CustomEarthPromos - Eco Blog US

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.

There are so many things that we use on a weekly or daily basis that we might not realize are heavily polluting the planet, and the sad part is that these dirty eco-hazardous items nearly always end up in our landfills. But there's good news because these single-use items all come with eco-friendly alternatives. Here's a list of 6 major disposable things that are polluting the planet and their alternatives: 1. Disposable Batteries With more rechargeable items on the market than ever before, batteries aren't required for as many electronics as before, but that doesn't mean people aren't still using them. In fact, in the U.S, 3 billion batteries are thrown away each year. As batteries corrode in landfills, they leak harmful chemicals such as mercury, lead, and lithium, which can be detrimental to our water supply. Consider buying rechargeable batteries or items that don't require batteries.  2. Paper Towels To make one ton of paper towels, 17 trees and 20,000 gallons of water are polluted, according to The Paperless Project. This is a striking amount of pollution considering the use of paper towels can easily be avoided. Next time there's a spill or mess that needs mopping up, try reaching for rags, cloths, or another type of towel that can be washed and used again. 3. Plastic Bags This year, single-use plastic bags plummeted by more than 85 percent in England, and many other countries and states are working hard to implement new schemes and laws to achieve similar results. Yet we still see a gross amount of plastic bags ending up in our landfills each year.  The solution? Reusable bags! It's a simple enough concept, but it might take more countries like England enforcing new laws or taxes to give people the push they need to bring their own bags to the shops. Same goes for disposable flatware and paper plates. If an entire country can ban plasticware, surely we can make an effort to stop using these disposable items as well. 4. Coffee Pods Treehugger estimated that there were enough single-use coffee pods to circle the earth 12 times in 2014. Machines like Keurig and Nespresso might be convenient, but their disposable pod concepts are an environmental disaster. Even the inventor of the Keurig, John Sylvan, is bothered by the environmental implications of what he created. He told The Atlantic in an exclusive interview, “I feel bad sometimes that I ever did it.” It's no wonder why hashtags like #KillTheKCup have been trending on Twitter. 5. Plastic Water Bottles According to Ban the Bottle, “Americans used about 50 billion plastic water bottles last year. However, the U.S.'s recycling rate for plastic is only 23 percent, which means 38 billion water bottles – more than $1 billion worth of plastic – are wasted each year.” Instead of single-use water bottles, invest in a filtration pitcher to keep in your fridge and a refillable stainless steel water bottle or glass bottle that you can reuse over and over again. ...

With so much to organize and think of when it comes to planning meetings, conferences, and events, it can sometimes be easy to forget about being eco-friendly, or at least it's not at the top of the list. But having a little forethought can have surprisingly good results, not only for the environment but also for your bottom line. It can be strategic to "go green" both in terms of financial savings and reputation. From booking transportation to assembling goodie bags, this short guide will give you a few ideas and practical tips on how to have a more eco-friendly conference or event. Make Green Travel Choices By keeping your event central or close to home, you can dramatically reduce travel costs for each participant. If you can prevent having to fly, you'll not only save money but reduce your carbon footprint radically as well. You might even try holding a digital conference or online meeting that involves no traveling whatsoever. If traveling by plane is unavoidable, you can still consider green choices for ground transportation. For instance, you can use public transportation like shuttles and trains instead of renting a car or try Uber's new carpooling service instead of hailing a cab that's just for one person. You'll find these green alternatives are also highly cost effective. Eat Local. Cater Organic. Reduce Waste. If you're catering your event, consider working with local vendors that won't have to travel far and burn fuel. See if there are options to buy food that's organic and locally sourced, and work with your caterer to make sure there won't be a lot of food waste after the event. If leftovers are expected, you may want to ask if it's possible for this extra food to be donated to a local charity or food drive. An experienced and reputable caterer should be able to help you with these types of inquiries to ensure your event is a sustainable one. Invest in Reusable Items If your event requires tableware items or flatware, consider investing in reusable flatware or products made from recycled materials. In the long run, you'll save money by having reusable cups, plates, cutlery, and napkins that can be reused at each event. By making this simple choice to rent or buy these reusable items, you're are also preventing a ton of waste from going to the landfills. Goodie Bags and Raffles Goodie bags and raffles can be the most anticipated parts at any event. If you're planning on having welcome bags or goodie bags for attendees, start by making sure the bags are reusable. Once you have a reusable bag picked out, fill it with eco-friendly goodies such as reusable pens, notepads made from recycled material, reusable coffee cups, etc. You can't always control what goes into a raffle, but you can control how the prize is presented and wrapped. The number one thing to avoid with raffle prizes is the non-biodegradable cling film used to wrap them. Stay away from the cling film and you're one step closer to having a much greener event. Reduce ...

