocolate flavour but without using any milk. All of their products are ethically made in Devon, are certified for vegans and are free-from dairy, gluten and soya.

At Moo Free they believe there’s no such thing as normal. They champion the fact that everyone is different, broadening minds through their dairy-free chocolate.

Find out more at moofreechocolates.com

7. The Vegan Society

In 1944 The Vegan Society founders coined the word ‘vegan’, making them the world’s oldest vegan organisation.

The vegan movement is thriving, with more people choosing a kind, healthy and sustainable lifestyle every day. They’re a little different to most. They live a life less ordinary. A healthy life that they live to the fullest.

The Vegan Society continues to hold true to the vision of its founding members as they work towards a world in which humans do not exploit other animals. They’re as determined as ever to promote vegan lifestyles for the benefit of animals, people and the environment.

Find out more at vegansociety.com

8. Reclaim Your Self

Reclaim Your Self retreats run 10 transformational yoga-travel experiences a year, taking their guests to breath-taking locations in some of the most remarkable places on earth.

Retreats include world-class yoga with top teachers Emma Henry and Adam Husler. Delicious plant-based and vegan menus are created by the brilliant Bettina’s Kitchen, author of Happy Food and the 7-Day Vegan Challenge.

Stay in exceptional, unique accommodation like eco-lodges, remote farms, treehouses, off-grid cabins and yurts. Travel in style to Costa Rica, Japan, Lapland, Scotland, Iceland, Svalbard and Mongolia.

Reclaim Your Self are passionate advocates for responsible travel and their retreats have a positive impact on the places and people they visit. They limit their environmental footprint while supporting local economies, respecting nature and helping wildlife to thrive.

Find out more at reclaimyourself.co.uk

9. Sweet Freedom

Sweet Freedom, the fast-growing, best-selling, Great Taste Award-winning plant-based brand started by two best friends in London has added a brand new decadent tasting palm-oil-free Chocolate Spread to their bestselling range of 15 all-natural, vegan sweet syrup and spread products.

Sweet Freedom have always been wild about animals. They donate 10% of the profit from every jar to The Orangutan Project which are dedicated to saving these critically endangered creatures.

Find out more at sweetfreedom.co.uk

10. Sacla

Italian food is a way of life for Sacla. They are on a mission to ‘transform’ your food life, from the busy supermarket trip to the satisfied smiles around your dinner table. They love nothing more than sharing plates of home-cooked Italian food. From their pesto to rich pasta sauce, and juicy antipasti, their products will bring the taste of Italy to your kitchen and table.

Sacla have used their expertise to create a vegan alternative, so it’s easy for everyone to enjoy the same authentic dishes. There’s no compromise on flavour either – it’s still got that marvellous cheesy taste. Whether you’ve followed a vegan diet for years, or you’re trying it out, you can always experience the joy of fantastic Italian food.

Find out more at sacla.co.uk

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

The post The 10 delicious alternative vegan foods you need to try appeared first on Checklists.

To make life a little easier for eco-conscious shoppers, Checklist have rounded up 10 gift ideas that help small businesses grow.

1. Three Body Soap Gift Set by Superfly

This eco-friendly, plant-based and luxurious soap trio is perfect for hands and body. All of the fragrances are inspired by food – with each smelling good enough to eat.

Each gift box contains three body soaps in wood pulp wrappers, a gift tag and an optional travel tin.

Choose from any of the fantastic soap scents including Mango, Avocado and Banana, Café Mocha and more. Everything is plastic-free and vegan.

Find out more at superflysoap.com

2. Alcohol gift box by Wildjac

You can never go wrong with a boozy Christmas gift and this one from eco-distillery Wildjac not only tastes great, but it also ticks lots of sustainability boxes too.

This gift set is perfect for those wanting to treat that special someone to a taster of award-winning sustainable spirits. Featuring five ‘minis’ from the award-winning range, you can choose from eight different spirits to create a bespoke gift. The available spirits include Honey Spiced Rum, Fresh Citrus Vodka, Apple & Elderberry gin.

Each branded box is fully recyclable and can be personalised.  Also included is a QR code where tasting notes, serve suggestions and the option to claim a free wildflower grow set can be found.  

Find out more at wildjac.co.uk

3. Assorted box of three mini Smell the World candles

Candle lovers will be over the moon with these mini-candles hand-poured in the kitchen of Smell The World.

Featuring three specially created winter scents, choose from: Peace, Love and Joy, Cosy Nights, Wild Wood or Smoke House. You can also choose which from white, red or grey jars, creating the perfect personalised gift for your recipient.

