Zero Waste Week, an annual event that encourages waste reduction and sustainable living, has concluded in the UK. But why stop the eco-friendly momentum after just one week? In this article, we’ll explore the highlights and provide tips on how to continue the zero-waste trend throughout the rest of the month and beyond.
Zero Waste Week, which took place from September 4th to 8th this year, aimed to raise awareness about the environmental impact of waste and inspire individuals and communities to take action. Here are some key takeaways from this year’s event:
Reducing Single-Use Plastics:
Participants across the UK made conscious efforts to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. From reusable bags to water bottles and coffee cups, people embraced eco-friendly alternatives.
Food Waste Reduction:
A significant focus was on minimising food waste. People learned about meal planning, composting, and creative ways to use leftovers to prevent edible food from ending up in the bin and, consequently, the landfill that results in the accumulation of CO2 which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Repair and Reuse:
Zero Waste Week encouraged repairing and repurposing items instead of throwing them away. People rediscovered the value of mending clothes, fixing appliances, and upcycling furniture. Government schemes like ‘right to repair’ means that manufacturers must provide repair information and spare parts for up to ten years to make this more accessible.
Community Engagement:
Many communities organised zero-waste events, workshops, and swaps. These gatherings fostered a sense of solidarity and shared knowledge among participants.
ZWW might be over, but the principles of waste reduction and sustainable living can, and should, be continued throughout the month and beyond. Here’s how:
Set Monthly Goals:
Rather than limiting waste reduction efforts to just one week, set achievable monthly goals. For instance, you can aim to reduce your household waste by a certain percentage each month and gradually increase this once the target seems achievable.
Continue Meal Planning:
Keep planning meals to minimise food waste. Get creative with leftovers and explore new recipes that make the most of what you have in the kitchen. If you can’t use everything, our blog on storing fruit and veg will help prevent any unnecessary waste.
Reusable Everyday:
Continue using reusable shopping bags, water bottles, and coffee cups. Consider expanding your collection of reusable items, like cloth napkins and stainless steel straws, which are becoming much more widely available at a reasonable cost.
Repair and Upcycle:
Don’t stop repairing and upcycling. Embrace a mindset of repairing items before replacing them, and explore DIY projects that transform old items into something new and useful. Sites like Pinterest are great for finding inspiration on your next upcycle project.
Join Sustainability Groups:
Engage with local or online sustainability communities. Share your progress, seek advice, and stay inspired by connecting with like-minded individuals.
Track Your Progress:
Keep a waste reduction journal to track your accomplishments and identify areas for improvement. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem.
Educate and Advocate:
Spread the word about sustainable living to friends and family. Advocate for eco-friendly practices in your workplace and community.
Zero Waste Week is brilliant for kickstarting waste reduction efforts, but it shouldn’t be the only time we focus on sustainability. By carrying forward the lessons and practices learned, we can make a lasting positive impact on our environment. So, let’s sustain the eco-friendly momentum and work towards a cleaner, greener future, and not just for the rest of the month!
As the warm yet unsteady days of August transition into September, you might be wondering what to do with the fruits that you receive in your weekly shop. We’ve compiled a list of some great smoothie ideas to help you get the most out of your August and September fruits. Not only are these recipes a great way to incorporate your 5-a-day, but it also offers flavours for the more mature palate (though the kids will be sure to love them too).
Ingredients:
1 cup ripe peaches, peeled and diced
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon honey (adjust to taste)
Ice cubes
Combine the diced peaches, raspberries, Greek yogurt, almond milk, and honey in a blender and blend on high until smooth and creamy. Add ice cubes and blend again until the desired consistency is reached. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed by adding more honey. Pour into glasses and garnish with a fresh raspberry or a peach slice.
Ingredients:
1 large apple, cored and chopped
1 ripe pear, cored and chopped
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
A squeeze of lemon juice
Ice cubes
Place the chopped apple, pear, grated ginger, apple juice, plain yogurt, and lemon juice in a blender and blend until the ingredients are well combined and the mixture is smooth. Add ice cubes and blend again to achieve the desired texture. Pour into glasses and serve.
