Info on Boycotting Nestle

September 27, 2019 by Leave a Comment
I’ve recently gotten several PM’s and messages asking me about the Nestle Boycott, so I thought I would post them again for anyone who is interested. Below are two pages that list the other brands that they own, such as Purina, Jenny Craig, and Dryers to name just a few.
http://www.babymilkaction.org/nestle-boycott-list
and
(this one has a more complete listing) https://www.crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/10/07/the-updated-nestle-product-boycott-list
There is also an app you can use that can help you avoid them while you shop- it’s really tough to remember all the under-brands when you first start trying to shop ethically. Your dollars matter, don’t give them to a company that uses child labor, slaves, poisons and drains public water without any benefit to the public (but funds their own pockets as well as politicians greed), has lead to the death of babies in multiple countries, and so many more evil actions. For more info, check out these pages or Google the topic-
 
And the app can be downloaded here for free- it’s called Buycott- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.buycott.android&hl=en_US
There is a Facebook page here that updates pretty regularly on Nestle news and other such related topics- https://www.facebook.com/Boycott-Nestle-952324198129147/
You can also sign up for emails and info here- https://www.buycott.com/campaign/827/boycott-nestle
 
Thank you for caring. Hope this helps. Please feel free to message me or leave a comment if there is anything else I can do to help you find something or if you have any questions I might be able to help you with. Have a good day, thanks for stopping by. 
Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, environment Tagged With: ,

StrawSleeves- The Next Step in Sustainable Living @StrawSleeves

August 15, 2019 by Leave a Comment

500 MILLION single use, plastic straws are used and discarded in the USA every day! Reusable straws provide a solution to this environmental problem as straw users learn the importance to refuse plastic and opt for sustainable straw choices. StrawSleeves provides a practical way to carry reusable straws while traveling, shopping, or eating out.

straw sleeves

Bring Your Own Straw – Packing your reusable water bottles, coffee cups, and utensils promotes the practice of “reuse” over accepting single use plastics in our daily routine. Straw users can choose from the many types of reusable straws on the market and now have a way to pack and carry their personal straw easily in the cloth sleeves. The sleeves are designed to keep the straw clean and protected from contact with other items in their tote-bag, glove-box, pocketbook, backpack, or picnic basket.

Hemp and Reclaimed Fabrics – Materials used in the making of the sleeves are sustainable, plastic free choices.  100% Hemp Fabric from Romania is offered in four colors. Hemp is a sustainable resource, not requiring pesticides, and has natural anti-bacteria and anti-fungal properties that benefit food utensil storage. Triple washed reclaimed denim and denim weight fabrics are used for making the sleeves as an additional choice and are offered in earth-tone colors. All straw sleeves are self-lined, triple stitched and have an “invisible inner cuff” that prevents the straw from sliding out of the pocket, requiring no ties or fasteners, a convenient choice to transport and access your straw. The fabrics and sleeves are designed to withstand frequent laundering by hand or machine and are ideal for many types of reusable straws including stainless steel, titanium, copper, bamboo, sterling silver, and glass.

New Multi-Utensil Packs – Cloth carriers with four sections are now available as an additional StrawSleeves line. These packs hold a number of straws, chopsticks, utensils, and cleaning brushes as well as other items such as art supplies or makeup brushes. Fabrics used are 100% cotton. Or reclaimed materials.

Sleeves Bearing Store Brands – Current StrawSleeves sales are mostly business-to-business with several straw manufacturers and eco stores branding the sleeves with their own business logo.  Wholesale and Distributor pricing is based on the quantity of each order. Selecting the highest standing businesses that promote plastic free solutions is the object of the StrawSleeves Company in the effort to promote solutions to the environmental issues of plastic waste.

Social Media Love – To learn more about StrawSleeves and see photos and videos, please go to the StrawSleeves Instagram and Facebook pages where you will find @StrawSleeves and the StrawSleeves community engaging in discussions and ideas that encourage us all to take that next step toward a sustainable lifestyle.

