Eco-Friendly Products Helping You go Zero-waste

While a zero-waste lifestyle may sound intimidating, there are many simple switches you can make to help lessen your daily waste. All of these products I have listed below are reasonably priced & made sustainably… but of course, you may already have things in your home you can use. I believe the first step to being more conscious about your waste is using what you have. However, I do understand how some new products can make the journey easier (or at least, more exciting).

What is ‘Zero Waste’?

The ultimate goal of a zero waste lifestyle is to avoid sending anything to the landfill. However, this is not realistic for the majority of people, but the principles of using what you have and lessening your waste as much as possible is a bit more doable.

How to Start Going Zero Waste

Like I mentioned before, use what you have! Learn what you throw away, and find a few items you could replace with something more sustainable. A great example would be paper napkins - replace them with some beautiful reusable cloth napkins! And don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do too much at once.

This post contains zero waste switches I made in my own home, and I thought they would be useful for you, too!

Top Picks for Eco-Friendly, Zero Waste Switches:

1) Rechargeable Candle Lighter

Burn a lot of candles in your home - or do you need to fire up the bbq? Here is a zero waste alternative to traditional butane lighters! This lighter comes with a lithium-ion battery that can be charged by simply hooking up a USB to the computer. You’ll know it is completely charged up and ready to go once the green light disappears. The lighter uses plasma lighting technology, so you don’t have to refill it. Plus, it’s meant to last forever, and they are shipped in recyclable packaging.

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2) Reusable Food Wraps

Put down the plastic cling wrap, because these reusable food wraps are going to save you money. After each use, you just need a little drop 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. t’s amazing how just the heat of your hands makes these reusable wraps so easy to use. Once you get them warm with your 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. 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!)

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3) Bento Boxes

I love this collection of GEL-COOL Bento Boxes! They come in a wide range of shapes, colors, & lid types so that you can get whichever one(s) will fit your lifestyle best. These are not just any Bento Boxes either—they have built-in gelpads to keep your lunch cool all day (perfect if you don’t have access to a refrigerator). Plus, they have sealed, leak-proof lids to prevent messes. These are great for kids, too! LOIS’s Bento Boxes are made in Japan & BPA-free. Tip: carry one with you in case you have leftovers when eating out!

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4) Compostable Phone Case

Billions of cell phones are sold every year to consumers, & I would say most of these phones are held in some type of protection case. There are already so many environmental issues with the actual phone itself, why create more waste with its outer shell?! Thanks to brands like Incipio, you can find an eco-friendly option that works, & avoid having to add more waste to the planet with a plastic one. This one is full compostable made is 100% plant-based!!

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5) Zero waste dishwashing kit

When I first made this list a few years back, I included a lot of single items in here. Now, EarthHero has been putting together kits so I thought I’d share a few of those because they are amazing! This one is great for the kitchen & includes: Walnut Shell Scour Pads, Handmade Castile Dish Soap Block, Reclaimed Wooden Soap Dish, Tidy Up Dish Cloths, and Bubble Up Dish Brush & Ceramic Dish Set.

code: Natalie10 for 10% off

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6) detergent pods

These might be my new favorite zero-waste swap - and a very easy one! The sweet little pods you see are exactly what you would throw into your wash machine - no big plastic bottle holding them in (they are shipped in a small cardboard box). Dropps are formulated with an effective plant-powered that cleans better than leading comparable brands. They also offset 100% of their carbon emissions from shipping, and you can buy them in bulk!!

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7) Reusable bamboo cutlery

One of the best ways to reduce your waste is by refusing single-use plastics and carry around your own reusables. Avoid disposable cutlery and opt for a more eco-friendly option like this reusable bamboo cutlery set. EarthHero’s bamboo cutlery is sustainable, lightweight, biodegradable, and dishwasher safe! The carrying case is made out of 100% recycled materials.

code: Natalie10 for 10% off

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8) market bags

I love a good crocheted bag because they can fit a lot of goods in them, they are easy to store and often very durable. QuiQuattro just started their own line of market bags, and having their towels for the past few years, I know they make a great product. They partner up with Turkish artisans and women who are in need of work, but unable to leave their home. All products are hand-loomed, hand-poured, hand-knitted & hand-stitched!

