Sustainability International

Helping your business grow by embracing sustainable practices and green initiatives...

Sustainability is harmony between humans and nature.

Sustainability is based on a simple premise that everything we need for our well being depends on our natural environment.  Pursuing sustainability is to create conditions which make it possible for humans and nature to exist in harmony.

As a business owner each day is a constant balancing act to bring profitability to your business, while finding ways to operate your business in an environmentally sensitive way.  Moving toward sustainability is a challenge when considering how we affect our environment, through our lifestyles, living conditions, energy use, travel and work methods and practices.

 

Become A Sustainability International Partner

Sustainability International Partners understand the importance of conducting their business in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable manner.  

Your customers are searching for businesses who embrace sustainability, and green initiatives and there is nothing more important to your business than connecting to every customer possible.  

The partnership is FREE, learn how easy it is to become a Sustainability International Partner and enjoy the benefits of being a Sustainability International Partner.

 

 

Support Sustainability and protecting our environment, subscribe today for your FREE membership to Sustainability International.

 

 

Recycle & Reduce Waste

Use of highly visible and well marked recycling containers in all visitor areas to recycle glass, metal, and paper.

Water Management

By the use of water conservation, storm water management and environmentally friendly landscaping practices Sustainability International Partners can save and lessen the negative impact of water usage on our lives and the environment.

Green Buildings

By using modern construction and renovation practices, Sustainability International Partners high performance building practices can help to decrease adverse effects upon the environment from our buildings.

Energy and Emissions

By embracing energy efficiency standards and renewable energy use, Sustainability International Partners energy use and greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced helping to protect our environment.

EV Charging Stations

Sustainability International Partners can assist more and more travelers who are looking for the convenience of Electric Vehicle charging stations by installing stations onsite.

CATEGORIES

Maven Moment: Holiday Gift Wrapping

It was so exciting to see the beautifully wrapped boxes under the tree when I was a child! I couldn’t wait until Christmas morning when I would tear them open and toss the gift wrapping aside. My family’s gift wrapping tradition started with a walk to our local shops....

Earth911 Reader: Amazon Packaging, BP Bails on Oil, Glacier Mass-loss, and More

Keep ahead of the crowd with Earth911 Reader, a curated collection of must-read articles about sustainability, recycling, and the science of climate. Dive into stories about Amazon packaging, Brightmark’s plastic recycling revolution, BP’s pivot to renewables, Glacier...

Earth911 Inspiration: Trustees of the Earth

Today’s Earth911 inspiration is from J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day: “Each generation takes the earth as trustees.” As trustees of the earth, what can we do to ensure future generations can enjoy the many benefits of this beautiful planet? Earth911...

Hot Year, Earth Overshoot Delayed, and COVID Fallout

Tune into the Earth911 Reader every Saturday for the week’s useful climate science, sustainability, and recycling articles from around the Web. We read so that you can read more efficiently. This week, we look at 2020’s track to becoming one of the three hottest years...

How To Get Kids Involved in Gardening *

Spring is already pushing its way out whether you are ready for it or not! I am definitely ready to welcome the birds, the buds, and the scent of freshly turned earth back again. And if you’re like me, you’re anxious to get your garden started. This year, is it time...

How to Recycle Your Porcelain Bathroom Fixtures

If you’ve ever renovated a bathroom, you’ve probably faced the challenge of recycling porcelain fixtures. Whether it’s a toilet, sink, or even porcelain tile, recycling these items can prove problematic. Because most individuals don’t generate a steady stream of...

Good, Better, Best: The Climate Impacts of Milks *

Milk may do a body good, but it’s not so kind to the planet. Milk’s ethical and environmental drawbacks have led many people to look for alternatives. And although these are not the only factors, dairy milk sales have dropped 13% in the last decade. The dozens of milk...

Why You Should Ditch Balloons if You Love the Environment *

After writing an article on traditions that are terrible for the environment, I received overwhelming feedback that balloon releases should have been included on the list. Never one to disappoint, I decided to do some research on the topic and what I found was...

The 10 BEST All-Natural, and Eco Friendly Laundry Detergents P

Not all eco-friendly laundry detergent is made equal. If you want to pick a good one that will actually clean your clothes, you’ve come to the right place. In my experience a lot of eco-friendly laundry detergents are actually just laundry soap. And trust me, that can...

What Oatly’s investors tells us about conscious consumerism

Controversial news has come to light in the sustainability community this week which again highlights the need for systemic change vs ‘conscious consumerism’ and individual action. Back in July 2020, Swedish alt-milk brand Oatly sold a minority $200m stake to a group...

