Updated: Mar 16, 2023
Well, no holiday is ‘Evil’, in fact most holidays are full of fun, sun with some incredible sites and possibly some amazing wildlife. However, these amazing feats of nature or once in a lifetime experiences from the most alien like environment to the most exotic animal, may not be what it seems. My goal for this post is to highlight some of the key ways your holiday may not be what it seems and how you may be causing more harm by contributing or participating in certain activities or adventures. Before I start, I want to clarify please do not see this, as a post stating that you should not go on holiday or cancel your current trip but to consider these factors in the future. Additionally, I believe you should go on holiday and see as much of the world as you can and gain an insight to other cultures and new experiences. By seeing more of the world, it broadens your knowledge but also awareness of our effects on the world and wildlife by highlighting these issues, so you can start doing something about it.
Research:
Now, I know it is hard to restrain yourself from potential once in a lifetime experience, especially thanks to social media and the possibility of obtaining an amazing picture that will make all your friends jealous. However, before you do please try to ‘stop and think’, even if everyone around you is doing it and it all looks okay, this is rarely the case. Importantly, you should consider that just because you cannot see any harm that doesn’t mean there isn’t any. This is primarily seen in animals that look fine physically but can be sedated, have been tortured to behave in a certain way or have psychological affects from the abuse they have suffered. To help you with this I have highlight some of the things you may want to look out for, before you book your next trip away or an extra excursion. Here is how your holiday or holiday activities may be affecting the culture, environment & wildlife you visits:
The locals:
Seeing another culture is fascinating and it can in turn help those in that culture. This can especially be beneficial for people in Less Economically Developed Country (LEDC), where tourism is a huge source of income for them. Having said this there are those who will take advantage of them. You want to be careful when giving money to the organisation of a trip, as you want to ensure that the money goes to the locals and not in their back pocket. Additionally, remember these are people too, who are often very proud and belittling them as some helpless individual can be an insult and undermining to them, so treat them with respect. Having said all this, learning new culture is an amazing experience you should enter with an open mind and to help that culture is another great feeling.
Riding Animals:
Now, you may have the opportunity to ride an animal or you may be going on an adventure, where an animal will carry your baggage. Well both are bad and you should not support either. Usually, this is seen with donkeys, elephants and camels but can be other species too. Although you may think that this does not have a huge effect on them, I am here to tell you it does. The animals that have to do these daily tasks of carrying heavy loads often lead to their short lifespan, as well as many health problems and pain during it. Most commonly, the heavy loads they often endure create severe back problems and deformed feet and toes that will often never heal in their lifetime. Additionally, many are worked in horrendous conditions with little water leading to them collapsing and dying. If this was not enough to make you think, these animals will often be ‘trained’ in a cruel and violent way to continue to work in these terrible conditions. This is often seen in elephants, infact to training of elephants is often called "breaking of the spirit". Finally, an often overlooked feature is the psychological effect on the animal from the way they are treated. Whatever you do, please do not ride an animal.
The Natural Wildlife:
I wouldn’t blame this one on the guides, even though they could do more to stop it but rather the stupidity of people. You may have even seen this on your holiday where you are taken to a beautiful spot like a lagoon to view the amazing sites and swim. However, one person then decided to pick up a starfish and instantly an animal is stressed, harmed or even ends up dead. One striking article that blew up a few years ago was about a baby dolphin passed around on a beach for pictures and was taken out the water for so long it sadly passed away. Remember when you visit these locations that they belong to these animals and we should respect that and leave them be.
The Natural Environment:
Going to amazing picturesque scenic views can be a life time experience but for how long will these scenes stay beautiful? and what affects is tourism having on the location? The more people who visit these sites there is a higher chance of it being ruined. This is often by people climbing over them, picking up natural ‘souvenirs’, and most stupidly just plain old littering. This can even be underwater and the effects of your flippers on the sand bed when scuba diving. I believe everyone should see as much of the world as possible, so although I want to encourage you to see these sites, please do not do the above. All of which can in turn be detrimental to the wildlife and ruin the area for the locals and other who plan to visit it. I encourage anyone to see these beautiful sites around the world but also to be a person who actively tries to preserve them for the environment and ecosystems they are.