The idea of a ban on gasoline and diesel cars seems an unfathomable one to most, but to Germany lawmakers, it's at the top of their list. In fact, the Bundesrat just passed a resolution to ban the internal combustion engine and replace these vehicles with zero-emission cars by 2030, which is ironic considering Germany was the country that brought us one of the first modern internal combustion engines. Germany's Spiegel Magazin reported that the country's top legislative body was able to reach a bi-partisan agreement that hopes to allow only zero-emission cars on EU roads in 14 years. For the resolution to be instituted across Europe, it will have to be approved by the EU. With the urgent need for Germany to cut global emissions by up to 95 percent by 2050 (terms highlighted in the Paris Agreement), it would seem that this news couldn't have come at a better time. Greens party lawmaker Oliver Krischer told Spiegel, "If the Paris agreement to curb climate-warming emissions is to be taken seriously, no new combustion engine cars should be allowed on roads after 2030." The resolution calls on EU automakers to “review the current practices of taxation and dues with regard to a stimulation of emission-free mobility.” By creating a tougher tax burden, manufacturers could be pushed to put electric vehicles into production sooner.  Though Germany isn't the only country eager to bury those nasty climate-warming emissions. India is aiming for all cars to be electric by 2030 and both Holland and Norway are discussing the possibility of banning gas-powered car sales and replacing them with zero-emission cars starting in 2025. The fact that Germany is the fourth-largest producer of cars and commercial vehicles in the world and is leading such sweeping change, just goes to show the dramatic direction the world is headed in the fight against climate change.

In years to come, people will look back on September 2016 as a major milestone for climate change. This is the month and year at which carbon dioxide officially passed the symbolic 400 ppm mark – never to return below it in our lifetimes, according to scientists. September is usually the time when atmospheric carbon dioxide is at its lowest. And even though the Mauna Loa Observatory says fall has already begun taking its natural due course – with plants shedding their leaves, decomposing, and releasing the stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere – levels have still remained above 400 ppm. When you look at the increase in carbon pollution throughout history, crossing this threshold appears inevitable – particularly since the industrial revolution when humans began altering the earth's natural process by adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than plants can take up. But regardless of inevitability, this climate change benchmark is still highly significant. “Brief excursions toward lower values are still possible, but it already seems safe to conclude that we won't be seeing a monthly value below 400 ppm this year – or ever again for the indefinite future,” wrote scientist, Ralph Keeling, from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Even if we tried to reverse the effects and stopped emitting carbon dioxide tomorrow, what has been put in the atmosphere will linger for years to come. In addition to entering our new 400 ppm world, this year has also been labelled the hottest year on record with August being the hottest month of 2016. Here's a look at NASA Earth Observatory's visual of the warmest August in 136 years. One of the main goals of the Paris Agreement is to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. But Climate Central's data suggests that earth is already sitting close to the 1.5°C (2.7°F) warming threshold.   Let's just hope world leaders will take actions to reduce emissions at the rate needed in order to avoid 2°C (3.6°F) of warming. Yet, regardless of how fast they act, there are bound to be repercussions around the world, from more extreme heat waves to droughts, coastal flooding and the extinction of many coral reefs.

