Simple Habits for a Sustainable Kitchen

Simple Habits for a Sustainable Kitchen

by | Apr 15, 2020 | Sustainability

Note: This post may contain affiliate links which allow me to make a small commission from products you purchase through my links. To learn how this works see my affiliate disclaimer.

Looking to have a more sustainable kitchen but don’t want to be one of those people that can fit an entire years worth of garbage in a mason jar? I hear you. It can be daunting to make changes toward sustainability, but as I’ve slowly incorporated more sustainable habits into my lifestyle I realized that it doesn’t have to be an overhaul. You can create simple habits for a sustainable kitchen that don’t feel like you have to change your entire life.

We think of recycling as one of the best things we can do for the environment. BUT….. it’s actually the very last thing you want to do before trashing an item completely. SAY WHAT?

You know that saying: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. Well the saying goes like that because it’s in order of importance.

*brain explodes*

Yeah, really! It starts with “reduce” because the best thing you can do is reduce use of unnecessary things. Ask yourself where in my life can I reduce waste? Where is there unnecessary packaging around my produce? Do I need disposable paper towels to dry my hands?

And PS, this concept doesn’t have to begin and end in the kitchen. Sustainable clothing brands are also majorly on the rise to help you create a most sustainable closet.

How to Create a Sustainable Kitchen: 

Reduce

#1. Reduce paper towel use by keeping clean hand towels near the sink and hiding the paper towels in a cabinet

When we moved to the new house I started keeping clean hand towels near the sink and put the the paper towels in the cabinet below the sink so I would only use them when necessary like when my puppy has an accident in the house or when I get raw chicken juice on the counter. But a paper towel isn’t necessary for drying your hands and dishes, or giving the counter a quick wipe down. I go through about one paper towel roll every 2-3 months now. Save money, save the planet! 

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#2. Reduce food waste by composting

When I started composting I thought it was going to be so much more of a chore than it actually is. It’s pretty simple and doesn’t take much more effort than throwing food in the trash. I keep a bowl on the counter when I am cooking dinner, all the scraps from chopping veggies go into it, and at the end of the day I toss it in the compost bin outside. The bonus on top of reducing food waste is that you’ll have nice soil in a couple of months for all the plants you will eventually aquire. And another bonus is that your trash won’t smell because there’s less rotting food in it. The trash bags we send to the curb each week are about half the size of our trash last year.

#3. Reduce single use plastic by opting for reusable grocery and produce bags

 Back when we lived in NY there was a law where single use plastic bags were banned due to their negative impact on the environment. Paper bags were an option but people were charged a nickel for using them so it was great incentive to remember your reusable bags.

 

Sadly here in Virginia I see so many people using plastic bags and it drives me bonkers because there is such a simple solution.

Reuse

After you reduce unnecessary things, then you can try to reuse things!

#4. Reuse glass containers as pantry storage for bulk items or containers for your lunch

 Recently I’ve been saving my glass jars from peanut butter, salsa, and tomato sauce, then I peel off the labels, wash them out and reuse them for pantry storage of bulk items or to-go containers if I want to take a snack on the road. I haven’t had to buy tupperware in years because they perform the same task.

You can also save wine bottles and use them as candlesticks or chic water bottles to have at dinner parties. And if you’re crafty, the possibilities are endless.

Good to know…

Glass takes more energy to recycle than plastic so it’s best if you can give your glass products as long of a lifespan possible before chucking it in the recycling bin. According to The Glass Packaging Institute, recycling glass uses 66 percent of the energy it would take to manufacture new glass, on average. So while it’s good to recycle glass, try to reuse it first.

#5. Reusable coffee mugs and water bottles

I assume this is a “duh” kind of suggestion, but there’s really no reason anymore (for the most part) to buy that giant case of water bottles from Costco. When it’s absolutely necessary it’s better than being dehydrated, but I guarantee you have about 5 reusable water bottles hiding in your cabinets somewhere. I don’t even want to think about how many starbucks cups end up polluting our planet each year. If you know you’re making a trip to a coffee shop, take your to-go mug with you. Simple common sense for the win! 

Recycle

Once you’ve reduced your consumption of unnecessary things, and reused what you can, only then is recycling the next best option. I always thought recycling was the best thing I could do. Nope. Exoscraps and Waste Management each have a simple list of what can and can’t be recycled.

 

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5 Non Toxic Organic Nail Polish Brands You Can Find on Amazon

5 Non Toxic Organic Nail Polish Brands You Can Find on Amazon

by | Apr 13, 2020 | Mindful Home, Sustainability

Note: This post may contain affiliate links which allow me to make a small commission from products you purchase through my links. To learn how this works see my affiliate disclaimer.

