Simple Ways To Lead A More Natural, Eco-Friendly Life

December 1, 2021 by Leave a Comment

With ultra processed food, gas guzzling vehicles and super fast fashion, it would seem near impossible to exist in today’s society without amassing an enormous carbon footprint. So many aspects of the modern world are damaging the planet, but it isn’t too late to put an end to such harmful practices. Thankfully there are a number of alternative pathways that you can explore which are far more sustainable and ethical, allowing you to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle that preserves the wonder of nature. So, if you’re interested in finding out more, then simply read on to uncover some of the best earth-friendly ideas that can make the most of today.

Change The Way That You Eat 

The most effective way to lead a more natural, eco-friendly lifestyle is to change the way that you eat. There are so many different food practices that have a disastrous impact on the environment, and it appears to be getting worse with each year that passes – the Amazon rainforest is being destroyed to make way for meat farms that will use masses of water and create a seemingly endless river of toxic waste, while foods from every corner of the globe hop from country to country racking up thousands of miles before they reach your plate. The animal agriculture industry is doing real harm to the natural world, not only by consuming an excess of resources and making unmanageable waste, but also by releasing enormous amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Choosing to eat a more plant based diet that’s made up of fruit, vegetable and grain based foods is far more environmentally friendly, but if you’re a content carnivore then you can still get your meat and fish fix in a more sustainable way. Choosing to hunt for or catch your own food is a natural way to eat, so visit a fishing store like tailored tackle to get a rod and a net or head to a hunting store to purchase a rifle and gain the relevant licenses. Utilizing your local surroundings in this way is the most environmentally friendly option when it comes to meat and fish. Opting for local fruits and vegetables that come from within your country will help even further, as this way it will only have to travel by truck rather than racking up miles on a plane or ship. Focusing on local produce will teach you how to eat seasonally too, which will allow you to better connect with nature and the world around you. 

Change The Way You Travel 

Walking beside a busy road tells you all that you need to know about the state of our world since the dawn of cars, trains and trucks – choking on the fumes as they fog up your vision and leave a chemical taste in the air, it’s clear that almost all forms of transport are devastating the environment. Each day there are many ecological and social disasters that take place as a result of modern transport options, whether this means horrifying oil spills from ships that decimate the ocean or child miners forced to dig for cobalt in the Congo for car chips and batteries. It might not always be possible to avoid cars, trains and boats altogether, but if you want to lead a more eco-conscious existence then you need to reduce your consumption of modern transport! Choosing instead to walk or ride a bicycle is the perfect alternative, as you’ll be creating no toxic fumes whatsoever along the way. If you need to go further afield, then choose to take a bus that’s more efficient or car pool by getting a lift from someone who is already heading in the same direction. Even smaller, unexpected journeys can be more environmentally friendly, as making the choice to walk up the stairs rather than use a lift can cut your carbon footprint noticeably over time! The world has enough smog and smoke clouding up its atmosphere, so it’s up to each individual to do their bit and make a change to the way they travel.

Leading a more natural, eco-friendly life isn’t always easy, but it can be one of the most rewarding and inspiring changes that you can make. Deciding to protect and preserve the planet rather than going to destroy it will give you a sense of pride and connection that you will never get elsewhere, so there’s no time like the present to make a few beneficial adjustments to your daily life.

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Palm Oil is Destroying the Environment – This Man Is Challenging the Skincare Industry

October 11, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Palm oil is the most common form of edible vegetable oil. It is made from the fruit of oil palm trees, which originally grew in Western Africa but are now grown in tropical regions all over the world.

Palm oil can be found in more than 70% of cosmetics. The palm oil industry also has a devastating impact on the environment, contributing to global deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss, the palm oil industry also has a devastating impact on the environment.

Sure, you may not see “palm oil” in the ingredients, but palm is hiding as emulsifiers and surfactants with generically chemical-sounding names—like sorbitan olivate, sorbitan stearate, cetearyl glucoside, glyceryl stearate, and more.

