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Plastic Free July is a waste of time if the onus is only on consumers

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bhavna-middha-1061611">Bhavna Middha</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralph-horne-160543">Ralph Horne</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p>Every year, the <a href="https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/">Plastic Free July</a> campaign asks us to refuse single-use plastic. The idea is that making a small change in our daily lives will collectively make a big difference. And hopefully, better behaviour will stick and become a habit.</p> <p>The intent is good, but consumers shouldn’t have to bear full responsibility for plastic pollution. Individual sacrifices – particularly temporary ones – <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421509004728">won’t make a significant difference</a>.</p> <p>Governments, manufacturers and retailers need to get serious about tackling this problem. If Plastic Free July put pressure on the supply side of the equation, rather than demand, it could be more successful.</p> <p>Our research spans food packaging including plastics, waste, sustainable consumption and social practices. We know consumer demand is only one part of the picture. Eliminating plastic waste requires broader systemic changes.</p> <h2>The cabbage dilemma</h2> <p>Research shows consumers generally want to do the <a href="https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/news/news-articles/the-conversation-on-sustainability-has-changed">right thing by the environment</a> but find it <a href="https://theconversation.com/households-find-low-waste-living-challenging-heres-what-needs-to-change-197022">challenging</a>.</p> <p>Coming out of a supermarket with no packaging is difficult. There are few unpackaged food items and even when there is a choice, the unpackaged item may be more <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/want-your-fruit-and-veg-without-the-plastic-you-ll-have-to-pay-more-20231107-p5eib4.html">expensive</a>.</p> <p>Have you ever been stuck in the supermarket, choosing between the large head of cabbage you know you won’t finish before it goes bad, or the plastic-wrapped half-cabbage you really need?</p> <p>Consumers should not be forced to choose between food waste (another huge problem) or plastic waste. Maybe there’s another way. For example, why not sell cabbages of different sizes? Why do we need to grow such large heads of cabbage anyway?</p> <p>Both plastic consumption and food waste can be addressed by changing how we produce and distribute certain foods.</p> <h2>Governments, manufacturers and retailers must drive change</h2> <p>The onus for reducing plastic consumption and waste should be placed firmly on those who make plastic and profit from selling their products, as well as those who make and sell products wrapped in plastic packaging.</p> <p>Research has shown just <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/News/2024/April/Global-study-finds-more-than-half-of-branded-plastic-pollution-linked-to-56-companies?utm_source=pocket_shared">56 companies</a> globally are responsible for more than half of the branded plastic pollution that ends up in the environment.</p> <p>Companies profit from using plastics because it is cheaper to use than changing to alternatives, such as cardboard or compostable materials, or using less packaging. This means companies choosing to avoid using plastics face unfair competition.</p> <p>It’s a tough habit to kick. Industry-led <a href="https://productstewardship.us/what-is-epr/#:%7E:text=Stewardship%20can%20be%20either%20voluntary,product%20stewardship%20required%20by%20law">voluntary schemes</a> are <a href="https://www.insidewaste.com.au/91038-2-product-stewardship-schemes/">limited in terms of both participation and outcomes</a>. Many companies are failing to meet their own <a href="https://www.asyousow.org/report-page/2024-plastic-promises-scorecard">plastic reduction goals</a>.</p> <p>Governments need to step in and force companies to take responsibility for the plastic and packaging they manufacture. In practice, this could involve similar schemes to the container deposit scheme for beverage containers, or returning plastics to stores.</p> <p>Replacing voluntary schemes with mandatory regulations and increased producer responsibility means companies will have to <a href="https://www.insidewaste.com.au/91038-2-product-stewardship-schemes/">invest in long-term changes designed with care</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UnXVU-06ciI?wmode=transparent&amp;start=1" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">What’s Plastic Free July?</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Cities are built around plastic</h2> <p>Our previous research has shown plastic performs an essential role in some, <a href="https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geoj.12457">constrained circumstances</a>. We found vulnerable householders often rely on plastic to make life manageable, such as using plastics to cover belongings on the balcony, or using plastic cutlery and plates in student apartments with minimal kitchen space. This includes people with accessibility needs, people relying on public transport to shop for groceries, or people who are financially constrained or living in small high-rise <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-cant-keep-putting-apartment-residents-waste-in-the-too-hard-basket-200545">apartments</a>.</p> <p>Unsustainable lifestyles are not so much a choice as a product of poorly planned cities, housing and regulations. It is all very well if you are mobile and well-located, but if you live in a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-08/food-deserts-have-serious-consequences-for-residents-experts/6605230">poorly serviced</a> distant suburb and <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/01/are-you-living-in-a-food-desert--these-maps-suggest-it-can-reall">transport groceries or takeaway food</a> or buy things on the go, then plastic is perhaps the only current affordable way to make it work.</p> <p>So campaigns and solutions that do not consider how <a href="https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geoj.12457">everyday lives and economy</a> are intertwined with plastics can <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42949-024-00149-w">exclude people and spaces</a> who can’t access the alternatives.</p> <p>For example, there are ways to make <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-5871.12464">convenience eating more sustainable</a> in education settings. We have shown how <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-5871.12390">canteens and microwaves</a> in shared spaces can enable people to access affordable food with their friends, as in <a href="https://www.charlesabroad.cz/post/german-university-canteens-why-do-they-beat-the-czech-ones">University Mensa in Germany</a>.</p> <p>Our <a href="https://cur.org.au/project/tackling-food-related-single-use-plastics-in-diverse-consumption-contexts/">new research</a> will explore how single-use food-related plastics and packaging form an integral part of our daily lives, including shopping, work, cooking and storage.</p> <p>Sometimes new policies inadvertently disadvantage certain groups and communities, such as the aged, less mobile, people living in apartments, or low socio-economic groups. Before we roll out new policies and regulations, we need to understand the roles these materials play and the kinds of services and value they provide.</p> <p>We aim to develop a framework to inform policies and strategies that enable a just and inclusive transition to reduced plastic use.</p> <h2>What about after July?</h2> <p>Plastic Free July and similar campaigns are based on idea that making a temporary change will lead to more permanent lifestyle changes. But research shows temporary shifts are <a href="http://www.demand.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DEMAND2016_Full_paper_42-Shove.pdf">very different</a> to <a href="https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/32468813/FULL_TEXT.PDF">structural, permanent shifts</a> in <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315816494-1/introduction-social-practices-intervention-sustainability-beyond-behaviour-change-yolande-strengers-cecily-maller?context=ubx&amp;refId=d608abad-39f9-4bb2-8754-56e9e2000c5e">practices</a>.</p> <p>Supermarkets will still wrap items in plastic and sell single-use plastic, even if we try to buy less during Plastic Free July.</p> <p>Ultimately, the focus should be on designing effective infrastructure and policy solutions for lasting results, considering how demand for plastic is produced in the first place.</p> <p>Some of these changes will require a shift in community expectations and food culture.</p> <p>Rather than pointing the finger at consumers, let’s get to work on redesigning our cities. We need to rethink how everyday practices, manufacturing and distribution systems are structured to eliminate plastic waste.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/233436/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bhavna-middha-1061611">Bhavna Middha</a>, ARC DECRA and Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralph-horne-160543">Ralph Horne</a>, Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research &amp; Innovation, College of Design &amp; Social Context, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/plastic-free-july-is-a-waste-of-time-if-the-onus-is-only-on-consumers-233436">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Home & Garden

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"Flower grannies" at their grandkids' wedding go viral

