Blogging interview #7: Positively Loz

by On The Fly Blog

The sentence, “This is a zero-judgement space, and I hope you enjoy your stay” from the about section of Positively Loz says it all: Loz is a sustainability and self-care blogger whose feed is filled with all sorts of uplifting positivity and bright colour. It’s hard not to feel inspired by her content! Interviewing her was an absolute joy and I think her incredibly in-depth answers, from genuine personal reflection to her hot take on green washing, make for valuable reading!


What do you think about the portrayal of sustainability in the media that you see, whether that’s news, celebrities, social media…?

I think this is a really interesting question considering our current social climate. Sustainability, eco-friendliness and veganism have all seen a surge in popularity in western society over the past year or so. Whether this is because we are finally listening to the scientists that are telling us climate change is real, or because Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion have made such an impact, it means that people are finally starting to question whether their choices are damaging or improving our planet. And, of course, the media and many celebrities and brands have jumped on this popularity. On the surface, this seems like a good thing. I mean, the more people become educated on the consequences of their actions the better, right? However, as with any trend, capitalism seems to have dug its claws in.

Take the new Billie Eilish x H&M ‘sustainable’ fashion line for example. Apparently ‘all the clothing has been made from materials sourced in a more sustainable way’. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they are sustainable. Especially when H&M are one of the worst fast-fashion brands out there at the minute. In my opinion, if a fashion brand has a specific ‘sustainable’ line, you’ve got to question what makes the rest of their clothes unsustainable.

Brands like this are jumping on the sustainability trend, but instead of actually changing their destructive habits, they’re ‘greenwashing’, or pretending to be more sustainable than they actually are. And fans of H&M or Billie Eilish who don’t know this believe they are doing something to help. Not only is this just plain morally wrong, but it means that those who actually want to help are actually contributing to more damage to the planet. Sustainability shouldn’t be a trend, it’s something that we desperately need to become in order to save the Earth. Unfortunately, H&M aren’t the only brand or big company that have started greenwashing (think the new ‘vegan’ options from Burger King and KFC).

On the other hand, some celebrities, brands, and different media outlets are actually promoting real sustainability, and that is amazing. As I mentioned before, Greta Thunberg has been a huge voice for the planet, and her speeches have opened a lot of people’s eyes both in person and online. And social media is a great place for those interested in living more sustainably to meet like-minded people and exchange tips and tricks too, which can’t be faulted.

Loz from positivelyloz.com

What does sustainability mean to you?

To me, sustainability means making the most of what you already have. There’s a common aesthetic if you type ‘sustainability’ into the search bar of Instagram or Pinterest. It’s all metal lunchboxes and glass jars full of lentils and couscous, and yes, that’s all great. There’s no single use plastics, or environmentally damaging products. But that isn’t really what it’s about. Sustainability is about not over-consuming, and living in a way that doesn’t do damage to the environment. Re-using those old plastic take-away tubs in the back of your kitchen cupboard, and messily stitching patches over the
holes in old jeans. It’s making sure you make your choices based on what will benefit both you and the planet simultaneously. And it’s just about caring for yourself, others, animals, and the people who will inhabit the Earth long after you’ve gone.

What’s the hardest aspect of sustainable living for you?

It’s being able to make sustainable choices when my health makes it difficult. Struggling with IBS means I’m constantly trying to work out what I can and can’t eat, so as much as I’d love to survive on package-less food products from my local Refill Store it just isn’t feasible when half of them make me bloat and cramp up. Or, if I’m having a bad mental health day and the only way I’ll eat is if I order a take away because I can’t bring myself to leave my bed to cook. It’s a work in progress, but I’ve found that sometimes your health does have to take a front seat to sustainability, and it’s best not to beat yourself up over it.

The guilt is real just generally too, if I’m honest. If I forget my reusable water bottle and need to buy a plastic bottle of water, I’m guilty for the rest of the week. But, it’s good to remind yourself that you’re still trying, and even the little things are having a positive impact on the planet. One plastic bottle isn’t going to cause the universe to implode, and as long as you remember your reusable one next time, you’re all good.

Have you tried to talk friends/family into living more sustainably, and how did it go?

I’ve never tried to convince anyone to live more sustainably, but I’d hope they would see what I’m doing and at least think about trying to be more sustainable. I live with my partner and he has been nothing but supportive, never questioning any changes I want to make to our habits. My mum likes to call me the Greta Thunberg of the family and has been a little more difficult to convince, but she’s definitely taking it on board and is supportive too so I’d like to think she’s made some improvements too. She was never that unsustainable to begin with though, always recycling and having her own
reusable water bottle and travel mug.