Recycling, Sustainability, and Science Stories You Should Read

We read a lot so you don’t have to comb for useful information. Keep ahead of the crowd with Earth911 Reader, a curated collection of must-read articles about sustainability, recycling, and the sciences of climate, materials, and more. Here are the stories worth your...

Direct Solar America CEO Pablo Diaz on Solar Subsidies

Pablo Diaz, founder and CEO of Direct Solar America, joins Earth911 to talk about the current state of solar subsidies in the U.S. He was recently named one of CEO Magazine’s Top 20 Dynamic CEOs. Diaz founded the company as a solar installer but transitioned to...

Earth911 Inspiration: Clothing Clutter

Today’s quote is from Elizabeth Cline, an expert on consumer culture, fast fashion, sustainability, and labor rights in the apparel industry: “Consumers buy twice as much clothing as they did 20 years ago, and most of it ends up as clutter.” Cline’s book,...

How To Recycle a Broken Treadmill

If you have a home gym, it’s likely you own a treadmill. Too often, this kind of gym equipment goes unrecycled. Whether you use it regularly or not, your treadmill will eventually stop working. When mine was beyond repair, I was determined to recycle every part of the...

Maven Moment: Summer’s Fresh String Beans — 3 Ways *

I love string beans and so did my Mom. She particularly liked to serve dishes that feature them in the summer when they are abundant, fresh, and sweet. They’re great when the weather is too hot for a heavy meal. I remember Mom pinching off the ends of the beans,...

Quiz #89: Recycling Everyday Things Challenge

You’ll find unused stuff everywhere in the house, in drawers, closets, and the attic. What do you do with electric cables, paint cans, unused books and encyclopedia, and myriad other everyday things? Do you know how to recycle or reuse them? What if they are not...

How To Choose Eco-Friendly Fabrics

How green are the clothes you are wearing? It can be challenging to discern this information, even from product labels. Yet a growing variety of environmentally friendly textiles are available for the choosy shopper. As a general rule, you can read the labels to find...

You Can Recycle Cigarette Butts!

Did you know cigarette butts are not fully biodegradable? TerraCycle, the company that strives to find a way to recycle everything, offers a free Cigarette Waste Recycling Program. Just sign up with TerraCycle, collect the waste, and ship it to them for recycling....

Skip the Plastic Wrap: 4 Food Wrap Alternatives

Food wrap choices have long focused on petroleum-based options, but you can do better. Cling wrap is the sticky, thin plastic film handy for covering food dishes that you often see at potlucks and in fridges full of leftovers. You might know it as Saran Wrap, a...

Wow, You Can Recycle That?

We hear all the time about recycling plastic bottles and aluminum cans, but what about some of the lesser mentioned items? In response to reader queries, we’ve assembled a list of some odd items that may have you saying, “Wow, you can recycle that?” Blue Jeans You...

How can we reduce our metal waste? *

Metal is the fifth most common material in household garbage, after paper, food, plastic, and yard waste. Unlike the other top items, metal is inert in a landfill and cannot be burned. Mining metal is among the world’s most environmentally damaging industries....

Good, Better, Best: Shopping for Natural Fibers P

The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions. That means it is a productive target for personal changes that can make a significant contribution to lowering overall human carbon emissions. You can use thredUP’s fashion footprint...

Zero-Waste Cleaning and Laundry Tips *

Similar to a forest ecosystem, zero-waste cleaning systems produce nothing that can’t be reused and repurposed. Waste to one system is food for another. This concept is inspiring to many people wishing to make their lives more sustainable and is gaining in popularity....

What Can You Do With Your Old Electrical Wires and Cables?

Do you have a box of old electrical wires and cables lying in a corner of your house? You’re not alone. Around the globe, human beings throw away around 40 million tons of electrical waste per year. Electrical construction material, including the types of wires and...

5 Strategies To Develop a Sustainable Diet You Can Stick With

Do you want to make your diet more sustainable but you’re not sure where to start? Maybe you’ve already started by reducing food waste or integrating Meatless Mondays into your weekly meals. Whether you’d like more ideas to help you develop a more sustainable diet —...

How To Spot Greenwashing

More of us are concerned about making environmentally conscious purchases, and marketers have our number. But “eco-friendly” wording on a product’s packaging doesn’t necessarily mean that the item is more sustainable than other brands. To be smart shoppers, we need to...

