Did you know there are over 400,000 eco-friendly hotels around the world? Join Tiff and Kat in exploring how to identify these hidden gems in the wild and what they're doing to combat overtourism.

We're going through a lot right now so we need to take a break until early 2025!

Sources:

• NatGeo - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/what-sustainable-tourism-means
• Proven Partners - What Makes a Hotel Eco-Friendly? https://www.proven.partners/blog/eco-friendly-hotel
• The Conversation - Why Australia Might Be at Risk of Overtourism - https://theconversation.com/why-australia-might-be-at-risk-of-overtourism-99213
• NatGeo - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/renewable-energy-how-hotels-make-a-difference
• UNSW Sydney - The carbon footprint of AirBnB is likely bigger than you think - https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2021/05/the-carbon-footprint-of-airbnb-is-likely-bigger-than-you-think
• CNN - https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/eco-friendly-hotels-greenwashing-cmd/index.html

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Rockefeller-founded brand Paravel claims to make the "world's first carbon-neutral suitcases." The company's mission is also to make the world a better place. Are either of these things realistic? Join marketing writers Tiff and Kat as they explore the highfalutin world of luxury sustainable travel in your favorite sustainability podcast.

Sources

• Paravel: https://tourparavel.com/collections/luggage 
• Nat Geo: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/what-sustainable-tourism-means 
• CNN: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/paravel-travel-luggage 
• Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2021/09/the-net-positive-manifesto 
• Travel & Leisure: https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/how-to-recycle-an-old-suitcase 
• Terracycle: https://shop.terracycle.com/en-US/products/luggage-and-travel-bag-boxes-zero-waste-boxes 

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We're starting off season 5 with a controversial chat about electric vehicles and whether they're worth the switch.

Subscribe to our new Patreon to get exclusive content and support the podcast! www.patreon.com/greeningupmyact

Sources: 

• NPR - EV Batteries Hurt the Environment, but Gas Cars are Still Worse - https://www.npr.org/2024/05/09/1250212212/ev-batteries-environmental-impact
• The Atlantic - The Best Hope for Electric Cars Could Be the GOP Districts Where They’re Made - https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/05/electric-cars-republicans-democrats-biden-infrastructure/678341/
• Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - The U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization - https://www.energy.gov/eere/us-national-blueprint-transportation-decarbonization-joint-strategy-transform-transportation
• USA Facts - What are the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions? - https://usafacts.org/articles/what-are-the-main-sources-of-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions/
• CarMax - Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: What’s the Difference? - https://www.carmax.com/articles/electric-cars-vs-gas-cars
• CNBC - Poor resale values of EVs threaten adoption, warn some experts - https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/05/poor-resale-values-of-evs-are-a-problem-for-the-industry-warn-experts.html

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Hooray! Kat and Tiff are so excited to announce they launched a Patreon. If you're looking to support an independent podcast and you get value from their show, they'd love the support. The cost of one cup of coffee a month gives you a bonus episode every month (even between seasons)!

Head here to sign up: patreon.com/GreeningUpMyAct

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In the final episode of season 4, Kat and Tiff may break your heart a little as we discuss the truth about large-scale tree planting programs. But don't worry -- there's some hope for the forests.

Season 5: Travel and Transportation starts June 4!

Sources:

• U.S. Forest Service Plant-a-Tree Program - https://plantatree.fs.usda.gov/
• Yale Environment 360 - Are Huge Tree Planting Programs More Hype Than a Solution? - https://e360.yale.edu/features/are-huge-tree-planting-projects-more-hype-than-solution
• Carbon Brief, Analysis:How some of the world’s largest companies rely on carbon offsets to ‘reach net-zero’ - https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/carbon-offsets-2023/companies.html
• U.S. Department of Agriculture - The Power of One Tree - The Very Air We Breathe - https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2015/03/17/power-one-tree-very-air-we-breathe
• EcoTree - How much CO2 does a tree absorb? - https://ecotree.green/en/how-much-co2-does-a-tree-absorb
• Science News - Why planting tons of trees isn’t enough to solve climate change - https://www.sciencenews.org/article/planting-trees-climate-change-carbon-capture-deforestation
• Deep Root - How Much Should You Water Your Tree? - https://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/how-much-should-you-water-your-tree/

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Where exactly do you put compost? If you're as lost as Tiffany and Kat were, learn 9 easy ways to use compost.  Whether you buy compost or make it, your favorite sustainability podcast is here to bring you all the tips on adding it to your indoor and outdoor plants.

