Elva Etienne / Moment / Getty Images
By Ketura Persellin
Gift-giving is filled with minefields, but the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) got your back, so you don't need to worry about inadvertently giving family members presents laden with toxic chemicals. With that in mind, here are our suggestions for gifts to give your family this season.
For Babies
<p><strong>Safer Toys</strong></p><p>Grandma may be surprised to find out that cherished heirlooms from her childhood may be covered with lead-based paint, and this year's plastic "It" toy may contain PVC or other harmful chemicals. Steer well-meaning friends and family toward safer options, like toys made of natural materials like untreated wood, bamboo, hemp or organic cotton.</p><p><strong>Healthy Bath Time</strong></p><p>Babies' developing brains, organs and hormonal systems are especially sensitive to chemicals of concern hidden in bath products like shampoo, lotion and diaper cream. However, there are an increasing number of EWG VERIFIED™ <a href="https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/products.php?type=baby+kids" target="_blank">baby care products</a>, which meet our scientists' strictest ingredient and transparency standards.</p>For Kids and Teens
<p><strong>Environmental Activism on Trend</strong></p><p>Believe it or not, you may see <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/eco-friendly-drinking-straw-alternatives-2571689759.html">reusable straws</a> on your kids' holiday wish list this year, as teens and tweens are rejecting single-use plastic, pushed by the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/14/cnn-underscored/what-is-a-vsco-girl/index.html" target="_blank">VSCO girl</a> trend and images of sea turtles killed by plastic waste ubiquitous on social media. Choose from one of the many metal or silicone straws available this season, now in a rainbow of colors, some even sporting their own little carrying case.</p><p>Your teen may also appreciate a reusable coffee tumbler to go with that straw.</p><p>This way they'll be avoiding the PFAS chemical coating used on paper coffee cups and the side-eye from their friends for using single-use cups and plastic lids. Look for one made of ceramic or stainless steel.</p><p><strong>Safer Clothing</strong></p><p>Many types of clothing come with chemicals that can be harmful to children's health, like children's pajamas treated with flame retardants and winter coats coated with PFAS chemicals for waterproofing. To avoid this, choose children's pajamas made out of cotton and/or marked as not flame resistant on the tag. To make sure what you're giving doesn't contain toxic fluorinated chemicals, check out this list of companies making <a href="https://pfascentral.org/pfas-basics/pfas-free-products/" target="_blank">PFAS-free clothing and shoes</a>.</p><p><strong>Clean Beauty</strong></p><p>Clean beauty and elaborate skin care routines are also trending this year. Children are the most susceptible to the health harms associated with endocrine disruptors, carcinogens and other chemicals of concern in personal care products. Use EWG's Skin Deep® and EWG VERIFIED™ databases to find gift ideas for the kids on your list – without dangerous chemicals. These include:</p><ul> <li>Stuff stockings with green-rated <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/category/lip_balm" target="_blank">lip balm</a>.</li></ul><ul> <li>Clean makeup options – like <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/category/Eye_shadow" target="_blank">eye shadow</a>, <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/category/Bronzer__Highlighter" target="_blank">highlighter</a> and <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/category/Mascara" target="_blank">mascara</a> – that will let them keep up with the latest makeup tutorial while still protecting their health.</li></ul><ul> <li><a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/category/Mask" target="_blank">Face masks</a> – trendy among the teenage set – but who knows what ingredients they typically contain? Steer clear of harmful chemicals by finding one that's Skin Deep® green-rated or EWG VERIFIED, like one of <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/category/Mask" target="_blank">these</a>. (Keep in mind that single-use products have more of an impact on the environment.)</li></ul><ul><li>The gift of an after-shave <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/category/After_shave?marketed_for=men&page=1&per_page=12" target="_blank">lotion or balm</a> made with safer chemicals. Kids who have just started to shave will be pleased to have that milestone acknowledged.</li></ul>For your Partner or Spouse
<p>If you're lucky enough to have another adult along for the ride during your childrearing years, thank them with a holiday gift that's free from chemicals of concern.</p><p><strong>Detox Their Coffee Routine</strong></p><p>There are many beautiful and plastic-free options for the sleep-deprived adults on your list – pour-over coffee makers are simple for making a single cup and come in many glass and ceramic styles. You can even find a reusable stainless steel filter. For multiple cup operations, choose a double-wall glass French press (the double wall keeps coffee warmer, longer) or a stainless steel percolator.</p><p><strong>Grown-Ups Love Clean Beauty, Too</strong></p><ul> <li>A splurge for a special man or woman on your list is Henry Rose, the fragrance created by EWG board member Michelle Pfeiffer. It's EWG's first fine fragrance that's 100 percent transparent – made without EWG's chemicals of concern, with full ingredient disclosure on the label and to EWG.</li></ul><ul> <li>A luxurious beard oil and brush kit makes a great gift. Look for <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/category/Beard_oil?marketed_for=men" target="_blank">beard oils</a> with a green rating in the Skin Deep® database and brushes with wood or bamboo handles.</li></ul><ul><li>Makeup wipes are hot right now, but their disposable nature and questionable ingredients are not as fun. Look for reusable cotton wipes in undyed organic cotton.</li></ul><p><strong>Green Kitchens Are More Than a Design Trend</strong></p><p>If you're like most parents, you try to feed your family without exposing them to harmful chemicals. So it's a disappointment to discover that the cookware and food storage you've been using might be toxic. Surprise the chef on your list with a few cleaner, greener product swaps:</p><ul> <li>Cast iron or carbon steel sauté pans and griddles are beautiful, long-lasting alternatives to nonstick cookware, which is often made with toxic PFAS, the notorious Teflon chemical.</li></ul><ul> <li>Enamel-coated pots and Dutch ovens in bright, beautiful colors that any chef would be happy to add to their collection.</li></ul><ul><li>Waffle makers and crepe pans are a gift everyone can enjoy – but they're typically coated with nonstick chemicals. Instead, choose a waffle maker made of cast iron or coated with enamel, or a crepe pan made of lightweight carbon steel.</li></ul>Support EWG
<p>You want to feed your family more vegetables, but getting your kids' buy-in is no small challenge. One approach: Your purchase of the <a href="https://act.ewg.org/onlineactions/xpK5DUDfFE-PM8bYOYd8sA2?sourceid=1018019&_gl=1*wayh0y*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE1Njg2NDUwMjEuRUFJYUlRb2JDaE1JeGEtNmlNclY1QUlWaDR6SUNoMXVSZ0YzRUFBWUFTQUFFZ0piaGZEX0J3RQ..&_ga=2.129134415.290585068.1574696568-757456667.1543852855" target="_blank">2019 EWG Holiday Gift Box</a> includes the new cookbook by noted chef Abra Behrens, <em>Ruffage</em>, lauded as a both an homage to vegetables and a practical guide. Bonus: Proceeds support EWG's ongoing research and advocacy work.</p>From Your Site Articles
- EcoWatch's Favorite Green Gifts for the Holidays - EcoWatch ›
- How to Shop Sustainably - EcoWatch ›
- 4 Eco-Friendly Drinking Straw Alternatives So You Can Skip Plastic ... ›
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Jupiterimages / Creatas / Getty Images Plus
By Marlene Cimons
When Morgan Poor gave birth to her son, she and her husband shopped around for the perfect diaper, hoping to find one that was both effective and environmentally friendly. They tried a few so-called "niche" brands, like Seventh Generation and Honest Company, which tout their green bona fides, but the diapers Poor liked best came from Pampers, a mainstream manufacturer with a line of more environmentally-friendly diapers.
