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...
One easy change to lessen your environmental impact is to purchase concentrates. While I’ve always known this to be beneficial, I’ve never really dug into the advantages not only to the planet, but also to my pocketbook. Last week, I ran out of my countertop cleaner...
Many cleaning supplies can irritate your skin, eyes, or throat, and possibly cause headaches and other health problems. This all ties back to the ingredients in the products. When we clean our home, we want the deepest clean possible. However, when harsh...
Happy Earth Day! In honor of the day, I wanted to provide links to some of my favorite books, podcasts, and blogs. I hope you find a few in the mix to add to your list. One Shade Greener First, I would love it if you would support/follow my One Shade Greener resources...
Tuesday night, I had the opportunity to watch the film Beyond Zero that tracked the path to sustainability of Interface – the largest carpet tile company in the world. The journey for them began in 1995. This was well before many individuals and companies...
Of all the areas in the bathroom, the medicine cabinet is the most challenging to find eco-friendly products. The EWG doesn’t rate these products and many others online don’t provide thoughts or evaluations on what is out there. One important thing to keep...
On average, homes in the US wash 300 loads of laundry. Consider your own number of loads per week and you can quickly calculate the number in your house. In addition to reducing the number of loads, there are two areas of focus – energy use and products. The...
When we think about our pets, we think about another member of our family. A troubling fact is that the Environmental Working Group found that the toxins in dogs was even higher than the levels found in humans. Some of the key sources of these toxins were food...