CustomEarthPromos - Eco Blog US

There's an infinite amount of scientific information, data, and eco-friendly news sources out there pertaining to the occurrences of our planet, so much so, it can often feel impossible to stay on top of it all. An easy solution and one of our favorite ways to keep our fingers on the pulse of eco-friendly news is through social media, particularly via Twitter. Here are some of the top Twitter accounts to follow for eco-friendly news, environmental tips, climate change factoids, and green inspiration.   BBC EARTH  Follow @BBCEarth "Think beyond your everyday world, and experience the Universe as it really is." From the behaviors of endangered species to the catastrophes that shaped our planet, BBC Earth takes its 365,000 plus followers behind-the-scenes of our beautiful Universe. When you're mad at your other half but they bring you food  — BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) July 26, 2017 MEATLESS MONDAY Follow @MeatlessMonday If you haven't heard of the Meatless Monday movement by now, then we'll assume you've been living under a rock, but nonetheless, it's never too late to follow this nonprofit organization which encourages people across the globe to go meatless at least one day a week for not only their health but for the health of the planet, too.  A new study from @foe_us shows reducing animal products in school lunches saves energy & money! Via @greenschoolsnn — Meatless Monday (@MeatlessMonday) July 26, 2017 Climate Progress  Follow @climateprogress If you want to be at the forefront of climate change, Climate Progress should be your go-to for eco-friendly news. Thanks to this progressive organization, you won't miss a single beat when it comes to climate science, climate solutions, and climate politics.  #GameofThrones star: ‘I saw global warming with my own eyes, and it's terrifying'  — Climate Progress (@climateprogress) July 30, 2017 TreeHugger  Follow @TreeHugger This blog is renowned for its dedicated to sustainability. TreeHugger is your one-stop shop for eco-friendly news, green solutions, and product information. 10 plastic items you can give up right now.  — TreeHugger.com (@TreeHugger) July 27, 2017

Climate scientists' urgent cries for people to take notice of the effects of climate change are being heard across the globe. Even so, the doubters still exist. If you're among those who are finding it difficult to convince the skeptics that climate change is real, these documentaries should help. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret This award-winning documentary does an incredible job of explaining why animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of climate change including deforestation, water consumption and pollution, greenhouse gases, rainforest destruction, species extinction, topsoil erosion, and ocean "dead zones." In fact, 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from animal agriculture which is more than the combined exhaust from all transportation. The film demonstrates the devasting impact large-scale factory farming has on the environment and urges viewers to eat less meat to reduce their carbon footprint and instead, opt for a more sustainable diet. What The Health Did you know that in the U.S., one out of every four deaths is from cancer, yet the American Cancer Society still encourages people to eat processed turkey and canned meats – claiming that these are the "basic ingredients for a healthy kitchen?" Shocking, right? From the creators that brought you Cowspiracy, this follow-up investigative documentary exposes the truths about the corruption in government, big business, and the pharma industry – and the major influence they have over our health and well-being."It's the health film that health organizations don't want you to see." It also reminds us of how agricultural farming affects not only the environment but our health, too. This film will have you paying better attention to food brand messaging as well as where your food comes from. You'll be wishing you'd swapped to a plant-based diet, sooner. Before The Flood  Leonardo DiCaprio might not be a climate scientist but he doesn't claim to be either. Instead, in this documentary, he uses his privileged position in society to shed light on an issue that affects us all. DiCaprio's film will leave you feeling determined to take action in the fight against climate change. Plastic Paradise If you've never heard of the great pacific garbage patch, brace yourself. This independent documentary follows journalist and filmmaker, Angela Sun, on her personal journey as she learns more about the world's plastic problem from scientists, researchers, and influencers. The film will completely change the way you look at plastic and recycling.

When you think about college - studying, classes, and socializing usually come to mind. With so much going on, it's safe to assume that green living and being eco-friendly on campus isn't something students necessarily focus on. But there are a few simple ways - outside of things you should already be doing like recycling – that any college student can do to be more eco-friendly without having to make huge sacrifices to their lifestyle. The following tips focus on ways you can make your time at college more eco-friendly and sustainable. Choose An Eco-Friendly College If you truly want to reduce your carbon footprint, start by applying to eco-friendly colleges that are renowned for their superb sustainability practices and for offering students a healthy quality of life on campus. If you're already enrolled in a college that doesn't put an emphasis on the environment, use this to your advantage and help educate your institute as well as your fellow classmates. Join an environmental or sustainability club or if your college doesn't offer one, consider starting one yourself. Walk, Bike, or Take Public Transportation Often more than not, college campuses are situated in walkable towns or cities making it easy to ditch your car and reduce your carbon footprint (saving you lots of money on gas, too). But if you happen to live off campus or are a regular commuter, consider alternative options to driving solo such as carpooling, biking, or using public transit. If you don't own a bike, take advantage of any bike sharing programs in your area. Invest in Reusable Green Products Plates, bowls, cutlery, cups, and mugs are just a handful of everyday items you'll need in college and though it can be all too easy to stock up on disposable products, doing so will actually end up costing you more in the long run. Instead, invest in reusable products like ceramic plates and bowls, stainless steel mugs, and reusable shopping bags. These items are not only more eco-friendly but they also double as money-saving practices.

