Eatto - Blogs , Sustainability

SIMPLE WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE THIS EARTH DAY 2024!

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:40:07 +0000

As we mark Earth Day, we reflect on our planet’s health and the collective responsibility we share to protect it. Here at Eatto, we're committed to sustainability year-round, and we're excited to share four practical tips on how we can all contribute to a greener, more sustainable future together!

1. REUSE YOUR SHOPPING BAGS

Did you know that a single plastic bag can take hundred to thousands of years to decompose completely? Yes, you heard that right.

When you opt for a reusable shopping bag, you're not just making a smart choice – you're making a difference. Instead of adding to the pile of single-use plastic bags that end up in landfills or floating in our oceans, you're investing in a sustainable solution that reduces waste and conserves resources.

It's a simple switch that packs a powerful punch for the planet. So, why not bring your own bag to your next food shop and join the movement towards a cleaner, greener future. That’s unless you choose to opt for one of our delicious handmade meals delivered straight to your door!

2. CONSERVE YOUR ENERGY AT HOME

Looking to cut down on your energy usage at home? Why not try these easy tricks.

Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. LED bulbs, for example, use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and have a longer lifespan, making them a cost-effective choice.
Seal up any drafts around doors and windows in your home to prevent heat loss during the colder months and keep your home well-insulated year-round. With our unpredictable weather, this tip is sure to come in handy!
Get into the habit of unplugging electronics when they're not in use. By doing so, you can save energy and lower your utility bills. It doesn't get simpler than that!

3. PLAN YOUR MEALS

Planning meals not only helps streamline your week but also contributes to more sustainable choices. By mapping out your meals in advance, you can reduce food waste, minimise impulse purchases, and make more conscious decisions about the ingredients you use.

Our frozen handmade meals are the perfect solution for busy schedules and sustainable living. Here at Eatto, we’re passionate about being eco-friendly, from the ingredients in our meals to the packaging they come in, every aspect has been carefully considered to deliver excellence while minimising our environmental footprint. So why not try one of our meals and see what you think!

Click here to browse our menu!

4. RE-PURPOSE YOUR MORNING COFFEE

Ever thought of what you could do with your wasted coffee grounds? Look no further as we reveal to you some of our favourite tips and tricks when it comes to making the most out of your morning brew.

Use a small amount as fertiliser, simply sprinkle the coffee grounds onto the soil surrounding your plants.
Exfoliate your skin by adding water or coconut oil for a face or body scrub, or honey to exfoliate your lips!
Compost for later! Don't want to use it now, no problem. Leave the coffee grounds outside in a compost container.
Tenderise your meat by adding your favourite dry rub recipe and leave for 2 hours. This will result in a dark, crispy crust for your meat.
Neutralise odours by popping the coffee grounds in a bowl in the fridge, or alternatively use old material to make a hanging portable odour absorber. Get as creative as you like!

Curious about our sustainable practices here at Eatto? Dive deeper into our commitment to sustainable living by exploring more of our blog content.

Click here to discover how we're making a difference, one sustainable choice at a time, and remember make everyday Earth Day!

THE EATTO TREE

Wed, 18 May 2022 08:00:56 +0000

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EATTO! Last month Eatto celebrated 2 YEARS in business all thanks to you, our amazing customers, and our wonderful staff. Never could we have imagined coming this far in just two short years, the time has absolutely flown by and we are so grateful to each and every one of our customers and followers for your continued support. To celebrate in a true Eatto style we have planted our own Eatto Tree and a Giant Redwood no less!

With sustainability being at the heart of Eatto, we're giving back to our planet each year by helping to plant trees across the country. Last year we helped Crann Trees Easy Treesie Project planting one million trees with Ireland's one million school children, who have to date, planted 320,029 trees.

