Both Honest and the World Wildlife Fund strive to make every day Earth Day and create a sustainable future, so today we’re sharing great tips from two WWF conservationists on the steps we can take to reduce our impact on the planet.
1. A lot of people talk about conserving but it’s not always cost-effective. Where can we really save a lot of energy and money, while not lowering our quality of life? What are the biggest win-win-wins? ~ Honest Justin
From WWF’s Keya Chatterjee, Senior Director for Renewable Energy and Footprint Outreach:
Three things matter the most when determining how to help the environment while saving money: (1) how you get around; (2) if/how you use energy to heat and cool your home; and (3) how you keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
First, how you get around can play a huge role in keeping the environment clean and also protecting your pockets from going empty. A win-win here is to start biking. Set a goal for yourself that you will bike to work at least once a month and up it from there! Many states are starting to build bike-friendly lanes, so the streets are much friendlier towards bikers than ever were before. Where you live can factor into this equation (in some cases, especially if you don’t live in an urban area, it might not be feasible or safe to ride a bike to the office). But if you’re able, biking is the way to go. Added benefit: money saved and a workout for your body.
Second, how much energy you use to heat and cool your home can play a role. Install a more efficient air handler and turn that handler up one degree in the summer and down one degree in the winter than you’re used to. Your body won’t notice the difference and you’ll save money in the meantime.
And a third and final tip is to use caulk, tapestries, and heavy drapes to keep your house more comfortable. Once you up or down that air handler in the summer/winter months, if you do find it difficult to adjust to the temperature, invest in heavier blankets to keep that warm air in. Also, open up those windows and let some air out in the summer.
2. Do the fuel savings in newer hybrid/plug-in cars offset the resources used in the research, development, and manufacturing? ~ Honest Brian
From WWF’s Keya Chatterjee, Senior Director for Renewable Energy and Footprint Outreach:
Not surprisingly, yes, efficient cars are much better for the environment. Hybrid cars save so much energy while on-the-go compared to other cars that they make up for the energy used to manufacture them. Efficiency makes a huge difference, and the most efficient cars are hybrids and electric vehicles. You can visit toptenusa.org to find a list of the ten most efficient cars on the market today.
© naturepl.com / Steven Kazlowski / WWF-Canon
3. What is the biggest threat to animals — is it us destroying their habitats or us directly targeting them (i.e., killing sharks for food or using tusks, horns, etc. for whatever)? ~ Honest Tony
From WWF’s Dr. Sybille Klenzendorf, Managing Director of Species Conservation:
There is no ‘one size fits all’ model for the biggest threats that animals face. Several factors play into the equation, and a lot depends on where the animals live. Climate change, habitat destruction, and illegal wildlife trade, among other threats, are all contributing to the decline of some populations of vital species.
Take the polar bear, for example. A warming climate is directly affecting the polar bears’ ability to hunt seals, rest and breed. The shorter sea ice season has decreased the amount of time bears can hunt for their prey, thus contributing to malnutrition and starvation.
Another direct threat is habitat destruction. For example, in 2012 the Sumatran elephant was changed from “Endangered” to “Critically Endangered” because half of its population has been lost in one generation – a decline that is largely due to habitat loss. Sumatra has experienced one of the highest rates of deforestation within the Asian elephant’s range, which has resulted in local extinctions of elephants in many areas.
Illegal trade in wildlife, caused by a demand coming from mostly Asian countries for products like elephant ivory and rhino horn, is causing an unprecedented poaching crisis around the world. Iconic species like elephants, rhinos, and tigers are directly affected by this threat. At the time of this post, already 249 rhinos have been poached in South Africa in 2013 – on pace to exceed 800 by year’s end if the poaching crisis continues. Go to WWF to read more about this serious issue and learn what you can do to help.
© Global Warming Images / WWF-Canon
4. What are the benefits of solar energy? ~ Honest David G.
From WWF’s Keya Chatterjee, Senior Director for Renewable Energy and Footprint Outreach:
There are many benefits that come from using solar energy. Primarily, it’s cost-effective – once you spend the money up front to purchase and install solar panels, solar energy is cost free and pollution free! There are about 40 million homes in the United States that would save money by installing solar power. Even better, in many states solar panels can also be leased with no money down. That means that you can have solar panels placed on your roof for free, and you can buy the energy from those panels at a lower rate than your current utility bills. You spend no money out of pocket, get solar energy on your roof, and pay cheaper bills. If you move, then the next owners can choose to break the lease, but why would they want their bills to go up? It ups the value to your home. There’s now good evidence that solar panels increase resale value of homes, which means buyers want them.
Also, when was the last time you heard about a huge solar energy spill? Workers getting hurt in a solar energy explosion? Kids getting asthma from solar energy? That stuff only happens with fossil fuels, and it’s all stuff our babies could live without.
Finally, we need solar energy to tackle climate change. And tackling climate change isn’t a pipe dream, it’s our job as parents. We owe it to our babies to act now to ensure they have a safe and vibrant planet for their future.