<p>"So, I'd be the anomaly in our research," she said.</p><p>An anomaly indeed. Poor, an assistant professor of marketing at San Diego University, and her research colleagues, Stacy Wood and Stefanie Robinson from North Carolina State University, were curious to know how consumers respond to green products sold by mainstream brands. They largely turned out to be the opposite of Poor.</p>
<p>The researchers found that shoppers shunned green products produced by mainstream brands, believing them to be less effective than their regular non-green products. In other words, if parents were set on buying Pampers, they were going to buy regular Pampers. On the other hand, consumers adamant about buying strictly green products went for the niche brands, like Seventh Generation. Their <a href="http://www.journalofadvertisingresearch.com/content/58/2/165.short" target="_blank">work</a> appears in the Journal of Advertising Research.</p><p>The fact that parents would prefer standard-issue Huggies, as opposed to the green version, may reflect years of Madison Avenue ad copy promoting the wonders of chemistry. "What makes a product 'green' is often that it has more natural, earth-friendly ingredients or materials," Poor said. "Over the decades, marketers have been selling us on the effectiveness of chemicals, so I believe the perception or misperception is actually due to this conditioning."</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMTA5NDk3NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwOTcwMDUwOH0.cJssqj2B78DdZNL079rZFRNuGKSdPXSgw_UbHoMM0v0/img.jpg?width=980" id="0cd08" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="057efb8a674e68eb058f2554cf2d1701" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
The target audience for diapers.
Pexels
<p>At the same time, the study also suggests that there still are many shoppers — increasingly aware of the dangers of climate change and pollution — who want to buy greener products.</p><p>"It's wonderful that consumers are starting to care about and demand that companies develop and sell more environmentally-friendly products," Poor said. "If we want the mainstream brands to continue to do this though, it's important that they understand how to enter the space successfully. Our research suggests that the best strategy for these mainstream brands may be to avoid too loudly showcasing the green quality of their product lines and instead let that be a bonus that consumers learn about post-purchase."</p><p>Sonya Grier, professor of marketing at American University's Kogod School of Business, who did not take part in this study, agreed that big companies should tamp down the green branding, at least at first.</p><p>"Often, green products will lead up with the focus on sustainability and that it is green, but that says nothing about the effectiveness of the product, which is what people really want," she said. "It's like saying buy my food because it's sustainable, without saying anything about the taste."</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMTA5NDk3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjg2NTI2N30.kPBVxqsgKkWx23iNwX9731uGD-MVb5M4N5vDueVAtys/img.jpg?width=980" id="dda62" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ef371b2a0ca6be2890681fb9681040c0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p> <em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/it-aint-easy-selling-green-e2ce579de394" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nexus Media</a>.</em><em></em></p>Planet laundry detergent is marketed to consumers who worry about the environment.
Planet Inc.
<p>To conduct their study, the researchers surveyed 565 consumers nationwide, asking them about three home pesticide brands currently on the market. These included a standard pesticide from a mainstream brand, a green product from a mainstream brand, and a totally green niche competitor. The results also showed that consumers geared toward buying green preferred the niche brand over the mainstream brand with the environmentally-friendly features. The brands were not identified in the study.</p><p>Another factor to take into account is price, the scientists said. Green products often cost more than mainstream products, so "it may not always be feasible to buy everything green that consumers may ideally want," Robinson said.</p><p>Poor pointed out, however, that many people also believe that "higher price equates to higher quality, so in that regard, one would think that higher priced green products might be perceived as more effective," Poor said.</p><p>For Poor and her husband, moving to California — and then having a baby — prompted them to make a more concerted effort to go green. "It seems like you see organic, sustainable and environmentally-friendly products being talked about a lot more here," she said.</p><p>"They also seem to be more easily accessible," she added. "Then, when my husband and I began talking about starting a family, we made a major move to clean up the products we were using, including cleaning supplies, beauty products, and even our pest services."</p><p>Poor says that in her experience, green products tend to work just as well as the standard non-green mainstream equivalents — which means manufacturers could have an opportunity to improve their bottom lines and the environment by fine-tuning how they present green products to consumers.</p>From Your Site Articles
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EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
By Emily Deanne
Shower shoes? Check. Extra-long sheets? Yep. Energy efficiency checklist? No worries — we've got you covered there. If you're one of the nation's 12.1 million full-time undergraduate college students, you no doubt have a lot to keep in mind as you head off to school. If you're reading this, climate change is probably one of them, and with one-third of students choosing to live on campus, dorm life can have a big impact on the health of our planet. In fact, the annual energy use of one typical dormitory room can generate as much greenhouse gas pollution as the tailpipe emissions of a car driven more than 156,000 miles.
<p>If just one in 10 students adopted energy-saving practices, we could avoid millions of pounds of climate-warming carbon pollution. Here are some ideas to help you do your part.</p>
<p><em>Emily Deanne is a communications assistant at NRDC who works closely with the organization's federal communications team.</em></p>
Conserve Heating and Cooling
<p><a href="https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/tools/DataTrends_Dormitory_20150129.pdf" target="_blank">Air-conditioning</a> packs the biggest punch for dorm power usage, and if your room has individual temperature control, you can set it a few degrees higher to help cut back on how much energy the cooling system uses. Never leave a window open when an air conditioner (or heater) is running, and on hot, sunny days, keeping the blinds or curtains closed will block many of the sun's warming rays. In the winter, this will help keep the cold out, too. Year round, report broken windows, cracks in doorways, or any damaged thermostat controls to the university maintenance department. </p>Light Efficiently
<p><br>Switch off your overhead light, desk lamp, and any other lights every time you leave the dorm. To take your environmentalism a step further, if the bulbs provided aren't LEDs, <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-shop-energy-efficient-light-bulbs" target="_blank">consider swapping some in</a>. LEDs are 85 percent more efficient than old-fashioned incandescents and last much, much longer. If you decide to decorate with that dorm room staple, a string of holiday lights, make sure those are LEDs too. (Find tips on how to shop for energy-efficient bulbs <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-shop-energy-efficient-light-bulbs" target="_blank">here</a>.)</p>Unplug Everything
<p>The average dorm room consumes 30.2 percent of its electrical energy while you and your roomies aren't there, according to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778814010299" target="_blank">one study</a>. That's because appliances <a href="https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/energy-vampires-are-attacking-your-home-here-s-how-stop-them" target="_blank">continue to draw power from electrical outlets even when turned off or idle</a>. A power strip or surge protector helps avoid this: You can plug all your appliances and devices into it, then easily stop them from drawing power with one switch.</p>Don’t Make Your Screens Work Too Hard
<p>If you have a television, look for an energy-saving feature called Automatic Brightness Control. It automatically adjusts the picture brightness level to the amount of light in the room. Game consoles can be huge energy drainers if used to stream videos or if constantly left on. Instead, stream with apps already on your TV or with a streaming device (like Roku or Apple TV), which require <a href="https://www.energystar.gov/products/configuring_todays_game_consoles_use_less_energy_0" target="_blank">one-fifteenth the energy</a>. Keep the auto-power-down feature enabled so your game console doesn't consume power when you aren't using it.</p><p>Desk computers and laptops are college necessities, and as with your gaming console, you can typically program your computer to go into a low-power standby mode when you're taking a break. Look for an energy-saving or eco-mode.</p><p>Shopping for a new computer? <a href="https://www.energystar.gov/products/office_equipment/computers" target="_blank">Check out this website</a> to find one that is certified by Energy Star to be energy efficient. (Any printer or mini-fridge you buy should be similarly certified.)</p>Reduce Water Use
<p>If you have a dishwasher in your room or suite, run it only with a full load; the same goes for doing laundry. Wash clothes in cold water and consider using a drying rack instead of an electric clothes dryer, which <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/easy-ways-save-energy-home" target="_blank">often uses as much energy as a new refrigerator, dishwasher, and clothes washer combined</a>.</p><p>If you live in an apartment-style dorm, more bonus points to you if you add a faucet aerator to your sinks. Aerators can reduce water flow <a href="https://www.epa.gov/watersense/bathroom-faucets" target="_blank">to 1.5 gallons per minute or less</a> from the standard flow of 2.2 gallons per minute. They are inexpensive and easy to screw onto the nozzle of your faucet, and they <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/energy-efficient-home-makeover" target="_blank">save energy by reducing your hot water use.</a></p>Save the Food
<p><a href="https://www.nrdc.org/resources/wasted-how-america-losing-40-percent-its-food-farm-fork-landfill" target="_blank">An NRDC study</a> found that about 40 percent of food is wasted in the U.S., which leads to a lot of emissions from food rotting in landfills. (One such gas is methane, a greenhouse gas that is up to <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/onearth/natural-gas-industry-has-methane-problem" target="_blank">80 times as effective at trapping heat as carbon dioxide)</a>. Do your part to help keep food scraps out of the landfill. Don't pile a tray with more food than you can possibly eat at the dining hall and keep a set of reusable containers on hand, in case you find yourself with extra slices from your late-night pizza delivery. With leftovers you can't store, it's best to toss them into a compost bin if there's one on-site or nearby; some cities host farmers markets where you can drop off composted food for free. You could even start a composting club or, if your roommate agrees, make your <a href="https://nrdc.tumblr.com/post/118984184239/how-to-build-a-worm-bin" target="_blank">own composting worm bin</a>.</p>Create a Movement
<p>With communal spaces and shared amenities, it can be hard to regulate every part of your energy use. Talking with your resident advisor (RA) about ways to increase dorm energy efficiency is a great way to make meaningful change. You could also join—or even start—an environmental club or energy efficiency council on your campus. When you join together with other student activists standing up against climate change, your impact on greening college life will go well beyond those dorm room walls.</p>From Your Site Articles
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Alex Eben Meyer
By Jillian Mackenzie
Spraying chemicals in the yard is a tempting shortcut for many a home gardener looking to protect a tasty crop or a bed of flowers. But weed killers aren't necessary, and they may be linked to health risks.
