tag:www.naturalawakenings.com,2005:/categories/green-living?page=12Green Living Green Living | Natural Awakenings Magazine Page 12Healthy Living Healthy Planet2019-08-16T01:13:11-04:00urn:uuid:48455245-f803-4a86-a437-17cbb33e676d2019-08-16T01:13:11-04:002019-08-16T01:13:11-04:00Rebirthing Books: New Life for Old Friends2018-10-31 12:04:00 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">S</span>pread the wonders and joys of reading to others while conserving woodlands and other resources and keeping books out of landfills by donating them. Many outlets welcome books that may have been collecting dust at home, but can enrich the lives of others of all ages, both locally and worldwide.</p>
<p>• Many public libraries are supported by community volunteer “friends of” organizations that sell donated books at deep discounts to the public. Funds raised help underwrite host library programming.</p>
<p>• Along with selling new and used books online, <a href="http://BetterWorldBooks.com">BetterWorldBooks.com</a> accepts book donations that support national and global literacy initiatives, including in Latin America and Africa. They recently forwarded 37,000 donated books to UK teachers and other educators, and also operate a senior book outreach program.</p>
<p>• Local chapters of national organizations like Girl Scouts, Kiwanis International, Rotary International and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs frequently collect gently used children’s books.</p>
<p>• Other donation sites include The Salvation Army, Goodwill, thrift shops and used and antique bookstores.</p>
<p>• <a href="http://BooksForSoldiers.com">BooksForSoldiers.com</a> lists specific titles military members are requesting. <a href="http://BooksForAfrica.org">BooksForAfrica.org</a> has shipped 41 million books to Africa’s 54 countries. <a href="http://BooksThroughBars.org">BooksThroughBars.org</a> supplies prison libraries, while <a href="http://BooksToPrisoners.net">BooksToPrisoners.net</a> links books donated by the public to requests.</p>
<p>• Include unwanted books when planning a yard sale.</p>
<p>• Consider the novelty of regifting books. With the Christmas gifting season approaching, parents can bestow a Shakespeare play or Mark Twain tale that meant so much to them decades ago to their kids—including a card explaining its poignancy and significance. The gesture can even spark a greater interest in reading.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the November 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:75b06b6c-f8f9-4a09-8174-49397299ebfb2019-08-16T00:04:15-04:002019-08-16T00:04:15-04:00Corporate Conscience: Leading Food Companies Aim to Slash Energy Footprints2018-09-28 11:58:50 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">M</span>cDonald’s plans to reduce greenhouse emissions from their restaurants, corporate offices and supply chain by more than 30 percent by 2030. They’re the first restaurant chain with goals backed by the Science Based Targets initiative. The company expects to decrease its total emissions by more than 150 million tons.</p>
<p>AB InBev, the parent company of Anheuser-Busch and Budweiser beer, has ambitious plans to purchase electricity only from renewable sources for its worldwide operations in seven years. The first step includes Bud Light. The goal is for all operations in the company’s 12 Budweiser breweries across the U.S. to be powered by renewable energy.</p>
<p>Budweiser plants outside the U.S. will also switch to all-renewable energy, with all products planned to transition by 2025. The new status will be denoted by the label “100% Renewable Energy”.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the October 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:1508d4ff-56b1-4e3e-8d85-9403208d13472019-08-16T00:33:53-04:002019-08-16T00:33:53-04:00Debris Drop-Off: Plastic Bag Deterrents Working in European Waters2018-09-28 11:58:47 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> new study shows that there are significantly fewer plastic bags on the seafloor since a number of European countries introduced fees on them, according to a 25-year study from the UK government’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).</p>
<p>Researchers saw an estimated 30 percent drop in the number of plastic bags in waters around Norway, Germany, northern France and Ireland. “It is encouraging to see that efforts by all of society, whether the public, industry, non-government organizations or government, to reduce plastic bags are having an effect,” says Thomas Maes, a marine litter scientist at CEFAS. “We also observed sharp declines in the percentage of plastic bags captured by fishing nets trawling the seafloor around the UK compared to 2010, and this research suggests that by working together, we can reduce, reuse and recycle to tackle the marine litter problem.”</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the October 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:e42c997c-71aa-4721-9281-111b30acd3612019-08-16T01:05:40-04:002019-08-16T01:05:40-04:00Last Straw: Groups Work to Make U.S. Go Strawless2018-09-28 11:58:46 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">A</span>bout 500 million plastic straws are discarded daily in America, reports the U.S. National Park Service. Plastic that reaches waterways is ingested by marine life and our food chain. Individuals and municipalities are taking action to support options, including going strawless.</p>