Eco-Friendly Products and the Trickle-Down Effect

It’s easy to sit back and think, “I’m just one person. How can my choices really affect the whole eco-system?” Well, you are just one person, but you are one person that can make small changes. One simple choice you can make is to choose eco-friendly products....

Earth911 Quiz #55: Environmentally Smart Shopping P

Sustainable living requires forethought and reflection on the impact of a product or service on the planet. Learning to stop, review the facts, and make a smart choice for the environment will also give you power to influence corporate decisions with your spending....

Tips for Starting Your Garden From Scratch P

As the spring flowers start to appear and the days get longer, my inspiration for gardening returns. You don’t have to wait for warmer weather to get your hands dirty. Starting plants from seed is a great way to extend your relationship with your garden, have more...

We Earthlings: Rethink Air Travel

The coronavirus pandemic has proven that we can decide not to travel if it’s not essential. Before you book your next flight, consider this: Air travel contributes 4.9% of the greenhouse gas emissions that are the leading cause of climate change. Data source: What...

7 Leave No Trace Principles for Your Next Outdoor Adventure P

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you understand the value of caring for the natural world. Minimizing your impact on the places you visit helps preserve nature’s beauty for you and other visitors to enjoy. And by preserving habitat, you help protect the wildlife and...

Maven Moment: Grandma Rose’s Frozen Treats *

My mother-in-law loved to tell me stories about growing up in Brooklyn in the 1930s and 1940s. The current heatwave in Brooklyn reminded me of some stories about her mother, Rose. Despite the scarcities of the Depression and World War II years, Rose managed to find a...

Be a Good Environmental Steward When You Travel P

The pandemic means added safety precautions at home and when we travel. Some of these precautions generate waste, yet it’s more important than ever to reduce our waste and dispose of it properly. When you have the opportunity to travel again, plan to be a good steward...

Greenest Insulation Products for the Home

Pliny the Elder was the first to write that home is where the heart is, but many older homes are drafty and have cold floors and uneven temperatures that can chill an environmentally aware heart. Do you remember the nursery rhyme about a cold, old house where even the...

Earth911 Inspiration: Invitation To Be What We Are P

This week’s quote is from American author Gretel Ehrlich: “Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are.” Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click to get a larger image.   The...

Alternatives to Tree Removal P

Homeowners remove trees for many reasons, but there are often better solutions – you really can plant your tree and keep it, too. And yet, urban tree cover is declining all over the United States, and new development projects don’t account for all of the tree loss...

Embracing Business Sustainability Has Challenges and Rewards *

What is a Sustainable Business?   A Sustainable business or green business, is a business that has minimal negative impact on the global or local environment, community, society, or economy.  A sustainable business embraces the concept of the triple...

The End of King Coal, Fuels From Plants and Carbon Capture

The Earth911 Reader collects and comments on useful news about science, business, sustainability, and recycling to save you time and keep you informed about the trends in environmental issues. IN SCIENCE EU Introduces Digital Earth Model to Support Climate...

Footprint by Footprint: Calculating Carbon P

Every day of your life, across everything you do and buy, you contribute to rising greenhouse gas emissions. Now, you can track the impact of all that activity — the stuff you buy, the places you go — to understand your carbon footprint. There are many carbon...

20 Staggering E-Waste Facts in 2021 P

It feels as if electronics were made to be thrown out every year, right? From mobile phones that just happen to die right when your contract is over to televisions that become obsolete as soon as a larger, thinner version debuts. While every generation of electronics...

5 Easy EEK-o-Friendly Halloween Decorations

Unfortunately, many of our holidays have become an opportunity to buy stuff that is used once and then tossed in the garbage. Halloween is an especially hyper-commercialized celebration with individually wrapped candies, disposable costumes, plastic accessories, and...

Sustainable Stocking Stuffers

If you are determined to be eco-friendly in all your gift-giving this year, start with creative, sustainable stocking stuffers. “The holidays are one of the hardest times to reduce waste because of traditions, feeling overwhelmed, and not being aware of other...

Can Committed Recycling Make You An Environmentalist? *

How to be Green If You Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? When it comes to Environmentalism, the first thing that everyone latches on to is recycling.  We all hope and want to project an image of being green to our peers.  The last thing we want, is to be accused of...

Maven Moment: Refreshing Drinks for Mom

When I was a little girl, we didn’t worry about staying hydrated. We didn’t know the science of hydration. If you were thirsty, you drank a cool beverage. My mother kept a pitcher of tap water in the fridge and sometimes we had soda and, occasionally, lemonade. We...

