Spring Clean with Seep and Delphis Eco 

The days are getting longer, and spring is finally just round the corner - so it’s time to get cracking on that deep clean you’ve been putting off! From scrubbing out hard-to-reach cupboards to freshening up carpets, now’s the time to get your home summer party ready. 

To give you some inspiration, we’ve teamed up with Seep and created an essential spring cleaning list. Delphis and Seep products are the perfect, planet-friendly combination of compostable cleaning tools and eco-safe cleaning chemicals. Grab a pair of Seep’s Eco Rubber Gloves and get started!

1. Organise your cupboard

Yes, we know you’ve been avoiding the chaos lurking behind that cupboard door. But it’s time to be brave! Our Multi-Purpose Cleaner and Seep’s Eco Scourer Sponge have your back. Take everything out. Clean and put everything back in order. Does that feel better? We thought so.

2. Freshen up grubby trainers

All you’ll need is one of Seep’s Eco Pop-Up Sponges and our Eco Washing Up Liquid. Gently massage washing up liquid onto your trailers and rinse with cold water. The results will put a skip back into your step

3. Descale your kettle, coffee machine, or iron

You’ll be surprised by how much limescale can be found here, but regular household descalers carry harmful toxins. Use our Multi-Purpose Descaler, thoroughly rinse your appliance, then stick that clean kettle on and make yourself a cuppa.

4.  Deep clean the fridge

Time to get rid of everything that’s been there longer than it should have. Clean the shelves with our Anti-Bacterial Sanitiser, and Seep’s Eco Cloth. Take the drawers out and wash them with our Eco Washing Up Liquid and Seep’s Eco Scourer Sponge. 

5. Polish your windows with our Glass & Stainless Steel Cleaner and Seep’s Eco Cloth.

6.Revive the patio

BBQ season is coming! Spray your patio with our Patio & Stone Cleaner, wait 15 minutes, then use water and a brush to reveal sparkling clean stone.

7. Clean your microwave

Scrub your microwave (inside and outside) with our Eco Washing Up Liquid and Seep’s Eco Cloth. 

8. Make kitchenware bright and shiny

Use our Metal Polish and Seep’s Eco Scourer Sponge to brighten up those pots and pans - just dab, scrub and dry!

B Corp month is finally here, but what does it mean to be a B Corp? The B Corporation is a global non-profit network to help alleviate poverty, preserve our ecosystem and develop communities worldwide. B Corp was founded by three friends in 2007 to make the world a better place and be a force for good. 15 years on… the B Corperation has grown, now boasting over 5000 businesses worldwide, all with three values in mind;

1. To be inclusive
2. To be equitable
3. Maintain a sustainable future

The B Corp certification isn't just a mark; it's a global movement of people going beyond business as usual to build a more sustainable future. Through a stringent verification process, companies with B corp status demonstrate the possibilities of thinking beyond profit and prove that there is a better way to do business. 

This month we are delighted to partner up with not one but two fellow B Corpers; Twig Pay and Cheeky Panda.

TWIG PAY

To encourage a more circular economy, we have partnered with Twig Pay to offer our customers the opportunity to pay using the value of their pre-owned items.  

By downloading the Twig Pay app you can upload your old clothes, books, and technology and receive instant cash in your Twig Pay wallet. Upon checking out on our website, you can now opt to pay via Twig Pay. This a great way to free up some space and ensure your old jumper doesn't end up in a landfill.

CHEEKY PANDA

Join us this month as we collaborate with Cheeky Panda. Cheeky Panda manufactures sustainable tissue products made from bamboo. Traditional toilet rolls wipe out 27,000 trees daily, causing substantial environmental damage, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and excess carbon production. Cheeky Panda offers traditional tissue products made from wasted bamboo, producing 65.5% fewer carbon emissions. The fellow B Corp uses surplus bamboo that would otherwise go to waste.

This month we are collaborating with Cheeky Panda to offer our customers the chance to win the Ultimate B Corp Bundle Giveaway, worth over £150!

Keep following our Instagram page from the 13th March to enter the competition. 

