This post was sponsored by Aspiration. As always, we only partner with brands we genuinely like.

Can you imagine being able to help the planet any easier than just a swipe? If you are like me, you probably pull out your card a couple of times a day, but what if every time you did so, you were planting trees?? It would be pretty great, right?

Aspiration, an online green financial service, has started this amazing movement called #PlantYourChange, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you! 

How does #PlantYourChange work? 

With each swipe, your purchase will be rounded up to the next dollar. For example, your morning coffee purchase is $3.98? Well, it’s now an even $4, and you’ve helped plant a tree!

Psst… You DO NOT have to be a customer of Aspiration. This movement can be done with any card  and any bank. 

Why does this matter? 

This movement is a great - and easy - way to support climate change mitigation. It won’t be the problem solver, but it’s a piece of the puzzle. According to conservation.org, about 36 football fields’ worth of trees are lost every minute due to deforestation.​ Aspiration hopes, with your help, to plant 100 million trees by 2021. By planting trees through reforestation, we are helping offset carbon since mature trees can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Forests can provide 23% of the cost-effective climate mitigation needed before 2030, but reforestation currently accounts for less than 3% of climate mitigation funding. We can help restore biodiversity in disrupted local ecosystems with just a swipe of a card. No more waiting around for the government to step up; we can start doing something today! 

Who Plants the Trees?

Aspiration is currently working with two different planting partners: Arbor Day Foundation & Eden Reforestation Projects. 

Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. It has more than 1 million members, supporters, and partners who have helped plant more than 350 million trees. These trees are planted everywhere, from neighborhoods to communities to cities to forests.

Eden Reforestation Projects focuses on restoring biodiversity in local ecosystems. They employ local labor to plant trees; one million trees are equivalent to 10,000 days of sponsored employment. 

Aspiration works with local governments to protect the restoration sites. They do not plant in logging areas (but, of course, that can’t be 100% legally guaranteed in the future). They also ensure that a minimum of 10% of trees are agroforestry species so they can be economically beneficial in the long run. 

Where to Sign Up

Ready to help restore our forests?! Click - here - and it only takes about two minutes to sign up securely and start planting trees. Again, you don’t have to be one of Aspiration’s customers. This is for anyone who uses a debit or credit card. 

& make sure to check out the #PlantYourChange initiative on Instagram!

On a side note - If you are looking to switch to a greener bank that doesn’t support fossil-fuel initiatives, I suggest giving Aspiration a go! 

This post was sponsored by Z Wraps. As always, views are genuine and brands are truly loved. Thanks for supporting the sustainable brands who are working to make the world a greener place!

Z Wraps

a modern sustainable way to wrap and store your food

As someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen cooking for my family, it's important for me to reduce my waste as much as possible. There was a time when I used to reach for plastic wrap whenever I needed to store food, especially the kind that sealed tightly around the edge of the bowl. However, as I started to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, I realized that I needed an eco-friendly alternative to plastic wrap.

Initially, I started using the jars and Tupperware containers that I had at home, but often I found myself wishing for a more convenient option to quickly wrap up half-eaten food and store it in the fridge. That's when I came across reusable food wraps, and I was excited to give them a try. That's when I found brands like Z Wraps!

It’s amazing how little I see this type of product in other people’s kitchens. I’m hoping reusable food wraps become the new norm soon, because it’s incredibly difficult to recycle plastic wrap, and in the landfill it emits toxic chemicals as it breaks down. 

According to National Geographic, a 2019 report found that in a span of 6 months, nearly 80 million Americans used at least one roll of plastic wrap. That’s a crazy amount of plastic waste coming out of our country alone!

Reasons to Love Z Wraps

Reusable: Put down the plastic cling wrap because these reusable food wraps will save you money. After each use, you just need a little bit of soap and some water to clean them off. I’ve cleaned mine several times, and they work just as well as when I first got them.

Practical: It’s incredible how just the heat of your hands makes these reusable wraps so easy to use. Once you warm them with body heat, Z Wraps have natural self-adhering properties to cover your leftovers with a superior seal. They also come in so many different sizes. Whether you’re covering a salad bowl or a half-eaten baguette, you have options. With Elliott, they are great to have on hand for his many partly-eaten fruits - as you can tell in the photos.

Sustainably-Made: One of my favorite parts about Z Wraps is the fact they’re handmade right here in the USA. (By a woman-owned business, no less!) Previous wraps I’ve used were sent to me from faraway countries, and I much prefer to support a product made only a few states away. Each reusable wrap is made from 100% cotton with organic beeswax. Even their packaging is made from recycled paper and biodegradable cellulose. 

Where to Shop

Find all the different sizes and patterns of Z Wraps online - here - and don’t forget to stay up-to-date with new products on Instagram. 

This post was done in partnership with Conscious Step. As always, views are genuine and brands are truly loved. Thanks for supporting the sustainable brands who are working to make this industry a fairer place!