Additionally, palm oil offers NO benefits to soap or other beauty products – it is simply a filler.  We are needlessly destroying the environment for no reason. Sadly, most major soap brands use palm oil.

all natural soap

This is why David Bass founded Peet Bros. Palm-Free Soaps and Lotions. Filled with all natural and moisturizing ingredients such as Shea Butter and Olive Oil, Peet Bros. makes products that are good for your skin and good for the environment.  But great ingredients also mean being completely free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and artificial fragrances.

Harvesting palm oil destroys rainforests, wipes out endangered species, and violates human rights. Sustainable palm oil does nothing to reduce the destruction. We exist to expose the industry and make way better, moisturizing products that are palm oil free.
Peet Bros are activists with a much better solution to make palm oil free soap. 

Peet Bros puts themselves and their brand’s profit second so they can put you and the planet first. Our 100% palm oil free soap bars and lotions are filled with more good stuff like Shea Butter and Olive Oil because they believe you are how you clean—and you don’t need to compromise. P.S. Palm free bar soaps work wonderfully as hand soap.

They smell nice, they feel good, and they don’t harm the planet to make or to use.
Seems like a no brainer to me- this is one product that everyone should try.

Head over to the site and place your order today- you can get %10 off your first order when you visit the page, as well.

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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

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Great Gifts for an Active Mom

May 9, 2019 by 1 Comment

This time of year, I’m always seeing lists about the best gifts for mom. See, I’m even making one. But the truth is, not all moms are alike, and you know best your mom’s personality. A “makeup and jewelry” kind of mom? Flowers, chocolate? Maybe she wants to sleep in and get a massage. (Hint, that’s pretty much everyone, all the time.) Some of that stuff can be sort of a “cop-out”, just going through the motions. Your mom did (and likely still does) a lot for you- make her feel special on days meant to celebrate her. (Dads, if you have very young kids, you are in charge here. Do something besides that macaroni necklace they made in school, yeah?)

As an active mom myself, and one that wears pretty much zero makeup or fussy things like that, I wouldn’t personally love a bottle of perfume or nail polish. I also try to be as eco-friendly as possible, and my family knows that’s important to me. I’m guessing to a lot of other moms out there as well.

Since many “idea” lists focus on candy and makeup, we here at Parents@Play thought there should be one with other options out there. This list is for the active mom, eco friendly mom, who is a little less traditional, but pretty cool in her own rights.

Sand Cloud, an environmentally aware company that donates %10 of it’s profits to #SaveTheFishes (help protect and preserve marine life) offers a wide array of items that are sustainable, adorable, and environmentally friendly. From super useful items mom will love like reusable glass bottles with beautiful and fun designs on them to metal straws that you can take anywhere (avoid those unnecessary plastic ones that end up in the nostrils of poor sea turtles and washed up on beaches), soft towels with lovely artwork, or organic tees and tanks, there is something your earth conscious mom will love.  These items are not only beautiful, but useful. In addition, a percentage from each purchase is given to a charity- I can’t think of a mother that wouldn’t be pleased that Mother Earth is also gifted on this special day.  Visit https://www.sandcloud.com to see their collections, and pick out a perfect gift for the moms in your life.

reusable bottle

Yoga lover? Me too, we hit the mat almost daily, it is one of the best ways to center yourself and have a few minutes of peace. It’s fantastic for both mind and body, and if you haven’t yet tried it out, there’s always today. The hype is there for a reason. It’s good stuff. Slightly Buddha is a yoga company for yoga lovers, by yoga lovers. The items on the site are simple, pretty, and express the ideas of living a zen lifestyle. They make, as they describe them, “well made, cute clothes” that offer value to the customer. As the owner describes the collection, “Slightly Buddha is a manifestation of my love for yoga, art and clothes.”  The clothing is soft and comfortable. Pay attention to sizing, as I find that they don’t run typically. Some say that they run large, so you will get the “heads up”, so to speak. Others don’t mention, but you can tell that they run slim. Joggers, for example, are less loose then any others I’ve had, and fit more like leggings, which you can see in the photos. They are perfect for a yoga class, however, so that may be why the design is different. The tanks are also a slim fit, but are a nice feel. Pay attention to the photos and the reviews, they are honest and helpful.  Visit https://www.slightlybuddha.com to see what strikes you- your mom will love the graceful designs that are easy to mix and match, and go from the studio to the couch to errand running and beyond.

