Latest news with #Chillys
Scotsman
5 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Here's what I've learned during my imperfect struggle against single-use plastic
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I assume you already recycle. I also assume you already bring a reusable bag when you go shopping and own a Chillys water bottle or – god forbid – a steel Stanley cup (steel being responsible for about 8 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions). But even with everyone 'doing their bit', can recycling and single-use alternatives to plastic really make a difference? With only 9 per cent of plastic recycled globally and two million plastic bags used every minute – how can we keep up? Can individual efforts ever turn the tide, and at what personal cost? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For me, living a plastic-free life feels essential, but also impossible. I've successfully given up things before, like chocolate at Lent and meat. These moments of abstinence were in my power – I just had to say 'no'. However, with plastic, 'no' is not always possible. Plastic finds its way into your home, clothes and even your lungs. It is packaged up in convenience, cost and practicality, handed over to us in a system with no alternative and thus removes our free choice. Plastic pollution is everywhere, but individual people can make a difference (Picture: Juni Kriswanto) | AFP via Getty Images Plastic redemption is hard to find I feel well-researched (I've written a play on the matter) and well-read (I recommend Lucy Siegle's Turning The Tide On Plastic). But I still find myself eating a plastic punnet of M&S mango on a train home. The sweet fruit soon turns sour as I look for a recycling bin. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is compounded by the very real cost-of-living crisis. Many must reach for the cheapest option. But even when you walk into your nearest Whole Foods or Waitrose, plastic is everywhere, which suggests wealth can't buy redemption. Those closest to atonement are those with one of life's biggest luxuries... the afternoon off! Give me a couple of hours and I'll do the meal prep. But everyone's at work and trying to keep up. Then there are my favourite moments, the 'f*** it' moments: the Friday night takeaway, the pay-day moisturiser. All plastic. All things I don't think we should have to live without. Living plastic free is no easy feat. It's hard work that requires time and the patience for a logistical puzzle. But there are ways to chip away at it – quietly, imperfectly. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pick your battles There are options for you to choose better, rather than perfect. You can buy shampoo in a glass bottle that looks like an Aesop dupe. You can commit – really commit – by bringing your reusable water bottle and your tote bag everywhere. Essentially you can pick your battles. Swap clingfilm for silicone lids or replace it with beeswax wraps. Choose bar soap again – it's less Victorian than you think it is. Your beauty products probably now come in refill cartridges (Dior, REN, Charlotte Tilbury) and your local refill shop will decant your oats and olive oil into something that doesn't rattle. You can even outsource the virtue. Shops like Daylesford, The Source, and Planet Organic have done the plastic-free curating for you. The Co-op has trialled compostable corn-starch bags – which may not be perfect, but they are better. And restaurants like Spring and Native are quietly ditching plastic takeaway pots in favour of reusable or biodegradable packaging. It doesn't need to be all hemp and worthy granola. Vanity still matters. Larq bottles purify themselves. UpCircle makes exfoliators out of coffee grounds, in recycled packaging. The Food Market sells pastel silicone storage bags that wouldn't look out of place in a stylised cookbook shoot. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And you don't have to live like a monk. You just have to live like someone with a Waitrose card and a reusable cup. It reduces landfill, conserves natural resources, saves energy, and minimises pollution. It is also a paradox. Chasing bin lorries While I recycle the odd plastic bottle, Coca-Cola made 100 billion more last year. Joke's on me! There's a small chance my plastic will be recycled – and another small chance it will be illegally dumped. Do I really feel like I'm saving the world? The honest answer is no. But I still love bin day (Wednesday). I will stand outside in my slippers at midnight rummaging for something I think is in the wrong bag. And I chase down the bin lorry if they leave my recycling behind. I believe being plastic-free is about trying, failing and keeping going. I choose where I can make an impact. Last year I only bought second-hand clothes. I've always loved charity shops and vintage clothing so this was a good one for me. