Sustainable Living 101

3 Sustainability Questions to Ask Your Host Before You Book Your Airbnb

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

When you travel, do you make sure the accommodations you book maintain an eco-friendly property? With hotels this question is fairly easy to answer, but you have to dig a little deeper when booking via rental marketplaces like Airbnb, VRBO, Vacasa, etc. The hotel industry has an unsurprisingly substantial impact on the environment so choosing an independently run vacation rental can already be a sustainable act, but recently I started wondering how else I can ensure that my travels align with my own eco-friendly practices.

The perk of these vacation rental sites is that you can often connect with your host before you book. I think this is a great time to ask questions and ensure you’re totally comfortable staying in the host’s space, particularly during Coronavirus. Here are 3 questions you can ask that say a lot about your host and their property.

What do we do with trash? Do you recycle?

Don’t assume your Airbnb has recycling, compost, or other trash services, even if you know that the town you’re staying in generally does. I’ve stayed in too many Airbnbs only to realize there was no recycling available. My friends and I joke about the times we’ve “packed out” bags full of recycling after group getaways… But it’s not always possible, and it’s obviously never ideal to road-trip home with a trunk full of trash!

This is a simple question you can ask, and then decide how to proceed. Is staying at a particular property worth it if you can’t properly dispose of your post-vacay waste? Further, if they don’t have eco-friendly practices in place, it’s not too presumptuous to conclude that they probably don’t consider “green” hospitality practices in other areas (like when cleaning, restocking, etc.)

What is your cleaning process for each new guest?

I admit that before COVID-19 I didn’t put too much thought into how an Airbnb was cleaned. I did in the sense that I wanted to make sure any cleaning fees actually went to maintaining a safe and hygienic space, but it didn’t really matter to me how it was done (did the owner do it themselves? did a team of professional cleaners come after each guest?).

Now that ANY travel is risky, it’s so important to make sure your Airbnb is getting a thorough clean. In my experience, cleaning fees have been higher during COVID, which is another reason to actually confirm that you are getting what you paid for. I’ve personally only booked a couple of properties in 2020–small staycations within a couple hours drive from Seattle to get a change of scenery and relieve some cabin fever!–but my last stay made me want to dig a little deeper.

In Airbnb’s COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, they encourage all hosts to use their enhanced cleaning protocol, which includes sanitization techniques, recommended supplies, and a five-step process outlined in their cleaning handbook. Hosts who commit to doing so receive a listing highlight that lets guests know they’ve incorporated the advanced cleaning standards. It’s definitely a big plus to see what they’ve done to support hosts and encourage better cleaning standards, but in the end, it is the guest who will get to see and decide whether it’s been implemented properly.

(Side note, if you’re staying in any ‘bnb during this time, take responsibility for the risk! Everyone needs to do their part, especially if we want to continue supporting each other when traveling. This post isn’t to rag on hosts at all, but to help guests interpret a listing and understand what to expect before they arrive.)

What cleaning supplies and toiletries do you use?

If there are certain chemicals you avoid when cleaning your own home, for health or sustainability reasons, you may feel uncomfortable staying somewhere that has just sprayed those chemicals throughout your home-away-from-home! You also might be concerned with which products actually do the job of disinfecting a space, and how safe they really are. There will certainly be some compromising.

As far as toiletries… I was super impressed to find that one of the last places I stayed had Who Gives A Crap TP rather than conventional! I’m sure there are so many hosts who have to weigh the benefits of offering sustainable amenities against the added cost. Sure, TP probably isn’t a make-or-break-it consideration for you, but it could influence your booking decisions if you’ve got options to pick from.

Of course, read all listings thoroughly to see which questions have already been answered for you! What questions do you ask before booking an Airbnb? Do you take sustainability into account?

Where To Find The Best Sustainable Cleaning Supplies

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

Adopting a low waste or zero waste lifestyle might have you thinking you need to toss out all your old products in favor of DIY detergents and wooden brushes. Of course, it’s a lot more practical, and sustainable, to use what you have and restock (replacing empty items with eco-friendly alternatives) only when necessary. Well, it took us about two and a half years since we moved into our apartment to run low on all of the conventional cleaning supplies we started with.

We’re a household of two (plus two surprisingly messy kitties), so we don’t go through cleaning supplies very quickly. Of course, I started to realize how much we’d run out of conveniently as everyone was stocking up on TP and cleaning supplies during the first wave of Coronavirus. Luckily many of the zero waste shops and brands selling sustainable cleaning supplies that I’ve had my eye on were ready to help consumers make the switch!