Since it may be some time before we’re allowed to go back to a salon let’s talk safer nail polish. It’s alarming to learn about all the toxic chemicals in our nailpolish (well all of our products actually). I take a very reasonable approach to cleaning up my skin, hair, and body products becuase it’s hard to completely avoid all bad ingredients. Even if we make some swaps here and there it’s better than nothing. 

 

Not only are you saving your skin from irritants and chemicals, but by purchasing from brands committed to saftey you signal to that brand and others that there is a market for safer products. The more we do that, the more safer our daily products will be come. It’s voting with your dollars. Being mindful of where my money goes has  taken on more importance from me lately because it holds with it so much power. 

 

So I’ve rounded up 5 affordable and accessable nailpolish brands that you can get right from Amazon. 

 

Karma Organic

The line of polish, as well as the Karma Organic Spa focus on clean and safe components. All the non-toxic polishes are free from the big three, toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP, as well as a completely organic nail polish remover, derived from soy. 

Ella + Mila

Ella + Mila nail colors contain no Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP), Xylene or Camphor, making it a 7 chemical free product.

Cirque Colors

All Cirque Colors products are non-toxic, vegan & cruelty-free. Designed and handmade in Brooklyn, NY.

Butter London

Their products are formulated without formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, Xylene and TPHP. And bonus for the vegans here, it’s cruelty free!

Zoya

Zoya does not use any Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) which is an ingredient that could potentially have dangerous effects on developmental growth and reproduction,  Formaldehyde, which according to the National Cancer Institute is a possible carcinogen,  Toluene which is a hazardous chemical found in petroleum that could also be toxic with prolonged exposure, Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor.

Simple Tips to Reduce Plastic Waste In Your Bathroom

Simple Tips to Reduce Plastic Waste In Your Bathroom

by | Apr 1, 2020 | Sustainability

Note: This post may contain affiliate links which allow me to make a small commission from products you purchase through my links. To learn how this works see my affiliate disclaimer.

In the process of moving this year I realized just how many bathroom products I have. And most of them: plastic. Do I ever recycle any of them? Usually not. I throw away loofas, razors, toothbrushes, you name it. Now that I am aware of how much plastic waste a bathroom produces, I am cleaning up my act so to speak, when it comes to bathroom plastics.

I’m making a grid out of this post because there was just too much info to share! So here’s how this works. I’ve listed a common bathroom item and two things you can do with it. You can either 1) try to reduce your use of plastic all together, in which case I have also provided alternatives. Or 2) you can choose to keep using the item (sometimes we don’t have much of a choice) and I provide ways you can recycle it.

How to Reduce and Recycle Plastic In Your Bathroom:

Item How to Reduce Plastic How to Recycle Plastic
Loofas Quit using a loofa  and use a sea sponge instead or even better, opt to use bar soap to clean yo’ self There’s no way to recycle a loofa. Sorry!
Body Wash Ditch the bottles of body wash and use bar soap instead. Extra points if you can find a bar with no packaging at all.  As long as it says #1 or #2 on the bottom you are good to recycle it but be sure to clean it out first!
Shampoo and Conditioner Shampoo bars are now a thing.  As long as it says #1 or #2 on the bottom you are good to recycle it but be sure to clean it out first!
Toothbrushes  Switch to bamboo toothbrushes. You can’t recycle toothbrushes in your normal recycling, but Terracycle will recycle them for you, so save them up and send them out. 
Toothpaste Look into toothpaste pellets that come in glass jars Most tubed cannot be recycled. 
Pumps (from hand wash, facial cleanser, and body lotion)  When buying hand soap, facial cleanser, and body lotion avoid bottles with pumps.  Pumps can’t be recycled so just avoid them as best you can. 
Contact lenses Opt for contact lenses that last for 2 weeks rather than dailys.  Recycle your plastic lenses and containers through terracycle. 
Deoderant
Razors Switch to metal  Recycle gillette products with Terracycle
Cosmetics When buying makeup look for brands that use glass and metal packaging. Terracycle will recycle: Burts Bees, L’Occitane, Welleda. MAC also has a recycling program if you take back your empty MAC containers. 

My intention is never to shame people who don’t recycle perfectly (lord knows I am far from perfect) but give information on how to reduce or recycle the plastic you are using. Once I learned a bit about this and knew what to do, I realized it doesn’t take that much more effort than chucking it in the garbage.

TIP: Having simple systems in place like a small recycling bin in your bathroom either next to your trash or underneath your sink can make recycling your bathroom products so much easier. Because let’s face it, having the recycling bins out of sight are not going to encourage the habit.