Plastic Free Donations – StrawSleeves considers requests to donate sleeves for worthy plastic free causes. Please email inquiries to strawsleeves@gmail.com for consideration.

StrawSleeves on Etsy – Individual retail StrawSleeves sales are active on Etsy.  http://etsy.com/shop/StrawSleeves

Filed Under: environment Tagged With: , , ,

Valentine Gifting From Companies that Give Back #ValentinesDay #Sustainable

January 20, 2019 by 1 Comment

If you want to shop sustainably this year, support small business, or like to avoid big box stores, I’ve got a shop for you. If you just like unique and high quality products at a reasonable price- this is a shop you will love. Marketplace Africa has clothing, bath and body products (and I’m in love with some of these already), purses, bags,- really, gifts for everyone on your list. Thoughtful gifts anyone would love to receive.

African body works

This website lets Africans can sell their one-of-a-kind handmade goods to the entire global market.  Anyone looking for a unique gift for the holidays can feel as good as the products they are buying, since they are purchasing directly from the source. Buying from small business owners in Africa boosts not only the store owner, but also the economy.

For more information on Marketplace Africa and to choose some fantastic gifts,  visit www.marketplaceafrica.com

Sudara creates ethically and sustainably sourced clothing for men, women, and children. This brand came about because of a desire to help women escape sex trafficking in India. 12 years ago, Sudara’s founder partnered with a sewing center in India and taught six women how to sew a pattern for pants.The year prior, she had been to India and heard story after story of women who were sold into sex slavery or were at high risk of being. The company was created to give woman the chance to have an education, a job with livable wages, and to be free.

ethical clothing

Sudara is a Certified B Corps company, which means they meet “the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, and aspire to use the power of markets to solve social and environmental problems”. You know, the best of the best- the “good guys”.

The clothing is beautiful, as well. High quality, unique designs with fun colors and patterns, lots of options available. If you have not yet shopped with Sudara, I hope you take the time to give them a look now. Check them out on social media while you are at it, see what they have to offer- sudara.org  facebook  twitter  instagram

ethical clothing

Peace Frogs is a brand that encourages you to get outside, enjoy nature, and practices what they preach. They are helping to preserve the environment and giving back with purchases. Peace Frogs has been around for more then 30 years, and have “a long track record of giving back to charitable causes” while creating eco-friendly clothing and gear.  They have also  launched a #spreadthepeacecampaign that looks to bridge a divided nation. As per the company, “Today, in America, the country stands more divided than ever before, with constant fighting, name calling and general unrest, with social media and the news not doing anything to slow down the chaos. The Spread the Peace Campaign is a way for Peace Frogs to motivate people to be kind to one another and stop the hate, fighting and lack of tolerance. Peace Frogs wants to bring a sense of calm, peace and community back to a tense country that has forgotten how to love thy neighbor.”  The fun clothing, gear, stickers, and more promote joy, living in harmony, a healthy environment, and peace. For more information on Peace Frogs items or to purchase #spreadthepeace stickers, please visit: www.peacefrogs.com

ethical jewelery

Statement Peace (no relation to Peace Frogs) creates their “high vibration wooden jewelry” line designs and hand produces all of their “pieces of peace” in their South West Florida studio.  The company believes that energy is transferable, and that when you operate out of peace and love, that it is felt by all and creates a statement of peace. They want to transfer “passion, high vibrations and good juju with the intention that you feel our vibes” into the items they create. Each piece of jewelry is considered to be a work of art, and they convey this by including a custom designed wooden display stand with each item purchased. There is something special for everyone (men and women), from yoga lovers to outdoor enthusiasts. Rings, bracelets, and more are available. For every item purchased, they plant one tree.   Check out options at https://www.wearstatementpeace.com

show the love

Show the Love offers items that are each designed to showcase and inspire a specific sentiment. The jewelry is meant to inspire and to uplift the person who wears it. From feminist inspiration items to those inspiring others to speak up, to beautiful animal inspired themes, there is something everyone will love. Give a gift that is not only lovely but also inspiring and show the recipient that you are really thinking about them. Whatever they love, or perhaps would like more of in their life (happiness, calm, passion, etc) you can find something that will show your sentiment.