Sources

• NYC Compost Project: https://earthmatter.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tip-sheet-how-to-use-compost-cpts-htuc-f.pdf
• Oregon State Uni. Extension: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/em-9308-how-use-compost-gardens-landscapes 
• Better Homes and Gardens: https://www.bhg.com/how-to-use-compost-7372129 

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Xeriscaping literally means "dry-scaping", and it's been popular in desert towns in the U.S. since the 80s and 90s. But it's got a lot of promise for fixing the issues you may have with making an eco-friendly lawn even if cactus isn't your aesthetic. Get some tips for xeriscaping on a budget in this episode of your favorite greenliving podcast.

BONUS CONTENT: A bit about rain barrels!

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• PBS Newshour - What is xeriscaping? How you can turn your lawn into a sustainable oasis - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/how-xeriscaping-offers-a-water-efficient-environmentally-friendly-alternative-to-lawns
• Budget Dumpster - How to Xeriscape on a Budget for an Eco-Friendly Yard - https://www.budgetdumpster.com/blog/how-to-xeriscape-your-yard/
• EcoWatch - Xeriscaping: Everything You Need to Know - https://www.ecowatch.com/xeriscaping-facts-ecowatch.html
• Deseret - Xeriscaping Drawbacks (from 1990!) https://www.deseret.com/1990/8/1/18874220/xeriscaping-drawbacks/
• Today’s Homeowner - States Where It Is Illegal to Collect Rainwater - https://todayshomeowner.com/gutters/guides/states-where-it-is-illegal-to-collect-rainwater/
• FCMP Outdoor RC4000-BRN 50-Gallon BPA Free Flat Back Home Rain Catcher Water Storage Collection Barrel for Watering Outdoor Plants & Gardens, Brown - https://amzn.to/3QbsqHg

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This week on your favorite sustainability podcast, Tiffany teaches Kat about bee hotels and whether they're really saving the right bees. Watch out for tarantula hawks and the Wasp Surprise!

Sources:

• UC Davis on ‘beewashing’: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=30929
• Scientific journal PLOS One study on bee hotels: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122126 
• Xerces Society: We should focus on habitat, not honey bees: https://www.xerces.org/blog/want-to-save-bees-focus-on-habitat-not-honey-bees 
• “Honey bees are not in peril. These bees are”: https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/2023/1/19/23552518/honey-bees-native-bees-decline 
• University of Minnesota Extension: Wasps are passive pollinators: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/wasps-are-gardeners-friend 
• Songbird Essentials Bee Hotel: https://nature-niche.com/products/bee-insect-hotel

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What do you do when you've grown too many tomatoes? Other than pawning them off on coworkers, you can try canning. But is this home method something anyone can do? Or is it just the realm of doomsday preppers and stay-at-home trad wives? Explore the eco-friendliness of home canning with Kat and Tiff in the latest episode of your favorite sustainability podcast. Bonus: count how many times Kat mentions asparagus.

Sources:

• Clemson College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences - Canning Foods at Home - https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/canning-foods-at-home/
• All Recipes - I Was Legitimately Terrified to Can My Own Food, but I Just Learned How — And You Can Too - https://www.allrecipes.com/article/how-to-can-food/
• Jar Store How To - Why You Should Try Canning Your Own Vegetables at Home! - https://jarstore.com/blog/?p=why-you-should-try-canning-your-own-vegetables-at-home
• Green Living Detective - How Green Is It to Can Food at Home? - https://www.greenlivingdetective.com/how-green-is-it-to-can-food-at-home/
• Melissa K Norris - Is Home Canning Really Worth It? - https://melissaknorris.com/podcast/is-home-canning-really-worth-it-does-it-save-money-to-can-at-home
• CDC - Home Canning and Botulism - https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/home-canning-and-botulism.html
• USDA - How long can you keep canned foods? - https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-long-can-you-keep-canned-goods

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Are biodegradable flower pots full of greenwashing? It depends. Listen as hosts Tiff and Kat jump over the moon for CowPots (and trip and fall over others). Find out what biodegradable plant pots are made of, how they work, and which ones studies say work best in this episode of your favorite sustainability podcast.