<p>• <a href="http://TheLastPlasticStraw.org">The Last Plastic Straw</a>, a project of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, has a worldwide map locator that pinpoints restaurants that have ceased using plastic straws.</p>
<p>• Milo Cress, who launched the <a href="http://BeStrawFree.org">Be Straw Free</a> campaign in 2011 when he was 9, is again speaking to school students this fall, primarily via Skype. “It’s exciting to inspire them to know that they can do something in their community,” says the senior high school student in Shelburne, Vermont.</p>
<p>• <a href="http://Strawfree.org">Strawfree.org</a>, a Southern California volunteer-driven organization, offers kits that include bamboo straws, carrying holders and cleaning brushes.</p>
<p>• McDonald’s has announced it will transition from plastic to paper straws in its U.S., UK and Ireland restaurants beginning this year, and subsequently expand the switch to other countries.</p>
<p>• In May, New York City lawmakers introduced a bill banning plastic straws in all bars and restaurants in the Big Apple, and Seattle has banned the use of single-use plastic straws, thanks to the Strawless in Seattle movement. <a href="http://EcoCycle.org">Eco-Cycle, Inc.</a> and the Inland Ocean Coalition, both in Boulder, Colorado, are asking restaurants citywide not to use them. In July, Starbucks announced plans to eliminate straw use globally by 2020.</p>
<p>• <a href="http://StrawlessOcean.org">StrawlessOcean.org</a> offers straw alternatives made of paper by Aardvark, steel and silicone by Klean Kanteen, metal by Steelys Drinkware and bamboo by StrawFree.</p>
<p>• <a href="http://EcoWatch.com">EcoWatch.com</a> suggests, “Unlike metal or glass, soft and bendable silicone straws don’t clink your teeth, making them ideal for kids and straw-biters” and that such products made by Softy Straws work with hot drinks and withstand dishwashers. It also recommends wheat stems, corn bioplastic and bucatini pasta, a spaghetti-like noodle with a hole in the middle.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the October 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:3e4ec13f-8a7a-4b64-bbdb-7c6e043e7b9e2019-08-16T00:18:13-04:002019-08-16T00:18:13-04:00The Rise of Blue Zones in America: Places that Encourage Healthy Living2018-09-28 11:57:29 -0400Avery Mack<p><span class="dropcap">D</span>an Buettner’s book <em>The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest</em> launched a movement a decade ago. Sequels include <em>The Blue Zones of Happiness</em>, <em>The Blue Zones Solution</em> and <em>Thrive</em>. Many communities have embraced the principles of this “make healthy living easier” paradigm, resulting in the improved well-being of residents.</p>
<p>“Add more years to your life and more life to your years,” says Nick Buettner, vice president at Blue Zones LLC, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the founder’s brother who spoke with us. “The people around you, the places where you work, live and play, and the social norms in your community have an impact on your health.”</p>
<p>The original U.S. pilot project in 2009, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, is a prime example. Instead of widening a main thoroughfare and raising the speed limit, the city widened the sidewalk and created a path around nearby Fountain Lake, offering safe exercise for bikers, joggers and walkers. The Hy-Vee grocery increased its health market section from two to seven aisles, leading to a 130 percent rise in related sales, and added a Blue Zones checkout lane for healthy grab-and-go options. City workplaces now offer quiet rooms and fruit instead of candy; one business converted a garage to a pickleball court.</p>
<h3>Blue Zone Basics</h3>
<p><strong>Move Naturally</strong> – Even at work, get up and move at least once every 20 minutes.</p>
<p><strong>Reduce Stress</strong> – Take a nap, nature walk or meditate.</p>
<p><strong>Act Intentionally</strong> – “People that feel they have a reason to get out of bed in the morning tend to live seven years longer than those who just go through the motions,” says Buettner. A strong sense of purpose defines quality of life.</p>
