Sustainability
Maven Moment: Rags and Textile Waste P
I still laugh when I remember the Easter when Grandma Jennie used rags to curl my sister’s and my hair. Using strips of fabric, she tied each strip at the end of a section of hair. Next, she twisted the hair, rolled it down to the scalp, and tied the rag tightly. Then...
Thrift and Vintage: 12 of the BEST Secondhand Shops Online P
Did you catch my last post how to master second hand shopping? Be sure to check it out because #4 is extra important when it comes to shopping with online thrift stores. I know a lot of people lack access to quality thrift stores or the time to search through hundreds...
Greenwashing: The Lesser of Two Evils P
Most people have heard of greenwashing, the practice of marketing products using misleading environmental claims. By taking advantage of our good intentions and limited time, marketers use greenwashing to make us feel better about a product instead of making the...
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...
We Earthlings: Saving a Rainforest Lowers CO2 Levels P
Existing rainforests are our most effective natural method to prevent climate change. They process between 1.2 billion and 1.8 billion tons of carbon annually, flushing excess CO2 from the environment. Deforestation destroys the planet’s lungs. Let’s save them and...
Carbon Neutral Universities in the United States P
Fewer than 10 colleges and universities have achieved carbon neutrality in the United States. This means that their input of energy, water, food, and so forth is equal to or less than their output. In other words, they have a “net-zero” carbon footprint. Many...
3 Upcycled Dog Toys You Can Make P
We all want the best for our dogs. And, when we go to the specialty store to buy the best organic and high quality dog food, we also see all of the latest dog toys that can help stimulate our dogs mentally and physically. But before you spend your money on a brand new...
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...
Green Giving: 5 Nonprofits Clobbering Climate Change P
Thinking about year-end donations to nonprofits focused on issues related to climate change? A lot of organizations are working in this area and evaluating them is tough. How do you measure carbon not produced? Which nonprofits should you support? From pillars of the...
Recycling Mystery: Antifreeze P
Antifreeze: Wise car owners have some stored in the garage to keep their engines running properly in extreme cold (and hot) conditions. What if it’s been sitting there too long? Can you recycle leftover antifreeze? The good news is that antifreeze is recyclable. What...
The Biggest Pros and Cons of Electric Vehicles P
Electric vehicles (EVs) have made huge technological strides since they were first introduced, and they’re more popular than ever before. Yet some drivers are still hesitant to make the switch from traditional gas-powered cars, in large part due to misconceptions that...
Eco-Friendly Benefits of Buying or Repurposing Used Furniture P
Demand for furniture is rising in the United States and is expected to reach $68.8 billion in 2022. Although it’s convenient to purchase a brand new furniture item online, buying new furniture is detrimental to the environment. Although some companies are committing...
Choosing Safer Food Storage Containers P
Many of us grew up in the Tupperware age. Our parents’ fridges were full of plastic food storage containers, and we even kept plastic margarine tubs for storing leftovers! A lot has changed since then, and more and more research is showing that plastic leaches...
Eco-Friendly Ways To De-Ice Your Sidewalk P
When the snow starts falling, it’s tempting to retreat into the house and hibernate until spring. But no matter how tempting, it is unfortunately not possible. Even if we didn’t have to go to work, regulations in most communities hold individuals responsible for...
We Earthlings: 4 Questions for Conscious Shopping P
Before you make your next purchase, ask yourself these four questions for conscious shopping: Do I need this? Can I make it? Can I borrow it? Is it the best quality I can afford? Don’t let the advertisers fool you that more is better. Conscious consumers understand...
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...
Earth911 Quiz #80: Electric Vehicle Efficiency and Challenges
Electric vehicles are becoming common on roads around the world. As these more environmentally friendly automobiles arrive on the scene, what are the things buyers need to think about? In this Earth911 Quiz, test your knowledge about how the source of your local...
Teaching Kids to Recycle
All parents want to leave the world a better place for their children. While it sometimes feels like we don’t have much control over what happens down the line, one of the best ways to ensure that there will be a healthy planet for future generations is to teach...
Earth911 Reader: 2020 Ties Hottest Year Record
The Earth911 Reader collects and comments on useful news about science, business, sustainability, and recycling to save you time. IN SCIENCE The Stratosphere Is Reshaping Extreme Weather Globally The polar vortex, a frigid weather pattern that circles the North Pole,...
We Earthlings: Recycle Paper and Cardboard
On average, every American sends 1,646.15 pounds of solid waste to landfills every year. If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is! If you don’t already recycle paper products, you can reduce your solid waste by 25 percent by recycling all of the paper and...
What NOT to Put in the Recycling Bin
Ever wondered if that greasy paper plate could go in your recycling bin? Or would it really be a big deal if you threw in just one plastic bag? It may seem simple to determine what doesn’t go in a recycling bin based on an item’s labels or whether or not it shows a...
Better Breathing: 6 of the Best Plants for Indoor Air Quality
The average American spends 90% of their time indoors. Unfortunately, indoor air quality ranks as one of the top threats to human health, according to the EPA. Indoor air is commonly 2 to 5 times more polluted (and sometimes worse), and is linked to a variety of...