Cruises:
Cruises can be incredibly harmful to the environment and wildlife in their own right. Here are some key points on how cruises are more harmful than you think. For example, did you know that when a cruise ship is beyond 3 nautical miles of any shore it can legally dump raw sewage straight into the ocean. Also, they are often referred to as floating cities and this is largely because of the amount of air pollution they produced, which contribute to global warming. Another often unheard-of problem is that large cruise ships hit whales and dolphins killing them outright without even realising they have done. These are just a few points on cruise ships and how they are killing the wildlife and coral reefs, so lets try to change it!
Petting the ‘Pet’:
From getting your picture with a parrot or a monkey to cuddling big cats, you really need to ask yourself 'is this right?'. Obviously, it is not, even if it seems like the animal is healthy, calm and in good condition it probably isn’t. Even if it is all that, you need to ask yourself ‘is that the kind of life that this animal should live?’ Additionally, there are often hidden reasons to why these animals may seem okay with being petted and held. This can be through intensive training (maybe with physical punishments), sedation, right up to removing teeth. All of which I am sure you will agree is disgusting. You may see pictures on social media and think it would be a great experience but think of the animal rights before your own goals.
Buying gifts:
Buying gifts may help to contribute to the local economy, which is something I strongly agree with but sometimes this may be having a negative effect on the environment. Depending on what it is of course. Key things to look out for are coral, dried marine life, rocks from historical sites and similar items, all of which you should not buy. You may think it is not a big deal because it is just a small piece but when millions of these are sold, it does have a large effect.
Now, there is no point in listing all that’s wrong with holidays and the effects on the environment and wildlife, without detailing what you can do to prevent your negative impact. Try to ensure your trip is eco-friendly and if anything is beneficial to the natural habitat and local environment. Not all holidays are ‘evil’ or 'harmful' per se and there are genuine places that rescue animals and protect the environment and you can help by visiting these locations, volunteering and financial donations. However, before you book your next adventure think of the things I have mentioned, take a moment to do some research and look for companies that genuinely want to help the environment and wildlife. A good way to do this is to look for accredited organisations that approve trips or the destinations you plan on visiting. My main goal in this article is to highlight the issues there are in the world of tourism and the unknown negative affects you might be having. Before you book your next holiday or adventure take into consideration the ethical, sustainable and environmental impact and aim to make the right decision.
Updated: Feb 5, 2023
Currently, there are many products that use leather as its core material but it is also found within many more. This includes belts, shoes, wallets, bag sand jackets, just to name a few, so as I am sure you are aware there is a lot of leather out there. This largely comes down to the ‘high end’ ‘quality’ look and feel the majority of people believe it achieves. However, for ethical and environmental reasons leather is certainly not good at all. A common misconception with leather is the belief that leather is a by-product of the meat industry but this is simply not true. Most leathers come from animals that are killed primarily for their skin and not as a by-product, even as a by-product it is still not ethical. Additionally to this, the process to tanning leather uses a lot of toxic chemicals, which has further impacts on the environment. This is why I have been looking for an eco-friendly, ethical alternative that is sustainable, as a replacement for leather. To do this I have looked at the ‘Cradle-to-cradle’ approach, which looks at the life cycle of the product from its source, through its manufacture to its end of life and if this can be recycled, renew or reused in some way. For these reasons I have omitted faux leather, which is often made from PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) a plastic made to look like leather, as its production is a carbon-intensive process and isn’t biodegradable. Anyway, here are 12 sustainable, cruelty free alternatives to leather:
Cork:
This is probably my favourite alternative and possibly the fastest growing in popularity in recent years. It is a great sustainable material made from the bark of a cork oak tree. The bark is harvested in a way that does not affect the tree allowing the bark to regrow, making it sustainable. There are many different ways the cork is pressed to form the material, which give slightly different looks with both a light and dark finish. To me it gives an earthy elegant look, which is a lot better than leather. Cork is naturally weatherproof, durable and recyclable at the end of its life, further making it a great choice. I have seen it made into wallets, briefcases, belts, bags and even umbrellas. This natural material is probably one of the most eco-friendly materials on this list making it my first choice.