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Here are some products to get you started with reducing plastic waste in your bathroom. Some of these products may use affiliate links which are at no extra cost to you. I just get a a small percentage of whatever you purchase when you go through my links. It is greatly appreciated, and helps me run this blog.

Natural Sea Sponge
Bar Soap
Bar Shampoo
Bamboo Toothbrushes
Toothpaste Tablets

Ethical & Sustainable Clothing Brands

Ethical & Sustainable Clothing Brands

by | Feb 20, 2020 | Shop Posts, Sustainability

Note: This post may contain affiliate links which allow me to make a small commission from products you purchase through my links. To learn how this works see my affiliate disclaimer.

If you’re like me, and so many others these days, you’ve probably been wanting to shop more sustainably. You might have read my post on fast fashion where I shared some pretty surprising facts that might make you think twice before going to a Forever 21 or H&M again.

 

The rise and demise of fast fashion is a complicated story, but needless to say we are slowly turnig toward the “Sustainable Fashion Movement” focusing on brands with ethical production processes, using sustainable materials, and making a more positive impact on the planet.

 

It can be overwhelming to know where to shop when you want to stick to your sustainable values. So I’ve compiled a list of some brands you’ll definitely want to check out as you transition from your fast fashion choices from your college days, into the more stylishly sustainable woman you are. 

 

 

Based in: California, USA

Philosophy: Transparent supply chain, ethical production of garment

What you can expect: I love that unlike most clothing brands out there, Everlane is all about transparency. They focus on using factories (usually the ones that produce your most coveted luxury labels) that ensure and maintain ethical production practices every step of the way. They share with full transparency what their products cost to make, where the garment was made, and information about the standards and working environment of the people who made that garment. It’s eyeopening to know the true cost of an item and the production stories behind each piece of clothing. Their minimal, modern aesthetic makes them timeless, which is also incredibly sustainable, because you won’t be throwing it out next in a few years. 

Shop Everlane

Based in: Texas, USA

Philosophy: Ethical production process, recycled materials

What you can expect: Outdoor Voices make a variety of clothing for all of life’s active moments, across seasons and activities. From nature hikes, to spin class, on yoga mat, and long dog walks. Outdoor Voices sources their materials with sustainability in mind, such as recycled polyester made from water bottle and their sustainably-sourced merino wool. They prioritize ethical practices and working conditions when selecting their U.S. used and overseas factories. 

 

Shop Outdoor Voices

Based in: California, USA

Philosophy: Ethical production, natural & sustainable materials

What you can expect: From their button-downs to their linen tees, Tradlands shirts are a staple in any capsule wardrobe.  Tradlands creates menswear-inspired staples for women with a relentless emphasis on fit, details, and quality. Their rigorous standards ensure that each shirt you purchase is top-notch quality, and has been ethically and sustainably made. They strive to use 98% of their materials and recycle any remnants in order to keep their waste to a minimum. 

Shop Tradlands

Based in: Georgia, USA

Philosophy: Ethical production, Fair Labor Association, 70% sustainable materials, Green Certified

What you can expect: It’s rare to find fashion brands that are both ethical and sustainable, but Alternative Apparel ranks well for both these categories. Alternative respects and values the rights of workers in all countries and believe in the right to fair and safe workplace conditions. Their factories operate in accordance with the Fair Labor Association Workplace Code of Conduct and they make over 70% of their garments with sustainable materials and processes. Alternative is a certified Green Business in LA. We love their modern and casual basics for men and women.

Shop Alternative Apparel

Based in: New York, USA

Philosophy: Ethical & small batch production, sustainable fabrics

What you can expect: At Petite Studio, it takes an average of 20 hours to produce a single garment. That’s because the NYC-based brand is passionate about creating capsule wardrobe items and small-batch staples. This petite-focused clothing collection is carefully crafted in an ethical factory, located in Jiangshan, China (the founder’s hometown). Employees work 40-hour per week (with hour-long lunch breaks), receive health care and vacation time, and are even obligated to take a 30-minute nap break every shift. 

Shop Petite Studio

Based in: California, USA

Philosophy: Fair trade artisan-made apparel

What you can expect: Krochet Kids Intl. is great for affordable, on-trend clothing. Most of all they are appreciated for the incredible impact they have on the communities where their artisans live and work. This nonprofit social impact brand empowers their artisans in Uganda and Peru not only through fair wages, but also through education and mentoring programs. 

Shop Krochet Kids

Based in: California, USA

Philosophy: Slow fashion brand, supports craftspeople, give-back program

What you can expect: Cuyana is an essential brand for the modern woman seeking to build her wardrobe on the “fewer, better” principle—so if you’re looking for elegant and long-lasting capsule pieces, Cuyana has what you’re looking for. This global fashion brand creates each piece with integrity and kindness from the highest-quality materials in Europe, South America and the United States.