Handmade using 100% soy wax and natural oils, these mini candles can transform any room. Shipped in recyclable packaging, the jars can also be re-used as mini plant pots or tea light holders.

Find out more at smelltheworld.co.uk

4. London Gin School experience by 58 Gin

If you’re looking to surprise a loved one with an experience this year, eco-distillery 58 Gin has you covered with its London Gin School gift vouchers.

Each gift voucher will provide access to an unforgettable three-hour immersive gin masterclass. Your loved one will craft, distil, and wax seal their own gin in a mini copper still, leaving with their own spirited creation.

The gin masterclass also includes four signature 58 Gin cocktails per person, food, a gin tasting session, a lesson on London’s deep, dark history of gin and an amazing goodie bag to take away.

Find out more at 58gin.com

5. ‘Save the Pandas’ Adult Bamboo Socks

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a pair of socks, however, these aren’t your average set. Save the Pandas donate 10% of profits from all purchases to Panda International.

Made by Bare Kind, these socks are made from sustainably sourced OEKO-TEX bamboo and nontoxic dyes.

The socks are shipped over by land where possible, minimising carbon dioxide production and they’re working towards offsetting all their past emissions.

Bamboo is becoming a popular fabric choice. It grows faster and has larger yields than standard sources for fibres, and has incredibly soft, moisture-wicking and anti-bacterial features.

Find out more at theecofriendlylivingco.co.uk

6. Carbon-negative Discovery Gin

This gin not only tastes amazing but its production is having a positive impact on the environment. Discovery Gin has been created in collaboration with small Yorkshire based distillery Cooper King and the Natural History Museum.

For every 70cl bottle, innovatively cold-distilled in small batches using 100% renewable energy, one kilogramme of carbon dioxide equivalent is removed from the atmosphere. The team also plant one square metre of English woodland through the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

Created using fresh basil with fragrant lemongrass and aromatic clove, this bright, herbaceous gin will make the perfect sustainable tipple.

Find out more at nhmhop.co.uk

7. Children’s wooden plates

The perfect gift for babies and toddlers, these eco-friendly wooden plates will make mealtimes fun and interactive.

Made by The Wood Life Project, and available via the Eco Friendly Living Company, these plates are completely plastic-free.

They are 100% chemical-free and every plate is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. Choose from a rabbit, bear or limited-edition reindeer.

Find out more at theecofriendlylivingco.co.uk

8. Luxury Skincare Gift Bundle from Superfly Soap

This is the perfect gift set for luxury skincare lovers who are looking to switch to vegan and eco-friendly alternatives. It features a range of high-performance, luxury cosmetics.

All products in the range are vegan, made from natural ingredients and handcrafted in Scotland by Superfly Soap owner Lisa McWatt. Why not swerve the big beauty brands this year and support a small business?

The bundle includes their Protect Day Cream, Nourish Night Cream, Regenerate Face Oil and much more.

You can also add a Balance Cleanser, Strengthen Hair Oil or one of Superfly Soap’s Facial Bars to the package. Each gift box comes with a gift card, shredded paper and recyclable packaging.

Find out more at superflysoap.com

9. Handmade scrunchies

Scrunchies may have been popular back in the 80s and 90s but they are back with a vengeance.

These hand-sewn accessories by sustainable fashion brand Wildstrings could provide the ideal eco-friendly stocking filler.

Made using offcuts of fabric, this hair accessory is both stylish, eco-friendly and completely unique. With the fashion industry’s impact on climate change, buying from small businesses helps grassroots designers striving to change the industry.

Find out more at wearwildstrings.co.uk

10. Hand-painted Kimonos by Avalana

An extra special gift for a stylish loved one, these exquisite hand-painted kimonos are made to order in the UK.

With nine beautiful nature-inspired designs to choose from, this is a truly unique and stand-out gift. Each design is digitally printed onto beautifully soft and breathable fabric.

Because every piece is handmade to order there is no over-production. You will also be supporting an independent designer, who painstakingly hand-paints every one of her designs.

Find out more at avalanadesign.co.uk

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

The post Ten eco-friendly Christmas gift ideas from independent businesses appeared first on Checklists.

1. Luxury pampering gift set

Ideal if you want to sample as much of Ralph’s Orchards products as possible for a great price, their gift set features a variety of items from their range in one convenient bundle.

The set contains their Lavender and Eucalyptus bath salts, a candle from the wellness collection, a wax melt and a botanical wax melt and air fresheners.

2. Wax melt advent calendar

If you fancy something a bit different over the festive season, Ralph’s Orchards Advent Calendar is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional chocolate-filled paper and plastic calendars.