Tree Bark Leather:
This is much like cork and comes from fast growing, sustainable timber and renewable forests or woods. This creates a durable and strong wood leather material, which is often created into a fabric like material called bark cloth or bark fleece. This may not always be waterproof but this feature can be achieved with non-toxic chemical on some items. If you want a more flexible material this may be a great option. I have seen this been made into jackets, coats and other clothing items.
Paper:
This is another one that has increased in popularity and although initially surprising it can achieve strength to that of leather. Additionally, as most of you know paper can be recyclable and made from recycled material, well this is no different for the paper products that can replace leather. The leather like paper itself often uses canvas to strengthen the material and natural oils to soften it and make it flexible. This gives it, its unique look and as it is paper a variety of colours, patterns and designs can be applied to it. I have seen bags, purses and wallets all use this material. The most well-known is the Mighty Wallet, which is known for its extreme durability and strength.
Recycled Rubber:
Another great choice is rubber, which is more of an acute style but provides a matt leathery look. As this is commonly from recycled material, it is often coloured black, which is fine if you like that but you also may not. It has a unique texture that some people don’t like the feel of too but again some might. However, some believe it has a similar texture and density of leather and is a great alternative for bags, belts and accessories. Additionally, the core rubber material often comes from old inner tubes and other recycled rubber that is upcycled.
Recycled tyres – I thought I would mention this as a sub section due to the prominence it has in fashion. I am sure you must have seen belts, guitar straps and jewellery accessories made out of old bike tires, which again provide a unique look with a recycled material.
Piñatex:
Piñatex is a very unique material made from pineapple plant leaves. This is a 100% eco-friendly product and uses an often unused by-product of the pineapple farming industry. This creates a secondary source of income for the farmers and is sustainable. The material looks like worn leather, is watertight and does not need any toxic chemicals in its processing. I have seen this mainly be used for shoes and bags but can be made into dressed, skirts and other items. This is a great option as it is both ethical and sustainable.
Waxed Cotton:
This one may be a bit more tricky and you should do some research, as to where you are getting the product from. However, there are companies that provide waxed cotton that is both organic and sustainable. Cotton on its own is not waterproof and that is why it is waxed. This creates a material that is waterproof and as cotton and wax are easier to clean than leather the process in its formation is easier to wash, which reduces the amounts of potentially harmful cleaning chemicals. As this is fabric based it is much more pliable than leather and others on this list, allowing it to be applied in more products. Some well-known brands make some high-end products with this unique texture and look. I have seen this primarily used for jackets, hats and bags.
Coolstone ‘Leather’:
What do you mean a cloth made from stone? That’s impossible right? Well, Coolstone ‘leather is made from an extremely thin sewable layer of slate stone onto a fleece material. This again is very unique and provides a well-worn leathery look that feels like paper and stone. As it gets older the distressed look increases, further improving the well-worn look. Due to it being made from slate stone It always comes in a matte black/grey finish, which gets softer with age. This is a new emerging material that needs more development but is a great looking alternative to leather.
Ocean Leather:
This one is fascinating but unfortunately I haven’t seen many companies use it. It is a natural material that comes from the ocean, specifically from leather kelp (large brown tough seaweed). To be sustainable it involves growing this plant in a farmed section of the ocean but there is already an abundance of it that exists and as above it is still in its early stages of development. However, the kelp does not use pesticide lessening its environmental impact. Once collected it is often dyed to be a more appeasing colour but this can be done with natural, eco-friendly dyes.
MuSkin:
This is an odd one and some people may not like the idea of it but I believe it is a great alternative. You may have guessed from the name but this comes from mushrooms. To be precise it used the inedible mushroom specifically Phellinus Elliposideus cap that grows on tree trunks. Once harvested the mushroom cap go through a similar process of leathering but instead of using toxic chemicals, natural eco-friendly alternative can be used. In this process the material can also be made water-repellent. This finished material creates an earthy looking products that looks similar to suede but is much softer. I have seen this used for bags, hats and purses but will hopefully see a lot more of it in the not too distant future.
