In this episode of Sustainability in Your Ear, Earth911’s Evelyn Fielding-Lopez talks with Peter Mehring, co-founder and CEO of ZEST Labs. The San Jose, California-based company makes produce-tracking sensors that extend the shelf life of produce and meat. By monitoring the condition of food from the field to the store or…
The Essence of Giving: 5 Essential DIY Holiday Gifts Made with Essential Oils
The mention of “fragrance” on a product label may seem innocuous, but this one word is likely to encompass a handful — if not dozens — of harmful chemical compounds that don’t have to be listed individually. Manufacturers are not required to disclose the exact components included in fragrance due…
This Christmas Sweater Is Guaranteed to Last 30 Years
As fun and festive as the holidays are, there’s no denying that this is a wasteful season — this time of year, trash accumulates faster, greenhouse gas emissions rise, and we spend a whole lot of time buying stuff that won’t even last until next December. U.K. fashion designer Tom Cridland…
Recycling Mystery: Frozen Food Boxes
When you think about recycling frozen food boxes like those used to hold single-serving dinners, you may wonder what the mystery is. They’re a paper product, right? Shouldn’t they just go into the recycling bin along with other paper, paperboard, and cardboard? As it turns out, recycling frozen food boxes…
4 Ways to Have the Greenest Christmas Tree
‘Tis the season to start looking for the perfect Christmas tree to light up your home for the holidays. Today, most people consider live trees to be a greener option than artificial trees, which are often manufactured with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a non-biodegradable, petroleum-derived plastic. But before you and the…
Eco-Friendly Holiday Gifts
On the hunt for that perfect gift this holiday season for your eco-conscious loved ones? We have some eco-friendly holiday gift suggestions for everyone on your list. For the Animal Lover and Wildlife Preservationist You can give the gift of protecting wild animals and habitat through the Sierra Club’s Adopt a…
11 Brilliant Uses for Leftover Turkey
After the plates are cleared today, we bet you’ll have at least one thing left over: turkey. It’s pretty tough to estimate accurately how much turkey guests will consume at Thanksgiving dinner and find a bird that’s just the right size. Since variety is the spice of life, here are 11…
Raising Kids Who Take Action: Value of Teamwork Skills
Some kids understand the benefits of working harmoniously with others to create solutions to environmental problems. For instance, 20 years ago, two nine-year-old girls collaborated to create Kids Saving the Rainforest, and their efforts have spread worldwide. Other youths have led large teams to solve environmental problems like recycling e-waste,…
Earth911 Quiz #38: Climate Change Quotes in the News
Five quotes from recent climate news coverage. Do you know who spoke the words reported? In this Earth911 quiz, you’ll be presented with five recent statements about climate change and five names. See if you can connect the quote to the source. Earth911 Quiz #38: Climate Change Quotes Five quotes…
How to Find Ethical Jewelry
No one wants to adorn themselves with environmental destruction and human suffering. Unfortunately, there is no universal third-party certification that guarantees the jewelry you buy is ethical. If you’re considering a gift of fine jewelry this holiday season, you need to educate yourself about more than cut, color, and clarity….