Transform Your Events using Sustainable Practices with Romina Kwong

Ready to revolutionize your event planning with eco-friendly practices? Romina Kwong is a specialist in sustainable event management and founder of Eco-Friendly Events. Romina shares her inspiring journey from a childhood passion for sustainability to confronting the massive waste issues in traditional event setups, leading her to create innovative, green solutions. Learn how seemingly small changes, like switching period products, can have a broader impact on the environment. Romina provides a treasure trove of practical tips on how to infuse sustainability into every detail of your event. Imagine hosting an event where the venue is powered by renewable energy, the food is sustainably sourced, and even the decor is secondhand or rented. From minimalistic wedding planning to hybrid event formats that reduce travel emissions, Romina’s advice is both actionable and inspiring. She emphasizes intentionality in planning to cut down on wasteful practices and offers creative ideas for sustainable favors and accurate food portioning.

CONNECT WITH ROMINA: http://www.ecofriendlyevents.ca 

CONNECT WITH NIKA: https://mtr.bio/nika-lawrie

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Transcript

Nika Lawrie: 0:06

Welcome to the Inspired with Nika Laurie podcast. Romina, welcome to the show. I'm so excited to have you here today.

Romina Kwong: 0:20

Thank you for having me.

Nika Lawrie: 0:21

Yeah, so. So this is normally on my podcast. I talk a lot about kind of health and eco-friendly living and toxin-free living as it relates to health, but I was really excited to talk to you because you really look at sustainability and eco-friendly ideas as it relates to events, and I think that's something that's really different, so I'm excited to get into that with you today. Likewise, likewise, yeah. So, before we really get started, can you share a little bit about yourself, what your back history is and how you kind of got into sustainable events now?

Romina Kwong: 0:58

Yeah. So I actually studied environmental studies during my undergraduate degree and then after that there was just like a ton of jobs that were all research-based, which is very important. It just wasn't for me. I did not want to be stuck just constantly researching. And I ended up being a bridesmaid for a friend's wedding and I was like, oh, maybe I like events. And so I ended up going back to school for event management, realized in that same wedding that weddings were not the type of events that I wanted to be involved in. They're not for everybody, they're just a lot of high pressure for this.

Romina Kwong: 1:34

One day, and while I was in the event management program, a lot of our projects and our instructors always encouraged us to volunteer, get in the industry, get our names known and that sort of thing. And the more volunteers and volunteering opportunities and events I was a part of, I just realized how much waste there was. And that's when it sort of just clicked in my brain that there was something that I could do about it in my brain, that there was something that I could do about it. And so shortly after I graduated I started my business and that's when I sort of like merged my two passions together and that's how Eco-Friendly Events came to be.

Nika Lawrie: 2:17

I love that. I think you know I too, so I spent probably a total now between two different jobs probably close to 15 years planning events. I've done thousands of events of all different types. I've done weddings, galas, concerts, charity walks, all those kind of things, and the two things that I've learned from them is they're extremely wasteful and they're really stressful. Yes, so I I left the event coordinating world, though I am currently coordinating my wedding, so that's a fun thing on the side, but it is incredibly eyeopening to how wasteful so many events are. So I love that you've decided to do this. I think it's such a needed service and I'm excited to learn more about it from you today too.

Romina Kwong: 3:11

Yeah, I'm excited to share.

Nika Lawrie: 3:13

Yeah, so how did you first get into sustainability? I know you talked about going to school for kind of environmental studies, but what really sparked your interest? How did you get into that?

Romina Kwong: 3:26

Um, it was a couple of things, um, when I kind of reflect back on like where it kind of came from or started, I remember when I was in like grade four, um, my parents like we entered into this like competition.

