We're in an era where businesses have begun to acknowledge their responsibilities beyond profit margins. Welcome to the three pillars of sustainability, the mainstay of every good business these days. Otherwise known as the 'triple bottom line,' the three pillars of sustainability are commonly identified by the three Ps: Profit, People, Planet. Sustainability is, after all, about more than the environment. For decades, profit has been the beacon of all businesses, with decisions often made ... Read More
Sustainable Living 101
6 Easy Eco-Friendly Kitchen Swaps You Didn’t Know You Needed
In the age of absurd commercials (thanks in large part to the infamous Squatty Potty) I fell in love with an eco-friendly alternative with an equally ridiculous ad—the FinalStraw. I mean obviously, the perks of a reusable, earth-friendly straw and other easy eco-friendly swaps were not lost on me, but damn, if that marketing didn’t completely suck me in hook, line, and sinker. (Pun *absolutely* intended.) So in celebration of my introduction to the ever-growing eco-friendly alternative ... Read More
10 Ethical Chocolate Companies That Don’t Use Palm Oil
If you've just started omitting unsustainable palm oil from your diet, you might be a little concerned about getting your chocolate fix. I know I was, at first! Once I got over the initial realization that Oreos were out of the question, I started turning every label in the chocolate aisle to see what I'd rather support instead. Long, long time later, I have no problem avoiding palm oil in the candy aisle, and eat a whole lot less junk because of it. (While each ethical chocolate company has a ... Read More
7 Ways To Shop More Sustainably Online
It’s encouraging to see more online sites and marketplaces than ever designed to inspire conscious consumers to shop more sustainably and ethically. Having an online shop also allows people to start businesses without the major investments of brick-and-mortar shops, so it’s getting easier to shop small. Of course, serious byproducts of making online purchases include the extreme carbon cost of all that shipping/delivering, the waste involved those billions of packages, or the fact that up to 40% ... Read More
AP News Investigates Human + Environmental Cost of Palm Oil in ‘Fruits of Labor’
If you love to support your local Girl Scouts, you may be disappointed to learn that they use palm oil (from unsustainable sources) in their cookies. I learned this during my first January boycotting this pervasive ingredient several years ago (RIP processed cookie addiction), but last week I finally heard the full, unsettling story, thanks to a Girl Scout from Tennessee and an AP investigation. If you have heard about even one of the destructive consequences of the unethical global palm oil ... Read More
The West Coast Is On Fire. Here’s How To Help
Our beautiful west coast states of Washington, Oregon, and California are on fire. Climate change driven wildfire season hits us harder each year. I've long been anxious about these worsening summers. But I never imagined having to stay inside my Seattle apartment to avoid toxic air (and ours is not nearly as bad as our friends in other parts of the state, Oregon, and California, comparatively). I'm beyond words at this point, so I'll leave the rest of the talking to the groups and organizations ... Read More