Sources

• CowPots website: https://cowpots.com/
• Biodegradable pot trial: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/b802d35a-acf9-4af8-ac90-86d48343570f/downloads/2016%20Poster%20from%20MSU.pdf?ver=1705439455031
• EPA review of CowPots: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-09/documents/profile-freunds-farm-september2017_0.pdf 
• University of Guelph on manure: https://ses.uoguelph.ca/what-does-manure-have-do-climate-change 
• Farmer’s Almanac: DIY pots https://www.almanac.com/10-biodegradable-planting-pots-and-how-make-your-own

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Spring has sprung and gardeners across the U.S. are planting their vegetable gardens. Find out if growing your own tomatoes will reduce your carbon impact and save you money in the latest episode of your favorite green living podcast. 

Sources:

• The Garden Continuum - 6 environmental and health benefits of growing your own food - https://www.thegardencontinuum.com/blog/the-6-environmental-and-health-benefits-of-growing-your-own-food
• Investopedia - The Cost Effetiveness of Growing a Garden - https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0312/the-true-cost-of-growing-a-garden.aspx
• Treehugger - How to prevent food waste in your garden - https://www.treehugger.com/how-prevent-food-waste-garden-5201349
• Empress of Dirt - 10 Garden Mistakes That Waste Money - https://empressofdirt.net/garden-mistakes-waste-money/
• Earth 911 - Home “Eco”nomics - Vegetable Gardens - https://earth911.com/home-garden/home-economics-vegetable-gardens/

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Word on the street is that leaving your leaves on your lawn -- rather than keeping up with perfect lawn care -- is better for the environment. But is it? Marketing writers Tiff and Kat explore potential greenwashing behind the popular hashtag in this fun episode of your favorite sustainability podcast.

Sources

• Treehugger: https://www.treehugger.com/is-it-better-to-rake-or-leave-leaves-4864213 
• National Wildlife Federation: https://blog.nwf.org/2014/11/what-to-do-with-fallen-leaves/ 
• Canadian Press: https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/don-t-rake-leaves-ncc-1.4887187 
• EPA Environmental Fact Sheet: Yard Waste Composting: https://shorturl.at/cdfIX
• YouTuber E Fleming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRVVtIf2ubw 

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Airplanes and passenger jets get a lot of flak for emissions and pollution. But just how much does your flight overseas affect climate change? And what are scientists and the government doing to try and fix it? Find out in this week's episode of your favorite green living podcast.

Sources:

• Kat’s rocket scientist sister
• Our World in Data - Sector by sector: where do global greenhouse emissions come from? - https://ourworldindata.org/ghg-emissions-by-sector
• The Commons - How to Fly Sustainably: 6 Tips to Cut Your Carbon “Flight” Print - https://www.thecommons.earth/blog/simple-steps-to-make-flying-more-sustainable
• Ascent, the aviation sustainability center - https://ascent.aero/
• Nasa, Partners Explore Sustainable Fuel’s Effects on Aircraft Contrails - https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/armstrong/nasa-partners-explore-sustainable-fuels-effects-on-aircraft-contrails/
• FAA (Federal Aviation Admin) - Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transitions (FAST) Grants - https://www.faa.gov/general/fueling-aviations-sustainable-transition-fast-grants/
• App in the Air -- https://appintheair.com/ 
• US Dept of Energy - Alternative Fuels Data Center - https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/sustainable-aviation-fuel
• Built In - What Are Electric Planes? https://builtin.com/articles/electric-plane

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Hardscaping isn't one of those flashy lawn replacement movements that you hear about on Instagram, but it's got some pretty interesting benefits. Listen as Kat and Tiff walk you through this underrated aspect of sustainable landscaping.