The Hana Plant (Agave Plant):
This again is a lesser-known alternative but still makes it way on the list. The reason for it being on the list is because it’s simplistic, elegant minimalistic look that I love. This uses the fibres from the thick leaves of the Hana Plant that can be grown sustainably. They are woven together to produce a thick fabric. I have seen seller’s state this is good for the local communities where it is grown and is Peta approved, further increasing it eco-friendliness. However, if you pick an item up with it, try to ensure that is uses natural, certified dyes on the product.
Teak Leaves:
This is another interesting one and the one that I believe connects the most with nature (visually), so if you are like that, I would recommend this one. This uses natural raw teak leaves that are able to withstand tropical storms, so are naturally strong, durable and water resistant. This material has a natural look similar to that you could see on the jungle or forest floor. I have mostly seen it been used to create purses or bags.
Fruit leather:
Fruit leathers are much like some of the alternatives I have previously mentioned. This uses the skins and seeds (the left over bits) of fruit (Apple, Orange and grapes) to create a durable leather like material. This can be tear and water resistant making it durable and hardy. As it is from fruit it is a sustainable by-product, which also makes it a great choice. One of the top fruit leather is:
Wineleather- This is made from grape marc, which is the leftover bit from the winemaking process (Consisting of grape skins and seeds), processed in an environmentally friendly way to make a leather. This often has a rich red, burgundy look, which may be to your liking.
This goes to show that there are a number of alternatives that could be used and adopted to stop the use of leather. I understand that some of these may be hard to find or get your hands on, as they are still in development and growing in the market. However, with higher demand they will become more easily accessible and prominent in the industry. There are 12 alternative on this list and I would be incredibly surprised if you could not get hold of the item you want with one of these. For this reason and the ethical reasons you should really consider them not only for the ethics but because they provide a great fashion alternative. When purchasing any items always look at the company, as they are often proud to proclaim they are animal/ cruelty free, vegan friendly and often demonstrate other incentives such as planting more than they take to better help in the world. If you are looking for alternatives to leather I applaud your dedication to begin to help the environment and animal welfare but do make sure to do some research first. Just because it uses a potentially sustainable product doesn’t mean It is sustainable and ethical. An example of this is many of these plants are sustainable unless they are over harvests depleting their number and their impact on their respective ecosystems. Finally, I hope there is at least one alternative on this list that you want to learn about and possibly even start using as an alternative to leather not only for ethical reasons but also the wider environmental reason.
Updated: Feb 5, 2023
When I saw the Matrix PowerWatch I was initially intrigued by this futuristic device on the crowd-funded website ‘Indiegogo’. I quickly decided to back the product and luckily, this was a contribution that actually paid off, as I received the watch. The MATRIX PowerWatch as they phrase is the “Smartwatch Powered by You”. This is because it never needs to be charged, which makes it sustainable. There are three options of the watch that is available, these is the standard version, Black Ops Special edition and the version I got the ‘X’. The PowerWatch X is the biggest of the watches and meant to be a tougher version with the bonus of being 200m deep water resistant. The main reason I went for the X model was because it is bigger it stated it generates more power, giving some additional features such as synced notifications.
Here is what you get in the box:
Firstly, the box seems well made and has an overall professional look, which actually looks like a product you would pick off the shelf in your high-street, so that is a good start. When you open the box you are greeted with the watch in all its glory with the following contents:
The Watch – Obviously!
Thermal Recharger – To charge it from a wall socket, as opposed to your wrist.
Microfibre – To clean the watch face
User Manual – To get you started!