Romina Kwong: 3:40

It was with energy star, so like the, the like little sticker emblem on a lot of electronic devices, and for every grade there was like a different thing you had to do, so for me it was like a one page paper on it and I ended up winning that competition, and so that's where it kind of like sparked and started. And I think it was really in my last year of high school where I did a world studies class, and it was just then it like clicked in my brain like how interconnected it is with other social issues, which is then why I studied it in university. But it really, for me, started with period products, to be honest, and from there it was just like the one thing that I could do that was in my control, that didn't affect anybody else in my household, where I didn't have to convince anybody else to change their habits, and it was just something so personal that I could move forward with without any barriers other than, obviously, myself, right, yeah absolutely.

Nika Lawrie: 4:42

I think period products are a big, absolutely. I think, you know period products are a big one that I think people don't even start to realize, and there's a lot of concern there too about toxin exposure that people, or women in general, aren't really aware of too, and so I think that's just. It's an interesting spot to start with, but I think it's important that's often not addressed either.

Romina Kwong: 5:02

Yes, yes, and just something maybe people don't think about because they're like okay, what can I do in my kitchen, what can I do, like, in different parts of the house? But it's hard if you do live with other people, if you live alone, it's a little bit easier. But yeah, just start something that where it only affects you, and I think that makes that change a little bit easier and more gradual.

Nika Lawrie: 5:21

I love that, because that's part of my next question for you is you know? I think so many people know why we need to become more sustainable. I think you know climate change and you know all the weather disturbances we've had over the last decade that are becoming bigger and more devastating. I think people are starting to really take this seriously, really starting to focus and pay attention to it, but what I don't see is a lot of change happening at the individual level.

Nika Lawrie: 5:53

A lot of people are concerned about changing their habits because of change to possible. They experience discomfort, they feel uncomfortable by changing these products that they've been used to for so long. I run into it with with toxin-free issues too. You know people have used the same laundry detergent. You know their their grandmothers used it, you know, and then their mothers used it and they used it and they don't want to change. But the issue is that you know this detergent is causing skin irritations or it's causing health concerns in their children or what have you you know. I could go on and on with this. Yeah, I think so many people are scared of that discomfort. So you mentioned the period products, but how did you really approach the issue in a grander scale, if that makes sense.

Romina Kwong: 6:43

Yeah, let's go back to the period products, because for me it was a gradual change. So it started off like I always started using tampons because I was a swimmer growing up. So it was like either you're swimming and you use a tampon or you don't. And so I chose swimming and chose the tampons. So I started with the ones with the plastic applicator and then from there I was like, okay, how can I? What is like the next stage where I can reduce even just a little bit? And so I went to the cardboard applicator and then from there, that's when they started seeing the tampons without any applicator, which like freaked me out and I was like, okay, I'll buy a box, I'll try it, see how it goes. If I don't like it, I'll just stick with the cardboard. It was a little bit of a learning curve and so I started using the ones without an applicator.

Romina Kwong: 7:31

And then after that, that's when the menstrual cups became a bit more accessible. So I started seeing them at my local pharmacy and just sort of everywhere and there's so many different cups now sizes, shapes and everything. And again that was like a couple months of a learning curve. Like the first period that I tried it I was like I can't do this. I was crying Just like I couldn't do it, and then it just took some practice and so finally, like it worked and I really haven't looked back since and I love that.

Romina Kwong: 8:03

There's also even like period panties now that are super, like widespread and accessible to at least purchase if you are able to, and so for me, that's always been my approach, even with like event planning and including your sustainability values into that or in anything that you do, is what is one adjustment that you can take? And it's not going from zero to a hundred, it's going like zero to 10. And same thing, like I see a lot more people now with reusable water bottles and it's like maybe sometimes you have a reusable and sometimes you forget it at home and you do buy a plastic one, and it's okay. And having that self-compassion for yourself that you can't be perfect Nobody is but as long as you're trying and setting yourself up for success by pre-planning really is what a lot of it is it will be helpful in the long run.

