The only thing better than decluttering your house of all the things you never use is finding stuff you actually need… for free. That’s the entire premise behind the Bulk House’s semi-regular Swap events. For those of you not familiar with The Bulk House, it is the center of the sustainable community in Beijing specializing in organic, low waste home products and social events like the swap that promote better sustainable living.

The swaps are completely free events and work like this. If you have things you no longer use you can bring them to The Bulk House ahead of time or during the actual swap meet, and they will sort them into categories, then on the day of the swap you can show up and rifle through the piles and boxes of second-hand goods for your own personal treasures to take home. No money ever changes hands and if you didn’t donate anything you can still come and collect any items you may need.

So what kind of stuff ends up in the piles? Just for fun, the other editors sent me on a scavenger hunt to the most recent swap. They asked me to find 8 items.

Pair of Shoes: Success! There were so so many but I went ahead and took this brand new pair of teeny tiny baby shoes for my friend!

Decorative Pillow: Half a point. No actual pillows but I found a T-shirt with a cool design that could easily be turned into a pillow cover to refresh my Ikea throws. (I’m probably not going to do that though. I will just wear it.)

Kids Bike: No Bike BUT my friend Tal spotted these super cool 1990s retro roller blades.

A Pot with a Lid: Success! Soup anyone?

Bowl from Annie’s: No luck on this one, sorry. I guess everyone takes advantage of their free pizza return policy!

Musical Instrument As I was arriving, I saw someone walking away with what looked like a guitar popping out of their suitcase but I didn’t snap a pic so it doesn’t count. Instead, we found a Christmas bell. It was missing its clapper (that’s the technical term for the piece that makes it ring) but they didn’t say a working instrument so I’m counting it!

A Children’s Book With No Tape on it: Check. This children’s Japanese workbook.

A Bilingual Book: Pride and Prejudice anyone? It’s a classic in any language.

A few other cool finds, not on the list.  A spice mortar and pestle, a pair of earrings, and a sandalwood comb.

Random Things that made my friends and I happy: A German library book…Someone has racked up some serious fines! A best-of Yanni cassette tape for those of you Brooklyn hipsters wandering the ‘jing. A dartboard with only 2 darts! Because sometimes you just can’t commit to the full game.

Overall it was crowded but a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Don’t worry if you missed this one! The swap events happen several times a year and the best way to stay in the know is to follow The Bulk House on WeChat. Scan the QR code below.

THE BULK HOUSE 零浪费无包装商店
Gulou / Beiluoguxiang / Jiugulou Dajie

鼓楼北锣鼓巷旧鼓楼大街
70 Beiluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷70号

 KEEP READING: Theresa Parsonage on How Her ‘Spaghetti’ Brain Helps Taozi Tree Yoga

Images: Julie Wolf, Dazhongdianping

Cynical, tech-reliant, lazy, anti-social (at least offline), unfocused. All of these are stereotypes flung at Gen Z, or Zoomers as they are called on the web. But nothing could be farther from the truth when it comes to Qinglan Du.

This 18-year-old expat attends Beijing City International School (BCIS) and has called London, Jerusalem, and Beijing home. I reached out to her because I was told of a clean-up initiative she began in Jerusalem and has continued and expanded here in Beijing. I was beyond impressed with her global perspective, self-awareness, and balanced approach to life, as well as her reflections on her generation and the problems they face. Rather than a simple write-up of the good work she is doing, I would love to let this exceptional Zoomer speak for herself and her generation. It is lightly redacted and edited for space but I hope you find her answers as inspiring and motivating as I did.

Tell me a little bit about the environmental initiative “Cleaning up Beijing.”
Two years ago when the pandemic first started, I started the environmental initiative Cleaning Up Jerusalem. I wanted to help my community somehow instead of staying at home and watching the world fall to pieces. It started with just one friend and I… Jerusalem is not like Beijing. There aren’t people responsible for cleaning the streets, so even in the city center, every corner is crammed with litter. On our first cleanup, another student in her class passed by and spontaneously decided to help… Eventually, I gathered a group of around 40 participants.