<p>To embark on a natural plan of weed suppression, start by deciphering your yard's condition: Is it ablaze with dandelions? Taken over by crabgrass? You'll need to customize your approach <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/06/lawn-care-without-the-chemicals/index.htm" target="_blank">depending on the specific intruder</a>. And don't lose patience; finding the perfect solution for your particular weed specimen will take some tinkering. A local organic landscaping company may help you develop an effective weed-fighting plan, and the nonprofit Beyond Pesticides offers a <a href="https://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/safety-source-on-pesticide-providers/welcome" target="_blank">directory of companies</a> that can improve your lawn in a safe manner. Here are some strategies to help stretch your green thumb.</p>
Embrace a Shaggy Lawn.
<p>Want to make your weekend chores a little less burdensome? Learn to appreciate longer grass. Mow less frequently, and with your mower on the highest setting — at least two inches, said <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/jennifer-sass" target="_blank">Jennifer Sass</a>, a senior scientist with NRDC's Health program. (Sass sometimes lets hers grow even longer, with benign neglect.) "A longer lawn will crowd out weeds," she said, since the taller blades of grass <a href="https://homeguides.sfgate.com/control-kill-weeds-mowing-52579.html" target="_blank">block the light</a> weeds need to grow. "It will also ensure that you don't harm the clover, which attracts pollinators. Longer grass also holds soil moisture better and can even reseed itself."</p>Make Peace with (Some) Weeds.
<p>Along with a little benign neglect, Sass doled out some tough love: "Get used to how your lawn looks with weeds," she said. "A lawn that's dotted with some clover and dandelions is a safe, nontoxic place for pets and people to play." In addition to providing some nourishment for the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/8-ways-attract-bees-and-butterflies" target="_blank">pollinators we all depend on</a>, some of the most common and vexing weeds can have upsides. "Even dandelions are quite beneficial," said <a href="http://www.barbarapleasant.com/" target="_blank">Barbara Pleasant</a>, an expert on organic gardening and author of <em>Homegrown Pantry. </em>"They can have roots 18 inches deep that act as biodrills" to loosen compacted soil.</p>Try Hand-to-Hand Combat.
<p>If weeds are stealing too many nutrients from your lawn, vegetable garden or flower bed, start by hand-picking them. You don't need to dig into the dirt; just lop them off at the surface, Pleasant said. You'll need to be more aggressive if you find yourself with an invasive species issue — as when a plant that's not native to your area starts to dominate the landscape, with no natural control on its growth. Pull those plants out by the root, but don't toss them into your compost pile if you plan to sprinkle that mix back onto your lawn.</p><p>Bill Hlubik, a professor of agriculture and natural resources at Rutgers University, recommends chopping the invasive plants up into tiny bits with gardening shears so they don't reroot or germinate. Sass said she leaves them on a paved pathway to fully dry up in the sun before throwing them into her yard waste bin for curbside pickup. Either method should do the trick.</p>Spread Some Mulch.
<p>Shovel mulch on vegetable or flower beds. The extra layer not only helps the soil retain moisture but also blocks the sunlight that weeds need to start sprouting. "Mulches also look better than bare ground, and any mulch made of natural materials will improve soil as it rots," said Pleasant. "Grass clippings are great when applied in thin layers, especially in veggie beds." Pleasant likes to place a layer of damp newspapers under the clippings for even more light-blocking weed prevention. As for flower beds, she said, they "are all about looks, so there, you want to use a long-lasting woody mulch like wood chips, spread two to three inches deep. Any weeds that manage to establish themselves are easy to pull out, and the wood chips give beds a tailored look while maintaining soil moisture."</p>Carpet the Ground with Cover Plants.
<p>Ground cover plants will also choke out weeds, and they're especially great "for areas where grass, flowers, or veggies won't grow because of summer shade [or] shallow roots from big trees, or [on] slopes that are difficult to mow," said Pleasant. But ground cover plants are picky — they'll only grow if you find just the right plant for the right site, and they will take a few years to fill in properly. Some flourish in shade, others need full sun; gardeners working in hot climates should consider planting drought-tolerant varieties, such as <a href="https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/sedum/" target="_blank">a creeping sedum</a>. The commonly used <a href="https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/betony/" target="_blank">lamb's ear</a> may even help you repel another garden nuisance: deer. In addition to these animals finding the plant distasteful, "it's attractive, a draw for butterflies and hummingbirds, self-propagating, and needs almost no care," Sass said. "Make that the front border of your garden."</p><p>"Local nurseries can advise you on the best ground covers for your area, but the best way to explore possibilities is to look in other people's yards," Pleasant said, and see what's thriving there. Seeking out local native ferns may be a good place to start.</p>Get Goats! (Stay with Us Here ...)
<p>Perhaps the most adorable nontoxic weed solution, goats will happily munch your weeds away — and there are companies that <a href="https://www.beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/alternatives/factsheets/Least%20toxic%20control%20of%20weeds.pdf" target="_blank">rent the animals out</a> for just that purpose. Goats' least favorite food is grass, so they will eat everything else first. They're otherwise not too selective, so you need to protect anything you don't want them to chomp. Of course, renting a herd is practical only if you have a lot of land or, said Sass, "if you have poison ivy, kudzu, and other noxious weeds."</p>If You Must Spray, Use Natural Products.
<p>Skip the herbicides. <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-would-monsanto-bayer-merger-really-grow" target="_blank">Glyphosate</a> (better known as Roundup) is the most commonly used one — primarily a tool of farmers growing genetically engineered crops of corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton but available for home use as well. Recent studies confirm it <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/jennifer-sass/atsdr-report-confirms-glyphosate-cancer-risks" target="_blank">carries a risk of cancer</a> and may be linked to other adverse health effects on reproduction, child development, and internal organs.</p><p>Instead, Sass recommended applying vinegar, which can be effective in eradicating <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/06/lawn-care-without-the-chemicals/index.htm" target="_blank">dandelions, kudzu or fig buttercups</a><a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/06/lawn-care-without-the-chemicals/index.htm" target="_blank">.</a> Some <a href="https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/planting-and-maintenance/make-your-own-natural-weed-killer" target="_blank">DIY weed-killing recipes</a> contain regular household vinegar, others the much stronger horticulture vinegar. If you're using the latter, we recommend wearing heavy-duty gloves and goggles due to potential skin and eye irritation. (And always follow the safety instructions on the label.) Pleasant notes that vinegar works best on young weeds and may damage nearby plants, so spray precisely — or try her preferred weed killer, plain old boiling water.</p>
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Jacob Rushing / Getty Images
There's nothing like firing up the grill, playing some lawn games and enjoying the long days of summer with some of your best friends or closest family. But, let's face it; burning charcoal, sipping out of Solo cups and noshing on disposable plates isn't the most eco-friendly way to enjoy summer. In fact, here's a mind blowing set of stats from the Department of Energy, July 4th cookouts release 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, burn the equivalent of 2,300 acres of forest, and use enough charcoal, lighter fuel and gas to power 20,000 households for one year.