So to restock, with a more sustainable and natural kitchen in mind, I looked back on all the sources I’d collected via blogs and Instagram, knowing I’d try them eventually. The first thing I ordered was Blueland’s Clean Essentials Kit. I’d been intrigued by their concept of purchasing the packaging for your supplies once and reusing it for life by ordering refill tabs that you mix with your own water. I didn’t love the idea of purchasing acrylic bottles (only the hand soap is glass) but it definitely beats single-use containers. So far everything works just fine and I love that all I need to do next time is order the tablets!

Edit November 2021: I’ve used Blueland’s clean essentials for about a year and a half now, and I’m sad to report that two of my three acrylic bottles have already broke. There’s only two of us in our household, so it’s certainly not overuse. One just shattered while in my hand (no, I didn’t drop it). I hope they’ve since improved this design. Obviously, as a low-waste enthusiast I don’t want to have to replace acrylic!

Like I mentioned on Instagram, I’ve always wanted to try No Tox Life’s beloved Zero Waste Dish Block. I’d already been using a few wooden/natural cleaning brushes from them and Package Free Shop, so I just needed the block to get scrubbing. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now and don’t have any plans to go back to conventional dish soaps. It’s truly one of the most natural cleaning supplies you can opt for! It’s easy to work into a lather and if you get the proper dish brushes, you’ll have no problem cleaning dishes. Side note: We do have a dishwasher so most things that need a heavy-duty scrub can be done there. Though, I hand wash my cutting boards and serving platters and this does the trick.

For all natural cleaning brushes and soap blocks, you’ll want to make sure you let everything dry completely. Otherwise you’ll waste the soap, and the brushes can mold or rust (depending on materials). I’m currently storing the block in this ceramic sponge holder but would benefit from something bigger.

Another great place to find sustainable cleaning supplies is your local zero waste shop. One of our local favorites, Public, is in West Seattle. Not only do they sell the Dish Block but many other natural household supplies. Eco Collective is another well-stocked spot. Both have products available online as well.

Where do you find your sustainable cleaning supplies? Give your favorite shops a shoutout!

PS: Learn why now is the actually the perfect time to give zero waste a try, here.

How to be an Ally of Mother Earth with Casha Doemland

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

One thing I love about the community surrounding sustainable living, is that every new discovery comes with the feeling of community rather than competition. It’s this shared idea that we’re all in this together, that we all need each other to make a difference, that more can only mean more support, that inspires rather than intimidates when I find a community that operates a little like mine. Coming across the Instagram account Allies of Mother Earth, I instantly felt a sense of camaraderie with its founder, Casha Doemland. (Perhaps this isn’t so surprising, but when you’ve worked in the digital space for years, you start to feel like every community is oversaturated, and it’s so refreshing to realize that there is no such thing as an oversaturated community of people who care. Sigh!)

Long after first connecting online, Casha interviewed me for Allies of Mother Earth. I was honored to share the story of eco club, and discovered just how many times our personal stories overlap… especially since I began writing about sustainable lifestyle while also living in Los Angeles. Naturally I wanted to dive deeper into AOME, its beginnings, and Casha’s plans for the future. Not surprisingly, she’s kicking ass with this new community of Allies in Los Angeles. They’ve recently connected to clean up Griffith Park (my old neighbor!) and have big dreams for supporting Mother Earth as their community grows.

Above photo by Jack Strutz for Allies of Mother Earth.

Tell us about yourself, outside of Allies of Mother Earth.
Los Angeles-born, but Georgia-bred, I returned to my roots approximately three years ago on an impulse and have never looked back. Throughout this time, I have not only achieved my dream of being a freelance writer, but I have learned a variety of skills/trades, lived in Indonesia for few months, and conquered a couple of fears like rock climbing outdoors and learning to ride a motorcycle.

You’re based in LA. How would you sum up the struggles (and successes) of your local community in dealing with the environmental problems we face?
I definitely think there are a significant amount of people in my local community who care about the environment, and who want to not only clean up the planet but live a lower impact, eco-conscious lifestyle. It’s obvious by the sheer number of people who are making shifts in their diets (climate change) or shopping smart to rid themselves of not only plastics but items that are not ethically made.

Additionally, there are a significant amount of people who are speaking out against environmental issues and offering solutions.

