Each April we celebrate Earth Month with the mission to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. This year for 2021 Earth Day we’re looking how to Restore Our Earth, and that starts with every day decisions by you & me.
Since the Environmental Movement’s start in 1970, there are more than 75,000 partners in over 190 countries to drive positive action for restoring our planet. Together and as individuals, we hold real power and influence as a consumer, a voter, and a member of a community that can unite for change to protect our precious Earth. BOXFOX and Sea Hugger partnered to give you 10 simple steps that go a long way as a conscious consumer & citizen on the Earth.
10 Simple Ocean-Friendly Habits
Source Sustainably
Skip the supermarket, and shop at your local farmers market. Supporting local farmers, seasonal produce, and ocean-minded restaurants, helps strengthen a circular economy and healthy ocean. Look for certifications like The Food Alliance, Certified Humane, Fair Trade Certified, Free Farmed, Protected Harvest, Rainforest Alliance, and USDA Certified Organic!
Wishcycle vs. Recycle
Wishcycling: when an item is placed into the recycling bin when it is known or unknown that the item is actually recyclable.
We love that you're actively trying to recycle but unfortunately not everything is recyclable. For those items that aren't recyclable cause harm because these items contaminate otherwise recyclable items, or force the plants to stop their machines and hand-pick out the non-recyclable items. We encourage you to educate yourself on your city's guidelines!
Connect with the outdoors
It’s a big world, go outside and see it! Getting outside is an easy way to increase our dopamine levels! More time outside = More dopamine = more joy = more appreciation = more choices that protect our people and planet. You can’t go wrong whether you’re going camping, soaking up the sun, or taking a walk around the block - it’s a win/win, for you & the earth.
Bring Your Own
Single use beverage containers are a thing of the past! The average to-go coffee cup is lined with a thin layer of plastic, or are made up entirely of plastic, and plastic water bottles and straws often are not able to be recycled. Bring your own, we love ours! P.S. most coffee shops give you a discount when you bring your own bottles & cups.
Say “no” to grocery store bags
While produce bags might seem convenient to collect loose produce, they actually provide a huge inconvenience in terms of plastic production and pollution. Consider this: they are used for an average of 12 minutes and their lifetime is 400+ years...doesn't seem responsible, does it? Opt out of paper/plastic bags, and opt in to alternative options like the Cotton Net Bag or a variety of Baggu bags for your shopping pleasure.
Body Care products
Knowing what goes down the drain is key, too! When it comes to your body care routine think green! A great way to reduce your plastic in your shower routine is by using shampoo bars, soap bars & stainless steel razors. Another option is investing in reusable products using glass refillable jars, which will reduce your waste dramatically. Learn more about the 12 toxic ingredients (aka “The Dirty Dozen”) to look out for here when it comes to your body products.
Household Items
Look around your house, how many high waste products do you see? We can make waves of change just by switching to bamboo/sustainably sourced paper towels (or swap out to a reusable dishcloth!), plastic free reusable jars and food containers. for household items (like our Stasher bags and our spices!).
UNPLUG
You might be surprised to learn that all electronics suck energy when they're plugged in, EVEN IF they're powered down. Anytime a cord is plugged into a socket, it's drawing energy — so although your device isn't charging, you're still contributing to your carbon footprint. Plus, you’ll see a decrease on your power bill!
DO THE RESEARCH
Be an informed shopper, because your purchases matter. You’d be surprised how many companies are doing their part and giving back to the Earth, and it is easy to educate yourself with just a few easy clicks on their website. Shopping from brands that give back or have an environmental initiative is important because you are then helping the Earth in turn. That is why BOXFOX is passionate about our packaging, and conscious about our footprint as we're investing in ways we can offset our impact as we grow. Along with our details on recyclability, reusability and compostability of all components of your gift on your shipper (and on our site, here) we are thrilled to announce we are planting a tree for every single BOXFOX you send. Last but not least, this month we are donating 10% of the sale of “eco products” to Sea Hugger—a nonprofit organization that heals the marine environment from plastic pollution!
Bills, bills, bills.
Bills, they’re inevitable waste contributors—From printing resources (paper, ink, glue) to transportation for delivery of bills (carbon emissions). to e-bills, it not only keeps your bills at your fingertips, but saves on lots of important resources. Bill payments can also be automated, so you don’t need to worry about ordering more checks! The same applies to printed receipts!