Have you ever witnessed someone throw trash into a lake or leave remnants of their plastic picnic behind at the beach? How about seeing someone throw away items that you know could have been recycled? If these environmental antics bother you, you're not alone. According to a SaveOnEnergy's latest study of 2,000 Americans, there's a long list of pollution pet peeves that irk people but for whatever reason, whether it be fear or lack of confidence, 54 percent of Americans surveyed said they have never confronted a person because of his or her environmentally irresponsible behavior. Notably, though, over 30 percent of those surveyed would be 'likely' or 'very likely' to call these environmental bullies out in the future. The Biggest Environmental Pollution Pet Peeves What do bothersome litterers get up to that peeve people the most? The most offensive type of civilian pollution is when a group of people leaves the beach and leaves behind trash such as beer bottles and plastic food wrappers. When it takes an estimated 1 million years for a glass bottle to decompose, can you blame people for getting upset? Other anti-environmental actions like throwing cigarette butts into a gutter and purposely leaving your lights when you're not home also made the list. Here's a look at the top ten biggest environmental offenses. Industrial pollution, however, appears to be American's biggest irritant among pollution types, followed by water waste, littering or civilian pollution,  food waste, and energy waste. Support for Environmental Businesses is On the Rise At Custom Earth Promos, we pride ourselves on the support we receive from our customers for our eco-friendly products and commitment to the environment, so perhaps our favorite takeaway from the study was finding out that 88 percent of Americans would be more likely to support a business if they were "environmentally responsible." Yet sadly, only ten percent of respondents would be likely to express concern to an environmentally irresponsible business in the future. Overall, it's clear Americans share similar sentiment towards the environment and how it should be taken care of but when it comes to standing up against those who don't agree, many of us don't feel confident enough or safe enough to do so.

We've looked at which states are leading the U.S. in solar power and which  ones recycle the most, and thanks to WalletHub's latest report, we now know which states are the greenest in 2017. In order to rank each state and unveil the greenest ones, analysts used 20 key metrics to determine each state's environmental quality and eco-friendliness of its policies. Factors such as "highest air quality," "most LEED-certified building per capita," and "highest percentage of energy consumption from renewable sources" were taken into account. Here's a look at the top 10 greenest states: Vermont Massachusetts  Oregon Washington Connecticut Maine Minnesota New York New Hampshire Rhode Island Did your state make the top 10? If not, hover over the map below to see where your state ranks. Source: WalletHub Vermont is officially the greenest state in 2017, but when analysts broke it down by category, other states took the tops spots. For instance, New York ranked No.1 for "lowest gasoline consumption" and "lowest energy consumption per capita," while Missouri claimed bragging rights for having the "lowest total municipal solid waste per capita." Overall, Wyoming was the least eco-friendly state and ranked among the lowest in categories for "lowest soil quality," "highest energy consumption per capita," and "highest gasoline consumption (in gallons) per capita." Red States Vs. Blue States If you take an even closer look at the study's results, do you notice a pattern? It turns out that a state's political affiliation is closely linked to how eco-friendly they are. Blue states such as Vermont, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, and Connecticut rank much higher than red states like Oklahoma, North Dakota, West Virginia, Montana, and Wyoming. Though there are many exceptions, this study reveals that overall, blue states are more likely to take the environment into account when it comes to enforcing stricter laws regarding renewables, resource conservation, and pollution.