Romina Kwong: 9:00

And I think something to be mindful of too is a lot of these eco-friendlier options or alternatives are more expensive and, as somebody who isn't living lavishly with a lot of disposable income. It takes time to maybe save up. You buy a couple of things and then you keep going. So, for example, like a box of tampons is maybe like $10 to $12 Canadian I'm not sure what the US prices are Canadian and then the Diva Cup was like 35 plus dollars Canadian as well, but that Diva Cup lasted me for like seven years. So it's a bigger investment initially but it lasts you a little bit longer, or mostly in the long run. So it's just something to keep in mind that maybe you save up a little bit here and there to make that investment. And then the gradual changes.

Nika Lawrie: 9:52

I love that. I mean, that is the same thing I do with my clients, or what I teach in my community is it's not about perfection, it's about doing what we can do. And then it's really about one. You know, one step at a time. Don't don't stress yourself out, because if you stress yourself out, you're going to just stop and give up and then go back to how you were before. If you just make those small little changes, um over time, they really do compound over each other and and you end up having this larger kind of ripple effect of change throughout your life and your home. So I think you said it so well. You gave a really great example of how to do those steps. I think it's really important.

Romina Kwong: 10:35

Yeah, and something to keep in mind, too, is not to do everything all at once. So when I started with period products, that was the only thing I was doing, so it wasn't like I was reusing my containers. I wasn't at the level that I am now. It was like I mastered this one new habit and then from there, I then added on and attempted newer things. So that's something to keep in mind as well is, just pick the one thing, get really good at it or get to a level where you're comfortable, and then okay, let's add something else in.

Nika Lawrie: 11:10

Absolutely. I mean same thing. I mean I think I started probably, so I will say I. So I grew up off the grid. My parents had solar panels 40 years ago, before it was cool, and they had rainwater that they collected and filtered.

Nika Lawrie: 11:24

And that's what we use for water and so it was super cool. So I grew up the grid, so I understood that from a very early age. But I very much rebelled. I moved to New York city and Los Angeles. I worked in the entertainment industry, which is, like you know, one of the most opposite.

Nika Lawrie: 11:40

Yeah Right, like the least ego-friendly organizations or groups that you can go work in, and you know so I did the complete opposite. And then I came back home and I realized, you know I, I need to do better. Like I see the changes happening to the planet, I see the changes happening to the environment and they see the changes happening to our our own health, as in people, yep. And so, you know I, I knew I had to do better, and so I started, probably about a decade ago, starting to make little changes similar to yours just changing, that are available, are changing so rapidly, especially in the last, I feel, like five years. There's so many new eco-friendly, sustainable products out that weren't available even a couple of years ago, and so we can always improve.

Romina Kwong: 12:46

Yes, even a couple of years ago, and so we can always improve. Yeah, yes, that is also key. Is it was so much harder before because there weren't alternatives necessarily? It was a lot of like let me just reuse this plastic bag over and over again until it has a hole, right?

Nika Lawrie: 13:00

Yeah, yeah, absolutely yeah. So so now that we've kind of talked about sustainability, I really want to deep dive into events with you and what that looks like. Can you give us kind of a 10,000 foot view of what an eco-friendly event or a sustainable event is and what that looks like?

Romina Kwong: 13:20

So for me, it's not about making this an event as eco-friendly as possible yes, that is the top goal when you have an unlimited budget. But to be more realistic but still look at things from a holistic approach is really just figuring out what is it about sustainability that you value like, where, which parts and then taking those values and applying it to every part of the planning process. So, when you're picking your venue, what is it that you care about? Do you want it to every part of the planning process? So, when you're picking your venue, what is it that you care about? Do you want it to be run on renewable energy? You want to look at, I don't know, their waste management systems. And then you go on and on and on to other categories, like your catering. When you're purchasing, like for your wedding, for example, like your clothing, your wedding dress, tuxedo, et cetera, et cetera, like it's, every single step of the way is where can you make those small changes? Is it possible? Does it make sense? Does it align with your budget?

Nika Lawrie: 14:19

Absolutely.

Romina Kwong: 14:19

So really, it's just yeah, keeping sustainability at the forefront of your mind in the planning process.