This year we have teamed up with Giant's Grove to plant Eatto's very own tree, a Giant Redwood. Giants Grove aims to return to Ireland a Giant Redwood Forest once native to Ireland by creating a grove of over 1000 redwoods at Birr Castle, Co. Offaly, Ireland. The world’s most massive trees which can reach heights of up to 95 metres and have a lifespan of up to 3,500 years were until about one million years ago widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe & Ireland.

We can't wait to watch our beautiful Eatto Tree, grow just as we hope Eatto will continue to do too!

LESS WASTE, MORE TASTE: OUR JOURNEY WITH SUSTAINABILITY

Wed, 12 May 2021 09:00:51 +0000

Besides our passion for bringing you the freshest frozen food (see what I did there?), one thing Eatto is especially dedicated to is sustainability. We want to do our part in preserving the environment for future generations to come.

“People must feel that the natural world is important and valuable and beautiful and wonderful and an amazement and a pleasure.” - David Attenborough

At Eatto, we understand how precious the environment around us is. We are actively looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and have worked hard for our accreditation with Bord Bia’s Origin Green status.

ORIGIN GREEN STATUS

Origin Green, Ireland’s pioneering food and drinks sustainability programme, is a nationwide initiative which enables the industry to set and accomplish measurable sustainability with an important focus on the community and the contribution to sustainable livelihoods.

At Eatto, 75% of our suppliers are certified Origin green. Of the 25% who are not 12.5% are certified organic and the other 12.5% have sustainable practices in place.

EATTO'S JOURNEY WITH SUSTAINABILITY

All of our packaging is either fully recyclable or compostable. Just follow our handy instructions and you’re on your way to a plastic-free paradise!

All of our compostable waste is collected by Thornton's who bring it to a facility in Co. Meath where they add enzymes and heat to quickly turn it into fertile compost, which is then used in agriculture or landscaping businesses across the country!

We use a specially engineered Woolcool lining (natural and compostable) to keep your food frozen on its way to you. This along with our ice packs can be returned to our delivery driver so that we can recycle them for you.

Ever wanted to grow your own forest? We could help you do just that!" We love green here at Eatto, and not just on our plates, so we plant a tree for every 10 linings and ice packs that are returned to us for recycling.

Our mission here at Eatto is to make life easier by putting high-quality nutritious meals on every table - and to do good for the earth while we’re at it. We know that convenience is all too often synonymous with wastefulness — and that's a compromise we've never been willing to make.

As always, we're working on creating new dishes and sharing our passion for delicious, healthy food with you – all while sticking to our sustainable promise.

HOW TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY THIS EARTH DAY

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 08:00:48 +0000

What is World Earth Day? Celebrated every year on the 22 ^nd of April since 1970, it is an environmental movement that aims to create awareness around the damaging human behaviour causing detrimental harm to our planet. As the effects of climate change become more apparent every day this is one movement that is very close to our hearts here at Eatto.

We are dedicated to making the world a greener place and where better to start than with our children, the planet's future. With a minimum of one-third of veggies in our kids’ meals, fully compostable or recyclable packaging and a promise to support local where possible, sustainability is a huge part of our ethos. We love green here at Eatto, so we plant a tree for every 10 linings and ice packs that are returned to us for recycling. With a mission to take the passion for all things green forward, we want to help with teaching children to love living green too.

This World Earth Day let’s join hands to help our children cultivate environmental stewardship while celebrating the planet at the same time. Check out these Earth Day ideas to incorporate “green” living into your child’s daily routine:

BECOME A WASTE WARRIOR!

It’s so important to teach children how to manage waste properly. A terrific way to start is to learn how to limit waste by recycling or repurposing, wherever possible. Knowing what’s compostable or recyclable, learning how to repurpose and reuse waste instead of throwing it away and minimising general waste are the building blocks of a greener future.

Did you know all our packaging is either fully recyclable or compostable? Check out these printable word searches from KWD Kid’s recycling in Co. Kerry which will help with teaching kids all the important recycling terms.

