The new year is upon us and with the changing earth, why not create some eco-friendly resolutions for Mother Earth this year? We need a New Year's revolution!
6 Green-Minded New Year Resolutions for you.
1. Bring your own shopping bags. Anytime you visit a store, bring your own re-usable bags. Keep them everywhere from your home to your car and in-between so you are never without one. Using reusable bags is a simple way to reduce ocean pollution. Plastic bags are the second more prevalent form of litter in the ocean and billions of single use bags get caught up in storm drains and in our forests, rivers, lakes, beaches, oceans and more.
2. Meal plan! For this one, your health, wallet and planet will thank you. Try to steer clear of a lot of pre-packaged items and re-use ingredients throughout the week. Try to minimize waste when purchasing items at the grocery store. Less waste = happy planet.
3. Eat organic (when possible) & eat better meat (and less of it)! Not only is livestock raised in inhumane ways, but it's unhealthy and unsustainable. Cutting down on your meat intake will help our planet in terms of the greenhouse gasses. Find grass-fed, pasture-raised meat, dairy and eggs whenever possible. It's a big difference for small farmers and the environment by supporting this change. Think: "Clean meat or no meat"
4. Avoid fast fashion. Big chain stores with insanely cheap clothing are terrible for the planet. Many people shop for the season at hand and then toss these items after a few uses. The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world... (after oil!). In order to meet the demands of this industry, farmers ravage their soils for precious ground water to grow millions of acres of GMO cotton for export (instead of growing food for their hungry people). AND, the heavy chemicals cause health problems for the workers there. This year, consider buying items that support sustainability, items that you will wear for years to come, and look into brands that are aware of their impression on the world. Another option is stop second hand!
5. Chemical free cosmetics. Chemicals in your skincare will get absorbed into your bloodstream so whatever you put on your face, should be so pure you can eat them (haha!). Make sure you aren't consuming any questionable or toxic ingredients. We suggest looking at the EWG's Skin Deep Database which will tell you just how safe any brand or item is for your body.
6. Bring your own water bottle. Cut down on single-use plastic immediately! Oil used to product plastic water bottles in the US alone is enough to fuel 1,000,000 cars! That's crazy! This is a quick and easy way to cut down on single use plastic in your home which will have a huge impact on many facets of the planet.
We hope that you find this helpful and will bring some of these easy eco-friendly resolutions into 2021 with you!
Happy #2021!
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1. Get re-usable food storage for all those leftovers. Make sure to write you name on the stuff for safe return. You could also ask guests to bring their own storage option. Make sure to skip the plastic, tinfoil and baggies.
2. Shop locally! Think about the shipping time (not a sustainable way to attain goods) and the packaging that comes with each shipped item. Skip all that and buy locally. Plus, how great is it to support your local community (especially this year).
3. Deck the halls with energy efficient LED lights. For decorating as well as general light usage, LED lights will cut down on household energy, and a side advantage, they last longer! Another idea is to put your lights on a timer and have them 'on' when necessary.
4. Pick the right tree.. If you buy a high quality Faux tree and use it for MANY years, that's more sustainable than buying a new fake free every few years. Find one you like and stick to it. Another option is to go real and shop at a sustainable tree farm, but don't forget to recycle it wisely, though. You could replant it or use it as mulch. Look at your families preferences and make the right decision for you.
5. Re-use decorations. I know, I know.. but Target. Try to limit the amount of new 'stuff' you buy each holiday and re-use the old as much as possible by only adding in 1-2 new items each year. This will make the new items even more special.
6. Skip the Holiday card or go digital. Thats a lot of paper, money and energy, all used for something that will get throw away in a month or 2. Opt for a newsletter or a digital card. For close relative only, you could get photos printed and write a message on the back with the intention that they will frame it.
7. Gift Wrapping... Look for paper that is '100 % recycled materials' + try to reuse old bags and tissue paper. Think re-usable market bags, totes and baskets. Whatever you can do to limit the amount of waste in this category will make the biggest impact. Less is more!
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1. Bamboo is incredibly strong and very lightweight so it's used for many purposes from scaffolding on skyscrapers to household products such as chairs and cutting boards. Bamboo has amazing strength and durability and it can survive just about anything. Bring more bamboo into your home and you will quickly learn why WE love bamboo so much!
2. Bamboo growing requires no pesticides or fertilizers. The leave that drop to the ground are enough to provide it with the necessary nutrients. So that means that bamboo is 100% organically grown! Incredible!
3. Bamboo not only grows faster than any other plant, but it produces more than 35 percent more oxygen than trees. It has been found that bamboo can absorb up to 12 tons of carbon dioxide per 2.5 acres in a single year. Bring some bamboo plants inside your home to reap the benefits.
