The Peppery Cat

12/01/2025

Today’s haul from the beach, mainly what I suspect to be decomposing wet wipes that have been flushed away rather than being binned.

Not-so-fun-facts:

🐠 Wet wipes are one of the most commonly found items on beaches and are made from non-biodegradable synthetic fibers like polyester and polypropylene, which do not decompose easily, persisting in the environment for decades, contributing to long-term pollution.

🐬 They cause harm to marine animals who mistake wet wipes for food, which can then block their digestive systems, cause malnutrition, or even result in death.

🐳 Many wet wipes contain harmful chemicals, fragrances, and preservatives that can cause skin irritation and allergies.

11/01/2025

Great to see some of our leading venues taking action on singe use plastics! Well done to all involved.

The 12-month pilot is being driven by the Venue Sustainability Forum and supported by Visit Belfast.

09/01/2025

With the start of a New Year and returning to usual routines most of us aim to make a few resolutions to some degree or another. Throughout January we will be suggesting some tweaks we can all make that are easy, achievable, and have a HUGE impact on individual carbon footprints.

UNSUBSCRIBING
On catching up with emails this week I have made the decision that there are many bulk emails I no longer wish to receive and have therefore unsubscribed to many, which not only significantly reduces the time it takes to work through my daily emails, but also has an impact on reducing my carbon footprint - WIN! WIN!

EMAIL FACTS:
💻 Every email has a carbon footprint—a typical email emits about 4 grams of CO₂, while emails with large attachments can emit up to 50 grams.
📧 Unnecessary emails add up—globally, spam and unneeded emails contribute millions of tons of CO₂ annually.
🖥️ Reducing email volume matters—if every adult in the UK sent one fewer “thank you” email a day, it could save 16,000 tons of CO₂ annually.
📧 Unsubscribing saves energy—fewer unwanted emails mean less energy used by servers and storage systems.
📱 Deleting emails helps too—clearing out old emails reduces data storage demands, saving energy in cloud data centres.
📧 Small changes, big impact—by unsubscribing, you’re cutting unnecessary emissions and doing your part for a greener planet.

Start today! Unsubscribe from emails you don’t read and make a simple but meaningful change.

Helping You Help The Planet 💚🌎

09/01/2025

Loving this article about conscious spending. 💚🌎

As an eco-conscious person, I loved the idea of people of a no buy year, saying no to all of the 'stuff' and making do with what they had

21/12/2024

So that’s a wrap from us for 2024! Once our doors close at 5pm today we will be shut until 9am on Friday 3rd January.

All that’s left is to say a huge THANK YOU to all our wonderful customers, suppliers and followers who have supported us over the year! You have all been incredibly encouraging and inspirational. It has been a roller coaster of a year with highs and lows, steep business and personal learning curves, and overall growth. We are hugely excited to enter 2025 with our second birthday not far away and with more ideas and goals to work towards growing the business in order to Help You Help The Planet!

Wishing you all a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR 💚🌎🎄

20/12/2024

If you are still looking for that “little something” with a personal touch, or for a stocking filler, pop down to us with an empty jar (or help yourself to one of ours) for that perfect sustainable gift. Fill with some of our local products such as:

🫖 sd_bells tea - loose leaf or herbal
☕️ strangfordcoffeeroastery coffee beans
🛀🏼 Epsom salts or Magnesium flakes
🌰 Chocolate Brazils, yoghurt coated cranberries, or Bombay Mix
🫚 Crystallised ginger or other dried fruit
🟢 green_fingersfamily power balls
🥣 porridgemelts
🍯 Homemade fudge or mincemeat.

Decorate with a ribbon or string, cinnamon stick, and you have the perfect sustainable gift with a glass jar that can be refilled or repurposed.

19/12/2024

Still wondering what you might buy for Christmas? We have you covered with local, sustainable gifts from unique hand-made jewellery, hand knitted beanies and cowls, food items and toiletries. If you are still stuck then a Peppery Cat Gift Voucher is available to suit anyone and any budget.

Helping You Help The Planet this Christmas 💚🌎🎄

17/12/2024

This week is your last chance to make sure you are stocked up with all your sustainable Christmas gifts, refills and eco household products before we are shut for a break over the festive period! Please feel free to ring or message if you wish to reserve anything!

Helping You Help the Planet 💚🌎🎄

14/12/2024

All stocked up with a fabulous selection of Burren Balsamic biscuits and condiments that are just perfect to gift to the food lover, as a stocking filler, for a host or have on hand for that unexpected drop in! Locally made in Armagh, these artisan products really are extremely special and a cut above!

Also restocked with Balsamic Vinegar on refill!

Helping You Help The Planet 💚🌎🎄

11/12/2024

So excited to be restocked with these glorious products from A Blissful Blend. All these items are made with only natural and pure oils and butters making them the perfect sustainable present in reusable or recyclable packaging. From lip balms, wax melts, bath salts, wardrobe fresheners, foot creams and room sprays these suit all budgets whether bought individually or teamed up to make a bespoke goodie bag for someone.

06/12/2024

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY: WHY IT MATTERS FOR BANGOR
This Saturday marks Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting local businesses. But what does that mean, really? Why should you bother shopping in the heart of Bangor when there’s “nothing there”? Parking apparently is not easy, time is short, and we are all juggling tight budgets and seasonal stress. Add sustainability to the mix and it can feel overwhelming.