Sources:

• The Spruce - What is Hardscape? https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-hardscape-2131060
• Ernest Maier - 7 Benefits of Adding Hardscaping to Your Outdoor Living - https://ernestmaier.com/7-benefits-of-adding-hardscaping-to-your-outdoor-living/
• Unit Paving - A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable Hardscape Design - https://unitpaving.com/a-beginners-guide-to-sustainable-hardscape-design
• EPA - Greenscaping Brochure - https://archive.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/tools/greenscapes/web/html/brochure.html
• Water Conservation for Lawn and Landscape - Using Sustainable Hardscaping Materials - https://landscape-water-conservation.extension.org/using-sustainable-hardscape-materials
• Austin Impervious Cover Calculation Criteria - https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/environmental_criteria_manual?nodeId=S1WAQUMA_1.8.0IMCOCACR

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Tiff and Kat take you through the pros and cons of the wildflower lawn movement -- the kinder, gentler alternative to turf lawns that could be a gateway drug to overthrowing your HOA.

Explore how to spot greenwashing in the world of wildflower and meadow lawns with your two favorite marketing writers in this upbeat sustainability podcast.

Sources:

• American Meadows - Plant a Wildflower Lawn & Transform Your Yard to a Pollinator Paradise - https://www.americanmeadows.com/content/wildflowers/inspiration/get-this-look-pollinator-yard
• National Wildlife Federation - Greening Your Homeowners Association - https://www.nwf.org/Home/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2022/Feb-Mar/Gardening/HOAs
• Science Alert - Replacing Your Lawn with Wildflowers Has Loads of Benefits - https://www.sciencealert.com/replacing-your-lawn-with-wildflowers-has-loads-of-benefits
• Family Handyman - 7 Things to Consider Before Planting a Wildflower Meadow - https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/wildflower-meadow/
• Holland Wildflower Farm - Comparing the Cost of Wildflower Seed to Lawn Grass Seed - https://hollandwildflowerfarm.com/compare-wildflower-seed-cost-to-lawn-grass/

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Clover lawns are all the rage — but should they be? Hosts Tiff and Kat answer:

• What eco-friendly claims do folks make about clover yards? Are they true?
• Why is Reddit so uncomfy?
• What are the disadvantages of clover lawns?

Explore how to spot greenwashing in the world of clover lawns with your two favorite marketing writers in this upbeat sustainability podcast.

Sources

• Martha Stewart: https://www.marthastewart.com/8322420/clover-lawns 
• Gardenia Creative Gardens: https://www.gardenia.net/guide/native-plant-alternatives-to-trifolium-repens 
• Podcast: Backyard Ecology episode on clover: https://www.backyardecology.net/clovers-native-clover-conservation-clover-yards-and-more/ 
• Reddit - No Lawns subreddit specifically covering Clover: https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/meta/clover/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1#wiki_clover_controversy 
• The Spruce: https://www.thespruce.com/all-about-clover-lawns-6362145
• Bob Vila: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/clover-lawn/ 
• Wild Ones garden designs: https://nativegardendesigns.wildones.org/designs/  

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Is your turf grass destroying the planet — or is it more complicated than that? Welcome to season 4 of your favorite sustainability podcast, where hosts Tiff and Kat head to the Great Outdoors. In this episode, learn about potential greenwashing behind the no mow movement, whether not cutting grass for bees makes a real difference, and if you should nix your lawn altogether.

• Discover Magazine on lawns: https://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/your-perfect-lawn-is-bad-for-the-environment-heres-what-to-do-instead
• National Resources Defense Council on lawns: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/more-sustainable-and-beautiful-alternatives-grass-lawn
• The Guardian on lawns: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/31/this-heatwave-is-a-reminder-that-grass-lawns-are-terrible-for-the-environment
• Scientific American on lawns: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practice/the-american-obsession-with-lawns/
• Grist on tree cover in low-income neighborhoods: https://grist.org/cities/tree-cover-race-class-segregation/ 
• Jacobin on Green Jobs Programs: https://jacobin.com/2023/10/biden-administration-climate-corps-shortcomings-green-new-deal-jobs-guarantee 

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Good news and bad news, friends of Greening Up My Act!
The bad news: We had to delay season 4 until February 20.
The good news: We have a whole new format which will be easier for us and more fun for you!