<p>If you want a smaller carbon footprint after your alfresco eating, just follow a few of these simple tips.</p>
1. Green Your Gear
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYyODE3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MTAzOTMyN30.qRWmQSiZAPEELt6sYTAK-H2CxlPatj-XivEZsX2pYvQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="14c42" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fb04b0b1a365285059eb1967b9aa48dc" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Pexels
<p>Ditch the charcoal grill to reduce your carbon footprint. Propane, natural gas and electric grills all burn cleaner than charcoal. Remember, propane and natural gas are not renewable energy sources. So, if you really want to up your eco-grilling game, opt for a <a href="https://www.oneearthdesigns.com/" target="_blank">solar powered grill</a>. The technology has advanced so far that your grill is ready five times faster than charcoal.</p><p>If solar isn't happening for you this summer, <a href="https://greenerideal.com/food/0405-summer-is-coming-how-to-have-an-eco-friendly-bbq/" target="_blank">Greener Ideal</a> suggests a <a href="https://www.bbqguys.com/grill-dome/infinity-series-large-kamado-grill-black" target="_blank">dome grill</a> as an elegant and durable option. It traps and recirculates heat so effectively it will drastically reduce how much fuel is needed to cook your food.</p><p>If your motto is charcoal or nothing, shoot for a <a href="https://biggreenegg.com/product/100-natural-lump-charcoal/" target="_blank">sustainably sourced natural briquette</a> without chemicals that are made from local plants instead of wood from tropical forests. And, use a <a href="https://www.virtualweberbullet.com/using-chimney-starter.html" target="_blank">starter chimney</a> to eliminate the need for chemical-heavy lighter fluid.</p>2. Ditch the Disposables
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYyODIwMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5Nzc1MDIyMX0.xRPs6CKUSeaLGDLIjyF7HfiC8lKZ5GpE13YCW24p5Aw/img.jpg?width=980" id="d3b91" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bac8eaffcbe0364c7cc3054820a67a34" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />PxHere
<p>Make sure you've <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/sustainably-sourced-products-2617388522.html">got the right reusable</a> grilling tools like this <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Extremely-Practical-Grill-Set-Waterproof/dp/B06XZCMVJH/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1523795403&sr=8-5&keywords=bbq+grill+set&linkCode=sl1&tag=greeidea0b-20&linkId=d9583d33fc64d890c30105a57b85f620" target="_blank">eco-friendly kit</a> that <a href="https://greenerideal.com/food/0405-summer-is-coming-how-to-have-an-eco-friendly-bbq/" target="_blank">Greener Ideal</a> suggests. It's got all your essentials — including a multipurpose flipper, basting brush, knife and hot mitt. Plus, a nifty carrying case means you're less likely to lose any parts.</p><p>Before setting up those Hefty bags to hold all those plastic plates and forks headed to a landfill, consider reusable plates, cups and cutlery. If you're thinking of using paper plates, don't. It's a waste of water. A single paper plate takes eight gallons of water to make. That's a lot of water when you consider how many plates you'll run through. By contrast, a dishwasher uses six to 10 gallons of water to clean a full load, <a href="https://joe.org/joe/2003february/rb3.php" target="_blank">research shows</a>. </p><p>Yet, if disposable is necessary, go for a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Palm-All-Natural-Eco-Friendly-Compostable/dp/B073WKSL33/ref=asc_df_B073WKSL33/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241948599983&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6571221719747402981&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1022219&hvtargid=pla-420328568874&psc=1" target="_blank">green alternative</a> to paper and plastic. Plates made from bamboo, palm or <a href="https://greenpaperproducts.com/biodegradable-compostable-fiber-plates-p005n.aspx?var=100ik=1760&gclid=CjwKCAjw0tHoBRBhEiwAvP1GFUWW3XhLpFtR7zo6ad7V-AoIc8c1jlqpivC1knW8lubTJfC7IChbCxoCHs4QAvD_BwE" target="_blank">plant fibers</a> are fully compostable. It's easy to go green with drinking straws. Try reusable <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Stainless-Steel-Friendly-Straws/dp/B07MTPCN3J/ref=asc_df_B07MTPCN3J/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=344058097101&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1539416287603245502&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1022219&hvtargid=pla-644890852222&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=68456165999&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=344058097101&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1539416287603245502&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1022219&hvtargid=pla-644890852222" target="_blank">metal</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Ecological-Alternative-multi-usage-Bambaw/dp/B079LCSBBN/ref=asc_df_B079LCSBBN/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242032081623&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4474977336390236256&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1022219&hvtargid=pla-454587319629&psc=1" target="_blank">bamboo</a> straws, or disposable straws made from <a href="https://www.haystraws.com/products/hay-straws-100-pack?variant=12335821881378&campaign=1643218284&content=315503607763&keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAjw0tHoBRBhEiwAvP1GFeG7f1m71OVQMmOdOMCPR-Je6n1lvODywy2vIZFI9IgGbVgv-Y1syRoCdRIQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">hay</a> or <a href="https://www.loliware.com/" target="_blank">seaweed</a>. And <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Barbecue-Skewers-Ring-Tip-Handle/dp/B000FQBJWW" target="_blank">reusable kebab sticks</a> are an elegant way to serve up all those local, grilled veggies. </p>3. Think Local
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYyODIzNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMTIzNDk0MH0.Znje15xwJdV2b_6Dwmn7Ya4qayX-XDTKdcL4Lwb70dQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="789b5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bb99a9b69b3b152c7c03a488d08f8b6d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Pexels
<p>The bulk of any barbecue's greenhouse gas emissions is in food choices. The <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2015-4-july-august/green-life/5-ways-green-your-4th-july" target="_blank">Sierra Club</a> suggests shrinking your BBQs carbon footprint by buying local fruits, veggies and meat. Your local farmers market may even have a homemade potato chip stand. Buying locally grown foods cuts down on the energy required to store, transport and package food across long distances.</p><p>Buying at your farmers market will support your local economy and help build a relationship with the person who grew your food. Plus, as <a href="https://www.goodshop.com/blog/2016/05/27/green-your-bbq-10-tips-for-an-eco-friendly-cookout/" target="_blank">GoodShop</a> points out, during summer, local fruits and veggies are usually at their peak, so your BBQ will have that much more flavor. </p><p>Have fun serving up a sample of local wines and craft beers. </p>4. More Veggies. Sustainably Sourced Meat
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYyODE0MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMjQ5NzQwOH0.QU_OIfBC3Ed01_POWQ2U9rSKOr2T6JDF-lwU4n2xlZI/img.jpg?width=980" id="b1d8e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="18ea251899b1e0a3319202abfe3e8303" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />A veggie burger.