On the flip side, I think it’s easy to fail or slip with living consciously because of time constraints or not having the finances to invest in certain things. Sustainable living is a luxury. I, myself, have failed pretty miserably in the last two months due to a grave personal matter where my priorities in life shifted into survival mode. It’s only in the last week that I’ve slowly started to return to an eco-friendly lifestyle.

So, if anything, the struggles surrounding environmental problems are due to a lack of solutions for all. It’s not that people don’t care or aren’t making moves in the right direction, it’s because change takes time.

Thinking back in your life, how did you come to care strongly about Earth and its future?
I’ve always been enamored with Mother Earth’s beauty and found solace in long hikes, scenic drives and days spent by the ocean. When I went into middle school, I discovered the environmental club and helped run the recycling program as well as build trails out in parks.

From there, I always knew I wanted to give back somehow but was unsure of how until I moved into Los Angeles, and found an inspiring community that I realized I could ignite change on my own.

Through my sustainability freelance writing, I expanded my knowledge and launched Allies of Mother Earth.

How would you describe your local community of Allies? Has it been easy or difficult to find fellow Allies? How have you gone about establishing a community?
My community of Allies of Mother Earth is still fairly small as I have just officially launched the website and began planning my official events, but there are definitely plenty of humans who are interested. It’s been fairly easy to foster a community, as lots of people care about the planet, and most of the rad individuals within mine are friends, friends of friends, or individuals who have caught wind of my project through social media/word of mouth.

What are your goals and plans for AOME?
My goals for Allies of Mother Earth are fairly straightforward. I’d love to first, and foremost, raise awareness of the current state of the planet and promote ways in which we can keep her clean and show some much-needed love. In the process of doing so, foster a community with individuals who feel the same by highlighting radical eco-conscious, low waste brands, stores, and humans.

Additionally, I’ve got a handful of local clean-ups and one surprise event in the pipeline for the fall/winter.

In a dream world, which can very much be my world, I’d like to shift Allies of Mother Earth over to a non-profit and continue to spark change on a more national (potentially international) level. I am currently planning to go back to school for a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, so I can further understand policies and back that up.

Above photos of Los Angeles shop Sustain LA. More information on Casha’s visit available on Instagram.

Tell us about your other projects.
Outside of Allies, I have worked on We Are Phenomenal, a platform dedicated to telling the stories of women and gender non-binary individuals around the globe as authentically as possible, for the last three years. Throughout that time, I’ve been able to connect with so many phenomenal and inspiring individuals, and for that, I am forever grateful. It’s a project that I think will always be around and that I will work on in my free time.

Where else can we find you?
You can find all the goodies on my main website/portfolio, cashadoemland.com, as well as on Instagram at @cashad and @alliesofmotherearth.

LA friends, be sure to sign up for one of Allies’ cleanups to meet Casha and fellow AOME in person! Details on the next event can be found on Instagram.

This backyard picnic is proof that eco-friendly entertaining can be pretty too

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

We’ve been sharing sneaks on Insta all summer, but I’m pretty darn excited to announce that our eco-friendly entertaining guide is HERE! I know it’s a little late in the season, but I wanted to compile all the photos of our summer backyard party into a guide that proves just how easy and affordable it can be to throw a beautiful gathering with the environment in mind. Scroll through the photos below for picnic ideas to effortlessly elevate your next backyard shindig!

Can a sustainable party be pretty, too?

If you search Google or Pinterest for oh, about five seconds, for an eco friendly party, you will not be surprised. It’s pretty much all along the same style, including lots of outdated trends at this point. (Say you don’t have an extensive mason jar collection, for example.) In this case, I can totally see why a hostess would cringe at the thought of throwing a party with an “eco” spin.

Then there are entertainers on a budget (hi!) who want to throw a pretty party too. There are tons of single use products marketed to these very people, with pretty patterned paper plates (that’s a mouthful) and even those “handy” plastic wine glasses that “look like the real thing” (don’t get me started). Being in the wants-to-create-something-beautiful-on-a-budget camp myself, I don’t believe I should have to resort to single use to host a creatively styled gathering. Even if it’s as simple as a backyard picnic. So, those are just a few thoughts we kept in mind while putting this together. We really did want to speak to people like us, who love Pinterest and Instagram and all the pretty parties they inspire, but wanted to be conscious of both our budget and our impact.

Planning Your Picnic or Backyard Party

The first thing we did when planning our party was decide the vibe. We knew we wanted it to be casual and in a backyard, so the picnic idea was just so much easier than finding enough furniture.

