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April 22, 1970 when I was a mere high school sophomore, Earth Day was born. A teach-in (there were a lot of “ins” back then) to educate people on the importance of the conservation of Mother Earth took place around the Washington Monument in D.C. as well as in New York City. Now, 53 years later, the event is celebrated by over 1 billion people in 193 countries around the globe. To learn how and where you can participate in your area go to EarthDay.Org and sign up to be part of the movement to remove billions of pieces of trash from your street to the beach, trails, and parks in your area. Help to reduce waste and plastic pollution that can harm both wildlife and people.
Here are 10 things you can do to make a change
- Choose products with minimal packaging. Look for items that come in recyclable or biodegradable packaging.
- Buy items made from recycled materials or natural materials.
- Support companies that are committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
- Avoid products with potentially harmful ingredients, like those containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Look for energy-efficient items, such as LED bulbs, to help reduce your energy consumption.
- Buy items made with renewable resources, such as bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton.
- Choose items with a long shelf life. This helps reduce waste and save resources.
- Buy in bulk to reduce packaging waste.
- Make sure to buy from reputable companies that are transparent about their labor and environmental practices.
- Research companies before you buy to make sure their products meet ethical standards.
This year I reached out to a few of my favorite brands that offer products that align with Earth Day initiatives. It’s a great time to shop to stock your home and family with products and gifts that are sustainable. Feel free to come back to this article to shop at any time (not just on Earth Day) and know that you are supporting this planet that we call home.
Learn to Grow Your Own
The Climate Change Garden
The Climate Change Garden by Kim Stoddart and Sally Morgan is a guide to creating a resilient, climate-wise garden, that adapts to volatile weather extremes and a rapidly changing climate. This is the first book to reveal which types of gardens are better suited to deal with such extremes and which techniques, practices, and equipment can be put to good use to help temper the issues.
It’s no longer gardening as usual. Heat waves, droughts, flooding, violent storms…the long-predicted extremes of weather caused by climate change are now on our doorstep, and gardeners around the world are feeling the effects. Certain pests are staying active until much later in the season, many plants are blooming earlier, soils are eroding and degrading at a rapid pace, unpredictable rainfall is water-logging our gardens, and fiercer storms are uprooting trees and snapping branches. Not to mention the effects of prolonged drought in many parts of the world and the water rationing that comes with it. What’s a gardener to do?
We need to learn how to protect the garden against climate extremes, exotic pests, invasive weeds, and more. The Climate Change Garden is the first book to reveal which types of gardens are better suited to deal with such extremes and which techniques, practices, and equipment can be put to good use in our gardens to help temper the issues. There’s no getting away from it; no matter where on the planet you live, the climate and weather patterns are changing fast, and our gardening practices need to catch up.
Make your outdoor space as comfortable and personal as the inside of your home with garden design and planting guidance from Field Guide to Outside Style.
Maybe you’ve just purchased your first home or you have an existing outdoor space that’s overgrown and old-fashioned, and you want to turn it into a place that blends perfectly with your sense of style and your life. But where should you start? How can you be sure to create a space you can sustain? Field Guide to Outside Style leads the way. You’ll learn to personalize your outdoor living space with the right plants, furnishings, and other design elements to create a space that reflects YOU perfectly, even if you’ve never sunk a shovel into the soil before.
How to Become a Gardener
Take charge of your family’s food security by learning how to grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs—and right along with them, you’ll nurture your own inner strength, too.
Food insecurity affects millions of people worldwide. Without access to well-stocked stores or nutritious, fresh foods, those living in “food deserts” face more hunger and health issues than communities where a diversity of food is plentiful. With the inspiration and knowledge found in How to Become a Gardener, self-reliance and food autonomy are within reach for anyone willing to get a little dirt under their nails and dig in.
- Get 30% off when you use the code GARDENING30 at checkout
- Pick up each or all of these books at: Quarto.com
Body & Mind
Shanti Bowl
- Pick one up for a gift and another for yourself at Shantibowl.com
Photo credit: Elizabeth Sagarin, Wild Ginger Images
ilaStrate Yoga Mats
“Come as you were, leave as you are . . . energize your flow. Honor your practice with a sacred space.”
The most beautiful Eco-conscious yoga mats that I have seen. ilaStrate plants 1 tree for every one of their products sold. Their philosophy? Save the World! One yoga mat at a time . . . Now THAT’S an Earth Day slogan if I ever heard one. These professional yoga mats inspire support and honor hour practice and the sustainable materials that are used.
I found that the cork provides a wonderful cushion making it easy to flow through my sequence of poses comfortably. The extra wide/extra long size of the mat means that you’re never going to have to stop to readjust during class and the rubber backing offers a nice grip on the floor.