Delphis Eco is celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Day on Friday, the 17th of February. Random Acts of Kindness Day is simply about brightening someone's day by giving and being kind, and we want everyone to get involved. So whether your act of kindness is carried out for a friend, for someone less fortunate than yourself, or even for the planet, this Friday, let's make kindness the norm. On this day, we have got our Delphis team giving something back to the community and the environment with a mission to clear up the streets by litter picking at our base in Bermondsey.

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has been set up as an experiment for individuals to explore how a random act of kindness can impact their mood and well-being. The Foundation seeks to demonstrate how connecting with other people, wildlife and the environment can boost your mood and make kindness contagious. 

‘The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnesses the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to "pay it forward."’

 - Jamil Zaki.

Below are some suggested acts of kindness which anyone can do to participate in this week:

• Registering to become an organ donor 
• Donating blood
• Offering someone your seat on a busy train
• Asking to help a neighbour with their gardening 
• Buying food for a homeless person
• Volunteering to clean an older person's home
• Going litter picking
• Babysitting (for free!)

Whatever your chosen act might be, if it’s wholesome and genuine, it will put a smile on someone's face. Remember, to kickstart a positive chain of events takes just one small action, so make your kindness count this Friday.

Delphis Eco is on a mission to revolutionise the cleaning industry with their unique range of plant-based products. They are committed to minimising waste, pollution and natural resource depletion at every stage. Delphis Eco as a B Corp and Royal Warrant holder is also making a conscious effort to spread awareness about climate change and how if we all change our purchasing habits, we can make a difference. Delphis exists as part of a circular economy, so they aim to be 'green at every step", from manufacturing their products to their afterlife - which I truly admire. Back in October, I spent a few days doing work experience at Delphis, and I relished the opportunity to work with such a cool bunch of people who care as deeply about the planet as I do. 

So, for those reading this who don't know much about your career to date, can you share a little about your background? 

Hi, I am Mark, the CEO and founder of Delphis Eco, an eco-friendly, plant-based cleaning product company. I began my career working in the city as a banker, and I woke up one day and decided that I needed to make some changes. So, in 2007, I started up Delphis Eco, and we are now making waves in the sustainability space. 

Why did you decide to attend COP?

For all the backlash and boycotting that surrounded COP, I think it's essential to show up, be in the room and have conversations that need to be had. There were 35,000 people at COP - made up of founders of enterprises, delegates, government etc. COP is a very powerful convener for people who care deeply about our planet, and there is a space at COP for those 

voices to be heard.

What was your experience of Egypt hosting? 

They did a brilliant job, and I would be proud to be an Egyptian. The venue was a very different place at night as the delegates left and the locals flooded in. They came to absorb what was happening, hoping to educate themselves about the emergency. 

One of the distinct differences between the COPs was the levels of commitment to a shared goal and ambition. COP26 was a space for collaboration, progress and innovation, and that was so refreshing. Still, this time around, I left feeling frustrated by the finance sector as it felt like they were just reeling off excuses as to why they aren't investing in green innovation. 

How did COP26 compare to COP27?

Glasgow was amazing. I missed the conversations I had on the train ride to the venue. I will never forget helping a young activist with her grandmother paint their sign en route to COP. COP27 was branded as the action COP, and retrospectively there was undoubtedly a sense that people were committed to taking action. Every country has been hit by climate change in the last year. There are record temperatures, food insecurity, and war, and so everyone is scared and alerted to the threats that the climate emergency presents. 

What has been the most frustrating/ hard-hitting thing coming out of COP?

Climate change has a 30-year lag, and since then, we have had more carbon in the atmosphere than we have in the last 150 years - this is an emergency and should be treated as one. This is about climate resilience. But like I said, companies are fearful of being accused of greenwashing so they are failing to deploy real cash - especially following the reception Coca-Cola faced after they sponsored COP.

What were some of the most inspirational conversations you had at COP? 

At COP, I met the founders of Fortescue, the fourth-largest mining company in the world based in Australia. They are on track to become completely carbon-neutral by 2030 making them a trailblazer in the industry. They have also brought the battery company founded by Williams F1 in a bid to decarbonise their fleet of vehicles. As part of this project, they are supporting Williams in building their prototype battery that will hopefully power an electric train to cut the use of diesel and heavy mining practices. Better still, their senior leadership team is headed up by 25% of women, and their workforce is 15% aboriginal to ensure that everyone has a voice. 