SKIP THE CAR

Riding a bike or walking, wherever possible, is a great alternative to taking the car. Making regular bike trips with kids to nearby places is great for overall health and a chance for some fun family time with the bonus of saving some fuel! Biking helps to boost your positive mental attitude and can also help to relieve stress. With days getting longer and warmer weather on the way it’s the perfect time to make the most of it.

SPEND PIGGY BANKS LOCALLY

Shopping from locally owned businesses is not only a fantastic way to support the local community but is also beneficial to the environment in a variety of ways. Educating and creating awareness among children about supporting businesses in their neighbourhoods can foster an appreciation for sustainability early on. You might consider taking them to local farmer markets or even pick your own farms and orchards to see exactly where their food is coming from. Here’s a handy list of pick your own farms throughout Ireland.

At Eatto, we love local and do everything we can to support it. We are proud to champion Irish produce wherever possible, all our chicken, beef and pork are Irish. We also work with a range of artisan suppliers across the country!

HOW ABOUT A HIKE?

What better way to foster a love of the environment than spending time in the great outdoors, especially now that restrictions are gradually lifting and allowing us to travel within our county. Going on a hike with kids is the perfect way to encourage appreciation of the wonderful nature around us. Check out Roz Purcell's page dedicated to hiking for some inspiration, if you’re lucky enough to live nearby!

HIT THE LIGHTS!

Does that lamp really need to be on while the sun is out? Teaching kids to be mindful of energy consumption will save a few pennies and also help them understand the importance of not being wasteful. Explaining the concept of where energy comes from, like the energy generated by windmills and solar panels can be a fascinating subject for kids. Hereare some fun renewable energy lessons for your kids to try!

RECYCLABLE ART

One person’s trash, another person’s treasure!

Who doesn’t love a fun DIY project? And even better when it means you can repurpose waste materials to create it! Recreate, a fantastic Dublin social enterprise and registered charity, who collect surplus and unwanted materials from local and national businesses and supply them as Arts and Crafts materials and Educational Play resources for Creative Groups working with children, have some fantastic online activity videos you can check out here. You’d be surprised at all the things you can make with bits and pieces around the house!

We have a special surprise for you. This Earth Day celebrating with the little ones will be sustainable and full of fun surprises! In conjunction with our recent Eatto for Kids????launch, we have an exciting GIVEAWAY coming up with Jiminy, an Irish based eco toy company. All the updates will be posted on our social media, so stay tuned to learn all about it!

BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO GROWING YOUR OWN FRUIT AND VEGGIES

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 09:00:31 +0000

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a fantastic skill to have. Not only that, but it can have an amazing effect on your wellbeing. Here’s everything you need to get started!

There’s lots of research to suggest that gardening is a wonderful outlet for the mind and body. A daily escapism from stress, gardening encourages us to take a step back and appreciate the world around us. It also helps to create a sense of achievement and the tangible results that come with gardening do wonders for our wellbeing. And, with the year we’ve just had we’ll take all the calm and comfort we can get!

So, where to start?

GROW THE FOODS YOU LOVE

The best foods to grow are the ones you enjoy eating! Make a list of the foods you would love to have at your fingertips. Add to this some kitchen staples or foods you eat often such as potatoes or herbs and you’re off to a bloomin’ great start!

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Next, it’s time to think about where to grow your crops. We’d all love to be sunning ourselves somewhere right now and plants are no different, they also like soaking up the sun, albeit some more than others. Each plant is unique, but it’s safe to say they will certainly need a good amount of light. It’s also worth noting that you don’t need a huge amount of space to start growing. Many fruit and vegetables can be grown in pots, planters, buckets or bags. We would recommend beginning with growing in small pots, containers, or small raised beds. If growing outside, avoid areas of high traffic and make sure there is a good water source nearby or lugging that water halfway down the garden will become tiresome pretty quickly.