<p><strong>Eat Healthy</strong> – Enjoy the benefits of a plant-based diet. One cup of beans a day adds three to four years in life expectancy. Plant a garden to grow fresher, pesticide-free food. Eat meat an average of five times a month and in small-portioned stir-fry, soups and pasta. Consume fewer calories. Drink wine in moderation. Check out <a href="http://BlueZones.com/recipes">BlueZones.com/recipes</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Maintain Relationships</strong> – “If you have fewer than three friends, it’s the equivalent of smoking for 20 years,” Buettner maintains. “Growing old in place and staying at home instead of a retirement or nursing home is easier to accomplish when you have a social network.” Meet regularly with friends.</p>
<p class="pullquote">The five original Blue Zones are Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; Okinawa, Japan; and Sardinia, Italy.</p>
<p><strong>Have Faith</strong> – A faith-based life taps into a larger resource far greater than oneself and enhances a sense of purpose, social network and calm content.</p>
<p><strong>Prioritize Family</strong> – Amid the busyness of life, make the most enjoyable family time and nurturing activities each day’s first choice. “Over the last four years in Florida, our sponsor, NCH Healthcare System, has helped to build well-being infrastructure and sustainability for approximately 400,000 people; that swells to nearly 1.2 million during high season from January to April,” says Deb Logan, executive director of Blue Zones Project-SWFL (Southwest Florida). “We have 33 Blue Zone-approved restaurants that collectively make an additional 176 plant-based menu items available locally; the first half of this year, they sold 130,000 Blue Zones-inspired dishes.”</p>
<p>The healthful community philosophy was vital in Hawaii, when the Kīlauea Volcano spewed lava, sulfur dioxide and acid rain. First-responders staffed checkpoint stations around the clock to protect the public from dangerous areas, exposing themselves to combined sun and volcanic heat. The Hawaiian Blue Zone team delivered smoothies, beverages and paletas—healthy popsicles made with real fruit—to help workers stay cooler. They also delivered them to volunteers and public service groups, including Hope Services Hawaii, which built tiny houses for families displaced by volcanic activity.</p>
<p>“We don’t come into an area and say, ‘This is what you must do.’ We say, ‘This is what you can do.’ The readiness must come from the city level, businesses, schools and nonprofits,” Buettner says. “The right leadership must be committed and prepared to follow through on multiple years of initiatives.”</p>
<p>He remarks, “In the end, my hope for the future lies in the fact that communities care about their health. Blue Zones isn’t about the quantity of years, but the quality of life, and often that adds years, too.”</p>
<p><br>
<em>Connect with the freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.</em></p>
<h3> </h3>
<h3><strong>Blue Zone-Certified Cities</strong></h3>
<p><span class="dropcap">C</span>ertified communities have achieved their predetermined goals (outlined in project blueprints) as attested to via a combination of the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index and community-reported metrics.</p>
<p><strong>California</strong>—Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach</p>
<p><strong>Iowa</strong>—Algona, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Fairfield, Harlan, Iowa City, Marion, Mason City, Muscatine, Oskaloosa, Sioux City, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Waterloo, Woodbine</p>
<p><strong>Minnesota</strong>—Albert Lea</p>
<p>Cities and other areas transforming to Blue Zone status</p>
<p><strong>Hawaii</strong>—East/North/West Hawaii, Kapolei/Ewa, Koolaupoko, Manoa/Makiki/McCully/Moiliili, Wahiawa, Wailuku/Kahului (aka Central Maui)</p>
<p><strong>Oklahoma</strong>—Pottawatomie County</p>
<p><strong>Oregon</strong>—The Dalles, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Umpqua</p>
<p><strong>Southwest Florida</strong>—Ave Maria, Bonita Springs, Estero, Golden Gate, Immokalee, Naples/East Naples</p>
<p><strong>Texas</strong>—Fort Worth</p>
<p><strong>Wisconsin</strong>—Beaver Dam, Horicon, Juneau, Mayville</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the October 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:2ff0a05f-4ced-45d3-98bb-764babc44db82019-08-16T00:58:24-04:002019-08-16T00:58:24-04:00Zero Waste Lifestyle: Ways to Make Far Less Trash2018-08-31 12:10:31 -0400Avery Mack<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>n manufacturing, a zero waste policy means designing products so that all resources are used or reused. It’s a concept Bea Johnson, author of <em>Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste</em>, embraced for her family a decade ago in Mill Valley, California. “My goal was to simplify our lives,” she says. “We found a zero waste lifestyle isn’t what we expected; it’s better. It’s good for the environment and for our family.”</p>