Did you feel that youngsters got a seat at the table? 

Young people had more of a presence at COP26, but because it was in Glasgow, it was easier to get to, and flights to Egypt are more expensive. But I did feel that the young people at COP were so impressive, but they were not as included in the conversation as the adults, especially as they were shepherded into the Youth Pavilion. Their voices were not amplified, and they almost had to ask permission to express their ideas. The COP delegates should represent and be accountable to the populous, but that wasn't the case. The delegates are only there for the taxpayer's benefit, as ultimately, we, in our taxes, are paying for their salaries. 

What legal changes need to be implemented to make the transition into a greener future easier?

I fundamentally believe that if you are a CEO of a listed company, you must leave after ten years. If you are a non-executive director, you must go after six years -otherwise, you become a bed blocker. This would open up spaces for a younger, more diverse, innovative and efficient workforce. 

Do you feel optimistic about the future of the planet?

I know that the people on the streets have got this, and young people like you give me hope that we can solve this. 

The countdown to COP28 begins… 

Check out more of Ellie's blogs on sustainability on her website and Linkedin page.

This January, we have listed our top tips to make your new year more eco-friendly. By simply swapping some of your day-to-day habits and purchases, you will be well on your way to a planet conscious 2023.

It all starts at home.

When cleaning after the holidays, our products are the ones to choose to stop the nasty chemicals from getting into the environment, impacting your health and the health of aquatic life. But what a great way to go that one step further and switch your cleaning equipment to compostable alternatives, like Seep's ones. Seep offer a range of compostable gloves, sponges and even bine liners to help you keep on top of your eco-cleaning and ensure that no micro-plastics go out into the environment.

Planning a holiday?

This year choose a conscious stay away with the planet in mind. Room2 by The Lamington group is the world's first hometel brand moving to fully net zero. We are delighted to support their business in becoming more sustainable by providing them with our planet-friendly range of cleaning products!

Skin and Beauty

Switch your skin and beauty products to products with natural ingredients and recycled packaging like the ones offered by Grumm! They even provide a razor cartridge recycling scheme, taking care of the recycling for you. From purifying Facial cleansing bars to Beard Wash bars, they have all your necessities to leave you fresh this January without compromising. 

Dining out!

We know this month's focus is mainly on your health, so why not treat yourself to delicious and healthy food at the Apricity restaurant in London? Apricity is a sustainable restaurant offering a conscious dining experience from its menu to its dishes; they have the environment in mind. 

Giving back

With the cost of living at an all-time low this January, families around the country are struggling to eat. So this January, why not give back to charities like The Felix Project? The Felix Project is a charity that distributes surplus food to vulnerable people in the UK and is a great way to give back this January.

Need more inspiration for an eco-friendly 2023? Why not try the 'In Good Company' app? Wherever you are in the UK, this app finds you trusted and reviewed shops- from social enterprise coffee shops and sustainable restaurants to zero-waste shops and even eco hair salons. All your options at the click of a button! To download, please click here.

 Christmas… A time for families to come together, exchange gifts and eat to their heart's content. But what impact does our overindulgence and shopping habits have on the environment? During the holiday season our carbon footprint is 6% more than the rest of the year, so how can we make our Christmas a little bit greener? Every pound you spend this Christmas is a vote for the world you want to create, so here are Delphis Eco's top tips for a Christmas that doesn't cost the Earth.  

Should you go for the real tree or get the plastic one out of the loft? 

Every year there is a debate about whether people should ditch their real tree and go for a fake one. Or ditch the Christmas tree altogether. Research has found seven million trees are thrown out every year in the UK, releasing copious amounts of methane into the atmosphere. Artificial trees can be reused on average 7-20 times, which is better for the environment as it saves fresh trees from being chopped down and can save you money! 

But if you want to buy a real tree, know that the carbon footprint is lower than that of an artificial one. A popular alternative is opting for potted trees, which can be reused and replanted. Another option is replanting your Christmas tree in your garden or converting your old tree into beneficial woodchip mulch by putting it through a shredder which can reduce its carbon footprint by up to 80%. It's a win-win! 

