Tag: consciousliving Stories
6 Reasons to use a Rubber Wood Hair Brush
Did you know that Rubber Wood is not actually bouncy timber but comes from the tree that produces rubber? So rubber wood actually gives twice […]
5 tips for a Valentine’s Day love story
Nothing speaks love more than red roses. But does our love for Valentine’s Day have to be at the expense of our love for the planet. With a little bit of thought I think we can spread that love to encompass all. Here are my top 5 tips.
Herberry Bananas – a true story
Herberry Bananas, sounds like a new superfood? Well maybe that’s what they should be called. And then you have Raspfruits. A fun but true little story to put a smile on your face at we come to the end of 2020.
Meet the Makers Paper Pottery
Meet the Makers of our Waterproof Paper Pottery. By combining precision laser printing and handmade skills with sustainable practices and ethical applications they have created a very unique product.
Is recycling the answer?
The ever growing problem of plastics requires a solution greater than recycling alone. Is recycling the answer or should we be changing the question? Perhaps the answer lies closer than we think and the question might be what SHOULD we use plastic for, rather than what we shouldn’t?
We all lose without small business
Small businesses punch way above their weight and do far more for our economy than you might think, locally and nationally. Without them we would lose more than just a shop, our suburbs and towns would be a far different place. COVID19 has been been tough on our local small businesses, so isn’t it time we showed them how much we appreciate all that they do and support them in return. Let’s “Give big – Buy small” for our small business.
Smiles at the ECOMAX Creche
The creche at our Eco Max Brushes producers factory is 6 months old now and visiting it is always a fabulous experience. See what changes have happened since we last visited as well as some DIY recipes for children’s play activities we tested while we were there.
DIY Healthy Cleaning Toilet Gel
The best No Tox DIY Toilet Gel recipe that we have made, costed, tested and totally love. With all the stickability of a store brought one and none of the hidden environmental downsides to commercial cleaners. Plus you can use it to clean the whole bathroom. We look at why this works and also found out some interesting facts about what’s in toilet cleaners and why you might think twice about buying them.
The Ultimate guide to Cleaning Water Bottles?
Why do some natural cleaning methods work and other don’t and what is best method for my water bottle? Learn why in this Ultimate Guide for cleaning your BYO Bottle.
Water bottles – A breeding ground for germs?
Do I need to clean my reusable water bottle? You would be surprised at what germs lurk at the bottom of your bottle. But fear not we have made a new Premium Eco Max Bottle Brush especially to fit narrow neck water bottle and in this story of ImportAnts we show you how you can live green without drinking green.
Thimble
Indira Tibblin created Thimble as an ethical business based on Fair Trade principles that’s sole purpose is to create job opportunities and training in new […]
Greening the Florist
That beautiful display of flowers often comes with a hidden cost. Plastic. Isn’t is time you joined the #nofloralfoam movement and sort out more sustainable options.
perfect imperfection
“We don’t need a handful of people doing Zero Waste perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly” We so agree. Look at what we have achieved so far and how we can a go one step further.
To Compost or not to compost?
Thought about composting but not sure if it’s right for you? It doesn’t matter if you live in flat or in a house, learn how easy composting really can be.
Most Frequently Asked Questions? – Body
What Eco Max Brush is right for my skin type? How do I care for my brush? What are the benefits of Dry Body Brushing? These questions and more are answered in this easy Q & A for our Body Brushes.
Most Frequently Asked Questions? – Kitchen
Can I put my Eco Max Brush straight in the compost bin with the wire still in it? Is coconut fibre naturally anti-bacterial? Can my brush go in the dishwasher? These questions and so many more are answer here in our Q & A Kitchen.
Tips for Organising a Corporate Event
Getting the right feel for your corporate event can be tricky. And with sustainability high in everyone’s priorities including corporations, living plants and flowers may be the perfect decoration.
Our Sinamay Story – a plastic alternative
Finding a plastic free alternative to package our hand-rolled Cook’s and Gardener’s soap was a difficult task. But then we discovered Sinamay and it ticked all our boxes.
A New Year’s Resolution for the Planet
Often our New Year’s Eve resolutions are a wish list for making improvements in our own life. But isn’t it time we made a New Year’s resolution for the planet!
“Vegan” – more than just food
When you think of the word “Vegan” most people automatically think of a type of diet that excludes animal products or anything derived from an animal. But Vegan means so much more than just food, it’s a lifestyle choice.
In Support of WOMEN
“When you want to invest and create GDP, there is no better or more effective investment –than investing in women.” This is why we employ women in the making of our Fair Trade products.
RECYCLED V SUSTAINABLE
Which is better for the planet, recycling plastics or replacing them with more sustainable natural solutions? We look at the positives and negatives of recycling plastics.
Fish, Fibres & Food
When fish eat fibres, the fish and the fibres end up on our dinner plate. But there is more to the story!
Breaking News – Breaking Habits
Now that supermarkets have stopped using single use plastic bags it’s time to learn a new habit. In this story of ImportAnts we see how habits are formed and how easy it is to learn the new BYO Bag Habit.