<p>Two grandmothers have stolen the show at their grandkids' wedding as they walked down the aisle as flower girls. </p> <p>The heartwarming moment was captured by wedding photographer Joshua Hugget, who was taking photos at the picturesque wedding in South Australia. </p> <p>The video shows the two grandmothers arm-in-arm, dropping flower petals down the aisle in lieu of the standard young flower girls. </p> <p>The bride, Michaela Treloar, shared with the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-03/grandmothers-who-were-flower-girls-become-viral-sensation/103519006?sf271999625=1&fbclid=IwAR21H0d9_RfQkyBfP6SuyI1L_3KN8a4CdTXqqmx8tEfN8SyIp3FXY_ryqbg_aem_AZyZ59VDrmi0hZ-kcRd9Yncw5hZywZzo313-pUSnNYZJ-K_2Z4fXcOVlFcvX0Gn-E40">ABC</a></em> how she and her partner both “wanted to include our grandmothers into our wedding somehow”, which resulted in the adorable moment.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3hCIP9PgsG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3hCIP9PgsG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Joshua Huggett Media (@joshuahuggettmedia)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“They took it on with pride, smashed it, and now they’ve gone viral,” exclaimed Treloar.</p> <p>“It was really cute … each nonna was helping each other get to the end of the aisle, chatting all the way.”</p> <p>The photographer who captured the moment shared that he believes something about the video is relatable to everyone in some way, and that is the secret to its success.</p> <p>“It hits that heart string straight away … it’s the perfect concoction of people saying they want to do that with their grandma, teamed with people saying they wish they could do that with their grandma now that they’d passed,” Joshua shared.</p> <p>The flower grannies shining moment has been viewed millions of times, with many leaving comments praising the married couple for including their grandmothers in their big day. </p> <p>“I have goosebumps head to toe! The smiles on the grannies’ faces …. Priceless!!!!!!!” One user commented. </p> <p>“Hope this trend catches on, it’s truly beautiful!”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram - Joshua Hugget Media</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Flower tycoon pays $76 million in CASH for epic mansion

<p>A Sydney businessman and flower mogul has expanded his real estate portfolio, snapping up one of NSW's most prestigious properties. </p> <p>Leo Lynch and his wife Christina have bought a Federation mansion in Sydney's Bellevue Hill, with the eight-bedroom eight-bathroom property boasting impressive views of Sydney Harbour. </p> <p>The mansion, which was built in the 1890s, also showcases a pool, tennis court, and endless luxury amenities for the well-off buyers. </p> <p>"Designed by architect Walter Vernon," read the listing for the property, "the home is considered his most significant residence. Other heritage buildings designed by Vernon include the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Central Railway Station. A truly rare offering to earn a piece of Australian history."</p> <p>While securing the house seems like a huge feat in itself, the Lynch's decided to take the purchase to the next level, buying the home for $76 million in cold hard cash. </p> <p>Despite paying the whopping eight-figure for the mansion, the home needs work and is set to undergo renovations. </p> <p>The purchase of the property, named Leura, comes just after the Lynch's sold their former home for $52.4million more than he bought it.</p> <p>The same night he made the enormous purchase for the Leura estate, he sold his mystery home, just blocks away, for $61.5 million after rebuilding the property he had bought for just $9.05 million in 2014.</p> <p>Leo Lynch, 60, is a third generation of the wholesale flower family's company, founded in 1915 and for which private equity group Next Capital took a majority interest in 2015, before it was publicly listed in 2021.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Domain</em></p>

Real Estate

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Former beauty queen dies after cosmetic surgery

<p>Former beauty queen Jaquelin Carrieri, 48, has sadly passed away following complications from cosmetic surgery. </p> <p>The mother-of-two from Argentina suffered a blood clot and passed away at an unnamed clinic in Los Angeles, California on Sunday October 1st. </p> <p>A post on her Instagram page confirmed the tragic news. </p> <p>"We want to inform our followers today of some sad news," the post began. </p> <p>"Jaquelin Carrieri, who was Queen of Punta del Agua District and Deputy Queen of San Rafael Department in 1996, has passed away.</p> <p>"From Reinas de San Rafael, we want to extend our condolences to her family and friends during this difficult time." </p> <p>According to another statement posted on Facebook the following day, Carrieri passed away from a "stroke" caused by cosmetic surgery.</p> <p>"Jaquelin Carrieri has passed away," the statement began.</p> <p>"She was a woman of great talent, an actress in one of our department’s plays that was being performed at the Roma Theatre until just a few days ago.</p> <p>"Jaquelin also owned a high-end fashion store called Jaquelin Carrieri Boutique, which unfortunately had to close its doors during the pandemic.</p> <p>"She was well known for dressing the San Rafael pageant queens for many years, making their dresses shine during the Vía Blanca and Carrusel Vendimial parades.</p> <p>"In her youth, she was also Deputy Queen of the San Rafael en Vendimia festival.</p> <p>"She passed away in Los Angeles, California, due to a stroke that may have been caused by cosmetic surgery". </p> <p>Carrieri was just days away from celebrating her 49th birthday, and grieving friends have taken to social media to share their heartache. </p> <p>"Dear Jaqui yesterday I sent you a message for your birthday and I was surprised you didn't answer. Today on TV I heard this terrible news. I will always love you and I'm broken. Lots of light and love to you," one friend said. </p> <p>"All of us who had the pleasure of knowing you and sharing moments of our lives with you know what a wonderful person you were, a beautiful woman in every sense, always with your smile and your glamour," her close friend Jorgelina Olivera said. </p> <p>"Honestly your departure has taken me by surprise and I still can’t believe it.</p> <p>"Thank you, a thousand thanks for coming into my life and painting it with so much joy and happiness.</p> <p>"It was a pleasure to share moments with you, and I will be eternally grateful.</p> <p>"May God welcome you into His glory. It’s not a goodbye but a see you soon, my beautiful and dear Jaquelin".</p> <p>Carrieri leaves behind a son, Julian and daughter, Chloe. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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In a Barbie world … after the movie frenzy fades, how do we avoid tonnes of Barbie dolls going to landfill?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alan-pears-52">Alan Pears</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p>It made headlines around the world when the much-hyped Barbie movie contributed to a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/05/barbie-film-required-so-much-pink-paint-it-contributed-to-worldwide-shortage">world shortage</a> of fluorescent pink paint.</p> <p>But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. When movies or TV shows become cultural phenomena, toymakers jump on board. And that comes with a surprisingly large amount of plastic waste. Think of the fad for <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51554386">Baby Yoda dolls</a> after the first season of The Mandalorian in 2020. When the Barbie movie comes out this week, it’s bound to trigger a wave of doll purchases over and above the <a href="https://environment-review.yale.edu/most-materials-are-recyclable-so-why-cant-childrens-toys-be-sustainable">60 million Barbies</a> already sold annually.</p> <p>Toys are the most plastic-intensive consumer goods in the world, <a href="https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/25302/Valuing_Plastic_ES.pdf">according to</a> a 2014 United Nations Environment Program report.</p> <p>Worse, very few toys are recycled. That’s often because they can’t be – they’re made of a complex mixture of plastics, metals and electronics. When children get bored, these toys often end up in landfill.</p> <h2>The toll of the dolls</h2> <p>Consider a single Barbie doll. What did it cost to create?</p> <p>Before the US-China trade war, <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/The-Big-Story/China-s-toy-making-capital-scrambles-to-reinvent-itself">half the world’s toys</a> were manufactured in Dongguan, a city in China. That included one in three Barbie dolls.</p> <p>American researchers <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352550922000550">last year quantified</a> what each doll costs the climate. Every 182 gram doll caused about 660 grams of carbon emissions, including plastic production, manufacture and transport.</p> <p>The researchers analysed seven other types of toys, including Lego sets and Jenga. By my calculations, emissions on average across all these types of toys are about 4.5 kilograms per kilogram of toys.</p> <p>Scaled up, this is considerable. In the US, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/21/plastics-greenhouse-gas-emissions-climate-crisis">it’s estimated</a> emissions from the plastics industry will overtake those from coal within seven years.</p> <p>So the question is, how can we cut our emissions to zero as fast as possible to ensure we and our children have a liveable climate – without putting a blanket ban on plastic toys? After all, toys and entertainment add happiness to our lives.</p> <h2>The role for toymakers and governments</h2> <p>To date, there has been little focus on making the toy industry more sustainable. But it shouldn’t escape our notice.</p> <p>Toy manufacturers can – and should – use low carbon materials and supply chains, and focus on making toys easily dissembled. Toys should be as light as possible, to minimise transport emissions. And battery-powered toys should be avoided wherever possible, as they <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352550922000550">can double</a> a toy’s climate impact and turn a plastic waste problem into an electronic waste problem. To their credit, some toymakers <a href="https://time.com/6126981/my-kids-want-plastic-toys-i-want-to-go-green-heres-a-fix/">have cut back</a> on plastic in their packaging, given packaging immediately becomes waste.</p> <p>In a welcome move, the maker of Barbie, Mattel, launched their own recycling scheme in 2021, allowing buyers to send back old toys to be turned into new ones. This scheme isn’t available in Australia, however.</p> <p>Toymakers can help at the design stage by choosing the materials they use carefully. Governments can encourage this by penalising cheap, high-environmental-impact plastics. We can look to the <a href="https://www.clientearth.org/latest/press-office/press-list/eu-court-delivers-final-blow-to-plastics-industry-on-bpa/">European</a> and American bans on BPA-containing plastics in infant milk bottles as an example of what’s possible. Governments can set up effective recovery and recycling systems able to handle toys.</p> <p>Some plastic-dependent brands such as Lego are unilaterally moving away from petrochemical-based plastic in favour of sugarcane-based plastic. But it’s not a <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/lego-sustainable-bricks/">short-term project</a>.</p> <p>While Barbie dolls had an <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-24/barbie-s-pandemic-sales-boom-followed-yearslong-revamp-at-mattel">uptick in popularity</a> during the pandemic years – and will no doubt have another surge alongside the movie – longer-term trends are dampening plastic toy impact. While movies in the 1980s were often “<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/toyetic?s=t">toyetic</a>” – conceived with an eye to toy sales – the trend is on the wane.</p> <p>Gaming, for instance, has moved to centre stage for many older children. While gaming produces e-waste streams, it is also a likely cause of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/apr/05/lights-camera-but-no-action-figures-are-movie-toys-going-out-of-fashion">longer-term fall</a> in popularity of plastic toys.</p> <h2>What should we do?</h2> <p>If you’re a parent or an indulgent grandparent, it’s hard to avoid buying toys entirely – especially if your child gets obsessed with Barbie dolls after seeing the movie. So what should you do?</p> <p>For starters, we can avoid cheap and nasty toys which are likely to break very quickly. Instead, look for toys which will last – and which will lend themselves to longer-term creative play. Think of the enduring popularity of brick-based toys or magnetic tiles. Look for secondhand toys. And look for toys made of simpler materials able to be recycled at the end of their lives – or even for the Barbie dolls made out of <a href="https://www.today.com/shop/mattel-barbie-doll-recycled-plastic-t221461">ocean plastics</a>. <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/209601/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alan-pears-52">Alan Pears</a>, Senior Industry Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-a-barbie-world-after-the-movie-frenzy-fades-how-do-we-avoid-tonnes-of-barbie-dolls-going-to-landfill-209601">original article</a>.</em></p>