Ingredients:
1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon shredded coconut (optional, for garnish)
Ice cubes
Combine the diced mango, pineapple, coconut milk, and orange juice in a blender and blend until the mixture is silky smooth. Add ice cubes and blend once more for a refreshingly chilled texture, pour into glasses and sprinkle shredded coconut on top for an extra touch of flair.
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh blackberries
1/2 cucumber, peeled and chopped
4-5 fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon honey (optional, adjust to taste)
Ice cubes
Place the blackberries, chopped cucumber, mint leaves, water, plain yogurt, and honey (if using) in a blender and blend until the ingredients are well incorporated and the mixture is velvety. Add ice cubes and blend once more to achieve the desired consistency. Pour into glasses and garnish with a sprig of mint and enjoy the taste of the garden in a glass.
Plumbs’ Dairy offers a wide selection of fruit that you can use to make delicious smoothies, jams, and pies. Register for an account today to enjoy in-season fruit (and vegetables).
With the endlessly unpredictable summer days that oscillate between humid, cold, or downright sweltering, it’s important to know how to properly care for your fruit and veg when it arrives. We’ve put together some handy tips and tricks on how to extend the shelf life of your produce to keep it fresh and vibrant for as long as possible.
It might be tempting to bring your produce home and put everything in the fridge but there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to storing fruit and veg. Citrus fruits and berries will spoil if left at room temperature and therefore benefit from being refrigerated. This also applies to vegetables that store a lot of water, like lettuce and cucumber.
On the other hand, produce like tomatoes, apples, avocados, and bananas should always be kept at room temperature to allow them to continue to ripen whereas starchy veg like potatoes should be stored in a bag or cardboard box (our Fenland white potatoes come in either sacks or bags) and left in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
It is not always enough just to store things loose in the fridge; veg like carrots and celery should be placed in a paper bag to protect them. Alternatively, you can cut the vegetables into smaller chunks and keep them in a glass jar filled with water, which will help to keep them hydrated.
Remember to replace the water every few days as there is a chance that bacteria and other unwanted things could begin to settle in the old water.
You might have noticed that certain fruits and veg start to over-ripen sooner than others, e.g. bananas. This is because they release a gas called ethylene, which is known as a ‘ripening hormone’ that not only causes that certain food to ripen, but it will also lead to other produce deteriorating and spoiling long before it should. Be sure to keep things like bananas, potatoes, and apples as far away from other items as possible.
If you order larger boxes of fruit and veg or like to do your shopping in bulk but notice that the produce is going bad before you’ve had a chance to eat it (and you’ve also tried the above methods), then another good option is storing them in your freezer.
This works best with produce that has a low water content like broccoli, brussel sprouts, peas, and sweetcorn. Be sure to give them a good wash before chopping into smaller pieces, which will make life a lot easier when you come to add them to your saucepan. Berries, apples, and pitted stone fruits are also ideal for freezing provided they are stored in air-tight bags or containers.
View our full range of fruit, veg and salad boxes here.
Shopping online is fast becoming one of the most popular ways of doing our day-to-day purchases, including our groceries. In this blog, we list our top five reasons as to why shopping locally can be an incredibly rewarding experience; from fostering personal connections within the local community to encouraging sustainability, we outline the positive impact that our shopping choices can have on both our immediate surroundings and the wider world.
Perhaps the most obvious one, but shopping online offers a level of convenience that you don’t have access to when buying in-store. You can browse items during your lunch break, and even buy from multiple websites in a matter of minutes compared to the time it would take to drive from store to store across your city. At Plumbs’, we offer customers the opportunity to add or make changes to their existing order if they forget something (think of all the times you’re half-way home and realise you’ve forgotten the butter!)
Whilst buying online offers convenience and efficiency, it does not always translate to sustainability-conscious practices. When you buy locally, you are actively reducing the carbon footprint of yourself and also the drivers who deliver the goods to you. This does not simply start and end with your journey to and from the supermarket, but it also includes the journey from the various suppliers (both nationally and internationally) to the supermarket. We try to source most of our products from companies local to East Anglia, including our fruit and veg which comes from a wholesaler based in Cambridgeshire whose ethos is also concerned with ensuring their produce comes from local or mileage-conscious suppliers to keep pollution to a minimum.
