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Hi everyone! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.
Today I wanted to discuss the importance of how we wash our clothes, and the environmentally friendly laundry habits that are important to maintain in order to save water, electricity, and more!
While there’s data to support that most people feel “dirty” when they rewear clothing, many of us already know that it’s not uncommon at all to feel this way. However, I came across several articles stating that many of us wash our clothes far more often than we need to, including general suggested guides for how many wears we can get out of our clothing before having to wash it.
Click here to see one article from Good Housekeeping that includes a guide compiled by the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. Of course, I have to emphasize this is a suggestion that assumes you don’t have any stains, odors, etc. on the piece of clothing; in that case it is recommended you wash it before wearing it again.
Again, I recommend using your own discretion – but it is important to keep these guides and avoid over washing our clothing.
That being said, the first tip I want to share is Only Wash Full Loads of Laundry! According to data from the EPA listed in an article on the National Park Services website, the average residential washing machine uses 41 gallons of water per load. So, it’s important that not only we get the most use out of each load, but to also be sure to set the appropriate load size when turning on the washer. This will help save water, power usage, and will be more efficient overall.
It’s also important to try to mainly use cold water, as the electricity used to heat the water is overwhelming. Using hot water also pulls the microplastics from the fiber in your clothing and brings it into the water ways. Leading to plastic into our oceans! Of course natural fabrics are better than synthetic to avoid this but for the sake of the items that you already have, washing your laundry in cold water is better for the overall impact you do to the environment each time you do laundry. According to Energy Star, washing your clothes with cold water each time could also ave you up to $66 per year in heating costs.
For more info on why you should mainly use cold water when doing laundry, here’s an article from Better Homes & Gardens!
If you have smaller items that you need washed, rather than washing a small load in your washing machine, you can simply hand wash. This is just as effective and much faster. This allows for you to save money, water, and be more efficient when it comes to doing your laundry overall.
Finally, once your clothes are washed, try mainly air drying your clothing. Of course in the same way as the washing goes, make sure to wash AND dry full loads. Don’t put just a few items in the dryer, as this uses a significant amount of energy. Be mindful of how long the dryer is on if you use it, clean the lint collection, filter, and be aware of how much energy your dryer is expending. To avoid much of this upkeep and caution, I recommend trying to air drying as much as you can.
For more tips and information on sustainable laundry and cleaning practices, you can view this article on the national park services here.
And as always, if you have any other tips or tricks that you know of, please share them below in the comments or message me privately. I’d love to share any other ideas or recommendations you have to help practice more sustainable habits!
I’ve been thinking of how to address this topic, as it is very complex and involves a lot of information. However, I knew since the protests began and actions were being taken, that I needed to write something on Environmental Racism & Environmental Justice. As an Environmental Studies & Sustainability major in college, Environmental Racism was something we discussed in several of my courses.
If you’ve never heard of environmental racism, or are not exactly sure what it means, here is the definition according to wikipedia: a concept in the environmental justice movement, which developed in the United States throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The term is used to describe environmental injustice that occurs within a racialized context both in practice and policy.
The concept of environmental racism really started within the Civil Rights Movement, but it can be traced back through several different areas of history. There are many different areas and focuses of Environmental Racism, and the main discussions we had in my courses were centered around the more local experiences and how environmental racism happened within the lower income areas, where a majority of residents are people of color.
Examples of smaller & larger scale Environmental Racism include:
You can continue to research these examples as well as many more cases of environmental racism spanning local and national issues.
And of course now, due to all of this environmental damage that has caused such poor health among these communities, is the huge risk that these communities are facing as we work our way through this pandemic.
The Public Health Crisis for communities of color regarding CoronaVirus/COVID-19 is so prominent right now. On April 7th, Dr. Anthony Fauci said at a press conference, “We’ve known literally forever that diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and asthma are disproportionately afflicting the minority populations, especially the African Americans,” – all conditions that make those affected especially at risk for infection of CoronaVirus.
