{"id":556108316824,"title":"BRANDS WE 🤍: Zero Waste Club","created_at":"2021-05-10T15:41:22+01:00","body_html":"\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe love a brand with a good story, and Zero Waste Club has a great one!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFounders Rishi and Pawan quickly became frustrated by the amount of damage inflicted on the environment. But, they also understood that making sustainable changes was either too expensive or the swaps were too drastic for beginners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDeciding to take matters into their own hands, they created Zero Waste Club - a brand that takes everyday essentials and reinvents them to be better for you and the planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBy creating sustainable, beautifully designed, ethical, and vegan essentials at affordable prices, Zero Waste Club is the perfect place to start your sustainable journey.\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":72012857496,"author":"Caara Blog","user_id":68666556568,"published_at":"2021-05-10T15:41:22+01:00","updated_at":"2021-05-10T16:02:54+01:00","summary_html":"","template_suffix":"brand","handle":"brands-we-zero-waste-club","tags":"author:Rachel, brand:Zero-Waste-Club, cat:Inspiring Brands, color:#a7d8ff, founded:2017, hq:UK, instagram:zerowasteclub, value:plastic-free, value:recyclable, value:vegan","image":{"created_at":"2021-05-10T15:41:22+01:00","alt":"","width":750,"height":750,"src":"\/\/www.caara.co.uk\/cdn\/shop\/articles\/Zero_Waste_Club_Bamboo_Ear_bud_1400x_1f7c30ee-35f0-4185-a3c5-705546b6c26c.jpg?v=1620657683"}}

