Green Leaf

The Earth911 team combs news and research for interesting ideas and stories about the challenges of creating a sustainable world. We call it the Earth911 Reader and we hope you find it useful. IN SCIENCE EU’s Green Deal Sends Environmental Impacts To Energy Nations While the European Union is touted for its green policies, critics say it exports its environmental impacts to low-income nations, Nature reports . Because the continent imports so much of its food — more than any nation than China — the EU can enforce anti-GMO regulations, pesticide bans, and other policies that are not in force where its food is grown. It’s increasing appetite for wood and paper products, for example, have led to at least 11 million hectares (42,471 sq. miles) of deforestation in other regions. The EU added 13 million hectares of new forest at home, so it has a slight positive forestry balance. But this highlights the plight of low-income economies that want to grow their trade to support green polici...

Today’s quote is from Elizabeth Cline, an expert on consumer culture, fast fashion, sustainability, and labor rights in the apparel industry: “Consumers buy twice as much clothing as they did 20 years ago, and most of it ends up as clutter.” Cline’s book, Over-Dressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion , uncovers the hidden toll of fast fashion on the environment, garment workers, and consumers. In The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good , she explores how to build a more ethical wardrobe without sacrificing the environment, our morals, or our style. Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image. You Might Also Like… Earth911 Inspiration: Clothing Clutter Oct 30, 2020 How To Make Less Trash the Simple Way Oct 30, 2020 Infographic: Pens and Pencils by the Numbers Oct 29, 2020 The post Earth911 Inspiration: Cloth...

What the heck does it mean to live a zero waste lifestyle? Can I really not make any trash? Don’t let the term fool you. Zero waste is an industrial term referring to a circular economy in which all processes of design (the plan for how it’ll be made), manufacturing (how it’s made), consumption (how you’ll consume it), disposal (what you’ll do with it after you’re done), and recovery (can that thing be used again or not?) are designed to reduce or eliminate waste. Needless to say, we are far from that. In our current linear economy, products are designed to flow from manufacturing to purchase to our trashcans — and subsequently, the landfill . Saying you live a zero waste lifestyle doesn’t mean you generate zero trash. It means you are becoming more informed about how products are designed, where they come from, and ultimately what happens to them when we are done using them. And you’re using that information to reduce your waste. So what kind of power do we hold as consumers? A lo...

With a management team that includes Head of Business Operations Duncan Clark, Teysha Technologies is a company based in the UK which utilises organic feedstocks in the production of biopolymers.… The post Matthew Stone: How Teysha Technologies Is Transforming Agricultural Waste into Biopolymers appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/34D5hX1 https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

As we try to reduce our environmental impact, it’s easy to forget that smaller items — like pens and pencils — can add up to a lot of waste. How many disposable ballpoint pens do you have cluttering your drawers, desk, or pencil holders? Do you throw away pencils when they’re only half-way used or when the eraser wears out? Americans toss 1.6 billion disposable pens annually. These plastic pens end up in landfills and as litter. Some of this plastic waste makes its way to our waterways, where it breaks down into microplastics , polluting our water and harming ocean life. And while it doesn’t seem like a little pencil would use much wood, did you know that over 82,000 trees are cut down annually to produce pencils? Eco-Friendlier Pens and Pencils We do have eco-friendlier alternatives. Many refillable fountain pens come with their own ink refill converter (or you can purchase one separately) so you can refill from a glass ink container rather than disposable plastic cartridg...

Are you good at remembering quotations? In this week’s quiz, see if you can identify the individuals who made these five memorable statements about the environment and humans’ capability to bring about positive change. Earth911.com Quiz #28: Who Said It? Environmental Quotes To Remember   Who spoke the wise words in this week’s Earth911 Quiz? Your challenge is to identify the source of these famous environmental quotes. Good luck!   Every week, Earth911.com challenges you with quizzes that test your sustainability savvy and help you make environmentally friendly choices when you shop, use products, and dispose of unwanted items. Who never doubted the power of a small group?   Who said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”? Who believed we each make an impact on the world every day?   Who said: “You cannot get through a single day without having an im...

Depending on where you call home, autumn may seem like a tricky time to find seasonal fruits and vegetables that are native to your area. But despite chilly temperatures, there’s still plenty of tasty, in-season produce that’s ripe for the picking. To get better acquainted with the fruits and veggies that are seasonal in your state, why not try a farm-to-table brunch? Decorate with a bit of fall foliage  and gather around the table for farm-fresh fare that’s heavy on flavor but light on environmental impact. What better way to spend a crisp weekend morning? To get you started, Earth911 assembled a delightful menu made from seasonal produce that is available locally almost anywhere in the U.S. Check out the full menu here, then click through to learn more about each deliciously seasonal dish. Pick a few recipes, or try them all! Beverages Carrot Apple Juice Apple Cider Mimosas Hearty Dishes Butternut squash and kale frittata Potato and beet hash with goat cheese Warm pumpki...

