As Plastic Free July sweeps across the globe, we’re reminded that true change begins in our own homes. For many, cleaning products are the silent plastic offenders – those colorful bottles under our sinks that promise cleanliness while leaving a dirty legacy for our planet. But what if we told you sparkling surfaces and sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive?

Why Plastic-Free Cleaning Matters

Every year, billions of plastic cleaning bottles end up in landfills and oceans, where they:

• Release toxins as they break down

• Harm marine life

• Rarely get recycled (only 9% actually do)

Switching to plastic-free alternatives is one of the easiest ways to reduce your footprint.

3 Features of Truly Sustainable Cleaning Products

1. No Plastic Packaging

• Look for: dissolvable sheets, tablets for reusable bottles, or compostable wraps

2. Safe, Simple Ingredients

• Plant-based formulas, no hidden "fragrances"

3. Multi-Purpose Use

• Fewer products = less waste (e.g., one tablet for floors, counters, and glass)

3 Easy Swaps to Start With

1. Multipurpose Tablets

• 1 tablet = 500 sprays in your own bottle

• Removes stains without plastic waste

2. Floor Cleaning Sheets

• Pre-measured, rosemary-scented sheets

• Just drop in water – no heavy bottles

3. Foaming Hand Soap System

• Reusable glass bottle + biodegradable tablets

• Lasts for years, not weeks
  

Small changes add up. This July, pick just one swap and join the movement toward a lighter footprint.

Ready to start?

Read more

I have been thinking about leadership this month. Mainly because I feel that we are lacking quality leaders in the world.  I am also concerned about people who are seeking leadership positions and I shudder to imagine what damage they could do if they were to obtain such positions.

Years ago, I completed a paper on leadership under my MBA and I have done some executive leadership courses but none really have resonated with me.   Last month I went on a business retreat with other successful entrepreneurs and one of the workshops required us to write about our ambition with the purpose of inspiring others.  I noticed many took a process driven approach to the work rather than mounting wonderful arguments around inspiration, change and desire to offer the world ones personal talents.  Do people seek process for safety? I suppose structure feels safe, it gives a roadmap, a clear path and a checklist of what ‘good leadership’ should look like. But process without vision becomes mechanistic, it lacks soul.   Our world is oversaturated with managerial thinking, where is the inspiration? Am a loan ranger again and just too over optimistic?

Is it because too many people restrict themselves with process, systems and are not able lead by intuition, the heart and what could be.  The ability to dream, to inspire, to imagine a better world is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Without imagination, leadership becomes a glorified maintenance job.  Are we not dreaming enough to be able to articulate that dream? Are leaders getting too tied up in the weeds rather than delegating the action to others? Yes the ‘how’ is very important and creates credibility for a leader. They must be able to show how they intend to implement their inspiration.  But what I am talking about is the inspiration.   Maybe one could articulate this as transformative leadership (even that word ‘transformative’ makes me cringe) rooted in authenticity, emotional intelligence with a moral compass and not just KPIs, power, money and status.

I personally want a leader to inspire me, a leader that I can look up to not just because they are successful in their political or business pursuit but because they are good humans doing well for their own families and for the world. How can I look up to a leader that maybe treating their own staff, family or spouses with disregard?   I also want a leader that is progressive and moves with the modernisation of our social fabric.  Think Ghandi (amazing man but abused his wife), Trump (not so monogamous approach to his marriages and his non progressive views on society) and let’s not even consider all those tech leaders….Eion Musk etc.

We have for too long accepted the idea that one can be a great leader while being an absent parent, a toxic partner or an unethical human behind closed doors.  Is my criteria too high or is should this be the new base line we must fight for?  A leader who does not compartmentalise values. Who does not show one face to the world and another at home.

Today I asked my AI to create a list of all the leaders in the world that had a successful career and personal life. Very interesting indeed. A good example of AI biases at play.  It listed Gandhi, Jeff Bezos to name a few.  As we know an AI learns from biased data. My AI has mirrored a world that has not yet made space for those stories of transformational leadership.  We need them more than ever.

Is it at all possible to have a women leader who has children and a partner? Think Helen Clark, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey. Where are my role models? Or am I asking too much, again?  I think the system makes it excruciatingly difficult for women with families, think about Jacinda Ardern who gave us a rare glimpse of motherhood in office but the pressures pushed her to step down. I am asking for a new story of leadership!  Am I asking too much?