I don’t like the idea of forcing anyone to do something, but I try to share my knowledge and sustainable changes with everyone in the hopes that they too try to live a little more sustainably. Even just one swap to reusable face wipes or something is enough to make a small change.

Do you think technology, social media etc. helps or hinders self-improvement?

I definitely think it depends on the person! There are some great resources online that are easily accessible and teach so much which is fab, and there are lots of communities out there that have been created to boost and support each member. However, social media can be a really toxic place, so if you’re prone to comparing yourself to others online, for example, then it can actually really hinder you. I think, if you use it well, you can definitely use technology and social media to boost
your self-improvement, but just be wary of the spaces and things that can be more negative!

Loz from positivelyloz.com

If you always stick to your safe space, you’ll never reach new heights. And the further you step outside of your comfort zone, the wider it becomes!

Do you think it is important to push yourself out of your comfort zone?

Oh, 100%. I think that trying new things that might be scary is one of the best things for self-improvement. If you always stick to your safe space, you’ll never reach new heights. And the further you step outside of your comfort zone, the wider it becomes!

In a busy modern world, how do you find or make time for self-care?

Honestly, I really struggle to! I’ve been really struggling with stress recently which has taken its toll on both my physical and mental health, so I’ve had to start looking after myself better. I try to relax with a bath and a book at least once a week, and my partner and I like to go for a lot of walks in the mornings before work, especially in the winter when it’s dark by the time I leave the office! We’ve also started scheduling in one self-care day a month to make sure we’re definitely taking care of
ourselves properly!

iPhone or Android?

I’ve always been an Android gal to be honest! I’ve never liked how if you have one Apple product you’ve got to have them all if you want to connect them in any way!

Audio/e-book or physical book?

I like both! Audio books and e-books are fab for travelling, on the train, or if you’re going away, whereas if you’re at home, cuddled up on the sofa with a blanket and a glass of wine, a physical book wins all the way!

Night out or night in?

Again, I do like both, but my nights out are a lot less frequent than my nights in! I’m 23 now and it takes me longer to recover from a night out than it did when I was a fresher! And my hangovers are a lot worse, so I’d much rather spend a chilled night in with my partner, some friends, and a bottle of wine and nibbles! I only get a craving to go out-out once every couple of months or so.


I don’t know about you, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading those answers! It’s so nice to hear from someone who is so passionate about their cause! You can find Loz here:

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

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A pin image showing Loz from positivelyloz.com with the title "blogging interview #7: positively loz talks greenwashing, self care and the comfort zone"
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13 comments

LifeInPostcards 10/04/2020 - 11:12

It’s great that you’re bringing more awareness to sustainability bloggers! Such an important issue. Great interview!

Reply
On The Fly Blog 10/04/2020 - 12:18

Thank you for reading and for the lovely feedback!

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Paulina Stelmach 10/04/2020 - 12:05

This is such a good interview! I myself am a big sustainability freak and always look out for the environment – especially in my designs – I agreed with so much of what Loz said!!

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On The Fly Blog 10/04/2020 - 12:19

Ah thank you for the feedback! I really enjoy promoting sustainability and I’m glad it’s slowly becoming more mainstream x

Reply
Darina 10/04/2020 - 20:53

I really enjoyed reading the interview. Some of Liz’s answers made me questioned so much especially about the sustainability aspect of some brands. I totally agree that sometimes we might do a mistake and feel guilty but as she says the fact that we try matters more. I only hope more people start trying to be sustainable the right way😊 Our actions affect the environment the most. The current statistics are mind blowing of how the earth is “taking a break”. Thank you for sharing, educating and bringing awareness.

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On The Fly Blog 11/04/2020 - 08:28

Hey, thank you for taking the time to read and leave such a thoughtful comment! I love interviewing people but it was a pleasure to use this interview to bring a bit more attention to certain things. Take care! x

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Fadima Mooneira 11/04/2020 - 07:32

Cool interview. I liked her answers.

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On The Fly Blog 11/04/2020 - 08:29

Hey, thanks for reading and taking the time to comment! Stay safe x

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lostwithjen 12/04/2020 - 10:07

Love this! I’ve definitely been working a lot more on the sustainability aspect myself lately. Also, her photos are amazing! 😁

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On The Fly Blog 12/04/2020 - 10:29

Thanks for reading! Yes, she’s got the best photography! x

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a Life on a Dime 20/04/2020 - 16:01

I think pushing ourselves outside our comfort zone is important. It is something I haven’t done recently.

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On The Fly Blog 20/04/2020 - 16:29

I agree it’s important, but it’s so hard to do sometimes! I think the main thing is finding a balance between living inside and outside of our comfort zones x

Reply
April was no better – On The Fly 01/05/2020 - 09:18

[…] interview with Positively Loz about sustainability, which was […]

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