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9) Bidet

It saves toilet paper - which in turn gives your wallet and the planet a break. Did you know Americans spend more on TP than any other country? It also takes 437 billion gallons of water to press paper down. Not to mention the 253,000 tons of bleach, and 15 million trees used in the process, too. You can replace that with a couple sheets of bamboo TP, and 1 liter of water. Also….wiping with dry paper is creating around 30 million annual cases of of hemorrhoids, UTIs, yeast infections, anal fissures, anal itching and other annoyances.

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10) Bamboo Toothbrush

The easiest sustainable switch you can make - brushing with bamboo! Since it is recommended to change your toothbrush every three months, why not use one that won't end up sitting in a landfill 'forever'? After three months, throw it in your compost bin & feel good about your clean smile. (side note: for hygiene purposes, bristles are made with nylon and should be discarded in the trash). This brand even has a great subscription service so you don’t need any reminders to change it out!

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We are constantly updating blog posts to give you the best in sustainable fashion, green beauty and eco living.

This post is sponsored in part by Quiquattro, LOIS & Z Wraps and contains affiliate links.

As always, views are genuine and brands are truly loved. Thanks for supporting the brands who are working to make this industry a fairer and cleaner place!

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WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!

Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.

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related reading you may also enjoy:

image by Z Wraps

Trying to avoid plastic in the kitchen? This post is for you!

Not only is plastic terrible for the environment, but it’s not good for your health, too.

Reusable Food Wraps

Z Wraps

Put down the plastic cling wrap, because these reusable food wraps are going to save you money. It’s amazing how just the heat of your hands makes these reusable wraps so easy to use. Once you get them warm with your 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. Each reusable wrap is made from 100% cotton with organic beeswax.

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Glass Jars

From saving the glass jars from your pasta sauce, to stocking up on mason jars whenever you have a chance - I’m sure you have plenty of glass to go around.

We use our glass jars for a lot of things, but these days it’s mostly for Travis’s BBQ sauce we’ve been putting on everything :P

This is definitely one of the cheapest ways to go about storing food. It doesn’t work great for everything - that’s why a few glass containers and food wraps are nice to have on hand, as well.

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Glass Storage Containers

Pyrex

Plastic is made up of a lot of different chemicals, and when you heat it up or add in hot food, no matter if it says ‘microwave / heat safe’ some chemicals will leak out.

My suggestion would be to use your existing plastic storage containers for organizing desk drawers. By switching to glass, you can rid your food of possibly being infiltrated by toxic chemicals. These ones by Pyrex even have a wood lid!

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Natural Fiber Bento Box

Minimal Products

I absolutely LOVE our bento box from Minimal Products. It has sweet little compartments, and some designs come with an extra little container for your dressing. They are perfect for taking lunch to work or school, OR to a restaurant to gather your leftovers instead of asking for a box.

These bento boxes are made from an eco-friendly natural rice paddy fiber material. They are also microwave safe and top shelf dishwasher safe!

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silicone lids

Natural Home Brands

Silicone is somewhere between a synthetic plastic and a natural rubber, but I’ve added them into this list because they are reusable and very handy. I’ve had these bamboo bowls for a few years, and love how easy it is to store food with their matching silicone lids. While this one pictured comes as a set, you can purchase the silicone lids separately in all different sizes to go on the current mixing/kitchen bowls you own. The silicone wraps are stretchable, temperature safe, microwave safe, freezer safe, and dishwasher safe.

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Tiffins

EarthHero

One of the best ways to carry and store your food to-go!

EarthHero has a great collection of stainless steel tiffins for you to choose from.

Clips are "kid-tested" and can be adjusted for desired stiffness so definitely approved for your little ones, too!

& they are dishwasher safe!

*use code Natalie10 for 10% off

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Veggie Bags

Natural Home Brands

While most of the time these are great to have on hand when at the grocery store, they are actually really awesome at keeping fruits and vegetables fresh. Natural Home Brands has a line of quality veggie bags that are machine washable and come in a pack of five. I highly recommend trying these out if you don’t already own any produce bags. You can always make your own with scrap fabric, but the mesh material is breathable and nice for all your fruits and veggies!

image by Z Wraps

All About Composting and What Can & CanNot Be Composted

When you’re looking for ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle, many people look to composting as a way to make the most of their waste. This raises the question, what is compostable? There are dozens of daily household items and food scraps that can be composted, but before we get into that, let’s make sure we know what composting is.

What is Composting?

