A bug hotel is a great little way of caring for wildlife and recycling Feel Good toilet roll cores and other bits of scrap material you may have lying around.
This zero-waste idea will brighten up your garden and is super fun to make.
You can build a bug hotel any time of year. However, it might be easier to gather materials such as straw, dry grass and hollow plant stems in autumn. It’s also when a lot of insects will be looking for a place to make their home for the winter.
Bug hotels are really simple to make and have massive benefits to lots of different minibeasts and insects such as ladybirds, bees, spiders, and woodlice. Minibeasts can then use the hotels as a safe space to shelter lay eggs, raise their young, and hide from predators.
Using sustainably sourced materials is important to us at Feel Good (we’re big fans of recycling if you hadn’t realised) You can gather most of the materials for this project from your recycling bin and the garden, but you might also need to dig around the craft box a little bit.
What you’ll need:
Feel Good toilet roll cores
Scissors
Tape/glue
Cardboard
Items like sticks, stones, twigs, dry leaves, pinecones, grass etc.
How to make your bug hotel:
Step 1:
Using the cardboard pieces, build a structure (we made a two-story hotel out of an old cardboard box) and add in the toilet rolls as tunnels on the “ground floor”
Step 2:
Add in the string, arrange however you like, to create a different texture environment on the “first floor”
Step 3:
Add the natural materials in such as sticks, stones, leaves, grass, twigs to fill out the first floor
Step 4:
Start to mix up and layer your materials and build a sort of playground for the bugs in their hotel
Step 5:
To finish off, add some leaves to the top for a little roof and pop it outside for all the bugs, minibeasts, insects, and wildlife in your garden.
Remember – be inventive!
There’s no right or wrong way to make one of these hotels.
Festival season is well underway, with Glastonbury kicking off next week.
Glastonbury has always been a pioneer of sustainability, this year is no different. Climate activist Greta Thunberg will be taking to the main stage to make an impassioned speech about the climate crisis. Everyone who has bought a ticket to the festival has also been asked to sign their ‘Love the Farm, Leave no Trace’ pledge, encouraging festival goers to limit their impact on the site.
Here are a few of our tips to help you have a more sustainable festival…
Eco-glitter
Glitter is a festival staple, but most traditional glitters contain micro-plastics. These plastics will linger around the festival site long after you’ve packed up your tent. Opt for eco glitter instead which is often made from biodegradable plant cellulose and is a lot healthier for the environment!
Bring a bottle
We all know that hydration at festivals is important, ESPECIALLY when you wake up in a boiling hot tent the morning after maybe one too many beverages…
The convenience of bottled water is tempting, but the majority of festivals have plenty of water taps with safe drinking water around the site. All you need is your reusable bottle and you’re good to go!
Pack a mac
UK festivals and rain go hand-in-hand. Be prepared and keep dry by packing a pack-a-mac or light raincoat. You can avoid forking out a fiver on a bright orange single-use rain poncho. And save your style creds in the process.
Recycled toilet paper
If you’ve never been to a camping festival before, here’s a tip: take your own toilet roll. In fact, even if you’re going for a day and not camping – take your own toilet roll. Those festival portaloos are bound to run out so be prepared and keep a single roll in your bag for emergencies. Even better if it’s recycled toilet paper…
For more sustainability tips, make your you check out our other blogs, or head over to our Instagram!
Now available in Tesco!
January 2023
We’ve got some great news to kick off 2023 as Feel Good is now available in Tesco!
Less than two years after we launched in Waitrose, you can now pick up a pack of Feel Good in three supermarket chains – Tesco, Waitrose and Booths, as well as online retailer Ocado. We’re so proud of the leaps we’ve made and it just goes to show that supermarkets are really increasing the ease of which shoppers can pick up sustainable swaps in their weekly hauls.
Made from 100% recycled materials, including magazines and office waste, Feel Good launched in April 2021 as a more sustainable alternative to virgin fibre products. The brand has been well received by UK retailers, with the product’s availability in selected Tesco stores nationwide and online as the latest example.