THE SECRET IS IN THE SOIL

Nutrient rich soil, free from pests and disease is a gardener’s best friend. If going with our recommendation of starting in smaller containers, it’s important to remember vegetables grown this way need extra water. They are also better grown in a compost mix as the soil might dry out too quickly. Larger pots and planters should be filled with a soil and compost mix (about 60/40). It’s also best to use organic plant food and ideally no pesticides. You can use crushed eggshells, crustacean shells, banana peels and so much more “waste” to increase the nutrient values in your soil. Using the correct soil to compost ratio for your specific plant plus some great plant feed will have you well on your way to your garden of dreams!

RAISED BEDS TO KEEP PLANTS COSY

Raised beds are also another great alternative to containers for those with additional space but who are still new to the growing process. They are easier to look after than plants growing directly in the ground. They provide better drainage (perfect for the gloriously wet Irish weather we all know and love.. ahem). Ultimately, they help keep your precious plants away from foot traffic and pets and are an easy height to work at.

HOMEMADE COMPOST- LESS WASTE MORE TASTE

If you have the space, then starting your own compost heap is a fantastic addition to your growing adventure. You’d be surprised at just how much of our daily waste can be repurposed to make your compost heap. Vegetable peelings, grass cuttings, weeds (especially nettles), old banana skins, apple cores, seaweed, coffee grinds, dead flowers, cardboard, straw, paper towels, toilet roll tubes, woody prunings, fallen leaves, shredded newspaper, spent potting compost, egg shells to name but a few! Composting can be done in a simple compost heap or in a compost bin. The bin is more effective as it retains heat and speeds up the process. An earth base allows drainage and access to soil organisms, but if you need to compost on a hard surface, then add a spaceful of soil to the compost bin. The micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi) that convert the waste to compost work best in constant conditions so position the bin in the shade and ensure it is not subject to any extreme moisture.

LET'S GET GROWING!

Although you can prepare beds at any time of the year, deep digging is best done now before the end of winter. This will allow the disturbed ground to settle before planting. You can start by de-weeding your planting area.

For raised beds

Fill the bed with high quality topsoil to about 3 inches for the top.
Remove twigs and stones.
Add 2 inches of compost on top of the soil.
Rack the top of the bed to smooth it out.

For Garden Beds

Ensure you choose a relatively sunny area with some protection such as a hedge or wall.
Remove existing vegetation like grass and weeds and cover the area in newspaper (4 of 5 sheets) or cardboard.
It’s important to then assess your soil. You should be able to squeeze your soil into a ball and then crumble it easily. Soil with too much clay will not crumble, and a soil with too much sand will not squeeze into a ball. Adjust your soil if necessary by adding a few inches of beneficial compost to your new vegetable garden.
Next, turn your soil; use a spade/shovel, or garden fork to turn the soil over. A spade or shovel may be the best to use for a very new and firm bed. Do this when it is damp but not waterlogged. Turn about 12 inches of soil and then top the area with 2-3 inches of compost (preferably organic) and turn once more. Rack the surface smooth.

For Containers

Ensure you have pots or containers and vegetable potting soil (preferably organic).

SOWING YOUR SEEDS

The general rule is to sow seeds twice the depth of the size of the seed itself, but always check the label on the seeds themselves. Seeds need light and water to germinate effectively so you need to keep it somewhere nice and sunny and warm. Use the right amount of water. You want to keep it moist at all times but not overwater it. Using a spray bottle or wide head watering can and not a heavy water stream. A sunny windowsill is a perfectly controlled environment for germination as it protects from pest and weather. A greenhouse can also be ideal but do check for pests regularly.

Hopefully we have helped start you on your growing journey. Keep an eye on our Sowing, Growing and Harvesting Calendar on our socialeach month for lots of tips and tricks on how to grow, sow and harvest a variety of fruit and vegetables. We would love to see your beautiful produce, tag us with #GROWWITHEATTO on any of the images you share!