Technology has not only enhanced our security but can also help us make it as green as possible. ITCC Locksmiths London is passionate about the environment and wants you to… The post Eco Friendly Home Security: 4 Most Essential Components appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/37TGeRz https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Have you heard about the slow drain on your electricity from appliances, known as “vampire loads,” “ phantom loads ” or “standby energy drain”? These are the oh-so-scary loads of electricity that our electronic devices and appliances suck out of outlets without our notice. According to Energy.gov , as much as 10% of our electricity usage is due to electronics that consume energy when we aren’t even using them. Join us in celebrating “ Energyween ” with Energy.gov: Scare off those wasteful vampire loads and save energy. Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we receive a small commission that helps fund our Recycling Directory , the most comprehensive in North America. Audit Your Outlets for Vampire Loads Go through every room in your house and consider each electrical outlet and what it’s powering. You will find many items that don’t need to be plugged in all the time and are using energy without your permission. Consider unplug...

More algae blooms and red tides are affecting the grassy coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. David Wolff, founder of Ocean Habitats Inc. , recognized the need for natural solutions in the 1990s, when he built the first Mini Reef, a structure that can be placed under docks in coastal waterways and canals that supports plant and ocean life. But the world wasn’t ready for the idea and money ran out by 1998. Wolff pursued other businesses, which he recently sold before returning to his Mini Reef project out of concern for the Gulf Coast. Now, more than 4,000 Mini Reefs are installed in the region, filled with mussels, barnacles, and oysters that clean the water. Wolff explains the different sizes and placement options for the Mini Reef, which is available in several sizes to fit together like Lego blocks under a dock. Once populated by plants, crabs, shrimp, and other life, a small reef can filter about 30,000 gallons of water a day. Homeowners have purchased most of the installed Mini Ree...

I still laugh when I remember the Easter when Grandma Jennie used rags to curl my sister’s and my hair. Using strips of fabric, she tied each strip at the end of a section of hair. Next, she twisted the hair, rolled it down to the scalp, and tied the rag tightly. Then she moved on to the next section until all of our hair was tied up in rags. I remember Dad making funny faces to make us laugh while we suffered from our beauty treatment. Despite how silly we felt, the rags were a lot easier to sleep on than the pink plastic rollers that were common at the time. And on Easter morning when Jennie took them out, we had beautiful curls all ready for church! Rags were such common household items at the time. We would never think of throwing away old clothes and linens just because they were faded, torn, or stained. The fabric was so useful! Strips of cloth could be used as a rag mop. And towel- or napkin-sized cloths could replace paper towels for use in the kitchen. My other grandma, Ros...

In the past, every American could quote Smokey Bear , “Only you can prevent forest fires.” This message from U.S. Forest Service’s 76-year-old mascot is often lost in the digital noise today, but it is more relevant now than ever. In the first nine months of 2020 in the United States, 44,714 wildfires burned about 7.8 million acres, killed dozens of people, and blanketed the entire West Coast in a choking layer of smoke pollution . Fortunately, you can prevent forest fires. Wildfires The American west and many other environments are adapted to seasonal wildfires. But decades of fire suppression reversed centuries of natural fire indigenous land management that lowered the risk of uncontrolled wildfire. Combined with climate change and careless human activities has produced recurring megafires . Although lightning played an unusually large role in this year’s California fire season, about 90% of wildfires are actually caused by human negligence. An untended campfire can spread. ...

Use your microwave 10 minutes less a day and reduce your CO2 emissions by up to 610 pounds a year, depending upon the source of your electricity . Data source: Quiz #88: Coal-fired Energy Reduction Challenge Print or share We Earthling posters to inspire others with your stories. Click the poster to get a larger image. You Might Also Like… Wildfire Prevention: Where Safety and Environmentalism Connect October 27, 2020 We Earthlings: Use Your Microwave Less, Reduce CO2 Emissions October 27, 2020 Fun Ways to Reuse Wine Bottles and Corks October 27, 2020 The post We Earthlings: Use Your Microwave Less, Reduce CO2 Emissions appeared first on Earth 911 . from Earth 911 https://ift.tt/2HIdDDp https://ift.tt/2TpPsMV

Hey, wine lovers! Curious about what you can do with your empty bottles and corks? Surprisingly, there are loads of things you can make — from upcycled glassware to home décor. Before you peruse our list, note that some of these bottle projects are not for the faint of heart. Some require cutting or drilling holes into the glass. So be sure to wear safety goggles and gloves at all times, and try a few of the simpler projects first if you’re new to working with glass. Remember: Reuse is great, but safety always comes first! Wine Bottle Bird Feeder Image courtesy of Zoe-Rochelle “There are so many interesting ways to give a standard-size glass wine bottle new life,” crafter Ellen Thomas wrote on her blog, The Chilly Dog . While searching for inspiration, Thomas dreamed up this fun and functional bird feeder that she made from a minimally altered large wine bottle. It’s sure to add some funky flair to your backyard. There is no cutting involved with this project, but you will n...