To define it simply, composting is the natural process of breaking down and repurposing organic waste. The breakdown of the waste is done through micro and macro-organisms like bacteria and earthworms. Once the matter is broken down, the compost can be used as an organic fertilizer in gardening to help enrich the soil and naturally deter harmful insects and weeds. Compost is a natural and cost-effective way to enhance the earth around you, which we are all about!

So, how do you form a proper and healthy compost?

To ensure your compost mixture is balanced with the right amount of nutrients, you will want to combine components high in carbon and nitrogen. Carbon materials, often referred to as “browns,” can be yard scraps like leaves, mulch, cardboard, and paper. Nitrogen materials, often referred to as “greens,” can be food scraps like carrots, onion skins, banana peels and coffee grounds. Typically, the compost will create enough moisture on its own, but adding some water may be necessary if you live in a particularly dry and hot climate. The ratio of materials is also very important. The 30:1 ratio is ideal, 30 parts carbon/browns to 1 part nitrogen/greens. The easiest way to tell what your compost needs is by looking at the consistency. If the pile is looking slimy or has a strong odor, add more browns. If it is looking dry and hard to mix, add more greens.

You can host your compost in an outdoor pile, tumbler or indoor bin. There should be no odor when properly balanced, so no matter what type of home you have, you can have a successful compost.

Vermicomposting or Traditional Composting?

You can decide between vermicomposting aka composting with worms, or traditional composting without worms. Keep in mind; the composting process is not an overnight success. It takes at least six months for the materials to break down into a soil texture and at least another six months to properly mature to “black gold” status. With vermicomposting, the compost is created faster, usually approximately half the time. However you do it, it’s rewarding to repurpose your household scraps and yard waste, so it is worth the effort!

Composting is a great way to reduce your household waste while helping the planet. This list is not exhaustive but provides a good base for what you can save from being sent to a landfill. Since landfills do not separate organic matter from inorganic materials, compostable waste does not get the opportunity to break down properly.

image from Subpod

Here is a list of common items for both carbon and nitrogen materials that you most likely already have in your home:

• Carbon “Browns”

  • Leaves

  • Mulch

  • Newspaper

  • Brown paper bags

  • Uncoated cardboard

  • Sawdust

  • Straw

  • Egg shells

  • Parchment paper

  • Wooden skewers

  • Chopsticks

  • Grease-free paper towels

  • Unbleached coffee filters

  • Grape stems

  • Stale or expired dry goods (Ex: dry rice, pasta, cereal, granola, bread)

  • Natural fiber clothing (Ex: cotton, hemp, linen. No blends!)

  • Cotton balls

  • Pencil shavings

  • Human hair

  • Animal fur

• Nitrogen “Greens”

  • Non-acidic fruit peels (Apples, bananas, mangos, plums) 

  • Vegetable scraps (Potatoes, carrots, cabbage, lettuce)

  • Corn husks

  • Coffee grounds

  • Grass clippings

  • Expired jams or preserves

  • Tofu

  • Beans

  • Expired condiments (avoid excess of tomato based products) 

  • Deadheaded flowers

It is also just as important to know what types of things should NOT be composted

You should avoid any grease, oil or butter. This will only attract pests and offset your moisture ratio. Other food groups to avoid are animal products like meat, dairy, and bones. These foods ferment, attract animals, and will not break down, especially if you have worms in your compost pile. Do not add anything with chemicals like blended fabrics, glossy paper, treated wood, metal or plastics.

Composting is a great way to familiarize yourself with what materials end up sitting in landfills and unable to break down completely. For example, if you have to throw away tea bags because they cannot be recycled or composted, make the switch to a loose leaf tea or one with fully compostable packaging. Awareness is half the struggle when it comes to caring for the environment; the next step is making the conscious choice to find alternatives. It is also important to be aware that even though product packaging says it is compostable, this can sometimes be only only with an industrial compost setup, not your home compost. This is especially common with bioplastics like compostable plastic cutlery or single use products. If put into your home compost, these bioplastics and materials  will not fully break down. However, you can find a local industrial composter using this website, Find a Composter.

Interested in composting at home?

Subpod is a below-ground vermicomposting option that has dual chambers, smell-proof, pest-proof and effective at creating and maintaining the perfect compost. The Subpod mission is to make composting part of daily life with their easy to use system and of course, their packaging is home compostable!

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About the Contributor

Karmen Flores is a creative entrepreneur based in Michigan. Karmen shares all about plant-based and sustainable, intentional living on her blog Karmen Collective. From recommendations for all things plant-based to tips for living more sustainably, Karmen makes living with intention less intimidating and more accessible. You can connect with Karmen on Instagram @karmencollective and at www.karmencollective.com.