When I was pregnant with my first baby, the search for a nursery chandelier left me underwhelmed. When I did find one that caught my eye, the price tag caused my jaw to drop. I knew I had high expectations but that was no reason to break the bank. After weeks of failing to find the nursery’s wow factor, I decided to do what I do best. Create it myself.
Shade Selection
To begin, select a lampshade. You may consider an existing lamp in need of an upgrade or one hiding in storage. The great thing about lamp shades is how interchangeable they are with new and old bases. There are no rules in upcycling. The main idea is to repurpose, reuse & recycle!
Felt Selection
I’ve found that the thicker the felt, the better. A thicker material is easier to cut and mold (once you reach the glue stage). I tend to keep my color palette simple. Matching the felt and shade colors places emphasis on the shapes themselves. But again, there are no rules so feel free to have fun with color!
Supplies
Aside from the shade, there are only three necessary supplies. A pen/pencil for tracing shapes onto your felt, a pair of scissors for cutting out your shapes, and fabric glue to affix each shape to your shade. I’ve since realized that a pencil works best because it takes a lot more patience to cut inside the dark black line left by a marker.
Theme
Now the fun part. Depending on your room décor you may already have a theme in mind. The reason I chose birds was for their whimsical nature and ability to perch themselves upon things (also perfect for celebrating Earth Day and conservation). Some other themes to consider: jungle, circus, transportation, robot, farm…the possibilities are endless. Just make sure that you have enough recognizable shapes in your theme. Alternate the size of your shapes to create interest.
Sketching
Now, I know a lot of your are thinking: “You expect me to draw each shape by hand?” My answer would be, YES! You don’t have to be Rembrandt to draw these cute, simple shapes. Have fun with it. Remember, you can always start over if you slip up. Have a light box handy? A light box will allow you to trace each shape from a computer print out of your silhouettes.
Cutting
I suggest sketching and cutting about 5 or 6 shapes at a time. This way you can decide on the best arrangement before selecting which shapes/sizes to sketch next.
Applying Shapes
This step takes little effort and allows for a lot of creativity. Apply a tiny dab of glue to the center of your shape before placing it onto your shade. Press down as it takes a few moments to adhere. Mold/bend the outer edges and glue as you see fit. You’ll notice how each bird comes to life and gives the shade a sculptural quality.
Finishing
Repeat the step above until you have covered your shade.
~ Amber Osterhout
Amber Osterhout is a former creative/art director, full-time mom, part-time artist/photographer, and blogger at Obsessivision.com. She began blogging as a way to categorize her various design projects, photography, food creations, DIY tutorials, and other interests. She also creates abstract fine art prints from photography and other mediums available at her Etsy shop. Follow her on Facebook for more inspiration.
Our goal is to make every day Earth Day at Honest. Today and beyond, we are committed to health, sustainability, and creating a better world for generations to come. Since the very beginning when our company was merely a dream, we knew we wanted to do things differently by building a brand dedicated to positively changing the way businesses make impactful decisions related to environmental protection and mindful workplace practices.
To safeguard the planet and those little ones who will inherit it, we always work to improve our product, packaging, and process being a responsible company. Learn more about our health & sustainability standards and the “3 Ps” here:
Product
We love plants and all things living. We design to maximize their usage in our products and actively focus on minimizing the presence of petroleum in our products and packaging. One day (in the near future) we’ll be 100% plant-based and sustainably sourced, inside and out. At Honest, we:
Packaging
We believe if you can make an amazing product, including it’s packaging, without harming people or the planet—it is your responsibility to do so. We are always seeking innovation solutions to protect natural resources by minimizing waste and maximizing use/re-use in our packaging. At Honest, we:
Process
We know a sustainable product isn’t only what’s inside or how it’s wrapped. Rather, it includes how it’s manufactured, employee work environments, fair trade and sourcing, waste management, energy usage, and much more. At Honest, we:
We believe our sustainability efforts are a work in progress, as they are a first step in our journey to create products that are as non-toxic and healthy as possible. As Honest continues to grow, we’re excited to continually improve upon these solutions and implement new and innovative responsible practices. We’d love to hear your ideas for sustainability and reducing our collective impact, too—together, we can make it better.
Dressing your little one can be one of the most fun jobs as a new parent. Those tiny onesies, sweet pajamas, and tiny socks are irresistible. I know when I found out I was having a son, one of the very first things my husband and I did was pick out his coming home outfit. We literally walked across the street to a children’s boutique immediately following the ultrasound to buy his very first outfit.
In the midst of all of the excitement of a new baby, you may not consider what’s in the clothing you are purchasing or how fabric choices may contribute to living a more natural lifestyle. I didn’t initially. But since clothing is in constant contact with a baby’s delicate and sensitive skin, I now try to choose items made of organic cotton and non-toxic dyes.
When shopping for children’s clothing, you’ll find that most children’s clothing is made out of cotton. What the label won’t tell you is that unless that cotton is organic (and even organic choices aren’t guaranteed 100% chemical-free), it has often been treated with harmful chemicals that can’t always be washed away and, thus, could be absorbed by your baby’s skin.
Is cotton really the fabric of our lives?