Movies

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Flex your sustainability skills this Plastic Free July

<p dir="ltr">It’s no secret that single-use plastics are often a huge part of our lives, with grocery items and household essentials often relying on plastic for their packaging. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, if you look a little further, you’ll find that there are sustainable options out there to help curb your plastic consumption. </p> <p dir="ltr">The annual global initiative of <a href="https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/">Plastic Free July</a> is once again taking place, with over 190 countries determined to be a part of the plastic pollution solution. </p> <p dir="ltr">Plastic Free July is a great opportunity to discover more sustainable options in day to life, while also helping to save valuable dollars during the ongoing cost of living crisis. </p> <p dir="ltr">In collaboration with this international movement, <a href="https://www.brita.com.au/">BRITA</a> have shared ten valuable tips to help reduce individual plastic waste contribution in everyday life. </p> <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Make the switch to a filtered water jug and reusable bottle instead of drinking single-use bottles of water at home or at the office.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Instead of plastic food wraps, choose alternatives such as beeswax wraps or reusable containers.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Try a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Skip the plastic straw or buy stainless steel straws to reduce dangerous plastic waste caused by used straws. Think of the turtles!</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Try out powdered laundry detergent that comes in a box instead of laundry liquid in plastic bottles.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Swap plastic bin liners for newspaper or certified compostable ones instead.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Avoiding pre-packaged foods by choosing bulk or loose food. Or, better yet, take in your own jars. </p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use soap bars instead of liquid soap in plastic containers.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use your own cutlery when ordering takeaway food, instead of relying on plastic ones.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Always consider the three R’s for a better planet – reduce, reuse, recycle!</p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Home & Garden

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8 mind-boggling facts about your favourite flowers and plants

<p>We’ve found some fun, quirky and downright mind-boggling facts about our favourite flowers and plants.</p> <p>1. A sunflower is not just one flower. Each head is composed of hundreds of tiny flowers, called florets, held together on a single seed. This is the case for all plants in the sunflower family, including daises.</p> <p>2. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, raspberries, strawberries and more are actually in the rose family, making them cousins to the long-stemmed flower of love.</p> <p>3. During the 1600s, tulips were so valuable in Holland that their bulbs were worth more than gold. No wonder the Netherlands is known for their tulips!</p> <p>4. Bamboo is the fasted-growing woody plant in the world. The current Guinness World Record title is held by a certain species of the 45 genera of bamboo, which have been found to grow at up to 91 cm per day or at a rate of 0.00003 km/h.</p> <p>5. Strawberries are the only fruit that bears its seeds on the outside. It has on average 200 seeds.</p> <p>6. The oldest known flower was discovered in 2002, in northeast China. The flower, named archaefructus sinensis, bloomed around 125 million years ago and resembles a water lily.</p> <p>7. The titan arum is the world’s largest flower. The circumference of the flower can be over three metres and a single leaf can grow to the size of a small tree. However, it smells horribly like rotten flesh, earning its nickname of corpse flower.</p> <p>8. You can change the colour of your hydrangeas by altering the pH level of the soil. Alkaline soil will create pinker blooms, while a more acidic soil will produce blue blooms.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="../lifestyle/gardening/2015/05/gardening-and-soil-ph/">What you need to know about your soil’s pH levels</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="../lifestyle/gardening/2015/05/over60-community-gardens-part-4/">Take a look inside the beautiful gardens of the Over60 community</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="../lifestyle/gardening/2015/06/attracting-birds-to-the-garden/">Top tips for attracting birds to the garden</a></strong></em></span></p>

Home & Garden

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3 little-known reasons why plastic recycling could actually make things worse