Nika Lawrie: 14:26

Yeah, I love that. I mean, I can speak for my wedding. One of the big things for us was that we sort of, in a sense, did a minimalism approach to the wedding. We only bought specifically what we knew we wanted and we did a lot of research up front for the items so that we weren't buying a bunch of random things and then changing our mind and trying to meld things together. We really tried to intentionally approach it of how we wanted it to be, where we wanted it to be and what supplies specifically we needed and and we did that specifically to reduce waste, you know, to not have all these extra things.

Nika Lawrie: 15:04

The other thing that that we are planning to do and I can say this cause it is going to air slightly after my wedding, but we are for our favors, our giveaway gifts. We're actually doing little baby spruces, blue spruces, we're giving away little trees as the thank you gift, and so you know, it's just one more way to you know, we know not all the trees will get planted, but hopefully you know a handful of them while and it just adds to, you know retreeing the planet.

Romina Kwong: 15:36

Yes, yes, I love that. I think other like favors or gifts, like options too that are really great for weddings is just making a donation in everyone's name or something that's edible because somebody is bound to eat it and it won't go to waste or sit in a junk drawer, because, as much as like those cute little things that have, like the bride or like the two people who are getting married, their names on it, not everyone cares to keep it. No, like as a guest. It's just like cool to keep it.

Nika Lawrie: 16:12

No, like as a guest, it's just like cool, like yeah, yeah, for for us to um, you know, the other thing is we, we are fortunate enough that we have, you know, a home full of stuff. We didn't need gifts in that sense. And so we are asking we're asking for, not not for them not to give us gifts. We don't want them because we didn't want them to one waste their money on stuff that we didn't necessarily need, or we were going to have to figure out how to return in exchange for something, and we just didn't want the extra waste on all those supplies. And so, you know, if people wanted to donate to a honeymoon fund, they're welcome to, but beyond that we aren't asking for anything. And that's again an intentional approach to limit waste, of just getting junk that we don't need.

Romina Kwong: 16:51

Yeah, it's limiting waste, but also the headache, like you mentioned, the returning like stress and all of that, and it's, I think, something to keep in mind too is yes, it's sustainable, but does it help you in another sense as well, economically or just mental health? Self-care?

Nika Lawrie: 17:07

Yeah, Mental health is a big part of it. For sure, wedding planning is stressful, definitely yeah. So can you give a couple examples of I'm going to do kind of air quotes here for the listeners listening on the podcast. Normal quote, unquote normal events. Can you give a couple examples of how they are so detrimental to the environment?

Romina Kwong: 17:29

So, first and foremost, I'm going to speak specifically to in-person events, because virtual saves a ton of emissions and doesn't have quite the same reach in the sense of all the pre-planning. There is a lot of work involved, but totally separate. So for in-person events, first and foremost is location, and if you think of large conferences, but even weddings as well, depending on where people live is the travel so getting everybody there? Are they taking direct flights? Is it a bunch of connecting flights? There's a lot of carbon emissions that are being released into the atmosphere because of the air travel. So that's first and foremost, something to keep in mind. And then, second, is food right? So where's the food being sourced from? Is there any food wasted or lost along the way? So those are the two like really big factors when it comes to event planning.

Romina Kwong: 18:30

So with the travel, what you can do and offer is and it's a little bit easier, I would say for like conferences is having some sort of hybrid solution, so maybe having speakers or educational sessions that can be broadcasted, so people who don't want to travel, who can save on those carbon emissions, they can stay home and still enjoy and get the educational benefit, and then maybe all the people who live in that city where it's being hosted will come in and go in person.

Romina Kwong: 19:00

So it's a really good option to do things like that. And then with food yes, like a vegan vegetarian menu is better, but it's not necessarily realistic. So I would say have maybe a mostly vegetarian option, but if you want to have chicken or red meat and that sort of thing, like it's okay, like it's not my top choice, but you have to be realistic and it doesn't have to be an all or nothing approach. Like, maybe breakfast is a totally vegetarian meal and then lunch you have some options and dinner you have options as well. And so that's my approach with everything is just, it doesn't have to be one or the other, let's do a mixture.

