Reduce, Reuse, Recycle....Do More -Earth Day 2021

Earth Day is here. What better time to talk about brands that are consistently sustainable beyond a mention in their bio? Every day should be Earth Day, April 22nd is a great time to reflect and improve your daily habits to be more ecologically conscious. Keep that in mind and think of ways you can improve your carbon footprint every single day.

Promoting sustainable brands and awareness is so important to me and here are some of my very favorite brands and some easy eco go-to tips you can incorporate right away in your own home! I cannot mention everyone as this post would be too terribly long but these are the brands I have seemed to gravitate to more and more over the last two years.

1. Everyone should be using a market bag!!! This is one of the easiest things to do. It’s seriously time to ditch plastic bags FOREVER.

2. Switch out your toilet paper and paper towels to a bamboo paper product. (We use linen and cotton napkins all the time but for the occasional dog accident and crazy spill, we do need to keep paper towels on hand. ) We love REEL for so many reasons. Reel Paper is made of 100% bamboo, making it the most sustainable, eco-friendly toilet paper on the market. Plus, all of their shipping materials are biodegradable and they use plastic-free packaging. Plus the bamboo goods are delivered straight to your door and you can even be on autoship!

3. Switch up your cleaning supplies. We love Supernatural . The ingredients in their natural cleaners get the job done plus they smell this amazing! Their concentrates are made entirely from plants, minerals, and essential oils. They are 100% non-toxic cleaning formulas that have been third party tested to work. Plus their refill structure keeps their carbon footprint among the lowest in the industry. Read more about my experience here. We also love Truly Free products for our veggie and fruit wash, dishwasher soap and dish soap, and laundry soap. They are dedicated to leaving the Earth better than they found it by reducing plastic waste with refillable laundry jugs and recyclable packaging. I have some glass containers on order too for these so the photo is right from when I snapped it when I opened the box!

4. Tidy up that spice cabinet! We had previously made our whole pantry plastic free but never got around to the spice cabinet. Glass jars are the perfect solution to solving all your kitchen organization needs, while also looking beautiful and helping you to create a plastic free kitchen. Plus now I can just get my spices in bulk lessening my carbon footprint even more! I seriously cannot believe I just tackled this project.

5. Upgrade your storage! Get rid of that single use plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Opt for linen or beeswax food covers. Sustainable food storage is such a simple swap. Trade out your ziplock bags for silicone. Trade tupperware for glass.

And for some more honorable brands be sure to check out VEJA! I know we have gotten so comfortable with just wearing stylish chic sneakers these days as we retire the stilettos.

Going to copy and paste the interview with VEJA that Garance’s team did because it’s just SOOOO good.

What was the catalyst that prompted your interest in producing sustainably?
We launched VEJA in 2005…we were 25 years old. We didn’t know anything about the fashion industry but we wanted to launch a sneaker project that respects people and the environment. The goal was to source all the raw materials directly and control the entire chain of production. We sought to combine this with cool aesthetics, focusing on what we’d want to wear every day.

We went to Brazil to source the wild rubber from the Amazon forest, buying it directly from seringueiros (wild rubber gatherers). This makes up the sole of every Veja sneaker. We do the same with our organic & fair trade cotton that we source in Northern Brazil. We also work with an innovative mesh made out of 100% used & recycled plastic bottles, and our leather is vegetable-tanned. So when someone asks, “How are your sneakers are made?” we can provide an answer for each step of the chain. And we’ve been able to do this for twelve years.

When and why did you decide to model the business on ethical and ecological practices?
Creating Veja was to prove that business can be done fairly and ecologically, and with more economic and social justice. Our philosophy is that there is only one world – not the good on one side and the bad guys on the other. For our entrepreneurial friends, we are activists, and for our friends working in NGOs, we are entrepreneurs. Linking those worlds is great. You meet a lot of interesting people and can make an impact.

Has trying to be ethical created design limitations and how do you handle them?
Of course! But strong limitations unleash creativity. For years, we only used organic and fair trade cotton, and then we developed more ecological fabrics. But looking back, those limitations were a blessing. We couldn’t get lost in the unlimited possibilities of production. We had to innovate, and forge our own path and our own process.

Mass production leads to mass consumption, do you think there are ways for a brand to succeed both financially and ethically?
We are growing slowly, without advertising, only through word of mouth. And by growing slowly, we do not forget our principles, we improve them over time. We are not true entrepreneurs. We are not looking to raise funds – something we call “the grandpa management.” We want to be slow, but solid. Our society has a problem with speed. We are quick, but we take our time to make all the real choices. Choosing partners, launching new projects, designing new models. And so far, time has always been on our side. Today, the Veja team includes 50 people. Our biggest source of pride is the team we’ve built and the talent we see among us, daily. Every day, VEJA is setting an example in social and economic innovation. That is our main objective. And we know this is just the beginning.

What advice can you give to someone who is trying to shop and live more ethically and ecologically friendly?
Do what you love, live as you like, but know that your every move shapes the world of tomorrow.

Be sure to check out Helen Milan too! Their sustainable, ethical and beautiful products replace single use plastics. Eco friendly, zero waste and package free goods for your minimalist ...

I buy a lot of great things from Helen including this folding birch clothes rack from Iris Hantverk! It is an all-natural, aesthetically pleasing answer for small spaces and homes with exposed laundry rooms. (Hello-made for me) The rack embodies the simplicity and functionality of Scandinavian design that matches any home decor. And we do not have to run the dryer!

And of course Avocado! They are one of my fave eco brands doing amazing things. Just look at their gram to see their Earth Month Initiatives. You can read my full review of why I love them so much here.

Happy Earth Day everyone! I would love to hear some of the ways you have lessened your carbon footprint over the past year. Let me know your fave sustainable brands too in the comments below. I always love hearing from you.