This company cares, and they show it not only with their designs, but also with the materials they use as well as the donations they give. Show The Love jewelry is made with recycled metals and ethically sourced stones. They also donate 25% of their proceeds, which they give to humanitarian and environmental causes. There are items for every budget, from $50 to a big splurge. These are fun, funky, unique, lovely items that your Valentine will cherish always. Visit the site at https://showthelove.com and see what you like best.

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, clothes and shoes, environment, gifts, Holiday Gift Guide, review Tagged With: , , , ,

Sudara Clothing – ethically made and helps women #GiftGuide

November 30, 2018 by 4 Comments

If you are anything like me, you like to shop as ethically as possible. Most companies and stores don’t give a fig about you, me, the environment, or anything other then profit. So, when you know brands that give a darn, they are ones you tend to do your shopping with.

give back

I’ve recently discovered Sudara. This brand came about because of a desire to help women escape sex trafficking in India.  12 years ago, Sudara partnered with a sewing center in India and taught six women how to sew a pattern for pants. The previous year,  founder, Shannon Keith, had returned from a trip to India and heard story after story of women who were sold into sex slavery. She also heard stories of women who were at a high risk of being forced into the sex trade by their families or picked up off the streets by local pimps. The reasons they were at a high risk? Because they lacked an education or the resources or the skills to, truly, have a choice.

She returned home from that trip and formed a small team of family and friends. They have since made 10 sewing centers and hundreds of women have found both freedom and living wage employment.

The pants are awesome. Comfortable, easy to wash and wear, pretty, and unique. The are no sacrifice to wear, and it’s great knowing that my purchase is helping other women and supporting a company that does good in the world.

They also are ethically and sustainability made for the good of the environment as well. They are a Certified B Corps, which means they meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, and aspire to use the power of markets to solve social and environmental problems. So- you know. A good company to buy from. The good guys.

ethically made clothing

Sudara Brand Description:

  • Sudara is a lifestyle brand that creates jobs for women in India who are at the highest risk or survivors of human trafficking. They pay living wages and provide access to counseling, medical care and resources that empower women to create their own self-sustaining future.

  • Every pair of these Sudara Punjammies are made through living-wage employment by women in India who are at the highest risk or survivors of sex trafficking. Every purchase is an investment in Sudara’s freedom-filled work and empowers women who are working to forge a new life for themselves and their children.

  • Sudara offers beautiful and comfortable clothing with a freedom-filled purpose. Their women’s pajama pants, loungewear and robes are ethically-made in India through living-wage employment programs. Every purchase is helping empower women in India with the resources and skills they need to create a better life for themselves and their family.

Keep up with Sudara on social media as well- sudara.org  facebook  twitter  instagram

Filed Under: clothes and shoes, environment, Holiday Gift Guide, review Tagged With: , , , , ,

Love the Environment? So does NJ350! #GivingTuesday

November 27, 2018 by Leave a Comment

350NJ

If you are a fan of clean water, clean air, and helping the environment, NJ350 is a group to considering donating to this Giving Tuesday.

The United Nations panel on climate change has released a study showing that the world is in more trouble than we had thought. Warming and related damage has accelerated. The window for correcting the problem and avoiding disaster has become much smaller. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/07/climate/ipcc-climate-report-2040.html

These are frightening times. We need a transformation in the way we live that is enormous in scale, and we need it very fast.

What can you do? Many things. Write letters, reduce your carbon footprint, support climate friendly candidates, educate your friends and family, etc. It is a long list.

Today we are writing about one action item that we hope is also on your list, and that is making donations to organizations that are fighting to save our planet. Specifically, we are hoping you will make an end of year gift to 350NJ-Rockland.