We let the seasonal colors of our region dictate our color palette. Colorful textiles, vibrant fruits and veggies, and our favorite vintage accessories made up the scene. Keeping it simple doesn’t have to mean forgoing color. Being inspired by nature and the decor we already had challenged us to get more creative!

Picnic Planning Tips

Brainstorm a few words to describe your party. Choose a style, color palette, size, formality, and location.
Create a secret Pinterest board to gather and share inspiration with collaborators.
Start a Google doc to log specifics, like what you have and what you’ll need, and track the design process.
Plan your guest list early so you can estimate food & supplies and reduce waste leftover.

Picnic Food Ideas

Knowing we had a backyard party vibe helped us narrow down food options. I’ve been all over the Mediterranean diet lately, and I liked that a mezze board could be vegetarian friendly (vegan if you take out the feta/tzatziki) and require minimal cleanup. It’s also full of refreshing flavors for a warm day. The picnic snacks on our mezze board were various olives, grilled pita and peppers, raw carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers, and marinated artichokes along with some feta cheese, tzatziki, and hummus.

We used the same concept for our fruit platter – fresh, easy fruits that were no fuss to prepare. We always add a little jcoco chocolate to our fruit platters, which is a local Seattle brand and ethical chocolate company that fights hunger with every purchase.

Let your food influence the theme of your party. If it’s an outdoor brunch picnic you’re after, go with fresh breads and pastries alongside your fruit. And of course fruit juices or mimosas. Or if it’s a more fancy picnic you’re after, level up with luxury linens and lots of flowers, and be sure to take any pre-packaged food out of their original containers and use your own. Summer textiles like napkins, table clothes, and pillows aren’t just for the table–spread them across the grass (use a sheet underneath if you’re worried about stains) for that luxury picnic feel.

Budget Friendly and Low Waste Picnic Ideas

Use what you have. We thrifted a few pieces to make sure we had enough baskets and bowls, but for the most part, went with what we already had, which helped us define our color palette and style too.
Using reusable cloth napkins we already own made everything look cohesive (paper towels = not cute) and they’re easy to wash.
Be intentional about single use. Avoid plastic, and look for those that use recycled materials. If you have compost in your area, make sure the tableware and utensils you use are compliant.
Have a waste disposal plan beforehand. If you have recycle or compost, guests will only use it if they know it’s there!
Skip the party store. Combine forces with friends to bring decor and serveware from our your own collections, then source the rest from thrift shops.

Beautify food + drinks with citrus slices, edible flowers, herbs, or other garnishes. If you’re not sure which drink to offer, find the garnish first, and let it inspire your drink! We had lots of citrus, which is how we landed on a batch rose spritzer. You probably know by now that we use edible flowers on just about everything. Instant pretty!

DIY picnic flowers

I created a few farmers market floral arrangements using the techniques shared here, opting for a wildflower look that’s very much trendy and in season right now. To achieve the look sustainably, purchase flowers at the market from farmers in your region rather than cut flowers from the grocery store. Whenever you make arrangements at home, you can preserve your favorite stems for use at parties like this. Add dried or dried or foraged stems to create unique arrangements. We’ve reused some of ours on multiple occasions, which is easy to do during spring and summer when you have a lot of events, as long as you take care of your flowers. Not all flowers need the same things to stay healthy and bloom big. Research unfamiliar flowers so you can treat them best! And don’t forget to replace the water.

Planning a backyard party of your own this summer? Find more picnic ideas (including a yummy cocktail recipe) in this post!

*Photos by Charity

Sustainable Floral Design Tips for DIY Flowers

updated on April 14, 2025 by Angela Hamilton

My love of flowers goes back as far as I can remember. Professional floral arrangements. DIY flowers. Dried flowers. Pressed flowers. You name it. Once, my mom told me we’d be going to visit my grandma’s friend, who owned a house with a backyard full of lush gardens. I imagined fields of wildflowers, but found pristine landscaped gardens instead, like something that would line a cottage in England. Both inspire me now. I love the manicured front lawns of my Seattle neighborhood. I love the poppies emerging from the sidewalks. And when I lived in Los Angeles, I loved the bougainvillea along the freeways, the succulent gardens, the pepper trees.

