By Heather Bien
Sustainability is our core mission and we’re on a journey to make this world a better place on Earth Day and every day. That’s why we’re joining with other sustainability-focused brands to fund immediate and impactful climate action to restore the planet’s ecosystems through the #ClimateTogether Alliance.
We all have the opportunity to leave the world better than we found it. And we can’t do it alone.
What is the #ClimateTogether Alliance?
We’re in great company with 22 like-minded brands working together to make an impact through the #ClimateTogether Alliance. There are clothing brands, water bottles, home goods, and more, all with a focus on honoring our Mother Earth through real, measurable action.
#ClimateTogether is cutting through the greenwashing to partner with Eden Reforestation Projects and Plastic Bank and put climate action into motion through restoring forests and removing ocean plastic. Last year, #ClimateTogether brands supported efforts to plant 15,000 trees in Madagascar and remove 150,000 plastic bottles from the ocean, and they reached 1,721,481 followers on social media, ready to make a difference.
Here’s What Working Together Towards a Better World Looks Like
The brands and sustainability-minded companies working through #ClimateTogether understand that the environment has to come before thoughtless consumption, taking action is better than simply making noise, and collaboration will always get more done than competition.
We believe in transparency: we make sustainable products, and we make them with a better world in mind. We are changemakers who create innovative products for those who value conscious consumption and choose to spend their dollars with brands who hold the same fair, safe, and sustainable values close.
And this year we’re working to make #ClimateTogether even bigger. Here’s what we’ve got planned.
This year, #ClimateTogether aims to plant 16,000 mangrove trees Madagascar with Eden Reforestation Projects. These trees offset five times more carbon than upland forest, help life local communities out of poverty through employment, and support the ecosystem in an island nation with over 200,000 species of plants and animals that exist only in Madagascar.
On your last beach trip, did you see plastic remnants floating by? Did you pick it up? Plastic Banks is doing just that. They’re removing ocean plastic and improving vital underwater ecosystems while also providing jobs for collectors across the Philippines, Indonesia, Haiti, and the world.This year, they’re setting out to remove 130,000 plastic bottles from the ocean.
Are You Ready to Take Action?
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re proud to stand with others who are making an impact in our world and our communities. And that includes you.
One small donation to make a difference.
Sources:
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Why Living a Sustainable Life Is Good for You and the Planet
Sustainability. It might not roll off the tongue, but we’re told time and time again how vital it is. We're living in an age where people are more concerned about the future of the planet than ever before. With constant talk about climate change, our carbon emissions footprint and how the quality of life for future generations will be compromised by our damaged environment, the concept of sustainable living is becoming more and more paramount. But what exactly is sustainable living? And what makes it so necessary? We seek to answer these questions by breaking down some of the key principles of sustainability and taking a look at some examples of sustainable living. What is sustainability? Although most people would probably agree they know what sustainability is, it remains a tricky term to actually define. Our take is that sustainability is the reduction of damage to the environment. In turn, it’s the reversal of the damage that has already been caused. Sustainability is the concept of living within the resources the planet provides without harming the planet now or in the future. Sustainability is about looking at the long-term. At how our actions today will affect our children’s lives, and our children’s children’s lives. It’s finding ways not to deplete the earth’s resources or causing pollution at rates much faster than the earth can renew them. What are the 3 principles of sustainability? When talking about sustainability, the concept is often divided into three key principles – or pillars, as they’re known. These are social (people), economic (profit) and environment (planet). 1. Social Social sustainability is the idea that everyone should have access to basic resources without having to compromise their quality of life. 2. Economic Economic sustainability is all about motivating companies to abide by sustainability guidelines beyond their standard legislative requirements. 3. Environment Environmental sustainability focuses on how we need to protect the air quality, ecosystems and sustainability of our natural resources. Why should I care about sustainability? Now you have a better understanding as to what sustainability is, there shouldn't be any question around why sustainable habits are so important. But in case there is, here you go: 1. It affects your life on earth Following sustainable practices – such as wearing bamboo clothing and being a more sustainable traveler – will have a direct positive impact on your experience here on earth. By taking care of the planet with even one sustainable practice, you'll benefit by inhaling less pollution, experiencing less extreme weather conditions and enjoying the natural beauties the earth provides. If you don't, you'll experience the exact opposite. 2. It affects future generations Caring about sustainability is not just about us and our own experience on earth. If we don’t take the health of the planet seriously, we’ll be compromising the ability of future generations to live a happy and healthy life on this beautiful rock we call home. We must become a sustainable society for the better chance of earth maintaining its health for those yet to be born. 3. It affects the planet and its other inhabitants Deciding to not adopt an eco-friendly sustainable lifestyle is not only detrimental to humanity, but to the earth and its other residents such as animals, insects, and sea-life. It would be misguided for us to think we're the center of the universe and that the earth is something that belongs to us. We share it with many other species, so we need to preserve it for them, too! What are some examples of sustainability? So now you know what sustainability is and why it’s important, you’d probably like to see some examples of sustainability in action. Here are some examples to get you started. 