Coming in recyclable paper packaging, all source material comes from the UK and Europe and comprises of fibres at the end of their life cycle.
Thinking of giving us a try but want to know more? Head over to our FAQs to find out what we’re all about.
We’ll also have more news on where you can buy Feel Good very soon, so look out for updates and get chatting to us on our social channels: Instagram and Facebook.
Why not decorate your tree with toilet rolls this Christmas?
December 2022
Decorating your Christmas tree with toilet rolls? It’s not as crazy as it might sound.
You know we love a toilet roll-related craft, even more so when it’s festive! So why not make some Christmas decorations out of toilet roll!
Tis the season…
Christmas is a time of overconsumption, which also means even more waste is produced. Some estimates suggest that 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging will be thrown away and not recycled in the UK this Christmas. So, we all need to be mindful of the little ways we can cut down on waste this festive season.
While many of us will reuse our Christmas decorations time and time again, why not take it a step further and create your own decorations from household waste and a lick of paint?
And, because we’re so great, we’ve got three different toilet roll decorations to try out, so read ahead and decide which one you want to make…
And remember to supervise children when crafting – especially when you’re using a glue gun or scissors!
Snowman decoration
This is the easiest of our toilet paper decorations, all you need is:
Toilet roll core
White paint
Ribbon/thread
Glue (either PVA or a glue gun)
Scissors
Biodegradable white/silver glitter (optional)
How to make:
Cut your toilet roll core into three equal sections.
Glue the pieces together – stacking them on top of each other to look like a classic snowman.
Wrap a piece of ribbon around where the top two pieces are glued together for a scarf.
Optional step: If you want to give your snowman a face, use a piece of white scrap paper or tissue paper. Cut a circle slightly larger than your top circle and draw your face on. Then glue inside the circle.
Use a piece of ribbon to create a hanger. We glued the ribbon to the top of our snowman ornament but you could also pull the string through the opening of the top of the snowman ornament and tie it off.
Bingo! You’ve got a happy snowman for your tree.
A Christmas tree for your Christmas tree!
A miniature tree for your Christmas tree, what could be cuter!
What you’ll need…
Two toilet paper cores
Paint of your choice (a traditional green and brown? A rainbow tree? It’s up to you.)
Glue (either PVA or a glue gun)
Ribbon/thread
Optional: pom poms or other decoration for your tree
How to make:
Cut your two toilet roll cores in half longways.
Leave one piece as it is. Holding the pieces horizontal, cut a little bit off each piece, cutting a little more as you progress through the pieces, so when you arrange them they form a lovely triangular tree shape. Keep one of the scrap pieces to use as the tree stump.
3. Paint the tree in your selected colours. We’ve gone for a traditional green for the tree and brown for the stump.
4. Once dried, lay all the pieces out to form a tree and glue them together.
5. Decorate your tree! Either with paint, you can also glue pom-poms on and biodegradable glitter.
6. Glue a loop of ribbon to the top piece and there you go, now you can decorate your tree… with your tree!
Castle ornament
This ornament is *slightly* more difficult than the previous ones, but it’s still a doddle and can be done with the kids. To make a princess castle ornament, what you’ll need is:
A toilet roll core (of course)
Scrap cardboard (an old tissue or cereal box will do)
Scrap paper OR paint for decoration.
Glue (either PVA or a glue gun)
Scissors
How to make:
Cover your toilet roll core with decorative paper or paint it in a colour of your choice.
2. Cut out a small ‘archway’ about an inch high in your tube.
3. Now for your base: Cut a cardboard circle with a diameter of 6.5cm.
4. For the roof, cut out another cardboard circle with a diameter of 12cm.
5. Decorate both your roof and base however you like. You can use paint or scrap paper, however, covering the roof in scrap paper might make it a little harder to bend into your roof in the next step…
6. Lie a loop of ribbon or string the centre of the straight side of the semi-circle and glue it into place.
7. Take your half-circle and glue the ends together (as shown in the image) to create a cone. If you have a paper clip or binder clips, use these to hold while drying.