<p>Johnson reports achieving 40 percent savings in annual household costs. “Voluntary simplicity has also changed our daily routines. Simple living focuses on experiences versus things, and we find we have more free time,” she says. “Our minimalist wardrobes now fit into carry-on bags for travel.”</p>
<h3>A Doable Personal Goal</h3>
<p>“Don’t expect to reach zero. Go for zero-ish,” counsels Celia Ristow, a freelance writer who blogs at <a href="http://Litterless.com">Litterless.com</a>. In 2017, Ristow and two friends, Moira Kelley and Bailey Warren, started a grassroots group called Zero Waste Chicago to raise awareness and connect locals with needed resources to reduce trash.</p>
<p>“We speak at grocery stores, community events, schools, colleges and to employees on their lunch hour. We love how responding readers send suggestions and outlets for reusing items,” says Ristow.</p>
<p>Local efforts can take off when people find like-minded others through using hash tags like #zerowastechicago on Instagram, search for a local blogger or host a mini-meet-up in a grocery that sells in bulk or at a coffee shop that uses ceramic cups or no plastic stirrers. Similar grassroots organizations are active in <a href="http://EcoCycle.org/home">Colorado</a> and <a href="http://EcoCollectiveSeattle.com">Seattle</a>.</p>
<p>“Zero waste seems difficult to imagine in the U.S. People think change is costly and time-consuming,” Johnson says. “My vocation is to shatter these misconceptions. Follow the 5 R’s: refuse what you don’t need, reduce what you need, reuse, recycle and rot. Refuse single-use plastics and junk mail, reduce the volume of clothing items and sports equipment, buy used, recycle the unwanted and compost (rot) food waste, lint, hair and floor sweepings. It’s not that complicated.”</p>
<p>Due to her experience, Johnson can now store a year’s worth of waste in a pint-sized Mason jar. “Inside is deteriorated foam from headphones, a dental retainer, silicone caulk from the sink, fruit and veggie stickers, clothing labels, plastic mini-bumpers from cabinet corners I replaced with felt and a plastic-coated spike from the dishwasher,” she says. “I’m still amazed when people have a use for something I don’t want or need. Start by saying no to flyers, freebies, party favors, business cards, plastics, excessive packaging and junk mail. Accepting them creates more. Refusing such clutter is the first rule to a less wasteful lifestyle.”</p>
<p>Kathryn Kellogg, the Vallejo, California, author of the <em>Going Zero Waste</em> blog and a content creator for Pela Case, a Canadian eco-friendly smartphone case maker, offers many zero waste swaps. “I use silicone cupcake liners instead of paper, bar soap in lieu of plastic-packaged body wash and make my own lip balm.” She also has alternatives for sponges, plastic wrap, cooking pans and toothbrushes. Consider her 31-day challenge at <a href="http://GoingZeroWaste.com/31-day-video-challenge">GoingZeroWaste.com/31-day-video-challenge</a>. She notes, “Since I started working toward zero waste, I have more confidence, am able to speak up about less waste and am mindful when I shop.” </p>
<h3>A World View</h3>
<p>In May, Johnson toured 16 countries in 17 days giving presentations. “Surprisingly, we often had to open another room because interest was higher than expected. In Russia, they broadcasted my talk to 17 cities,” she says.</p>
<p>Johnson learned that many countries have no waste collection or recycling programs. Plastic bottles, bags and trash litter many landscapes. “Life in the United States is different. Here, we have bigger houses, need more and create more waste. Elsewhere, grocery shopping is done daily instead of weekly, produce is local, seasonal and sustainable instead of imported,” she observes. “In a way, it’s easier to go zero waste there because they’re using just what they need. Everyone deserves a place to live and life’s necessities. Past that comfort level, it’s excess.”</p>
<p>Johnson sees rapid changes underway in consumer thinking and is hopeful looking forward. “I don’t want to tell others how to live. I just want to share our experiences. The United States’ example has a huge impact worldwide. Zero waste is the necessary lifestyle of the future, and it begins at home.”</p>
<p><br>
<em>Connect with the freelance writer via <a href="mailto:AveryMack@mindspring.com">AveryMack@mindspring.com</a>.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<h3><strong>Fun Places to Start</strong></h3>
<p><img alt="roubicko/Shutterstock.com" class="photo-caption" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/575024/Zero-Waste-Toiletries.png"></p>