To read more about the safety of communities of color within the pandemic, click here for an article from www.nature.com or here for an article from Yale School of the Environment.
While this may not be news to you, there are still a large population of Americans who do not believe that this is even a concept worth discussing. In fact, many citizens believe Environmental Racism is simply the way that our “wonderful” economy and class system operates.
I highly recommend you to explore your local cities and neighborhoods and take note of the proximity to the closest processing plant in your area, as well as pollution, litter, the amount of fast food restaurants, etc. All of these factors contribute to the ongoing systems that we have in place to keep minority populations at a disadvantage.
While there are policies that are being made in order to change this, we must continue to fight for the environmental injustice given to the communities of color who do not have the privilege to study, learn or speak about this on their own. It is important to use our voices and resources individually, so that we are able to unite and put a stop to the systems that are in place putting people of color at a far larger risk.
Many of the sites that provide resources on taking action and learning more are outdated, so here are some resources that I have put together if you are looking for next steps and to take action:
Hi everyone,
It’s been a while, and I want to be sure to address the movement going on in the United States (and around the world) today. There has been a huge call to action for our black brothers and sisters, and I want to be sure to address this while also bringing it into the work we do as environmentalists.
Sustainability is without a doubt a largely white industry, and right now we need to be supporting black owned businesses while we continue our sustainable practices. If you’re asking why – well, I strongly encourage you to do the research on why black business owners and black people in general have to work twice as hard as the rest of us. There are principles and systems that have been embedded into the American economy, police departments, school systems, and so much more that we may think of as an afterthought. However, these racist ideals have been fed to us, taught to us, and paid to us – in result, causing the Black American community to struggle; whether we are aware of it or not. Black businesses in the United States struggle to stay afloat for many reasons; some of which include a racial wealth gap, limited job opportunities, and simply racism! When it comes down to why it is important to support black owned business, it is mainly about spending your money towards businesses that are diverse, and not just benefiting one race, religion or even gender. Many of the businesses that surround us today are white, and it is very hard to support black owned businesses in several areas of the U.S. Supporting black businesses also comes down to supporting black culture, black families, and even small business! Many (if not all) of the black businesses in my area are small businesses, and as environmentalists who are constantly looking to avoid large, consumerist companies and shop local, it is very important to include black owned businesses into our rotation, just as we would with any other small business we find in our surrounding areas.
With this intention set, I’ve been researching and looking for ways that we can steadily incorporate black owned businesses into our daily, weekly, and monthly purchases. I found a few options that I believe would be very useful to us as we work to purchase items from black-owned small businesses, as well as shops that support equality and diversity, and most importantly, stands with the black community.
The first is an online marketplace I have seen circulated: BLK + GRN. This company provides natural, ethical, and environmentally friendly products that are all made from black artisans! This website is of course a perfect find for us as the conscious consumer, and definitely an excellent resource for us to save when we are looking for different types of products; which vary from household care, to beauty, to grocery. Especially useful if you are looking to purchase something that you can order online, so that you don’t have to worry about the vendor or company being in your state. Check out their website and support this excellent marketplace!
The next is a new section on Etsy which provides a resource to purchase from black vendors on their website. The products that vary in this section are beautiful, unique, and definitely the type of items that will make someone ask you where you got it. Each feature also provides a little profile on the seller that really allows the buyer to know who they are purchasing from; something that us as conscious consumers really appreciate! You can find the shops on Etsy here!
I’ve also been utilizing a great app called EatOkra. It is basically Yelp for specifically black owned restaurants. I love this app because it not only provides local black restaurants in your area, but it breaks down the categories into the type of foods you are looking for. So if you are vegan, vegetarian, looking for specifically breakfast/brunch, or a particular type of cuisine – this app is perfect because it organizes the black owned restaurants near you within each of these categories. This is super helpful, because it is quite difficult to find a confirmed black owned restaurant in many cities in the US (such as my own).