By choosing to shop locally, you’ll also play an active role in supporting local businesses during these unprecedented times. The positive impact this has for local businesses will have a ripple effect as, not only will you be supporting us, you will also be supporting the many other local businesses we work with, which strengthens the bonds between the local residents and businesses that are passionate about delivering the highest quality products to the wider community.
Our fruit and veg suppliers are all Fenland-based, which means that you will be getting local, seasonal goods instead of farmers that are using artificial methods to grow tropical, or out-of-season produce and means more chemicals and water being used. Receiving a mixed crate of seasonal fruit and veg also encourages customers to try out new recipes and ideas that they might not have considered, which may encourage you to continue shopping seasonally.
Going back to sustainability, when you buy your produce with Plumbs’, you’ll also significantly decrease the amount of packaging that is used for things like fruit and veg which comes in a cardboard crate as opposed to dozens of individually wrapped items. We also reuse your empty glass bottles up to 25 times to ensure that waste is kept to a minimum unlike supermarket brands that must be recycled after one use (yet an average of 16 million plastic bottles fail to be recycled every day).
It’s almost that time of the year where people dust off the international bunting, balloons, and novelty hats in celebration of the Eurovision Song Contest and this year is even more special because it’s happening in our own country! With that in mind, it’s time to start planning the perfect party snacks to enjoy while watching the vibrant display. Whether you’re hosting a party for friends and family or keeping it low-key, there are plenty of delicious snack ideas that will get you in the Eurovision spirit. Here are just a few delicious tips to get you started:
Nachos are fast becoming a British snack staple, and are perfect for watching Eurovision as they’re incredibly easy to make and you can add whatever condiments and toppings you like. Serve them with a variety of dips like our Spiced Tomato & Caramelised Onion Chutney for a delicious snack that will keep you satisfied throughout the competition.
You can never go wrong with pizza, and mini pizzas are the perfect solution for snacking and cheering without dropping cheese on yourself. You can make your own mini pizzas using store-bought pizza crusts or pita bread and toppings of your choice. Some popular toppings for mini pizzas include mini pepperoni, mushrooms, and finely diced peppers. Of course, you can pick from a selection of our vegetable boxes to ensure you have enough produce leftover for the following week!
For the more discerning tastes, opting for a charcuterie board is guaranteed to turn heads. Choose from a variety of hard and soft cheeses, wholemeal crackers, olives, and fruits such as grapes and apples. You can also add some cured meats such as salami or prosciutto for a more substantial snack and some of our Pure Honey to cut through the saltiness.
On to a healthier option; fruit skewers are the perfect choice for adults and children to snack on whilst enjoying the celebrations. You can make them with a variety of fruits such as strawberries, pineapples, and grapes or if you’re feeling adventurous you can order one of your fruit boxes that comes with at least 15 portions for the small option. They’re very easy to make and are a great way to add some colour to your snack table.
Chocolate-covered strawberries are a delicious and decadent snack that isn’t just for occasions such as Valentine’s Day. They’re easy to make and can be customised with different types of chocolate such as dark, milk, or white chocolate and go perfectly with a bottle of something bubbly.
Need we say more? Cakes are a sweet and versatile dessert that you can make from scratch, or even easier, buy fresh and ready to be devoured with a cup of your favourite hot drink. Add some extra frosting and colourful sprinkles for a fun and festive snack that everyone will love.
A vegetable platter is a healthy and delicious snack idea for Eurovision. Choose a variety of vegetables such as carrots, celery, and cucumbers (again, look no further than our wide range of fruit and vegetable boxes for inspiration). Serve them with a light but hearty dip such as hummus for a tasty and nutritious snack.
There are plenty of delicious snack ideas that are perfect for Eurovision. From nachos and dips to mini cupcakes, there’s something for everyone regardless of time and budget. So, grab your snacks, sit back, and enjoy the Eurovision Song Contest!