<p>• With the <a href="http://PaperKarma.com">PaperKarma junk mail app</a>, take a picture to unsubscribe from receiving bulky catalogs, credit card offers and unwanted paper mail.</p>
<p>• <a href="https://help-en-gb.nike.com/app/answer/article/recycle-shoes/a_id/39600/country/gb">Nike recycles worn-out sneakers</a>, submitted pre-washed for odor removal, into Nike Grind, a material used to create athletic and playground surfaces and more.</p>
<p>• Students in K-12 schools across the continental U.S. and parts of Canada can collect and repurpose all brands of plastic markers, including dry-erase and highlighters. A minimum of 100 markers and up to 40 pounds is the suggested package. <a href="http://www.crayola.com/colorcycle/frequently-asked-questions.aspx">Crayola’s Colorcycle program</a> provides prepaid FedEx shipping labels.</p>
<p>• Rubber bands can be donated to local schools or to the post office for mail carriers’ use.</p>
<p>• <a href="https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/donate-cell-phone-charity.htm">Donate old cell phones to charities</a>. Because it reduces the need for coltan, an African ore mined in endangered gorilla habitat, zoos in San Diego, Oklahoma City, Oakland and <a href="http://CincinnatiZoo.org/savingspecies/recycle-your-cell-phone">Cincinnati</a> are among those collecting cell phones for recycling.</p>
<p>• <a href="http://Listfully.org">Listfully.org</a> takes the guesswork out of gift giving. A user can select a date night at a favorite spot, a donation to charity or any item. It’s not limited to a particular store or occasion. Avoid unwanted gifts and the guilt of regifting.</p>
<p>• Use <a href="http://SwoondleSociety.com">SwoondleSociety.com</a> to swap children’s clothing and keep clothes out of landfills.</p>
<p>The most Earth-conscious option is to reduce, re-use, then recycle or donate to charities.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the September 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:83e1c08b-9721-48ee-97f8-b672ada334372019-08-16T00:21:27-04:002019-08-16T00:21:27-04:00Sunny Success: New Solar Capacity Outpaced Other Fuel Sources2018-08-31 11:51:39 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> United Nations-backed report, <em>Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2018</em>, reveals that the world invested more in solar power than any other single energy technology in 2017 and installed more new solar capacity than all other energy sources combined, including fossil fuels.</p>
<p>The report tally saw investors committing $279.8 billion to renewable energy overall, excluding large dams, and $160.8 billion to solar specifically. United Nations Energy Programme head Erik Solheim explains, “The extraordinary surge in solar investment shows how the global energy map is changing and more importantly, what the economic benefits are, including the creation of more better-paying, higher-quality jobs.”</p>
<p>China, the leader in solar and renewable investment, was responsible for more than half of the 98 gigawatts of solar capacity added last year and 45 percent of the dollars invested in renewables overall. The U.S. was second, investing $40.5 billion in renewable energy. Mexico, Australia and Sweden increased their commitments by substantial amounts—810 percent, 147 percent and 127 percent, respectively—with all three countries ranked in the top 10.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the September 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:1560f563-919c-44a6-8bd1-312dafca22ec2019-08-16T00:47:55-04:002019-08-16T00:47:55-04:00Flower Power: Farms Test Low-Tech Pesticide Alternative2018-08-31 11:51:37 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>o make sure more beneficial bugs come to their crops to feed on pests, farmers are planting flowers in the middle of their fields. On a farm near the town of Buckingham, England, a crop of oilseed rape is planted amidst rows of wildflowers. It’s one of 14 sites in a study testing the wildflowers’ efficacy in attracting pest-eating bugs, and how well they would perform in replacing toxic pesticides.</p>
<p>The study also includes the use of borders of wildflowers around each field, a technique farmers in the area have used for the past two decades to promote general biodiversity, though not specifically for pest control.</p>
<p>Researchers Ben Woodcock and Richard Pywell, of the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology, write, “The crop protection ‘toolbox’ is becoming smaller and more vulnerable, so now is a good time to rethink our future crop protection strategies to consider the use of alternative pest control measures alongside conventional pesticides.”</p>