In October 2020, I moved back to Beijing. I wanted to continue my cleanup project so I worked with my school to promote it and apply for funding. Eventually, I managed to gather a group of peers who were interested and we went on cleanups regularly. Our group chat now has 90ish people from all across Beijing.

 What was the hardest/most surprising thing about starting the initiative?
The hardest thing was persuading people to join. A lot of people viewed picking up trash as a “lowly” or “unhygienic” task. I always prepare gloves, metal trash pickers, and sanitizer for my cleanups so everyone stays safe. But many people think the idea of picking up after others is “below” them. The hardest thing was shifting that mindset.

What are your plans for the program in the future?
Last April, I received a US 2,500 grant from ACAMIS to fund my project and work with the school to have someone continue it after I graduate this May…

I plan to find someone or multiple people in my high school, from lower grade levels, to continue “Cleaning Up Beijing” after I graduate. I also plan to bring this project with me wherever I end up for university and run it as a student organization there. But the goal is to make this a more international project so that there are stations across the world.

Why is it so important to you to give back?
I think as a healthy, physically-abled person I have a responsibility to give back. The way I look at it is if I don’t pick it up then who will? I’ve been very lucky in my life so far. Giving back allows me to meet all kinds of people… and learn about the world in a way that you can’t learn in a classroom. Through these experiences, I met a lot of people, like the visually-impaired boy who can remember any melody I sing to him and play it back to me on the piano, or the amazing crew at Roundabout who put their heart into organizing all the bizarre items sold in the Roundabout shop.

How has being a third culture kid shaped you and your worldview?
Being a third culture kid showed me that the world is always bigger than you think it is. There are so many different perspectives and opinions out there, many of which challenge the basic things I believe in. And this culture shock/culture gap is something that really shaped my worldview. Oftentimes it’s just little things. For example, when I lived in Jerusalem, I remember there was an outdoor concert in my neighborhood. My mom and I went to watch and walked into the crowd. Then a man came blowing a whistle and told us to stand outside where there was a screen door to separate the women so men are prioritized. This is just a small example of how gender inequality in other cultures shocked me…There are many instances like this that fostered a sense of global awareness in me.

What do you think your generation’s biggest challenges will be?
Deciding which direction we want to head in as humanity. I think we’ve reached a point where so many fundamental things, the things that make us human, are being replaced. We no longer need to stand face to face with someone to interact with them, we have the internet. We no longer need so many jobs because they’re being replaced by technology. By the time my generation has grown up, we will reach a point where we need to decide whether to keep developing and advancing, or we acknowledge we have advanced enough…And this will be a very difficult decision.

 What advice do you have for other kids who want to be more involved and make changes in their community?
The hardest part is finding opportunities. Like when I was in Jerusalem, I reached out to many peacebuilding organizations but they didn’t want me because I wasn’t Israeli or Palestinian. You might find you are very passionate about community service but don’t have a place to start. In that case, I’d say don’t be afraid to start your own.

And a lot of the time, people think helping their community has to be something grand and influential. It really doesn’t have to be. There are so many minor issues that go unnoticed in society…I’d say find something small that you’re genuinely concerned about.

When you aren’t in school or working towards a better planet what do you like to do?
I like to make music and tell stories through songwriting. When I’m onstage I feel at home, so you can always find me singing on stage at school events…I also really, really love the Beijing subway. When the new Line 17, Line 19, and Line 11 opened, I went to ride them on the first day with my friend. It’s partially because I can watch so many different people go about their lives, but also because I can go anywhere in the city freely. But yeah, I love the subway.

If people want to get involved and help you, how can they do that?
They are welcome to add my Wechat: qinglanjerusalem and I can add them to our Cleaning Up Beijing group.

KEEP READING: Why Kids Should Give 25% of Their Allowance

Images: Qinglan Du

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” So when in China, celebrate Chinese New Year!