Reusable bottles are healthier for you and more environmentally friendly but a new study conducted by Treadmillreviews.net reveals that reusable water bottles can harbor huge levels of germs and potentially harmful bacteria if not cleaned properly. To determine the levels of bacteria that may be present, researchers swabbed the lids of reusable water bottles used by athletes and then had the samples tested at an independent lab. A total of 12 swabs were taken from four different water bottles with different tops (straw-top, screw-top, slide-top, squeeze-top), and the results were shocking. On average, unwashed reusable drinking containers may be crawling with more than 300,000 colony-forming units per square centimeter (CFU/sq cm). What's that mean for non-scientist folks? One way to look at it is that drinking from the average reusable bottle is much worse than licking a dog's toy which has just 2,937 CFU. Here's a look at some of the other comparisons the study drew: It looks like drinking from certain reusable containers can be dirtier than other surfaces like cutting boards and kitchen sinks. Even so, reusable bottles, when washed properly and not left in your gym bag for days, are the best alternative to plastic bottles. After all, reusable water bottles that are BPA-free are better for you and for the planet. Stainless steel bottles are also a great solution to plastic. It's Time to Wash Your Reusable Bottles  The moral of the study couldn't be more clear. After each use, don't forget to give your reusable bottle a good rinse. Throw it in the dishwasher, wash it in warm soapy water, clean it the all-natural way with vinegar or use cleaning tablets made specifically for disinfecting your reusable water bottle. Whatever you do, just make sure you keep it clean, otherwise, you could be drinking out of the equivalent of a toilet seat.

From hiking and camping to beach days and vacations, summer is one of the best seasons for heading outdoors. But with so much movement, it's also one of the least eco-friendly times of the year. To give Mother Earth a break and to awake the environmentalist within, we wanted to share some useful tips on how to be eco-friendly this summer and still have fun. Rent Bikes Over the past few years, bike-share programs have been popping up all over the country. In 2012, New York City launched Citibike – the largest bike-sharing program in the U.S. at the time. With overwhelming success, other cities like Minneapolis, Miami Beach, and Denver went on to launch similar programs, providing stations that addressed transit needs. Even if you already own a bike, you might not always have your bike on you which is where automated stations for bicycle rentals come in handy. It's not only an eco-friendly way to commute to work, the train or bus station – it's also an inexpensive way to easily visit city sights while on vacation. At the same time, you won't be emitting any gas or toxic emissions, so it's a win-win for you and the environment. Go On An Eco-Friendly Vacation  What is summer without a vacation (or two)? For those of you who suffer from severe cases of wanderlust, traveling during the sunniest months is definitely necessary, however, it's not always the most eco-friendly thing to do. To ease your guilt of harming the environment, make conscious decisions while on your travels, to stay at the greenest hotels, book your flights with the greenest airlines, and dine at farm-to-table or local organic restaurants. Our mini guide to eco-friendly travel will be sure to steer you in the greenest direction. Cool Down With Reusable Water Bottles  Annually, Americans consume over 8.6 billion gallons of bottled water and when trying to stay cool during summer, plastic water bottles are all too convenient for us to grab. But when you consider that they can take anywhere between 400 and 1,000 years to decompose, it goes without saying that drinking out of a reusable water bottle is a much better choice for our planet. Do you have any eco-friendly tips to share? What are some of your favorite ways to be eco-friendly during summer?

Plastic cups, water bottles, straws, plastic cutlery, and plates are all single-use plastic products – basically some of our least favorite things on the planet. If you're anything like us and aren't big fans of plastic either, then July should be your favorite month of the year. Why? Because if you didn't already know, it's 'Plastic Free July' – a whole month dedicated to raising awareness of the amount of plastic in people's lives and how we can eliminate the use of single-use plastic during the month of July each year. The initiative started back in 2011 in Perth, Australia, with just 40 supporters and has since grown to more than one million people who gladly accept the challenge each July. Ultimately, the organization wants to encourage people to form new eco-friendly habits that not only hold up throughout July but throughout our lives. With plastic bag bans retreating across the country and states trying to ban state bans on plastic bag bans (yes, you heard that right), Plastic Free July couldn't have come at a better more urgent time. Do You Accept the Plastic Free Challenge? If you're keen to join millions of people across the globe who are saying "no" to plastic this month, it's definitely not too late to participate. To get started, check out PlasticFreeJuly.org's 'Living Plastic Free' resource which will give you an entire A-Z list of alternatives for plastic products. You can also refresh your knowledge with some of our favorite resources on the subject: 3 Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Plastic Bags Reusable Products That Make Green Living Easier Kick Your Plastic Straws Habit to the Curb For Good With These 4 Eco-Friendly Alternatives Once you feel that you're fully equipped with all the eco-friendly knowledge you need to get started, you can register for the challenge or take what you've learned about plastic alternatives and create your own challenge. As long as you at least try to reduce the plastic in your life, then you're doing your part. Just remember that knowledge is power, especially when it comes to educating others about taking care of the environment, so don't forget to pass on your knowledge and spread the word!