U.S. Flood Risk Is 67% Higher Than Historic Projections *

Will your home face flooding due to climate change? A new study by the New York-based nonprofit First Street Foundation found that 67% more American homes than previously estimated face a high risk of flooding during the next 30 years. It could save your life and can...

Quiz #86: Composting Challenge P

By composting, you can reduce the amount of waste in your garbage can and turn your food scraps and lawn clippings into a rich soil amendment for your garden. Do you know what goes in a home compost bin? Challenge your composting knowledge and learn new composting...

Connection, Next Step in Employee Sustainability Engagement *

Connection in Employee Sustainability Engagement   Note: This is the third installment in a five-part series on engaging employees around sustainability. The first part introduced the four stages of employee engagement; the second part discussed...

Infographic: Create an Indoor Fragrant Herb Garden P

A fragrant herb garden is a great addition to any home. It’s easy to tend to and offers so many benefits. These fragrant herbs offer more than pleasant natural scents that don’t degrade your indoor air quality. You can use many of them for culinary, medicinal, and...

Maven Moment: Lentils, a Frugal and Tasty Meat Substitute P

Lentils were always a staple in our house, especially during the cooler months of the year. My favorite is Mom’s lentil soup. She made it with diced carrot and onion and served it with tiny pasta like orzo or ditalini. It made a warm, filling meal on a cold day and a...

We Earthlings: 91% of All Plastic Is Still Unrecycled P

Ninety-one percent of all plastic ever manufactured is still unrecycled. And how much have we manufactured? During the six decades that humans have been mass-producing plastic, we’ve created 8.3 billion tons of it. That number grows daily. We didn’t plan ahead for the...

How to Make Your Own Natural Bee Repellent *

As the weather warms and you start thinking of picnics and barbecues, your thoughts may also go to typical outdoor summer pests. The last thing anyone wants to see once the grill is fired up is bees and wasps buzzing around your guests. The problem is that commercial...

Can Solar Farms Promote Food Security, Wildlife Habitat? P

A big concern with large-scale solar farms is the impact on land use. Solar developers often site projects on agricultural land that is taken out of production. Also, the vegetation around solar panels needs to be maintained to prevent shading. In some cases,...

Earth911 Inspiration: The Beauty of Art and Nature and Life P

This week’s quote is from American author and environmentalist, Edward Abbey: “All we have, it seems to me, is the beauty of art and nature and life, and the love which that beauty inspires.” Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of...

International Young Eco-Heroes Inspire a Brighter Future

Young people around the world are powerful players in protecting the planet. These youthful eco-heroes promote fresh ideas for sustainability, such as “eco bricks” from discarded plastic. They work to protect pollinators, frogs, and other precious wildlife. They speak...

The State of Producer Responsibility in the United States

“Producer responsibility is a strategy that engages manufacturers in the entire lifecycle of their products” including end-of-life disposal. It’s a radical shift from the way Americans usually think of materials’ lifecycles; once you buy something you are responsible...

Understanding the Population Problem

When the global population reached 5 billion in 1987, that number seemed almost inconceivable. But today, there are almost 8 billion people on the planet and by 2056, we could reach 10 billion humans. Without technical innovation and changes in human behavior, Earth’s...

So, You’ve Audited Your Waste, Now What?

In part one, Conducting a Home Waste Audit, you learned to audit your household waste for a week. Now it’s time to analyze the waste and make changes. In my waste audit example, I categorized 150 items for disposal. Of those items, I could put 77 items in the...

Infographic: How To Compost at Home

Are you composting at home yet? If not, you might want to consider it. We generate more than 267.8 million tons of trash annually in the U.S. and more than 40.6 million tons of this is food waste that could be composted. According to the Environmental Protection...

Shopping for the Best Solar Panels *

Technological advances have transformed the solar energy industry in recent years. Solar panels are significantly more efficient, producing more power in the same amount of space. Meanwhile, prices continue to fall, reducing the cost of solar electricity. But with the...

U.S. Flood Risk Is 67% Higher Than Historic Projections *

Will your home face flooding due to climate change? A new study by the New York-based nonprofit First Street Foundation found that 67% more American homes than previously estimated face a high risk of flooding during the next 30 years. It could save your life and can...

How To Build a Gardening Cold Frame P

Autumn may be here, but the change in seasons doesn’t require a complete halt to your gardening. By installing a cold frame in your garden, you can extend your growing season and grow seasonal plants in cooler weather. What Is a Cold Frame? A cold frame consists of a...