4. Bamboo has a higher tensile strength than steel. Which brings us back to #1... Bamboo is a great source for many household products from cutting boards to toothbrushes, paper products, straws and more.
5. Bamboo is edible and by edible, we don’t mean it’s just Panda food. Simply search for Bamboo shoot recipes online and you’ll get a good taste of its various cooking applications. Bamboo shoots are common ingredients in many asian dishes. Bamboo is said to aid digestion, which is why it’s included in many appetizers. And no, we aren't harming pandas by eating their food and using their food to produce products. Bamboo is such a fast growing plant (see #3 above) that there is plenty to go around.
What other fun facts have you heard about bamboo??
]]>So, don't give up on the celebrating, instead follow these tips for simple ways to have a more eco-friendly holiday!
1. Be realistic with your menu.
It's the time of year to indulge. We get it! But, consider how much people are really going to eat (or should eat) before buying extra produce or ingredients that are only applicable to that time of year (hello, cranberry sauce). Ask friendly/family what they want to indulge in and do a quick google search to figure out how much is realistic of that item for each guest. Choose ingredients that are used across multiple recipes.
2. Choose locally grown or organic.
Purchasing locally grown foods will cut down on carbon emissions significantly. Also, purchasing organic means there are no harmful chemicals or pesticides used in the farming process. Head to your farmers market for your groceries this year! Help a local small business and cut down on your carbon emissions (win-win!)
3. Take re-usable bags with you.
Instead of walking out of the store with handfuls of paper/plastic bags, take your own bags! If you forget, opt for paper bags and be sure to re-use those for when your guests take leftovers home.
4. Purchase items in recyclable packaging.
Go for foods that are in cardboard, glass jars and bottles, and aluminum tins or cans to help cut down on the amount of trash created during the holiday season.
5. Opt for Vegetarian options
The holidays are all about the ham and turkey. We get it. But, opt for vegetarian based sides when you can. Many resources go into raising animals, particularly water. By focusing on vegetarian side dished, you're reducing the resources used to create your meal. A huge plus if you look into an organic, pasture-raised turkey that was bred in a more sustainable and ethical way.
6. Compost!
Any scraps (even the odd-ends that don't make the meal during the prep phase + coffee grounds and egg shells) can go into a compost bin. They will break down naturally and enrich the soil. If you don't have a compost bin, NextDoor is a great resource to connect with neighbors. Find a neighbor that already has a compost system in place - I'm sure they would be happy to let you drop off compost a few times a month when your personal bin is full.
7. Store leftovers safely.
Use glass and reusable wax wrap to store leftovers. There are many harmful effects of plastic wrap and plastic containers. Send friends/family home with reusable containers and don't forget to write your name on the bottom so it can easily find it's way home later.
8. Go light on the decorations.
Use greenery from outside (ie: Pinecones, branches and more) or use decor you already have at home. It's more about the people and memories, anyways.
9. Use real plates and silverware.
This one is straightforward. Cut down on single-use items such as paper plates, plastic silverware and paper napkins. Opt for real tableware when you can.
We hope you have an amazing holiday season and can use some of these tips to have an eco-friendly feast.
]]>Most mixed recycling services do not want any type of plastic bag included in paper, plastic and glass recycle because this can cause expansive problems at the recycling facility. Plastic bags and other flexible filmy plastics (IE: wrapping) can wrap around the equipment. This interferes with the efficient sorting and occasionally requires workers to shut down equipment, making the process far less efficient.
So, dump your contents in the bin alone and keep the plastic bag separate.
Save your plastic bag for re-use or recycle it at separate drop-off points where plastic bags are accepted. If neither option is available to you, discard it in your garbage. Heres why: If you send plastic bags and other filmy plastics with your other recyclables, it's likely that the workers will pull it out and discard it as garbage anyways. Which makes this whole process much longer and as we mentioned above, riskier for the machinery. Also, "Bagged recyclable in plastic bags are pulled off the line. Closed plastic bags with items inside are considered contamination." It's best to always check with your local recycle provider to find out what they prefer. Make it easy on them and try to recycle properly when possible.
Another idea is to check with your local supermarket and other local businesses to see if they collect your single-use plastic bags for recycling. But, as much as you can, brig your own re-usable bag and opt out of a single use plastic.
]]>Bamboo is known world wide as "green gold" since it can be used for everything from bio-composites to furniture and more!
Bamboo is set to have a huge impact on U.S. agriculture and could reach several hundred thousand acres or more, which could mean about a billion-dollar U.S. industry.
Globally, the U.S. is one of the top importers of bamboo products, which is demonstrating a massive demand in waiting. Creating such goods in the U.S. versus internationally could mean lower costs and less carbon footprint. The lower costs could make products more feasible for a new customer base here in the U.S.