Writing for the wedding industry didn’t curb my floral obsession, but inspired me to learn more about creating arrangements myself, so I could bring these blooms into my own little corner apartment. Working from home can be drab, and I don’t take for granted what the peonies blooming by my side as I write this have done for my mood. Beauty is important.

Flowers can be a frivolous thing, especially when thinking of the environment. Why not leave them be? I understand this argument, but as a crafter, and lover of beauty, there is something really fulfilling to me about creating something new with these small miracles in life. And luckily when it comes to DIY flowers, I’ve found, there are many ways to create more sustainable florals.

Sustainable Floral Tips for DIY Flowers

1. Don’t buy fresh cut flowers at the grocery store.

Purchase from your local market instead. Most blooms you’ll find at the store are imported. Thinking about the environmental effects of transporting them (and their need for constant refrigeration) from a top exporter like Colombia alone, is enough to make any eco-friendly DIYer uneasy. Then there’s the question of where they’re coming from, how they are grown (and with what chemicals), and how the growers are compensated (and treated). Perhaps we can dive deeper into this later, but just know that there are many reasons to go local when it comes to fresh flowers and plants.

In Seattle and many other places, that usually means only being able to craft your own DIY flowers during Spring, Summer, and Fall, with little to nothing growing locally in the winter. (This was not a problem when I lived in Los Angeles). I created these bouquets during early spring’s narcissus bloom, so all the daffodils and tulips here came from a market featuring flowers grown on farms in nearby towns.

2. Supplement with foraged and dried blooms.

In Tin Can Studios’ book Handpicked, Ingrid Carozzi mentions times she would gather greenery or flowers right outside or at the event venue, to round out her arrangements. Often weeds and overgrowth can contribute to more undone, wild-looking arrangements (just make sure you aren’t taking from a delicate habitat that needs them to thrive).

I love to add a few dried flowers from my personal collection in DIY arrangements. Some dried blooms are ones I’ve dried on my own (like these carnations), and others were purchased at a local farmer’s market. During the winter here in Seattle, a lot of farms depend on sales of dried rather than fresh flowers, so it’s easy to get, and they truly are “everlasting” as you’ll see mentioned on many a sign at Pike Place.

Tip: Preserve or purchase a big bunch of dried flowers, then carefully deconstruct the bouquet so you can pull from individual stems when you create a bouquet. For example, eucalyptus is hard to find here, so the time I was able to buy some at the market, I saved a few sprigs. They do get dipped in water since I pair them with fresh flowers, so I trim the stem when I’m ready to save it for a next time.

3. Arrange and rearrange.

Some flowers, such as my favorite local bloom of all, lilac, last only a few days in vases, where others (like ranunculus, can you believe it?!) can last up to a few weeks! Whenever I make big arrangements to enjoy at home, I rearrange them every two or three days, picking out anything that can’t be salvaged. Then I rearrange what I have, trim the stems, and replace the water.

I think I used this bunch of baby’s breath in three arrangements of DIY flowers before it stopped looking fresh! No need to throw them out when its initial arrangement went… there was plenty of life left.

4. Take care of your DIY flowers!

It’s important to get to know the kind of blooms in your DIY flowers, so be sure to ask about them when buying at the market. They are the experts! Most flowers live longer if you trim the stems and replace water regularly. Different types of flowers also like different temperates of water, so there’s a lot of details to consider. Learning about the flowers you love, rather than just heading to the grocery store and grabbing a bouquet that will wilt in a couple days, will get you so much closer to truly sustainable florals.

If you’re looking to learn more about sustainable and DIY flowers, I recommend the books Handpicked and Foraged Flora.

How do you keep your hobbies as sustainable as possible? Let us know if you try any of these sustainable floral tips for your DIY flowers!

10 Simple Ways to Go Green as a Solopreneur

updated on May 30, 2023 by Natalie

One of the main reasons people decide to go full time as a solopreneur is for freedom and flexibility. Choosing when and where to work, traveling as they please, and yoga pants as acceptable work attire. Another wonderful thing about being an independent business owner is the ability we have to make our own business decisions. We can choose to make eco-friendly decisions for our businesses and to even help educate those we work with. To help you begin making more green decisions, we’ve listed out 10 simple ways to go green as a soloprenuer, below! We know everyone’s eco-living journey is unique, so these are just 10 easy options to begin switching your own methods little by little.