Easter is just round the corner and we can’t wait! Not only is it a time of year to get together
with friends and family, but it’s also when we start to see warmer, sunnier days. As many get
to enjoy a long bank holiday weekend, some of us may find ourselves having a longer break
as the school term breaks up for a two week holiday. We’re going to help you get ready for
Easter by looking at how to prepare and keep busy over this spring holiday…
Activities to keep kids busy!
Two weeks at home with the kids can feel like a long time, especially if April showers make
an appearance and you’re all stuck inside wondering what to do. Easter is great for keeping
your hands busy with crafty projects, easy baking recipes and a family favourite… Easter
egg hunts!
Make use of household items for craft projects. Dyeing Easter eggs in bright colours is fun
and easy, and you may already have most of the stuff you need sitting in your cupboard.
You’ll first need to hard boil your eggs so they’re safe to eat after decorating. Then add one
cup of hot water, one teaspoon of vinegar and about 20 drops of food colouring to bowls of
water and you’re ready to paint! Add tape, elastic bands or wax to your eggs before dyeing if
you want to get creative with patterns. Keep your decorated eggs in the fridge so they can
still be eaten (why not chop them up and put them in a salad!)
A simple baking recipe that any age can get involved in is cornflake nest cakes. You’ll only
need cornflakes, butter, golden syrup and chocolate, and a couple of mini eggs to pop in
each basket. These simple Easter cakes will be enjoyed by kids and adults alike!
Easter dishes
Whether you opt for a traditional Easter lunch, or changing up the menu this year, Easter
food will need a bit of thought and preparation, particularly if you’re expecting guests.
Depending on the weather (because who knows if we’ll get rain or shine!), you might be
thinking about squeezing the last roast dinner in, served with traditional spring lamb. Or if
warmer weather arrives, you could go for lighter dishes such as pan fried fish, buttery new
potatoes and greens, or a medley of fresh seasonal salads. If you’re stuck for inspiration,
why not order one of our veg or salad boxes and use the contents of the boxes to help guide
what recipes you’ll cook.
As always, Barkers Bakery hot cross buns are back in stock in time for Easter, so we’ve got
you covered for breakfast!
Quick garden rejuvenation
If we are blessed with a sunny Easter holiday, give your garden a quick spruce so you can
spend some time outside. After the cold winter months, your grass may need some tlc – for a
quick fix, sprinkle over some Organic Lawn Dressing to revitalise your garden and bring the
green back to your grass. If we’re really lucky, we might get to enjoy the first BBQ of the year
over the holidays!
Get ahead and get ready for Easter now, so you can enjoy a fun and relaxing holiday with
friends and family. Place your order with Plumbs’ Dairy here.
In the quieter month of February, after the beauty of frosty leaves on trees has worn off, and it’s still too chilly to spend too long outdoors, we find ourselves at home more than usual. We are often left with a spare day or two wondering what to do, now that the excitement of the cosy festive period has been and gone and we’ve binge watched our way through Netflix. So we find this is the perfect time of year to start getting organised ready for spring. And we like to start with our pantries and storage cupboards!
Now, the prospect of this may not have you jumping from your seat…we get that this task may not be top of your list, or even one you think you need to do. But one quick peek in your cupboards may have you realising that there’s unopened jars of chutney, half-eaten bags of nuts, and a tin of biscuits, all left over from the continuous snacking season of Christmas.
We’ve got a few tips and products to help you declutter and get ready for the warmer months…
Declutter and clean!
First things first, empty it all out! You never know what hidden gems you’re going to find hiding on your shelves until you take it all out. Some store cupboard items lose their effect if they’ve been hanging about too long; out of date baking powder generally doesn’t do its job when it’s past its ‘best before’ date, and dried herbs and spices only have a shelf life of 2-3 years until they lose their strength in flavour (and some would argue even that’s too long!)
Treat it like a belated new year cleanse and clear out as much as you can. Use up those warming winter items like tins of soup, before they get shoved to the back of the cupboard again until autumn. Before you begin to refill your shelves, wipe them down with the wonderful surface spray from Greenscents and make your cupboards smell fresh and clean. Their sustainable range of cleaning products are effective but also kind to the environment. And with scents made from organic essential oils, they’ll leave your kitchen with a natural but fresh aroma.