There is also the excellent resource of www.supportblackowned.com. This website allows you to provide your location, and the type of business you are searching for. When I entered my zipcode, I was given the resources of black owned dentists, payroll companies, realtors, life coaches, film companies, and so much more!
I encourage you to do some research of your own, and if you are having a difficult time with this movement, I suggest you do some work within yourself. There has been so much injustice and racism for centuries, that we as allies must better ourselves and do the work to support, educate others, and grow so that our country can not only become better, but so that our children can grow up in a world where the color of our skin is not a concern that we should have to factor in.
I hope everyone is safe and healthy, and with all things considered, doing well while we stay home to help stop the spread of CoronaVirus. Many of us may have gotten into a routine by now and found ways to entertain ourselves, but I figure this is a perfect time to discuss some eco-focused documentaries on streaming platforms – specifically Netflix and Amazon Prime.
As you may know, my undergraduate degree is in Environmental Studies and Sustainability – for me this meant that many of the courses I took required me to watch several sustainability focused documentaries for extra credit or as a requirement for class and then analyze them. I learned so much about our earth and the changes that we should be making to help prevent the damage humans make every day. As our world and several industries develop, it’s important for us to be aware of the choices that companies, and ourselves, are making and how that affects the state of our earth.
While documentaries might not be your first choice when deciding on what to watch, I highly recommend checking these out. Honestly some of the biggest changes I’ve made in my life were thanks to some of these films.
I also want to say that it is important to note that you may not be able to retain every fact, example or detail mentioned in these movies – but it’s not about that! These films are to give you something to think about, and really reconsider the actions you are making every day that can either help or hurt our environment.
Ocean Life
Chasing Coral (Netflix)
This film discusses and captures the importance of coral reefs and how important they are to all forms of ocean life. Discussing coral reefs can be one of the most challenging sustainability topics to grasp and prioritize because we are often very separated from visualizing and understanding truly how much danger our oceans are in, because not all of us are able to go under the surface of the ocean and see for ourselves. I highly recommend watching to learn more about coral bleaching, and how we can prioritize restoring our oceans.
Plastic Paradise (Amazon Prime)
Plastic Paradise is also a visualization of something that we are not exposed to ourselves being on land. This film allows us to see the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the Pacific Ocean and its effects on ocean life. It is also a visualization of how terrible our habits as a population are, using items for instant gratification such as plastic, styrofoam and more. I recommend watching to visualize that when you throw something away, even if you recycle it, it does not just disappear.
Fast Fashion
The True Cost (Netflix)
This film had likely the largest impact on me! The True Cost discusses the fashion industry, fast fashion practices, and how the cheap clothes we buy are costing people in third world countries their health, and even their lives. This film is extremely eye opening, and caused me to really hold companies accountable for their practices, transparency, and quality.
Meat & Fish Industry
Cowspiracy (Netflix)
Cowspiracy is one of the many ways that you can learn truly how harmful and toxic the meat and fish industry is to our earth and our health. The film also exposes how several big name industries are quieting the actions of smaller, climate change based organizations by simply taking advantage of the fact that they are desperate for funding. Cowspiracy is very eye opening, allowing the viewer to make informed and educated decisions surrounding their habits and food choices.
Minimal/Low Waste Living
Minimalism (Netflix)
Minimalism is one film that I watched in the beginning of my sustainability journey, and contains a message I think about regularly. While I would not consider myself a minimalist, the idea is one that is very important to learn as we become more sustainable in our lifestyles. Most countries today are deep in the world of consumerism, and Minimalism helps us to think about why we buy and hold onto things we don’t need, and what we truly need to be happy in life. I recommend watching this simply to learn about the idea of minimalism and those who are minimalists!
Please let me know if there are any additional eco-focused films or documentaries you’ve seen that you’d like to share about, I’d love to hear about them and add them to my list!