Shop Cuyana

How To Be More Sustainable This Holiday Season

How To Be More Sustainable This Holiday Season

by | Dec 10, 2019 | Sustainability

Note: This post may contain affiliate links which allow me to make a small commission from products you purchase through my links. To learn how this works see my affiliate disclaimer.

 

This time of year we tend to consume more and spend more. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE giving and getting gifts for Christmas but I wanted to share some simple ways that I’m trying to have a more sustainable holiday season. It’s actually not that hard to keep in mind ways to reduce waste while still enjoying all of your favorite holiday traditions.

But first, here are some stats to take in…

  • During the holidays, Americans produce an additional 5 million tons of waste (4 million of that consists of wrapping paper and shopping bags).
  • 35% of Americans have gifts that they never use.
  • If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
  • 60 million unwanted gifts are given each year, many end up in the trash.
  • Most wrapping paper is not recyclable.

Here Are Some Ways To Be More Sustainable This Holiday Season

Green Gifting

Shop second hand: Websites such as Thredup (the worlds largest online thrift store), The Real Real (luxury consignment) and Poshmark (it’s like shopping your friend’s closet, except you have thousands of friends) are smart alternatives to shopping brand new items from traditional retail stores.

Check out antique stores: I absolutely love a treasure hunt in a good antique store. You can always find some pretty unique gifts there. Or if you’re like me, go in with every intention of buying gifts for others but end up buying a ton of stuff for yourself.

Give Intangible Items: Tickets to a sporting event or concert, membership to a local club, a gift card to a spa or restaurant, or a subscription to an online magazine or streaming service. We often don’t think of these but they tend to be more enjoyable and a heck of a lot less wasteful.

Shop from brands that emphasize sustainable and ethical practices. I have a whole list over on my holiday gift guide but some include: Everlane, Alternative Apparel, Thought, and Outdoor Voices. To have a more sustainable holiday season notice where you are spending your dollars. Is it going towards companies that share your same values?

Eco Conscious Wrapping

This is probably where the largest amount of waste is produced during the holidays.

This year try using reusable or recyclable wrapping options. Wrapping paper that is un-laminated without any metalic, shiny, or glitter is your best bet if you want recyclable wrapping paper. Just note, tissue paper is not recyclable, but you can compost it.

Newspaper, butcher paper, paper bags are a recyclable option. My mom was a teacher so each year she would bring home a big roll of brown paper and we would decorate it with markers, paint, and stamps. That made the wrapping a bit more personal, and it had a sweet DIY look too. You can get really fancy and use flower seed paper, so that after it is used you can plant it and grow flowers! Fabric and reusable gift bags are also great options. I always save gift bags and reuse them again and again, but I’m pretty sure everybody does that too.

Ribbons and bows are not recyclable so try to use cloth ribbon that is you can use year after year. If you are gifted those traditional shiney paper bows and ribbon see if you can reuse it before you chuck it in the trash. Twine is compostable alternative to ribbon, and you can use things like greenery, cinnamon sticks, and pine cones to decorate gifts instead of bows.

Real or Fake Tree?

Ah the age old debate. When looking at it from a sustainability standpoint they both have pros and cons, so either way it probably doesn’t make much of a difference. But it’s always good to be informed…

Real Tree

Pros: Christmas tree farms produce oxygen so I guess it’s a good thing to support an industry that produces oxygen. They are compostable once the holidays are over.

Cons: They are used for just once season then tossed, so the life span is really short. Most people don’t compost them so they end up being very wasteful when millions of trees end up in a landfill.

*If you are going to get a real tree try to get a local Christmas tree at a farm near you so it doesn’t have a big footprint being transported long distances*

Fake Tree

Pros: They can last for many years which saves real trees from being cut down and put in landfills.

Cons: When it is time to retire the tree it’s definitely not compostable or recycleable.

Sustainable Holiday Decorations

Natural & Compostable

For decorating your home use natural items such as real garland. Bonus points if you can make it yourself using twine to tie the greenery together because as you might recall, twine is compostable. Other natural decorations you can make yourself that are compostable are cranberry/popcorn/dried orange garland, pine cones, or take the low branches they cut off your tree when you buy it and use them to make a wreath.

Second Hand Decorations

If you go to antique or thrift stores around this time of year you will see so many second hand decorations. Most of them are in great shape, and even have some charm if they are super old. If you are going to buy things new make sure you buy items that you will use for many years rather than disposable decorations or trendy decor you will be sick of by next year.

