Hi, I’m Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe, and I love words.

Listening to them, learning new ones, putting the perfect ones down on page to make that sentence just right, and whizzing them around again until they’re just so.

And of course, nattering words to chat, relate, put the world to rights, ask questions, and generally find out more about the world and us in it.

On this site you will find my latest published articles, if you want to know more, please check out my blog here

Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Here are my latest published articles

foodnavigator.com •

Has the alternative meat market been slowed by COVID? Redefine Meat thinks not

During the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer demands for meat reduction and replacement options have temporarily decelerated, market intelligence company Mintel ​reported, with consumers relaxing their food habits. However, one company bucking the trend is meat alternative brand, Redefine Meat, as its CEO and Co-Founder, Eshchar Ben-Shitrit, reveals: “​During COVID-19 there has certainly been a spike in the popularity of alternative meat.”​ Emphasising the amount of funding given to the meat-free fo
foodnavigator.com •

Upcycling food waste into a biobased plastic alternative

US-based MiTerro has developed and utilises two-patent pending technologies to create plastic-alternative biomaterials that are made from agricultural waste. The technology is getting increasing interest from Europe as the United Nations’ sustainability goals near, and both regulations and leading industry trends in the continent focus on reducing wastage, strengthening supply chains and improving our food system. With its dedication to ending both food and plastic waste, MiTerro strives to re
foodnavigator.com •

A rainbow of opportunity: How fermentation biotech is creating ‘Agricultural 2.0’

In today’s market, consumers are actively seeking more sustainable and healthier products. Enter food biotechnology. Fermentation​ is a type of biotechnology that uses microorganisms to create a chemical change that can produce food additives and animal feed. Fermentation can offer a number of benefits for food producers—including sustainability, health and product performance. Talking about how fermentation delivers on these, Lindsay McCorkle, who is part of Rabobank’s FoodBytes! food and agr
cosmeticsdesign-europe.com •

The no waste era? Every beauty brand can ‘reformulate, reposition and renew’

Circular beauty had gained considerable traction in recent years, propelled by widespread brand pledges, government action and NGO initiatives worldwide aimed at building out a truly global circular economy where waste was eliminated and resources continually used. And with calls for circularity in beauty loudening, many brands had started to truly explore supply chains that implemented waste reduction and zero waste strategies – an important part of the concept for consumers...
cosmeticsdesign-europe.com •

Cannabis beauty: CBD is ‘an exciting area for innovation’, says expert

Rising interest in CBD and active cannabinoids in beauty continues to dominate the landscape, particularly in skincare. But with ongoing claims confusion, complex regulatory hurdles and a lack of consumer confidence due to greenwashing, what's next for the cannabis beauty trend? “CBD is an exciting area for innovation where new cosmetic uses are proven or further established with clinical efficacy,” ​said Belinda Carli, director and cosmetic chemist at the Institute of Personal Care Science.
Natasha Spencer Jolliffe •

Happy International Women's Day 2021: Celebrate, Champion and #ChooseToChallenge

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” – Gloria Steinem, journalist and activist. Happy International Women’s Day! Today, and throughout the year, we unite to roar for meaningful change, to celebrate courage and to #ChooseToChallenge gender inequality and bias, and to continue to fight for true inclusivity. Every year, the 8th March is a day dedicated to recognising
Natasha Spencer Jolliffe •

New Year, New Resolutions, New Hope

Okay, so we’re ten days into 2021! How’s it been for you? Weird? Sad? Humbling? Positive? Discombobulating? All of those? Me too. It’s a surreal time. And one that I thought worth documenting each day in tiny, mini tidbits that sum up my well, thoughts for the day. Every year for as long as I can remember, I’ve intended to do this very thing. To wake up on January 1st of a new year, with new hope, new resolutions – (oh who am I kidding, the same old ones from last year!) – and new revelations t
Natasha Spencer Jolliffe •

Embracing the Human Library, Enhancing the Human Experience, Encouraging Empathy

The Human Library, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, allows people to volunteer as ‘books’ to interact with ‘readers’ in 30-minute conversations. Chit-chat, small talk, surface-level nattering — do you love it or loathe it? Do you often just want to have a one-on-one, real, meaningful and present conversation? One that doesn’t come with expectation, judgement, criticism or distress. To talk to empathise with others, gain understanding of their perspectives and to be social. I fi
Natasha Spencer Jolliffe •

the end of AN era?