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pascal-scherrer-230971">Pascal Scherrer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a></em></p> <p>This week in Paris, negotiators from around the world are <a href="https://www.unep.org/events/conference/second-session-intergovernmental-negotiating-committee-develop-international">convening</a> for a United Nations meeting. They will tackle a thorny problem: finding a globally binding solution for plastic pollution.</p> <p>Of the staggering <a href="https://stats.oecd.org/viewhtml.aspx?datasetcode=PLASTIC_USE_6&amp;lang=en">460 million tonnes of plastic used globally in 2019 alone</a>, much is used only once and thrown away. About <a href="https://www.oecd.org/environment/plastic-pollution-is-growing-relentlessly-as-waste-management-and-recycling-fall-short.htm">40% of plastic waste</a> comes from packaging. Almost two-thirds of plastic waste comes from items with lifetimes of less than five years.</p> <p>The plastic waste that escapes into nature persists and breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces, <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1700782">eventually becoming microplastics</a>. Plastics now contaminate virtually every environment, from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/20/microplastic-pollution-found-near-summit-of-mount-everest">mountain peaks to oceans</a>. Plastic has entered vital systems such as our food chain and even the human <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/24/microplastics-found-in-human-blood-for-first-time">blood stream</a>.</p> <p>Governments and industry <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/nations-agree-end-plastic-pollution">increasingly acknowledge</a> the urgent need to reduce plastic pollution. They are introducing <a href="https://apco.org.au/the-australian-packaging-covenant">rules and incentives</a> to help businesses stop using single-use plastics while also encouraging collection and recycling.</p> <p>As a sustainability researcher, I explore opportunities to <a href="https://www.scu.edu.au/research/zerowaste/">reduce plastic waste </a>in sectors such as tourism, hospitality and meat production. I know how quickly we could make big changes. But I’ve also seen how quick-fix solutions can create complex future problems. So we must proceed with caution.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The best way to tackle plastic pollution is to prevent it in the first place.</p> <p>Governments, businesses, civil society, and academia can all be part of the solution to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatPlasticPollution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatPlasticPollution</a>.</p> <p>Join in this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldEnvironmentDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldEnvironmentDay</a>: <a href="https://t.co/ENu9UG82kz">https://t.co/ENu9UG82kz</a> <a href="https://t.co/1p5G0183uh">pic.twitter.com/1p5G0183uh</a></p> <p>— UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNEP/status/1660873190577680384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <h2>Plastic avoidance is top priority</h2> <p>We must urgently eliminate waste and build a so-called “<a href="https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview">circular economy</a>”. For plastics, that means reuse or recycling back into the same type of plastic, not lower grade plastic. The plastic can be used to make similar products that then can be recycled again and again.</p> <p>This means plastics should only be used where they can be captured at their end of life and recycled into a product of the same or higher value, with as little loss as possible.</p> <p>Probably the only example of this to date is the recycling of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) soft-drink bottles in Norway and Switzerland. They boast recovery rates of <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-02-norway-bottles-plastic-fantastic.html">97%</a> and <a href="https://houseofswitzerland.org/swissstories/environment/switzerland-leads-way-pet-recycling">95%</a> respectively.</p> <p>The <a href="https://wastewise.be/2014/11/ad-lansink/">waste management pyramid</a> below shows how to prioritise actions to lessen the waste problem. It is particularly relevant to single-use plastics. Our top priority, demanding the biggest investment, is prevention and reduction through redesign of products.</p> <p>Where elimination is not yet achievable, reuse solutions or recycling to the same or higher-level products can be sought to make plastics circular.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=406&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=406&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=406&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=510&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=510&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=510&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Inverted pyramid diagram showing waste management priorities" /><figcaption><span class="caption">In the inverted pyramid of waste management priorities, downcycling is almost the last resort.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Pascal Scherrer</span></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Unfortunately, a lack of high-quality reprocessing facilities means plastic waste keeps growing. In Australia, plastic is largely “downcycled”, which means it is recycled into lower quality plastics.</p> <p>This can seem like an attractive way to deal with waste-plastic stockpiles, particularly after the recent collapse of soft-plastics recycler <a href="https://theconversation.com/redcycles-collapse-is-more-proof-that-plastic-recycling-is-a-broken-system-194528">RedCycle</a>. But downcycling risks doing more harm than good. Here are three reasons why:</p> <h2>1. Replacing wood with recycled plastics risks contaminating our wildest natural spaces</h2> <p>An increasing number of benches, tables, bollards and boardwalks are being made from recycled plastic. This shift away from timber is touted as a sustainable step - but caution is warranted when introducing these products to pristine areas such as national parks.</p> <p>Wood is naturally present in those areas. It has a proven record of longevity and, when degrading, does not introduce foreign matter into the natural system.</p> <p>Swapping wood for plastic <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749122019510?via%3Dihub">may introduce microplastics</a> into the few remaining places relatively free of them. Replacing wood with downcycled plastics also risks plastic pollution through weathering or fire.</p> <h2>2. Taking circular plastics from their closed loop to meet recycled-content targets creates more waste</h2> <p>Clear PET bottles used for beverages are the most circular plastic stream in Australia, approaching a 70% recovery rate. When these bottles are recycled back into clear PET bottles, they are circular plastics.</p> <p>However, the used PET bottles are increasingly being turned into meat trays, berry punnets and <a href="https://www.praise.com.au/faqs-100-recycled-bottles">mayonnaise jars</a> to help producers meet the <a href="https://apco.org.au/national-packaging-targets">2025 National Packaging Target</a> of 50% recycled content (on average) in packaging.</p> <p>The problem is the current industry <a href="https://anzpacplasticspact.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Recovered-Polymer-Specifications_FINAL_June2021d.pdf">specifications for plastics recovery</a> allow only downcycling of these trays, punnets and jars. This means that circular PET is removed from a closed loop into a lower-grade recovery stream. This leads to non-circular downcycling and more plastic sent to landfill.</p> <h2>3. Using “compostable” plastics in non-compostable conditions creates still more plastic pollution</h2> <p>Increasingly, plastics are labelled as compostable and biodegradable. However, well-intended use of compostable plastics can cause long-term plastic pollution.</p> <p>At the right temperature with the right amount of moisture, compostable plastics breakdown into soil. But if the conditions are not “just right”, they won’t break down at all.</p> <p>For example, when a landscape architect or engineer uses a “compostable” synthetic fabric instead of a natural alternative (such as coir or jute mats) they can inadvertently introduce persistent plastics into the environment. This is because the temperature is not hot enough for the synthetic mat to break down.</p> <p>We must also <a href="https://documents.packagingcovenant.org.au/public-documents/Considerations%20for%20Compostable%20Packaging">differentiate</a> between “home compostable” and “commercially compostable”. Commercial facilities are more effective at composting because they operate under more closely controlled conditions.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Plastic pollution could reduce by 80% by 2040 if governments and companies make policy and market shifts using existing technologies.</p> <p>OUT NOW – UNEP’s new report provides a pathway for nations to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatPlasticPollution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatPlasticPollution</a>: <a href="https://t.co/dcfBkZaOfN">https://t.co/dcfBkZaOfN</a> <a href="https://t.co/iSQ9QSpYC1">pic.twitter.com/iSQ9QSpYC1</a></p> <p>— UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNEP/status/1658419925638152192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <h2>Learning from our mistakes</h2> <p>Clearly, we need to reduce our reliance on plastics and shift away from linear systems – including recycling into lower-grade products.</p> <p>Such downcycling may have a temporary role in dealing with existing plastic in the system while circular recycling capacity is being built. But we must not develop downcycling “solutions” that need a long-term stream of plastic waste to remain viable.</p> <p>What’s more, downcycling requires constantly finding new markets for their lower-grade products. Circular systems are more robust.</p> <p>So, to the negotiators in Paris, yes the shift to a circular plastics economy is urgent. But beware of good intentions that could ultimately make things worse.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206060/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pascal-scherrer-230971">Pascal Scherrer</a>, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business, Law and Art, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/3-little-known-reasons-why-plastic-recycling-could-actually-make-things-worse-206060">original article</a>.</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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Leo DiCaprio's new film gets 9-minute standing ovation