Their mission is to inspire movement to self-realization through creative expression
- Available at: ilastrate.yoga
Clean Water
Water-to-Go Bioplastic Water Purifier Bottle
The ultimate water bottle for sustainable living. Not only does this water bottle protect you, but it also protects the planet. The filter turns contaminated water into pure water in seconds removing viruses, bacteria, parasites, heavy metals, chemicals, and microplastics. Each bottle is made from carbon-sequestering sustainably sourced sugarcane. Plastic from plants, not petroleum! Durable and machine washable. One filter replaces 400 single-use plastic bottles that would otherwise end up in landfills and oceans. Best of all, it’s super simple to use: just fill, replace the lid, and drink. No iodine, chemicals, or UV light is required.
Available in an array of colors including:
- brown
- purple
- black
- blue
- red
- green
Promo: Use discount code EARTH to get 10% off
- Check it out and pick one up for yourself at: Water to Go
Clean and Green
Force of Nature
Force of Nature is a little appliance that converts salt, water & vinegar into a powerful all-in-one cleaner, deodorizer, and EPA-registered sanitizer & disinfectant that kills 99.9% of germs. That’s right, you’ll be saving money and cleaning green at the same time. They created their formula recognizing that messes are tough, but kids and pets are sensitive.
I love that Force of Nature reduces plastic waste by 97% compared to typical bottled cleaning products with their reusable bottles, you can completely eliminate single-use plastic bottles from your cleaning routine. And, because it replaces multi-purpose cleaners, deodorizers, rug & glass cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants, you can eliminate all those plastic bottles too. Because Force of Nature starts with just salt, water, and vinegar, there are no toxic chemicals going into our water system, so our oceans are happier too.
Force of Nature is the ONLY Carbon Neutral and Green Seal certified EPA registered disinfectant and their reusable bottles make it easy to reduce plastic waste (plus the shipping boxes and Activator Capsules are recyclable).
- Code: ALLIN65
- Promo: $65 off the All in One Bundle
- Sale ends 4/30/23
Pure Sky by Persik
Forget harsh cleaning chemicals, meet Pure Sky By Persik. Their glass cleaning cloths and cleaning tools have more than 1,300 4 ½ star Amazon reviews, so you can trust this kind of clean! Get the cleanest surfaces with Persik’s Pure Sky cleaning collection. From kitchen pads to multi-purpose gloves and even mop pads, you can’t beat this kind of clean for your home!
All of Persik’s products are made from thousands of antibacterial ultra-microfibers that only require water to clean! You get a green clean, so there is no need for harsh chemicals! You did not know what your home was missing out on until you’ve tried one of the cleaning cloths, sponges, or glass cloths from Persik! Their award-winning multi-purpose glove is so wonderful it’s been featured on The View and won Better Homes & Gardens Best Microfiber Cleaning Glove for 2022, plus it’s been reviewed in Reader’s Digest! Oh, and yes, you may have seen them on The Compass Girls Show in the past as well.
BTW, they just launched a new product called the Eyeglass Cleaner Cloth, but you can also use it on your cell phone or camera! Persik’s foundation is to meet its commitment to making premium products for a feel-good home. Just add water to Persik’s Pure Sky cleaning line cloths and you will watch your surfaces, counters, furniture, and even floor grime disappear!
- Available on Amazon
Care and Cure
“Payne Killer” Hot/Cold Pack
Payne Killers are reusable hot/cold packs that can be placed in the microwave or freezer for flexibility in your self-care routine. The longest of all the aromatherapy pillows, these heating and cooling pads are the most versatile and can be used for a variety of ailments. Filled with natural materials like flaxseed and optional dried lavender, Payne Killers are the perfect shape to relieve neck tension and shoulder pain, as well as muscle soreness on any part of the body.
FYI – I used mine after my laser treatments to calm my red puffy skin. It was soft and pliable enough not to hurt when I laid it across my cheek. I’ve also used it for my sinus headaches…I love/hate Spring, but at least I can get some relief with the Payne Killer.
TO USE HOT– Heat in the microwave for 80-90 seconds with a cup of water (this prevents the pack from drying out). Do not microwave for more than 60 seconds at a time. Handle with care! The product will be hot.
TO USE COLD – Place the pack in a plastic baggie and freeze for one hour to soothe discomfort and headaches.
- You can pick up a Payne Killer or OTHER great soothing packs online at Payne & Comfort
Oh Baby Baby
Earth Baby
The greatest gift for new moms: Bath Essentials Kit and On-The-Go Kit from 100 percent certified organic ingredients Earth Baby. Earth Baby’s founder and formulator is committed to using certified organic fruit and vegetable-based ingredients. Her products are non-toxic, gentle, and effective on baby skin, hair, and body. Earth Baby products provide immediate moisturization and superior hydration, emollient oils and vitamins with a time-controlled release, and a dramatically reduced need for high levels of UV filters. They also have a best-selling, moisturizing, organic, hand-sanitizer for even children’s hands!
Founded by a grandmother, mother, and orphan, Earth Baby’s founder donates 1% of all sales to two incredible organizations (Preface Project Foundation and Folded Flag Foundation) that build a better tomorrow and impact our community by fostering opportunities for the next generation as a token of gratitude to those that helped her along the way. All are made in the U.S.A. and all kits come in a reusable canvas bag and the bottles are recyclable!
