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What is Upcycling? In basic terms? Using what you have. Upcycling is the process of repurposing waste to create something new. In our case, we aim to eliminate food waste by using juice pulp, a byproduct which is typically thrown away. In order to make our granola, we upcycle apple juice pulp collected from cider and juice pressers in England.

Now, as I'm sure you're aware, a 'produce bag' is nothing new. You've probably seen them anywhere and everywhere from Amazon to Etsy, supermarkets and of course every independent packaging free shop. As is custom with everything we make at nibs etc., it was not going to be 'just another...'. It had to have purpose. It had to upcycle and reduce waste, in some way. It had to be a useful produce bag, but better.

It might feel like a strange time to be 'celebrating' anything, at the moment. A lot of us may feel uprooted, unsettled, have lost our rhythm or routine. We strongly believe that continuing with our traditions, no matter how big or small, old or new, can help root us, bring us purpose, and keep us going. Make do and make the most of your extra time, it's not the time to see this confinement as limiting or debilitating. It's an opportunity to grow, learn new skills, be reminded of old hobbies and re-connect and stay connected with the people you love. Be grateful for good health and appreciative of the freedom we will have once this passes.

I love traditions. And right now, I don't know about you, but I could do with a tradition or two; to ground me, keep me going, feel close to the people that I can't be close to. Every Easter, I generally insist upon the following: 1 Easter egg hunt, 1 batch of chocolate Mini Egg nests, 1 egg dying session. [for brunch egg-cracking]. Given all that's going on, one will suffice.

First thing to note - and hopefully another reason why you'll love doing this as much as we do - most of these natural dye colours come from otherwise wasted, thrown out, kitchen ingredients.

A galette is basically the hipster version of a tart. It is imperfect to perfection, rustic to the point of being refreshingly contemporary. And was the ultimate trend setter. Until everybody caught on. It also just so happens to be the easiest seasonally-adapting hack to entertaining. Don’t have a tart tin? Galette. Don’t have perfectly just-ripe fruit or veg? Galette. Don’t have hours to prep? Galette. Don’t want to hear more reasons? Galette.

Talking about transformation has never seemed quite so pertinent. March is the month that signifies the turning of seasons. Those long dreary Winter days are almost over. The days are getting longer, daffodils are shinning happy yellow faces in parks, grass has replaced mud and the need to wear a beanie along with 7 other layers is less necessary. It's safe to say Spring is finally here.

Recipe etc.: Pizza Dough, Vehicle for Leftovers

Italy’s shining glory. Done differently in every region. Hell, every household I’m sure. But always available per prendere via [to take away]. And the PERFECT vehicle for any combination of toppings and crazy pairings your creative self can come up with. Pizza is very forgiving, like that.

I’m not really one to ‘meal plan’. Even if, interestingly, that is often touted as quite an effective way to reduce food waste in the kitchen. If I’m honest, I just never get organized. Instead, I like to invest in one ingredient, and see what I can add to it from the excess odds and ends I have lying around [perhaps you can relate…]

A time of new year's resolutions and new things in general. What if we simply looked at things we are lucky to have already, in a new light? Instead of getting distracted by shiny new objects, while perhaps sometimes tempting, we also love to celebrate the old, like that pair of trousers from 8 years ago you remembered you had; or at least know how to repurpose old things. According to WRAP, around 300,000 tonnes of clothing – worth about £140 million – go to landfill every year in the UK alone.

December is a period of indulgence and huge expense. Often getting caught in the trap of having the 'perfect' gifts, extravagant parties, new outfits and endless trays of food. We can forget to make the most of what we already have.

Upcircle have been at the forefront of the upcycling beauty revolution. They epitomise authenticity, and really, their products speak for them selves. To see how far they have come, so quickly - they even appeared on Dragon's Den last year - is hugely inspiring. Whether you are an aspiring/existing entrepreneur, customer of theirs, passionate about skin care, avid sustainability advocate, or never even heard of them (have you been living under a rock), UpCircle are the ones to watch.

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