1. Reduce, reuse, recycle It's an age-old concept, but one that has stood the test of time for good reason. Reducing your waste is perhaps the most important here, seeing as the less we use, the less we need to in turn reuse or recycle. For example, reusable coffee cups and straws make great investments to avoid nasty disposable plastic waste. The same can be said for cloth towels and diapers. When reducing isn’t an option, reusing is the next best thing. For instance, glass jars, containers or cans are perfect for filling with dried pasta, nuts, and seeds. Got old clothes, linen or towels that are too worn even to donate? Why not rip them up and use them as cleaning rags? Finally, when all else fails, it’s important to recycle. Recycling is obviously better than simply sending your waste off to the landfill, but an even better scenario would be to reduce the waste, to begin with. But when there's no other way, reach for the recycling bin! 2. Catch public transport Another great sustainable living tip is the decision to leave your car at home and catch public transport instead. According to this report on vehicle emissions – such as hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen – air pollutants can lead to smog and adverse health issues such as “respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease and cancer”. Obviously, not everyone lives somewhere where it's possible to walk, run or even cycle to work, but it's often a possibility to swap your car for public transport. By leaving your car at home and choosing to jump on the bus, train, tram or ferry, you're not only helping reduce pollution, but you're actively saving money, too. Win-win! 3. Grow your own food Ok, we might not all be able to completely cut off from supermarkets and live off the land. Wouldn’t that be nice? But even small updates to our lifestyles can result in big changes to the environment. Whether it’s herbs on a city balcony, a few tomato plants in your backyard or a community garden – there are countless ways to live a more sustainable life by growing your own food. Through growing your own herbs, fruits, and veggies, you'll find yourself becoming more in touch with nature, encouraging you to live more sustainably in other ways. For instance - if you haven't already - you could start your own compost pile. Also, by needing to buy less fruit and veggies from the local supermarket, you could end up doing fewer trips in the car leading to less pollution, environmental impact, as well as less food waste. 4. Shop sustainably By making thoughtful decisions about what we purchase in our everyday lives, we can all adopt more sustainable lifestyles. For example, it’s important to think about the chemicals you clean with at home. Eco-friendly cleaning products you pick up in a store are always good, but you could always go a step further and make your own. Think white vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. When shopping sustainably, it’s also important to think about the clothing we buy. This is because the practices carried out to produce the garments we end up wearing are not always as thoughtful as we would expect them to be (fast fashion, we’re looking at you!). In our humble opinion, bamboo clothing is a more sustainable choice than other traditional and contemporary fibers, both natural and synthetic. Grown organically without pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers, the benefits of bamboo clothing go on and on. What is sustainable development? Once you've got your head around the concept of sustainability, it makes it easier to understand what sustainable development is. In its simplest terms, sustainable development is when development goals are met by sustaining our earth’s natural resources. This means the needs of our modern world are met in the present day without compromising future generations (easier said than done!) 5 examples of sustainable development 1. Solar energy One of the best things about solar energy is that it's free and available in limitless supply (that's once you've installed solar panels and given the sun is shining!). By replacing non-renewable energy with solar energy, you'll not have energy efficiency, but you'll be financially efficient, too. 2. Green spaces Green spaces such as parks and botanical gardens help regulate air quality and climate, reducing energy consumption and recharging groundwater supplies. Sustainable living practices like these are also known to improve mental health - who knew how powerful a park could be? 3. Crop rotation A vital component of organic farming, crop rotation is “a system of designing how to cycle a parcel of land through various crops”. This, in turn, reduces the reliance on nasty chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Nice! 4. Sustainable construction Building houses, offices, and other structures in a way that incorporates sustainable construction into residential and commercial development allows them to be energy efficient. 5. Efficient water fixtures Switching to efficient showerheads, toilets and other water appliances can conserve one of the earth’s most crucial resources: water. So, there you have it. Our comprehensive guide on what sustainability is, examples of sustainable living ideas in action and why sustainability is so important for the preservation of our planet and the wellbeing of future generations. It's so important to think about our everyday actions. Whether it's through deciding to leave your car in the driveway and catch the train to work, buying clothing made in a sustainable way or considering sustainable development choices at home or at work, it's the responsibility of each of us to leave this world in the best possible condition for our children, their children and all future generations to come. When in doubt, think green for a better world!