Max Pixel
<p>While burgers and dogs usually take center-stage at a summer barbecue, an eco-friendly picnic should restructure that paradigm. Every pound of beef you eliminate from your barbecue makes a big difference in your carbon footprint. British chefs told the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/may/26/how-to-have-ethical-barbecue" target="_blank">Guardian</a> to reduce beef, pork and chicken and going for sustainable seafood like Arctic char, tilapia and squid. And, if red meat is necessary, go for lamb, which is almost always raised on grass pastures.</p><p>And, there are no shortages of meat replacements these days. <a href="https://www.treehugger.com/htgg/how-to-go-green-barbecues.html" target="_blank">Treehugger</a> suggests using portobello mushrooms or chickpea burgers. The <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2015-3-may-june/green-life/4th-july-throw-vegan-barbecue-even-meat-eaters-will-love" target="_blank">Sierra Club</a> has a recipe for a sweet potato black bean burger. And <a href="https://www.beyondmeat.com/products/the-beyond-burger/" target="_blank">Beyond Meat</a> burgers are available at most major grocery stores. </p>From Your Site Articles
- The 18 Best Healthy Foods to Buy in Bulk (And the Worst) - EcoWatch ›
- Is the Future of Grocery Shopping B.Y.O. Container? - EcoWatch ›
- Concerned About Food Waste? Study Finds Meal Kits May Be ... ›
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Concerned About Food Waste? Study Finds Meal Kits May Be Greener Than Grocery Shopping
26 April 2019
Food
Scott Eisen / Getty Images
Meal kit delivery services are an easy target for eco-conscious people concerned with waste: the ingredients are meticulously packaged in plastic and insulation, put into cardboard boxes and shipped to the customer's front door each week. But how does all that waste and energy use stack up against the environmental impact of buying the same meal at the grocery store?
<p>According to a new <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344919301703" target="_blank">study</a> from the University of Michigan, meal kits from companies like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh may actually have a lower carbon footprint than meals purchased at the grocery store. The researchers found that, after considering the full life cycle of both, grocery store meals accounted for one-third more greenhouse gas emissions on average than the meal kit versions.</p>
<p><br>The study adds credence to <a href="https://www.thekitchn.com/are-meal-kits-really-more-wasteful-than-groceries-229687" target="_blank">informal observations</a> in recent years that the reduced food waste from pre-portioned ingredients and a streamlined supply chain might balance out the impact of the plastic packaging.</p><p>"Meal kits are designed for minimal food waste," senior author Shelie Miller, a professor at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability, said in a <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-04/uom-thm041719.php" target="_blank">press release</a>. "So, while the packaging is typically worse for meal kits, it's not the packaging that matters most. It's food waste and transportation logistics that cause the most important differences in the environmental impacts of these two delivery mechanisms."</p><p><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/food-waste">Food waste</a> is a <a href="http://www.planetexperts.com/food-waste-contributes-greenhouse-gas-emissions-think/" target="_blank">big deal</a>. According to the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/issues/food-waste" target="_blank">Natural Resources Defense Council</a>, up to 40 percent of food produced in the U.S. ends up uneaten. Worldwide, food waste has a carbon footprint of 3.3 billion tons of CO2 equivalent — enough to be the third highest greenhouse gas emitter after the U.S. and China, according to the <a href="https://www.climatecentral.org/news/food-waste-worsens-greenhouse-gas-emissions-fao-16498" target="_blank">Food and Agriculture Organization</a>.</p><p>Meal kits come out ahead in distribution emissions because they ship just enough to make each meal directly to the consumer, whereas grocery stores require purchasing ingredients in higher quantities than needed per meal, <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/04/22/716010599/meal-kits-have-smaller-carbon-footprint-than-grocery-shopping-study-says" target="_blank">NPR reported</a>. In addition, grocery stores tend to stock more food than they end up selling, whether due to less demand or removal of blemished items.</p><p>Meal kit services also save on last-mile transportation emissions, the study found, as the packages are delivered by a truck on a regular route. In total, personal transportation to and from the store accounted for 11 percent of grocery meal emissions whereas shipping accounted for just 4 percent of meal kit emissions.</p><p>For the <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-04/uom-thm041719.php" target="_blank">study</a>, the researchers prepared five two-person meals from Blue Apron. Then, they made the same meals again using ingredients purchased at the grocery store. The team used data from previous studies to calculate greenhouse gas emission estimates for each phase of the meal's life cycle: farming, packaging production, distribution, supply chain losses, consumption and the landfill.</p>
<p><br>In both cases, food production was the largest source of emissions. But the average emissions for a meal kit were 6.1 kg carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2e) per meal while grocery store meals were responsible for 8.1 kg CO2e per meal.</p><p>Lead author and University of Michigan PhD candidate Brent Heard told <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/04/22/716010599/meal-kits-have-smaller-carbon-footprint-than-grocery-shopping-study-says" target="_blank">NPR</a> that even increased vigilance around food waste at home did not significantly tip the scales in favor of grocery store meals, which emphasizes the need to consider the whole life cycle of a meal.</p><p>However, Heard noted elsewhere that the study relied on average household food waste rates in the U.S., and ordering meal kits is not the only way individuals can reduce the environmental footprint of their food.</p><p>"Consumers can definitely reduce the environmental impacts associated with their meals by reducing food waste — either by limiting over-purchasing or through meal planning," Heard told <a href="https://www.greenmatters.com/p/meal-delivery-kits-eco-friendly" target="_blank">Green Matters</a>. "Eating meals made from ingredients with lower environmental impacts (e.g. without red meat [or by eating] vegan meals) is also a great way to do this."</p>
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When People Downsize to Tiny Houses, They Adopt More Environmentally Friendly Lifestyles
10 April 2019
Insights + Opinion
Tiny houses on display in Portland, Oregon in 2017. Dan David Cook / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA
By Maria Saxton
Interest is surging in tiny homes — livable dwelling units that typically measure under 400 square feet. Much of this interest is driven by media coverage that claims that living in tiny homes is good for the planet.
<p>
It may seem intuitively obvious that downsizing to a tiny home would reduce one's environmental impact, since it means occupying a much smaller space and consuming fewer resources. But little research has been done to actually measure how people's environmental behaviors change when they make this drastic move.
</p><p>
For my doctorate in <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maria_Saxton" target="_blank">environmental design and planning</a>, I sought to fill this gap in knowledge by developing a study that could provide measurable evidence on how downsizing influences environmental impacts. First I surveyed 80 downsizers who had lived in tiny homes for a year or more, to calculate their ecological footprints in prior housing and current ecological footprints in their tiny houses. Then I conducted nine in-depth interviews to learn about behaviors that changed after downsizing.
</p><p>
I found that among 80 tiny home downsizers located across the U.S., ecological footprints were reduced by about 45 percent on average. Surprisingly, I found that downsizing can influence many parts of one's lifestyle and reduce impacts on the environment in unexpected ways.