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I do have takeaways, but I don't waste food. I shop at my local market to avoid plastic wrapping – but not a moon cup. And I will absolutely continue buying strawberries in July, even if they come in a punnet that makes me feel morally compromised. Running out of chances War rages around the world, habitats and homes are lost as global temperatures rise, and Love Island has started. Do people care about plastic? It's hard, but we have to. Single-use alternatives and recycling should not be political, but practical, habitual and lasting. Yes, we need governments and corporations to be held accountable, and policy to enforce change – but your bin men are still coming on Wednesday. If you haven't put that milk carton in, that's one chance you've missed to make a difference. And there might not be many chances left.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
I tested insulated water bottles during heat wave – one didn't even keep liquid cool while winner cost £12
WITH the warm weather continuing, it's a good idea to carry water around with us. Since Chilly's insulated bottles hit the market in 2010, almost every shop had produced their own version to keep your drink cold. 9 Here, Thea Jacobs And Lily Richardson put stores' insulated bottles to the test to see if they can keep your water ice cold all day long. Each bottle contained chilled water and was placed in direct sunlight for 8 hours on a blistering 30C day, and tested hourly. We rate each one out of five. Insulated Travel Flask Beige, 420ml, Tesco, £8 THIS flask isn't much to look at, but would fit in perfectly in a nice minimalist home. It's primarily designed for taking coffees or teas out and keep them warm, but it doesn't do too badly with cold drinks in this test. When I put the water into the flask, it was 19.9C degrees. An hour in and it had actually dropped by 0.2C to 19.7C. The flip lid is easy to use, and it has a smooth directional pour for the liquid to stop spillages. You can turn it upside down and shake it with no leaks at all. After six hours the water temperature had risen to 23.3C and the lid was hot to touch. This doesn't hold as much liquid as the others. I've wasted £100s on leaky water bottles so put 7 to the test for back-to-school Temp rise: 4.5C Rating: 3/5 Smidge Reusable Water Bottle, 500ml, Ocado, £15 9 THIS is certainly an assault on the eyes, but given the fluorescent orange, you'd be hard-pressed to ever lose or forget this bottle. For its size, it's more expensive than the other options but it does prove worth the cost as I measure the water temperature across eight hours. It started at 17C when I put the water in, and in an hour it had only risen 0.3C. This is a nicely sealed bottle and doesn't leak when placed on its side or turned upside down. After six hours in the sun, the bottle is warm to touch but not hot and the water inside is still cool at 20.2C. After eight hours the liquid measured 21.6C. Rating: 4/5 Contigo Streeterville Thermalock Tumbler 1.2l, Ocado, £30 9 A dupe of a Stanley Cup that has become super popular. It has a removable straw, but there is nowhere to store it when not in use, which seems to be a design flaw. It also has a chug hole. While this takes the biggest volume of liquid, it's not watertight and leaks when everything is closed and lying on its side. When I turn it upside down, it's like a miniature Niagara Falls. After an hour the water temperature has risen from 19.8C to 20C. After six hours the flask is really hot to touch. After eight hours the water temperature had risen to 25.5C. Rating: 1/5 Sistema, 500ml, Waitrose, £12 9 THIS is a gorgeous pinky-purple colour and looks really stylish. It's a decent price for the size and doesn't leak when turned upside down or on its side. The matt coating to the outside keeps it nice and cool despite it spending eight hours in the sunshine at 30C. This is by far the best insulated bottle. After two hours the temperature has only risen to 19.5C, 0.5C higher than it was when I filled the bottle. After six hours the bottle is a little warm to the touch but it is still much cooler than the others. After eight hours, the water temperature had risen to 23.1C Temp rise: 4.1C Rating: 5/5 Gym + Coffee 750ml, £22 9 THIS is the third largest of the insulated bottles I tested and