We are proud that in 2018 we did the following!

·     Held a beginning of year planning retreat and a membership soiree

·     Partnered on a screening of “How To Let Go”

·     Participated in the NJ Climate Summit

·     Provided leadership for fossil fuel divestment campaigns in NY and NJ

·     Participated in Food and Water Watch’s OFF-ON Fossil Fuels Campaign

·     Played a leadership role in opposing the Gateway Expansion Project

·     Hosted a showing of 350’s RISE campaign launch

·     Co-sponsored the Poor People’s Campaign’s climate protest (three of our Steering Group members were arrested!)

·     Opposed the CPV fracked gas power plant

·     Participated in the Lac Megantic Memorial event

·     Submitted a comment opposing Williams Rivervale South to Market pipeline

·     Co-sponsored an educational program on the Army Corps of Engineers proposed Hudson River Barriers

·     Helped defeat the New Planet Energy solid waste gasification project

·     Co-sponsored the Sustainability Sunday program in Caldwell

·     Participated in the March on Albany and 2018 Women’s March

·     Opposed the Meadowlands natural gas power plant

·     Co-sponsored the Oil Train Safety Rally

·     Co-sponsored an educational program on polar ice melting

·     Endorsed the recent No New Infrastructure fast in Trenton

·     Conducted various outreach and tabling events

We are grateful to the many, many supporters who helped us accomplish all of this great work!

As you probably already know, everyone who works with 350NJ-Rockland is a volunteer, and we do most of our work on a shoestring budget. We rarely ask for money; we prefer to focus on making things happen.

But as the season of giving approaches, we hope you can help us set the table for 2019 with a generous contribution to support our fight against climate change. Giving is easy: simply click here: http://world.350.org/newjersey/donate/.

Your financial contributions will be used for things like: web-hosting, direct action trainings, printed materials, liability insurance for events, protest signage, scholarship assistance for trips, entry fees for tabling opportunities, and travel. Our annual fundraising goal is $10,000.

Climate change threatens nothing less than the future of humanity. It is a cause that is so big and so urgent that it can be thoroughly daunting. With your help, though, we can and will make a difference. For the sake of our grand-children and great-grandchildren.

Thank you for your help!

350nj

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, environment Tagged With: ,

#GivingTuesday is upon us, think about #Riverkeeper

November 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Giving Tuesday is less than 24 hours away! As you think about which organizations you’ll support tomorrow, we hope that Riverkeeper will make your list.

Giving Tuesday is a critical day when you can fight for a healthy Hudson River and safe drinking water in 2019. We’ve made it easy for you to participate and encourage your friends and family to become Riverkeeper members, too!

1. Donate at Riverkeeper.org/GivingTuesday
2. Create your own #GivingTuesday Fundraiser for Riverkeeper on Facebook (Facebook does not charge any fees on donations made through its platform, and has pledged to match the first $7 million in donations starting at 8am EST on 11/27)
3. Share our fundraiser with  your friends and family on Facebookand Twitter

From contacting your elected officials and reporting Hudson River pollution to volunteering for the Riverkeeper Sweep or sampling water quality, everything you do makes a difference for the Hudson.

It would mean so much if you would support Riverkeeper in the fight for a resilient Hudson River on Giving Tuesday.

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, environment Tagged With: ,

What Can You Do to Make Your Business More Environmentally Sound?

August 21, 2018 by Leave a Comment

These days there are so many different things that business owners need to be aware of. It takes a lot of work in 2018 to develop a successful brand, but it is also important to think about sustainability. Always keep in mind the fact that you have to think about the future and consider how the business will be impacted over the years. This needs to be something you have a plan to help your brand grow effectively over the years.

There are a lot of things in the world of business that can have a bearing on the future. One of the key concerns in 2018 should be looking at how the company can be greener and more sustainable. Working toward an eco-friendly business is really important because this is something that is going to have positive impacts for the future, and for the world in general too. Here are some things you can do to work toward a more eco-friendly company.