<p>If a 9-minute standing ovation is anything to go by, then claims that Martin Scorsese’s new project <em>Killers of the Flower Moon</em> is the “film of the year” may just be on to something. </p> <p>The movie - which stars the likes of Hollywood legends Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone - received exactly that: 9 whole minutes of applause after its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.</p> <p>Its stars were all in attendance, from Leo who was last present with <em>Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood</em>, to 80-year-old Scorsese, who was returning to the festival for the first time since 1985, when he was there for <em>After Hours</em>.</p> <p>The near-three-and-a-half-hour film - which shares its name with the David Grann book it was adapted from - takes place in 1920s Oklahoma, and shares the story of a dark period in American history, depicting the serial murders of members of the Osage Nation.</p> <p>Prior to its screening, the film had already been dubbed by some as the festival’s “most anticipated film” - it even saw Apple CEO Tim Cook swing by, as the company is one of the film’s distributors.</p> <p>And as soon as it concluded, the applause broke out - with some suspecting that it may have continued on beyond the 9-minute mark, had Scorsese not been asked to address the crowd. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone land a 9-minute standing ovation for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ — the biggest and loudest of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cannes2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cannes2023</a> so far. <a href="https://t.co/1Gxp4cED1T">pic.twitter.com/1Gxp4cED1T</a></p> <p>— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaminSetoodeh/status/1660019896393113602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“Thank you to the Osages,” Scorsese said upon reaching the mic. “Everyone connected with the picture. My old pals Bob and Leo, and Jesse and Lily. We shot this a couple of years ago in Oklahoma. </p> <p>“It’s taken it’s time to come around but Apple did so great by us. There was lots of grass. I’m a New Yorker. I was very surprised. This was an amazing experience. </p> <p>“We lived in that world with the Osage, we really did, and we really miss it.”</p> <p>As former Osage tribal leader Jim Gray said of the experience, “the dignity and care for the Osage perspective was genuine and honest throughout the process and the Osage responded with the kind of passion and enthusiasm that met this historic moment.</p> <p>“For those of us who were watching from the sidelines while our best and brightest among us auditioned, sewed, catered, painted, acted and advised the filmmakers, it’s going to be hard not to feel our presence in helping to tell.”</p> <p>Lily Gladstone - who plays an Osage woman betrayed by her husband in the movie - had more to add, telling<em> Variety</em> that “the work is better when you let the world inform the work. That was very refreshing how involved the production got with the [Osage Nation] community. As the community warmed up to our presence, the more the community got involved with the film. </p> <p>“It’s a different movie than the one [Scorsese] walked in to make almost entirely because of what the community had to say about how it was being made and what was being portrayed.”</p> <p>And alongside praise for the film came praise for the performances within it, with many convinced Gladstone is set for attention during awards season for her work, and one reviewer even going so far as to call this “Leonardo DiCaprio’s best performance yet”.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

Movies

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Madonna takes aim at "ageist" critics

<p>Madonna has spoken out against wide-spread criticism of her appearance after presenting at the Grammy Awards.</p> <p>The 64-year-old musician introduced Sam Smith and Kim Petras' performance of their hit song <em>Unholy</em> at the annual music award ceremony, but rather than focus on the "history making" performance, many were quick to comment on Madonna's appearance. </p> <p>Following her moment on the stage, Madonna's social media was flooded with comments calling her scary, unrecognisable and denouncing her supposed "obsession with plastic surgery", despite the singer never confirming having cosmetic enhancements.</p> <p>Hitting back at online trolls, Madonna took to Instagram to condemn the "ageism and misogyny" of her critics, while refusing to apologise for her "creative choices".</p> <p>In a lengthy post, she wrote, "Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim - Many people chose to only talk about close-up photos of me taken with a long lens camera By a press photographer that Would distort anyone’s face!!"</p> <p>"Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in. A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45, and feels the need to punish her if she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous."</p> <p>She continued, "I have never apologised for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I’m not going to start. I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come."</p> <p>She concluded the post by saying, "I look forward to many more years of subversive behaviour, pushing boundaries, standing up to the patriarchy, and most of all enjoying my life."</p> <p>While her post was flooded with support from her celebrity friends, she also welcomed a new wave of criticism with many commenters thinking her anger was misdirected. </p> <p>One person said, "Ok but there's an elephant in the room here - This is not ageism - it is plastic surgery and filler! How is this ageism when YOU did all this to yourself in order to prevent looking old? Give yourself a break from those fillers and stop blaming ageism for what you choose to do to yourself."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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The secret meaning behind flowers

<p>From beautiful wedding bouquets and congratulatory flowers at graduation to a bunch offered in remorse, flowers play an important part in our lives. There are many occasions and reasons why we might want to give someone flowers. But did you know that all flowers have meanings behind them? In the Victorian era, flowers were symbols and people gave specific flowers to convey specific messages. As they could not openly express themselves, flowers were almost like a secret language. Here we uncover the meaning behinds some popular flowers so next time you’re picking out some to give to a loved one, you can make sure the message matches your thoughts!</p> <p><strong>Daffodils</strong></p> <p>These bright and happy flowers symbolise regard. They are also associated with new beginnings, eternal life and unrequited love. A single daffodil indicates misfortune but a whole bunch of them means happiness.</p> <p><strong>Peonies</strong></p> <p>These feminine flowers signal bashfulness. However, when a bride carries them they indicate a happy marriage and good fortune. On the other hand, peonies can also be used to express shame or indignation.</p> <p><strong>Hydrangeas</strong></p> <p>This wildflower symbolises understanding. Give them to someone when you want to express gratitude.</p> <p><strong>Gardenias</strong></p> <p>The elegant gardenia signifies purity, beauty and sweetness. Unsurprisingly then they are popular at wedding ceremonies. Giving someone gardenias can indicate a secret love or a way of telling them you think they are sweet and lovely.</p> <p><strong>Carnations</strong></p> <p>These popular flowers are available in a variety of colours and each one signifies something different. Pink symbolises enduring love – particularly a mother’s love for her child. Purple means unpredictability and red – admiration and an aching heart. White carnations represent pure love and if you ever need to politely decline a lover, striped carnations indicate a regretful refusal.</p> <p><strong>Rose</strong></p> <p>Everyone knows red roses mean romantic love but many people don’t know other colours have quite different meanings. Dark red is associated with mourning whereas pink represents happiness. Although very pretty, yellow roses actually indicate jealousy.</p> <p><strong>Tulips</strong></p> <p>These popular flowers stand for perfect love. Conveying grace and elegance, giving someone tulips is a declaration of love.</p> <p><strong>Orchids</strong></p> <p>These tropical blossoms symbolise exotic beauty. Those looking to make a lasting impression should consider these rare and delicate flowers.</p> <p><strong>Iris</strong></p> <p>The meaning of the iris includes faith, hope, wisdom and eloquence. Purple irises are associated with wisdom and compliments whereas blue ones symbolise faith and hope.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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What’s the connection between cosmetic procedures and mental health?