Filled with 12 different wax melts, the calendar will have every room of your home smelling of Christmas this December. It contains some of Ralph’s Orchards most popular scents from their autumn and winter collection.

3. Bergamot, Rose and Honeysuckle candle

Checklist recommends this candle for freshening up the living room or changing the scent profile of your kitchen.

This fragrance was designed to promote clarity of mind. Take in the top notes of bergamot, blending into rose, jasmine, honeysuckle, neroli, geranium and davana, finishing with vanilla, patchouli and musk.

4. Cassis, Rose and Green Tea candle

Looking for ways to relax after work? Checklist recommends trying Ralph’s Orchards’ Zen collection.

Settle down with a clean and calming fragrance combining cassis, violet leaf, and green fig leaf at the top with rose, geranium and green tea at the very heart. There’s also soft amber, musk and cedar wood to complete this beautifully composed fragrance. 

5. Vintage Bookshop candle

If you’d rather relax with a proper book and a soothing aroma, Checklist loves this novel candle.

This beautiful musky and woody scent has a lovely perfume, best accompanied by a good read! It is romantically inspired by leather and dusty tomes on creaky wooden shelves. This scent is rich and slightly masculine, with tones of cashmere, leather, sandalwood, amber, vanilla, and warm ginger.

6. Lavender and Eucalyptus Bath Salts

To wind down in a calming hot bath, Checklist recommends Ralph’s Orchards lavender bath salts to enhance your relaxation after a long day.

These hand-made luxury bath salts contain 100% pure essential oils of Lavender and Eucalyptus, and 100% organic sweet almond oil to nourish your skin. Epsom salts, coarse sea salt, and bicarbonate of soda make up the remaining ingredients so your skin will feel fresh.

7. One-of-a-kind upcycled candles

Fancy something a bit unique? These soy candles have a strong throw and come in all kinds of quirky containers. Find up-cycled wine glasses, vases, crystal bowls, plant pots, teacups and seashells. Particularly stunning is the Thai Benjarong set, with candles set into an exquisite pair of vintage bowls.

These are unique artisanal candles and therefore have limited availability.

8. Frankincense and Myrrh candle

Checklist has found this candle is ideal to give a room a festive scent, even in the office.

Experience the heady smell of Christmas mass and incense; with the resin frankincense immersed in warm amber, rock rose and myrrh and complimented by woody cedar, vetiver and patchouli.

Part of Ralph’s Orchards autumn-winter scent collection, these scents are meant to evoke those days when the cold sets in and the harvests reaped. So light a candle, snuggle down and let nature come to you.

9. Cigars and Cognac candle

For the candle-lover who fancies something a bit different, Ralph’s Orchards refined aroma offers an alternative to floral and herbal scents to Checklist readers.

Immerse yourself in a surprisingly elegant and smooth scent, combining creamy vanilla and leathery tones. 

10. Enchanted Forest candle

Transport yourself to a winter wonderland. Evoking the fresh smell of Christmas trees, this scent has strong hints of pine needles, cedar and oakmoss.

Perfect in the living room for a festive ambience.

Make sure to check out Ralph’s Orchards if you’re interested in any of these products.

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

The post The top 10 calming vegan candles to make any room smell wonderful 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.

Among them are UK Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, Wimbledon tennis champion Venus Williams, England and Premier League footballer Jermain Defoe, ultra-marathon runner Scott Jurek, who covered 165.7 miles in 24 hours, and bodybuilder Ferdinand Beck.

A vegan diet can reduce the chances of obesity and the risk of heart disease. It also lowers blood pressure, is richer in antioxidants and can help in reducing inflammation.

Venus Williams went vegan when she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease in 2011. The change of diet gave her relief from extreme fatigue and joint pain which, in turn, led an improvement in her athletic ability. Lewis Hamilton reckons a vegan diet helps him control his weight, allowing him to eat more carbohydrates, while Scott Jurek adopted a vegan diet to avoid a family history of chronic disease.

Research strongly suggests that plant-based vegetarian and vegan diets may off er many health benefits to athletes and non-athletes alike, though there is currently little evidence that meat-free diets are specifically better for improving athletic training and performance.

However, it is clear that elite athletes of all disciplines can meet their energy and nutrient needs on a vegetarian or vegan diet that contains a variety of foods, including grain products, fruit, vegetables, protein-rich plant foods and, if desired, eggs and milk-based products.

Certain nutrients, including protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, vitamin B12 and riboflavin, can be less abundant in plant compared to animal foods or are less

well absorbed. However, including in the diet a selection of foods containing these nutrients, with occasional supplements, will achieve healthy nutrition.

