The Environmental Protection Agency reported in 2018 that, as of 2015, the United States produced 730,000 tons of plastic bags — an average of about 330 per American — and that 87% of those bags ended their brief useful life in a landfill or as environmental pollution. You may wonder why these numbers, the last available are so old: we […]
Consumer Reports, Breakthrough Energy, and ICF recently estimated the added cost of living that an American baby born in 2024 will have to pay over the course of her life due to climate change. The total is a stunning $500,0000 to $1 million in higher shelter, food, and taxes expenses, as well as lower return on savings for retirement. We […]
When you shop, do you think about how far what you’re buying has to travel? The shipping industry produces 2% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions annually, and we can reduce that by buying items that don’t have to travel far to reach us. Choose brands that manufacture their products in the same hemisphere you are in to reduce the […]
Each year between 1.8-3.36 billion contacts are flushed down the drain. You might not think that something so small could be a problem, but those contacts become microplastics that contaminate our water. Don’t contribute to plastic pollution, always dispose of your contacts properly. You can recycle your contacts through recycling programs. Print or share We Earthling posters to inspire others […]
Tropical rain forests have declined from 14% of the Earth land to just 6%. They could be lost entirely within a century. Did you know what you buy can help determine their fate? Many products are made using resources from deforested areas, including soy beans, beef, and toilet paper — and the more we buy them the more we indirectly […]
The seasons are changing, and with them the weather. Heating and cooling account for nearly half of all U.S. home energy use, so as temperatures fall be sure to weatherize your home. Check to make sure there are no drafts in your home, get a programmable thermostat, and update your home to retain or keep heat out in order to […]