</p>
<p>
<em>Reposted with permission from our media associate </em><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/when-people-downsize-to-tiny-houses-they-adopt-more-environmentally-friendly-lifestyles-112485" target="_blank">The Conversation</a></em><em>.</em>
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The Unsustainable U.S. Housing Model
<p>In recent decades, the building trend has been to "go big." Newly constructed homes in the U.S. generally have a larger average square footage <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/ORDEQ/deq-building-lca-forwebsite-16minfinal1" target="_blank">than in any other country in the world</a>.</p><p>In 1973 the average newly constructed U.S. home measured 1,660 square feet. By 2017 that average had increased to <a href="https://www.census.gov/construction/chars/pdf/squarefeet.pdf" target="_blank">2,631 square feet</a> — a 63 percent increase. This growth has harmed the environment in many ways, including loss of green space, increased air pollution and energy consumption, and ecosystem fragmentation, which can <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/habitat-fragmentation" target="_blank">reduce biodiversity</a>.</p><p>The concept of minimalist living has existed for centuries, but the modern tiny house movement became a trend only in the early 2000s, when <a href="https://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/" target="_blank">one of the first tiny home building companies</a> was founded. Tiny homes are an innovative housing approach that can reduce building material waste and excessive consumption. There is no universal definition for a tiny home, but they generally are small, efficient spaces that value quality over quantity.</p><p>People choose to downsize to tiny homes for many reasons. They may include living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, simplifying their lives and possessions, becoming more mobile or achieving financial freedom, since tiny homes <a href="https://www.rd.com/advice/saving-money/costs-owning-tiny-home/" target="_blank">typically cost significantly less</a> than the average American home.</p><div id="fa78f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="QQ9M5D1576663046"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1108430021230764033" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Affordable housing is a common obstacle for veterans. The people at Build Us Hope are coming up with tiny living so… https://t.co/KqOxfiPHtO</div> — Tumbleweed (@Tumbleweed)<a href="https://twitter.com/tumbleweedhouse/statuses/1108430021230764033">1553105285.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Many assessments of the tiny-house movement have asserted without quantitative evidence that individuals who downsize to tiny homes will have a significantly lower environmental impact. On the other hand, some reviews hint that tiny home living may lend itself to <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90302556/tiny-houses-have-a-dark-secret" target="_blank">unsustainable practices</a>.</p>
Understanding Footprint Changes After Downsizing
<p>This study examined tiny home downsizers' environmental impacts by measuring their individual ecological footprints. This metric calculates human demand on nature by providing a measurement of land needed to sustain current consumption behaviors.</p><p>To do this, I calculated their <a href="https://www.footprintnetwork.org/faq/" target="_blank">spatial footprints</a> in terms of global hectares, considering housing, transportation, food, goods and services. For reference, one global hectare is equivalent to about 2.5 acres, or about the size of a single soccer field.</p><p>I found that among 80 tiny home downsizers located across the U.S., the average ecological footprint was 3.87 global hectares, or about 9.5 acres. This means that it would require 9.5 acres to support that person's lifestyle for one year. Before moving into tiny homes, these respondents' average footprint was 7.01 global hectares (17.3 acres). For comparison, the average American's footprint is <a href="http://data.footprintnetwork.org/#/" target="_blank">8.4 global hectares</a>, or 20.8 acres.</p><p>My most interesting finding was that housing was not the only component of participants' ecological footprints that changed. On average, every major component of downsizers' lifestyles, including food, transportation and consumption of goods and services, was positively influenced.</p><p>As a whole, I found that after downsizing people were more likely to eat less energy-intensive food products and adopt more environmentally conscious eating habits, such as eating more locally and growing more of their own food. Participants traveled less by car, motorcycle, bus, train and airplane, and drove more fuel-efficient cars than they did before downsizing.</p><p>They also purchased substantially fewer items, recycled more plastic and paper, and generated less trash. In sum, I found that downsizing was an important step toward reducing ecological footprints and encouraging pro-environmental behaviors.</p><p>To take these findings a step farther, I was able to use footprint data to calculate how many resources could potentially be saved if a small portion of Americans downsized. I found that about 366 million acres of biologically productive land could be saved if just 10 percent of Americans downsized to a tiny home.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM3OTM5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTg4MjY4MH0.MgnlGsphZ5gtEp5ANUJkQcXCzBBA_kjfsBVnPGGxEss/img.png?width=980" id="75245" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f1665d247aa892ad752b8665adbafb8b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Maria Saxton / CC BY-ND
Fine-tuning footprint analyses
<p>My research identified more than 100 behaviors that changed after downsizing to a tiny home. Approximately 86 percent had a positive impact, while the rest were negative.</p><p>Some choices, such as harvesting rainwater, adopting a capsule wardrobe approach and carpooling, reduced individual environmental impacts. Others could potentially expand people's footprints — for example, traveling more and eating out more often.</p><p>A handful of negative behaviors were not representative of all participants in the study, but still are important to discuss. For instance, some participants drove longer distances after moving to rural areas where their tiny homes could be parked. Others ate out more often because they had smaller kitchens, or recycled less because they lacked space to store recyclables and had less access to curbside recycling services.</p><p>It is important to identify these behaviors in order to understand potential negative implications of tiny home living and enable designers to address them. It is also important to note that some behaviors I recorded could have been influenced by factors other than downsizing to a tiny home. For instance, some people might have reduced their car travel because they had recently retired.</p><p>Nonetheless, all participants in this study reduced their footprints by downsizing to tiny homes, even if they did not downsize for environmental reasons. This indicates that downsizing leads people to adopt behaviors that are better for the environment. These findings provide important insights for the sustainable housing industry and implications for future research on tiny homes.</p><p>For instance, someone may be able to present this study to a planning commission office in their town to show how and why tiny homes are a sustainable housing approach. These results have the potential to also support tiny home builders and designers, people who want to create tiny home communities and others trying to change zoning ordinances in their towns to support tiny homes. I hope this work will spur additional research that produces more affordable and sustainable housing choices for more Americans.</p>Related Articles Around the Web
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Bogdan Kurylo / iStock / Getty Images
By Jeff Turrentine
If you think this is going to be yet another column admonishing you for not doing enough to curb the amount of single-use plastic in our waste stream, you can relax. You don't need a lecture at this point.
<p>You might already know, for instance, that global consumer culture has <a href="https://www.earthday.org/2018/03/07/fact-sheet-end-plastic-pollution/" target="_blank">generated more than 8.3 billion metric tons</a> of plastic since the middle of the last century, and that we currently produce <a href="https://www.unenvironment.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/" target="_blank">300 million tons of it a year</a>, half of which is made up of items <a href="https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/single-use-plastics-bad-can/" target="_blank">use</a>d only once. And you're probably aware that roughly <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/blue-plastic-planet" target="_blank">8 million metric tons</a> of this discarded plastic ends up in the ocean, where it threatens marine life of all kinds. It's unlikely anyone needs to tell you that every year we throw enough plastic away to <a href="https://www.reusethisbag.com/articles/the-truth-about-plastic/" target="_blank">circle the planet four times</a>, or that a mass of plastic waste floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/23/world/plastic-great-pacific-garbage-patch-intl/index.html" target="_blank">three times the size of France</a>.</p><p>So instead of piling on to the guilt you probably already feel, allow me to offer a glimmer of hope. Increasingly there are signs—not big ones, but signs all the same—that a new generation of businesses and manufacturers, and even some of the older ones, are ready to change the way products are packaged and delivered so that single-use plastic is all but removed from the equation. Right now, these companies' actual impact on the waste stream is small. But if their solutions catch on and become the norm, the impact could be tremendous.</p>
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<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTIwMzgxMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNDAxOTU4NX0.nWRhrY1g-wTdO_EJt6tzdn6RVqK_s51F7WJDkiy9NAg/img.jpg?width=980" id="2a27c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3e73214c2d545b1894be93dea168d8d8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">byHumankind's personal-care products.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">byHumankind</small></p>