Nika Lawrie: 19:47

Yeah, absolutely. I feel bad bringing up my wedding again, but just to use it as an example.

Nika Lawrie: 19:54

I found a local chef who sources local produce and meat and stuff to make the food that we're going to have at the wedding. And again, we did that intentionally so that we didn't have the one, all the costs that come with the shipments of food. We had high quality food, organic food, those kinds of things, but it's taking the moment to just kind of think about those little things. I think that is really beneficial to planning the events.

Romina Kwong: 20:28

Yeah, definitely, and as long as you have that in mind, or just taking that moment to pause, and really it's just about starting those conversations, maybe the caterer that you've chosen or that you really like has actually never thought about this. They haven't thought about sourcing locally, and it's just once you ask the questions. And the more individuals ask these questions to businesses, larger corporations, the more it gets their wheels turning, because maybe you're just one person asking, but then if they have a ton of clients who are now asking for this, they're going to offer it. So one thing I would I like to point out and just use in a prime example, is that veganism used to be really hard and then all of a sudden, in the last few years, there are vegan options everywhere, and it happened because people were demanding it.

Romina Kwong: 21:19

So, as individuals and as consumers, as a collective, we have the power to make change happen, have the power to make change happen, and that's where I think, yes, as individuals, we have a bit of responsibility. Corporations and the government, we all have to work together, but somebody sort of has to make that first move. And, yes, we don't necessarily all have the same impact, like me as an individual versus like, I don't know, amazon or Google as a corporation, not the same impact. But we have to start those conversations to get them moving in the direction that the demand is.

Nika Lawrie: 21:57

I think, yeah, I mean, I think you know, we we undervalue the impact that we can make as an individual, though, because even though sometimes it's just like you know, I'm going to, I'm going to eat one meal without meat, or I'm going to buy a hybrid of an electric car opposed to a conventional car or a gasoline car right, like, it's those little things but what happens in the long run is that you are then going to influence the next person around you and maybe they decide to make a little change, and then that person influences somebody else and they make a little change, and then that person influences somebody else and they make a little change, and then that person influences another person, and maybe that one's Jeff Bezos or, you know, the founder of Google, or something right, like, like you don't know.

Nika Lawrie: 22:38

I mean, that's kind of a silly example, but you really don't know the ripple effect that you can have. You know, greta Thornburg is a perfect example. She was just protesting, going to school. She's like why am I going to learn if there's not going to be a planet to live on when I'm older? She had no intention in becoming this huge, famous eco-friendly superstar. Basically, she was just doing her little thing, but it had this massive ripple effect, and so we can have a lot more power as individuals in our own little life than we realize sometimes.

Romina Kwong: 23:14

Yeah, yeah, for sure.

Nika Lawrie: 23:16

So, going back to the events, where does someone start with intentional planning? How do they kind of approach that?

Romina Kwong: 23:25

So my approach is figuring out what is it that you care about? So your values. I nicknamed them eco values because sometimes things conflict. So, for an example, if you want to, if one person cares about supporting local, so any local smaller businesses, but then somebody wants to only use eco-friendlier materials, sometimes those materials like palm leaves or bamboo, and that sort of thing isn't grown in North America. Those materials come from Asia, other parts of the world, and so you have to think about the carbon emissions for it to get shipped over before, and then all the other processes involved in creating that object over before, and then all the other processes involved in creating that object. And so sitting down with your planning team. So if it's your wedding, maybe it's your partner, if it's a bigger conference or festival, it's sitting down with your team and saying, okay, what do we care about? And then how can we apply that everywhere? And so once you have sort of like those top three values, it's easy, right, like it. If you pick a venue, is it local, yes or no? It's a quick answer, right. Same thing, your caterer, are they sourcing local foods, yes or no? It goes on and on and on. And so, starting with that.

