The Green Vegan Chick

orbs from cheaky co

by Sharné September 23, 2019

written by Sharné

The Cheaky Co. are the masterminds behind the new vegan treat sensation: ORBS. And after buying some, packaging free, I totally understand why everyone can’t get enough.

ORBS ingredients

ORBS are suitable for vegans and is free from gluten, soy, milk and preservatives. Who would have thought that a dry roasted chickpea covered in sustainably sourced dark chocolate would taste so good! The dark chocolate is a mixture of cocoa Mass 65%, Cocoa Butter 5%, sugar and sunflower lecithin. And acacia gum is added to make the ORBS shiny.

Where to buy?

I bought mine package free at Shop Zero by taking a jar along. Nude Foods also sell them package free. If you want to see the stockists for the packaged version have a look on The Cheaky Co website. If at all possible please consider buying the package free version.

Have you tried ORBS? What did you think? Let me know in a comment below. To see more of the snacks & treats I have found, have a look here. If you’d like to see what else I have found browse my Directory. New products posted regularly.

Let’s Get Social!

Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts and the upcoming giveaways!

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post

September 23, 2019 0 comment

win

ecorific hemp giveaway

by Sharné September 18, 2019

written by Sharné

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Stand a chance to win a locally made ecorific hemp reusable kit! Included in the kit is a sustainable eco-conscious hemp fabric foldable shopper bag, a hemp cutlery pouch with bamboo utensils and a hemp zipper pouch with three produce bags.

Ecorific

Ecorific is a local cape town based small business that wants to make it easier for you to reduce your single use plastic waste. To encourage you to live more sustainably they make and sell a variety of reusable products such as shopper bags, cutlery pouches, bread bags, produce bags, and more. Their products are made from either cotton or hemp and some are made from upcycled fabrics.

Why Hemp?

Hemp fabric is amazing! Hemp fabric is extremely strong, weather, UV, and mould resistant. It can be grown pesticide free and it takes about four times less water to grow, than it would take to grow cotton. Hemp can grow almost anywhere, it grows fast and doesn’t require a lot of land to grow. And once grown the entire plant can be used from roots to leaves!

How to Enter?

Follow Ecorific (click here) & The Green Vegan Chick on Instagram.
Like this giveaway post on Instagram.
Enter the giveaway by tagging a #ecorific buddy and by commenting with where you would most likely use the giveaway items.
The winner will be announced on Wednesday, the 25th of September 2019. Good luck!

Rules!

This competition is for South African residents only and the winner will be chosen at random. This giveaway is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Instagram.

Are you on a zero waste journey? What is your advise for a newbie? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you’d like to see green and vegan products I have found browse my Directory. Have a look at my zero waste shops section that features local zero waste shops. And head on over to my reusables section to see the items that I use. Alternatively, If you are looking for some vegan recipe inspiration, have a look here.

Let’s get Social!

Follow Ecorific on Facebook & Instagram and be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts and the upcoming giveaways!

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

September 18, 2019 0 comment

on the go reusables

Coppa Wellness Reusable Copper Water Bottle

by Sharné September 17, 2019

written by Sharné

A reusable copper water bottle is not just a pretty alternative to single use plastic water bottles, it also has numerous health related benefits.

Do you buy single use plastic water bottles? Do you know that single use plastic bottles actually leaks harmful chemicals into the water that you drink? And did you know that so much single use plastic ends up in the ocean every year, that it is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean? This will be our future reality, unless we take immediate action! One way is by switch to reusables. Maybe start with a reusable water bottle. Have a look here for more reusable ideas.

Why use a copper water bottle

Recently the ladies at work gifted me this amazing Coppa Wellness copper water bottle as a thank you, for making them each a terrarium in a glass container they gave me. Copper is my favourite metal and this bottle is much more than just pretty to look at!

This bottle is made from a single sheet of copper and the inside of the bottle will naturally patina over time while the outside has been lacquered. There is no plastic and the bottle cap has a silicon washer to prevent the bottle from leaking. The great thing about using a copper bottle is that the copper ions dissolve in the water and can destroy bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Drinking from a copper bottle means the water is loaded with antioxidants and is anti-inflammatory. And the copper aids in iron absorption, alkalises the water and balances the PH levels in your body. All you have to do is to simply leave water to stand in the bottle for 6-8 hours in order to enjoy the many health benefits.

Where to buy?

Coppa Wellness was founded by a South African and the bottles are available on Coppa Wellness website, as well as online at Faithful to Nature and The Peace and Love Club.

Do you have a reusable water bottle? Do you have any other ways that I can reduce my plastic waste? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you’d like to see more of the out & about products I have found, have a look here. Alternatively, if you’d like to see what body & beauty products I have found, have a look here. New products posted regularly.

