THE SWAG BLOG

One of the main reasons we founded The Swag was due to our huge concerns around the effect’s plastic was having on the world we live in. Plastic is, for the most part, non-biodegradable and plays havoc with the environment including the oceans and dry land. As a result, we took Mahatma Gandhi’s advice to ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ and created organic, natural alternatives to plastic food storage bags. Below are tips on how you can go plastic-free for a week, and hopefully beyond! Even if you adopt half of the tips below, you’re...

It’s one thing many of us are guilty of. While we’re educated from a young age that fresh vegetables are one of the most important parts of our diet and should make up a significant portion of it, many of us simply don’t consume as many vegetables as we should. To try and encourage those of you reading this blog of the importance of eating veggies, we’ve outlined some of the health benefits of getting our 5 a day: 1. You get enough vitamins and minerals Fresh vegetables and fruit for that matter contain many vital vitamins and minerals necessary...

It’s no secret that, here at The Swag, we’re big advocates of a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables. However, a question many people ask is about the merits of organic fruit and vegetables in comparison to standard produce. In this article we’ll explore a little more about exactly what makes produce organic and the benefits of it: What makes fruit and vegetables organic? Fruit and vegetables which are labelled organic are considered this way because of how they’re grown. To be classified as organic, no chemical fertilisers are used nor are synthetic pesticides or herbicides. Instead natural fertilisers...

In recent years, there has been massive talk around the Paleo Diet here in Australia. Celebrity chefs including Pete Evans have been huge advocates of this way of living due to the long list of health benefits associated with it. The Paleo or ‘Caveman’ diet involves eating food which our ancestors may have eaten up to 200,000 years ago. It eliminates all processed foods and strips our food intake back to a diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, organic grass-fed meat and fish and seafood. Given the nutrient-dense nature of the diet, there are many health improvements which accompany it....

Every day we hear about the effects climate change is having on the world we live in. Carbon pollution is having a serious negative impact on the environment and governments around the world are introducing plans to combat it. It is affecting the weather causing natural disasters and crop failure, amongst other environmental issues. Collectively we all contribute by the decisions we make each day. Below are 5 ways to reduce your individual carbon footprint to minimize your impact on our precious surroundings: Take Public Transport Vehicle emissions are a huge contributor to carbon pollution in Australia and around the...

It’s been highly published in recent years just how big of a negative impact plastic product are having on our environment and the world around us. Here at The Swag, we’re very passionate about sourcing alternatives to plastic and below are 15 quick tips for drastically reducing your individual plastic usage: Use a re-usable cup for your coffee fix preventing plastic lids or cups being needlessly thrown away each time. Buy cardboard boxes instead of plastic bottles where possible, for items such as laundry powder or dishwashing tablets. For your grocery shopping use a reusable cotton bag instead of the...

There are many benefits associated with starting your own vegetable patch here in Australia. It can save you money, help the environment and it also comes with the massive benefit of knowing exactly where your fresh produce is coming from and exactly what it has been treated with. It’s also not as daunting a task as many think - it just takes time, patience and a little trial and error. Below are 5 tips from us here at The Swag HQ to start your very own vegetable-garden right here in Australia: Consider Soil & Location Carefully The location of your...

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ll have been hearing more and more about the benefits of the vegan lifestyle. Many people around the world have adopted the vegan diet including many famous faces both here in Australia and around the world. Most choose to go vegan to show their opposition to how farm animals are treated, and the effects mass farming is having on our planet. Below are some A-list evangelists of the vegan lifestyle: Liam Hemsworth & Miley Cyrus Our own home-grown Aussie Liam Hemsworth is one half of an extremely famous...

There is no shortage of articles, podcasts and presentations available online about the dangers of plastic and the detrimental impact it’s having on our environment. However, despite this wealth of information available, many people still choose to use plastic bags as their storage bag of choice. Whether its carrying your groceries from the supermarket to your home or storing your fresh fruit and vegetables and other foods, plastic is not the only answer and certainly isn’t the best one. Each one of us can make a huge difference to the world around us by making changes to adopt a more...

If you have ever opened your refrigerator or cupboard door to take out some fruit or vegetables to prepare only to find that they’ve started to decay, then you’re not alone. Australians waste tonnes of fruit and veg each year by letting it expire before consuming it. What many people don’t know is that there are natural ways to prolong the lifespan of your fruit and vegetables in storage. Below we have outlined some of our favourite tips for keeping your fruit and veg fresher for longer: Shop Local Where possible, it’s great to shop for fresh produce locally for...

While you may be conscious of not wasting food to both save money and help the environment, your children are unlikely to give quite so much thought to these things. As a result, it's important to teach your kids the importance of not wasting their food. As we’re a environmentally-responsible bunch here at The Swag, and know all about the eating habits of children, we’ve compiled the below tips to make your life a little easier when it comes to reducing how much food your kids waste: Be Stricter on the Snacks Children love to snack and graze as soon...

Did you know that we Australians waste around 20% of the food we buy, which is around $8 billion per year? Yes, $8 billion! This is an incredibly high figure and has a massive impact on the environment. The good news is that, now you’re aware of it, you can make a far more conscious effort not to waste food. In this article, we’ve compiled 5 easy ways to reduce how much food is wasted in your household, and save money in the process: Shop for less, more often It may seem convenient to do one big shop each week...