Do we ever reach the end of an era? Or are we just beginning a new one? I notice how this may seem entirely meaningless and insignificant when we are going through a global pandemic. And it is. My intention for writing here is not to trivialise the scary and strange times we’re currently in, but to use this as a forum to explore my own emotions to everyday events throughout this crazy ride we call life. Those that raise questions, prompt reflection and influence change. Right now, those emotio
Natasha Spencer Jolliffe •

What I’ve learnt about chasing dreams

I’ve never really had just one dream. But there’s always been several things that I’ve loved to do: performing, reading, writing, exploring, music, analysing, asking questions. Always. Ever since I was a child. Along the way, as I’ve tried to navigate ‘adulthood’, I’ve often lost sight of these dreams ― and how happy engaging in them makes me. I guess as we get older dreams can simply pale into insignificance amid daily life and the responsibilities of rent, bills, relationships. Along the way
Natasha Spencer Jolliffe •

Mental Health OF Women, Parents and Young People Hit Worst in Pandemic, Lancet Psychiatry study says

The Covid-19 pandemic is having the greatest detrimental impact on the mental health of women, parents of under-fives and young people aged between 18-to-24-years old, a study by researchers at The University of Manchester, King’s College London and the National Centre for Social Research and the National Centre for Social Research has found. While the country has seen a substantial increase in mental distress, the UK population has not affected all people the same. In April, the UK saw a 33% r
Journo Portfolio •

Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Black Lives Matter: Creating Change Is A Priority For ALL Of US Together with so many people around the world, I have been watching and reading about the protests over the death of George Floyd. The outrage and despair continue as the lives of so many black people have been cruelly taken. Lives including Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many more, in a long-standing, abhorrent and shameful history of systemic tragedy. I have struggled with knowing what to write, what to say that can even be
Natasha Spencer Jolliffe •

Cumberlege Review calls for Immediate reforms to improve women’s healthcare

The long-awaited Cumberlege review, which shines a much-needed light on women’s health, suffering and medical treatment, has been published. It reveals how women’s lives have been ruined by three key health scandals: The hormone pregnancy test Primidos, epilepsy and bipolar drug, Sodium valproate, and pelvic mesh implants. Baroness Cumberlege, who led the review, heard how women were shamed into being called “hysterical”. The pain, suffering and enduring agony they experienced was ignored. And
Natasha Spencer Jolliffe •

Redefining What Success Really Is

What does success really mean? It’s an odd word, success. Look it up in the dictionary and you’ll find success described as “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose”. Now, factually, I believe that. I agree. But dig a level deeper behind that definition and I see that, actually, there’s a whole load of other meanings, thoughts — an entire system of mistruths — attached to that very word, that I’d assumed were connected. And those perceived demands were crippling me. Here’s what it looks like?
Natasha Spencer Jolliffe •

Black Lives Matter: Creating Change Is A Priority For ALL Of US

Together with so many people around the world, I have been watching and reading about the protests over the death of George Floyd. The outrage and despair continue as the lives of so many black people have been cruelly taken. Lives including Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many more, in a long-standing, abhorrent and shameful history of systemic tragedy. I have struggled with knowing what to write, what to say that can even begin to describe how saddened and heartbroken I am. Because I kno
Natasha Spencer Jolliffe •

Rape Conviction Rate in Sweden Increases by 75%

After a major change in the law in Sweden two years ago, the country’s rape conviction has risen by 75%, with calls now urging others countries to undertake similar legal reforms. In 2018, the Scandinavian country changed its law on rape to sex without consent. The legal change means that prosecutors no longer have to prove coercion or that the use or threat of violence took place. The conviction rate for rape in Sweden has increased from 190 in 2017 to 333 in 2019. These figures, which indica
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