<p>Although we cannot be sure of the exact numbers of Australians undergoing cosmetic procedures, as there is no requirement for health professionals to report their statistics, there is a consensus demand is on the rise. </p> <p>In 2015, the <a href="https://cpca.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/31-05-2016_AUSTRALIAS_SPEND_ON_COSMETIC_TREATMENTS_TOPS_1_BILLION.pdf">Cosmetic Physicians College of Australasia</a> found Australians were spending more than $1 billion a year on non-invasive cosmetic procedures like Botox and fillers. This is more than 40% higher, per capita, than in the United States.</p> <p>In the US, where procedure <a href="https://cdn.theaestheticsociety.org/media/statistics/2021-TheAestheticSocietyStatistics.pdf">statistics are reported</a>, there was a 42% increase in the number of filler procedures and a 40% increase in Botox procedures performed in the last year alone. </p> <p>Rates of mental health issues in this group may be higher than the general population, but seemingly not enough is being done to ensure the psychological safety of people requesting cosmetic procedures.</p> <h2>Body dysmorphic disorder</h2> <p>Body image concerns are generally the main motivator for seeking cosmetic procedures of all kinds. These concerns are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144518305552">usually focused on the body part</a> where the cosmetic intervention is sought, such as the nose for a rhinoplasty. </p> <p>Severe body image concerns are a key feature of several mental health conditions. The most prevalent in people seeking cosmetic procedures is body dysmorphic disorder. In the general community, around 1-3% of people will experience body dysmorphic disorder, but in populations seeking cosmetic surgery, this <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35715310/">rises to 16-23%</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://bdd.iocdf.org/professionals/diagnosis/">Body dysmorphic disorder</a> involves a preoccupation or obsession with one or more perceived flaws in physical appearance which are not visible or seem minor to other people. In response to the distress regarding the flaw, the person with body dysmorphic disorder will perform repetitive behaviours (such as excessively checking body parts in the mirror) and mental acts (such as comparing their appearance with other people). </p> <p>These concerns can have a significant negative impact on the person’s daily life, with some people too distressed to leave their home or even eat dinner with family members out of fear of being seen by others. </p> <p>With the distress associated with body dysmorphic disorder seemingly stemming from physical appearance issues, it makes sense someone with body dysmorphic disorder is far more likely to turn up at a cosmetic clinic for treatment than a mental health clinic.</p> <p>The problem is, cosmetic intervention usually makes the person with body dysmorphic disorder feel the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00266-017-0819-x">same or worse</a> after the procedure. They may become even more preoccupied with the perceived flaw and seek further cosmetic procedures. </p> <p>Patients with body dysmorphic disorder are also <a href="https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/22/6/531/204131">more likely</a> to take legal action against their treating cosmetic practitioner after believing they have not received the result they wanted.</p> <p>For these reasons, body dysmorphic disorder is generally considered by health professionals to be a “red flag” or contraindication (a reason not to undergo a medical procedure) for cosmetic procedures.</p> <p>However, this is not entirely clear-cut. <a href="https://academic.oup.com/asj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/asj/sjac243/6678852?searchresult=1">Some studies</a> have shown people with body dysmorphic disorder can improve their symptoms after cosmetic intervention, but the obsession may just move to another body part and the body dysmorphic disorder diagnosis remain.</p> <h2>What about other mental health conditions?</h2> <p>Body dysmorphic disorder is by far the most well-studied disorder in this area, but is not the only mental health condition that may be associated with poorer outcomes from cosmetic procedures.</p> <p>According to a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8034989/">recent systematic review</a>, the rates of depression (5-26%), anxiety (11-22%) and personality disorders (0-53%) in people seeking cosmetic surgery may be higher than the general population (which are estimated to be 10%, 16% and 12% respectively).</p> <p>However, these rates should be interpreted with some caution as they depend greatly on how the mental health diagnosis was made – clinician-led interview (higher rates) versus mental health questionnaire (lower rates). Some interview approaches can suggest higher rates of mental health issues as they may be quite unstructured and thus have questionable validity compared with highly structured questionnaires. </p> <p>Besides body dysmorphic disorder, the research investigating other mental health conditions is limited. This may just be due to the fact body image focus is at the core of body dysmorphic disorder, which makes it a logical focus for cosmetic surgery research compared with other types of psychiatric disorders.</p> <h2>So what should happen?</h2> <p>Ideally, all cosmetic surgeons and practitioners should receive sufficient training to enable them to conduct a brief routine assessment of all prospective patients. Those with signs indicating they are unlikely to derive psychological benefit from the procedure should undergo a further assessment by a mental health professional before undergoing the procedure. </p> <p>This could include an in-depth clinical interview about motivations for the procedure, and completing a range of standard mental health questionnaires. </p> <p>If a person was found to have a mental health issue in the assessment process, it does not necessarily mean the mental health professional would recommend against pursuing the procedure. They may suggest a course of psychological therapy to address the issue of concern and then undergo the cosmetic procedure. </p> <p>At the moment, assessments are only recommended rather than mandated for cosmetic surgery (and not at all for injectables like Botox and fillers). The <a href="https://plasticsurgery.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2.5-AHPRA-MBA-Guidelines-for-Registered-Medical-Practitioners-Who-Perform-Cosmetic-Medical-and-Surgical-Procedures-2016.pdf">guidelines</a> say evaluation should be undertaken if there are signs the patient has “significant underlying psychological problems”.</p> <p>This means we are relying on the cosmetic medical practitioner being capable of detecting such issues when they may have received only basic psychological training at medical school, and when their business may possibly benefit from not attending to such diagnoses.</p> <p>An August 2022 <a href="https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/Cosmetic-surgery-review.aspx">independent review</a> by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Medical Board of Australia recommended the guidelines around mental health assessment should be “strengthened” and emphasised the importance of medical practitioners receiving more training in the detection of psychiatric disorders. </p> <p>Ultimately, as cosmetic practitioners are treating patients who are seeking treatment for psychological rather than medical reasons, they must have the wellbeing of the patient front-of-mind, both out of professional integrity and to protect themselves from legal action. Mandatory evaluation of all patients seeking any kind of cosmetic procedure would likely improve patient satisfaction overall.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-connection-between-cosmetic-procedures-and-mental-health-190841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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“Never say never”: Nat Barr considers cosmetic enhancements

<p dir="ltr">Natalie Barr has confessed that she is open to getting plastic surgery despite being scared of going under the knife. </p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Sunrise</em> co-host claims her good looks are thanks to regular facials and intense pulsed light therapy (IPL).</p> <p dir="ltr">But now the 54-year-old is saying “never say never” if she chooses to go ahead with a little nip and tuck. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I think never say never. I haven’t had anything yet. I’ve been a bit scared, to be honest. But as I get older, I’m open to ideas,” she told The Daily Telegraph.</p> <p dir="ltr">When asked about the ugliest part of her body, Nat revealed that it was her feet</p> <p dir="ltr">“Feet. Well, specifically my feet. I’ve had a bunion operation. But, even before that, I’ve never liked them,” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">Just two years ago, Nat was against any cosmetic injections saying she wasn’t a fan of them. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I am not one of those people who panics about looks,” she previously told Stellar Magazine.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I keep reasonably fit, I haven’t had botox - though no judgement if you do.”  </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Everyday items to come with $11,000 fine under incoming plastic ban