While we’re staying home and social distancing, at home manicures and pedicures have been the perfect way to pass the time and add some sense of normalcy to your week. I thought now would be a good time to mention my favorite nail polish brands that focus on quality ingredients and are cruelty free.
I’d like to say that these are “natural” nail polish brands, however, I don’t think nail polish can ever really be what I define as natural or from natural ingredients. While acknowledging this, there are still brands that do a huge part in focusing on using MORE natural ingredients and creating quality formulas that are not filled with toxic chemicals.
That being said, what even are the ingredients that these brands avoid, and why are they important to avoid?
Formaldehyde may be more of a known toxic ingredient, however the many other “popular” chemicals are not as commonly known.
According to LeafScore (www.leafscore.com), the three most important ingredients to avoid are Formaldehyde, Toluene, and Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and other plasticizers in nail polish. (Camphor, ethyl tosylamide, triphenyl phosphate)
Formaldehyde is not only toxic to ingest, but while it is used in many nail hardeners, with continued use it can make your nails brittle and more prone to breakage, splitting, and peeling. When this happens it can be easier for other chemicals to easily absorb into your nail beds. It is also a known carcinogen, as is Toluene. It is a VOC (volatile organic compound), which is known to cause infertility, miscarriage and severe fetal and newborn development.
DBP is a plasticizer that is dangerous primarily with young children, causing liver and kidney failure. It is also classified in the EU as a suspected endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxin.
Camphor and other plasticizers are extremely important to avoid, as camphor can cause severe illness in adults if consumed including nausea, headache, shortness of breath, irritation to skin, nose, lungs, eyes, and central nervous system issues that can cause convulsions, breathing difficulties, and even death.
Additionally, you may want to watch out for these ingredients as well: Xylene, Benzophenones, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, and Butyl Alcohol.
These ingredients are not as dangerous to the environment or your health, but they are important to actively avoid. Especially if you are doing work to make natural and sustainable switches in your day to day beauty routine, nail polish and your weekly or monthly beauty products are important as well!
I recommend reading this article as I found the information very useful about why we should actually be avoiding these ingredients, for more reasons than that it’s bad for your nails. (https://www.leafscore.com/nontoxic-cosmetics/nail-polish-what-to-watch-out-for/)
With that being said, I like to purchase nail polish brands like Zoya, Orly, and Olive & June who avoid chemicals such as those listed.
Zoya was the first brand to remove ingredients such as toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and DBP (dibutyl phthalate) from their formula. Which is likely why Zoya is more known as the “natural” nail polish brand. This may be why Zoya has (in my opinion) more shades than most of the other nail polish brands; they have been doing this for a while! Zoya is also one of my favorites for their naked nail polishes, which are lightly tinted clear polishes for a brighter, healthier natural nail look. I definitely recommend checking them out if you haven’t already!
ORLY Nail Polish is one of my favorites. I find their bottles and brush handles super easy to work with. ORLY is formulated without Toluene, Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide, Xylene, MEHQ/HQ, MIT, Parabens, Animal Derived Ingredients or Gluten. These are the most toxic chemicals I’ve seen omitted from a high quality nail polish brand, which is why ORLY is one of my favorites! There are also the Breathable polishes which offer a formula that does not need a base coat or top coat, and gives your nails a treatment while also looking cute. Orly has had some great sales recently, and they are currently offering a $5 nail polish sale until tomorrow (March 31st), with free US shipping over $25.
Finally, I wanted to include Olive & June because they are one of my newer, favorite brands to use. Olive & June has a super long lasting formula, while also being 7-free (formulated without dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, or xylene), as well as cruelty free! Olive & June is one of my favorite brands not only because they have a great formula, but because they encourage everyone being able to do their own “at home mani”. With a polish that is so long lasting, you won’t even need to return to your salon for your favorite gel manicure. I highly suggest checking out their website because they are currently offering Free Shipping!
Check out these brands, and please reach out to me if you have any questions or comments! I hope you found this post interesting and informative.