Conscious Step

keep reading for a discount code & giveaway

If you're creating a brand that gives back, why not make it something practical for everyone? We all love, wear, and need socks. When I began my sustainable wardrobe, I didn't think about my socks and underwear that much. After a few holes and sock monsters later, I realized that sustainability should be applied to every garment I own, including socks. By purchasing sustainably made socks, you ensure that the makers are being paid a fair wage, and you receive a better quality garment that lasts longer, saving you money in the long run. Also, I've noticed that the more I care about the brand behind the product, the better I look after it. When I like my socks, they stick together better, and I don't have to replace them because I've lost a match.

psst.. Father’s Day is just around the corner, and these socks would make the perfect gift! They have a lot of great options when it comes to Gift Sets, too. 

Reasons to Love Conscious Step

Giving Back: With each Conscious Step purchase, a portion of the proceeds are donated to the charity associated with that pair of socks. From building homes to treating HIV, there is a cause everyone can attach themselves to. We all have been affected or cared about one or several of these causes, and it feels so good to know the clothes you wear are more than just an eco-friendly, consciously made product. 

Organic Cotton: Conscious Step’s entire supply chain is GOTS and Vegan certified. This cotton is never treated with herbicides, insecticides, or pesticides and is not genetically modified. Because about 80% of the world’s organic cotton is grown in India, Conscious Step has decided to manufacture there to benefit from their expertise and support small cotton farmers. 

Fairly Made: Conscious Step believes in an ethical workplace because all humans deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Their products are all Fair Trade Certified, which (if you are unfamiliar) is a movement promoting a sustainable workplace to help producers in developing countries achieve better working conditions.

What We’re Wearing

Socks that Promote Breast Cancer Prevention: Support Keep a Breast in raising awareness on breast cancer prevention - You can either purchase a pack of 3 which has three beautiful solid colors, or they have a pair with a fun boobie print I think any woman would enjoy! 

Socks that Save Dogs: Saves rescue dogs through the Best Friends Animal Society - These are the socks Travis are wearing, and they are great solid basic colors. Especially if you are looking for a Father’s Day Gift, this is one to note!

Socks that Give Water: Provide access to safe water to one person for 5 years through Water.org - By far, the best ankle socks I’ve ever owned. They don’t slide down, and have that incredibly comfortable band in the middle to keep it close around your foot. I love wearing these with all of my sneakers. 

Socks that Save Cats: Protect shelter cats through the work of Best Friends Animal Society - You gotta be kitten with me these sweet things! They remind me a lot of the Breast Cancer socks with the illustration, but little kitty heads instead. 

discount & giveaway

Shop the entire collection and see all the causes you can help support - here - and make sure to use my code SUSTAINABLYCHIC20 for 20% off your entire purchase.

This post was sponsored by Incipio. As always, views are genuine and brands are truly loved. Thanks for supporting the sustainable brands who are working to make this industry a fairer place!

Introducing Organicore™ by Incipio

Billions of cell phones are sold every year to consumers, and I would say most of these phones are held in some protection case. There are already so many environmental issues with the actual phone itself, so why create more waste with its outer shell?! Thanks to brands like Incipio, you can find a super eco-friendly option that works and avoids adding more waste to the planet with a plastic one. They call this case the Organicore™, and it can fit iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max & iPhone SE 2020, and Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+ & S20 Ultra. 

Organicore™ Features:

These eco-friendly cases made from plants are 100% compostable with a 6-foot drop protection and wireless charging compatibility. They are incredibly lightweight and are very smooth to the touch. You can find them in 4 colors - Black, Oatmeal Beige, Stone Gray, and Deep Pine. The Samsung cases have two additional colors - Mystic Blue & Dusty Pink. I’ve been using the beige and pine interchangeably (depending on my outfit, hah). I love the speckled look within the colors because it makes it feel more organic and natural. I’ve also dropped my phone a few times since putting the new case on, and I’ve had no issues! 

What is Organicore™ made from??

These unique cases are made with a proprietary blend of 100% composted plant and bio-based materials. With this material, you can throw it in your compost in the back of your yard and let the world do its thing. Sometimes, the word ‘compostable’ can be a bit confusing because there are different ways to compost products. For example, several compostable plant plastics must be composted at a particular facility and not in your backyard. This case can be composted at your home and may take up to 2-3 years, depending on the quality of your compost. 

Like Incipio’s other cases, these ones are also backed by a 1-year warranty with free shipping in the USA. They are easy to clean with just soap and water, as well as, easy to take on and off your phone. 

Overall, I would highly recommend one of these cases for your next phone or your current one if need be. I love the way they feel, and I’ve had zero issues with dropping. It’s also a pretty good looking case! 

PLUS, in partnership with One Tree Planted, Incipio is planting a tree with every purchase of an Organicore™ case! It’s great to see brands give back with their products. It feels more full circle, and I like to support those initiatives. 

Shop the entire collection - here - and stay up-to-date with all things Incipio on Instagram. 

& let me know if you decide to purchase one! I’d love to hear your thoughts and how your composting experience at the end.