Why is There Such a Sudden Interest in Ocean Plastic? *

Why the Sudden Interest in Ocean Plastic?   Over the last year, there has been a surge of interest in the problem of ocean plastic pollution. The media drumbeat began with the now-infamous turtle video, showing the removal of a plastic straw embedded...

Amazing Facts About the Earth and Nature *

The Earth is a remarkable place, full of surprises and value that must be preserved to help humanity’s development while reducing poverty and providing sufficient food for all. In this Earth911 Quiz, we look at recent scientific discoveries that make us marvel at the...

10 Easy Ways to Reduce Food Waste at Home *

Food is too good to waste, and yet one third of food produced for human consumption is wasted or lost globally. In the US, we waste 40% of all our food – that’s nuts! Food waste might seem like something small, but it adds up to a massive… and I mean MASSIVE impact....

Is Your Business Guilty of the 7 Sins of Greenwashing?

The Seven Sins Of GreenWashing!   Greenwashing is the deceptive use of  green marketing or green PR to promote the perception that an organization’s products, services, or policies are environmentally friendly. Greenwashing can be as simple as mislabeling a...

125+ Household Items You Can Compost P

What is compostable? The answer: A LOT OF THINGS! Things you probably haven’t even thought of before. I love composting, and it’s one of the best ways you can reduce your household waste. According the EPA a household can reduce their trash from 30-60% just by...

Earth911 Quiz #47: Battery Recycling Challenge

Americans buy about 3 billion batteries each year, half of which are AA and 30 percent AAA batteries for small electronics. Do you know which states require battery recycling? Do you know the different requirements for recycling rechargeable and single-use batteries?...

Ensure That Sustainability is Part of Your Business Plan *

Inject Sustainability into Your Business Plan   Sustainability will be handled differently for different companies.  Whether your company is a startup or an established company reevaluating your business plans matters.  You need to identify what the source...

9 Nontoxic Colognes That Don’t Stink!

Spritzing on your favorite cologne for a night out on the town shouldn’t require a degree in chemistry. The truth is, the majority of personal care products and synthetic fragrant potions are poisons that should be packaged with hazard symbols and come with a hazmat...

7 Places to Resell Your Clothes Online

Looking to clean out your closet? Don’t just donate – resell! Here are 7 of best places to sell your clothes online. Yes, you can do it from the comfort of your own home via the internet making this an easy way to earn some extra cash and prevent textile waste from...

Playing at the Park *

When my siblings and I were kids, one of our favorite places to go was the nearby park. Accompanied by our cousins on many of those visits, we had plenty to keep us occupied playing at the park. Although the park was a woodland area and a reservoir, we stayed mostly...

Beverage Container Showdown: Plastic vs. Glass vs. Aluminum

When you’re shopping for beverages, what kind of container do you choose? You have a few options: plastic bottles, glass bottles, or aluminum cans. What to choose? The decision can be daunting for environmentalists. We’re here to give you the lowdown on which of these...

Earth911 Quiz #65: Know Your American Environmental History P

While the nation is ideologically divided on climate change, people throughout our history have acted to protect the land, wildlife, and humans from pollution. In this Earth911 Quiz, you’ll test your knowledge of the U.S. environmental leaders who have helped the...

Food Delivery Cold Packs: Reuse, Upcycling, Recycling Tips

If you’re getting your meals delivered, you may already have a collection of cold packs. These gel-filled plastic bags do a great job of keeping perishable food chilled. But what do you do with the cold packs after you’ve unpacked your delivery? Many of us are turning...

Earth911 Inspiration: Add to the Sum of Accurate Information

Today’s Earth911 inspiration is from American anthropologist Margaret Mead. She said, “I was brought up to believe that the only thing worth doing was to add to the sum of accurate information in this world.” Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help...

Big Oil’s marketing tactics are taken from Big Tobacco P

In the 1950s, cigarette companies began to learn that their product is a killer.  For decades, Big Tobacco denied the harmful effects of their products, minimising the link between smoking in pregnancy and smaller birth weights, concealing evidence that nicotine is...

5 Captivating Recycling Books for Kids 5 and Under

The idea of recycling or repurposing things comes naturally to young children, as most are very crafty and resourceful. Capitalize on that interest by reading them books with a recycling theme — these five present this all-important topic in a fun, colorful manner....

20 Reef Safe Sunscreens to Keep You Protected *

All natural, organic, eco-friendly, low-waste, and reef safe sunscreens are becoming easier to find! *PRAISE* My mom harped on me wearing sunscreen as a kid, and I can count on two hands the amount of times I’ve been burned. She would always slather me in the stuff...

