My Reusable Life: Jenny Ringland

What’s your go-to reusable item?
I love ceramic keep cups so much but I am continually breaking them, so for now I have reverted to a Huskee coffee cup, they are made from coffee husks which is pretty cool, plus you can swap them at participating cafes. I can’t wait till cafes start accepting them again, it breaks my heart a tiny bit each time I get a disposable one at the moment.
Your top tip for never leaving home without it?
Keep it in your handbag! Or have a few, one for the car, one for your bag and one for at home.
How do you try to be a conscious consumer?
My philosophy is to try to make the most sustainable and healthy choice for myself as an individual and for my family without it becoming stressful. Having kids (and one especially fussy child), food waste is a huge issue for me. I try and buy only what we need and get inventive with leftovers. My fashion purchasing has also changed a lot since becoming more conscious, now I don’t even look at stores and brands I know are fast fashion. So shopping becomes easier because I have less to choose from!
The best eco tip you’ve heard?
Start with one small change and build from there.
Favorite eco brand?
I have recently discovered Original & Mineral hair products. They were one of the first brands to do clean shampoo and conditioner free from harmful sulphates, parabens, propylene glycol, MIT or Triclosan and their ingredients feature Australian botanicals - Lilly Pilly, Banksia Flower, Quandong, Tasmanian Sea Kelp and Davidson Plum. Plus, and this is a clincher for me, what a lot of people don’t know is they have been doing sustainability well, way before it was cool to be sustainable.
Small or big - what’s your current eco aim?
Small! To expand on our very modest herb garden to include veggies.
Your favourite place to buy fresh produce or package lite food…
For convenience I like Harris Farm, I love that they do home delivery on boxes with no plastic. And when I can, my favourite way to shop is at the farmer’s markets, and our closest one is Bondi. I love watching our girls interact with stallholders and stare in wonder at all the beautiful produce.
What eco alternative are you thinking about investing in?
I have been eyeing off a Christy Dawn dress for literally two years but as yet haven’t made the plunge. It’s an LA-based sustainable clothing brand that makes all its dresses from fabric offcuts. So each dress only has a very limited number. It’s kind of like having your granny make you a one-off tea dress.
What did ISO make you realise you could live without?
Rushing around to multiple children’s activities! Also I realised there was always enough in the pantry to rustle up a meal, I am less inclined to pop to the shops now to pick up a missing ingredient because I know I can improvise and make do. Another reason I want to expand on our modest herb garden.
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