Restock for spring
In spring, we find ourselves reaching for lighter, fresher foods. Our pantry products will help build the basis of your spring and summer recipes. Norfolk-made products from Yare Valley Oils help to create simple, but flavoursome dishes. Stock up on jars of their pesto sauce, salad dressing or infused oils so you can easily whip up easy salads and pasta dishes.
We can deliver fresh pantry products to your home, from local free range eggs, to fresh bread from Barkers Bakery. We even stock cakes and sweeter bakery products too, if you want to add a little treat into your order!
Get your pantry organised and receive regular orders from Plumbs’ Dairy, to ensure you’re never missing out on those cupboard essentials! Click here to place your order today!
Christmas is just around the corner and we want to help get you prepared for this magical period! Food is a big part of the Christmas experience, so we want to make it easier for you by delivering straight to your door. We work with local suppliers to ensure that you have the best ingredients to use in your Christmas meal. We’re going to talk you through some of our favourite products to help make your Christmas extra special…
The main dish
Whatever your choice of meat to serve for the Christmas meal, we have you covered. We offer a variety of size turkeys to cater for up to 17 people, so you’ll have plenty left over for turkey sandwiches! We also work with Broadland Hams in Norfolk, to bring you locally sourced gammon joints, sausages and bacon.
Something sweet
There’s always an excuse to nibble on something sweet over the Christmas period. A mince pie served with a cup of tea is great for a morning, afternoon or evening snack. We work with Barkers Bakery in Cambridge, so we can deliver freshly baked mince pies to your doorstep. Order plenty, because once you taste these freshly baked pies, you’ll find yourself wanting to reach for more!
With so much to do, it’s easy to spend a lot of time in the kitchen on Christmas Day. Take a shortcut where you can, and order your dessert from LillyPuds. Made from natural ingredients, these Great Taste award-winning puddings taste like they’ve been baked at home. There’s plenty to choose from, such as their Traditional Christmas Pudding, Saucy Zingy Ginger Pudding or Sticky Toffee Pudding. Their whole range of puddings are vegetarian, but we also stock their vegan and gluten-free puddings too, so you can ensure you’ve catered for everyone.
Add extra flavour to your vegetables
Yare Valley’s versatile range of oils, sauces and dressings are made just a stone’s throw away in Norfolk. Their tasty products have won awards for their flavouring, and once you’ve tasted or cooked with their oils, you’ll understand why. We recommend roasting your potatoes or vegetables in their rapeseed oil, not only will you get a delicious, crispy potato, but you can add an extra layer of flavour when using their Garlic & Rosemary infused oil. This is a great alternative if you’re cooking for vegetarians, but still want to get that same crispiness on your potatoes. Their range of products expands to horseradish, the perfect accompaniment to both meat and vegetarian mains.
Top up your essentials
With all the luxury food that we indulge in over the Christmas period, it’s easier to forget that we still need to keep topped up with the essentials, which tend to get used quicker with more people around the house and visitors. That’s why we run deliveries in time for Christmas and New Year, so you won’t have to worry about running out of everyday items such as milk, butter, tea, coffee and bread.
Order with Plumbs’ Dairy this Christmas and support your local milkman, whilst getting the best locally sourced produce. Make sure you place your order by Friday 2nd December to guarantee Christmas delivery. Fill in your order form and leave out for your roundsmen to take. If you didn’t get one, you can download a form here.
It’s spooky season! Even if you’re not a fan of Halloween, there’s a lot of fun to be had around this time of year, for both adults and kids alike! Netflix is filled with horror films that are sure to make you jump out of your seat. But if you’re not wanting a spine-chilling experience, we’ve opted for some softer activities, so you’ll still be able to sleep at night. We’ve shared some simple and cost-effective Halloween activities that will be sure to entertain both you and the kids this October!
Time to dress up!