Lean Manufacturing

One of the best ways of working toward being more conscious of the environment is to embrace lean manufacturing. The principal goal of lean manufacturing is the practice of reducing the amount of waste that your business creates, without reducing productivity. You can take courses to help make you an expert in this, an apply it to your business as well as possible. This is so important for the future because it helps the business be more eco-friendly.

Energy Efficient

There are a few things you can do that will help you make your company more environmentally sound, and one of the big ones is to become more energy-efficient. There are plenty of ways of achieving this, and it is important to look at the amount of energy you’re using in the company. Make sure you turn off the power as much as possible, switch to eco-friendly lighting, and make changes that are going to improve this throughout the company.

Electric Cars

If you are in a position to be providing company cars, it is really important to look at getting a fleet of electric cars. These may not be ubiquitous quite yet, but they are an excellent way of making sure you reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Electric cars don’t use fuel, so they cause much less damage to the environment as a result.

Upcycle

Another excellent way of improving the brand and taking things forward is to make sure you upcycle. This is something you need to make sure you are doing within the offices as it will really help you get a good handle on this. Think hard about the furniture you’re going to be using in the business, and consider how you can upcycle and make the most of what you have at your disposal.

Setting your business apart from the competition is so important, and these are some of the best ways of helping you achieve that. By running a company that is more environmentally sound you will be very well placed to ensure you can be a success. What’s more, you are going to make the company much more appealing to customers and investors in the future as well.

Filed Under: environment Tagged With: ,

EPA Announces New Funding for Water Infrastructure Projects in New Jersey

April 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Funding will leverage public and private investments to keep lead and other contaminants out

of drinking water and upgrade aging water infrastructure

(New York, N.Y. – April 5, 2018) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of funding that could provide as much as $5.5 billion in loans, which could leverage over $11 billion in water infrastructure projects through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. Prospective borrowers seeking WIFIA credit assistance must submit a letter of interest (LOI) by July 6, 2018.

“Thanks to the President’s leadership, this WIFIA funding will spark new investments to repair our nation’s crumbling water infrastructure,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “EPA will play a key role in the President’s infrastructure efforts by incentivizing states, municipalities, and public-private partnerships to protect public health, fix local infrastructure problems, create jobs, and provide clean water to communities.”

The WIFIA program received $63 million in funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 23, 2018. This more than doubles the program’s funding from 2017. Leveraging private capital and other funding sources, these projects could support $11 billion in water infrastructure investment and create more than 170,000 jobs. This year’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) highlights the importance of protecting public health including reducing exposure to lead and other contaminants in drinking water systems and updating the nation’s aging infrastructure.

“New Jersey knows all too well the costs of storm damaged water and wastewater systems. All of us have witnessed just how vulnerable our infrastructure is,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “Funding critical repairs and improving resiliency in our wastewater treatment and drinking water distribution systems remains a critical priority. We need investment to protect and promote our communities, our local economies, and public health.”

The WIFIA program will play an important part in making vital improvements to the nation’s water infrastructure and implementing the President’s Infrastructure Plan, which calls for increasing the program’s funding authorization and expanding project eligibility.

Background

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program at EPA that aims to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects.
WIFIA credit assistance can be used for a wide range of projects, including:

  • drinking water treatment and distribution projects
  • wastewater conveyance and treatment projects
  • enhanced energy efficiency projects at drinking water and wastewater facilities
  • desalination, aquifer recharge, alternative water supply, and water recycling project
  • drought prevention, reduction, or mitigation projects

EPA will evaluate proposed projects described in the LOIs using WIFIA’s statutory and regulatory criteria as described in the NOFA. Through this competitive process, EPA will select projects that it intends to fund and invite them to continue to the application process.

In 2017, for WIFIA’s inaugural round, EPA invited 12 projects in 9 states to apply for more than $2 billion in WIFIA loans.

For more information about WIFIA and this funding announcement, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

Filed Under: environment Tagged With: , ,