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11 Ways to Be More Sustainable in the Workplace
Caring for the planet doesn’t need to be hard work. An eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle shouldn’t stop at your doorstep, as cultivating good habits at work makes a world of difference. No matter whether you’re starting a new job or have been in your current role for a while, it’s always a good time to introduce new habits that can help the environment. According to official figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Aussies spend an average of 40 hours at work a week. That covers at least half your week, including transportation to and from your workplace. So, switching to a low carbon emission lifestyle entails changing some routines when you’re at the office. Here are 11 ways you can live a sustainable lifestyle at work. 1. Go digital The paper industry is currently the fifth consumer of energy globally, and going paperless in any way helps lighten this massive carbon footprint. Opting to go primarily digital in reports or communications wherever possible is an important step in switching to zero waste. 2. Bring a tumbler Single-use plastic cups are a bane to the environment, as most iterations are not even recyclable. This is due to the waterproof lining that is sprayed on the inner part. Plastic bottles are even worse, as they end up in streams and in the ocean. Disposable paper cups, on the other hand, are often inconveniently made of paper. The best option is to bring your own tumbler or reusable cup that can help reduce the amount of waste and make your workplace an eco-friendly place. 3. Have a green lunch Healthy and eco-friendly lunches don’t have to be boring or exhausting. Mother Nature News highlights some tips you can follow for a green lunch, with one being literally surrounding yourself with green space. Leaving your desk and eating at a proper table outside of the office not only helps you make better food choices but is also good for your health. Pain-Free Working explains that eating lunch at your desk can have negative effects on your body like elevated stress and increased risk of heart disease. By taking your reusable container to the nearby park or bench under a tree, you're taking care of yourself and building a sustainable lunch habit. 4. Unplug chargers Continuously running chargers are a huge waste of energy. While many of the smartphone and gadget manufacturers today include batteries that automatically stop charging when full, chargers can continue drawing from the system. Despite the very small amount of energy it consumes, the millions of chargers being left plugged daily add up to a lot of waste. 5. Get desk plants Plants at the office not only help reduce carbon dioxide in your office, but also aid in boosting productivity, creativity, and lowering stress levels. In fact, a long term study from NASA found that indoor plants can soak up 87% of toxic chemicals in the room in just 24 hours. Succulents are a great choice if you don’t have a green thumb, as they are great at absorbing harmful chemicals while being low-maintenance. The snake plant is also a great choice since it ranks high in the said study, and it looks beautiful on any desk. 6. Go for a laptop Given the choice, changing from a desktop to a laptop should be a priority. Laptops consume 80% less energy than bulkier desktop computers. And manufacturers of laptops are constantly finding ways to improve energy efficiency, as it helps in battery longevity and portability. Today, a performance laptop can consume energy limited to 90Wh because of its smaller PSU compared to PCs that can rack up to 400Wh at full load. 7. Let your hands drip-dry The age-old debate between the environmental impact of using a hand dryer or paper towels has long been settled. Studies show that paper towels are the most wasteful option for drying your hands in the bathroom. But you can go a step further. Simply letting your hands drip before using the dryer can help cut the carbon footprint even more. So, next time you reach for the dryer, just wait a full minute or two. 8. Drive a hybrid Your ride to work constitutes most of your carbon emission throughout the day. If you’re anxious about buying a fully electric car, opting for a hybrid can be a more affordable and eco-friendly option. Hybrid cars, while also running on fuel, utilise less than half of what average cars consume. 9. Work from home Whenever permitted, working from home is one of the best things you can do to reduce your contribution to carbon emissions. The act of not commuting to work alone alleviates the damage transportation causes to the environment. This is especially true today that commute hours are increasing. 10. Take public transportation If working from home or an electric/hybrid car isn’t an option, do the next big thing – take public transport to work. Whether it’s a bus, train, tram or ferry, it’s always the greener option to leave the car at home. Plus, without having the distraction of driving, you can sit back with your headphones in and enjoy some quiet down on the way to work listening to a new album by your favourite artist or an interesting podcast. 11. Advocate greener policies While your efforts to lower your carbon footprint can go a long way, advocating for greener policies at work can make an exponential difference on a larger scale. For instance, simply suggesting that you use direct flights when going on business trips can help cut down emissions. You can also introduce Meatless Mondays or Strawless Tuesdays to help raise awareness in your workplace and take a step towards cultivating a green office. Article contributed by Lauren Wilson