Tune in Tuesday, February 20 wherever you get podcast. And thank you <3

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Have you heard that dry shampoo causes cancer? In our last episode of season 3 (and first of 2024!), Kat and Tiff dig deeper into the savior of every harried working woman to find out if dry shampoo is as bad as you may have heard for your health or the environment and come up with more hope than you might expect. 

What we used:

• Batiste Dry Shampoo

Sources:

• The Earthling Co., What’s Wrong with Aerosol Dry Shampoo?- https://theearthlingco.com/blogs/news/what-s-wrong-with-aerosol-dry-shampoo
• Allure, Is It Time to Quit Dry Shampoo? https://www.allure.com/story/dry-shampoo-risk
• Our Endangered World, Is Dry Shampoo Bad? https://www.ourendangeredworld.com/is-dry-shampoo-bad/
• Propane.com, Propane and the Environment - https://propane.com/environment/myth-busting/
• Clarify Green, Environmentally Friendly Dry Shampoo You Should Try! https://clarifygreen.com/environmentally-friendly-dry-shampoo-you-should-try/
• Fact.MR, Dry Shampoo Market Outlook – https://www.factmr.com/report/4300/dry-shampoo-market
• Time, Popular Dry Shampoos Found to Have Cancer-Causing Chemical - https://time.com/6227492/dry-shampoo-benzene-cancer/
• Good Housekeeping, 5 DIY Dry Shampoo Recipes That Really Work - https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/hair/g35215439/diy-dry-shampoo-recipes/

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In this bonus episode of your favorite sustainability podcast, Kat and Tiff look back at the past year — and forward to the next year. Learn to set realistic green New Year's resolutions that you both care about and you can accomplish. And just remember: Progress wasn't built in a day. Or Rome. But also progress.

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There are an estimated 550 billion cotton swabs thrown out every year. Now that's a statistic! So what's the alternative? In this greenwashing podcast, marketing writers Tiff and Kat examine the company LastObject's LastSwab and LastRound. The hosts say "swab" far too many times while determining if LastObject is full of it — or legit.

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What We Analyzed

• LastSwab from LastObject: https://amzn.to/3tvBUVJ
• LastRound from LastObject: https://amzn.to/4avYwG3

Sources

• LastObject’s website: https://lastobject.com/
• The Guardian on cotton water usage: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/mar/20/cost-cotton-water-challenged-india-world-water-day
• NIH on using cotton swabs: https://www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov/have-you-heard/cotton-swabs-ears
• UNC Health article called Put the Cotton Swab Down: https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/put-the-cotton-swab-down-clean-your-ears-safely/
• Tilted Map’s review of LastObject: https://www.tiltedmap.com/lastswab-vs-earthsider-review-zero-waste-greenwashing/
• MaterialsToday study on polypropylene: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214785321075969
• Plantish on the wastefulness of cotton: https://plantishfuture.com/blogs/zero-waste-living/the-waste-from-disposable-cotton-rounds
• Going Zero Waste blog on homemade cotton rounds: https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/diy-cotton-rounds/
• Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance article on the reliability of company’s carbon footprint: https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2021/10/04/the-reliability-of-your-companys-carbon-footprint/

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Washing your hands is probably second nature since the onset of the Plague 2.0, but the big question is: Which soap to use? And if you're interested in living as sustainably as possible, which soap has the least impact on the environment? Join marketing writers Tiff and Kat in this week's deep dive into potential greenwashing behind bar soap vs. liquid soap to learn which type of soap reigns supreme for washing germs down the drain without taking the Earth down the drain with it.