Romina Kwong: 24:46

And then the second thing if you don't know where to start or you don't know where your values lie is going back to the three R's. So reduce, reuse, recycle and I think a lot of people don't actually know that it's a hierarchy. So it's not just pick one of the three R's and you're all good. It's reduce first. So if that's the only value or the only thing that you choose for your event, you're good.

Romina Kwong: 25:15

So do you absolutely need that thing? Is it going to make or break your event? And if it's not going to, you probably don't need it. And also you save on your budget. So reducing and then reusing. So if you do absolutely need to purchase something or invest in something, can it be reused? So can you rent it first and foremost, and then can you reuse it in another part of an event, or can you give it away to be reused after the event as well? And then, lastly, is recycle. I know recycle seems like it's the easiest option, to be honest, and we all wish cycle because we're like, okay, it's going to the blue bin, it's going to get recycled, it's going to become this magical new plastic water bottle, and unfortunately not how recycling works.

Romina Kwong: 26:03

And 80 to 90% of our recycling doesn't actually get recycled, which is super heartbreaking, but yeah, so that's why it should be the last option. So, if worse comes to worse, you can't figure out your values. Stick to the three R's and start with reducing and reusing.

Nika Lawrie: 26:21

Yeah, I love that and I think it's really important to drive home the whole idea behind recycling, because a lot of times those things water idea behind recycling, because, you know, a lot of times those things water bottles or plastic containers, for example are just packaged up into these giant trash piles and then they're shipped to some third world country and then usually they're lit on fire, which then releases a bunch of toxins into the environment. It destroys the environment, like the actual ground that is burnt on and nothing's reused, and then we're breathing in all these toxic chemicals and even if you think it's not affecting you because it's in some third world country, wind carries stuff very far and it affects us all over the world and so it's a big, big issue with recycling. So, yeah, yeah, definitely.

Romina Kwong: 27:09

And you made such a great point that, yeah, air doesn't stay in one place. No, it does not, yeah.

Nika Lawrie: 27:15

Yeah, and you know it's, it's. It's not okay, honestly, and there needs to be more education around what's really happening with recycling, for sure, yes, yeah. So to get back into the the event side of things, um, can you give me one example of um something to do to start reducing the impact of the event?

Romina Kwong: 27:38

So I guess to like go back to a couple of things that I've mentioned is can you reduce the amount of travel that's necessary? Um, so, like I mentioned, a hybrid or a virtual option for an event, if it's possible, or maybe you have, have you just decrease the amount of people you're inviting? Um, and for food and stuff like that, it's just pre-planning, like actually figuring out your numbers, getting it portioned out, um, not necessarily picking a buffet style where things are constantly replenished to look full. Especially from an event planner side of things, that's just like the way it's always been done, like things just need to look full and so much food gets wasted. But yeah, coordinating with nonprofits or places where you can donate the food afterwards and stuff like that, and then thinking about your decorations is a huge sort of like wasteful side of the planning. So you absolutely need it.

Romina Kwong: 28:36

There's a few apps and businesses around the US and Canada where you can actually just rent decor if you don't need to necessarily buy it, or look on Facebook marketplaceplace or like Kijiji, ebay and that sort of thing, and people are probably selling stuff from the wedding that they had because they just need to get rid of it.

Nika Lawrie: 28:57

Right yeah.

Romina Kwong: 28:58

So look at things getting things secondhand or renting or reusing it in some way and just yeah, asking yourself if you absolutely need to buy it new or can you get it somewhere else?

Nika Lawrie: 29:12

I love that. Yeah, I think um the I think it's also just the little things that people sometimes don't think about, like glitter, for instance, is horrible. So it's like the those little tiny things. If you really want to get into it, you can start to kind of um, really pick specific things to start, you know, doing differently or removing from your, from your decorations too.