10 Easy Swaps for a Zero Waste Kitchen

I’ve been in the kitchen a lot more these past few weeks, and I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite swaps for a zero waste kitchen. But, first, a teeny-tiny celebration. If you’ve been following along with me for a while then you know that I’ve been working...

Replace Disposable Batteries With These Rechargeable Ones

In the United States, we purchase nearly 3 billion single-use dry-cell batteries a year. Many of these wind up in the landfill despite the fact that they can leach toxic metals, such as lead and mercury. People could recycle them, but the ideal solution is to abandon...

Maven Moment: Icebox Cake *

My grandmother’s “icebox cake” was one of my favorite desserts growing up. She made it by layering graham crackers and warm pudding in a pan and setting the pan in the refrigerator so the mixture could set up. After a few hours, the cracker layers had absorbed some of...

How to Break the Paper Towel Habit

In almost every American kitchen, you’ll find a roll of paper towels. They have the coolest commercials, and I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say every girl had a crush on the Brawny man at some point. But why do we have them? Why are they viewed as a necessity?...

We Earthlings: Let’s Recycle More Aluminum

What connects us all? Nature and our shared relationships through nature. Mining the bauxite that we use to produce aluminum is harmful to the earth, plants, and animals. And the process of converting raw bauxite into aluminum consumes a lot of energy. Thankfully,...

Savor this Recipe of the Ultimate Vegetarian Chili

This vegetarian chili is based off My dad’s famous chili recipe. Seriously, he makes the best chili! Now, I know everyone thinks their dad makes the best chili, but I’m just going to unequivocally say that my dad’s is definitely up there and you know why…. I don’t...

8 Ways To Green Your DIY P

Getting ready to start a DIY project around the house? Winter is a great time to refresh some old furniture, put oil in the car, fix your dryer (after all, it’s been making weird sound for at least a few weeks now), and make a new sweater for little Chloe, your...

Is your tree planting scheme really green? P

Could you be accidentally greenwashing by promoting a tree planting scheme? Tree planting can feel like a “quick win” when it comes to Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability – especially with so many charities now making it accessible for individuals and...

6 Simple DIY Green Cleaning Solution Recipes

When you’re shopping for home cleaning solutions, the variety of available options can be overwhelming — even more so when you start reading the ingredients on the label. For example, does “natural” mean the product is nontoxic? What are the ingredients that make up...

10 Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable P

Making your home more energy and water efficient is one of the best ways you can have a positive impact on the environment so I wanted to round up a few ways you can make your home more sustainable and eco-friendly. 2020 has me dreaming of a little house to call my...

Zero Waste Gifts: 20 Ideas for Conscious Consumers P

Welcome to the 2020 Going Zero Waste gifts guide! Creating gift guides every year is one of my favorite blog posts to write. Both my mother and I have the love language of gifts, and I’ve worked to reconcile that with adopting a more minimal and low-waste lifestyle....

Try a Little Tenderness Toward This World P

Thinking of the Earth first, with consideration and kindness, is what we need to make positive decisions about our relationship with the world. Author Charlotte Erickson reminds us to “Just try a little tenderness towards this world we’ve been lucky enough to build...

4 Zero-waste Indoor Plant Fertilizers *

Plants vitalize our homes and offices. They filter toxins from the air we breathe and even help boost our mood and reduce stress. Impressively, plants can even help us minimize waste in the kitchen when we apply these zero-waste plant fertilizers. Mulch With Coffee...

How To Make Less Trash the Simple Way

What the heck does it mean to live a zero waste lifestyle? Can I really not make any trash? Don’t let the term fool you. Zero waste is an industrial term referring to a circular economy in which all processes of design (the plan for how it’ll be made), manufacturing...

We Earthlings: Gas-Powered Yard Tool CO2 Emissions

Did you know that a gas-powered lawnmower emits 88 pounds of CO2 annually? The other gas-powered two-stroke engines used in yard tools such as blowers and trimmers contribute more CO2. Gas-powered lawn and garden tools contributed between 24 percent and 45 percent of...

How to Embed Sustainability Within Your Company Culture *

Employee Sustainability Engagement Stage 1   Note: This is the second installment in a five-part series on engaging employees around sustainability. The first part introduced the four stages of employee engagement; the second part discussed raising...

Maven Moment: Reuse Ideas for Old Pantyhose and Stockings

Years ago, pantyhose or stockings were must-haves for a working woman’s wardrobe. No professional woman would consider going to work without wearing them. Even today, pantyhose and knee-high stockings make an outfit look finished and professional. And knee-high...

Earth911 Quiz #67: Do you know the paint recycling steps?