one I've heard pals raving about to take to the gym – possibly because of the name. It's a screw top and is watertight when turned on its side and upside down. After an hour, the temperature of the water inside had risen by 0.5C. After two, the bottle had become extremely hot to touch but the water remained a cool 19.6C. I'm starting to see why people rate this bottle. After eight hours in direct sunlight the water temperature had risen to 23C. While this keeps the liquid super cool, it does become very hot to touch, which makes holding it to take a swig quite hard – but that is the only down side. Temp rise: 4C Rating: 4/5 Insulated Dual Adventure Water Bottle Cup With Handle 880ml, Tesco, £12 9 THE design of this insulated bottle makes it look a bit like a baby's sippy cup crossed with a Stanley bottle – and I can't say I'm a fan. The dual straw and chug hole are a nice touch and make it easy to drink whatever the weather. It doesn't leak when laid on its side or turned upside down. Given that it holds a large volume of water, I was expecting the liquid to stay cooler for longer, but that wasn't the case. Within an hour it had risen 1.3C from 20.4C. Thanks to the colour of the bottle – white reflects the sun – it didn't get hot to touch during the eight hours it spent in direct sunlight. At the end of the day, the water in the bottle was 25.5C. Rating: 2/5 Black Matt 500ml Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle, WHSmith, £14.99 9 THIS looks like a classic Chilly's insulated bottle, but it's a WHSmith's own-brand dupe. It's a dark colour which makes me think it'll become very hot to touch after eight hours in the sunlight – and it turns out that I'm right. After just two hours the lid, which needs to be screwed off, is scorching hot. Thankfully, the contents of the bottle are quite cool still. The water temperature was 19.3C when poured in and after two hours it had risen to 20.7C. After six hours in the sun, the entire bottle is hot and hard to handle. I had to use a tea towel to try sipping the contents. After eight hours the liquid inside measured 23.5C. Rating: 3/5 NPW Hydrate Feel Great, Waterstones, £6.99 9 IT may look like an insulated water bottle, with a nice colour and motivational slogan, but it isn't actually insulated – just a regular run-of-the-mill water bottle. So in terms of it giving you a cooling drink, you'd either need to keep it in a shady spot, or, better still, find a fridge to put it in. When I filled the bottle the water temperature was 19C, after just an hour in the sun it had risen to 28.7C. Despite the soaring temperature, the bottle still feels cool to touch so is easy to handle. However, after standing for eight hours in direct sunlight and 30C heat, the temperature of the water inside had risen to 33.6C.
North Wales Live
11-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Ninja Thirsti water bottle that keeps 'drinks ice cold for hours' has £16 off with deal
With temperatures in the UK creeping higher and higher, with some parts of the country hitting 31 degrees this weekend, it's crucial to stay hydrated. While water is the obvious choice for hydration - complete with ice cubes to stay cool - those who prefer a fizzy drink often have to settle for the standard can or bottle packaging, which doesn't really stay cold. However, for those seeking a cooler and more luxurious way to carry their carbonated beverages, Ninja offers a stylish water bottle - the Thirsti - designed to keep drinks 'ice cold' and fizzy drinks carbonated for longer. Even better, we've discovered a clever shopping hack that reduces the £35 gadget to £18.82, knocking over £16 off it. This discount is only available to new TopCashback members, who can sign up via this unique link here. Once signed up, new members will receive a £15 cashback bonus on qualifying purchases over £15, such as the Ninja Thirsti. After signing up, members will get an extra percentage of cashback depending on the retailer. For example, with Ninja, shoppers can get up to four per cent cashback, meaning new sign-ups can snag the gadget for £18.82. The Ninja Thirsti, available in five distinct colours, is a high-end water bottle with a generous 700ml capacity. Made from stainless steel, it's durable and perfect for challenging commutes where it might get jostled about in a bag. Whether it's a hot or cold beverage that needs storing, its silicone outer casing ensures it always feels room temperature to the touch. Ninja adds that the insulation within can keep drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12, reports the Manchester Evening News— something shoppers