A number of studies have also found that athletes who get rid of dairy, often find that it has been the source of causing inflammation in their bodies. So when they make the move to ditch it, many have found that they are able to push their fitness levels to the next level.

There’s a big emphasis on the best training techniques to increase performance. However, training smarter is only half the equation – diet makes a huge difference.

The post World champions – and vegan too appeared first on Checklists.

It is now well understood that carbon-heavy agriculture, particularly intensive factory farming, is a prime cause of every environmental ill, including greenhouse gases, deforestation, species extinction, soil degradation and ocean depletion, as well as posing threats to human health from antibiotic resistance and zoonotic diseases that are the cause of pandemics.

But why exactly are agricultural emissions getting so much attention, and why is it important to manage them? Based on the most recent research and data, here are some of the top things you need to consider about agriculture’s climate footprint.

To contain global warming to +1.5°C and avoid a complete climate catastrophe, the food system needs radical change – and urgently. Scientists have found that at the current rate greenhouse gas emissions from food production alone would hit 1.5°C by 2050.

From 2010 to 2017 the food system accounted for some 16 billion tonnes of carbon emissions annually, which, without a dramatic overhaul, could eventually hit 1,365 billion tonnes.

Food is also responsible for 60 per cent of global biodiversity loss, one of the chief culprits being swathes of land cleared for animal feed. Animal agriculture is responsible for 91 per cent of Amazon rainforest destruction and its emissions are expected to increase to a worrying 80 per cent by 2050.

Experts agree that the biggest reduction in environmental impact is achieved through diet – namely by cutting meat and dairy consumption. The UK annual CO2 emissions by diet are: meat 2,055kg; vegetarian 1,391 and vegan 1,055.

An Oxford University study found that by going vegan, this would cut just one person’ food carbon footprint by a massive 60 per cent, which is the equivalent of up to 1.5 tonnes of CO2 a year.

According to The Food Climate Research Network one kilo of UK-reared beef produces around 16kg of CO2 emissions. This is the equivalent to driving 100 miles in a car, in comparison with 0.8kg per kg of wheat. One kilo of soya beans creates just three car miles’ worth. Which means that if every UK family removed meat from one meal a week, this would be the equivalent to taking 16 million cars off the road.

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Dedicated followers of fast fashion need an eco-epiphany to end the devastation wrought on the planet by clothing

Fashion has become a high-profile political issue in the last two years, as concern for its impact on the planet saw ever-louder demands that the clothing industry clean up its act. In 2019 Extinction Rebellion held-up London Fashion Week, while the House of Commons produced a damning report on the fashion industry’s environmental and social ills.

Fast fashion means just that – fast It’s produced at break-neck speed, for rapid consumption, is dumped equally quickly and the train hurtles on to the next trending ‘must-have’. This throw-away culture plays fast and loose with ethics and sustainability, with the sheer volume, speed and impact of the entire chain from seed to disposal wreaking havoc on the health of humans, animals and earth alike.

It’s a mass consumer and producer – guzzling resources and spewing out toxic chemicals, waste and carbon. The textiles industry emits more greenhouse gases a year than all international flights and shipping combined, with an annual carbon footprint of 3.3 billion tonnes – around 1.2 billion tonnes from fast fashion alone. In the UK we buy more clothes than any country in Europe – two tonnes every minute.

Producing vast quantities of new designs takes its toll not only on the quality of garments, which generally have a short lifespan and are made with non-recyclable materials.

Exploited textile workers, communities and ecosystems often pay the high price of ‘cheap’ clothing, with toxic chemicals and waste ending up in rivers and lungs and precious resources plundered and polluted. Fabric production is the cause of 20 per cent of all industrial water pollution and annually consumes some 93 billion cubic metres of water, enough to meet the needs of five million people.

The textile waste mountain is equally staggering – 92 million tonnes a year. One lorry load every second is burned or buried in landfill. And the problem is growing – the average consumer buys 60 per cent more clothing than 15 years ago, while the number of times a garment is worn has decreased 36 per cent.

If fast fashion’s pile ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap then dump ‘em ethos is unsustainable, the antidote is less is more, quality over quantity – and consumers are key to slowing the train.

Shopping sustainably and ethically can be a minefield

Consumers don’t have to wear sackcloth to make a difference to the planet we live in – the key is to find out what clothes are made of, where they’re made and by whom. It is also worth buying less but seeking out better quality items, in order to keep them for much longer.

Extending a garment’s life by nine months can reduce its carbon, water and waste impacts by up to 30 per cent and buying second-hand supports a circular model of regenerating materials and resources.

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