Ditch the Coffee Shop and DIY That Latte
No line, no pants, no waste, no problem. Avoid the wasteful cup, lid, and straw by whipping up your own delicious coffee or tea drinks at home. Not only will you skip out on some waste, but you’ll skip out on the bill too! I love to make my own cold brew at home by letting 1 cup of ground coffee and 4 cups of water sit together in the fridge overnight. Just strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer and sip away!

Pro tip: Use those coffee grounds for a DIY energizing body scrub! Mix the leftover grounds with coconut oil to desired consistency and let the spa day begin.

Opt for Digital Mock-Ups Instead of Printing All the Things
If you’re a creative of any sort, this one’s for you. You’ve probably seen the gush-worthing photos other creatives share of their work printed on pages and all perfectly laid out. These looks are amazing, but they are also easily doable without printing all that unnecessary paper! Instead of printing your works for that one-and-done shoot, make your presentation photos in Photoshop.

Advertise Digitally
It’s 2019! If you aren’t already advertising digitally, get it together! Choose digital advertising methods instead of print ones. Instead of mailing postcards, build that email list. Instead of ads in the paper, put ads on your local news source’s website. It’s great to have a “paper trail” in your biz – unless it’s your advertising.

Source Locally and Choose Eco-Friendly
I know, I know. Some things just have to be printed. When you can support local businesses. When you can’t, choose eco-friendly choices. Because I’m on the move so much, I decided to get my own business cards printed with Moo. They offer business cards made from recycled cotton t-shirts! When working with clients, do some research and try to source locally for them too.

Psst: If you’ve never used Moo, here’s 25% off your first order!

Turn Off or Unplug Your Tech
When you’re done for the day, turn off or unplug your tech. If you’re not comfortable powering it off, just put it in sleep mode. You’ll conserve energy and save some money on that electric bill!

Donate to Eco-Friendly Organizations
Not only is donating to eco-friendly organizations just a pretty darn good thing to do, but it’s also rather marketable. Every time I book a design client, I donate to a non-profit that focuses on reforestation, and they plant 12 trees in areas affected by forest fires. My clients love knowing that their dollars are going somewhere great and that they’re directly helping in some way.

Opt for Green Web Hosting
Often times, web hosting companies will use renewable energy sources or purchase carbon offsets to help even out their energy use. A great example of this is DreamHost. DreamHost houses their servers in a facility which utilizes high-efficiency cooling that uses partially reclaimed water. They are also partner with state-level “clean wind” programs and only use electricity from renewable sources.

Reuse & Recycle
Now, this one doesn’t need much explanation! Reuse whenever possible and recycle as much as you can. Take notes on the back of printed papers you no longer need, reuse that plastic cup from lunch, and use double-sided printing when you can. Check with your local recycling center to see what they accept – you may be surprised! As someone who strives for a zero-waste lifestyle, I use mason jars for all the things. They’re great for storage, that DIY latte you whipped up earlier, overnight oats, or even for a little herb garden!

Revamp Your Workday Snackage
Buying package-free snacks in bulk help you to avoid a lot of excess food packaging that can’t be recycled! Instead of grabbing a bag of chips, stock up on healthy goodies like nuts, berries, seeds, and dried fruits in your local supermarket’s bulk section. This way, you have snacks that last you longer and are just better for you. That bag of convenient chips only takes a few minutes to grub, but the chip bag can take literal centuries to decompose.

Pro tip: If you bring your own containers, you can use tare on the store’s scale for the container’s weight and skip the plastic bag waste. (Hello again, mason jars!)

Digital Gifting
Client gifts are such a lovely way to let your clients know they’re appreciated and to make a memorable mark uniquely. Instead of sending the usual goodie box, opt for digital gifting. Gift boxes are beautiful, but there’s a lot of unknown variables – where were the products sourced from? Were they ethically made? What’s the shipping process? What’s the packaging situation? Personalized emails and thought out gift cards to your clients’ fav places show you care just as much as a mailed gift box would!

BONUS: Educate Yourself and Discover More Ways!
There are so many more ways you can make little green changes in your day to day that are individual to your needs! Take some time to educate yourself and discover those ways. Recyclebank is a fun educational website that teaches you all about recycling and rewards you as you learn. If you’re interested in learning more about the zero-waste lifestyle, check out Going Zero Waste.

Some of these options may take a bit to work into your business! If you’re unsure of where to start, pick one that resonates most with you and begin focusing on it! It all starts with habits. Making new habits is key to working your way to more eco-friendly living! Before you know it, you’ll be running a greener, more sustainable business.

Photo by Charity Hestead Kubena