8. Once everything is dry, glue your tube to the base by running a bead of glue around the top edge of the tube. Set roof down, press firmly and allow to dry.
9. Do the same with the base – run the glue around the bottom edge of the tube. Press onto your base.
10. Add any additional decorations – you could write the name of your closest princess on the castle and it’s ready to hang on the tree!
Make sure to share your toilet roll creations with us on Facebook and Instagram.
If you’re looking for more toilet roll related crafts, or a homemade gift for that stationery lover in your life, head over to our just for fun page and find out how to make a toilet roll pen holder!
#WorldToiletDay 2023
November 2022
November 19th is recognised #WorldToiletDay Yes, a whole day dedicated to the toilet!
In the UK, we take the humble toilet for granted – we’re sure we can find a toilet in any public space we go to and we can usually be confident we won’t be… caught short. But, did you know there are approximately 3.6 billion who people don’t have access to a safe toilet? Toilets are key to preventing disease in our communities.
The UN is dedicated to providing a toilet for all by 2030.
Access to sanitation is recognised by the UN as a human right. Everyone should be entitled to have affordable access to sanitation, throughout the world.
Next time you’re shopping for soap, instead of buying liquid soap, swap to buying a bar of soap.
Soap bars have a lower environmental impact, due to packing being more minimal and paper-based. This is compared to liquid soap which is packaged in plastic disposable bottles.
For more eco-tips, follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We share regular tips and tricks on how to live a more eco-friendly life. We’re also happy to hear any tips you have so drop us a message! We’ll also be posting lots more eco-tips and tricks on our just for fun page, so stay tuned!
Summer gift-giving hack that is better for the environment
July 2022
Summer has rolled around quickly. Schools will soon be breaking up for the summer holidays and saying goodbye to teachers and friends.
If you’ve got your end-of-term presents ready but want to gift something personal and get the kids involved – look no further! These gift boxes are easy to make with little ones and will stand out from the crowd as they’re zero waste and are made with a toilet roll core (what else!)
Read on for how we made these:
What you will need:
Feel Good toilet paper core
Scrap paper (if you have any wrapping paper lying around, that would be perfect)
PVA glue
Scissors
Ribbon or string
What to do:
Step 1: Cut the scrap paper long enough to go round the toilet roll three times. Apply a strip of glue on the inside end of the paper. Wrap the paper around the toilet paper core and press the glue strip down so it sticks.
Step 2: Gently press the extra scrap paper inside each end of the loo roll until the paper is nicely tucked in and glued to the cardboard.
Step 3: Gently press the middle of each end of the roll so they fold in towards the centre. They will slightly overlap in the middle. Make the crease nice and sharp so it’s secure.
Step 4: Pop you gift inside and secure the other end. Cut some ribbon/string to go around the tube, wraparound and tie with a bow.
Step 5: ADMIRE!
You can fill your toilet roll gift box with sweets, jewellery, gift vouchers – any small gift you can think of. Why not share your gift box creation with us on Instagram or Facebook.
Check out more craft ideas on our website too, like this pencil pot.
How to make your bathroom more eco-friendly
June 2022
Enjoy #internationalbathday the right way.
In the debate of baths versus showers over which is better for the planet, baths are often painted as the bad guys.
The truth though is that showers can be just as bad, if not worse for our planet, especially if you love a long, steamy shower.
The most important thing though, besides staying squeaky clean of course, is offsetting the effects of your bath or shower has on the environment by making the rest of your bathroom routine more eco-friendly. There are plenty of ways to do that too, so that you can enjoy a nice hot, relaxing bath this evening to celebrate International Bath Day without the guilt or damage to the world we love and live in. Here are our top five ways to make your bathroom a planet friendly environment.