yoga gear

Title Nine has everything the active woman needs, from running gear to swimwear to undergarments and more. Dresses that move with you, skirts that shake the rain off, leggings that actually stay in place. I can’t say enough good things about the company, which is run by amazing women for women, so they know what women want and need. It may be unseemly to talk about getting mom a bra for Mother’s Day, so maybe choose an awesome dress or sweater, and give her a gift card so she can choose her own, because these will be the only ones she will want from then on. I recently tried out the Roadster Convertible Underwire Bra and the Cuz She Say’s So Underwire Bra and I have to say, I’m in love. The :Roadster” in particular has become my “go to”- if it’s clean, I’m wearing it. Comfortable and keeping everything where it needs to be, even during vigorous workouts, this is the one to beat in my opinion. The “Cuz She Said So” was also comfortable and preformed well, but it was hard to compare to the “Roadster”.  The company is so passionate about their bras, they even have a program to help get them to girls in underprivileged communities. They know it’s hard to preform your best when you are being hindered- and that’s pretty cool. They do a lot of good work in the community. They even use “real life” models, who have regular jobs and live “regular” lives, no retouching the already impossible to achieve looks of supermodels here, and I love that. This company is all about celebrating women, and any mom would love that. Visit https://www.titlenine.com and see what mom would appreciate.

skorts

Looking for something pretty? Mountain Khakis puts a modern spin on classics, and the clothing is built to last. This company builds tough clothing that’s still pretty and soft to wear. You can find classic styles mom loves, which are durable and have the highest quality craftsmanship. A brand you can rely on not to fall apart on you. Not only that, but they are a company that cares, being Fair Trade Certified, members of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and are organic and biodegradable, using only products and production methods that are safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. You can be tough and rugged and still look beautiful at the same time- all this while being environmentally responsible. Great gift options, take a look at https://www.mountainkhakis.com to see what strikes your fancy.

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Five Reasons to go Fairtrade

August 22, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Fairtrade is a form of ethical and sustainable production, ensuring that the producer is given a fair price for what they produce.  This means that the communities that are in areas where the produce is grown, or the product has been developed have money going back into the communities, helping to sustain them, giving them a fair price in return for their hard work.

Fairtrade is not just a badge, or a unique selling point, used by companies to tick a box to demonstrate “we care”, it is a symbol that as a company, they are standing up for workers rights, preventing exploitation. As consumers, this would mean that you are supporting such causes and also making a demonstrable statement to less ethical companies that there is a need to consider pursuing such ambition.

The problem is that Fairtrade products are often more expensive than other brands, not necessarily a difference in quality, but the influence and the boost for us as consumers is that we are doing out bit, it demonstrates to other brands that if you do support Fairtrade then so should we.

Whilst Fairtrade doesn’t necessarily mean better quality there are some product categories that by default end up producing some excellent products, the money that gets invested into these communities helps to create and generate improvements in products.  Whilst on occasion these can cost a little more than some of their counterparts, this is wear a little more spending can give you rewards. Most major high street retailer stock Fair Trade produce now.

On example where Fairtrade has really been a progressive has been in the coffee and chocolate industry. In fact, many people associate Fair Trade with coffee, Fair Trade’s highest selling product. Cocoa is Fair Trade’s second leading product in terms of sales and volume and major chocolate companies have recently added Fair Trade product lines. What’s more, coffee pods are even Fairtrade now, Gourmesso is a quality coffee brand that produce Nespresso compatible tea and coffee capsules that are Fairtrade and USDA Organic.