- You can buy them online at: Earth Baby Store or Amazon.com
Eat for Good
Kate’s Real Food
I am a snacker, but when I graze, I want good clean food that’s not only delicious but provides me with real food. Powered by real honey and oats, Kate’s Real Food snack bars are 100 percent USDA-certified organic, gluten-free, and Non-GMO. The company sources only organic ingredients with sustainable packaging. Recent packaging changes reduced plastic use by ~15% by removing non-recyclable plastics like PVDC. The company proudly removed 475 pounds of plastic for every 1,000,000 bars. They are also currently running trial packages that incorporate 30% PCR Post-Consumer Recycled Materials (i.e. recycling current plastic waste and using it again). And finally, the variety pack boxes are made of 100% recycled materials. In baseball, they call that a GRAND SLAM HOME RUN. Me? I just call it YUMMY.
Promos: Enter your e-mail on the KRF Web site – get 20% off your order. Sign up for the Subscribe ‘n Save service on Amazon and save 20% on every order
- Available at: KatesRealFood and Amazon.com
gimme Seaweed’s Grab & Go
Some of you know that I spent quite a few years eating a Macrobiotic diet. It was to support my mom who was dealing with cancer nutritionally (FYI, it definitely added quality years to her life). Along the way I became a seaweed lover as it is so much more versatile than I had realized. But, I don’t think that I had ever had snacks quite like these delicious gimme Seaweed’s Grab & Go packets.
In 2012, gimme Seaweed pioneered organic seaweed in the US as part of the brand’s commitment to unlocking seaweed’s potential to fight climate change. Since then, many other seaweed brands have followed suit. Did you know that seaweed is the ultimate regenerative crop, and along with shellfish, is one of the few farmed foods with a net positive environmental impact? Seaweed requires no fresh water to grow, and if farmed organically without the use of pesticides and chemicals can help to keep our oceans clean and fight climate change.
- Available on Amazon.com
Beauty with a Conscience
BAO Laboratory
Bao is a high-quality skincare brand founded by Toronto-based chemist Julia Bao. Packed with all-natural and organic ingredients, BAO’s wide range of science-backed products are formulated with small molecules, which allows them to use 100% functional molecules without additional fillers or surfactants. This approach makes their products more effective and reduces waste, promotes sustainability, and offers real value to customers.
I’ve been using the Day & Night Skincare Set which features BAO fan favorites, Endymion’s Luminous C and Demeter Regenerating Halo Serum Oil, this powerful skincare set can be used together day and night for a simple and effective skincare routine. It’s perfect for aging skin like mine.
Morning starts with their Endymion’s Luminous C: This best seller is formulated with 11 different types of vitamin C, two kinds of vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5, ceramide, and natto gum; this gentle yet powerful lightweight serum improves the health and appearance of your skin, reducing pigmentation, smoothing out texture and boosting your skin’s radiance.
Before bed routine includes Demeter Regenerating Halo Serum Oil: Regenerating, smoothing, and brightening this scientifically formulated serum combines highly concentrated natural ingredients, such as bakuchiol (2%), squalane, bisabolol, and vitamin E, that work together to enhance skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promote healthy, youthful-looking skin.
BAO Laboratory is recognized as a socially responsible brand with certifications like CertClean-approved, Leaping Bunny Certified, VegeCert-approved, and more.
- Available at stores like Flying Solo in NYC and online at BAO Laboratory
I.C.O.N. Hydrating Shampoo Bar
A shampoo in a bar? Yes indeed. With a rich scent of bergamot, lemon and orange, the 2-in-1 multipurpose Hydrating Shampoo Bar is made with a blend of raw plant-based ingredients, amino acids and natural Shea and seed butter. Performing at the same level as today’s best-selling liquid shampoos, the shampoo bar effortlessly cleanses both your hair and body leaving you feeling refreshed with silky smooth hair and skin using only one product. No more plastic waste from all of those bottles and clean, beautifully smelling hair…not that’s an earth day combo I could use not just on Earth Day, but EVERY day.
Founder and Product Developer Chiara Scudieri says: “It’s important for us as a society to prioritize the Earth, not just on Earth Day but every day and I.C.O.N. is here to help make the transition seamless.” Wrapped in recycled paper, the Hydrating Shampoo Bar replaces your plastic liquid shampoo bottles, ideal for those who are eco-friendly yet don’t want to compromise on high-quality hair care.
- Pick up this great shampoo bar (also good for travel) at I.C.O.N. at home
Blissoma Sustain Trail Skincare Set
- Promotion: Get a FREE Mini Scentless Stick Natural Deodorant ($10 value) with orders of $40 or more
- Available at Blissoma.com
- Pick one up at mchel.co
Have a very Happy Earth Day and if you have any earth friendly products that you’d like me to check out in a future piece, feel free to send me an email, dm, etc. to let me know about them. I’d love to give them a try.