Re-use greywater
Grey water is clean wastewater, from baths and sinks and even washing machines. This can be used to irrigate the plants you’ve spruced up your home with.
Reduce plastic & refill
Bathroom products use a lot of plastic! So swapping them out for soaps and shampoos in glass bottles can make a big difference. Many local shops now have refill stations, meaning you can almost entirely eradicate the need for plastic in your bathroom.
Bathe in candlelight
Baths are a luxury, so why not fully immerse yourself in the experience; switch off lights in favour of candles to save energy while you soak and float into a peaceful mindset.
Swap out your shower curtain
Often an overlooked way of creating a more sustainable bathroom, replacing your shower curtain can make a positive difference. Plastic, PVC and vinyl shower curtains are far from eco-friendly materials, so opt for renewable resources like natural cotton or bamboo or a much longer lasting glass screen.
Use eco toilet roll
Here at Feel Good we like to think we’ve revolutionised the toilet roll game with our 100% recycled toilet roll. It’s soft and affordable, making both your bottom and the environment happy. Plus, it’s packaged in a paper wrap made from renewable sources and can be recycled with your paper and card.
If you want to find more tips and tricks then head over to our social channels and join the chatter!
Did you know a plastic bag takes a whopping 400 to 1,000 years to completely break down in the environment!
Swapping to a reusable bag made of jute or cotton is an easy switch to make to reduce plastic waste. Simply keep one in your handbag, car or next to your desk in the office and bingo – you’ve just cut down on plastic use!
For more eco-tips, follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We share regular tips and tricks on how to live a more eco-friendly life. We’re also happy to hear any tips you have so drop us a message! We’ll also be posting lots more eco-tips and tricks on our just for fun page, so stay tuned!
4 Cleaning Tips That Are Easy And Eco Friendly
April 2022
It’s April and although the weather might not have got the memo, Spring is here! This means it’s time for a big spring clean.
A spring clean gives you the chance to reset and refresh your home. We would advise regular tidy up so the job isn’t as daunting, but either way, we’ve got you covered.
Read on for our easy (and of course, eco-friendly) cleaning tips …
Make yourself an all-purpose cleaner
Starting off with a cleaning tip that is not only eco-friendly but can save lots of pennies. Make your own all-purpose cleaner.
Using a homemade, all-purpose cleaner and popping it in an old spray bottle means you’ll be cutting down on products with lots of plastic packaging.
Simply mix 150ml water, 60ml white vinegar and 40ml surgical spirit (optional essential oil for fragrance!)
You can use this everywhere: worktops, the hob, cupboards, mirrors and glass for a streak-free, quick-drying clean!
Easy peasy lemon squeezy
Lemons are an asset to any eco-friendly cleaning routine, with both antibacterial and antiseptic qualities.
Rub a slice of lemon on a cutting board to remove germs. Go a step further and dip lemon halves into salt and use them to scrub your pots back to their signature shine.
Another top tip is to use a lemon half to clean tricky cheese graters! Save your sponges from getting shredded by wiping graters with lemon before washing. It’ll loosen up anything stuck inside.
Clear the closet
We’re all guilty of it. Keeping items of clothing that no longer fit us, suit us or are falling apart because of sentimental value. It’s time to take inspiration from Marie Kondo and get rid of what doesn’t ‘spark joy.’ Whether you sell old items online or donate to your local charity shop, there are still ethical considerations.
While charity shops are always happy to welcome your donations, not every item goes on to have a second life. Research by Oxfam estimates ‘at least’ one million pounds of textiles donated ends up in landfills.
Easy tips to ensure your donated items go on to a loving home include making sure everything you donate is washed, checking the quality and that there are no holes or missing buttons, and checking before you donate. Make sure to call your chosen charity shop before making a trip as they make be overcome with donations and prefer you wait a week or two to take new items in.
Toothbrushes can come in handy for cleaning any awkward spots in your home. The back of your taps, computer keyboards and the grout between your tiles.
The small size and coarse bristles are perfect for cleaning stubborn grime.