In summary five reasons to make fair trade swaps and feel good about your shopping.

  1. Many farmers and workers who work involved with coffee production do not get to have breakfast themselves, over eighty percent of the world’s coffee production is produced by farmers with smallholding who earn less than $1.95 a day. If they are in receipt of a fair price, then during the tougher times, these farmers are able to protect themselves against some tougher times.
  2. Fairtrade, equals fair prices for farmers in those developing communities. Famers get a fair price that can be used to continue to invest in their communities.
  3. Farmers get a price that ensures that they can work toward reducing poverty in the community.
  4. It doesn’t always have to cost more. But it really is well worth shopping around, you may find a Fairtrade alternative, that matches price, quality and taste of your preferred brand.
  5. If you buy a product with the Fairtrade logo, you are buying a product with the confidence that you are addressing the inequality of trade in the world. You are demonstrating that you believe in a a fair price for fair work, sending out a message that you care about what you are buying.

 

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Dasani and the green cap #GreenBottleCap

November 13, 2015 by 2 Comments

This post is sponsored by Dasani & The Coca-Cola
Company.

Dasani are not only the bottlers of delicious water but they are also innovators in the field of packaging and sustainable packing as well.  Each Dasani bottle with a green cap on no matter its size is now made of at least 30% plant based plastic.  This means less petroleum and fossil fuel based packaging is used in each bottle across the US.

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This is also not Dasani’s first shot at decreasing their foot print- they also now use more then 40% less plastic in each bottle compared to their 2001 bottles which decreases the amount of fossil fuels used as well in production and less weight to ship as well.

This means less plastic for the same size bottles and less plastic used in production as well.  Another great innovation of the bottles is that they are still 100% recyclable with normal petroleum based bottles as well.  So keep on recycling and helping the Earth with every sip.

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Coca-cola has used this plant based plastic across many of its lines.  Over the last five years, the company’s adoption of the technology has eliminated the equivalent of approximately 240,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Plant Bottle packaging also has resonated with consumers, helped boost sales of brands like Dasani and generated headlines and won sustainable and innovation awards, and captured the collective attention of the supplier, scientific/academic and investor community. Earlier this year, Plant Bottle packaging was recognized by the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry for helping to fuel the bio-based manufacturing boom during a hearing on Capitol Hill.

Coca-Cola has invested in three leading biotech companies – Virent, Gevo and Avantium – to speed the commercialization of a PET plastic bottle made entirely from plants. Recently, the company made an additional investment in Virent’s development and commercialization of its bio-based technology.

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Go Green: 5 Simple Tips to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly

February 20, 2013 by 2 Comments

There is a movement to go green. People are all making an effort to become more eco-friendly. Many say they are going green, but how can you and your family actually reduce your impact on the environment? Here are a 5 easy tips to make your home more eco-friendly and save some money.green footprints

Tip #1: Clean Green

Take a look at the cleaners you use for tabletops, counters, bath fixtures and floors. If they’re filled with chemicals, it’s time to toss them. Most cleaning needs can be taken care of with natural ingredients like water, baking soda, white vinegar and lemon. Lemon juice and vinegar, being acidic, can help with stubborn scrubbing needs. Baking soda is a gentle cleanser that can be used in numerous ways. It can be used to deodorize refrigerators and garbage pails, scrub and wipe down counters and to remove odors from carpets. It’s also an effective addition to your laundry detergent and bleach, increasing their effectiveness and reducing how much you need to use.

 

Tip #2: Change Your Light Bulbs

Another simple energy saving tip involves changing your light bulbs. Conventional incandescent bulbs lose more energy to heat than compact fluorescent bulbs. CFLs, which don’t work on a filament, can save [Read more…]

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