<p dir="ltr">Beginning in November, a new law will see single-use plastic items outlawed in NSW - with anyone caught supplying them risking a potential $11,000 fine.</p> <p dir="ltr">The statewide move will be the second stage of the government’s crackdown on single-use items, which aims to stop 2.7 billion of these items from ending up in our natural environment over the next 20 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">From November 1, single-use straws, stirrers, plastic cutlery, plates, bowls without spill-proof lids, and foodware and cups made from EPS (expanded polystyrene) will be prohibited, in a switch that has been welcomed by restaurant owners.</p> <p dir="ltr">Single-use chopsticks, food picks, plastic-stemmed cotton buds, and personal care products that contain plastic microbeads, such as cleansers, exfoliants, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the ban applying to retail and hospitality business, as well as charities and individuals undertaking activities for sporting, education or community purposes, there are some instances where the ban doesn’t apply.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-281492ca-7fff-b09e-3bcd-3441c254abdf"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Pre-packaged items where plastic items are integrated into the packing through an automated process, such as plastic straws attached to juice boxes or plastic bowls in frozen meals, won’t be affected by the ban, nor will using EPS trays for raw meat, seafood, fruit or vegetables.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/plastic-ban-nsw.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: NSW Government</em></p> <p dir="ltr">People with a disability or medical need will also be allowed to use single-use plastic straws, but businesses mustn’t make the straws accessible to customers or display them.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for those who don’t follow the new rules, a NSW EPA spokesperson told <em>7News </em>that financial penalties would be applied on a case-by-case basis.</p> <p dir="ltr">As a result, individual suppliers such as sole traders could be issued with a $2750 “on-the-spot fine” or $11,000 court penalty, while corporations face a maximum penalty of $55,000, and manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors face $110,000 fines.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ahead of the change, James Griffin and Mark Coure, the NSW Environment Minister and Multiculturalism Minister respectively, have spoken to 43,000 businesses to ensure small businesses are supported through the transition.</p> <p dir="ltr">“(We’ve been trying) to help educate them about the change that’s coming, and provide them easy instructions on easy alternatives that are easier for the environment,” they said.</p> <p dir="ltr">While some businesses have taken the financial hit of changing from single-use plastic to more eco-friendly options, which are often more expensive than plastic, some customers may see prices increase following the change.</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes after NSW banned lightweight plastic shopping bags, including biodegradable, compostable and bio-plastic bags, earlier this year, bringing with it a fine of up to $275,000 for retailers who continued to provide them.</p> <p dir="ltr">NSW isn’t the only state on its way to phasing out single-use plastics either, as each state has its own roadmap towards a plastic-free future.</p> <p dir="ltr">With most of these roadmaps launching last year, it’s expected that many will be fully implemented by 2023.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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7 tips to make fresh flowers last longer

<p>It’s always such a nice treat to have fresh flowers in the house – whether they’ve been bought for you by a special someone, you’ve treated yourself, or you’ve just cut them straight from your very own garden. But many people don’t know the correct way to look after a bunch of flowers to ensure they get to enjoy their beauty for as long as possible. So here are some simple tips to remember.</p> <ol> <li>Start with the right kind of vase. Don’t try to cram too many flowers into a small vase – make sure the flowers have room to open fully so you can see as much of them as possible.</li> <li>Remove any low-hanging leaves. You don’t want any leaves to be sitting in the water, so be sure to prune them before putting your bouquet into your vase.</li> <li>Change the water daily. Flowers don’t like to sit in the same water day after day.</li> <li>Trim the stems. Every few days, trim the stems a little, cutting at an angle.</li> <li>Keep the flowers away from direct heat and sunlight. A room that is too warm will lead to wilted flowers, so be sure to choose somewhere that stays cool if possible. If you really want to stretch things, consider keeping the flowers in your fridge when you’re not in the house.</li> <li>When flowers start to wilt, remove any that don’t look so hot and transfer the bouquet to a smaller vase to freshen things up.</li> <li>If you’re left with just one or two late-opening blooms, you can float it in a decorative teacup full of water.</li> </ol> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Albo denies plastic surgery rumours

<p dir="ltr">Anthony Albanese has denied rumours that he has had botox done and that his best weight loss secret is to cut the carbs and “give up the bread”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Australian Prime Minister appeared on NovaFM’s <em>Fitzy and Wippa</em> where he spoke about his weight loss journey. </p> <p dir="ltr">The presenters then pointed out that an article written by the Daily Mail caught their attention in which it questioned whether or not Mr Albanese had botox done. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a headline that struck us, Prime Minister, in the Daily Mail, ‘Botox fillers or just clean living? Albo debuts a fresh new look as he sports a smoother complexion following his weight loss and style transformation’.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Have you had Botox and how many fillers have you had, Prime Minister?’’ they asked him. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Albanese laughed off the claim and instead took a dig at the reporter and the leading cosmetic injector. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Seriously, I think whoever wrote that article's been having Botox in the wrong place,” he said. </p> <p dir="ltr">He went on to talk about how a near death experience in which he was involved in a car crash, caused him to take charge of his health.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For anybody listening right there might be carrying a couple of kilos. What was your one tip or secret that you had to the weight loss?’’ he was probed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Don’t eat the bread,’’ the Prime Minister replied.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I just had two boiled eggs for breakfast. It keeps you going to lunchtime.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Stopping eating in between meals is the big thing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Albanese confessed that he still indulged every now and then with beer and hot chips, but all in moderation. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I get to have a beer every now and then. Both light and heavy,’’ he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have the odd hot chip and all of that. Not be too religious about it. It took a long period. It was over 18 months. But the real motivation, I don’t recommend this, was having a near life ending car crash.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And that was a real wake up call to get fit and get healthy. It’s worked. I feel much better for it and I just feel much better in the morning but much better throughout the day.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty </em></p> <p> </p>

Body

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Cadbury's huge change in a bid to save the planet

<p>In a “world first” from Cadbury, the iconic chocolate block is about to change, in efforts to save the environment.</p> <p>Looking to curb their contribution of single-use plastic to landfill, Mondelez International, the company that owns the confectionary giant have unveiled a new and sustainable version of the signature purple packaging that is now 100% recyclable.</p> <p>The chocolate-maker said it used “emerging advanced recycling technology” to create soft plastic packaging that contains up to 30% recycled content, saving 120 tonnes of packaging waste from going to landfill.</p> <p>“Until recently, soft plastic packaging has been considered a single-use material,” Mondelēz International chief executive Dirk Van de Put said.</p> <p>“The development of advanced recycling technology and our significant investment in recycled soft plastic means it’s now possible for Cadbury fans to enjoy their favourite treats more sustainably here in Australia.”</p> <p>Australia is the first country to experience the new sustainable wrappers, which are initially launching on Cadbury Dairy Milk, Caramilk and Old Gold family blocks.</p> <p>The brand said it was “committed” to rolling out the eco-friendly packaging across the entire Cadbury range in the coming years, however in order to create the new eco-friendly packaging Cadbury sourced 120 tonnes of recycled content from overseas.</p> <p>Australia doesn't yet have the ability to recycle soft plastic into food-friendly packaging.</p> <p>The first Cadbury family blocks in their new packaging are being delivered to major retailers and supermarkets across Australia this week.</p> <p><em>Image: Woolworths</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Forget plastic surgery! These 7 makeup tricks could completely transform your features