One may argue that you do not need to be successful in both your career and personal life to inspire. But not for me, I need both. I want to see my interpretation of good character in both their career and how they treat their loved ones, the vulnerable and how progressive they are in seeing the world.  An ethical, heart centred, visionary leader. Argghhh. Why is it so hard to find a leader like that?

Last week a wonderful collaborative group of women formed The peoples select committee. A group of women from all parts of the political system who are trying to restore equity and the upkeep of our legislative system. Yes that is great leadership of many.  Maybe the future is less about the single, iconic hero leader and more about constellations of wise, heart led leaders moving in harmony. But the reality is that I still want a leader that fits into my ideal. Where are you???

Till my next monthly musing.
Anna xx

Read more

The Great Green Illusion

Picture this: you’re browsing the supermarket aisle, feeling like Captain Planet because you’ve swapped plastic for a “biodegradable” water bottle. But wait—does it biodegrade in your backyard compost… or just in a fancy industrial facility that doesn’t exist within 100 miles of your postcode?

Welcome to greenwashing: the art of making products sound eco-friendly while doing the bare minimum. It’s like putting a reusable tote bag over a landfill and calling it “sustainable”.

Green Flags vs. Green Fluff

Vague Buzzwords

“Eco-friendly”: Means absolutely nothing unless backed by certifications.

“Natural”: Newsflash—arsenic is natural. Doesn’t mean you should rub it on your face.

“Green”: Often just a colour, not a commitment.

Trusty Certifications

Look for labels with teeth (metaphorically, of course):

If a brand’s sustainability page reads like a poetry slam (“we care for Mother Earth’s gentle whispers”), but lacks these badges? Side-eye.

The Bottom Line

True eco-friendliness isn’t a label—it’s a lifestyle. Brands that care prove it with:

• Transparent supply chains

• Third-party certifications

• Actual carbon reduction (not just “offsetting” via dodgy tree-planting schemes).

So next time you see “planet-friendly” on a packet of crisps, remember: the planet doesn’t need buzzwords. It needs action—and maybe fewer crisps wrapped in “recyclable” plastic.

TL;DR:

Greenwashing is the mullet of marketing: business in the front, landfill in the back. Stay sharp, friends. 🌍✨

Read more

April arrives, and with it that unmistakable shift in the air, the light slants lower, the mornings carry a crispness, and the world seems to pause just long enough to remind us to take better care of it.

But sustainability can feel like one more item on an endless to-do list. Must you really install solar panels? Convert your backyard into a permaculture farm? Brew your own cleaning solutions from foraged herbs?

Not necessarily.

This Earth Month, we're focusing on five changes so manageable you could adopt them between loads of laundry. And we'll help you spot the difference between what's truly better and what's simply packaged to look that way - because some 'green' solutions create more problems than they solve.

1. Swap Single-Use Plastics for Reusables (Start Small!)

The Swap: Trade one disposable item for a reusable version. Think: a water bottle, coffee cup, or that one shopping bag you keep forgetting in your boot.

Why It Matters: NZ’s coastlines are too stunning to drown in plastic. (Fun fact: 11 million tonnes of plastic enter oceans yearly. Let’s not add to the party, eh?)

Tip: Skip “eco” products made from new plastic. Opt for stainless steel, glass, or secondhand gems. (Pro tip: Your grandma’s thermos is still cooler than a “sustainable” bottle shipped from Mars.) 

2. Meal Planning: Because Your Lettuce Shouldn’t Die Lonely in the Fridge

The Swap: Plan three meals a week. Freeze leftovers. Store kale like it’s a precious artefact.

Why It Matters: Food waste = methane emissions, and nobody wants to fuel a fart cloud.

3. Wash Clothes in Cold Water (Your Jumpers Will Thank You)

The Swap: Switch your laundry settings to “cold.” Congrats, you’ve just saved 90% of the energy usually wasted on heating water.

Why It Matters: Cold water = happier clothes + happier planet. (Hot tip: It also prevents your favourite band tee from shrinking into a crop top.)

Tip: Don’t fall for “eco” detergents in plastic bottles. Try plastic-free strips or DIY recipes. (Bonus: Try the nil laundry detergent sheets!)

