Hello and welcome to our August newsletter!

 

Did you know that the average consumer throws away around 20 per cent of the groceries they buy every year? To help you reduce food waste and save money we’ve compiled a handy list of tips on the blog. From shopping from your fridge and pantry to creating a ‘use me first’ shelf, we’ll help you get on track.

 

Reducing the number of toxins in your home is another hot topic, but can be a bit of a minefield too with all the long, confusing names on cleaning products. We share some easy ways to reduce chemicals in your home. 

 

 

August 12 is World Elephant Day, an international annual event dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world's elephants.

 

Launched in 2012 by two Canadian filmmakers and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation, the day is now recognised and celebrated by over 100 wildlife organisations and in countries across the globe. Here are five ways to support vulnerable and endangered African and Asian elephants.

 

1 - Sign a petition
Sign the petition to help ban the sale of elephant ivory – the aim is to make it a million signatures so add your voice in support.

 

Narrated by William Shatner, Return to the Forest is the heartfelt story of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and its mission to return captive Asian elephants back to the wild in Thailand to save them from extinction. You can watch it here on YouTube.

JONATHAN PLEDGER via Shutterstock

 

3 - Avoid ‘elephant tourism’
The best way to see elephants is in the wild. If you’re going to visit an elephant venue, make sure it allows elephants to be elephants, while educating visitors on their complex needs. A good rule of thumb is that it should be a case of ‘look, don’t touch.’ If a venue allows you to get close enough to ride, bath or touch them, it’s because they’ve been cruelly trained. 

4 - Support natural habitats
The loss of habitat due to deforestation, increases in mining and agricultural activities has been especially harsh on Asian elephants. Asian elephants have lost nearly 30-40 per cent of their habitat, making it incredibly difficult to maintain their offspring and themselves. Avoid contributing to the problem by buying eco-friendly products like our bamboo toilet paper, which doesn’t require deforestation to be produced.

Independent birds via Shutterstock

 

“The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?” — David Attenborough 

Thanks for keeping our oceans clean and forests green!
Pure Planet Club Team