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We are constantly updating blog posts to give you the best in sustainable fashion, beauty and lifestyle.

This post contains affiliate links.

As always, views are genuine and brands are truly loved.

Thanks for supporting the brands who are working to make this industry a fairer and cleaner place!

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WANT MORE? VISIT OUR SUSTAINABLE BRAND DIRECTORY!

Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.

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In recent decades, the state of our planet changed drastically. Economic development and demographic growth, alongside the rising demand for natural resources, happened at the cost of the environment. 

Fortunately, more and more people have become aware of the impact humans have on the planet and started acting accordingly, incorporating greener habits into their lives. 

Planet Earth is our home, and it’s the only planet we have, so we need to take care of it. We need to safeguard biodiversity, fight against pollution, and ensure people have clean water. 

Sustainable living doesn’t have to be complicated. Taking action to live more sustainably can be easy. It just requires will instead of carelessness and action instead of idleness. 

We can all do something, even if it’s the tiniest thing. Every little thing we do for the environment has a positive impact, and it matters. 

Here are 12 impactful and easy tips for sustainable living that you can try to implement into your life to make a positive change for our planet! 

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12 impactful and easy tips for sustainable living 

1. Avoid mindless consumption by asking yourself the right questions

Changing our consumption habits is key if we want to embrace sustainable living. 

Everything we buy has an environmental impact. That’s why we need to avoid impulse buying as much as possible! 

So next time you’re about to buy something, ask yourself the right questions. “Do I really need it? Do I love it? Is it my style? Do I see myself using it in 6 months, 1 year? Do I already own something similar that I can use instead? How will I dispose of this item at the end of its life?”

Asking yourself these questions will help you make better buying decisions! 

Also, to avoid regrets, don’t go shopping when you’re sad or bored, and stay away from ads and malls if they’re a trigger for you.

2. Shop second-hand 

The most eco-friendly way to buy something is to get it second-hand! 

When you’re reusing what is already out there, you are giving items a new life and diverting them from going to the landfill. You’re also not creating a demand for new things to be produced, so fewer raw materials need to be extracted from the Earth. 

You can find unique items, and if something was used for a while and makes it to the thrift store in good condition, it’s more likely to be of better quality. 

The best places to find second-hand goods are Facebook Marketplace, Buy Nothing groups, and thrift stores. 

If you’re looking for used clothing, many apps can help you find fantastic pieces! Or you can organize a clothing swap with your friends! 

3. Support ethical and sustainable brands 

If you cannot find what you’re looking for second-hand or if you want to support a green business, buy things from sustainable brands. 

On Sustainably Chic, we have numerous product guides where you can find the best eco-friendly brands for any type of item. From sunglasses and backpacks to maternity and baby clothes, you will be able to find the perfect brand that resonates with your values! 

Items sold by sustainable brands are more of an upfront investment, but the price reflects the quality: the item will last you for years! You’re also making sure that it was produced sustainably and that workers were paid fairly. 

When you are supporting an eco-friendly brand, you are voting with your dollar. It means that you are showing companies that you want things to be made without harming people and the planet. 

4. Switch to reusable products

Most single-use products are used for only a few minutes, if not seconds, and sent to the landfill, where they’ll be sitting for hundreds of years. This isn’t right! It is so easy to avoid using them by investing in their reusable alternatives! 

Get a stainless steel water bottle and refill it from the tap instead of buying plastic bottles. Use up your disposable paper towels, and then get yourself cloth napkins. The same principle applies to cutlery and straws: stop using the disposable option and switch to reusable products. 

For your period, menstrual cups and cloths pads are amazing both for your health and the environment! And when you’re shopping, say no to plastic bags and bring your reusable cotton bags with you. 

All these swaps are so easy to make! Use up what you have, reassess your needs, and slowly replace single-use products with reusable alternatives. 

5. Be mindful of your energy consumption

It is so important to save energy at home! Most electricity providers produce electricity using fossil fuels, a non-renewable energy source that releases tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. 

So being mindful of how you’re using electricity will not only save you money, but you’ll be contributing to saving the planet! 

It can be as easy as turning off and unplugging your devices when you’re not using them. Adjust your thermostat to make sure you’re not overheating your home or unnecessarily using the air-conditioning. 