Warranty
Guide for the Thermal Recharger
Initial thoughts:
The main reason I got this watch is because you never have to charge it making it sustainable. This is for two aspect, one it saves energy and two batteries are still incredibly poor and this is more so in smartwatches, which solves this problem. The ability to have your smartwatch on your wrist all the time without having to take it off and continues to work is great. The watch generates power through the temperature difference between your body heat and the heat of the watches case, which generates a charge to keep the watch powered. This essentially means you will not have to charge it, saving energy and the pollution that often comes with it. Additionally to this, it is 200m water resistant, which I haven’t tested that but it does work after going through the shower a few times and a quick swim. Finally, the watch has several modes for a number of function, these include:
Time, day and date mode
Daily activity –Details distant travelled and calories burned
Running – Tracks your time and distance
Stop Watch
How does it looks:
As for the look this is usually rather personal to whoever will be wearing it. For that reason I have added a number of pictures. However, in my opinion it a solid metal design that looks hard wearing and rugged. The face clearly depicts the time, day and date, which is very useful. The watch feels snug on the wrist due to the rubber strap, which I assume will help with obtaining the heat difference on your wrist. The watch is clearly notifiable on the wrist, due to it slightly large size, which to some could be uncomfortable and difficult with long sleeved shirts. To me this is the main issue with the watch, its bulkiness. It almost seems bigger than what it looks like in the picture and is almost too big for most people’s wrists. Having said that I know chunky watches suite some people taste and like me the added benefit of a more powerful watch made it worth it.
Does it work?
Simply Yes, I have owned it for several months now and not had a problem with the battery life of the watch at all, so its main feature of being powered by you seems to be true. Additionally, it is easy to read the time, day, date and all other information on all the different modes. It also tracks your activity and gives you notifications when you achieve your activity goals. Further to this, the watch buzzes and gives a notification that clearly shows you have received a message and who it is from, which is a useful function. However, it lacks the ability to read the message or reply via the watch but for me meant that I did not have to pick my phone up, as often if I could see the message was not important to me.
Software:
The software seems simple enough and I didn’t have any troubles navigating it at first. However, I did have some trouble when it needed to be updated. If I had not used it for say a week and it needed an update, it struggled to do this and had several problems connecting the watch to the software (app) on my phone. Eventually, I had to remove the watch connection with my phone, delete the app and reinstall it all to get it working. I am hoping this is a small technical problem that the Matrix Company will be fixing shortly.
Fitness tracking:
Now, I am not the biggest fitness fanatic but I do try to keep myself reasonably fit. Usually, for me this is a light weight workout, the occasional walk and I bike to my local train station. However, the Matrix Smart Watch fitness tracking only extends to a running mode. This times and tells you the distance of your run, which seems to be fairly accurate (in my test). This is then recorded on the app and can be compared to your friends and your past runs to track improvements. Unfortunately, this is quite limited and I hope they have improved this in the PowerWatch 2.
Final Thoughts:
I love the concept of this watch but I still believe there are a number of issues that still needs a lot of work. Namely, the software, the amount of functions the watch has and the bulkiness of it. Smartwatches are often used for their fitness and health tracking, which is limited with the lack of sensors on the PowerWatch. Additionally, the watch is defiantly large on the wrist and in my opinion a bit too bulky, almost making it uncomfortable, so this is something to consider. Having said this the watch achieves its goal of not needing to be charged from a plug socket, it is water resistant and meets the requirements of a watch by telling you the time and has the added benefit of alerting you when you get a message.
Warning: I paid for this on Indiegogo about a year in advance, as they did not meet their deadline for delivery. Additionally, I had it for approximately 7 months and they have brought out the next generation. Now, although I am glad they have (I assume) improved the watch with enhanced features, better performance and arguably better looking but to me it is not fair on those who just purchased the previous version to make it outdated in such a short amount of time. For someone who likes technology and wants to have the latest and greatest it is rather disheartening when you support a brand for over a year and then be outdated within months.
Recommendation:
Despite this being a 3rd edition of the watch and I was hoping most the kinks would had been ironed out I feel it still needs more work. Mainly due to its bulkiness, technical glitches with the software and lack of function (heart rate monitor, etc.), so for the PowerWatch X I would not recommend getting this version or any of the first generations. Having said this, I believe that the PowerWatch by Matrix are the only real smartwatch that has a unique sustainable element to it. Additionally, they have quickly produced their second line of the watches with the ‘PowerWatch 2’, which I have higher hopes for and fingers crossed will improve the issues with the first line, so don’t rule them out just yet.
Indiegogo:
Finally, I would not advise getting the watch or anything through Indiegogo, as you could be waiting a long time like I had to and potential not receive it at all. Although, I did receive my perk from Matrix in the end, on another (completely unrelated product) I did not and there was no way of getting my money back, so just be aware of that and the risks you take.