Romina Kwong: 29:35

Yeah, yes, and if you already have those things, yes, go ahead and use it. Don't just toss it in the garbage or recycling or wherever. Use what you have first. And then, yeah, look into borrowing or reusing and just contributing to the concept of the circular economy. So when something is already made is just keep it in the use sort of circle and getting it repaired, reusing and using it over again before it ends up in recycling or trash.

Nika Lawrie: 30:07

Yeah, absolutely. Well, Romina, this has been fantastic. I have a couple more quick fire questions for you, but before we get into those, can you tell the listeners where can they connect with you, when can they find you to work with you if they want help planning their own eco events?

Romina Kwong: 30:23

Yeah, so you can find me at eco-friendly eventsca is my website, and then on most social media platforms it's at ecofriendlyevents. I'm happy to support you. I don't necessarily plan the events from start to finish, but I'm happy to consult and for those individuals who are planning maybe just like an in-person gathering at their home or for like your wedding, for example I actually have a free download for planning your event with more sustainability in mind. So it's the Eco-Friendly Party Planning Guide which you can find on my website, ecofriendlyeventsca. Forward slash eco party planning.

Nika Lawrie: 31:05

Awesome. I'll link to everything in the show notes.

Romina Kwong: 31:07

Amazing.

Nika Lawrie: 31:08

Easiest possible. So are you ready for the quick fire questions? Yes, awesome. Okay, so the very first one is what is your favorite or most impactful book, podcast or documentary, and why?

Romina Kwong: 31:21

Ooh, okay, I guess for the planners out there, it's this book by Priya Parker.

Nika Lawrie: 31:29

I am totally blanking on the name right now, but send it to me when you think of it and I'll put it in the show notes.

Romina Kwong: 31:36

Okay, oh, it's the Art of Gathering, the.

Nika Lawrie: 31:39

Art of.

Romina Kwong: 31:40

Gathering by Priya Parker, and she talks about planning with so much intention and I think once you get into that mindset, you will then include sustainability.

Nika Lawrie: 31:50

I've heard of that book before I haven't read it. Somebody else, I think, once you get into that mindset, you will then include sustainability. I've heard of that book before I haven't read it. Somebody else, I think, recommended it to me, and so I'll definitely have to check it out. Yes, yeah, so you for the second question. You've already given several wonderful examples, but if you have one more to share with us, what is your best toxin-free or eco-friendly living tip?

Romina Kwong: 32:10

with us. What is your best toxin-free? Or eco-friendly living tip Support local, yes, and whether it's your skincare products or anything like that, they tend to make things in smaller batches. They know what goes into their products as they've sourced all their ingredients, and tend to be a little bit easier to trust because it's a single or a small team that can answer all of your questions.

Nika Lawrie: 32:33

Absolutely. I love that. I mean, I too have a small product line and I know exactly what goes in the products. I'm so careful about sourcing it and I would recommend that for any of the other ones too. I think it's really really important. Yes, yeah, absolutely so. Last question for you today what does living consciously mean to you?

Romina Kwong: 32:53

Is being just mindful and intentional two words that we've said a lot today on this episode, but just thinking about it, one item, one thing at a time, whether, yeah, so starting with one thing and just building on top of that, um which would be, yeah, my thought on that and just thinking about rethinking everything. When you're um, running out of a product, like when your juice runs out, for example is there another way you can get it in a more eco-friendly way, and things like that.

Nika Lawrie: 33:30

Absolutely. I teach the same thing for removing toxins is use up your shampoo. When the shampoo is used up, let's look at getting a less toxic option to replace it. So it's that one step at a time kind of approach. Yes, exactly, awesome. Well, romina, this has been fantastic. I want to commend you for the work you're doing. I think it's so important, so needed. You know, events are sometimes overlooked in the sense of how they're impacting the planet, and I love what you're doing. So thank you for the work you're doing.

Romina Kwong: 34:01

Thank you, and thank you for having me on this podcast.

Nika Lawrie: 34:04

Yeah, thanks for coming on.