Spread the Christmas magic 

At Christmas, we know the pressure is on to buy the perfect present for your nearest and dearest, but just under a half of us Brits admit that we have received gifts we don't or will never use. But the only good can come from buying gifts from small businesses, being mindful of sustainability and going for gifts with less packaging. 

According to Gov.uk we use enough card packaging (and material) at Christmas to cover Big Ben nearly 260,000 times. That is mind-boggling! Were you aware that to make 1 tonne of paper, around 24 trees must be cut down? So why not get creative by making e-cards to send your Christmas wishes by text if you want to give a great gift to the planet? 

The main event 

Christmas is the ultimate time to overindulge by eating our body weight in pigs in blankets or stuffing. But all that overindulgence means that around 270,000 tonnes of food are thrown away at Christmas every year. That's five million Christmas puddings, seventy-four million mince pies and two million turkeys, according to the Big Issue. And if that statistic doesn't make you want to spit out your eggnog, the government reckons that the number of poultry we throw away yearly is enough to make eight hundred million Boxing Day curries. Unbelievably, a herd of 636,000 reindeer weighs the same carrots thrown away by UK households annually.  

Fareshare is a charity network focused on reliving food poverty and food waste in the UK, was awarded 1.9 million pounds in 2019 from Defra. With the funding, Fareshare could redistribute even more food to those who need it. Their work also prevented 2,000 frozen turkeys from Gressingham Foods from going to waste in 2019, almost double the number redistributed the year before. So why not donate some of your leftovers to them? 

What actions are we taking to do our bit? 

Around 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging will be thrown away and not recycled in the UK this Christmas – which is more than the weight of 3.3 million Emperor penguins. One way to lower your contribution to the plastic plight is to buy products made of post-consumer recycled content. Ultimately you can only purchase the products available to you, and here at Delphis Eco, we offer refills on a range of our products so that you will be all kitted out for the festive season. 

 Here are our top ten Green Christmas tips: 

1. Use eco-friendly cleaning products that don't harm the planet but get the job done!
2. Donate your untouched food item to your local food bank  
3. Eat less meat - Christmas is the perfect opportunity to try something new 
4. Try out your local refill shop to dodge the unnecessary packaging at your supermarket 
5. Buy your food from suppliers that use minimal packaging 
6. Get all your food in one trip or order online if it's more convenient  
7. Buy loose fruit and veg to avoid unnecessary single-use plastic
8. Try and reduce your food waste by buying only what you need 
9. Invest in some reusable wax wraps and foil liners (foil is recyclable in most cases but check with your local authority)
10. Store your leftovers in the freezer

Written by Ellie Meredith

As COP27 ends, we reflect on the discussions surrounding the global climate change conference and what we can take away to tackle this global fight. The annual conference presents opportunities for all stakeholders, government leaders and activists to discuss strategies to reduce climate change. The international conference gives global leaders and shareholders the platform to discuss ways to minimise the effects of climate change and the potential impact it could have on the planet. 

COP27 highlighted a solution-focused approach to minimise global surface temperature. Unlike the most recent Climate Week held in New York, which emphasised the ongoing global climate issues.

Now climate change specialists are urging global leaders to develop strategies to mitigate the global warming effects on the planet. There is an emphasis on governments working with businesses to accomplish this. Connecting with countries globally to work together is paramount, and this needs to happen with everyone in the same room. 

Previous COPs emphasised businesses were moving together at the same pace, working together to deliver environmental change. However, with global temperatures reaching record-breaking highs, the race is on, and there has been a shift to urge companies and countries to act as fast as they can.

COP27 bought speculation concerning whether the COPs are the best way to direct positive action against climate change. One word that circled COP27 was ‘greenwashing’ (deceiving customers by falsely advertising natural, green and eco-friendly products). The growing demand for sustainable products in the market means that everyday brands are renaming, rebranding and repackaging products to keep up to date with customers’ needs, but without holding sustainable values at the core of the business. COP27 presented the opportunity to mitigate greenwashing and bring awareness to the issues at stake when deceiving consumers. The conference reminded us that we each have the responsibility to make conscious decisions, an integral part of our lives to make a significant change.

We at Delphis Eco are proud to have sustainability at the forefront of our business values, and as a certified B-corp, we make all business decisions with the planet in mind. 