Let’s Get Social!

Follow me on facebook and instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying one of these products, after reading about it for the first times here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

September 17, 2019 0 comment

zero waste shops

Shop Zero – Woodstock

by Sharné September 16, 2019

written by Sharné

If you want to live a zero-waste lifestyle, Shop Zero, which is located in Woodstock, can definitely help you on your journey.

About Shop Zero

Shop Zero sell a great variety of items that help us reduce our waste. From reusable products (water bottles, coffee cups, straws, shopping bags, etc.. ) to packaging free products (food, cleaning, beauty, etc…) to products is minimal plastic free packaging. Shop Zero allows you to either dip your toe into the zero waste movement by making a single change or you can jump straight in and make a complete lifestyle switch. They also have a vegan café that serves daily meals, smoothies, coffees and treats. And recently they started selling plants too!

Shop Zero is an amazing shop, which I don’t visit as often as I would like too but I do regularly shop on their online store. They deliver nation wide which makes it possible for everyone in SA to have access to their amazing products. And if you spend R850 or more delivery is free! What I love most about their online store is the packaging! The items I have ordered have all arrived in minimal reused paper and/or cardboard packaging sealed with 100% fully biodegradable packing tape.

Where are they?

Shop Zero is located at 403 Albert Road in Woodstock, very close to the Old Biscuit Mill. They are open from Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 3:30pm. You can contact the shop on 084 201 5652.

Have you been> What is your favourite thing about zero waste shops? Let me know in a comment below. To see what other zero waste shops I have found, have a look here. If you’d like to see green and vegan products I have found browse my Directory. Alternatively, If you are looking for some vegan recipe inspiration, have a look here.

Let’s Get Social!

Be sure to follow Shop Zero on Facebook and Instagram. And follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up visiting this zero waste shop, after reading about it for the first time here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it #thegreenveganchick

September 16, 2019 0 comment

win

vegan sweets giveaway with veggie gourmet

by Sharné September 9, 2019

written by Sharné

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Stand a chance to win a Veggie Gourmet vegan sweets hamper to the value of R225 which includes a 150g vego hazelnut chocolate bar and 200g pack of vegan pick n mix sour sweets!

Veggie Gourmet

I’ve been vegan for 8 years, and for a long time I didn’t have access to vegan sweets that were similar, if not better tasting to what I had enjoyed before going vegan. Wayne has made it possible for me to treat myself to delicious vegan sweets that I wouldn’t be able to try otherwise.

Veggie Gourmet sell a variety of deluxe palm-oil free vegan treats, imported from Europe. Wayne has an online shop as well as a stall at the Vegan Goods Market.

This giveaway includes some of my favourite vegan sweets! The pack of sour pick n mix is the first vegan sour sweets I have had in 8 years!! They taste better than I remember sour gummy sweets being! And this Vego chocolate was the first truly creamy vegan nutty chocolate bar I have had since going vegan. It’s so good that I’d say it has to be the best vegan chocolate I have ever had!

*The packaging in this giveaway is not recyclable and needs to be eco-bricked in order to prevent it from ending up in a landfill.

How to Enter:

Follow Veggie Gourmet & The Green Vegan Chick on Instagram.

Like this giveaway post on Instagram.

Enter the giveaway by tagging a fellow #sweettooth.

The winner will be announced on Saturday, the 14th of September 2019.

Good luck!

Collection: The Winners needs to collect the prize at the next Vegan Goods Market.

Rules!

This competition is for Cape Town residents only and the winner will be chosen at random. This giveaway is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Instagram.

Are you vegan sweet addict? What part of this giveaway excites you most? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you’d like to see green and vegan products I have found browse my Directory. And have a look at my zero waste shops section that features local zero waste shops. Alternatively, If you are looking for some vegan recipe inspiration, have a look here.

Let’s get Social!

Follow Veggie Gourmet on Facebook & Instagram and be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts and the upcoming giveaways!

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

September 9, 2019 0 comment

feminine hygiene reusables

Reusable menstrual cup – my own cup

by Sharné September 9, 2019

written by Sharné

As part of my journey to generate less waste I have invested in a reusable My Own Cup menstrual cup. It’s a powerful switch when you consider that up until now I have most likely thrown away at least 4500 tampons.

My Own Cup

I was looking for a locally made reusable menstrual cup that was in minimal packaging and when I spotted My own Cup (MOC) I knew I had found what I was looking for. MOC’s menstrual cups are proudly manufactured in South Africa and the packaging was plastic-free. It’s made from 100% medical-grade silicone that does not contain any latex, plastic, bleaches, dyes, parabens, or chemicals. And its easily sterilized through boiling and other than the original packaging it generates no waste during its 5-8 year lifetime.