<p><strong>Nose contouring instead of a nose job</strong></p> <p>If you find your nose too big, too wide, or too something else, get ready to transform it with contouring. For the uninitiated, contouring is the process of strategically placing bright concealer or highlighter on areas you want to catch light, making them more pronounced, and darker products on places where you want to create shadows, making them less noticeable.</p> <p>There are specific contouring techniques for each nose shape, but in every case, you’ll want to apply concealer that’s two shades lighter than your skin tone to the bridge of your nose, and a greyish-brown or dark taupe colour (a powder or liquid) to cover bumps, wide nostrils, or hook shapes. Always blend the light and dark colours into place using a beauty blender sponge or a rechargeable makeup brush, which evenly disperses granules of makeup in thin, even layers for an airbrush-like finish. The results are like an instant nose job – no surgery required!</p> <p><strong>Strategic eyeliner instead of an eye lift</strong></p> <p>Oh, the wonders of a good eyeliner. Whether your eyes are too small, too big, too down-turned or too something else, applying eyeliner in the proper style and colour is the perfect way to visibly alter their shape. To open up the eyes, adding white liner to the lower lash line creates an optical illusion as it acts as a continuation of your eyes, making them look bigger.</p> <p>For down-turned eyes, nothing works better than a reverse cat eye in black liner. For hooded lids, apply smokey eyeliner to enhance the outer corners for the illusion of lift.</p> <p><strong>Shading cheekbones instead of fillers</strong></p> <p>Women have been turning to pricey injectable fillers to fake supermodel cheekbones, but there’s a much easier – and cheaper – way. For this no-fuss three-step process, all you need is your trusty contour kit (foundation that is two shades lighter than your skin tone, plus a base that is two shades darker), which you will use to outline and highlight the apples of your cheeks.</p> <p>First apply the one-shade lighter cream foundation on your cheekbones to draw light; then apply the two-shades darker base below the cheekbones to help those areas recede. Finish with a pop of pink or peach on the apples of your cheeks, and dab a few drops of liquid highlighter at the top of cheekbones. Blend, et voila – Hollywood cheekbones.</p> <p><strong>Smoothing foundation instead of botox</strong></p> <p>Many foundations are prone to caking, cracking and flaking, which are likely to make any wrinkles and blemishes more noticeable instead of concealing them. If you want your face to look younger, one of the easiest ways is by smoothing skin.</p> <p>That means starting with a primer, which smooths the canvas of your face, like a painter would spackle and prime walls before applying colour. Follow with a satin foundation for a silky smooth, practically Photoshopped face.</p> <p><strong>Overlining lips instead of injectable plumpers</strong></p> <p>Less is definitely more here, but this tiny adjustment will make a huge difference in the appearance of your lips. The trick is to first apply a neutral-coloured, matte lip liner all over your lips; then trace slightly outside the lines. Don’t venture more than a few millimetres beyond your natural lip line, as that looks too obvious (and a little scary).</p> <p>You can also strategically choose the areas you want to overline, like the cupid’s bow or bottom lip instead of the entire rim. Once you’ve overlined, apply your favourite matte lipstick not only to your lips, but onto the overlined area as well. A matte finish will hide the line you’ve added, whereas shiny lipstick emphasises it.</p> <p><strong>Chisel your chin with powder instead of surgery</strong></p> <p>If your jawline isn’t quite as sharp as you’d like, shaping powder is an easy way to get more definition. Take a greyish-brown powder (nothing too orange) and apply it along your jaw line from behind your ear all the way down to the tip of your chin.</p> <p>Repeat this application on the other side of your jaw. Blend the powder down your neck so that there aren’t any noticeable lines or colour differences. You’ll absolutely love the look of your sharp new bone structure.</p> <p><strong>Slim your silhouette</strong></p> <p>Though some celebrities manage to rock a round face, the rest of us can feel insecure about so-called chipmunk cheeks. A great way to slim your face is to use a contour stick and bronzer to hollow out the cheeks, then apply blush and highlighter above the bronzer to make your cheekbones more pronounced.</p> <p>This will not only elongate your face shape, but will give you those model-like chiselled cheeks.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/beauty/forget-plastic-surgery-these-7-makeup-tricks-could-completely-transform-your-features" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Selecting plants for spring

<p>Any green thumb knows spring means one thing: planting, planting and more planting. Spring is a time of regeneration and renewal so gardening at this time of the year means you’ll enjoy the first burst of vibrant hues and fragrant scents from blossoming flowers. To get you started on a stunning garden, here is a list of the best flowers to plant in spring to ensure your garden is thriving come summer.</p> <p><em><strong>Lilacs</strong></em></p> <p>Famed for their sweet fragrance, lilacs bloom from spring to early summer. They come in all shapes and sizes as well as a variety of colours ranging from white, pale yellow, pink, mauve and purple.</p> <p>Growing condition: Full sun or light shade and well-drained, sandy and gravelly soil.</p> <p><em><strong>Tulips</strong></em></p> <p>The bloom of tulips never fails to delight especially since they come in every imaginable colours (except true blue). Tulips are perfect for any type of garden setting from the more formal to the casual.</p> <p>Growing condition: Full sun and well-drained soil. </p> <p><em><strong>Hyacinths</strong></em></p> <p>Hyacinths cluster together in bright shades of pink, red and purple making it a great flower to brighten up your garden.</p> <p>Growing condition: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil.</p> <p><em><strong>Azaleas</strong></em></p> <p>The burst of colour Azaleas bring make them one of the most popular and best flowering shrubs in Australia. They look great planted en masse and provide a beautiful feature for a spring garden.</p> <p>Growing conditions: Part shade and moist but well-drained acidic soil</p> <p><em><strong>Daffodils</strong></em></p> <p>The sunny disposition of daffodils will not only brighten your mood, but your garden. There are many varieties and their sweet scent will keep you outside in the garden all throughout spring.  </p> <p>Growing condition: Full sun or part shade, well-drained soil.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Home Hints & Tips

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Small detail in Coles BYO container scheme sparks confusion

<p dir="ltr">A new sustainability scheme has left shoppers at Coles scratching their heads due to one seemingly counterintuitive detail.</p> <p dir="ltr">The retailer’s Together to Zero campaign has seen a handful of stores begin trialling a “bring your own packaging” scheme allowing customers to use reusable containers for items purchased from the deli counter.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, many are puzzled by one requirement of the scheme - the containers must be plastic.</p> <p dir="ltr">A sign displayed in a trial store in Blackwood, South Australia, which asked shoppers to “help reduce packaging” by bringing their own containers for deli workers to fill was shared on Facebook earlier this week by a shopper encouraging others to take part in the scheme.</p> <p dir="ltr">The sign also included requirements that the containers were “clean and intact”, had a “reusable lid”, and weren’t made of “glass or ceramic”.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the banning of single-use bags and plastic tableware, some questioned the sustainability project’s reliance on plastic over more sustainable options.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Shame there’s no glass containers allowed, but still a good move,” one person commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I only have glass so it’s completely useless for me,” another shared.</p> <p dir="ltr">“More crap to take to the store,” a third pointed out.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others shared concerns over the condition of containers that people would bring in, as well as the risk of food poisoning.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As much as I love the reusable option. I have fears about this. People will be bringing in manky containers that have sat in their cars for two days to refill,” one concerned person wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How does this cover them for food poisoning?” another asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the concerns, some were more optimistic about the trial, with one person describing it as a “good start” and another sharing that they would “make a special trip or two” to take part.</p> <p dir="ltr">The trial of BYO containers will be taking place across several South Australian Coles supermarkets, including those in Burnside, Blackwood, Unley, Bridgewater, Mount Barker and Murray Bridge, as well as a store in Kew, Victoria.</p> <p dir="ltr">During the trial, the BYO containers aren’t allowed to be used for deli salads, frozen prawns, barbecue items, hot food, deli express products, or self-serve cheese or platters.</p> <p dir="ltr">A Coles spokesperson said the company was closely monitoring feedback of the trial, telling <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/coles-byo-containers-program-lashed-over-one-detail-with-customers-confused-over-rules/news-story/69032894b46e7174e79e203384850cd0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em> that it will inform whether the scheme is rolled out to additional stores across the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As part of our Together to Zero Waste ambition, Coles is always looking for ways to reduce reliance on unnecessary single-use plastic, while giving customers sustainable options to help them complete their shop,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are trialling bring-your-own containers at a handful of Coles supermarket delis in South Australia, to understand how best to provide this option to customers while continuing to meet stringent food safety standards.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We will be looking closely at how our South Australian customers respond, and the feedback and insights will inform our consideration for potentially rolling this out to more stores in South Australia, or around Australia.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2c7628bd-7fff-be79-f009-18570245750d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

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