Wash your clothes in cold water. Avoid the dryer if possible, and air dry your clothes instead. There’s nothing better than the smell of air-dried clothes! 

Another great way to save energy is to install LED lights around your home. They are so much more efficient and eco-friendly! 

6. Take action to save water

Just as it’s important to save electricity, water conservation should be a priority if you want to embrace sustainable living. 

In some regions, people are struggling with water shortages while so much water is being wasted and polluted around the world. It’s a precious resource, so it’s essential to help conserve it at home!

The easiest thing you can do is turn off the tap as soon as you don’t need water. Check if there are leaks in your pipes and repair them if necessary. 

Install a water-saving showerhead and faucet aerators on your faucets. These are very affordable, and they’ll save you a lot of money on your water bill! 

You can also use rainwater to water your plants. And remember to run your washing machine and dishwasher when they’re full. 

7. Start meal planning to reduce food waste

Did you know that a third of the world’s total food production is wasted each year? Most of this waste happens during the production and transportation process, but consumers still waste a non-negligible part.

When we know that millions of people are starving, we cannot afford to throw so much food away! 

Regularly reassess what is in your fridge and pantry, and donate everything you don’t see yourself eating to a food bank. Then, commit to cooking only with the things you have on hand for a few days. 

And when you don’t have much left, it’s time for groceries! Make a list of meals you want to prepare for the next week, write down what you need to buy to cook them and stick to the list while shopping. You will avoid making impulse purchases of food that you won’t be eating. 

8. Clean your house with simple natural ingredients

An easy way to have a more sustainable home is to clean it with non-toxic products. My favorite ones are white vinegar, lemons, baking soda, and castile soap. 

I clean my whole apartment with these simple natural ingredients, and they work very well! They’re multipurpose, cheap, and good for the environment. 

When we are using conventional cleaning products, we are polluting water streams by pouring dangerous chemicals down the drain, and most of them are packaged in plastic. They’re also dangerous for human health, and their long-term use might lead to various diseases and health conditions. 

On the other hand, natural ingredients like white vinegar are harmless! And to help you clean in a more eco-friendly way, check these fantastic sustainable cleaning supplies! 

9. Choose natural materials 

When you need to buy clothes, choose natural materials instead of synthetic fabrics. 

Synthetic clothing sheds microplastics in water streams when we wash them, which contributes to ocean plastic pollution. These tiny bits of plastic end up being eaten by fish, consequently, by humans. 

So instead of buying clothing made of nylon or polyester, prefer natural alternatives like Tencel, linen, or hemp. Cotton is also natural, but its production is very water-intensive. 

If you need clothing made of synthetic fiber, see if you can choose recycled options if possible. 

Also, it's easier to recycle clothing made from one fiber than clothing made from several fibers - or what we call 'blended' fabrics. 

Another easy way to know if a clothing piece is sustainably made is to look for certifications, such as GOTS, Fairtrade, or OEKO-TEX. 

10. Be creative and repurpose things 

Whenever you’re done using something, think twice before putting it in the bin. You could find another use for it! 

Ask yourself: “Can I reuse it in some way? How can I give it a new life?” For instance, when you empty a glass jar after eating the food it contained, repurpose it into a vase, a pen holder, or reuse it to store food. 

Before getting rid of an old t-shirt, cut it up into rags for cleaning. Old socks are perfect for removing dust around your home, and you could reuse envelopes of mail you receive to write your shopping lists! 

Giving a new life to something you were about to throw away is a fantastic way to reduce waste, and you’ll end up with “new” useful things for free! 

11. Buy imperfect fruits and vegetables 

When you’re at the grocery store or the farmers’ market, choose produce that has some flaws. They’re as tasty and good to eat as more beautiful fruits and vegetables! 

This is so important because if they do not get sold by the end of the day, they usually get thrown away since they do not meet the industry’s beauty standards. So try to find and buy the wonky fruits and vegetables when you can, or the single bananas! 

When food ends up in the landfill, it doesn’t decompose well. Worse, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. 

Taking action by choosing the produce nobody else will want to buy is a great way to help keep food away from the landfill! There are also zero-waste brands like Barnana who use thrown-out food to create yummy new snacks for us to eat! 

12. Learn how to recycle properly

Recycling isn’t ideal because it uses a lot of energy, and many materials can only be recycled a handful of times. We also often need to add virgin material to the recycled one to maintain its quality. 

But recycling is still better than throwing things away! It’s a way to reuse items and keep them out of the landfill. 

