Green Leaf

If you’re tired of being on the giving and receiving end of a lot of unnecessary stuff, you may want to consider the SoKind registry . This online gift registry allows users to list gifts that are truly meaningful to them, like experiences or handmade items. You can set up a holiday gift list that reduces waste and ensures better gift-giving at the same time. SoKind makes it easy to create a registry for special events like weddings, baby showers, and graduations. A student about to graduate could ask for the gift of time from an adult who could offer résumé and career advice. Or maybe they’d like to experience an outdoor adventure that a National Parks pass could facilitate. A couple that plans to marry might request a personalized, handmade recipe book or for someone to photograph the wedding. Users can ask for whatever they like, but SoKind suggests considering gifts of skill and time, gifts of experience, gifts of charity , and handmade or secondhand items. This broadens the gi...

Did you know that Americans waste more than 40% of the food produced annually? And stockpiling food, as many have done during the pandemic, often results in more food wasted. Don’t be a hoarder; buy only foods that you are sure you will use. Find tips about how to reduce food waste during the pandemic: Here’s What to Do Instead of Stockpiling Food During Coronavirus Print or share We Earthling posters to inspire others with your stories. You Might Also Like… SoKind Gift Registry: Another Way To Give … and Receive Dec 1, 2020 We Earthlings: Don’t Be a Hoarder, Reduce Food Waste Dec 1, 2020 Tricks to Save Energy (and Water) in the Bathroom Nov 30, 2020 The post We Earthlings: Don’t Be a Hoarder, Reduce Food Waste appeared first on Earth 911 . from Earth 911 https://ift.tt/2OgYIAg https://ift.tt/32bCiZn

Did you know you can cut your environmental impact with a few simple changes in your bathroom buying and habits? The bathroom may not be the room you’d think of when you consider high energy consumption in your home. Instead, you might consider the electricity-hungry refrigerator in the kitchen , the clothes dryer in the laundry room, or the plethora of electronics in the living room and family room to be the biggest culprits. But it’s worthwhile to take a second look at your bathroom and how you can make a few tweaks to use less energy there as well. Here are a few tricks that can help you save energy (and water) in the bathroom. This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase an item through one of these links, we receive a small commission that helps fund our Recycling Directory . Hot Water The largest energy users in your bathroom are the largest water users: the shower and the tub. Water heating accounts for about 17% of an average family’s energy usage or about 4,00...

Once hailed as a miracle material, plastic has turned into a problem of global proportions . Prized for its plasticity (hence the name), today plastic is used in or wrapped around almost everything. Despite serious environmental problems, that ubiquity makes it impossible to simply quit using plastic. In the search for an environmentally friendly alternative, bioplastics have shown a lot of promise. Now a company called Yield10 Bioscience is getting close to a cost-effective bioplastic production model. The Problem With Plastic Plastic is a petroleum product, which means that it relies on a finite, nonrenewable, and polluting resource. The extraction of oil and the industrial chemical processes required to convert oil to plastic are energy-intensive, producing significant carbon emissions. Plastic is also hard to recycle , especially since China closed its borders to Western countries’ contaminated waste. Energy-generating incinerators with emissions scrubbers can capture most o...

Steve Groff, author of The Future-Proof Farm and creator of widely used regenerative farming techniques known as cover-cropping, joins Earth911. He talks with us about the importance of improving soil health and explains the changing relationship between the farm and grocery store. America lost more than one-third of its topsoil during the last 150 years, and Steve says his technique mimics nature to restore all the carbon, living organisms, and nutrients that are lost by modern farming in just 20 to 30 years. By planting year-round and minimizing tilling, Steve’s approach to regenerative farming provides better crop yields for farmers and healthier food for consumers. Author Steve Groff Eventually, these changes in the fields will transform the entire process of growing, harvesting, and moving produce from the farm to the store shelves. We also talk about what it takes to be an honest marketer in the age of sustainable farming. It starts with being honest; marketers and farm...

The Earth911 Reader summarizes the week’s sustainability, recycling, and science news, making it easy for you to stay up-to-date. Be sure not to miss this week’s opportunities to support environmental and sustainability projects. IN SCIENCE Deforestation Efforts Not Making Needed Progress The New York Declaration on Forests reports that national and global programs to prevent deforestation are falling short of their goals because of a lack of transparency. The nonprofit says , “Progress toward Goals 3 and 4 — reducing deforestation from infrastructure and extractive developments, while supporting sustainable livelihoods — is too slow to protect remaining intact forest landscapes.” Infrastructure projects account for 17% of deforestation , mainly due to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The organization argues that accountability combined with transparency is required to force economic planners to acknowledge their words and deeds are not aligned. Arctic Thaw Awakens Ancient Microor...

It’s no joke that electric cars have a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline-fueled cars, even in states that rely on coal-fired electric generation . Perhaps you’d like to win a Tesla Model 3 and make your driving footprint a thing of the past while supporting a great charity? Oil drilling is an invasive process that can produce environmental disasters, such as oil spills. The daily emissions from gasoline and diesel also cause significant pollution. If you drive an electric car, you’re helping reduce environmental impacts and contribute less smog and carbon monoxide, which makes a remarkable difference for our planet. Tesla vehicles have a lower environmental impact, and so far, have prevented more than 4,000,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. If you want to reduce your environmental footprint, enter to win the 2021 Tesla Model 3 for only $10. By choosing the 100-entry option , you will not only be in the running to win a Tesla, but you’ll also be donating to the Playing for Chan...