I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! The past week or two have been filled with a lot of concerning developments around the coronavirus. The WORLD is currently being rapidly affected by illness, and has reminded me to focus on the health of myself and everyone around me. While we are socially distancing and staying home, I wanted to share a couple of things that I do year round to help in the work that my immune system does on its own, and encourages a healthy mind and body.
Note: I am NOT a doctor, and I am NOT suggesting that these steps/habits will protect you from illness. I am simply recommending the things that I do that are known to support a healthy immune system, and daily lifestyle.
Obviously – wash your hands, disinfect surfaces, practice good hygiene. I’ve been a germaphobe for as long as I can remember so…I can’t believe people need to be told this…Anyway – next!
Oil of Oregano
Everyday, I put 4-5 drops of my Oil of Oregano mixed with a little bit of water. A small amount of water helps to make it easier to take – otherwise it can get kind of “spicy” and not taste so great…(warning: it won’t taste just like the oregano in your favorite italian dish)
Oil of Oregano contains several properties that benefit your health, including a high dose of carvacrol, which is known to stop or slow the growth of bacteria. This is why Oil of Oregano is known as a “natural antibiotic.”
According to Healthline, Oil of Oregano also contains
Read more about the benefits of Oil of Oregano here.
Drinking tea
This is something most of us like to do when we are sick, but what about when we’re healthy? I recommend drinking tea either throughout the day or at night, if coffee is what you like to drink in the morning. Otherwise, I recommend drinking tea and maybe even making it part of your afternoon or night time routine. My favorite teas that support health and a strong immune system include Echinacea, Lemon Balm, and Dandelion Root (a great antioxidant). Teas with Turmeric and Ginger are also great for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Drink A LOT OF WATER!!!
If you think you’re drinking enough water, you’re probably not. Hydration is very important whether you are healthy or your body is fighting something. Every system in your body needs water and nutrients in order to work at its best. If you’re dehydrated, that is going to greatly affect your bodies ability to stay healthy.
Get lots of sleep and rest
This should be simple while we are social distancing and staying home – According to the MayoClinic, while you sleep your body produces proteins called cytokines which help to fight disease. “Sleep deprivation may decrease production of these protective cytokines. In addition, infection-fighting antibodies and cells are reduced during periods when you don’t get enough sleep.” (Eric J. Olson, M.D.)
Consume a balanced diet, including lots of fruits and vegetables.
Your hydration, your necessary nutrients, and your body’s overall needs rely on the vitamins and minerals that are provided through eating fruits and vegetables. Make sure your meals include a colorful plate; this will encourage a healthy body which will especially encourage a healthy immune and digestive system.
Sources:
Healthline – 9 Oregano Oil Benefits and Uses: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-oregano-oil-benefits-and-uses#section2
Healthline – 10 Herbal Healthy Teas You Should Try: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-herbal-teas#section11
Healthline – 13 Potential Health Benefits of Dandelion: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dandelion-benefits#section11
CNN – Benefits of water – are you getting enough fluids to stay healthy?: https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/health/benefits-of-water-and-fluids/index.html
MayoClinic – Lack of sleep – can it make you sick?: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/expert-answers/lack-of-sleep/faq-20057757#:~:text=During%20sleep%2C%20your%20immune%20system,of%20which%20help%20promote%20sleep.&text=Sleep%20deprivation%20may%20decrease%20production,don’t%20get%20enough%20sleep.
When we think of sustainable alternatives – our minds usually go to the main contributors of plastic: plastic drink cups, tooth brushes, straws…. However, I recently realized there was a sustainable alternative to something I wasn’t even considering: Phone Cases! Whether we use them or not, our devices normally end up needing protection – so in come the plastic phone, ipad, and airpod cases. Sometimes they are made with silicone, which is a bit better than plastic, but – it’s not exactly the most eco-friendly tech case option.
Thanks to so much research and technology developments in sustainability, there are now several sustainable phone case options.