If you’re not sure how you should recycle, contact your recycling facility to know what they’re collecting in your city. You can also look on their website to see what things are recyclable. They also should list which numbered plastics they can take, so when you see the recycle sign with an associated number, make sure it is accepted in your city recycling. 

It’s important to be aware of the rules and recycle accordingly: if you put in the recycling bin something that isn’t recyclable, the whole bin might end up in the landfill. 

So follow the rules carefully and do not put something in the recycling out of guilt, in hope that it will get recycled. 

Final thoughts

Those were 12 impactful and easy tips for sustainable living! But there are so many other things we can do to go green and help save the planet! 

Whatever you choose to do, it will have a massive impact on the environment, and it makes a real difference. 

Of course, you cannot do everything! But as long as you’re trying to live more sustainably, this is fantastic! All your small actions add up over time! 

What is your favorite thing to do to embrace sustainable living?

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About the Author

Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle.

She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.

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The search for the best summer beach read normally drives you to the romance or mystery aisles, but this year we challenge you to check out some of our favorite books on sustainability. These books not only inform us of the issues, but they also paint the picture of a world worth fighting for and uplift the efforts we can make to be the heroes of our own sustainable stories. 

Whether highlighting the simple daily choices, encouraging a commitment to large lifestyle changes, or illuminating the industries whose inherent environmental strain pushes them towards innovation, these books elevate the genre of sustainable writing through their unique approaches to providing a powerful range of resourceful information. Enjoy! 

THRIVE by Kamea Chayne

Published in 2016, Thrive remains a go-to guide for an environmentally conscious lifestyle. First-time book author Kamea Chayne takes a holistic approach to healthy living with the ideology that total wellness requires us to not only take care of ourselves, but also the planet we call home. This comprehensive introduction into world sustainability offers suggestions, exercises, and evidence that call upon readers to participate in sustainability in all parts of their life – from their shopping and eating habits to their health and wealth aspirations.

Chayne sees happiness as something that is cultivated within and intrinsically linked to how sustainably we navigate through our lives.

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SOURCE MY GARMENT by Adila Cokar 

Source My Garment, An Insider’s Guide to Responsible Offshore Manufacturing by Adila Coaker provides a step-by-step guide for designers to build a successful and sustainable business in the fashion industry.

With over a decade of experience in everything from product development to manufacturing and business strategy, Coaker calls on entrepreneurs and start-ups to follow her set of tried and true practices in every facet of production.

Coaker’s writing tackles the most challenging parts of manufacturing by providing the tools to avoid problems and enhance fun. By humanizing the production process, Coaker shows how designing sustainably – and keeping profits on par with people and the planet – is the right recipe for a prosperous business. 

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ON FIRE by Naomi Klein 

As a fierce journalistic voice reporting on the political policies that affect our planet for over twenty years, Naomi Klein writes On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal from an unapologetically raw perspective.

Klein explores the battles we face from the political and economic giants who take our environment for granted.

Harnessing the urgency of the climate crisis as it propels the rising movement towards a Green New Deal.

Through long-form essays that chronicle the cultural response to environmental crises, society itself is called upon to not just fix our immediate problems, but to change the system that allowed them to happen in the first place. 

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ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson

Known as the pioneer of zero-waste living, Bea Johnson breaks down her transformation into a sustainable lifestyle by the 5 Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot. Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life shows how these key principles can be applied to every aspect of your home to reduce waste and save money, along with the planet. With tips on how to diminish your environmental footprint and improve your quality of life, this manual for simplicity is a reflection of the writer’s own experience with her home and family.

By sharing insight and advice, she shows how attainable (and easy!) cutting back really is, and the big impact made by even the tiniest changes.

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HOW VEGANISM CAN SAVE US by Emma Hakansson

Written by one of our very own contributors, How Veganism Can Save Us is “a little book about the big ideas behind veganism.”

It discusses the impact animal agriculture is having on our environment, waterways, as well as our personal wellbeing and mental health. She explores the potential benefits of eating a plant-based diet can help make change that will help reverse environmental devastation, improve our overall health and save animals from the violent and oppressive system they have been born into.

A great primer for any curious or beginner vegan, this book is small enough to fit in a pocket and read on the daily commute!