Back in July, we got pretty excited when we realized we could help NASA track climate change from our phones, so much so, we searched the depths of the internet to bring you five more eco-friendly apps that we think will help you live a greener life. Whether you're looking to change your shopping habits or behavior towards climate change, there's an app for that. There are numerous apps out there that will help you help the environment. Below are some of our favorites:  1. #Climate “A platform for change.” #Climate is an app with a similar concept to NASA's “I See Change” app in that it helps you discover and share climate change actions that matter to you and your network. But #Climate also sends you push notifications for relevant articles and news stories based on your personal preferences, so that you can, in turn, become an influencer and share the news with your followers. 2. Farmstand This one is for the foodies. Farmstand helps you discover locally grown food from more than 8,700 farmers markets around the world. The founders had one dream in mind when creating the app – “to connect every community with locally grown food. No matter where you are, we want to make it easy to eat local, prevent food waste, and get food to those in need.” By using Farmstand, you're on the right path to promoting sustainability. 3. Yuka Yuka helps you find safe, healthy, green, and ethical product reviews based on scientific ratings. One of the main goals of the app is to educate consumers to buy better products so that retailers and manufacturers will feel compelled to do the same and make products that are safe, environmentally sustainable and produced using ethical sourcing of raw materials and labor. If you're looking to support individuals and businesses who share your commitment to environmental responsibility, this app is for you. 4. Dropcountr Water is precious, so it's about time we did our part to conserve it. Dropcountr enables you to do exactly that by connecting your phone to your water utility company. This eco-friendly app not only tracks your water consumption, it also allows you to set a reasonable water budget to conserve water. Your water company can then send you customized messages about droughts and your water budget, or notify you of leaks. 5. JouleBug Discover how you can conserve energy and change your everyday habits with JouleBug. This app rewards you with pins, badges, and points for your pro-environmental acts. So next time you say no to a disposable coffee cup or use your reusable bag instead of taking a plastic one, be sure to get some credit for it on JouleBug – then challenge your friends or coworkers to do the same. Share Your Favorite Eco-Friendly App With Us! Are there any eco-friendly apps you can't live without or any apps that have helped you make a big difference to the environment? Tell us about them in the comments section below.

The folks over at The Real Junk Food Project have just taken their “we feed everyone” concept to a whole new level by opening the UK's first food waste supermarket. The company started in 2013 with “pay-as-you-feel” cafés and waste-not food banks, which allowed patrons to give back either financial donations, their time, energy or skills as a way of accessing the food. But now, TRJFP founder, Adam Smith, and his team have made leaps and bounds by opening "the warehouse" – the UK's first supermarket dedicated to reducing the 10 million tonnes of food and drink waste that ends up in landfills each year, 60 percent of which could have been avoided. Not only is Smith's business model a green one, but the project also aims to help those who are financially struggling including families in need. Like the project cafés, the supermarket located in Pudsey, near Leeds, allows customers to pay whatever they can afford for the food on offer, which would otherwise end up in landfills. Smith says, "Let's REALLY feed the world," as he shares photos of the new supermarket space on the Grangefield Industrial Estate: We love that Smith is pro reusable grocery bags as he reminds shoppers in his Facebook post to “bring a bag or two” – yet another win for the environment.   The food, which may otherwise have found its way to landfills, is used to feed a staggering 12,000 children a week, according to The Independent. Smith also told the UK publication that there that there are plans to open a warehouse selling surplus produce in every city in the UK. With the UK topping the charts of EU food waste,  it's great to see a company such as The Real Junk Food Project out there making a difference and “feeding bellies, not bins.”

Say goodbye to plasticware in France. The country just became the first in the world to ban all plastic cups, cutlery, and plates. The new law will go into effect in 2020 and producers will have until that date to ensure that all disposable, single-use items sold in France are biodegradable and can be composted at home. This follows a ban on plastic bags which has been in place since July. According to an article in The Independent, ecologists wanted the ban to be introduced as soon as 2017, but Environment Minister Segolene Royal deemed it an "anti-social" measure, arguing that families struggling financially make regular use of disposable plastic tableware. Nevertheless, we're glad France has taken action, especially considering that one hundred and fifty single-use cups are thrown away every second in France – 4.73 billion per year, according to the French Association of Health and Environment. Leaders on Climate Change France also hosted the Paris Climate Change Conference in 2015 where 180 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally-binding global climate deal. The Paris Agreement highlights the urgent need to cut global emissions to limit some of the worst impacts of climate change. One of the main goals outlined in the agreement is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.” To reach this long-term goal, countries who signed the agreement will have to “recognize the importance of the conservation and enhancement, as appropriate, of sinks and reservoirs of the greenhouse gases.” China and the United States of America are two of the most recent countries to ratify the agreement, which has been dubbed by some as a “breakthrough.” The full updated list of country participants can be found here. It's clear that France is a leader on climate change. Let's just hope other countries are as enthusiastic about banning plasticware as they have been about climate change.