Carbon Neutral Travel

Eco-Entertaining

We can’t forget about entertaining! To have a sustainable holiday gathering avoid disposables at parties whether you are hosting or a guest. If you are a guest offer to bring extra silverware, plates or glasses so the host doesn’t need to use plastic utensils or paper plates. Compostable utensils and plates are also becoming more of a thing nowadays (yay) so if you are having a large gang they might be a great option. Most plastic utensils and paper plates are not recyclable because they have food on them.

The Rise and Demise of Fast Fashion

The Rise and Demise of Fast Fashion

by | Sep 21, 2019 | Sustainability

Yes, you read that correctly. The rise and demise of fast fashion is upon us.

But let’s take a walk down memory lane shall we? Do you remember back in high school the thrill of shopping at stores like Forever 21 and getting the latest trends for just a few dollars? It felt pretty amazing to be able to spend your babysitting money on a cute pair of ripped low rise jeans so Brad in 5th period would hopefully notice you this year ’cause your braces finally came off (!!!). But what we didn’t realize was the real cost of cheap, fast fashion.

Fast Fashion Defined

“An approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers.” -Merriam-Webster 

“Fast fashion utilizes trend replication, rapid production, and low quality materials in order to bring inexpensive styles to the public. Unfortunately, this results in harmful impacts to the environment, human well-being, and ultimately our wallets.” -The Good Trade

“Fast fashion” is a term used by fashion retailers to describe inexpensive designs that move quickly from the catwalk to stores to meet new trends. As a result of this trend, the tradition of introducing new fashion lines on a seasonal basis is being challenged. Today, it is not uncommon for fast-fashion retailers to introduce new products multiple times in a single week to stay on-trend.” -Investopedia

How Fast Fashion Got Started

  • Only until recently the fashion industry had four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and fall). Each season pieces were carefully designed and brought to market. (For a much more thorough history than I can give here, check out this article from Fashionista.com)
  • In the 1960s, as young people began to set and follow new trends, the industry had to respond by producing newer, trendier, and cheaper clothing. 
  • This model slowly picked up speed until the fast fashion retail market exploded in the 90’s and early 00’s. 
  • Somewhere in this time the consumer mentality shifted from owning a few pieces of quality, hand crafted garments, to weekly shopping trips to the mall and owning more clothes at cheaper prices. 
  • To support our fashion fix, companies had to outsource labor to developing companies, shift to cheaper fabrics and dyes, and forgo quality in favor of production speed. 

The Environmental and Ethical Impact

I am so sorry to be the bearer of bad news (I wanted to cry when doing research for this post) but it’s best to be an educated consumer so here are the facts.

  • Toxicity: When clothing is made cheaply it’s often made withtoxic chemicals, dyes, and synthetic fabrics which seep into the water suppliesin the countries where the clothing is made and at home when the clothing is washed. An estimated 20% of global industrial water pollution comes from the treatment and dyeing of textiles. 
  • Pollution:In addition to the making of your clothes, when you wash clothes made from cheap synthetic fabrics microfibers are leaked into the water supply, causing more pollution. Microfibers are microscopic pieces of plastic, just like the microbeads that were banned from those old acne scrub products and toothpastes (I know, we all thought those were so cool at the time).
  • Unethical Labor: The health of every garment factory worker is often jeopardized due to long hours, lack of resources, exposure to harmful chemicals, and even physical abusein some cases. The women and men (and sometimes children) who make your new spring frock are often underpaid, underfed, and pushed to their limits because there are often few other options. I don’t know about you, but I personally do not want to contribute to that if I can help it. 
  • Waste: The easy-come-easy-go nature of fast fashion means we don’t think twice before tossing a garment that has lost its shape, faded, shrunk, or just gone out of style. According to Rubicon over 11 million tons of recyclable clothing, shoes, and textiles make their way into landfills each year.

The Demise of Fast Fashion

In recent years the once unstoppable growth of the fast fashion industry has taken a turn. Business Insider reported that H&M recently announced they would be closing 160 stores worldwide after accumulating over $4 billion dollars worth of unsold clothing that was piling up, causing them to take a major financial hit.

When I found out that that Forever 21 clothes were being made by factory workers in Southern California who were paid as little as $4 an hour, I was disgusted. By the way, Forever 21 recently filed for bankruptcy, so that’s happening.

There is also a phenomenal articles about this in the New York Times if you want to dive deeper down this rabbit hole.

We don’t need to build our end-of-the-world-bunkers just yet. With the imminent demise of fast fashion comes the rise of sustainable fashion. This video from Teen Vogue (of all places) hits the nail on the head.

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