CustomEarthPromos - Eco Blog US

Each year, life seems to get a little crazy during the holidays, especially around Thanksgiving when families from all over come together to eat, drink and give thanks. But with the holidays also comes a ton of waste because understandably, many of us prioritize convenience at the expense of the environment. According to government data, Americans throw away roughly $165 billion in uneaten food every year. And about $277 million of that waste will occur during Thanksgiving. This staggering stat made us sit back and think about the ways in which we can reduce our waste this year. To help us be a little more “green,” we've gathered a list of simple steps we can all take towards having a more environmentally friendly Thanksgiving. 1. Give Food to Shelters It's estimated that one in eight U.S. households are food insecure, so there's no wonder why food banks across the country are gearing up to feed America's hungry. A couple ways that you can help food banks prepare for drives include volunteering to cook and serve the food at shelters or providing them with non-perishable grocery items and reusable bags. Or perhaps you can find a way to donate financially. Either way, you can learn more about food drives from the local charities in your community. 2. Buy Local Consider buying ingredients from your local farmer's market for a more environmentally friendly Thanksgiving feast. Purchasing from your local market means you're not only supporting your local economy and receiving sustainably grown food, but it also gives you a great excuse to bring out the reusable bags.   3. Use Reusable Everything! From tableware to cookware and serving dishes, make sure everything you use on Thanksgiving is reusable. This simple step will not only save you money in the long run but also eliminate disposable containers from ending up in our landfills. 4. Compost Your Leftovers Most of the leftovers can be sent home with friends or family or used to make yummy meals for the days that follow, but for the half-eaten plates or any other leftovers, consider composting them. If you don't have your own compost bin, try making one, otherwise, your city or neighborhood may have a communal compost option you can use. 5. Gobble Less Gas AAA projects that 48.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this year – that's 1 million more people traveling this Thanksgiving compared with last year. If you're traveling for the holidays, consider environmentally friendly options like using public transportation or carpooling. If you don't have an electric car, look into renting one. And if absolutely have no choice but to fly, try carbon offsetting. Do You Have Any Environmentally Friendly Thanksgiving Tips? Do you have any simple steps you can share for a more environmentally friendly Thanksgiving? If so, please share your tips in the comments section below.

It's nearly impossible to travel without contributing to emissions and waste. Your carbon footprint can only really be reduced by the choices you make – your hotel, methods of transportation, restaurants, and so forth. When you choose to travel to eco-friendly destinations and support businesses that prioritize green, you make an impact as well. With more millennials opting for eco-tourism, we wanted to share you on a list of the top eco-friendly travel destinations that we hope will inspire your next trip to be more green.  Top 3 Eco-Friendly Travel Destinations 1. Costa Rica Costa Rica tops the list as one of the world's most successful eco-tourism destinations. From the country's pristine beaches to the rainforests and volcanoes, Costa Rica is a hotspot for a greener vacation and is often praised for its conservation efforts. It was announced in September that the country has been running on 100% renewable energy for more than two months straight, demonstrating that life without fossil fuels is possible. 2. Galapagos Islands These islands are perhaps best-known for Charles Darwin and the resounding impact his visit had on the formation of his Theory of Natural Selection. They have retained a whopping 95 percent of their endemic species and around 97 percent of the Galapagos Islands are designated as national parks. If you're considering touring the islands, keep in mind that you'll need to have a Certified Naturalist Guide with you to show you around. This is in accordance with the belief that travel is an exchange, not a commodity. If you're considering touring the islands, keep in mind that you'll need to have a Certified Naturalist Guide with you to show you around. This is in accordance with the belief that travel is an exchange, not a commodity. 3. New Zealand In New Zealand, you'll find everything from glaciers and fjords to volcanic plateaus and subtropical forests. In fact, 20 percent of the country is made up of national parks, and its unspoiled landscapes are protected from mass tourism. It also offers nature and eco tourism attractions and activities which include swimming with dolphins and whales, bird watching, and eco and nature cruises. Bonus travel tip! New Zealand is also home to more than 150 locations that were used to film The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogy. Other Top Eco-Friendly Travel Destinations to Add to Your Bucket List Vietnam Slovenia Botswana and Zambia Bhutan Patagonia Peru Borneo, Malaysia Holland What Exactly is Eco-Tourism? The term is defined as “tourism directed toward exotic, often threatened, natural environments, especially to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife.” This can include: – Conscientious, low-impact visitor behavior – Sensitivity towards, and appreciation of, local cultures and biodiversity – Support for local conservation efforts – Sustainable benefits to local communities – Local ...

