The impact of ESEA Heritage Month
ESEA Heritage Month is gradually gaining more traction and has done since its inception in 2021 and over the last few weeks for its fourth year. We have seen many events taking place across the UK to celebrate ESEA heritages, cultures, histories and communities, from exhibitions to markets, from meet-ups to concerts, and from panel discussions to outdoor adventures. It has also encouraged more people of East and Southeast Asian heritage to talk and share more openly, which is always great to see and hear.
And we are only halfway through September, with even more exciting things in store…
5 great fellow sustainable British ESEA-owned brands to check out
Because we love to support other ESEA companies, especially those who care about sustainability and ethical practices as we do, here we have listed five great sustainable British ESEA brands we admire whose products you should definitely look out for.
1. The Cheeky Panda
When you think of sustainable brands that are ESEA-owned, The Cheeky Panda is one of the biggest that springs to mind. A proud B Corp, Cheeky Panda are committed to making ‘sustainability feel good’; all their bamboo products are eco-friendly and FSC® certified and their packaging is plastic-free and recyclable. They produce a range of products from their famous toilet paper to to kitchen roll and from face wipes to baby wipes. We have previously collaborated with them on a giveaway and hope to again in the future – watch this space!
2. Fetch-It
Fetch-It‘s co-foudners Alex and Kiki have created compostable poo bags that are made from GM-free cornstarch and their eco-friendly properties NEVER compromise their poo bag properties. These differ from “biodegradable” poo bags which can take decades to degrade compared to just months with the materials they use. They are also certified and suitable for home composting! Fetch-It are now the only UK-based company to have the largest range of poo bags and have now moved on to create UK’s first certified cleansing mitt as well.
3. Oatsu
Overnight oats have gained popularity recently as a breakfast particularly for those wanting something healthy but are in a rush. Oatsu is a brand that started in during the pandemic and has since gone from strength to strength, now stocked in Holland & Barrett and soon launching in Co-op stores under the Apiary scheme, just like HumaniTea! They have also built a big fan base that includes the likes of Steven Bartlett! We previously spoke with Lauren from Oatsu about being a sustainable brand and a social enterprise. In terms of sustainability, Oatsu’s overnight oat pots are made of recyclable and reusable glass jars, are 100% vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and refined-sugar free.
4. The Ferm
The Ferm is a vegan zero-waste Korean fermentary based in Hackney. They produces a range of fermented products made of commonly discarded byproducts, such as cauliflower leaves and broccoli stalks. Working with a small group of trusted restaurants, catering companies and vendors, The Ferm divert waste and transform them into healthy probiotic foods for everyone. The Ferm are also one of the five amazing brands collaborating with us on our latest giveaway on Instagram, specifically for ESEA Heritage Month, which you can enter here.
5. Yok Chan’s Chilli Oil
Yok Chan has been producing her own chilli oil since the 90s after trying to find a way to save money and recreate the products her husband bought regularly. Utilising influences from Chinese, Malay and Sri Lankan food, the Yok Chan’s Chilli Oil has since been finely tuned and tailored over the years and perfected into what it is today.
Their chilli oil is vegetarian and doesn’t use ingredients derived from animals or animal products. As some ingredients have ‘may contain’ warnings and YCCO is currently made in a home kitchen, they can’t guarantee our product is 100% free from milk products, although great care is taken to control any cross contamination risks. They have decided to be as transparent as possible and let the customer decide based on the information provided. You can also win two jars of Yok Chan’s Chilli Oil in our Heritage Month giveaway on Instagram.
HumaniTea’s ESEA Heritage Month so far
At HumaniTea we have been full steam ahead participating in a number of events throughout the first half of the month, including those run by Voice ESEA, ESEA Authors, ESEA Cambridge, Meta, Sky, Imperial College, and EVR. Others coming up include Sheffield Chinese Community Centre’s meet-up on the 19th and besea.n’s flagship event on the 28th.
Remember, you can find out about all the events happening throughout September in the UK here. If you are interested in collaborating with us in the future for other events, ESEA-related or not, please do not hesitate to contact us.