This means eating the food, taking part in the festivities, and decorating your place! Usually, my Chinese teacher likes to give us a nifty set of simple decorations in a box set, which is easily ordered off Taobao. But this year, I found a couple of things that give my Chinese New Year celebration a little more meaning.

A few days ago, a local acquaintance reached out to me and asked if I was interested in buying some handwritten calligraphy scrolls. These traditionally come in a couplet or triplet and are to be pasted outside your door, ushering in well wishes for the new year. In this set, the horizontal inscription says “May your family be kind,” while the scroll on the right reads, “The mountains and rivers are beautiful scenery” and the one on the left says “May you have a rich life with happiness.” Incidentally, they were all handwritten by her 12-year-old son!

Now you might recall I myself had brought my 6-year-old son to attempt calligraphy once. It did not end well and we never went back. But I continue to be awed by the focus and patience of this almost-lost art. So I was impressed to discover that this local youth, Lynn, had been studying calligraphy for four years with professionals. In his mother’s words, “I am happy for him because he is doing something he really likes.”

Call me old-school but I like knowing the hand that paints my scrolls, instead of some soulless factory reprint. If you like what you see as well, feel free to scan the QR code below to place an order. Lynn is also happy to customize the scrolls if you have specific well wishes in mind. Prices start from RMB 38 for a set.

Reusable Cloth Red Packets

For a more sustainable touch to your CNY, consider giving your red packets in these stylish cloth hongbao from China-born eco-wrap brand Baluchon, of local beeswax wraps and furoshiki (exquisite Japanese cloth wrap) fame. Aside from being reused year after year, they can also be reused as a cute wallet after CNY because let’s face it, red never goes out of style in China! Prices start from RMB 108. These are also customizable with company logos. Scan the QR code for more options!

KEEP READING: Kids Camps for CNY Holiday Fun

Images: Pexels, courtesy of vendors, Liz & Po

We’re all counting down the days to Christmas and instead of the traditional partridge in the pear tree this year, we can celebrate with a more sustainable spirit of giving that will benefit everyone! This article will share some ways that the expats of Beijing as well as local eco-friendly businesses are aiming to throw a green Christmas.

At the start of December, the Well Women community got the party started with a 7 Day Challenge for a more sustainable Christmas. Here’s a quick recap of each day’s main theme.

One of my favorite takeaways from this 7 Day Challenge was the creative ways that many of the expat families made their own Christmas trees – like this amazing one by eco-warrior Eva Biehl and Ale Ale, who even knits her own adorable Christmas ornaments! Join the Well Women community to be part of their sub groups that encourage sharing and discussion of various themes from fashion to parenting. Scan  the QR code in the posters to join.

Why do we need to be sustainable?

Since the COP26 ended in the final week of November this year, sustainability has received a breath of fresh air and been trending in social media even here in China. Local eco-friendly business platform BOOMI published an article listing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – to work together.

First established in 2015, these goals recognize that ending poverty and other issues must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and encourage economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

To make the eco-journey for all of us a little more fun and rewarding, BOOMI released their own 12 days of Christmas calendar yesterday offering special discounts and privileges for customers unique to each day until 25 Dec. Check it out below or follow BOOMI’s Official WeChat account for more sustainable news!

KEEP READING: Sustainability Sunday: Introducing BOOMI, China’s Eco-Conscious Platform

Images: Well Women, BOOMI, Unsplash

Remember the last time you went to the park and got suckered into buying a cheap plastic kite, toy gun, bubble wand, sand toy, or any other inane item from a street vendor? It lasted all of about five minutes and was subsequently broken or left behind. However, while it may be out of sight for you, that plastic toy ends up in a landfill that will still be on earth, long after we’re gone.

As we give in to the “let’s just buy it because it’s so cheap” shopping impulse, plastic toys become an ever more formidable enemy in the battle to save our natural environment. There are a few fairly simple fixes to this problem – buy less, buy quality, buy secondhand. If you’re looking for a more fun solution, however, Roots & Shoots China came up with a super neat paper toy workshop that involves your child while also encouraging creativity!