Paint is a common household and workplace material that can be recycled, donated, or disposed of responsibly. Oil- and water-based paints pose different challenges when recycling, and you can extend the use of paint by storing it safely and passing it along to someone...

We Earthlings: Upgrade Your Toilet

The average house in the United States is 37 years old, and half of U.S. homes are more than 50 years old. That means most toilets were installed before 1992, when the Environmental Protection Agency mandated the use of ultra-low-flush toilets. Those old toilets use...

Consumer sustainability trends 2021: What trends to watch

A deep dive into consumer sustainability trends 2021. The events of 2020 accelerated consumer sustainability trends that had already been starting to emerge across many different markets. Despite being one of the most unpredictable years ever, it helped create greater...

Largest Solar Project in US Underway in Texas P

U.S. solar generation capacity is soaring. Construction began recnetly on the Samson Solar Energy Center, the largest planned solar energy farm in the United States. When completed, the solar farm will have 1,013 megawatts of generating capacity. This solar farm will...

We Earthlings: Don’t Be a Hoarder, Reduce Food Waste *

Did you know that Americans waste more than 40% of the food produced annually? And stockpiling food, as many have done during the pandemic, often results in more food wasted. Don’t be a hoarder; buy only foods that you are sure you will use. Find tips about how to...
Maven Moment: Community Action

Maven Moment: Community Action

One of the activities that I miss most during this time of COVID-19 is volunteering. Before the pandemic, at least one weekend a month I had the opportunity to participate in a park, beach, or forest cleanup project. It was at these events that I began to meet my...

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We Earthlings: Recycle Your Disposable Gloves

Did you know that you can recycle disposable gloves? TerraCycle offers a variety of recycling solutions for hard-to-recycle items. Check out their Disposable Gloves Zero Waste Box and help save the planet while you’re protecting yourself! Print or share We Earthling...

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9 Nontoxic Colognes That Don’t Stink!

Spritzing on your favorite cologne for a night out on the town shouldn’t require a degree in chemistry. The truth is, the majority of personal care products and synthetic fragrant potions are poisons that should be packaged with hazard symbols and come with a hazmat...

read more
Maven Moment: Waste-Free Shaving

Maven Moment: Waste-Free Shaving

I can vividly recall my dad’s Old Spice shaving soap mug. The white mug with the little boat on it contained a small puck of shaving soap and always sat on the bathroom sink along with his shaving brush. He would wet the fine-haired brush to lather up the soap in the...

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Good, Better, Best: Home Heating Systems

Good, Better, Best: Home Heating Systems

There are a lot of ways to heat a home, and the chances are you haven’t thought too much about them. After all, unless you are building your own home, you probably never had much choice. But home heating and cooling generate 17% of Americans’ carbon footprint – more...

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4 Things You Can Happily Live Without at Home

Do you buy things just to throw them away? Eco-friendly living is as much about what you don’t buy as what you do. Reducing your consumption, especially of one-time-use or plastic items, is vital to reducing your ecological footprint. It’s time to rethink disposables....

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Earth911 Inspiration: Nature Has the Power

Earth911 Inspiration: Nature Has the Power

Today’s inspiration is another quote from Helen Keller’s 1933 article, “Nature’s Storehouse of Health.” She wrote, “I have always the feeling that nature has the power to renew and refresh our minds, our bodies, and our spirits.” Earth911 inspirations. Post them,...

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Can You Recycle Number 5 Plastics?

Recycling isn’t the same as it used to be. A few years ago, China accepted much of the world’s plastic, textile, and paper recycling. But in 2018, China tightened restrictions on what it would accept due to the high level of contaminated material sent by the U.S. Now,...

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11 Ways To Upcycle Shoeboxes

11 Ways To Upcycle Shoeboxes

Shoeboxes. They protect our precious shoes from the time they’re manufactured and shipped to the retailer until the moment we get them home. Then most of us end up tossing the box in the trash or recycling it to save space in our closet. But what if there were a way...

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20 Green Things You Can do in 20 Minutes

20 Green Things You Can do in 20 Minutes

Think one person can’t make a difference? Think again. With every American producing 4.5 pounds of trash per day, the little things we do to reduce our impact can make a huge difference. Here are 20 little things you can do to help the environment and your world in...

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7 Places to Resell Your Clothes Online

Looking to clean out your closet? Don’t just donate – resell! Here are 7 of best places to sell your clothes online. Yes, you can do it from the comfort of your own home via the internet making this an easy way to earn some extra cash and prevent textile waste from...