While the cotton industry uses pesticides and insecticides in its cotton production—which is bad for the environment and our health because it pollutes natural resources we consume, those pesticide residues are removed from cotton fabric (not batting) during processing. So, you don’t necessarily have to toss all your cotton clothing right now.
Rather, children’s clothing made from synthetic fibers that are manufactured with petrochemicals, acrylic (polycrylonitriles), PVC, and esters may be linked to health problems including cancer, immune system damage, behavioral problems, and hormone disruption. And the fabric finishing found on cotton and synthetics alike is more concerning. Unlike sizing that can be removed in five washes, permanent press or fire-retardant finishing (which many children’s pajamas are treated with) never washes out and is known to release formaldehyde. Even “[s]ome synthetic dyes are made with chemicals that have been linked to everything from skin sensitization to occupational cancer,” reports Healthy Child Healthy World.
What should you keep in mind when shopping or buying gifts?
Choosing clothing made of sustainable fibers with non-toxic dyes are the safest and will keep harmful chemicals and toxins away from your baby’s skin. Look for clothing that is made out of organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, wool, cashmere, or silk and check the label for no chemical finishes, non-toxic dyes and inks, and fair labor practices. You can also check the label for The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) organic label. GOTS is the world’s leading textile processing standard for organic fibers and requires that the clothing is 95 percent organic and has no toxic dyes or finishes.
How do you find affordable and safe clothing for your kids?
A few of my favorite organic clothing companies include Under the Nile, Kate Quinn Organics, and KicKee Pants. And check out these great ideas for organic bibs, too. What are your faves?
~ Isobel Benesch of holdenonbaby
I’m Isobel, a first-time mama to my 16-month-old little wild child named Holden. Ever since the arrival of my son, I have been on a journey to raise a child in a more natural, simple, and non-toxic environment within the context of a modern lifestyle.
Before Holden, I never thought about the safety of children’s toys. And even after his arrival, my ideas on safety revolved mainly around potential choking hazards because those are the safety precautions the toy companies do warn you about. Like the majority of us, I expected that products specifically made for babies and young children would be safe. It wasn’t until my son started putting anything and everything into his mouth that I began to wonder what exactly he was chewing on. So, I did a little research and this is what I found:
In December 2006, San Francisco enacted the first-in-the-nation ban, modeled after that in the European Union, prohibiting the sale, distribution, and manufacture of baby products containing any level of bisphenol A (BPA) and certain levels of phthalates (found in vinyl plastics). At that time, the San Francisco Chronicle sent 16 common toys to a lab in Chicago for testing, showing that many of these toys contained toxic phthalates at levels the exceeded the limits set in the new San Francisco law—some as many as 13 times higher. And while the FDA has since banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups (a step in the right direction), it’s alarming and worrisome that these chemicals still find their way into toys.
Recently, Holden more than doubled his toy collection thanks to the generosity of family and friends this Christmas. Despite their best intentions, there a few additions that weren’t particularly safe. Most grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends consider the entertainment value and age-appropriateness when selecting toys, unaware of the dangers of certain plastics and lead in toys that may leach out when they are sucked or chewed (just like I originally assumed that toys marketed to young children were safe).
Instead of unpacking everything and tossing it into his toy bin, I decided to sort through both old and new toys with my knowledge of BPA and phthalates in mind to purge the potentially toxic or unsafe ones. It can seem impossible to tell which toys are harmful, so here are a few guidelines to keep your toy collection safe.
1. Toss the plastic. Vinyl plastic toys are some of the worst offenders when it comes to the health of your child and the planet. Vinyl (also known as PVC) is commonly used in teethers and soft squeeze toys like rubber duckies. It’s toxic and made with chemicals like lead and phthalates, which have been linked to cancer, kidney and liver damage, harm to developing reproductive organs, and premature breast development in girls. Inhaling these chemicals can also worsen asthma in children. (Learn more about the dangers of Vinyl from Healthy Child Healthy World here). Here’s one tip for choosing safer plastics: Look for toys labeled 1,2, 4, or 5 in the symbol usually found at the bottom of the product.
2. Choose natural materials, especially wood. Look for wood, plush, or soft toys made from natural and organic materials when finding safe options for your little ones. Unfinished, solid wood is the safest for children and is healthier for the environment in life cycle terms. The best woods are certified sustainably produced hardwoods. Try to avoid pressed woods, which are formed with glues that give off toxic fumes. Also, be aware of paints and finishes on wood. Read labels or the box to ensure that non-toxic paints, stains, or other finishes were used.
3. Avoid Metal Jewelry. Lead isn’t only a paint problem—it’s also found in jewelry, particularly the inexpensive kind. HealthyStuff.org found that more than 50% of the jewelry it tested contained chemicals like cadmium and lead. This goes for jewelry made for both children and adults. As mothers we know that our jewelry often is our child’s favorite toy, and this is something of concern particularly because jewelry sold to adults is not required to meet safety standards. As a great alternative, check out amber teething necklaces for mom and baby.
Do you have any other tips for finding safe toys for your kids?
~ Isobel Benesch of holdenonbaby
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