have been impressed with. While keeping drinks piping hot or freezing cold for hours on end - rivalling that of the Stanley cup or Chillys - one of its major selling points is that it keeps sparkling drinks fizzy for longer. Though to avoid any messy accidents, the lid secures firmly into position with a twist mechanism. Stanley additionally offers a bottle featuring similar design elements, complete with a flip straw mechanism for effortless sipping. This variant is on sale for £45.43 on Amazon or £50 on Stanley. For those seeking more wallet-friendly alternatives, the Bottle Bottle 600ml vessel comes in various hues and patterns to showcase your individual style. Amazon stocks these for £19.99, but it's currently on sale for £16.99. The Ninja Thirsti has garnered impressive feedback, with one shopper sharing: "Love this bottle. Does exactly what Ninja said it would. I drink sparkling water and it keeps it sparkly and cold. No leaking either which is a bonus." A second Ninja fan remarked: " Absolutely perfect for hot or cold drinks, even perfect for fizzy drinks and it stays fizzy all day. No other travel bottle is as good as this one." A third customer enthused: "As always, my Ninja thirsti, like all the other products, has not disappointed me. Absolutely great product, keeps my drinks ice cold for hours, making drinking more a lot easier." Nevertheless, the high praise isn't entirely unanimous. One dissatisfied reviewer noted: "Nice colour and well made. However, the screw lid is a bit odd, and it keeps falling into your face when trying to drink from it. Very expensive for what it is." A second commented: " Great bottle. Doesn't leak. However think it would benefit from a different top. It doesn't hold the temperature (both hot or cold) for as long as it claims and I think this is due to the plastic top."
Wales Online
11-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Ninja Thirsti water bottle that keeps 'drinks ice cold for hours' has £16 off with deal
Ninja Thirsti water bottle that keeps 'drinks ice cold for hours' has £16 off with deal The Ninja Thirsti is a premium water bottle that is engineered to keep carbonated drinks fizzy and cold drinks icy for longer - and it's now on sale for just £18.82. The Ninja Thirsti can keep fizzy drinks carbonated for longer. (Image: Ninja ) With temperatures in the UK creeping higher and higher, with some parts of the country hitting 31 degrees this weekend, it's crucial to stay hydrated. While water is the obvious choice for hydration - complete with ice cubes to stay cool - those who prefer a fizzy drink often have to settle for the standard can or bottle packaging, which doesn't really stay cold. However, for those seeking a cooler and more luxurious way to carry their carbonated beverages, Ninja offers a stylish water bottle - the Thirsti - designed to keep drinks 'ice cold' and fizzy drinks carbonated for longer. Even better, we've discovered a clever shopping hack that reduces the £35 gadget to £18.82, knocking over £16 off it. This discount is only available to new TopCashback members, who can sign up via this unique link here. Once signed up, new members will receive a £15 cashback bonus on qualifying purchases over £15, such as the Ninja Thirsti. After signing up, members will get an extra percentage of cashback depending on the retailer. For example, with Ninja, shoppers can get up to four per cent cashback, meaning new sign-ups can snag the gadget for £18.82. Sign up for a free TopCashback account Free TopCashback Buy Now on TopCashback Product Description You can earn hundreds back when shopping online by signing up to a free TopCashback account here. If you want to buy something online, rather than going direct, click on the company via your TopCashback account and you could get paid for it. The Ninja Thirsti, available in five distinct colours, is a high-end water bottle with a generous 700ml capacity. Made from stainless steel, it's durable and perfect for challenging commutes where it might get jostled about in a bag. Whether it's a hot or cold beverage that needs storing, its silicone outer casing ensures it always feels room temperature to the touch. Ninja adds that the insulation within can keep drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12, reports the Manchester Evening News—something shoppers have been impressed with. The Ninja Thirsti is less than £20 with Top Cashback While keeping drinks piping hot or freezing cold for hours on end - rivalling that of the Stanley cup or Chillys - one of its major selling points is that it keeps sparkling drinks fizzy for longer. Though to avoid any