<p>Last week brought news of a start-up called <a href="https://byhumankind.com/" target="_blank">byHumankind</a>, which delivers a variety of personal-care products directly to the doors of its online customers. At first glance, this doesn't appear to be anything particularly new. But what is novel is the role of plastic in this most familiar of transactions. It's practically nonexistent. Mouthwash comes in the form of a tablet that dissolves in water. Shampoo comes in a bar, like soap, and arrives wrapped in paper. Deodorant is delivered at first in an elegantly designed plastic container—but refills come paper-wrapped and ready to be popped into the original holder, turning what would typically be single-use plastic into something that can potentially last for years.<br></p><p>Another new startup, <a href="https://loopstore.com/" target="_blank">Loop</a>, carries out its mission of reducing plastic waste by leveraging the popularity of other brands. Its creators describe Loop as a "circular shopping platform," which sounds oh-so-disruptive but is actually just a fancy way of describing what used to be relatively common only a few generations ago, when the milkman would come around delivering fresh milk in glass bottles and collecting the empties from the previous week.</p>
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<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTIwMzgwOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTg4MTg1MH0.SI9eDEUwrrymcKoLxNAtKRhNaS143__hEsGItCeiJHo/img.jpg?width=980" id="cc089" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ba806e401b6484cc98c787dd854d7800" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Loop's refillable Häagen-Dazs ice cream container.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Loop</small></p>
<p>Loop has updated this admittedly quaint-seeming idea for the modern era. A wide range of products from big-name personal-care, household, and food and beverage brands come to you in durable, reusable containers. When you're finished with them, you can either ship the containers back to Loop or schedule a pickup. That triggers the next shipment to come your way. Once returned, your discards are sanitized and refilled with products to be sent out to another customer, posthaste.<br></p><p>Loop is still in the pilot stage; it will begin testing its model in the New York City and Paris markets this spring. One of the people behind it, Tom Szaky (CEO of <a href="https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/" target="_blank">TerraCycle</a>, a company that specializes in <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/onearth/flexibility-test" target="_blank">recycling hard-to-recycle items</a>) has <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90296956/a-coalition-of-giant-brands-is-about-to-change-how-we-shop-forever-with-a-new-zero-waste-platform" target="_blank">cited the travesty of ocean plastics</a> as a primary motivator in getting the new company off the ground. Brian Bushell, the founder and CEO of byHumankind, writes on the company's website that <a href="https://byhumankind.com/pages/whynow" target="_blank">the idea for his start-up</a> came while he was on a small boat off the coast of Thailand, exploring "tiny, uninhabited islands, in an environment I'd expected to be untouched," when his boat became surrounded by plastic waste. "I'd expect to see these things floating in Manhattan's East River, I thought. But here?"</p><p>A big part of Bushell's pitch to customers—beyond the quality of the products he's selling—is the opportunity to keep five pounds of single-use plastic out of the waste stream every year, "just by getting ready in the morning."</p>
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<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTIwMzgwNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMDIwNzQ5OX0.quLTpoAurpZYaZP5zDtV1BTFN8-Kk3aokMFzFI-4RGQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="c51f4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2414abd675bf9d56ae60d44475918aa3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Katerina Bogatireva, founder and owner of Precycle.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Marina Moskvina-Williams</small></p>
<p>With their emphasis on refillables and circular shopping, byHumankind and Loop join a vanguard of young, forward-thinking companies that are building sustainability into their business models, rather than simply offering customers a "green option" or vowing to reduce the carbon footprints of their operations and supply chains. This movement also includes <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/zero-waste">zero-waste</a>, packaging-free grocery stores like Brooklyn's <a href="https://www.precyclenyc.com/" target="_blank">Precycle</a> or Idaho's soon-to-open <a href="https://rootszerowastemarket.com/" target="_blank">Roots Zero Waste Market</a>, where customers bring their own containers and buy items loose or in bulk. This new wave of entrepreneurs are banking on the idea that consumers are sick and tired of feeling like they're hastening the end of humanity every time they buy hair conditioner or yogurt.<br></p><p>Whether their hunch is correct remains to be seen. (Zero-waste groceries can <a href="http://austin.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/04-25-18-ingredients-grocery-store-closing-zero-waste-east-austi/" target="_blank">prove to be a tough sell</a> even in famously progressive cities like Austin, Texas.) But certain retailing and cultural phenomena—online shopping, direct-to-consumer delivery, improvements in storage and shipping technology, and a growing <a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/little-mention-climate-change-midterm-ads-it-matters-millennials" target="_blank">environmental awareness among millennials</a>, whose proclivities guide the decisions of some of our biggest brands—are definitely converging in ways that make it easier to opt out of plastic packaging.</p><p>Today, sure, it's just a noteworthy trend. But with the right timing and the right amount of public buy-in, today's trend might actually become <a href="https://media.thinknum.com/articles/a-brief-history-of-video-streaming-by-the-numbers/" target="_blank">tomorrow's industry standard</a>.</p>
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SrdjanPav / E+ / Getty Images
By Denise Baden
When you hear about businesses with a high environmental impact or activities with a high carbon footprint, you are probably more likely to imagine heavy machinery, engines and oil rather than hairdressing. Yet hairdressing, both as a sector and as an individual activity, can have a massive carbon footprint.
<p>
Hairdressing uses high levels of hot water, energy and chemicals. Similarly, in our homes, heating hot water is typically the most energy intensive activity. For the cost of a ten-minute shower that uses an electric immersion heater, you could leave a <a href="https://www.confusedaboutenergy.co.uk/index.php/household-energy-costs" target="_blank">typical television on for 20 hours</a>.
</p><p>
So while it helps to turn lights and appliances off, the real gains in terms of reducing energy usage are in slashing our use of hot water. A quarter of <a href="http://www.cir-strategy.com/uploads/CIRHEAT08NPH.pdf" target="_blank">UK emissions are residential</a> and, of those, the vast majority come from running hot water. The longer it runs and the hotter it is, the more energy intensive (and costly) it is.
</p><h2>Little Changes, Big Results</h2><p>
Most people use too much shampoo and wash their hair too often. <a href="http://ecohairandbeauty.com/carbon-footprint-calculator/" target="_blank">A daily routine of shampooing your hair</a> twice followed by a wash out conditioner uses annually about 14,222 liters of water and 1252kWh of energy, costs about £245, and has a carbon footprint of 500kg of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e).
</p><p>
On the other hand, if you shampoo your hair twice a week (supplementing that with a dry shampoo if needed) and use a leave-in conditioner, you will use annually just 613 liters of water and 55 kWh of energy, produce a carbon footprint of 25kg of CO₂e, and cost yourself about £27 a year.
</p><p>
Research has also <a href="https://www.driving.co.uk/news/shampoo-bad-health-risk-car-fumes/" target="_blank">revealed</a> how <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/shampoo-is-almost-as-bad-for-you-as-car-exhaust-fumes_uk_5a86b095e4b05c2bcac9a04b" target="_blank">shampoo can contribute to pollution</a>. Maybe this in part explains why <a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shampoo-sales-slide-by-23m-in-one-year-because-british-women-are-washing-their-hair-less-112003078.html?guccounter=1" target="_blank">sales of shampoo have fallen</a> over the past few years in the UK—with many people choosing to wash their hair less often.
</p><p>
Washing your hair less doesn't just save you money, it's also much better <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd7v44U66tM&index=3&list=PLVpIMBnUZVgtubNngrelAqBXO219ypDvW" target="_blank">for your hair condition</a>. It can also help to limit the aging effects of over exposure to <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/how-often-you-should-wash-your-hair-according-science" target="_blank">hot water and chemicals on your skin</a>.
</p><h2>Increased Awareness</h2><p>
<a href="https://esrc.ukri.org/news-events-and-publications/impact-case-studies/cutting-carbon-footprints-in-the-service-sector/" target="_blank">My latest research project</a> looks at the issue of sustainability across the hairdressing sector. Not only is the hair sector a high user of resources, but hairdressers probably talk to more people than any other occupation—and are in a great position to pass on advice about lower resource hair care.
</p><p>
From speaking with hairdressers, it seems that ever since the episode of Blue Planet II in which David Attenborough explained how a whale mother was still carrying her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a8HGJid-Jo" target="_blank">dead baby</a> which, it was claimed, had been poisoned by plastics (though scientists working on the show have confirmed there was no actual evidence to prove this) salons have been seeing a massive increase in clients wanting to know that their hairdresser is doing their bit.
</p><p>
<a href="https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/416264/" target="_blank">Our research</a> has found that many hairdressers are keen to make changes that are better for the environment. The opportunity to present their industry as part of the solution rather than part of the problem is very attractive to hairdressers, as it boosts their sense of professional identity and pride in offering a well informed service.
</p><h2>Sustainable Stylists</h2><p>
A large focus of the project has been on equipping hairdressers with the skills and knowledge required for them to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSqtiPvcn0s&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">talk to their clients</a> about sustainable hair care. There are many products out there that are better for the environment, not because they have "organic" or "eco" on the label, but because they <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83zYtOBsgl4&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">reduce the need for hot water</a>.