<p>Pesticide use probably won’t be eliminated completely, they say. However, by attracting pest-eating bugs—along with other techniques like breeding plants to better resist pests, using technology to better diagnose and forecast pest behavior and application systems that can apply tiny amounts of pesticide more precisely—pesticide use could be dramatically reduced. Harsh chemicals can then serve as a last line of defense, rather than the first thing farmers reach for.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the September 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:a898ceb0-a3b2-4128-8f87-6ae6b22ab46a2019-08-16T01:15:21-04:002019-08-16T01:15:21-04:00After Plastic: New Eco-Packaging Options Underway2018-08-31 11:51:36 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">F</span>rito-Lay, Campbell Soup and other major U.S. players in the food and beauty industries are talking more about sustainability these days. The result is adoption of innovative materials.</p>
<p>Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of recycler TerraCycle, advises, “Bioplastics are meant to be a solution for the world’s plastic waste problem. However, in most cases, biodegradable bioplastics will only break down in a high-temperature industrial composting facility, not in your average household compost bin. Plus, these are not recyclable. A better solution might be to place the focus on durable bioplastics that are made from plant materials, but can still be recycled,”</p>
<p>Entrepreneurs like Daphna Nissenbaum are taking action. As an Israeli mom, she chided her teenage son for trashing rather than recycling plastic water bottles. Yet then, she says, “I realized plastic bottles weren’t the main issue,” when she saw flexible packaging such as chip bags, candy wrappers and go-to containers crammed into the trash. Nissenbaum learned that most flexible packaging isn’t recycled and ends up in landfills, oceans and other places.</p>
<p>Once an orange peel is discarded, it disintegrates biologically and turns to compost, she saw, and committed to engineering packaging to do the same. A graduate of the Israeli Army’s elite software engineering program and with a marketing MBA, her Tipa Corporation has patented bioplastic that acts like plastic. “When composted, the material naturally breaks down in 180 days or less,” she says. Tipa now makes zippered bags, stand-up pouches and packaging for coffee, snacks and produce.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the September 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:836c24fa-a90b-4cad-a732-414125b29d1c2019-08-16T00:37:00-04:002019-08-16T00:37:00-04:00Green Shoes: Being Sustainable Down to Our Soles2018-08-31 11:51:35 -0400Anonymous<p><span class="dropcap">F</span>ollowing an environmentally friendly lifestyle can be felt right down to our toes. Increase the life of footwear by being properly fitted in high-quality shoes, performing ongoing maintenance and patronizing cobblers. Pay extra attention to waterproofing shoes in winter and rainy seasons. Also, vegan alternatives to leather are available.</p>
<p>Shoe repairs annually keep nearly 1 million pairs of shoes out of landfills and save about 1 billion animals, according to <a href="http://MyShoeHospital.com">My Shoe Hospital</a>, in Austin, Texas, which express-mails shoe repair services. The company reports that total global footwear manufacturing produces nearly 1.5 million tons of waste leather per year. Much of it can be avoided.</p>
<p>• Proper maintenance starts with using a leather cleaner and conditioner, followed by applying polishes and waxes to renew color, cover scuff marks and soften the surface. A natural weatherproofing agent, like lanolin, seed oils or beeswax helps to further seal the surface to prevent water seepage.</p>
<p>• In addition to resoling shoes to extend their lifespan, some repair shops offer stretching services and fitting aids to improve comfort or preserve desired shape. Shop locators are part of the <a href="http://ssia.info">Shoe Service Institute of America</a> and <a href="http://somsr.com">Society of Master Shoe Repairers</a> websites.</p>
<p>• Conventional shoe leather not only involves killing animals, but also treating animal skins with toxic chemicals like mineral salts, lead, cyanide and formaldehyde. Materials like linen, cotton, cork, wood, imitation leathers and recycled faux suede are used in <a href="http://Olsenhaus.com">Olsenhaus</a>’ vegan shoe line.</p>
<p>• Many sustainable shoe brands belong to the <a href="http://BetterShoes.org">Better Shoes Foundation</a>. Members include <a href="http://LyfShoes.com">Lyf Shoes</a> of Raleigh, North Carolina, custom-made of 100 percent recyclable materials; <a href="http://ShopOsborn.com">Osborn footwear</a>, featuring fair trade production and eco-friendly materials; and <a href="http://VerduraShoes.com">Verdura Shoes</a>, made from recycled fishing nets and other eco-friendly sources.</p>
<p class="fineprint"><br>
<em>This article appears in the September 2018 issue of </em>Natural Awakenings.</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>