Freshers week is the week Universities welcome their new students. The week when students move into their student housing and register for their upcoming courses. Whether you are a new student or you’re returning, this is a great time to make new friends, become a little more independent, and finally, fly the nest! Starting University is an exciting time, from deciding which University to attend, to what cleaning essentials to buy, going to university will give you a real sense of what ‘adulting’ is like.

As you navigate university life, budgeting will be an important part of your experience. But if you are environmentally conscious, you don't have to pay a fortune to do your bit.

Also, cleaning products should not only be eco-friendly but also powerful enough to prevent you and your housemates from catching Freshers Flu!

So if you are passionate about our planet, what will you be doing this freshers week? We have a few suggestions to help you make eco-friendly choices this semester.

Freshers Fayre

Passionate about the planet? Why not sign up for an environmental society and make your university more sustainable? Meet up regularly with like-minded people to see what you can do to help the planet, or find out what your university is already doing to become more sustainable.

Parties

Let’s not pretend that Freshers Week is just about signing up to societies; partying the night away is what student life is all about! So ditch the plastic cups for recycled paper cups, or better still, trust your friends with your new glassware and mugs! Party freely whilst reducing your plastics and carbon footprint.

Houseshare Cleaning

Whether it's clearing up after pre-drinks or after a messy house party, we have you covered with our Delphis Eco Student Bundle.

Our Student Bundle contains everything you need to keep your student housing clean this semester. 

These products have been selected to help you on your quest to become more independent whilst looking out for our planet. Our products are vegan-friendly, 100% recyclable, and environmentally positive without breaking the bank. 

Our new Student Bundle contains; 

• Anti-Bac Spray (700ml)
• Washing up Liquid (500ml)
• Hand Soap (350ml)
• Toilet cleaner (750ml)
• Bathroom Cleaner (700ml

Yes, that's right, all our products are free from phosphates and phosphonates, EDTAs, APEs, and VOCs, which are typically found in everyday cleaning products.

Make a positive start to this semester by choosing student-friendly cleaning products that have the planet in mind.

So hopefully by now, you’ve made a bunch of eco-friendly swaps. You’ve stopped buying plastic bottles and you’ve invested in a coffee keep cup. You’ve bought eco-cleaning sprays and have banned scrubs with microbeads from your home. You’ve even invested in some metal straws after seeing the video of that turtle with a plastic straw stuck up its nose. 

However, there is one simple swap you can make alongside all of these - the kitchen sponge. Those innocent sponges you use to keep your house looking in tip-top shape are, unfortunately, probably made of virgin plastic and can’t be recycled. While they are not single-use, they are limited-use and are regularly thrown away. They are just so cheap! 

On average, people in the UK change their sponges at least once every month, with some changing them after every use! Based on our quick maths, this roughly works out to around 600 million sponges being thrown away in the UK each year and that’s only from domestic use. So, imagine that being repeated across lots of different countries and in businesses too. That’s a whole lot of kitchen sponges! 

Are kitchen sponges plastic-free? 

The common sponge, found in the supermarket is made with polyurethane, a petroleum-based material. This means, along with releasing microplastics into the environment, those innocent-looking sponges are made from oil-based plastics too. Yuck! These types of sponges can’t be recycled, so throwing them away will pollute our oceans for years and years to come, ultimately making their way into our own food and water.

The ingredient list gets seemingly worse in that sponges that promise antibacterial benefits are usually treated with toxic chemicals like triclosan, a pesticide that’s been linked to cancer and skin irritation. This chemical is also toxic to most marine life and wreaks havoc on the environment. 

How do you find alternatives? 

Luckily, there are heaps of natural and plastic-free alternatives to sponges. Using materials like loofah, cellulose, and wood pulp, amongst others, means you can finally stop buying the nasty, plastic-filled ones we all know. 

But wait? What exactly IS loofah (sometimes referred to as luffa?). Contrary to popular belief, all-natural loofah is not made from sea sponge or dried coral. It is actually made from a cucumber-shaped plant found in tropical climates. 

Here at Seep, our natural cellulose kitchen sponge and scourer made from loofah fibers is: 

• 100% plastic-free and does not degrade into micro-plastics 
• 100% compostable and can be composted at home in a garden or kitchen composter. You can even chuck them into bokashi composters and wormeries.