Let’s Face It
When you want to feel pampered and look your best it’s easy to be tempted by the latest plastic packaged moisturiser, face scrub, or exfoliant. But there are simpler solutions that are better for the planet.
So what’s a super-freegan?
No, it’s not a Superhero dumpster diver…but it could be. It’s a little less heroic but there are many reasons why it pays to become one.
Broom, Broom, Rake…
When is a broom also a rake? When it’s an Eco Max Coconut Palm Broom! It sweeps as well as it rakes. The secret to it incredible abilities is in the natural palm fronds it is made of.
Earth Hour
Earth Hour 2018 is about conversations on the loss of nature around you. To get the conversation started ImportAnts have given you some ideas of things you can do locally. Ideas to connect with others in your community to drive global awareness and action on biodiversity.
Greed V Good
Trust in our institutions is at an all-time low. Thanks to the growth of social media, it is easier than ever to know when businesses ethical claims do not match our expectations. So what do we expect from businesses today?
See the Eco Max Kitchen Scrubber in ACTION!
Nylon scourers wear out quickly and release micro-plastics into our waterways, replace yours with a natural fibre, earth friendly, plastic free Pot Scourer. Want to see how easily the Eco Max Pot Scourer cuts through grease?
A – Z of Produce Use
Getting the most from your produce is good for the planet and your purse. Whether it’s storing them or eating them, these EcoMaxHacks will make sure you get the best value and longest life out of the produce you buy.
Fairlings interview with Kim Good, Founder of Import Ants
Elephant poop. It’s not the kind of thing one often pauses to ponder. Yet for Import Ants Founder, Kim Good, elephant dung – and, more specifically, paper ingeniously made from the stuff – was the unlikely source of a major career change.
11 reasons why coconut is the new black
Renewable, sustainable, carbon neutral and 100 % natural, coconut can replace so many products that are harmful to the environment, read on to discover what you can replace with coconut.
How often should I clean that?
When it comes to cleaning your household items, we can all be a little slack. Here are the products in your house that you should be replacing or cleaning regularly.
Eff off flakey skin
Been hibernating all winter, is your skin is all flaky and not ready for the summer sun? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. So here are 6 simple steps for silky smooth skin, just in time for summer and all year round.
4 Eco-Friendly Habits To Pass Onto Your Kids
Here’s 4 things you can do to make a personal impact on a global issue. Our environment is our responsibility and failing to take care of it is putting your children’s future at risk. It’s time to take matters into your own hands and teach your kids good environmental habits while you’re at it.
Beauty Trends & Skin Care for Every Skin Type
Ally Feiam from My Deal interviews some leading specialists for some great on trend tips for 2018 for healthy beautiful skin, including myself.
Turmeric – Nature’s Healing Herb
The healing properties of Turmeric go beyond simply adding it to your diet, to see how else this amazing spice can be used read on.
scrub-a-dub-scrub
Cleaning does not have to be complicated. Go back to basics with these chemical free cleaning recipes and our natural household brushes. Some great tips to start your Zero Waste journey.
Spring into Summer with Fab Feet!
Four simple tricks to have your feet looking & feeling fabulous. Spring is almost here and Summer ain’t far off, so it’s a smart time […]
The quiet art of meditation
Meditation has been proven to boost physical and mental health, improve cognitive function, alleviate depression, reduce stress and even slow the ageing process. All you […]
OMG! What will I use to line my bin?
How will I line my bin now that there are no more free shopping bags at supermarkets? Try this clever Eco Max Hack, a plastic free way to line your bin.
microbeads – they’re still out there…
Smaller than a grain of sand and designed to be disposed of down the drain. Microbeads are impossible to filter, so they easily make their way into our waterways and BILLIONS of them do so EVERY. DAY.
pretty, practical and plastic free
Plastic free household items you won’t want to hide away. When we talk about the environmental impacts of plastic, we tend to focus on the […]
3 Deadlies – synthetic V natural
We ask Corinne Sparks from Handmade Naturals what her top three deadly synthetics to avoid are and what natural alternatives she uses instead. Corinne was […]
is your kitchen scourer killing you?
How do the scourers we use everyday impact on our health and the health of our environment ? The simple objects that we use all […]
How our Kitchen Scrubber scrubs up…
As all good cooks know the proof will always be in the pudding. So Import Ants asked one of our customers, avid Thermomix user Brian […]
3 healthy reasons to be a scrubber!
Did you know you could be throwing away many health benefits by peeling your fruit and vegetables? Maybe it’s time to become a scrubber and […]
5 reasons to switch to natural fibres
Natural vegetable fibres have been used for centuries, way before plastic was even invented. They are longer lasting and have no built in obsolescence, making […]
How to be Chemical Free
Do you worry about the amount of chemicals in your life? Want to know how to find toxic free alternatives to everyday products? It’s important […]
Meet the Makers – ECOMAX Brushes
Our ECOMAX Brushes are handmade in Sri Lanka by a small family run business that prides itself on crafting beautiful, sustainable, handmade brushes whilst […]