4. Secondhand First: Channel Your Inner Op-Shop Diva

The Swap: Before buying new, check op-shops, Trade Me, or host a clothing swap. (Pro move: Call it a “fashion renaissance” for extra pizzazz.)

Why It Matters: Fast fashion’s carbon footprint is bigger than the All Blacks’ fan base. (Yikes.)

Tip: Beware of brands flaunting a “sustainable” line while churning out 52 micro-trends a year. If it feels off, it probably is.

5. Support Brands That Walk the Talk (Not Just Talk the Walk)

The Swap: Choose companies with legit creds.

Why It Matters: Voting with your wallet > passive-aggressive Facebook rants.

Avoid Greenwashing: Look for specifics (e.g., “100% recycled materials”) vs. vague fluff like “green” or “eco-conscious.” (Side-eye to companies using leaf logos as a distraction tactic.)

Sustainability isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Maybe you’ll forget your reusable cup sometimes (we’ve all been there). Maybe your “meal plan” is just cheese toasties. That’s okay. Start with one swap, laugh at the greenwashing nonsense, and remember: small steps > no steps.

Your Challenge: Try one swap this week. Tag us with #nilharmnilwaste so we can cheer you on (or admire your op-shop finds). 🌿

Read more

Shame - what is it? What a shame it even exists.

I have been thinking lately about shame verse guilt. As I have been coaching some struggling entrepreneurs, I wonder if shame is a big part of inaction, blame, and lack of courage. As Brené Brown states in her famous podcast (see below her interview clip), 'I believe that guilt is adaptive and helpful - it's holding something we've done or failed to do up against our values and feeling psychological discomfort, unlike shame which is unhelpful.' Shame can affect how we feel about ourselves. It's not just about a single act but about feeling fundamentally flawed or inadequate. I wonder if people moved their sense of shame to guilt, they might be able to make better decisions and take the necessary actions to make their business and life thrive.

I have been coaching several businesses over the last 12 months, which I have thoroughly loved as I believe I can truly add value. These days I don't want to contribute in a professional sense unless I can add value to another. Some of my businesses owners show a deep sense of shame as it is tough out there at the moment. Mentally, they fall into a deep sadness and often blame or enact rather than change their mindset to see the opportunities. A good mindset is important to propel forward with change, integrity, and courage. I work with my entrepreneurs to help them with their mindset and ensure their business fundamentals are intact, like margins and cash flow etc.

I believe my view has been created because I am connected with so many businesses over the years, and I see many of them struggle, succeed, plateau, etc. It is always changing and that is okay. That is why there are so few entrepreneurs, as it is a rollercoaster ride. I am part of an amazing Entrepreneurial Organisation where many of the businesses are well beyond mine, and most of the owners are seasoned entrepreneurs. In EO, no one sees shame in difficult times; they see opportunity and learnings. That comes about when you are deeply connected with like-minded people rather than covering up or being scared to be honest about the state of things. One must inspect at the micro and macro levels of all parts of a business, including how one leads. Networks are important; there are far too many lonely business owners out there who could be excelling rather than feeling shame. Connect with a partner, a business coach, a business group so you can share stories and more.  This musing was not meant to be a sales pitch but I do have one more place left in my business coaching work so email me if you are interested - businesscoachingnz@gmail.com, first in first served.

On the flipside, I believe entrepreneurialism is alive and well in our young ones. This week I was a mentor for The Young Enterprise Organisation. I was a 'motherly' shark to 200 students, and I loved hearing about their ideas.  From apps about our Southern lights, to products that help prevent sunburn to fragrances to help with smelly school bags! And I love all the sustainable focus, of course.  I suggested many of them to come and see us at our showroom at www.nilproducts.com.  Bring it on, kids! The only way New Zealand will become productive is through innovation and entrepreneurialism, not selling houses to each other. I want my kids to live in a country that is productive and innovative while caring for the most vulnerable.  Lets make this happen.

Till April's monthly musing.
Anna xx

PS so over the last month I have been running my emails and written work through numerous different AI's and interestingly for this mailer the AI had no suggestions. I take that as a compliment as I am assuming not too many people have written on the topic of shame/guilt in relation to business mindset!  But my assumption could be totally off. LOL

Read more