</p><p>
Dry shampoo is a great example. It is fast, convenient, and great at festivals and on the move. It also makes hair easier to style, is cheap and avoids the need for any hot water. Similarly, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7ycSesQcBU&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">leave-in conditioner</a> avoids the need for an extra rinse and again makes hair easier to style. It is also fantastic at giving body to fine hair, and saves water, energy, money and time.
</p><p>
<a href="http://ecohairandbeauty.com/" target="_blank">Our ecohair project</a>, run in association with the Vocational Training Charitable Trust and the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority, provides a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM6UXh9gzlk&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">sustainable stylist certificate</a> at no cost, once hairdressers have completed the <a href="http://edshare.soton.ac.uk/18415/2/story_html5.html" target="_blank">training program</a>. The salon owner can also obtain a <a href="http://ecohairandbeauty.com/sustainablesaloncertificate/" target="_blank">sustainable salon certificate</a> to let customers know these things are important to their business.
</p><p>
Getting certified as a sustainable salon has numerous benefits, and not just in terms of reputation. Adopting the changes as part of the scheme <a href="http://ecohairandbeauty.com/virtual-salon/" target="_blank">saves the typical salon</a> 286,000 liters of water, 24150 kWh of energy and £5,300 a year.
</p><p>
And with <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-climate-crisis-has-arrived-so-stop-feeling-guilty-and-start-imagining-your-future-111139" target="_blank">new research</a> showing the increased threat of climate change and the need for urgent behavioral change, it is great that simple alterations to our hair care routines—and where we choose to get our hair cut (you can find <a href="http://ecohairandbeauty.com/salon-locator/" target="_blank">sustainable salons here</a>)—can make such a difference to the planet we call home.
</p><p>
<em>Reposted with permission from our media associate </em><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/change-the-way-you-wash-your-hair-to-help-save-the-environment-111113" target="_blank">The Conversation</a></em><em>.</em>
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Yasser Chalid / Moment / Getty Images
By Brian Barth
Do the planet a favor and skip the roses this year.
Trace the path of a rose back from your local florist to the pesticide-drenched greenhouse in South America from whence it likely came, and you will quickly realize that beautiful red bud has had an outsize role in destroying the planet.
<p>Unless you're in Florida or Southern California, February and flowers do not go together in the U.S. They are flown under climate-controlled conditions from tropical countries and then shipped in a refrigerated truck to retailers, racking up an enormous carbon footprint in the process. And the growing conditions in those countries are typically neither good for the environment, nor the farmworkers.</p><p>Compared to most food crops, cut flowers require higher doses of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to maximize production and keep disease at bay. And countries like Columbia, which produces the lion's share of flowers found at U.S. florists, aren't exactly known for environmental regulations and worker protections. Some of the most harmful pesticides that have been banned in this country are widely used in the floriculture industry of developing nations.</p><p>Most floriculture workers are women; numerous investigations have reported rampant sexual harassment and other labor abuses in the industry. One study found that approximately 8 percent of flowers in U.S. markets—that's one rose in 12—was cut by a child laborer. In Ecuador, another major supplier, 8 in 10 floriculture workers are children.</p><p>By the time Mother's Day rolls around, you can source fresh-cut flowers from your backyard, or a local farmer's field. But in the dead of winter, you might want to consider a more appropriate gift.</p><h3><strong>Heirloom Rosebush</strong></h3><p>This way you can give your loved ones roses whenever they are in season. In the southern half of the country, many nurseries are already starting to stock these cold hardy shrubs. Elsewhere, order from a supplier that specializes in hardy heritage varieties and have it delivered to your doorstep.</p><h3>Flowering Houseplant</h3><p>Orchids aren't traditional Valentine's flowers, though they do have kind of a sexy look. Most importantly, they bloom for months on end, unlike a bouquet that is dead by the end of the week. And then they do it again! Truly sustainable.</p><h3>Floral Bath Bomb</h3><p>There's nothing more romantic than a luxuriating soak. Bath bombs—a tennis ball-sized pack of therapeutic salts, herbs, essential oils and flower petals—makes it all the more luxuriating.</p><h3>Fragrant Massage Oil</h3><p>This way you will at least have the scent of flowers in the air. Of course the oil is only part one of the gift. Part two, the massage, is even better.</p><h3>Native Flower Seeds</h3><p>Native species like yarrow, milkweed, bee balm and coneflower make long-lasting bouquets. Part of the romance can be planning a date on the first warm weekend of spring to plant them together.</p><p> <em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://modernfarmer.com/2019/02/five-eco-friendly-valentines-gift-ideas/" target="_blank">Modern Farmer</a>.</em><em></em></p>
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Biofase
In Mexico, a startup has found an innovative way to deal with the tons of avocado pits that producers discard every day.
Michoacan-based Biofase, located in the heart of Mexico's avocado industry, is transforming the dense seeds into disposable drinking straws and cutlery that are said to be 100 percent biodegradable.
<p>
The company was founded in 2013 by biochemical engineer Scott Munguia, who patented a process to turn discarded avocado pits into bioplastics that reportedly degrade after 240 days.
</p><p>
As <a href="https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/biodegradable-straws-from-avocado-seeds/" target="_blank">Mexico Daily News</a> explained, Munguia figured out how to extract a molecular compound from a pit to obtain a biopolymer that could be molded into any shape.
</p><p>"Our family of biodegradable resins can be processed by all conventional methods of plastic molding," the company <a href="https://twitter.com/BiofaseMX/status/856968883781160960" target="_blank">tweeted</a>.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="6595e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="VLWO8K1553275130"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="856968883781160960" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Nuestra familia de resinas biodegradables pueden ser procesadas por todos los métodos convencionales de moldeo de p… https://t.co/jX6oqLDVPx</div> — Biofase (@Biofase)<a href="https://twitter.com/BiofaseMX/statuses/856968883781160960">1493152278.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p>
<p>Today, the operation goes through 15 metric tons of avocado seeds a day to make the items, according to Mexico Daily News.<br></p><p>
<span></span>Munguia's technology is a win-win that tackles agricultural waste as well as the mounting volumes of plastic waste accumulating in landfills, oceans and other bodies of water.</p>
<div id="b9415" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="SSSCB41553275130"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BiiJaY-FPNn/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">BIOFASE® Sustainable Plastic on Instagram: “Tu también puedes ser parte de la solución y no del problema. Cubiertos y Popotes hechos a partir de semilla de #Aguacate 🥑♻️🍃 Visita…”</a></p>
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<p>"The whole world is changing—people are starting to ask for this," Munguia told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-environment-plastic/turning-waste-into-bioplastics-mexico-strikes-green-gold-idUSKCN1LS23B" target="_blank">Reuters</a>, but noted that the main obstacle is the cost of producing bioplastics.<br></p><p>
Although bioplastics have some flaws (some varieties contain traditional fossil-fuel plastics), a growing number of municipal bans on <span></span>single-use plastics have led to an increased demand for eco-friendlier alternatives.
</p><p>
In 2017, Querétaro became the first municipality in Mexico to outlaw plastic bags. Tijuana also voted last year to phase out plastic bags.
</p><p>
Across the country, "more than 15 initiatives, laws and regulations at the state and municipal levels, seek to reduce the consumption of disposable plastics," <a href="https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/tijuana-first-mexico-us-border-city-ban-plastic-bags" target="_blank">according</a> to Dolores Barrientos, UN Environment representative in Mexico.
</p><p>
Biofase is the only biopolymers producer company in Mexico, the company website states. It's now the leading producer of biopolymers in Latin America and its products are sent to more than 11 countries.
</p><p>
Customers include chain restaurants such as Fiesta Americana, P. F. Chang's China Bistro and Chili's Grill & Bar, Mexico Daily News reported.
</p><p>
Check out this video to learn more about the company:
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b50d9486cad69a433964a42957beed30"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6_NnIHCHIgs?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit..."><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_NnIHCHIgs" target="_blank"><br></a></small>
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