Spotlight on the Small Steps Collection

Do you know the meaning behind the yellow zip?

At Eliza Eliza each collection has a different zip colour representing a specific cause. This week's blog spotlight is on the yellow zipped clutch bags and purses from the Small Steps Collection.

The Small Steps lining depicts a range of ideas of ways to reduce waste. Such as buying loose produce, using reusable wrapping, mending clothes and even using edible cones instead of single use ice cream containers. Printed onto GOTs organic cotton, using ecologically safe Ultra Colour technology. 

The Cause: Zero Waste

An average of 409kg of food, plastic, glass and paper waste was produced in 2017 by each person in the UK. Most of it could be avoided, for example, an average person throws away 20% of food bought, including its packaging.

Around two thirds of the UK's plastic waste is sent abroad to be recycled, this used to be China, until they dramatically reduced the amount they imported, back in January 2018. Presently, most of our plastic waste now goes to Malaysia, Turkey, Poland, Indonesia and The Netherlands. Although campaigners have found evidence of our rubbish being found on illegal dumping sites in some of these countries!

Over the last few years and particularly since the screening of BBC's Blue Planet 2, there has been far more media coverage of the global plastic crisis we are in. With more people changing their habits to reduce their waste, such as carrying reusable bags and bottles and refusing the plastic straw.

But can we do more?

The Charity: Surfers against Sewage

It is estimated that 8 Million pieces of plastic enter our oceans EVERY SINGLE DAY! This not only endangers our wildlife who get entangled and mistake it for food, but also allows toxins to get into our food chain.

Surfers Against Sewage work to 'inspire, unite and empower communities to oceans, beaches, waves and wildlife'

Every product you purchase from the Small Steps collection donates 10% from each sale to the valuable work that Surfers Against Sewage does.

The Artist: Megan Bourassa

I first discovered Megan's amazing work through her Instagram page Eco in Progress. We spent a year developing the fabric design and the Small Steps Collection was launched in September 2019 during Zero Waste Week. 

Shop the Small Steps Collection here