We Earthlings: Rising Sea Levels and Disappearing Beaches
We can expect big changes in our coastlines as climate change causes sea levels to rise. Research predicts a loss of nearly half of the world’s sandy beaches by 2100. Let’s cut our greenhouse gas emissions so that future generations can enjoy the beaches. Source:...
Recycling Mystery: Meat Packaging
If you buy meat in a grocery store, it likely comes in a plastic foam tray, on top of a plastic pad, wrapped in plastic wrap. Meat packaging produces a lot of plastic waste. Can it be recycled? Not all of it, but here’s what you can do. We know how you feel. Walking...
Quiz #87: Food Carbon Footprint Challenge
A few simple mental habits such as knowing how to quickly pick the foods with the least carbon impact, can help you make big strides in your personal sustainability. In this Earth911 Quiz, you’ll be presented a set of foods and asked to order them by their CO2...
Overpopulation is a racist argument against climate change
Overpopulation is a racist argument against climate change…and it’s designed to distract you. On the day when we learnt news that shocked *literally nobody* – rich people hate paying taxes, and the slightly more shocking news that Donald Trump paid $70,000 for his...
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...
A Promising Production Model for Bioplastics
Once hailed as a miracle material, plastic has turned into a problem of global proportions. Prized for its plasticity (hence the name), today plastic is used in or wrapped around almost everything. Despite serious environmental problems, that ubiquity makes it...
Good, Better, Best: The Environmental Impact of Seafood
A vegan diet may be the single most effective way for individuals to minimize their environmental impact, but giving up meat is a huge challenge for many people. A pescatarian diet — that means eating fish and other seafood but no other meats — can be a practical step...
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...
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...
Oxgut Hose Co.: Upcycled Products With a Heroic Past
It seems that every day, someone is figuring out how to upcycle another product that would otherwise get thrown away. For the Oxgut Hose Company, that product is old fire hoses. Fire departments can dispose of many thousands of fire hoses every year depending upon...
This Week’s Essential Sustainability, and Recycling News
Start your environmental and sustainability reading with us! We read a lot so you don’t have to. Every week, Earth911 Reader delivers the must-read articles around the web you should read to be up-to-date on stories that share our understanding of the issues. This...
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...
How Big a Difference Does Buying an Electric Vehicle Make?
More than 1.18 million electric vehicles were rolling along roads and highways in March 2019 and the major automakers have announced aggressive plans to introduce more EVs by 2025. Buying an EV has never been easier, though subsidies have begun to fall. In this...
Earth911 Quiz #48: Ocean Plastics Solutions
Plastic pollution in our oceans is a serious challenge to our food supply, animal and human health, and the environment in general. With multiple gyres of trash that are hundreds of miles wide floating in the world’s seas, plastic threatens to outweigh fish by 2050....
Skip These Foods and Reduce Your Carbon Impact
The average American life produces 34,162 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually. If you consume any of the foods shown in the image below daily, drop it from lunch all year to reduce your carbon footprint by the percentage indicated compared to the national average....
Which Vegetarian Protein is Good, Better, Best
Becoming vegan is one of the most impactful things an American can do to reduce their environmental footprint, because meat, especially beef, is so carbon-intensive. Many highly processed and luxury items like wine and chocolate generate emissions comparable to some...
8 Sustainable Denim Brands That Make the Best Jeans
There’s nothing quite like a pair of denim jeans that fit you just right. Denim is truly timeless and a classic staple in most of our wardrobes, but how eco-friendly or sustainable is this material? Do you know how much water it takes to make just one pair of jeans?...
Five DIY Baby Skin Care Recipes to Make Babies Life Better
There’s nothing more immaculate than baby skin, and for new parents, figuring out how to take care of it properly can be overwhelming. Confronted with shelves upon shelves of baby-care products, how do you know which choice will be safe, effective, and good for your...
Start Thinking About Your Spring Garden Now
The common practice of cleaning gardens in fall and planting them spring has more to do with psychology than sound horticultural practice. Many common fall garden chores do not benefit plants. However, you can do a lot in the fall to prepare your garden for the best...
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...
4 Tips for Buying a Tiny Home Kit
Some Americans are rethinking how much money and resources they dedicate to housing. Tiny homes are becoming an increasingly appealing option to simplify life, reduce expenses, conserve energy, and reduce waste. It’s a growing trend. In Seattle, the City Council...
Urban Greening Post COVID-19: What It Means for Business
We’re at a time of crisis; how do we rebuild our economies after COVID-19? Humans have caused the annihilation of 83% of all wild animals and half of all plants. We’re disrupting a natural climatic balance, pushing us into a future projected to be 39.38-40.64 °F...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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....
Plant-based Recipes: Sustainable Meals for Healthy Kids
This year has been a wild one, and when life gets busy, it can be hard to put your focus on what you are feeding your family. Eating plant-based meals is not only beneficial for long-term health — it’s also a much more sustainable way to eat for the health of our...