messy accidents, the lid secures firmly into position with a twist mechanism. Stanley additionally offers a bottle featuring similar design elements, complete with a flip straw mechanism for effortless sipping. This variant is on sale for £45.43 on Amazon or £50 on Stanley. For those seeking more wallet-friendly alternatives, the Bottle Bottle 600ml vessel comes in various hues and patterns to showcase your individual style. Amazon stocks these for £19.99, but it's currently on sale for £16.99. The Ninja Thirsti has garnered impressive feedback, with one shopper sharing: "Love this bottle. Does exactly what Ninja said it would. I drink sparkling water and it keeps it sparkly and cold. No leaking either which is a bonus." A second Ninja fan remarked: "Absolutely perfect for hot or cold drinks, even perfect for fizzy drinks and it stays fizzy all day. No other travel bottle is as good as this one." A third customer enthused: "As always, my Ninja thirsti, like all the other products, has not disappointed me. Absolutely great product, keeps my drinks ice cold for hours, making drinking more a lot easier." Nevertheless, the high praise isn't entirely unanimous. One dissatisfied reviewer noted: "Nice colour and well made. However, the screw lid is a bit odd, and it keeps falling into your face when trying to drink from it. Very expensive for what it is." A second commented: "Great bottle. Doesn't leak. However think it would benefit from a different top. It doesn't hold the temperature (both hot or cold) for as long as it claims and I think this is due to the plastic top." Article continues below Someone else added: "Really good and it does what it says on the advert, keeps it cold which is a god send on these hot summer days." Sign up to Top Cashback here to snag the £18.82 Thirsti bottle at Ninja.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Nespresso has relaunched its viral iced coffee tumbler ready for summer commutes
Nespresso's 'Nomad Tumbler' went viral on TikTok last year as the perfect way to keep your iced coffee cool during your commute, and it's just been relaunched ready for the summer Most of us can't start the day without a cup of coffee, but the summer heat means a hot coffee doesn't always cut it. Iced coffees are the best alternative, but if you're making one at home it's not always easy to keep it chilled during your commute. Last year Nespresso's Travel Tumbler (£19) went viral on TikTok, racking up more than 7.7 million views under the hashtag NomadTumbler, with users hailing it a staple in their morning routine. Although last year's tumbler was a limited edition launch, Nespresso has released a new version for the summer in a dreamy new pistachio colour. The latest iteration of the Travel Tumbler is already proving another TikTok hit with people saying it's 'so cute', and it's currently still available to get your hands on if you want to step up your morning commute. The tumbler is made from glass, which helps keep your drink nicely chilled, and has ridged vertical lines which make it easy to keep a tight grip on. It also has a handy lid with a straw to make drinking from it on the go even easier. The straw also comes with an attached cap, so you can prevent any spills whilst walking. The 540 ml capacity is just the right size for your morning brew, and although it's perfect for keeping drinks chilled, you can also put hot liquids inside too, making it usable all year round. In fact the only thing you can't put inside is fizzy drinks, and you can't place it in the freezer or microwave. It's also fully dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. It's worth noting that the Nespresso Travel Tumbler doesn't mention being insulated, so if you'd prefer something that is (and will keep your liquid cold for hours on end), this £35 Switch Travel Cup from Chillys is a great alternative. It comes in four different colours and two different sizes (500ml and 750ml) and is fully insulated so it'll retain your beverage's temperature for several hours. You can use the Chillys cup with both hot and iced drinks, and it has a leakproof lid that stops any spillages. Alternatively Lululemon's Insulated Mug 12oz is £25 and has a similar double walled insulated design that keeps iced drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours. However if you want to get your hands on Nespresso's Travel Tumbler before it sells out again, now is your chance. It's currently priced at £19 and in stock for a limited time. You can also pick up the matching Pistachio Barista Ice Cube Tray for £8 to prepare your ice in ready for that chilled morning commute.