‘Tis the season to start looking for the perfect Christmas tree to light up your home for the holidays. Today, most people consider live trees to be a greener option than artificial trees, which are often manufactured with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) , a non-biodegradable, petroleum-derived plastic. But before you and the family venture out to the nearest Christmas tree farm to chop down a live tree, consider these more sustainable options. 1. Rent a Live Tree Many nurseries now offer the option to rent live trees , and some even come fully decorated. The renter simply waters the tree throughout the season, then takes it back to the nursery to be cared for until the next year. 2. Get a Plantable Tree No Christmas tree-renting nurseries near you? Why not get a tree you can plant ? After the holidays, weather permitting, you can plant it outdoors, further lowering your carbon footprint. 3. Decorate an Outside Tree Decorate your yard and your tree at the same time by decorating a livi...

Earth911 talks with oil industry veteran and critic Jack Kerfoot, the author of Fueling America: An Insider’s Journey . He spent decades in the oil industry and argues that it is responsible for pollution and geopolitical issues that plague our planet and people. Approximately 3.7 million people die from chronic or acute pollution-related illnesses annually. Kerfoot contends that the U.S. and countries around the world can make a fast pivot to renewable energy while eliminating sources of conflict and illness globally. High global demand for oil continues to drive a flood of cheap oil into the market from nations like China and Russia where oil is the main source of national income. He questions whether the needs that oil serves truly offset the social costs. Jack explains that in China, for example, air pollution is so bad that one cannot see their hand in front of their face on a smoggy day. Author Jack Kerfoot Jack argues that Oregon, where he resides, could be powered entirel...

Today’s inspiration is from Japanese philosopher, educator, and nuclear disarmament advocate Daisaku Ikeda. In his proposal, The Challenge of Global Empowerment: Education for a Sustainable Future , he wrote, “No matter how complex global issues may seem, we must remember that it is we ourselves who have given rise to them. It is therefore impossible that they are beyond our power as human beings to resolve.” 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 Podcast: Jack Kerfoot on Beating Big Oil With Renewable Energy Nov 27, 2020 Earth911 Inspiration: Solving Complex Global Problems Nov 27, 2020 The “Spaving” Dilemma: Avoid These Wasteful Spending Traps Nov 26, 2020 The post Earth911 Inspiration: Solving Complex Global Problems appeared first on Earth 911 . from Earth 911 https://ift.tt/2HF8pbY https://ift.tt/37h2NgQ

Living a sustainable lifestyle takes effort. You have to be conscious of how every habit in your daily routine impacts the environment. It’s easy to not make the effort and… The post How Your Small Changes Make a Big Impact for the Planet appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2JcQv18 https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

In a world largely driven by consumerism, it’s important to realize the power we each have to help the planet by spending and buying less . Our personal habits as consumers can help make a positive change or inadvertently create more waste in the world. Unfortunately, one spending pattern that has picked up momentum recently is the contradictory “spaving” phenomenon. Spaving , or “spending to save,” is when people end up spending more money and creating more waste in an effort to save money. Encouraged by advertisers, this spending behavior might seem to help your wallet, but it only lines the pockets of big business. In a survey run by Mint.com over the summer of 2020, 58% of Americans admitted to spaving. For most of us, 2020 has brought unpredictability, sparking behavior like panic buying in bulk or needlessly purchasing items to get a discount. When money is tight, the trap of buying large quantities of items for a lower price is enticing. But what happens to the wasteful e...

If you’re asking yourself what you can do to help the planet and help fight climate change while at home, look no further. There are plenty of little things you… The post 4 Things You Can Do at Home to Help the Environment appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/3mb0LVP https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Every day, we’re presented with recycling questions. Does this bottle go in the recycling bin or does it need special handling? Can I put paper with grease in the recycling bin? In this Earth911 Quiz, you’ll test your knowledge of daily recycling decisions. Earth911 Quiz #49: Bin It?   Every day, we are presented with recycling questions. Does this bottle go in the blue bin or does it need special handling? Can paper with grease go in the bin? In this Earth911 Quiz, you’ll test your knowledge of daily recycling decisions.   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. How much water can a quart of oil contaminate?   We all know that recycling motor oil is the best way to dispose of old automotive oil and filters. If you were to pour a quart of oil down the drain, how many gallons of water could be polluted...

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving offers an ideal opportunity to focus some love on the planet. It’s GivingTuesday. With presents to wrap, decorations to hang, and Zoom parties to attend, your agenda is likely overflowing. Perhaps you’ll want to add Earth to your gift list this year. What Is GivingTuesday? Donate dollars — or items. Advocate. Volunteer virtually. GivingTuesday is an occasion for generosity. It’s a global movement encouraging involvement in a variety of forms on December 1 — or any day. The GivingTuesday website features a wealth of ideas , inspiration, and resources for participating. Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.” –GivingTuesday website If you want to direct your generosity into protecting the environment, a wide array of opportunities exists. Pick a ...