Why switch to a menstrual cup?

If you haven’t made the switch to a reusable menstrual cup, here are some reasons why I suggest you consider it:

1. Save Money
This MOC menstrual cup cost me R250 and I will be able to use it for more than 5 years. That’s a once off payment instead of spending R60 every 2 months. That a savings of at least R1600 over the next 5 years.

2. No waste
Pads and tampons are single use items that come with lots of waste. The MOC menstrual cup came in a small cardboard box which I recycled. Inside that box was the cup and a reusable bag to store it in. Since using it, I’m no longer generating any waste which would have ended up in a landfill.

3. Save Time
The MOC menstrual cup can hold up to 3 times the amount of fluid that a tampon holds, so I can wear it for 12 hours without emptying. I love not having to worry about it while at work.

4. Use during sports
The MOC menstrual cup can be used during all sorts of physical activities from yoga, to running, to swimming. And you don’t have to worry about a string peeking out of your swimwear.

Where to buy?

My Own Cup have an online store, and they have quite a few stockists, including Wellness Warehouse. Be sure to click the stockist link above to see a full list of their stockists.

Do you use a menstrual cup? If so, let me know what you love about it most, in a comment below! If you’d like to see more of the body & beauty products I have found, have a look here. If you’d like to see what home & garden products I have found browse my have a look here. New products posted regularly. New products posted regularly.

Let’s Get Social!

Be sure to follow My Own Cup on Facebook and Instagram to see what they are up to! And follow me on facebook and instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying this product, after reading about it for the first times here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

September 9, 2019 0 comment

kitchen

jute scrub from eco elephant

by Sharné August 26, 2019

written by Sharné

Earlier this year, I used my last plastic kitchen sponge and switched to all-natural versions which can be composted afterwards. This jute scrub is from eco elephant and I highly recommend it.

why make the switch?

Plastic kitchen sponges. We all use them, well I used too until I learned that while you use them, tiny microplastics break off, which then contaminates the wastewater.

The plastic pieces are so small that they can’t be removed from the wastewater during the treatment processes. To realize how significant this problem is, just think of all the households who use plastic sponges!

All these billions of pieces of microplastics will end up in the rivers and oceans together with the harmful synthetic chemicals often found in traditional cleaning products.

These microplastics become more toxic over time as they absorb harmful chemicals and will most likely be consumed by tiny organisms as well as animals (fish, etc) living in the rivers and oceans where the wastewater often ends up. Studies have found that most fish have microplastics inside them and that we, as humans, also do.

At the end of its lifespan, a kitchen sponge ends up in a landfill where it will cause further harm.

This Eco Elephant jute scrub dish is 100% natural and is compostable. It can be used just as you would use a plastic sponge and can also be used in the shower.

where to buy?

You can buy this jute scrub from the Eco Elephant online shop, where you can buy amazing products that will make zero waste living easier!

What plastic-free swops have you recently made? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you’d like to see more of the home & garden products I have found, have a look here. If you’d like to see what body & beauty products I have found, have a look here. New products posted regularly.

let’s get social!

Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying this product, after reading about it for the first time here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

August 26, 2019 0 comment

win

Up-cycled giveaway with Plasticity

by Sharné August 21, 2019

written by Sharné

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Stand a chance to win a Plasticity up-cycled plastic holder which includes 2 x reusable unicorn stainless steel straws with a straw cleaner.

Plasticity

Single-use plastic, including plastic straws, is a major worldwide issue that is continuously polluting our oceans and harming marine life. Plasticity hand make up-cycled bags made from discarded single use plastic bags. In case you don’t know, up-cycling is a way to reuse materials, often single use products, by incorporating them into the design of a new, better quality reusable product. As a designer myself, I love the innovative creative thinking behind creating up-cycled products and as a green vegan I love the positive environmental impact.

How to Enter:

Follow Plasticity & The Green Vegan Chick on Instagram.

Like this giveaway post on Instagram.

Enter the giveaway by tagging a fellow #earthwarrior and by commenting with where you would use this product.

The winner will be announced on Wednesday, the 28th of August 2019.

Good luck!

Rules!

This competition is for Cape Town residents only and the winner will be chosen at random. This giveaway is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Instagram.

Are you on a zero waste journey? What part of this giveaway excites you most? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you’d like to see green and vegan products I have found browse my Directory. Have a look at my zero waste shops section that features local zero waste shops. Alternatively, If you are looking for some vegan recipe inspiration, have a look here.

Let’s get Social!

Follow Plasticity on Facebook & Instagram and be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts and the upcoming giveaways!