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Earth911 Inspiration: Trustees of the Earth

Today’s Earth911 inspiration is from J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day: “Each generation takes the earth as trustees.” As trustees of the earth, what can we do to ensure future generations can enjoy the many benefits of this beautiful planet? Earth911...

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Wow, You Can Recycle That?

Wow, You Can Recycle That?

We hear all the time about recycling plastic bottles and aluminum cans, but what about some of the lesser mentioned items? In response to reader queries, we’ve assembled a list of some odd items that may have you saying, “Wow, you can recycle that?” Blue Jeans You...

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We Earthlings: Let’s Recycle More Aluminum

What connects us all? Nature and our shared relationships through nature. Mining the bauxite that we use to produce aluminum is harmful to the earth, plants, and animals. And the process of converting raw bauxite into aluminum consumes a lot of energy. Thankfully,...

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Plan Ahead To Reduce Food Waste

Plan Ahead To Reduce Food Waste

Nearly 40% of food is wasted from farm to landfill in the U.S. Yet, one in eight Americans is food insecure. Although some waste happens behind the scenes at farms and warehouses, much of it happens in our kitchens. Enormous resources are dedicated to growing,...

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The Eco-Unfriendly Truths About Fireworks

The Eco-Unfriendly Truths About Fireworks

They light up the sky beautifully, those bright and bold fireworks. But they don’t come without environmental hazards, no matter what time of year they blast off. The composition of fireworks creates highly toxic gases when they are lit. And those pollutants can...

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How To Spot Greenwashing

How To Spot Greenwashing

More of us are concerned about making environmentally conscious purchases, and marketers have our number. But “eco-friendly” wording on a product’s packaging doesn’t necessarily mean that the item is more sustainable than other brands. To be smart shoppers, we need to...

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Maven Moment: Holiday Gift Wrapping

Maven Moment: Holiday Gift Wrapping

It was so exciting to see the beautifully wrapped boxes under the tree when I was a child! I couldn’t wait until Christmas morning when I would tear them open and toss the gift wrapping aside. My family’s gift wrapping tradition started with a walk to our local shops....

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Sustainable Stocking Stuffers

Sustainable Stocking Stuffers

If you are determined to be eco-friendly in all your gift-giving this year, start with creative, sustainable stocking stuffers. “The holidays are one of the hardest times to reduce waste because of traditions, feeling overwhelmed, and not being aware of other...

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Understanding the Population Problem

Understanding the Population Problem

When the global population reached 5 billion in 1987, that number seemed almost inconceivable. But today, there are almost 8 billion people on the planet and by 2056, we could reach 10 billion humans. Without technical innovation and changes in human behavior, Earth’s...

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Green Business Practices

Sustainability International Partners green practices through the use of sustainable purchasing, electronics stewardship, transportation, waste diversion, and pollution prevention help in creating the harmony between business and nature necessary to protect our environment.

Sustainability International Partner’s Green Initiatives

 

  • Recycle & Reduce Wastes:  Use of highly visible and well marked recycling containers in all visitor areas to recycle glass, metal, and paper.
  • Efficient Water Use:  Have a plan for conserving water.
  • Efficient Energy Use:  Have a plan for reducing energy consumption.
  • Support Green Events:  Offer a Green environmentally friendly package for all events.
  • Minimize use of Disposable Products:  Use products made from bio-based or renewable resources and recycle or compost these items.
  • Minimize Chemical Use:  Have a plan to minimize the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers.
  • Recycle Grease:  Dispose of grease in an environmentally friendly manner.
  • Promote Green Practices:  Use unique opportunities to educate guests about their environment and how they interact with the environment.
  • Promote Green Partners:  Feature your green partners and promote their environmental sensitivity to your guests.
  • Minimize Printed Materials:  Use digital marketing and web presence to spread your message.

Why Should My Business Become A Sustainability International Partner?

Sustainability International Partnership shows potential customers that your business has a commitment to helping keep our environment clean.  

By adopting our voluntary Green Initiatives as your business practices, your business signals your commitment to a sustainable and green environment.

 

Become A Sustainability International Partner

Sustainability International Partners understand the importance of conducting their business in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable manner.  

Your customers are searching for businesses who embrace sustainability, and green initiatives and there is nothing more important to your business than connecting to every customer possible.  

The partnership is FREE, learn how easy it is to become a Sustainability International Partner and enjoy the benefits of being a Sustainability International Partner.

 

 

Support Sustainability and protecting our environment, subscribe today for your FREE membership to Sustainability International.

 

 

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