The term “conscious consumption” has been used in many ways. Some consider this to be purchasing products with the impact on the environment in mind. Others think about the impact the supply chain has on workers around the globe. Being mindful of what we are buying....
Sometimes you stumble on a gem. A book. A podcast. A person. Someone creating content that connects deeply with you. I had one of those moments yesterday. As one who has followed content in the sustainability space for over 15 years, I’m amazed that I hadn’t...
When buying products or developing products for your business, there are two considerations: Parts and Packaging. Parts Parts are the ingredients and materials used to create the product. These can range from mechanical parts to liquid ingredients and much, much more....
As we move into the second half of August in Michigan, we think about fall. Summer vacations are behind us. School starting back up. Routines being re-established. This is a great time to think about the things that will make your home One Shade Greener. I’ve found...
American culture leans toward more. We move through life searching and striving for more. More education. More money. More (bigger) homes. More things. More travel. More. More. More. My Perspective The irony of the “culture of more” is that it leaves us empty and...
With summer winding down, we are getting in the “back to work/school” mode. Children in the home or not, this is a time we nest a bit and consider replenishing office supplies. This post will provide ideas to make your shopping just a little easier and greener....
Welcome to Plastic Free July! This month-long challenge is a global movement that encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to reduce their single-use plastic consumption. This is not about temporary changes, but rather about learning and adopting...
According to NewScientist.com, food production contributes 21-37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, where and how food is grown impacts the environment. A rule of thumb regarding food choices is that the lower the food is on the food chain,...
With summer in full swing and the 4th of July right around the corner, grilling is on our minds. Cooking on the grill has us enjoying the outdoors and enjoying the smokey flavors. We may not automatically think of the grill when it comes to being eco-friendly, but...
Summers are full of fun parties and picnics. We bring dishes to pash, foods are enjoyed, and leftovers are shared. These events are also full of trash from single use bowls/serving trays, aluminum pans & foil, waxed paper, saran wrap, and paper towels. The post...
Two weeks ago, we covered ideas for cleaning out the garage. We can now see all the tools that remain and think about how to ensure we are ready for summer. The sections below cover ideas for when an additional tool is needed and how to care for the ones we already...
With summer upon us, sunscreen and bug sprays are on the shopping list. For the sunscreen, you can check out this post. Today, we’ll focus on bug sprays. Like many other products, we want to look for ingredients we understand. Avoiding complex chemicals, especially...
Over the winter, our garages can move to a bit of a disarray. It’s cold outside so we don’t spend time tidying up and cleaning up the dirt. However, as the weather gets warmer, I see many homes with their garage emptied onto their driveway during a “deep clean”. This...
As we move from spring to summer, a butterfly garden could be a great idea to consider. The garden will bring beauty to your landscape. The flowers and plants will benefit the environment and create a place for butterflies to thrive. Below are the steps and...
With Memorial Day just around the corner, summer events are on the horizon. Holidays. Graduations. Weddings. Showers. Sometimes you will be a guest while other times you will be the host. For those hosting, the ideas below will step a little lighter on the planet and...
As temperatures rise in the Midwest, lawn care season emerges. Over 50 million households mow (or have a lawn service mow) each week. Research indicates this activity uses 800 million gallons of gas and produces around 5% of the nation’s air pollution. In fact,...
Life is full of tradeoffs. We need to figure out which option will serve us best. This can become challenging when facing space vs. stuff. When we feel overwhelmed, we seek space. Yet, to get the space, we need to remove stuff. The “stuff” can take many forms –...
American culture leans toward more. We move through life searching and striving for more. More education. More money. More (bigger) homes. More things. More travel. More. More. More. My Perspective The irony of the “culture of more” is that it leaves us empty and...
Transportation is one of the top four categories contributing to our carbon footprint. According to Hedges & Company, there are 1.47 billion cars on the road today worldwide. Of those, 19% or 284 million are in the United States. And the transportation sector in...
The paths of personal development are interesting. You may start wanting more time in your day. You might be seeing focus. Or your purpose in life. Adding more joy and happiness. Leaning into a hobby. In all cases, we are looking for space in our life for something we...
As we start making changes at home and realize the positive impacts, we can expand our thinking to our workplace, schools, and neighborhoods. Today, we will focus on ideas for the “neighborhood”. This could be our street, our subdivision, our town, or the nearest...