What we used

• Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap - https://amzn.to/3QJbEia

Sources

• FDA: FAQs on Soap - https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/frequently-asked-questions-soap
• The Good Boutique: The Environmental Impact of Liquid Soap - https://www.thegoodboutique.com/inspiration/the-environmental-impact-of-liquid-soap-why-bar-soap-is-a-better-choice
• Cleveland Clinic: Triclosan - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24280-triclosan
• WFLA: Soap Showdown: Bar soap vs liquid soap for your daily cleanse - https://www.wfla.com/bloom-tampa-bay/soap-showdown-bar-soap-vs-liquid-for-your-daily-cleanse
• FDA: Antibacterial Soap? You Can Skip It, Use Plain Soap and Water - https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/antibacterial-soap-you-can-skip-it-use-plain-soap-and-water
• Minnesota Environmental Health Division of the Minnesota Dept of Health, Tricolosan and Drinking Water - https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/risk/docs/guidance/dwec/triclosaninfo.pdf
• NIH - Environmental impact of increased soap consumption during COVID-19 pandemic: biodegradable soap production and sustainable packaging - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8272010/
• The Healthy - Is Liquid Soap Better than Bar Soap? - https://www.thehealthy.com/skin-health/bar-soap-vs-liquid-soap/
• Huffpost Chemical Marketplace: Bar Soap vs Liquid Soap - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chemical-marketplace-bar_b_2104678
• What’s Your Impact? Liquid vs Bar soap, which is more environmentally friendly - https://whatsyourimpact.org/the-eco-guide/liquid-vs-bar-soap-which-more-environmentally-friendly
• Slate - Is Dove Soap Actually Soap? - https://slate.com/technology/2020/04/what-is-soap-coronavirus.html
• Lovely Greens - 7 Ways to Make Soap - https://lovelygreens.com/5-ways-to-make-handmade-soap/

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The horribly named "no poo" movement may need marketing help, but solid shampoo companies are making big claims.  It's supposed to be "more sustainable shampoo," "plastic-free shampoo," "naked," "clean," or "vegetarian" choices. Are these claims just greenwashing (a.k.a. green hoey)? Or not? Find out from marketing writer hosts Tiff and Kat, along with one free trick that may be an even better use of your time in this funky sustainability podcast.

What We Analyzed

• Lush Shampoo Bar's website: https://www.lush.com/us/en_us/c/shampoo-bars

Sources

• Treehugger on plastic waste in products: https://www.treehugger.com/incredibly-simple-solution-plastic-packaging-waste-4857081
• National Geographic on shampoo bars: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/shampoo-bar-sustainable-toiletries-plastic-free
• MadeHow.com on how regular shampoo is made: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Shampoo.html#google_vignette
• BBC on homemade shampoo and the climate: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220407-are-homemade-shampoos-better-for-the-climate
• Super useful Swiss study by Hanna Kröhnert and Matthias Stucki: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/15/8478/htm
• Women’s Health on more sustainable shampoo options: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/beauty/hair/g38999295/best-eco-friendly-shampoo-bars/
• Treehugger DIY shampoo recipes: https://www.treehugger.com/how-to-make-your-own-organic-shampoo-4863262
• EWG for product ratings: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/products/1019461-Matrix_Biolage_Ultra_HydraSource_Shampoo/
• Consumer Reports on the “No Poo Movement": https://www.consumerreports.org/health/personal-care/no-poo-hair-care-a3112258874/
• Hairstory product page: https://hairstory.com/products/new-wash-original-brush-set-bca

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15-minute cities are a bit of a head-scratcher. On the one hand, hosts Tiff and Kat talk through beautiful examples of real cities becoming more walkable and bikeable. But on the other hand, there are some truly wild 15-minute city conspiracy theories around the topic. Let's get into it!

Sources

• Deloitte: https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/Industries/government-public/perspectives/urban-future-with-a-purpose/15-minute-city.html
• Fast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/91119919/how-paris-became-a-15-minute-city 
• Bureau of Investigative Journalism: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2023-10-04/what-is-the-15-minute-cities-conspiracy-theory/ 
• Wired: https://www.wired.com/story/15-minute-city-conspiracy-uk-politics/ 

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If you find it hard to draw a line between "sustainable" and "non-toxic" products in the greenwashed landscape, marketing writers Tiff and Kat are right there with you. Join them this week as they explore the sustainability of makeup brand Beautycounter and see if it passes muster.