With documentaries like Before the Flood surfacing and big moves towards solar energy from Tesla, 2017 is bound to be an eventful year for sustainability and the environment. If you want to stay up-to-date with the latest emerging trends in this space, sustainability conferences and meetings are the way to go. Professional development and in-person networking events are paramount to not only your career moves in this industry but also opportunities for developing new relationships and broadening business networks. But, with so many sustainable conferences to choose from, many with hefty price tags to attend, it's important to choose events that will offer something valuable to you. To help you narrow it down, we've put together a short list of some of the top sustainability conferences in the US in 2017. Take a look at the lineup of speakers and topic discussions, and take the time to research each one to see which conference is best suited for you and your business goals. 1. BSR BSR is taking place this month in New York with a theme "Be Bold" that rallies a cry for businesses addressing the toughest issues our time. The conference aims to connect like-minded companies, foundations, big thinkers, and creative doers who all share the same goal – to build a sustainable future and economies through business leadership and partnerships. If you're unable to make the conference this year, don't fret. BSR will be taking place again on October 24-26, 2017 in Huntington Beach, California. Stay tuned! 2. GreenBiz Conference This conference looks into the pressing challenges, emerging trends and biggest opportunities in sustainable business today. Influential sustainability leaders gather once a year to discuss the latest trends in green business and how to drive growth through sustainable assessment. The next GreenBiz Conference takes place on February 14 - 16, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. 3. Sustainable Brands Join thought leaders from all of the globe to learn how to successfully innovate your brand for sustainability. Acquire knowledge from renowned speakers, explore detail-rich case studies and learn tips on how to accelerate the success of your business.  The next Sustainable Brands gathering will be held on May 22-25, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. 4. International Corporate Citizenship Conference Boston, Massachusetts will play host to hundreds of CSR professionals on March 26 - 28, 2017 who will be attending this conference to explore the environmental, social and governance aspects of business. Experts from around the world will share innovative new programs and ideas that drive positive change across the globe. You will return to your organization or business with detail-rich case studies, practical know-how, and tips to accelerate your business success. If you can't attend these sustainability conferences in-person, remember that many of these events will blog, tweet, and live stream sessions before, during, and after the ...

Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to the stage at Universal Studios in LA a couple weeks back, highlighting the global warming crisis along with the earth's alarming spike in CO2 levels, and promising to make solar as sexy as his electric luxury cars. He unveiled Tesla's latest solar roof, a new range of textured glass tiles with integrated solar cells that are unlike any conventional tiling out there. He also uncovered a sleek update to the company's energy-storing Powerwall. “The goal is … to make solar roofs that look better than a normal roof, generate electricity, last longer, have better insulation and an installed cost that is less than a normal roof plus the cost of electricity,” Musk said. A couple hundred invited guests, mostly Tesla owners, were in awe as Musk revealed solar roofs in replace of old roofing material on houses on Wisteria Lane – the old set of Desperate Housewives. Perhaps the most surprising part was that from textured slate shingle to terra cotta tile, it was virtually impossible to tell that the roofs were styles of solar tile. “Similar to electric cars, solar panels haven't been particularly appealing,” Musk said. He claims he has made a French Slate solar roof that looks better than a conventional French slate roof. But it was the Tuscan Glass Tile that stole the show. The secret to the tiles' appearance is a special coating that becomes more or less see-through depending on your viewing angle. The biggest advantages of using glass solar panels to a conventional roof include strength and durability. Musk demonstrated this by dropping a weight on both types of tiles. " "If you're re-doing your roof, glass solar panels are clearly the way to go. But if you have a new roof, then you'll need to put solar panels on that roof." Millions of roofs are replaced each year, so over time as people replace their roofs with solar, Musk predicts that the aesthetics in your neighborhood will get better – a process that will also benefit the planet and reduce CO2 levels. “The sun provides more than enough energy in just one hour to supply our planet's energy needs for an entire year.” The solar roof looks better, lasts longer, costs less, and is better for the environment than a conventional roof. “Why would you buy anything else?” The solar roof looks better, lasts longer, costs less, and is better for the environment than a conventional roof. “Why would you buy anything else?”