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Inspiring Brands

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{"id":555917803672,"title":"Meet the Founder: Livia's","created_at":"2021-04-16T09:38:39+01:00","body_html":"\u003cp\u003eFounded in her parents’ kitchen, Olivia Wollenberg’s plant-based snack brand, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/caara.co.uk\/collections\/livias\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eLivia's\u003c\/a\u003e has taken off in the UK, with free-from treats flying off shelves in 3,200 stores across the country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe had the opportunity to ask Olivia a few questions about how it all started, what inspired her and what's in store for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/caara.co.uk\/collections\/livias\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eLivia's.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0499\/4501\/8520\/files\/Olivia-Wollenberg_Livias_Portrait-2_480x480.jpg?v=1618561745\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHOW IT ALL STARTED\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere did your interest in food and health stem from?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe kitchen in my family home was where we spent most of our time together as a family. My mum says she recognised my love affair for cooking from a really young age, and because of that she spent many hours teaching me basic skills which she said would last me a lifetime. One of the things I was most enthusiastic to learn was how to make a traditional Shabbat dinner. For those of you that don’t know, it’s a traditional Jewish tradition for families to come together over a big meal on a Friday evening. Although my family aren’t at all religious, what was and always will be important to me is keeping up traditions that encourage family time (and of course eating)!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy interest in food has always been there and it was when I was diagnosed with a long list of severe food intolerances that I had to adapt and change my diet and seek nutritional advice. It meant having to cut out some of my desserts and puddings and that’s when I realised there were no sweet treats on the market that were accessible, delicious and made with natural wheat and dairy free products.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow did your diagnosis with food intolerances impact your diet and relationship with food? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hardest part was having to cut out all my favourite sweet snacks and desserts. I loved baking too and it was hard thinking that I may never be able to enjoy home baked treats again. However instead of succumbing to a diet of bland alternatives, the diagnosis helped me decide that I wanted to set up my own company that made delicious free-from treats accessible to everyone. It was a chance to get really creative and experimental in the kitchen!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo you have a mentor or someone who has inspired you?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have a number of people who I am able to turn to for advice. I recognised from day one that I was not an expert and that I could learn so much from people around me. I always make sure to network and act like a sponge, absorbing information from all sorts of people around me.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome of these people have direct experience in the food industry; however, some of them, like my Dad, simply have general business experience, but this was incredibly valuable too. I was able to succeed the way I did because of the help of people around me, and I will always recognise that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's your favourite part of the job and owning a small business?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo day is ever the same. I love the variety and being close to everyone in the team.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeeing that what I am doing is having a positive impact on other people is hugely rewarding. I love seeing customer feedback and how happy people are to find naturally indulgent sweet snacks in their local supermarket. I also love watching my team grow and develop with the company.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow did you find navigating running a small business during this pandemic?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has been a challenge in many ways, however we are incredibly agile and have learnt to adapt quickly. We were able to launch online exclusive products quickly and put more focus into online as instore sales dropped during lockdown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow did you go about the process of moving your treats from the kitchen to shelves in some of the biggest super markets?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have to do a lot of shelf life testing and factory trials. Because everything we develop is all natural, shelf life can often be a challenge. Sometimes we make something so amazing in the kitchen but we just can’t get it to have the right shelf life to be a viable retail product. However as we become more experienced, we know more about what can work and have found ways to have a strong shelf life without having to add any artificial preservatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTell me about some of the challenges you faced along the way?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat I haven’t switched off since I started the company 5 years ago!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking back now, do you have any regrets about leaving behind a potential career in academia?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNever! Livia’s is my whole life and I love it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat advice would you give to anyone looking for a career change, based on your personal experience\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDon’t be afraid to change careers – go with your gut and have absolutely no regrets. Ask to meet or speak to anyone and everyone in business and in the industry you want to get into and soak up as much information as possible. And delegate! Don’t be afraid to bring in people who are more experienced than you are. Embrace those people and accept where your strengths and weaknesses are.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCould you share any sneak peeks of what Livia’s has in store for the future?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have an incredibly mouth-watering NPD pipeline! Make sure you keep checking \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/caara.co.uk\/collections\/livias\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eLivia's brand page\u003c\/a\u003e on Caara so you can be one of the first to try our new products!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRECIPES, INGREDIENTS, FLAVOURS INSPIRATION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat kind of food did you grow up eating? Does this have an influence on the treats you make?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI ate anything and everything. I loved cupcakes with butter icing, apple crumbles, gooey chocolate cakes and biscuits. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do you go about creating a new product? Who chooses the ingredients and flavours?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI work closely with our Head of Product to develop innovative new products and flavours. A lot of ideas are also influenced by supermarket buyers and the demand they are seeing from consumers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTell us about an experiment in the kitchen that has gone wrong\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are so many products I have dreamt up and developed that we haven’t been able to launch yet \u003cspan\u003eb\u003c\/span\u003eut I still hope we can launch them in the future because they are unreal \u003cspan\u003e- I don’t want to give too much away but keep your eyes peeled for our new products that will be launching!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere does your inspiration for recipes come from?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lot of the recipes we create for our Instagram audience and for products are completely unique and are the result of playing around with lots of ingredients and getting creative with them. I love visiting the States as they often lead the way in confectionery innovation. I also reach out to our customers and listen to what they want and what they feel is missing on the shelves\u003cspan\u003e - so do let us know if you have any tasty ideas of what you want us to create for you\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do you choose alternative ingredients for recreating traditional treats?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe use very simple wholesome natural ingredients in all our products and recipes. For example, we will research the best natural unprocessed sugars and do lots of testing with ingredients from different suppliers\u003cspan\u003e to ensure the very results\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e We never compromise on the end result even if our ingredients differ from traditional confectionery products!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can shop \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/caara.co.uk\/collections\/livias\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eLivia's at Caara here\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","blog_id":72012857496,"author":"Caara Blog","user_id":68666556568,"published_at":"2021-04-16T01:30:00+01:00","updated_at":"2021-04-16T10:25:31+01:00","summary_html":"","template_suffix":"","handle":"meet-the-founder-livias","tags":"author:Uma, brand:Livias, cat:Inspiring Brands, color:#a7d8ff, founded:2014, product:livias-dunx-caramel-almond-swirl, product:livias-dunx-choco-hazel-twist, product:livias-dunx-maple-peanut-drizzle, product:livias-million-squares-chocolate-orange, product:livias-million-squares-salted-caramel, product:livias-million-squares-salted-peanut-butter, product:livias-nugglets-raw-choc-brownie, product:livias-nugglets-raw-cookie-dough, product:livias-nugglets-salted-almond-butter, read-time:10","image":{"created_at":"2021-04-16T10:08:29+01:00","alt":"","width":1000,"height":1429,"src":"\/\/www.caara.co.uk\/cdn\/shop\/articles\/livia.jpg?v=1618564110"}}