What we used

• Beautycounter makeup - Beautycounter.com 

Sources

• Absestos.com - https://www.asbestos.com/featured-stories/makeup-toxicity-survey/
• Sustainable Earth, Cosmetic Ingredients - https://sustainable-earth.org/cosmetic-ingredients
• Kite Nest, How Do Cosmetics Impact the Environment? - https://kitenest.co.uk/blogs/news/how-do-cosmetics-impact-the-environment
• Tree Hugger, Environmental Impact of Cosmetics - https://www.treehugger.com/environmental-impact-of-cosmetics-5207672
• The Coconut Mama, Homemade Natural Makeup Recipes - https://thecoconutmama.com/homemade-natural-makeup-recipes
• Healthline Toxic Make up - https://www.healthline.com/health/toxic-makeup
  
  

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Stinky stories abound about natural deodorant: "It doesn't work. I still smelled like sh*t. My family started to avoid me." You get the picture. Marketing writers Tiffany and Kat cut through the greenwashing so you don't have to wonder if it actually helps the earth.  Learn this and much more in this fun sustainability podcast.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links.

What we covered

• Purelygreat Cream Deodorant: https://amzn.to/3uqMYU4
• Native Deodorant: https://amzn.to/46vPE03

Sources

• Fast Company on plastic waste from deodorant: https://www.fastcompany.com/90705210/inside-the-22-billion-deodorant-industrys-effort-to-ditch-plastic
• The Guardian on paper vs. plastic energy usage: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/mar/31/plastics-cardboard
• American Cancer Society on antiperspirant: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk.html
• EWG for product ratings: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/brands/8081-Native/?brand=Native&category=antiperspirant%2Fdeodorant&page=6
• EWG Explains: Phthalates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1cpGpmH-WU
• NYT, “Are Natural Deodorants Really Better for You?”: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/09/well/live/natural-deodorant-questions.html
• Native's blog: https://www.nativecos.com/blogs/news/native-will-help-you-smell-outta-this-world-and-protect-her-too
• Terracycle on recycling deodorant containers: https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/toms-of-maine-hello#@40.77027075200147:-95.93705549677736zoom:4
• More DIY deodorant recipes from Treehugger: https://www.treehugger.com/homemade-deodorant-5205029

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It's Thanksgiving, which means the consumer season is upon us! Skip Black Friday's buying frenzy this year and be grateful for what you have with our first Anti-Black Friday Gift Guide. Whether you make your own gifts, give digital gifts, buy local, or choose to opt out and maybe just give your time and affection this year, Tiff & Kat have a few ideas to help you make sustainable holiday choices. Happy holidays from your friends at Greening Up My Act!

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links.

What we endorsed:

• LegitTrips.com for travel services
• TaylorMadeNM.com for upcycled and knitted goods
• Wool Dryer Balls
• The Keeper - https://keeper.com/shop/the-keeper-cup/
• Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap - Lavender 
• Nancy Birtwhistle Book
• Buy Nothing Book 
• Le Loup Garou by Kat Cox

Sources

• Queue It - 115 Black Friday Statistics Every Retailer Needs to Know in 2023 –  https://queue-it.com/blog/black-friday-statistics
• Phys.org - Most Black Friday purchases soon end up as waste - https://phys.org/news/2019-11-black-friday.html
• Country Living – 100 DIY Christmas Gifts to Spread Christmas Joy - https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/tips/g645/crafty-christmas-presents-ideas/
• The Kitchen McCabe - Whipped Grapefruit Mint Sugar Scrub - https://www.thekitchenmccabe.com/2014/02/21/whipped-grapefruit-mint-sugar-scrub/
• The Stripe - A List of the Best DIY Christmas Ideas - https://thestripe.com/a-little-list-of-the-best-diy-christmas-gift-ideas/

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Is there such a thing as green wrapping paper or eco-friendly holiday cards? Join hosts Tiff and Kat on this sleigh ride of an episode to learn the answer, and how to avoid becoming 25% more wasteful during the holiday season. They discuss DIY wrapping paper and holiday cards, or if you ain't got time for that, more eco-friendly options from the store. And learn how to lumberjack it up by cutting down your holiday tree from a U.S. national forest in this zany sustainability podcast!