From air purifiers to air filters and HEPA vacuums, you're likely at some point in your life, to have fallen for an air cleansing system or product that is not natural or doesn't necessarily do what was promised on the box. According to the EPA, indoor levels of pollutants may be up to 100 times higher than outdoor pollutant levels and have been ranked among the top five environmental risks to the public. So, you can see why it's important that you tackle these pollutants in your living and work spaces. What's the solution? It might seem a simple enough one or make you question why you hadn't thought about it before, but the answer is plants – eco-friendly, air purifying plants. NASA's Clean Air Study did the hard work for us (back in 1989) and found plants to be the most effective for cleaning the air in space stations; a finding that is still applicable to purifying the indoor spaces of today.  Their study found that there were specific plants that were most effective at removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia from the air – harmful chemicals that have been linked to health effects like headaches, dizziness, nausea, and eye irritation. NASA's results have stood the test of time and the most effective air purifying plants can be found below. 1. Garden Mum 2. Spider Plant 3. Peace Lily 4. Dracaena 5. Dwarf Date Palm 6. Boston Fern 7. Kimberley Queen Fern 8. Chinese Evergreen 9. Bamboo Palm 10. Weeping Fig 11. Devil's Ivy 12. Flamingo Lily 13. Lilyturf 14. Broadleaf Lady Palm 15. Barberton Daisy 16. Cornstalk Dracaena 17. English Ivy 18. Variegated Snake Plant 19. Red-Edged Dracaena 20. Florist's Chrysanthemum Not only do these plants clean the air, but many of them are super easy to care for – plus they look great in any home. So, if you're looking to breath better and think clearer, consider adding some of these eco-friendly, air purifying plants to your home or office space.

Hundreds of thousands of people will be gathering in Kenya on November 11 to try and beat the Guinness World Record of tree planting. As part of an ambitious tree planting project for a more sustainable environment, they are aiming to plant five million trees in just one hour. There is a much bigger picture to all of this, though. The government of Kenya through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Kenya Red Cross Society, and the International Federation of Red Cross, and Red Crescent Societies are pursuing a program aimed at planting 2.5 billion trees by the year 2030. The ministry partners hope this challenge will encourage Kenyans to plant ecological suitable trees species. Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources, Judi Wakhungu said in a statement: “To realize the goal of planting 2.5 Billion trees by 2030, the Ministry partners' and stakeholders will undertake various initiatives, one of them being the planting of marathon five Million trees in one hour in early November 2016. Kenya's current forest cover of two percent falls below the global convention of 10 percent, and with increasing poverty, demand for arable land and rapid population growth, the situation is deemed to get worse. The project will also increase the capacity to adapt to the impact of climate change combat desertification, guarantee water, food security and livelihoods by conserving water catchments.” More than a quarter of a million people are expected to participate in the record-breaking initiative that will contribute immensely to growing more trees in degraded ecosystems and restoring water catchments and river basins in Kenya. To break the record, participants will have to plant more than 2.29 million trees in one hour – the current tree planting record held by TreeVolution, an NGO in the Philippines, set in September 2014. Even if you don't live in Kenya or aren't able to participate in the program, you can still contribute to these efforts. Kenya Red Cross Society is launching a mobile app called Adopt-A-Tree which is powered by GPS and social technologies to allow anyone and everyone to plant a tree. You will also have the option to select specific locations in Kenya by paying $3.50 per tree. Do you think Kenya will break the Guinness World Record for tree planting? Make your prediction in the comment section below. 

“Eco-friendly,” “green living,” and “climate change” are all buzzwords we hear often in relation to Mother Earth, but what do they all mean? For those of you who are looking to gain a better understanding of the environment and keep up-to-date with the latest eco-news, look no further. We've compiled a list of our favorite top five green living sites you should be following if you consider yourself to be an eco-friendly enthusiast. 1. OneGreenPlanet.org One Green Planet is all about “redefining green” and feeding the knowledge thirsty, eco-conscious generation. This independent publishing platform focuses mainly on sustainable food, animal welfare issues, environmental protection, and green living. Their editors also love to share organic, eco-friendly recipes – making them the biggest vegan and plant-based food recipe site on the internet. 2. Inhabitat “Green design is good design. Good design is green design.” Inhabitat's mission and weblog resonates with stylish planet lovers everywhere. The blog is devoted to the future of design and tracking innovative technology, practices, and materials that are pushing architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future. Inhabitat focuses its attention on objects and spaces that are eco-friendly, multi-purpose, modular, and interactive. 3. Treehugger Given Treehugger's mission to drive sustainability mainstream, you may have already heard of this major media outlet, but if you haven't, we highly recommend you add it to your list of green living sites to follow. They will be your one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information. 4. Mindbodygreen This site brings together leaders in the wellness world including best-selling authors, fitness experts, trusted healers, pioneering doctors, top chefs, celebrities, and top-tier journalists to give you the freshest content and tools to help you live a healthier and happy life. This blog is for naturists who value holistic healing, spirituality, mindfulness, and all things in favor of the environment. 5. Green Living The context of this site can be found in the title. Green Living is perfect for eco-minded families looking for tips and advice on eco-friendly enterprises and green living products. This site is an authoritative voice in the environmental media space. What are some of your favorite green living sites, blogs and media outlets?