At Custom Earth Promos, we're all about the environment and we love sharing the latest environmental news and tips with our fellow environmentalists – books included. Below you'll find a list of some of our favorite green books that we think every environmentalist should have on their bookshelf. From renewable energy to travel, sustainability to fashion, these five books are bound to inspire (pun intended). Happy reading! 1. Sustainability Starts at Home: How to Save Money While Saving the Planet by Dawn Gifford Sustainability Starts at Home proves that you can change the world, one baby step at a time. This book is for those who worry about the future of the planet but don't feel like they can make a difference. Author and eco-blogger Dawn Gifford shares her extensive research into why today's environmental problems exist and offers some inspiring tips on how to reduce your carbon imprint while simultaneously saving hundreds of dollars on water and energy bills. By making a series of small, doable changes, you can make a big difference. 2. Renewable: The World-Changing Power of Alternative Energy by Jeremy Shere Arranged in five parts – Green Gas, Sun, Wind, Earth, and Water – Renewable tells the stories of the most interesting and promising types of renewable energy. This book comes at a perfect time when new policies focused on renewable energy are forming around the globe. We recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about sustainable sources of energy for the future. 3. Trespassing Across America by Ken Ilgunas Author and environmentalist Ken Ilgunas' new book, Trespassing Across America is not only about a love for travel, but also about coming to terms with climate change. MJ Franklin at Mashable describes it as “part stirring travel memoir and part powerful exploration of the environment.” Ilgunas wise words will help you figure out what your role is in confronting something as big as climate change.  4. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari History can teach us a lot about the future and Dr. Yuval Noah Harari agrees. Harari breaks the mold with this unique book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. Harari's Sapiens predicts that humans will vanish within a few centuries due to environmental mismanagement. The book also earned a recommendation from Mark Zuckerberg.  Could it have received a better celebrity endorsement?  5. Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth Cline We've given you some tips on how to swap out fast fashion for a more sustainable wardrobe, but if you're in search of a more in-depth look into where exactly your clothes come from, look no further. From the factories of China to the streets of New York City, Overdressed sets out to uncover the true nature of cheap fashion and how it disrupts not only the fashion industry but the environment, too. What are your top green books? If ...

There were over 2.1 million marriages in the U.S. in 2014, which is an astounding amount of love. But with an abundance of weddings also comes a lot of unnecessary waste –  400-600 lbs. of waste to be exact (based on a guest list of 100-120 people). The solution may be simple, but having an eco-conscious wedding can seem counterintuitive considering most couples want to have the best of the best for their special day. However, from invites to gifts, there are several ways you can have your wedding cake and eat it too, without sacrificing the environment. Eco-Friendly Invites Printing your “save the dates” and wedding invitations on recycled paper is the perfect way to set the tone for an eco-friendly wedding. Seed paper invitations are also a great alternative. Instead of guests disposing of your invite after the wedding, they can plant it and watch it grow, which is pretty symbolic, don't you think? If you're more of a tech-savvy bride or groom, consider sending invites electronically and create a wedding website where your guests can RSVP. It will not only save on trees, but it will save you hundreds of dollars on printing services, return envelopes, and stamps. Eco-Conscious Gifting If you're opting for a traditional wedding registry, pay close attention to where the items you choose are made. Consider adding gift options like organic bedding, reusable shopping bags, bamboo plates and cutlery, and natural home products. Digital honeymoon registries are another environmentally friendly choice, especially popular among engaged millennials who already have everything they need for their home. No postage, wrapping paper or plastic gift bows necessary. Some couples are forgoing a registry altogether and asking for a charitable donation from their guests to go towards a green organization instead. Reusable Welcome Bags Wedding bags are the latest must-have wedding trend, and luckily for the environment, reusable tote bags that can be customized are all the rage.  Don't forget to fill the bag with eco-friendly items like reusable water bottles and organic produce. Sustainable Decor & Flowers Instead of buying single-use decorations, buy items that you'll use again such as mason jars or glass vases. If you're thinking of adding extra lighting, invest in LED lights that use less energy. In regards to flowers, buy locally grown and organic, or consider working with a company that will pick up the arrangements and reuse them. Another eco-conscious choice is to use potted plants for your centerpieces that can be taken home and replanted after the wedding. Brooch bouquets are also a unique alternative and make great keepsakes.