But as someone who once doubted the value of Bangor’s town centre, I have had a complete change of heart since opening my own small business. Let me share what I have discovered:

THE HEARTBEAT OF BANGOR
Bangor is brimming with small businesses that are quietly keeping its heartbeat alive. Many of us work with local suppliers—in my case, over 18 and counting—which means supporting one small business often supports many. Shopping local reduces your carbon footprint and helps keep our local economy ticking. That is already two wins: sustainability and community impact!

A MORE PERSONAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Small businesses offer a personal touch you will not find elsewhere. Owners are knowledgeable about their products and craft, and the shopping experience is calmer and less crowded.

Yes, most small businesses close between 5pm and 6pm —but we are adaptable! Reach out via social media, email, or phone. Many of us offer online shopping, reservations, payment over the phone, and even flexible pickup times.

GIFTING BEYOND “STUFF”
For the past few years, I have prioritised giving my family memories and experiences over material things. Many small businesses offer gift vouchers, allowing your loved ones to choose something meaningful while supporting local shops.

WHAT YOU CAN FIND IN BANGOR
Within a short walk of my shop alone, you can find:
- Clothing and shoes
- Jewellery and watches
- Hair, beauty and therapy treatments and products
- Books
- Upcycled furniture
- Art: Originals, prints, and framing services
- Games, puzzles and game workshops
- Live music events and records
- Thrifted treasures (the ultimate trend right now!)
- Lego
- Travel Agent
- Gifts, cards, gift wrap
- Electronic items (repurposed)
- Food items from Northern Irish producers
- Fabrics galore
- Party Shop
- Restaurants and bars.

This gives an incredible choice for purchasing gifts from shared experiences such as concerts, holidays, games nights, meals and drinks, as well as covering high-end clothing, jewellery and shoes, to those pre-loved items for those on a tighter budget. Why not help someone with the cost of getting their hair coloured, or wanting to buy an item of clothing that might be out of their normal spending range, or a bespoke up-cycled item of furniture. Make a difference by using the local party shop and an independent wine merchant rather than a large corporation that will be profiting handsomely from all the Christmas spending. These are only a few suggestions, but so much is here, right in the heart of Bangor, supplied by small businesses.

WHY CASH IS STILL KING
Whenever possible, consider paying with cash. Card transactions come with fees that eat into small businesses’ earnings, and every penny counts during the holiday season. Using cash also helps you stick to a budget—another bonus in these tight times.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF SHOPPING SMALL
Christmas is a season of giving, and supporting your local small businesses creates a ripple effect that benefits not just our town but the entire Northern Ireland economy. So, this Saturday, take a moment to explore what Bangor has to offer. You might be surprised by what you discover.

Feel free to comment below and share the story of your favourite Bangor business. Let’s support each other this season!

05/12/2024

Loving Google's doodle for today honouring Australia’s giant kelp forests of the Great Southern Reef — this endangered natural wonder stretches more than 8,000 kilometres below Australia.

There’s a huge invisible forest in the blue waters off the South coast of Australia that needs our help. Learn more by diving into a world of giant kelp on Google Arts & Culture.
https://artsandculture.google.com/project/invisible-forest

03/12/2024

💰💷GIVING TUESDAY💷💰
Today is Giving Tuesday a day that encourages people to do good. Over the last decade, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

We support the at The Peppery Cat. They focus on two main areas; behaviour change and habitat restoration, taking an optimistic and solutions-based approach that is centred around physical and emotional connections with nature. Nip over to their page and have a look at their great work.

21/11/2024

🌿✨ Exciting News! ✨🌿

We have added Pit Putty Deodorant to our range - a natural, eco-friendly alternative to mainstream deodorants! 💪

💚 100% Natural Ingredients: No aluminum, parabens, or synthetic nasties that can cause health issues
🩷 Gentle on Skin: Perfect for sensitive skin with nourishing, toxin-free goodness
💚 Eco-Conscious Packaging: Plastic-free and planet-friendly 🌍
🩷 Effective All-Day Freshness: Keeps you smelling amazing without compromising your health

Helping You Help The Planet 💚🌎

20/11/2024

After the crazy fun of the last passport event we are very excited to be part of the Christmas Passport trail and have been busy getting ready for you all on Saturday!

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 🎄✨
𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟯 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 | 𝟭𝟮𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 - 𝟱𝗽𝗺 | 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗿, 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

On Saturday 23 November, pick up your passport at any of the participating businesses or attractions and follow the trail around the City as you get your passport stamped and enjoy lots of festive fun. *Please check individual store timings*

Visit 17 locations around the City, from food, music and crafts to gaming, art and festive favourites, all participating retailers will have activities or giveaways to entertain the kids who visit their shops.

Passports will be available from 12noon - 5pm at any of the participating businesses. Passport activities are free but are subject to change and availability.

Find out about the City of Bangor Christmas Passport and Switch On 👉 https://bit.ly/40rRuOb

North Down Museum - Culture - Ards and North Down | Kate Whiteman Art | Menarys Bangor | Carnaby Bangor | Fairytale | Curious Candy | ASDA | The Old Market House Bangor | Seacourt Print Workshop | Boom Studios | Magpie Bricks | FOCUS Menswear | Replay | SNEAKZ Exclusive | The Peppery Cat | Remakery Studio

ShopBangor | Bangor Chamber of Commerce