Starting from today (Oct 21) until the end of the month, Roots & Shoots Beijing will be running a series of DIY paper toy workshops at two shopping malls in town – CapitaMall Taiyanggong and CapitaMall Wangjing. Each workshop will feature a different theme, from Amazing Sea Creatures to The World of Dinosaurs, culminating in a unique toy that kids will make and bring home with them. Likewise, the workshops are conducted in Mandarin so this could be a great way to immerse your child in the local language. The activities cost as little as RMB 5 to RMB 60, and you can get 50 percent off if you simply flash your Element Fresh membership card. If you’re not yet a member, it costs nothing to become one right now.

For the uninitiated, Roots & Shoots is a global community action program founded by Dr. Jane Goodall back in 1991. It seeks to inspire and empower young people all over the world to proactively ensure a better future for humanity, animals, and the environment. Anyone can join the community and put together an earth-saving initiative anytime!

KEEP READING: Kid Friendly Ghost Tours in Beijing

Images: Pexels, courtesy of Roots & Shoots China, Roots & Shoots

In recent years, COVID-19 has altered the tourism industry drastically. More and more tourists are seeking short-distance and high-quality trips with a new motto – Stay near, go outdoors, be healthy. With this in mind, we give you some recommendations for how to spend your October holiday, safely and sustainably. 

MUJI HOTEL BEIJING 

If you simply wish to stay within the city for some R&R, the Muji Hotel Beijing, which just opened in 2018 is a wonderful, more sustainable staycation option. As of 2020, the hotel stopped providing single-use toiletries in their rooms, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, bathing caps, cotton pads. Instead, they strongly encourage customers to bring their own.

The hotel is nestled in the cultural heart of Beijing and has a wonderful view of Tiananmen Square. In addition to the World Heritage sites, this corner of central Beijing has parks where you can enjoy mixing with the locals who make the park a part of their ordinary everyday lives. Neighboring shops include shoe and tea shops that date back to the Qing dynasty, and there are traditional food vendors offering steamed buns and other local goodies. Today, they stand side-by-side with intimate, modern-day cafes specializing in pour-over coffee.

Great Wall Hiking – Stay at The Brickyard or Camp

Originally an old brick factory, the cosy Brickyard is close to the Mutianyu secant of the Great Wall and retains a rustic look outwardly while offering modern comfort within its 25 rooms and suites, all with lovely views of the Great Wall through a story and a half window walls. Sharing those views is also a spa with an outdoor jacuzzi open year round. The Brickyard provides a farm-to-table dining experience by selecting high-quality local produce from the neighboring villages. They also compost their organic waste, and has switched to LED lighting – which is more energy-efficient.

Alternatively, if you’re a camping aficionado and completely capable, you could take up with a camping tour and pitch a tent out in the wilderness around the Great Wall. This would probably be your last chance before the cold really sets in this year!

E-Bike Tours

Electric bicycles are everywhere in Beijing, for good reason. The batteries that power them are a comparatively cleaner source of energy than combustion engines in the traditional scooters. There are a few different companies that operate E-Bike tours, often of the local hutongs that give you a glimpse into the very different lives of the locals. Our Beijing is one such company, operated by expat Dominic De Couto.

Bamboo Bicycles Beijing

Speaking of bicycles, those of you that came to the bustling Burger Fest 2021 might have noticed a vendor that certainly stood out at the festival with their usual bicycles. Yes we’re talking about those super cool bamboo bicycles by Bamboo Bicycles Beijing, which aims to promote sustainable urban transport. You can join one of their DIY bamboo bicycle workshops on the weekend and create your very own bamboo bike using locally sourced bamboo! Find out more on www.bamboobicyclesbj.com or scan the QR code below.

KEEP READING: Sustainability Sunday: Talking About Sustainability Without Coming Off Preachy

Images: Courtesy of the hotels, Pexels, Dominic De Couto, Bamboo Bicycles Beijing

Whether you’re new to sustainable living or a seasoned eco-warrior, we’re here to help you on your journey to Going Green in Beijing. Every week, we’ll bring you China-centric eco-friendly news and tips in our column, Sustainability Sunday!