Red, white, blue and . . . green? This Fourth of July, don't forget to add some green to the mix and by green, we mean making sustainable changes to your holiday celebrations. Here are several simple ideas that we hope will inspire you to think differently and make positive changes to the environment this Independence Day. Reusable Products Instead of Disposable The Fourth of July wouldn't be the same without a picnic, barbecue, or another festive gathering, but unfortunately, with that comes a lot of waste. To cut down on the amount of garbage you send to the landfill or to achieve zero waste, forgo single-use items this year and opt for reusable products instead: reusable bags, utensils, plates, cups, etc. Green Your Grill  Before you fire up the grill on Independence Day, take a moment to think about how you can minimize your environmental impact by considering the type of fuel you'll be using to cook with. According to the HPBA, 62 percent of households own a gas grill and 12 percent own electric ones.  Compared with charcoal, these types of grills burn cleaner. However, if you're in the market for a new barbecue, which HPBA expects 37 percent of Americans will be this season, then you can't get much greener than a solar-powered grill. Harnessing the power of the sun might take a little longer to cook your holiday grub but unlike gas or charcoal grills, solar doesn't require any non-renewable resources that once consumed, can't be replaced. Cut Down on Your Meat Consumption  Cutting down on using grills that use non-renewables is important in reducing your carbon footprint, but if you're really wanting to make an impact, simply say "no" to the bacon. Animals such as cows, pigs, goats, sheep, and other livestock produce more methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, than other animals such as chickens, turkey, and fish. If you're a meat lover, you might find it hard to go cold turkey on meat altogether, so start small and consider cutting down on your red meat consumption. While a plant-based diet is ideal, white meat such as poultry has less of an impact on climate change than red meat does. Do you have any eco-friendly holiday tips for the Fourth of July?

With more than 700 million users, Instagram is one of the most popular social networking sites ranking number three behind YouTube and Facebook. With Instagram playing such a significant role in the lives of many, particularly Millennials and Generation Z, it has all of the potential and reach to inspire today's youth to be more eco-conscious. From organic eating to national parks and sustainable living, there are a myriad of eco-friendly Instagram accounts out there to follow. But how do you find them? One of the easiest ways is to search for hashtags using Instagram's search field. For instance, when we searched Instagram for the hashtag #ecofriendly, our search resulted in more than 1.8 million posts which included that hashtag. Other popular tags include #eco which generated close to 1.9 million posts, #ecofriendlyfashion with more than 80,000 posts, and #ecofriendlyproducts with almost 47,000 posts. In doing similar searches, we discovered five eco-friendly Instagram accounts that we highly recommend following if you don't already. EMMA WATSON Best known for her role as Hermoine in Harry Potter, Emma Watson is also the UN WOMEN Global Goodwill Ambassador and a leader in eco-fashion. She has a personal Instagram account @EmmaWatson, but if you're interested in learning more about sustainable fashion, head over to @the_press_tour where you can follow Watson and her eco-friendly fashion choices as she tours the world to promote her latest films. A lovely time in beautiful San Francisco, visiting @Twitter HQ with @tomhanks, @jamesponsoldt and Patton Oswalt, to talk about @wearethecircle. The film is released in the US on Friday! Top, coat and trousers made in Italy by @gabrielahearst who is an independent designer with ethical values at the heart of the brand. Earrings and rings by @allbluesofficial, who are based in Stockholm and handcraft every piece in their local, third-generation foundry. Fair-trade gold ear cuff by @anakhouri. Shoes by @manoloblahnikhq #30wears Fashion info verified by @ecoage #ecoloves A post shared by The Press Tour (@the_press_tour) on Apr 27, 2017 at 9:09am PDT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC National Geographic has been educating and inspiring people to care about the planet since 1888. Follow @natgeo and see the world through the lenses of some of the world's best photographers. If this ever-growing photo collection of rescue animals and melting glaciers doesn't inspire you to take action, we don't know what will. Photo by @amivitale. Wildlife keeper Kamara has spent 10 years at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (@lewa_wildlife) and is an expert in caring for orphaned animals, from baby rhinos to lions and now elephants at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (@r.e.s.c.u.e). The team will work to rehabilitate these orphaned and abandoned elephants and reunite them with their wild herds. Read more about Reteti in my @NatGeo story: https://tinyurl.com/kvopc69 You can help support the great work happening here by visiting Sarara ...