As the weather turns and the holidays are in sight, we look to make our homes cozier. A great way to update our décor is to bring a bit of the outdoors in. Today, our world is saturated with mass-produced home décor. Foraging from our yards or neighborhood can create...
Halloween is full of fun and festivities. Along the way, there are many potential purchases. Below are just a few ideas to make this Halloween one shade greener than last year. Reduce and Reuse The first place to start is to assess what we already have. Pull out...
My first interaction with “the commons” was in college. This was the gathering space to study and informally connect with others. A shared space. My next interaction with the term was back in class. I’m currently enrolled in MIT Sustainability Certificate program and...
For those getting started with sustainability, there are a lot of frameworks. These frameworks can be helpful at home, at work, and in our communities. Starting with sustainability itself, the definition is the ability to maintain or support over time. Digging in...
The first Monday of October is National Consignment Day. The day celebrates sustainable shopping as well as earning money with your own items. Consignment Shopping When shopping, purchasing consignment is the same as “shopping secondhand”. This is a way to add to our...
September 29th is National Coffee Day. This is the perfect day to understand and savor the beverage that 74% of Americans drink daily. When considering climate change, coffee both impacts and is impacted by the environment. An article in the New York Times highlights...
Today, September 22nd, is World Car Free Day. The day encourages us to take a driving break and explore other options. A 2021 study from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics found that 52% of all trips by car are under 3 miles, with 28% of those under a mile....
We’ve all had a moment of wish-cycling. This is the point when you drop something in the recycle bin with the hope it can be recycled. We wish-cycle many things. In fact, the University of Virginia did a study that highlighted three items that are frequently...
When we talk about sustainability, reducing our carbon footprint is a key goal. A carbon footprint is the measure of greenhouse gas emissions we release into the atmosphere. These gases drive climate change. According to The Nature Conservancy, the average...
Our lives are full of email. We receive them at home and work. We send them to work colleagues, family, and friends. Some send them as part of our business or marketing roles. We complain that there is way too much. Yet, we rarely think about the environmental impact...
Recently, I watched the Netflix documentaries The Minimalists and Minimalism. The films follow Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus as they move toward lives of minimalism. Both documentaries are great and I would recommend watching. Here, I want to focus on a...
People often ask, “How can one individual make an impact on the environment?” Followed by “my changes won’t matter.” When I think about individual impact, I see a circular graphic. There is depth to each layer. They build on one another. The Center -...
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about the triple bottom line – the balance of people, planet, and profit. Each of the three areas is complex and ever evolving. Companies struggle to put emphasis on all three at once. Many established companies are overwhelmed and...
When beginning a journey of sustainability, a concept to consider is the idea of the triple bottom line. This is the balance between the planet, people, and profit. While I like the shorthand definition, there is one adjustment that I prefer. In this article...
As we head into summer in the United States, the need for sunscreen rises. I wrote a post back in 2010 that gave 10 sun protection tips. Today, I want to shift the focus and provide some current thoughts on brands to consider. Ingredients and Resources When shopping...
Today, June 5th is World Environment Day. Since 1974, the day has been focused on action to protect the natural environment. Environmental issues like pollution, deforestation, and wildlife crime are explored. Each year, the host country rotates making...
Today, May 31st, is National Flip Flop Day. According to the information on the National Today Website, the flip flop can be traced back to the stone age. Then, somewhere around 3000 years ago during the Japanese Heian period, a flip flop like sandal was created...
Packing lunch for work or school will often have three benefits: Healthier – You know the ingredients and source of food you bring vs. carry out alternatives. Less expensive – Preparing your own food saves money compared to buying at a restaurant. Lighter on the...
The third Friday in May is National Bike to Work Day. This day encourages us to bike to work and pay attention to the safety of others biking when we are driving. According to Bike Advisor, less than 1% of the population bikes to work. There are a...
Fourteen years ago, I attended my first sustainability conference. The event was the Good and Green Marketing Conference in Chicago, IL. My personal and professional journey in space was just beginning and I returned from the trip invigorated and inspired to make a...
If you haven’t landed on the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, this post will give you some sustainable ideas to consider before Sunday. Before we dive into the three unique gift ideas, some more traditional, earth friendly choices include fresh flowers, a homemade...