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{"id":393843998872,"title":"5 ways to be an eco-friendly pet parent","created_at":"2021-01-13T17:34:40+00:00","body_html":"\u003ch1\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003e5 ways to be an eco-friendly pet parent\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eHere in the UK we’re a nation of animal lovers, and it’s fair to say that we’ll do pretty much anything for our beloved furry friends. We’ll traipse out with them in the cold and rain, morning and night. We’ll shovel up their poop and carry it around in little bags until we find a bin. Heck, we’ll even buy them advent calendars. So if you’re someone who’s eager to reduce your own carbon footprint, it stands to reason that you’ll probably be wondering how to reduce your pet’s carbon pawprint at the same time. Here are five easy ways you can do just that.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003e1. Invest in tougher and\/or plastic-free toys\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eWe all know how quickly our four-legged friends are capable of shredding through toys. Even the ones at the tougher end of the spectrum are often no match for those razor-sharp little teeth, somehow still ending up in a million pieces all over the kitchen floor. The thing is, while these toys might keep them occupied for a few hours, your pooch poses a plastic problem when you’re continually having to buy them new toys to replace the ones they’ve unceremoniously destroyed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eOne solution is to buy tougher toys that last longer or that don’t contain harmful plastics, such as the Triangle Tug from Wild Ones. Made from natural rubber strengthened with a reinforced core, and paired with a sturdy 100% cotton rope, this is a toy that stands up to the demands of even the most persistent chewers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eIt’s also worth thinking about how you can keep smaller pets entertained with some of the waste your household generates anyway. For example, you can amuse your cat for hours with a cardboard box or a ball of used foil, while hamsters and gerbils love scurrying through used toilet roll tubes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003e2. Arm yourself with compostable poop bags\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eIf you’re on a mission to be plastic-free, don’t neglect that least glamorous of objects in the dog owner’s arsenal: the poop bag. Compostable bags, like those made by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/caara.co.uk\/collections\/earth-rated\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eEarth Rated\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/caara.co.uk\/collections\/earth-rated\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e,\u003c\/a\u003e are the eco-friendly alternative to regular plastic bags. \u003cspan\u003eThe rolls’ cores and packaging are made of recycled materials and excess material is recycled or reused for future production. To top it off, t\u003c\/span\u003ehey’re still reassuringly strong and split-proof (phew).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003e3. Switch to eco-friendly pet food\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eJust like with our own food, your pet’s meals and nibbles are another area where you can make some changes to ensure you’re being kind to the environment. There’s the food itself - our pets’ meat-rich diets are just as bad for the planet as our own - and the packaging it comes in. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eWhen it comes to what your pet eats, try switching their food to chicken or rabbit instead of beef, which has a far higher environmental impact than other meats. You could also look out for pet food made from meat by-products, such as bonemeal, as this helps reduce waste associated with the human-grade meat industry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eOpting for pet food that comes in recycled and\/or recyclable packaging is another good move, as is choosing food that’s been made in the UK and travelled fewer miles to get to you. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eAnother good way to avoid unnecessary packaging, as well as to reduce your pet’s carbon pawprint, is to make them treats from scratch rather than buying packaged ones. Not only does this mean you’ll know exactly what’s in them - no nasty palm oil, preservatives or other chemicals around here, thank you very much - but it also means you’ll save on packaging. You’d be amazed how many recipes there are out there for nutritious homemade dog treats.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003e4. Walkies\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eIf you can avoid driving to your dog-walking destination of choice, then it goes without saying that walking straight from the house eliminates the need for using the car, which is at its least fuel-efficient on short journeys. The added bonus is that you’ll have less mud building up in your car from dirty paws - and you’ll save money on petrol!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eDon’t forget that your dog’s lead and collar can also be eco-friendly. While there’s no need to ditch your existing collar and lead and thereby create more waste, if you do need new ones then opt for eco-friendly versions. The \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/caara.co.uk\/collections\/farouche\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eFarouche leas\u003c\/a\u003eh\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003e, for example, is recyclable. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003e5. Grooming\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eFinally, let’s not forget that just as we humans are making eco-friendly switches for our personal care products, such as shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, so too are there environmentally conscious alternatives for our beloved pets. Not only are natural, organic products better for your pet’s skin, but they’re also better for the environment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/caara.co.uk\/collections\/herbal-dog-co\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eThe Hebal Dog Co's shampoo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003e, for instance, is completely free of palm oil and parabens Their bottle is also completely recyclable and made in the UK. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eSo there we have it: there are so many ways of reducing your pets’ carbon pawprints and keeping their impact on the planet to a minimum. What eco-friendly switches will you be making for your pets? Do you have any other great tips for eco-conscious pet parents? We’d love to hear them! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":72012857496,"author":"Caara Blog","user_id":68666556568,"published_at":"2021-03-17T10:30:00+00:00","updated_at":"2021-04-16T10:26:00+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 300;\"\u003eIf you’re someone who’s eager to reduce your own carbon footprint, it stands to reason that you’ll probably be wondering how to reduce your pet’s carbon pawprint at the same time. Here are five easy ways you can do just that.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"5-ways-to-be-an-eco-friendly-pet-parent","tags":"author: Rachel, cat:Tips \u0026 Advice, color:#473095, read-time:5, tag:Pet-care","image":{"created_at":"2021-01-13T17:47:14+00:00","alt":"","width":1200,"height":800,"src":"\/\/www.caara.co.uk\/cdn\/shop\/articles\/3005681.jpg?v=1610560034"}}

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Tips & Advice

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/blogs/caara-blog/5-ways-to-be-an-eco-friendly-pet-parent