I recently purchased a Pela phone case. I had been eyeing this brand for a while because I had heard that they were completely compostable and the answer to an unnecessary piece of plastic that nearly everyone who has a phone eventually needs. And…of course, I love it. It’s super soft, flexible, and it’s amazing that this case can biodegrade in even a home compost environment. Highly recommend checking one of their cases out – I know they are a bit pricey, but I purchased mine through a 20% off promotion and I have seen several discounted options including their out of season/sale items; so there is definitely a way to purchase a Pela case on a budget! I also love Pela because they have a recycling program with your old phone cases, so that you don’t just have to throw them in the garbage. Instead, Pela recycles them responsibly – another plus to this brand!
So, if you’re in the market for a phone case – I highly recommend checking out Pela. If this brand is not in your budget at the moment – check out these more eco-friendly affordable options!
100% Biodegradable Phone Case on Etsy
How many times have you bought a piece of clothing you thought was cute because it was cheap? Or even on sale? Do you still have those items of clothing?
More often than not, Americans will buy something because it’s cheap, never wear it (or wear it once), and end up eventually throwing it away or donating it. However, what many of us do not consider is how vicious and dangerous of a cycle this is for our environment.
In 2017, the EPA reported that Americans create an average of 12.8 million tons of textile waste a year – with the rate steadily increasing annually. If you’re thinking, “oh but I donate my clothing, I don’t just throw it away…” those clothing items are usually sent to landfills, incinerators, or overseas as we are producing way more clothing than Americans need.
The solution is not just donating our clothes or giving to charities – it’s cutting down on what we buy, avoiding fast fashion brands, and primarily shopping second hand.
There are so many accessible ways to do this now. You can start by downloading the app Good On You for reports and ethical ratings on your favorite brands. And when you’re in the market for something to purchase, download second hand apps like Mercari, Depop, ThredUp, and more. (I’ve purchased some of my favorite and most unique pieces of clothing second hand!!)
It really doesn’t take much to cut down on our textile consumption, and a little bit of effort can go along way. This is not only an incredibly effective sustainable effort you can begin to make, it is also way more affordable!
For more information, please watch ‘The True Cost’ on Netflix. It is an amazing documentary that explains not only our surplus of textile waste in the world, but it also explains the unethical labor conditions that the people making our fast fashion clothing are surrounded by.
I highly suggest also completing ThredUp’s Fashion Footprint Calculator to assess where you are starting, and how much of an impact your closet has on your environment. BE HONEST! We all have to start somewhere.
https://www.thredup.com/fashionfootprint
For more of an explanation of this calculator and why it’s important, learn more here! https://www.thredup.com/bg/p/fashion-footprint-quiz
Some of my favorite ethical fashion brands include:
Gap (yes – gap!)
More and more companies are beginning to make small but significant changes to help the environment.
Do your part – buy only what you need, shop second hand, and do your research to support the brands that are holding themselves accountable!
MORE INFO:
https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material-specific-data (October 30, 2019)
https://www.centerforecotechnology.org/fast-fashion-textile-waste/ (October 11, 2019)
My new favorite to-go go to 😳 The Stojo Collapsible Cup.
This is the best travel cup to bring with you to avoid the unnecessary single use plastic, styrofoam & paper cups used for iced or hot drinks.
It comes with a silicone matching straw, and a sleeve to protect you when sipping hot liquids.
My biggest issue with travel cups/bottles/mugs was always the amount of room they took up in my bag. Stojo is the ultimate solution to this issue, as it collapses into itself allowing for more space and a lighter bag. (They even come in super cute colors, I have the blue one drawn above) 😚🤩 This cup is also affordable at $15, and most cafes will discount you for bringing a reusable cup so – this cup is totally worth it 😍. (Most travel coffee mugs can cost up to $40!)
Stojo has some great, affordable reusable products you can shop here (also available on amazon!)
Check them out and reach out to me if you have any questions! 🤗
Living Verde