At the beginning of the year, Leonardo DiCaprio captured the attention of viewers worldwide when he used his Oscar-winning speech to speak out on climate change. His foundation recently raised significant funding for earth-friendly endeavors and he teamed up with fellow actor, Mark Ruffalo this year on a renewable resource campaign. But Leo's mission to educate people on the urgent matter of climate change just got a whole lot bigger. “Climate Change is an Issue That Affects All of Us.” By now, you have probably heard that Leo has a new documentary about climate change coming out. “Before the Flood” has been Leo's three-year journey exploring the subject of climate change. While making the documentary, he traveled around the world to learn more about the effects of climate change on the planet and people. He had the opportunity to speak to scientists, world leaders, and activists on the urgency of this issue. The film will air globally in 45 languages, 171 countries, and commercial free on October 30. Leo and director, Fisher Stevens, set out to create a film that would educate people on the urgent issues of climate change and inspire them to be part of a solution. “We are knowingly doing this. I just want to know how far we've gone,” Leo says in the film. “How much damage we've done. And if there's anything we can do to stop it.” In the documentary, Leo travels to some of the regions where climate change has hit hardest like Greenland and the world's dying coral reefs. The film features appearances from President Barack Obama, John Kerry, Elon Musk and Pope Francis, along with many of the world's leading climate scientists and researchers. The National Geographic is making “Before the Flood” available for free, so don't miss your chance to tune in for the world premiere on October 30. The network will have a free stream of the film up from this date through to Nov. 6 on its website, Facebook, Twitter and across streaming services.

“While sustainability is often measured using quantitative tools, we should emphasize the value of qualitative studies that flag up differences of view, experience and interpretation – of community, city life, regeneration, impact of development – as well as suggest the potential for a diversity of sustainable futures.” – Juliet Davis Sustainability is much more than a recent buzzword. While the use of the word has increased in  frequency, the concept itself is hardly new. But creating a sustainable ecosystem isn't that easy and some cities have struggled with the concept more than others. The 2016 Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index report examined these pressures by measuring sustainability across 32 indicators including income inequality, education, crime, affordability (People); energy consumption, drinking water, sanitation, green space (Planet), and transportation, economic development, and employment (Profit). The research reveals the cities around the world that are not effectively balancing these three pillars of sustainability. Not surprisingly, well-established European cities dominate the top of the charts making up 13 of the 15 leading places. Zurich leads the overall ranking and tops the planet sub-index, followed by Singapore, Stockholm, Vienna, and London in the top five spots for sustainable cities. Vancouver is the most sustainable city in the North America region, while New York and Boston lead the United States. However, U.S. cities rank just below most other developed nations and are most challenged in two categories: People and Planet. San Francisco, New York, and Dallas follow the global trend of having higher rankings for profit but lower rankings for people. Sadly, no U.S. city made it into the top quartile. How Can Cities Become More Sustainable? If we are to keep to global climate targets, cities will have to become more sustainable. The opportunities to improve sustainability lay in the hands of city leaders who are encouraged to put people at the heart of their sustainability plans and learn from cities like Zurich who have already had success in doing this. No one city is effectively balancing all three areas of sustainability. Many cities do well in two of the people, planet, and profit ratings, but very few do well in all three. By identifying areas for improvement between the city's physical, social and economic systems, cities will be able to achieve a better balance across each of the pillars of sustainability.

When it comes to Halloween, Americans aren't scared to splurge on their favorite candy, decorations, and costumes. It's predicted that they will spend more on Halloween this year than any other year in history – $8.4 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. But in 2016, when climate change is more real than ever, don't you think it's about time we took a greener approach to Halloween? There are a number of spooktacular ways to have an eco-friendly Halloween this year and still have an equally wicked time. Use the Whole Pumpkin Planning on making a Jack-O- Lantern? Try using every part of the pumpkin. Start with roasting and seasoning the seeds for a healthy, tasty snack. The pulp is also delicious in soup, ravioli, or even a homemade puree for pumpkin spiced lattes. After Halloween is over, make sure to compost the remainder of the pumpkin instead of throwing it away. The U.S Energy Department warned that when pumpkins end up in the landfill, they generate gas emissions. If you can avoid carving pumpkins all together, that would be the most eco-friendly option, resulting in zero-waste. Eco-Friendly Costumes If you're looking for a truly original Halloween costume this year, get creative and make one from scratch. Legoman, Wall-E, and Mario Kart are just three costume ideas that can be made from cardboard. Instead of buying plastic face masks, consider using face paint instead. If you don't have time to make a costume, go to a local costume swap event or your nearest Goodwill or charity shop for a recycled costume. Recycled Decorations   Cut down on both cost and waste by creating your own Halloween decorations from recycled materials. Pinterest is a great resource for DIY decor and eco-friendly party ideas. If there are any items that are a must-have, opt for second-hand purchases that can be used again. Don't forget to use reusable shopping bags or even pillowcases for trick-or-treating.