I remember my mother’s reaction when recycling became mandatory in New York City in 1989. “What!? I have to separate garbage now? Oh, what a pain!” And when my mother-in-law Lucy learned that not only did she have to separate her recyclables, she had to clean out jars and cans, too, she was very upset. “I refuse to wash garbage!” […]
Leslie Adkins, vice president of marketing and ESG development at Trex, joins the conversation to discuss how the company pioneered a recycled alternative to lumber for decks, fences, and other applications. Trex was founded in 1996 on the premise that there must be a better use of the “mountain of single-use plastic film packaging generated every day that is not […]
Depending on where you live, you might not see a lot of electric vehicles on the road. Combustion engine cars still outnumber EVs by nearly a hundred to one. But there is no question that EVs are on the rise. California plans to ban the sale of new combustion engine vehicles by 2035. General Motors recently announced it will only […]
As conscious consumers, we want greener packaging options to limit the environmental impact when we shop and eat. But even when packaging producers and retailers provide more sustainable options, how can we recognize them when shopping? One way is to look for product labels that identify sustainable packaging. Although a product’s packaging provides only fleeting value, 82 million tons of […]
When we put our minds to it, humanity can make radical changes to prevent environmental disasters. In the 1980s, scientists proved a hole had opened in the ozone layer because of the widespread use of chlorofluorocarbon aerosol sprays. The United Nations passed the Montreal Protocol banning chlorofluorocarbons and after 30 years the ozone hole is well along the way to […]
It seems like every month there’s a new superfood trend touting the nutritional benefits of a previously unfamiliar — and usually exotic — food like açai, cocoa nibs, or avocados. Better known for snacking on airplanes and at ball games, peanuts are surprisingly nutritious, with the added benefit of a much lower environmental impact than trendy superfoods. Nutritious and sustainable? […]
If you live in one of the 30 states with deregulated energy, you may have the option to choose which company supplies your household’s electricity, gas, or both through what is often referred to as an Energy Choice program. Historically, many utility companies in the U.S. began as monopolies in their market regions. Since the 1980s, however, many state governments […]
Meet Alicia Marseille and Katelyn Armbruster, who lead the Sustainable Earth small business sustainability education program for Arizona State University’s Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Service. They are working to turn the economy toward sustainable practices with free courses for the nation’s 32.5 million small businesses. These firms, which account for 99.9% of the companies in the United States, according […]
Plastic is a problem in a lot of ways: The fossil fuel-based material generates greenhouse gas emissions throughout its lifecycle; is rarely recycled; contributes to ocean pollution; and even accumulates in the human body. But plastic is so ubiquitous, you can’t just wake up one morning and decide to live plastic-free. Plastic-free living is hard and must be pursued incrementally. […]
Roian Atwood, senior director of Sustainability at Tractor Supply Company, joins the conversation to discuss the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the country’s approach to stewardship of the lifestyle it refers to as “life out here,” which could help forge important changes of habit in those communities. Tractor Supply Company has aligned its very aggressive sustainability targets with the Paris […]