If you’ll be celebrating Halloween this October, then a costume is a must! If you’re not a natural seamstress and you don’t want to splash out on expensive costumes, it’s time to think outside of the box and let your kids create their own outfits. That could mean something as simple as painting their faces as pumpkins or skeletons, creating a pointy hat out of black paper for a witchy look, or wrapping themselves in toilet paper to become zombies…and let’s not forget the classic bedsheet ghost. And although Halloween is stereotypically spooky, that’s not to say your costume has to be… there’s always the option to dress up as a cute cat or bunny!
Pumpkin crazy golf
Pumpkin carving is a Halloween favourite, and most of us have had a go at designing and carving out a frightening face. But once the pumpkin has been carved, the fun is usually over, and the pumpkin is left to sit there until it gets thrown away. This year, why not turn your pumpkins into putting holes and make a pumpkin crazy golf course in your own home. You’ll just need to make the mouth wider than usual to make sure the golf balls will easily fit through. This activity works particularly well if you’re entertaining a few kids, the more pumpkins, the bigger the golf course!
Ghost paper chains
A simple and fun activity to get your home ready for Halloween… ghost paper chains! If you’ve ever made snowflake chains at Christmas, then you’ll already know the steps needed to craft your own spooky decorations. All you’ll need is white A4 paper, scissors and some sellotape. Fold the paper into zigzags and cut out ghost shapes; once unfolded, you’ll end up with a row of ghostly figures!
Apple bobbing
This game is great for parties; it’s cheap and easy, and is a Halloween classic! All you’ll need is a large tub or bucket filled with water, and plenty of apples. If you’ve not played it before, the idea is for each player to try and grab an apple out with their teeth, no hands allowed! Finish the game off by letting each player decorate their winning apple. They can create their own toffee apple or dip it in melted chocolate and cover it in sprinkles!
We’d love to hear if you tried any of our activities or games this Halloween, or if you have your own that you want to share with us!
It’s almost time to say goodbye to the scorching summer as we begin to see the first signs of autumn. Chillier mornings, darker evenings, and the need to put on a thick jumper for the first time in a while. But the changing season is not all bad, and perhaps you are more than ready to say goodbye to the sweltering summer days we’ve had this year. We’ve rounded up a list of our essential products to ease you into autumn, helping you to keep cosy and enjoy this wonderful season.
Keep your home cosy
Colder mornings and evenings may have you reaching to put on the heating or even light the first fire of the season. If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace to warm your home, we can keep you stocked up, making sure you never run out of fuel. From kiln dried logs, to our smokeless fuel, we can help keep your home toasty, whilst you enjoy the satisfying crackle of an open fire. Is it too early to roast some chestnuts? Browse our full range of fireplace products here.
Start your day right
Getting out of your warm and comfortable bed can be hard in the mornings, especially when you know you’re going to be faced with a chilling air as soon as you leave it. So what’s better to tempt you out of bed than the smell of fresh coffee, sure to warm and wake you up and give you the kick you may need on these colder mornings. We work with Suffolk-based coffee roasters, Butterworth & Sons, to bring you the tastiest coffee in a variety of blends. View our selection of ground coffee here; and if you prefer to wake up with a cup of tea, we stock a range of Butterworth & Sons tea bags too!
Autumn birds
You may not be spending as much time in your garden once the weather cools down, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy it from the inside. Autumn and winter welcomes a wonderful array of birds to your garden, such as blue tits, starlings and robins. Hang a bird feeder in your garden and watch from the warm as it attracts these beautiful birds, who you can spend countless hours observing. Purchase a feeder, or top up one you already have with our range of bird food here.
Indulge in comforting food
Like we said, the colder months are not all bad. They’re a perfect excuse to enjoy an evening at home, with family or friends, indulging in some tasty treats. It’s the season for port and cheese; and crackers and a delicious chutney are the perfect accompaniment. We stock a range of Bay Tree’s award winning chutneys, with flavours such as Spicy Tomato & Caramelised Onion and Spiced Apple & Onion. Shop the full range of these delicious chutneys here.
Order your Plumbs’ essentials ready for autumn, and we will deliver them straight to your door! Register with us today by clicking here, to make your order.