#zerowaste #kamikatsu THE PEOPLE OF KAMIKATSU ON THE JAPANESE ISLAND OF SHIKOKU HAVE SPENT 2 DECADES WORKING TOWARDS ZERO WASTE AND THEY ARE ALMOST THERE! The catalyst for the change was the introduction of a strict new law in 2000. The law cracked down on harmful chemicals that were emitted from rubbish incinerations, forcing the lush, mountain village of 1500 residents to shut down its two small incinerators. And so the town had to rethink how it dealt with its waste, and Kamikatsu became the first Japanese town to declare a "zero waste policy". Without the funds to build new incinerators th ..read more

#wakandaforever #akon #ecology It's been a while since R&B singer Akon was making headlines, and although the Senegalese- American released an album and started a record label last year, it's his large-scale environmentally conscious project that's grabbing our attention recently. In 2014 Akon began the Akon lighting Africa project, which since its launch has been successful in its mission to provide power to 1 million African households, spanning over 14 countries. As well as providing power, the project subsidizes costs for consumers, making it a viable competitor with polluting alternat ..read more

#thriftshopping Shopping online for fashion is becoming a more and more stressful experience for me and many of my ethically minded friends. There are just so many things to think about! The fabric, the supply chain, the workers, the packaging… So whenever I can, I try to remove myself from this cycle altogether and shop second hand. Second hand shopping is the perfect remedy to fast fashion because it makes use of the resources we already have, recycling used fabric rather than sending it to landfill! During coronavirus business closures, you will probably find that most of your local second ..read more

⚠️ This article is intended for adults and will discuss mature material. It discusses things that should only occur between consenting adults. At Earthly Lifestyle we believe in positive, healthy sexual expression. Being concerned about the environment often extends to every part of your life. It's easy to start looking at everything through a "green" lens and think "how can I make this better for the environment?", so why not extend that to your sex life too! Look, we've done a bit of research and in the end, safe sex still requires a bit of waste. There's just no real way to get around that ..read more

#halloween #ecofriendly #crafts Halloween has long been known as one of the least environmentally-friendly holidays. Between countless candy wrappers, costumes made of harmful plastics, and decorations which burn a lot of energy; it can be hard to navigate a holiday which means so much to so many. Luckily, here’s Grades of Green’s Guide to an Environmentally-Friendly Hallo-green! 1. Conscientious Costumes Costumes sold at Halloween super-stores are often made of materials like PVC which contain phthalate. These materials may be flame-retardant but they end up in a landfill leaking toxic chemic ..read more

#banking #ecology It's likely you've heard the term 'divestment' before. If not, it simply means taking your money out of a bank that does not align with your values and moving it to one that does. Everyone's reason for divesting will be different. Maybe you are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with how your bank is impacting the planet by investing in fossil fuel projects, but you're on the fence about switching because you also have a pretty sweet savings rate. Or you have a home loan with lots of perks, but you've learned your lender is funding companies operating in live animal exports ..read more

#vegan #sustainablefashion Seven millennia since its invention, leather remains one of the most durable and versatile natural materials. However, some consumers question the ethical ramifications and environmental sustainability of wearing products sourced from animals. This shift in social standards is the main reason we're seeing a wave of synthetic substitutes heading for the market. Leather alternatives produced from synthetic polymers fare better in terms of environmental sustainability and have achieved considerable market share in recent years. But these materials face the same disposal ..read more

#ecology #hobbies #mentalhealth One of the major takeaways from 2020 is that hobbies are essential for our mental health and for our sense of purpose. Most of us have spent more time in the confines of our house this year than ever before and our hobbies have kept us grounded. Some of us have discovered new hobbies or picked up old ones. However, like everything else we do, we want to make sure we're having a positive impact on the planet, and hobbies can be a fulfilling way to combine our passion for the planet with something that makes us feel good! So, if you're looking for a new hobby, try ..read more

#overpopulation #environmentalracism #blm You've probably heard the argument that overpopulation is a driver of climate change. I learned about the 'problems of overpopulation' in school. When information is presented as fact, particularly during schooling, sometimes it takes a bit of time to question it. Even into adulthood, it can take seeing, hearing or experiencing something to ignite a memory. But sooner or later, you can realize that what you learned isn't quite right. And when it comes to overpopulation, this argument has insidious roots, dangerous implications and a racist history. In ..read more

#zerowaste #consciouscooking Methane is rising Mountains of food, including eggs, milk and onions are going to waste as the restaurants are closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which also limits transportation, restricts what staff can do, and disrupts production lines. It is not only a horrific loss of food at a time when millions are literally starving, it is also a threat to the atmosphere and may lead to global warming. Landfill gas-roughly half of methane and half of carbon dioxide ( CO2)-is a natural by-product of organic material decomposition. Credit : EPA According to stories in ..read more