Last week, we introduced the Shanghai-based eco-conscious platform BOOMI, which features more than 50 local brands and businesses covering sustainability needs, information, and services. Today, we ask BOOMI founders Emmanuel Dean and Miguel Boy to share the dos and don’ts of spreading the sustainability gospel to our friends and family, without being too preachy.

Be humble

You didn’t pop out of your mother’s womb as the world’s most sustainable human – let’s be honest, you’ve done your fair share of polluting. Be real about some of the challenges of sustainability. Emphasizing how much you have learned about your habits and the process of changing them – the good and the bad – can make the other person feel less intimidated. Recognize and appreciate that there may be barriers to what the other person can change about their current lifestyle that may not apply to you. Instead, offer alternative solutions, or support.

Don’t say: “I haven’t ordered waimai in over a year. I don’t understand why people are so addicted to it.”

Do say: “It was really difficult for me to give up ordering waimai! It’s so convenient and easy, but I knew it was creating too much unnecessary waste. Last year I made a commitment to either dine-in or make my own food. It was really challenging at first and I wanted to give up, but it became easier over time. I know with your schedule it might not be possible, but I can share with you some of my tips if you want to try it for a few days per week.”

Don’t attack

Instead of talking about all the things your friend/family member is doing wrong, talk about what you’ve been trying to do right – introduce sustainability as something you’re interested in and passionate about. Leading by example and providing easy ways to make an impact can be the most effective way to drive interest and action from the people who care about you. 

Don’t say: “Karen, I can’t believe you’re using those disposable cotton face wipes. Don’t you know that those are pilling up in landfills all over the world?”

Do Say: “Check out these reusable face wipes I ordered the other day! You can use them for more than one year, eliminating a massive amount of waste that is pilling up in landfills. I’ve been trying to cut down on my impact lately and have really enjoyed some of the solutions I found.”

Provide small, actionable tips

You wouldn’t tell your friend/family member to run a marathon if she/he has never run a 10K. It’s the same with changing your habits to be more sustainable! A sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated, nor unachievable, but small actions each day, from many people, can add up to a big impact.

Don’t say: “I challenge you to eliminate all single-use plastic from your life, starting today.”

Do say: “How about switching out all plastic bags for a reusable one. It’s best to keep one at your office and one at the house so you can always have it handy if you end up going shopping.”

You’re better together

It’s much easier (and more fun!) to make changes to your lifestyle when you have a group of people to hold you accountable. Create monthly challenges among your group to limit purchases of new clothing, reduce plastic waste, or switch to sustainable products – make a chat group, send photos and support each other. 

Don’t say: “You should stop buying so many new clothes, the fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world.”

Do say: “I love shopping, but I know that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, do you want to do a challenge with me? Let’s commit to six months without buying any new piece of clothing. We can do a weekly check-in, and text each other each time we have the urge to buy something so that we hold each other accountable.” 

Scan the QR code below to find out more about BOOMI. Don’t forget that as part of the Boomi Forest Initiative, 8.8 percent of their revenue is donated to planting trees in Inner Mongolia!

KEEP READING: Sustainability Sunday: Introducing BOOMI, China’s Eco-Conscious Platform

Images: Unsplash, Pexels

Whether you’re new to sustainable living or a seasoned eco-warrior, we’re here to help you on your journey to Going Green in Beijing. Every week, we’ll bring you China-centric eco-friendly news and tips in our column, Sustainability Sunday!

Have you heard of BOOMI yet? I discovered this brand platform via a virtual market WeChat group last Christmas while searching for good gifts that won’t end up in a landfill after New Year’s. The name caught my attention because in the native language of Indonesia, where I had just moved from, “Bumi” means earth. And, as it happens, this is exactly what inspired the founders of BOOMI.

Emmanuel Dean and Miguel Boy started BOOMI with the idea of building something simple but impactful. “What’s the first and last thing you use every single day?” they thought, “A toothbrush!” Hence, bamboo toothbrushes were the first product BOOMI offered. Today, BOOMI lists more than 50 local brands and businesses covering sustainability needs, information, and services.

