When it comes to plastic, ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle are becoming increasingly important. Plastic is everywhere. But most of it is not reused or recycled. In 2017, a study found that of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic we have created, only 9% had been recycled. And 79% of it is still sitting in landfills.

We produce 100 billion plastic bottles globally each year. But only 35% of them are recycled according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers. The billions of metric tons of plastic products already discarded, as well as an additional 65 billion plastic bottles…

Imagine you strive hard to lessen your environmental impact, but in doing so, you unknowingly cause more harm to the planet. This happens when we “wishcycle,” and almost all of us have been guilty of it at one time or another.

Wishcycling is one of the greatest threats to the recycling industry across the world.

‌What Is Wishcycling?

Wishcycling — or “wish recycling” — is what happens when we want to believe we can recycle something, but in reality it’s not recyclable. Regardless, we place the trash in the recycling bin in hopes that someone else will sort it out for us.

When…

Glass is a natural, sustainable building material with many uses. Easy to produce and recycle, glass is a top sustainable building option that can also help cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s why glass is such an exciting option for architects and anyone who cares about green design.‌

The History of Glass

‌Glass has been around in its naturally occurring form since the beginning of human memory at least. Natural glass (like obsidian) is formed when sand or rocks are rapidly heated and then cooled. Volcanic eruptions and lightning strikes can create natural glass under the right conditions.‌

There is some evidence to…

The majority of the world started wearing masks to protect against COVID-19 — but you might not have considered the lasting effects of face masks on the environment. The vast majority of the face masks being used every day by medical professionals, other frontline workers, and the general public are disposable, created inexpensively from plastic microfibers. The production and disposal of these plastic face masks take a surprising toll on the environment.

It is now estimated that every minute on Earth, 3 million face masks are used as personal protective equipment (PPE) by people in direct response to the Covid-19…

As environmental concerns continue to take center stage, sustainability has become more relevant than ever before. Many businesses have shifted their focus to producing greener, more renewable products to accomodate growing market demands. A concerted global effort to support a greener future has generated renewed interest in sustainable fabrics in particular. For individuals and businesses alike, investing in sustainable fabrics is a fundamental part of making environmentally responsible decisions. With so many products, complex labeling, and greenwashing, it can be challenging to find truly sustainable fabrics. This guide digs deeper into the sourcing, manufacturing processes, and long-term viability of different…

Since the inception of bartering, goods and services have been exchanged and produced in wasteful means. The trend is common to agrarian and industrialized societies alike. Some have involved differing degrees of waste, but all of them share the common trait of consuming a good and then discarding its byproducts.‌

This system is known as a linear economy. The global scale on which it now takes place has resulted in such massive collateral damage that it can no longer be sustained without severely harmful effects. Thankfully, there is a better way.‌

Unlike its linear counterpart, a circular economy considers every…

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for world health and for the world economy. It’s also taken a toll on the environment.‌

Thanks to the pandemic, there has been a massive increase in demand for plastic products like face shields and disposable gloves. Single-use plastic products like takeout food containers, bottles of hand sanitizer, and packaging for online shopping have also seen a surge in demand. It’s no wonder that some are talking about a “ plastic pandemic” sweeping the globe.‌

What are the implications of this increased use of plastic? What’s the best way to return to more sustainable…

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African proverb‌

This proverb holds true in many cases where systemic change is sought, and it certainly applies to adoption of zero-waste principles. Individual action is a vital part of generating widespread change to be sure, but get an entire community involved in zero-waste practice and the impact is sure to be felt.‌

Most of us understand the importance of collective action intuitively, but knowing how to encourage a zero-waste community can be a different matter. We either imagine the task to be…