Additionally, bamboo is an opportunity for growers to get involved with a new, but proven industry. Bamboo is a fast growing industry and many individuals in the agricultural world will not be able to give up this opportunity.
Are you excited to see bamboo growing operations move to the U.S.??
We can't wait!
]]>Cutting back on your meat consumption is an important step in reducing the overall emission of GWP gases.
The world we live in today offers options to be more "digital". So, instead of reaching for a paper notebook or printer paper, grab your computer and jot down notes there. The less paper used, the less paper that needs to be produced and the more trees that get to fill our forests. If you MUST use paper, be sure to recycle. It takes less energy to create paper though recycles and already used paper products than it does to create brand new paper products.
Compost bins not only reduce waste by letting you re-use things you would normally just toss out, but they also save you money and help your plants grow better in your garden. If you garden at all, it really doesn’t make any sense NOT having a compost bin.
Replace your lightbulbs (as they die) with more eco-friendly brands, ideally something that is compact fluorescent light. CFL bulbs can last more than five times longer and use much less electricity than regular incandescent light bulbs. There are a lot of ways to cut back on energy you use in your home. These will lead to smaller energy bills and more money in your pocket (great for you!) Start by lowering your thermostat in the winter and raising it in the summer. Unplug appliances when they aren’t being used, and try washing all possible clothes on cold.
Use less water and cut back on your bottled water purchases. Its easy - Take a shorter shower or install a low-flow shower head. Also, cut back on bottled water purchases. Even if you live in an area where your tap water isn’t the best, purchasing a water filter with help with taste. Get a reusable water bottle and fill it up with your newly filtered water.
You don't have to start all these things at once. Even if you pick and choose 1-2 ways from this list, you will be greatly impacting your life and the livelihood of the Earth!
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Here are 5 groups you should donate to for a Better World:
1. GlobalGiving - Their mission is to transform aid and philanthropy to accelerate community-led change. They make it possible for you to support local projects in 170 countries, giving nonprofits access to the funding, tools, and training they need to become more effective and to make our world a better place.
2. Heart to Heart International - is improving global health through humanitarian initiatives that connect people and resources to a world in need. We have a global mission to create a healthier world.
3. Acadia Center - A non-profit organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Through research and advocacy, it works to empower consumers and offer real-world solutions to the climate crisis for all.
4. The Sierra Club Foundation - Promotes efforts to educate and empower people to protect and improve the natural and human environment.
5. Clean Air Task Force - They are climate problem solvers. They are a twenty-two year old organization with a startup mentality, bold ideas and an honest perspective. Pushing change to get to high energy, zero emissions, affordable technologies and policies through strategic partnerships and collaborations.
Image credit: https://cleanworld.online/
]]>Single use plastic is one of the worlds biggest contributors of waste. Many times plastic is used once (water bottle, packing materials, straws, and more!) and ends up in a landfill or even our ocean, rivers and woodlands. As humans, we create 300 Million tons of plastic every year! Only 9% is ever recycled or re-used. That means that 91% of all plastic is only being used once.
That's why at EnviroPanda, we care for our planet by producing Bamboo products that are superior to the plastic products you are used to using.
What can you do? Make better choices about your usage. The first step is switching to sustainable products and by saying no to single-use plastic (buh-bye water bottles!).
We introduce to you: Bamboo!
Is an incredible alternative to plastic because it's durable and strong and, the best part... It's biodegradable! It will biodegrade in under 4 years compared to plastic at 1000 years!
So here are 5 reasons why bamboo is better (for you and our planet):
Bamboo is very sustainable and can grow full-size in just 3-4 months. Compared to your standard tree which takes 30+ years to grow. Another benefit, pesticides aren't required when harvesting. Which means cultivation is completely natural and it wont harm you or the environment.
Bamboo has incredible strength and lifespan, but also light enough to carry around. Which means Bamboo goods can be used time and time again. Hello, bamboo straws.
Bamboo fibers are anti-bacterial. It has an antimicrobial bio-agent that gives bamboo its natural anti-bacterial properties to prevent bacterial growth. This is great for bamboo straws and cutlery, because it keeps them sterile and fresh.
Bamboo creates new and well-paid jobs for many individuals in need which leads to social and economical stability.
Bamboo forests effectively store carbon. Bamboo absorbs 2X more carbon dioxide than your regular tree. Carbon Dioxide can cause climate change so we want to minimize the amount of carbon Dioxide in our environment.
So...
Make a change for the environment today.
Purchase Bamboo straws, bamboo paper products such as bamboo toilet paper and bamboo paper towels, and eliminate your usage of single-use plastic. Using these sorts of products will reduce the amount of plastic ending up in landfills, oceans and rivers. so, make the switch to more sustainable bamboo products today!
Make sure to check out our store where we're releasing new bamboo products often.
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