Another thing I really appreciate about BOOMI is their partnership with Shanghai Roots & Shoots’ Forest Initiative, and their pledge to donate 8.8 percent of their revenue to planting trees in Inner Mongolia. To date, they have planted over 6,000 trees and aim to plant 9,000 by 2022! Here are three ways you can help plant a tree with BOOMI:

1. Give BOOMI’s posts a Wow! They plant a tree for every 25 Wows.
2. Purchase a tree directly for RMB 25 and receive a special certificate for your contribution!
3. Buy products on BOOMI’s platform, where 8.8 percent of their revenue goes to the Forest Initiative.

To help get you started, BOOMI shared three of their best-selling, most-recommended essentials for supporting your eco-journey.

Reversible Kids Fisherman Hat from P.E.T

BOOMI Shampoo Blocks

Memory Muslin Blanket from Wobabybasics

Scan the QR code below to check out all the local sustainable, eco-friendly brands available on BOOMI now!

Come back next week for some exclusive tips from BOOMI’s founders to help us spread the message of sustainability, without stepping on anyone’s toes!

KEEP READING: Sustainability Sunday: Four Local Fashion Brands That Are Better for the Planet

Images: BOOMI

Whether you’re new to sustainable living or a seasoned eco-warrior, we’re here to help you on your journey to Going Green in Beijing. Every week, we’ll bring you China-centric eco-friendly news and tips in our column, Sustainability Sunday!

Joe Harvey graduated with a law degree from Nottingham Law School and worked at a law firm in London. He wore designer clothes from Hugo Boss, shoes from Ralph Lauren, suits from Jaeger, and was well on his path to ever bigger paychecks so he could buy more of these so-called “I’m successful objects.” Then he looked around and wondered, “WTF am I doing?”

The answer was clear: he needed to stop consuming! So he began shedding all the material excess he had accumulated. Likewise, it was while living in Beijing that he realized once and for all – looking at the pollution from his apartment on the 16th floor, unable to see the buildings opposite – that his overconsumption was contributing to a much bigger problem. And by the time he met Carrie Yu at a mutual friend’s party, he was already an avowed minimalist.

As for Yu, after an adventurous youth that took her from Wuhan to Beijing, she stumbled upon Bea Johnson’s zero-waste teachings after having an epiphany while moving apartments and drowning in stuff. She shared the philosophy with Harvey and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now in their fourth year of operating The Bulk House, Beijing’s resident zero-waste store, Yu and Harvey have earned a reputation as “China’s eco-activists” and are basically the de facto faces of the minimalist, zero-waste lifestyle here. We asked them to share their story and a couple of their favorite zero-waste products that have made their lives better.

Watch the video below to hear how they got started on their zero-waste journey or scroll to read the most quotable moments from the sustainable duo!

Harvey: “Be selfish and start your zero-waste life by getting what makes your life better.” 
To elaborate, “If you’re spending RMB 50 every day on a cup of coffee in a single-use cup, you’re going to buy a bag of coffee for the home or office and a reusable mug to make your own coffee, and you’ll save RMB 900 a month!”

“Then you’re going to think selfishly about how to be healthier, and that means eating a better diet. So you’re going to have to go to a market and buy whole foods, fresh vegetables not wrapped in plastic. To do that, you can use a tote bag (which you probably already have) and you have to get some smaller grocery bags.”

Yu: “This is my favorite hairbrush! It’s so good and so satisfying. It even feels like a head massage.”

“These dishcloths are super absorbent made of wood fiber and cotton, so you can use it again and again – about 250 times. When it’s done, you can cut it up into small pieces and place them in your compost bin, or just dig a hole and put them there!”

Scan the QR code below to visit The Bulk Store, or swing by The Bulk House’s storefront at 70 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District (东城区北锣鼓巷70号).

KEEP READING: WATCH | Sustainability Sunday: Can You Guess What These Zero-Waste Products Do?

Images: The Bulk House