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

August 21, 2019 0 comment

first aid

Organic bamboo plasters – Patch

by Sharné August 12, 2019

written by Sharné

PATCH gifted me a set of their amazing organic bamboo plasters and they the perfect addition to my green vegan first aid kit!

About PATCH

A plaster aka band aid or bandage, is a single use product that is made mostly of plastic and latex, often containing harmful chemicals, that can’t be recycled! Many people all over the world have negative reactions whilst using plasters. PATCH was created by an Australian father who wanted a natural, safe and effective solution for his son.

PATCH makes 100% certified organic bamboo plasters which they refer to as strips. Their strips are made of soft breathable hypoallergenic organic bamboo fabric and bamboo gauze. The strips are infused with natural ingredients like coconut oil, aloe vera and activated charcoal to help the healing process. The adhesive used is hypoallergenic and made from natural minerals. The strips are environmentally friendly, 100% vegan, not tested on animals and contain no harmful chemicals or plastics.

Types of organic bamboo plasters

PATCH makes 4 types of strips all beautifully packaged in a cardboard tube which has 25 patches per tube. The cardboard tube itself is recyclable but can also be composted, reused or up-cycled. The 25 organic bamboo strips are individually wrapped in recycled plastic. The organic bamboo strips themselves are biodegradable and can be composted.

Each type of strip has been created for a specific purpose. The traditional strips are for cuts and scratches and are a light skin tone colour. Then they have a darker skin tone type used for Burns & Blisters, which is infused with Aloe Vera. The black strips are for bites and splinters, which is infused with activated charcoal. And for the kids (and kidults like me) there are white strips covered in adorable panda’s, infused with coconut oil, which is perfect for abrasions and grazes children often end up with while having fun.

Where to buy?

For Cape Town residents, to my knowledge, PATCH strips are currently only available online from Faithful to Nature and at Nude foods, with more stockists to be added in the near future. Be sure to ask your local pharmacy or health store to stock them!

Have you tried any of the PATCH strips? What other natural product is a must-have for your first aid kit? Please let me know in the comments below. If you’d like to see more of the body & beauty products I have found, have a look here. If you’d like to see what home & garden products I have found browse my have a look here. New products posted regularly.

Let’s Get Social!

Be sure to follow PATCH on facebook and Instagram to see what they are up to! And follow me on facebook and instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying one of these products, after reading about it for the first times here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

August 12, 2019 0 comment

zero waste shops

The Conscious Co-Op – Simon’s Town

by Sharné August 7, 2019

written by Sharné

There’s a brand new zero waste store in Simon’s Town called The Conscious Co-op that combines organic produce and package free foods with vintage clothing & homeware!

Conscious Consumerism

One of the first things we can do to help the environment is to become conscious of our everyday purchases and the impact they have on us, the animals, the environment and our local economy.

Ask the questions. What is it made of? Is it harmful to my health and the environment? Where animals harmed in the making? Where did it come from and who actually made it? How long will I use it? Do I really need it or do I have something similar already? Am I just buying it because it is on special?Did it come in unnecessary packaging? Can it be reused or recycled or can it biodegrade? What will happen to it if I throw it away?

Being aware positively impacts our behaviour and leads us to become conscious consumers! We start to seek out ways to make a positive change and use our buying power for good! Kind of like a superhero, don’t you think?

As a conscious consumer I aim to buy locally made, natural, chemical free, environmentally friendly, vegan, reusable products that are free from unnecessary packaging. Places like The Conscious Co-Op offer all the things I look for in a local store.

The Conscious Co-Op

The Conscious Co-Op is the sister store of The Daily Goods Store in Muizenberg (see post here) They have an amazing variety of products to help their customers live a more conscious lifestyle. You can shop for organic fruit and veg, packaging free dry goods, fresh breads, earth friendly cleaning products, zero waste lifestyle products and even buy fresh flowers! Their vintage clothing and homeware section is such a lovely addition and really does make it a one stop shop.

I brought along my own reusable bags and glass jars but they do also sell empty glass bottles and jars in case you forget yours or need more.

Where are they?

You can find The Conscious Co-Op at 92 St George’s Street in Simon’s Town. If you are coming from Kalk Bay they are located on the right, next to Think Coffee where you can grab a vegan coffee, and there is ample parking in the street.

Have you been to The Conscious Co_op? What is your favourite thing about zero waste shops? Let me know in a comment below. To see what other zero waste shops I have found, have a look here. If you’d like to see green and vegan products I have found browse my Directory. Alternatively, If you are looking for some vegan recipe inspiration, have a look here.

Let’s get social!

Be sure to follow The Conscious Co-Op on Facebook and Instagram to help them grow. And don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts!

If you end up visiting this zero waste shop, after reading about it for the first time here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it #thegreenveganchick

August 7, 2019 0 comment

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