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CRADLE TO CRADLE by Michael Braungart and William McDonough

Though originally released nearly 20 years ago, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things remains a highly recommended book on sustainability. German chemist Michael Braungart and U.S. architect William McDonough put forth a manifesto of what was then a radical approach to the philosophy of environmentalism: creating value from waste. Upcycling is more common in today’s conversations, but this book was the first of its kind to disrupt the normal pattern of cradle-to-grave and paved a path towards the mainstream for this new strategy.

Cradle to Cradle provides the framework of the redesign revolution that encourages manufacturing to be done with the goal of removing the idea of waste altogether. 

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BRAIDING SWEETGRASS by  Robin Wall Kimmerer

For all our plant lovers, this is the book for you! Robin Wall Kimmerer, a botanist, writes Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.  Kimmerer draws on her experiences of being a woman in science to show how our biggest questions of nature can be answered by our oldest teachers — plants and animals. This book introduces the reader to a way of listening to the lessons that plants and animals teach us and, in turn, better understand the generosity of the earth.

In her reflections, we are guided through an awakening of ecological consciousness to celebrate how we receive from living things, and how we can give back. 

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OVERDRESSED by Elizabeth Cline 

In her debut book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, journalist Elizabeth Cline reveals her past obsession with fast fashion and how she has come to see it as a destructive enemy of our environment. Putting a spotlight on the plague of the typical American shopper whose habits often include buying cheap, poorly made clothes in abundance. Cline sets out to uncover the true nature of the fast fashion juggernaut, and shows how consumers can break the buy-and-toss cycle by supporting sustainable designers and optimizing the lifespan of the clothes they own. 

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THE CONSCIOUS CLOSET by Elizabeth Cline 

Much like the clothing she promotes, Cline is just as good the second time around.Her follow-up book, The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good, finds readers who are asking how they should change their approach to fashion and walks them through the necessary steps. Acknowledging that clothes are one of our strongest avenues of personal expression, Cline helps readers to build a wardrobe that they love, but with greater intention and awareness of where their clothes come from and the materials on the tag.

Most importantly, she shares why it matters with a call to action looking to transform a polluting industry into a force for good by starting with our own closets. From there, we can connect to the impassioned community fighting for systematic change. 

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HAPPY CITY by Charles Montgomery

City dwellers who love the environment often find themselves at this perplexing intersection of enjoying urban life while being surrounded by the infrastructures and industries that pollute our planet.

Charles Montgomery’s Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design discusses the challenges cities face and the innovative solutions being implemented all over the world to empower communities to be more sustainable.

Using the disciplines of psychology, neuroscience, and urban planning, Montgomery makes the argument that the way we build our cities affects the way we feel as individuals and as a society. When we build a green, low-carbon city, we are building a Happy City. 

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NEW RELEASES! 

A POCKET GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SHOPPING By Kate Bratskeir

Having hit shelves in January 2021, A Pocket Guide to Sustainable Food Shopping: How to Navigate the Grocery Store, Read Labels, and Help Save the Planet by Kate Bratskeir helps shoppers make better decisions in the grocery store. A practical, modern guide to reducing your food and packaging waste – and in return, your carbon footprint – starts in the aisles.

Regardless of where you are in your sustainability journey, this book offers the tools you need to make a difference when choosing your favorite dairy products, vegetables, and everything in between. Kratskeir gives shoppers the confidence to better understand what is written on food labels, recognizing greenwashing terms, asking questions about food sourcing, and picking the right packaging. 

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IMAGINE IT!  by Laurie David and Heather Reisman

Imagine It!: A Handbook for a Happier Planet offers easy ways to replace old, planet-hurting habits with healthy new ones. Though only on the market for a few months as of May 2021, it comes with the stamp of approval from Former Vice President Al Gore right on the cover. Co-author Laurie David acted as a producer on Gore’s 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth, and is a lifelong environmental activist.

The handbook highlights necessary changes to our food, clothing, and transportation habits, with each chapter dedicated to a different lifestyle shift to lower our use of plastic, paper, water, and harmful chemicals to create lasting change. 

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[SPECIAL MENTION : Renowned writer of fashion, feminism, and sustainability, Aja Barber’s book Consumed: On Colonialism, Climate Change, Consumerism & the Need for Collective Change will be released in September of this year and currently available for pre-order!] 

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About the Author
Julia Grinberg is a writer based in Philadelphia, PA. She is a blog contributor for the vegan shoe brand Sylven New York, and the upcycled leather accessories brand Hyer Goods. When she is not writing on the topic of sustainable fashion, she is crafting short stories for various outlets and is currently working on a collection of creative nonfiction essays.

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