Products we covered

• Wrappily
• Shiki Wrap
• Plantable gift cards

Sources

• New York Times on wrapping paper
• GoingZeroWaste.com
• WBUR’s Here and Now
• Wildlife and Countryside Link
• Upstate.edu on paper waste
• Oregon Environmental Council
• Greenpeace on less-waste wrapping paper
• Zero-waste card ideas from Trash Is For Tossers
• Brightly on greeting card waste
• Tree cutting at a U.S. National Forest

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Find out if toilet papers or bidets are more sustainable and count how many times Kat can say "butthole" in this week's episode of your favorite sustainability podcast.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links.

What we used:

• Who Gives a Crap Bamboo Toilet Paper 
• Tushy Bidet

Sources:

• Cottonelle - How Much Toilet Paper Should You Use? 
• Vox - America has never embraced bidets. The toilet paper shortage could change that. 
• Ecoy - Toilet paper vs bidets: Which is greener? 
• Brightly - Are Bidets Better than Toilet Paper? 
• The Good Roll - How Toilet Paper Waste Hurts the Environment 
• Science Focus - What Happens to Toilet Paper? 
• Reel Paper - Bamboo Toilet Paper 101: Everything You Need to Know 
• Cloud Paper - Eco-friendly and sustainable toilet paper: Bamboo vs Recycled 
• Center for Biological Diversity - Why Isn’t All Toilet Paper Made from Recycled Content? 
• Storables - How much does toilet paper cost? 
• Cleveland Clinic - Is Using a Bidet Healthy? 
• Tushy Bidet Sustainability – goes to a blank page ☹️
• Tushy Give Back Program with Samagra 
• Bidet Genius - Why You Should Think Twice Before Buying a Tushy Bidet 

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What the heck are toothpaste tabs? Do they work? And are they more sustainable? Your hosts Tiff and Kat walk you through the marketing behind the company Bite, what Tiffany's dentist has to say about these Bits, and whether they're actually less wasteful in this fun and funky sustainability podcast.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links.

What we talked about:

• Bite Toothpaste Bits
• Bite vegan floss

Sources:

• Tiffany's dentist
• Bite Toothpaste website + blog
• Bite Impact Study
• EWG rating of Bite
• Journal of Odontostomatologic Sciences (Annali di Stomatologia) literature review
• Eagle Harbor Dental
• Shark Tank
• Fast Company on Colgate having recyclable toothpaste tubes
• Fluoride study
• Colgate study
• Treehugger on toothpaste tabs
• CNN Bite review
• BCorporation.net
• The Guardian on carbon offsets
• Bite blog about PLA in its floss

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In their bloodiest episode yet, marketing writers Kat and Tiff dive into reusable period products. (Freddy Kreuger ain't got nothing on them!) Get over your squeamishness and explore the impact tampons and pads have on the environment plus whether or not reusable products like menstrual cups and period panties are worth it. Join your favorite sustainability podcast for all the deets.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links.

What we talked about:

• Keeper Cup
• Diva Cup
• Thinx Period Underwear
• Knix Period Underwear
• Sustainable Jungle's 9 Sustainable Period Underwear for a More Eco-Friendly Flow

• Duquesne University, Ultimate Guide to Feminine Hygiene - https://onlinenursing.duq.edu/master-science-nursing/the-ultimate-guide-to-feminine-hygiene/
• Pandia Health, The True Cost of Your Period - https://www.pandiahealth.com/blog/the-true-cost-of-your-period/
• Mayo Clinic, Toxic Shock Syndrome - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/toxic-shock-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20355384
• Hindustan Times, Can sanitary pads cause cancer? - https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/can-sanitary-pads-cause-cancer-here-s-what-experts-say-101669190755670.html
• Healthline, How Often Should You Change Your Pad? - https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/how-many-days-between-periods
• Healthline, Are Menstrual Cups Dangerous? https://www.healthline.com/health/menstrual-cup-dangers
• AllMatters, Environmental reasons to switch to a menstrual cup - https://www.healthline.com/health/menstrual-cup-dangers
• NPR, Thinx Settled a lawsuit over chemicals in its period underwear - https://www.npr.org/2023/01/19/1150023002/thinx-period-underwear-lawsuit-settlement
• BuzzFeed News, What to know about period products and PFAS - https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/fjollaarifi/period-underwear-pfas
• Stanford Magazine, Planet-friendly periods - https://stanfordmag.org/contents/planet-friendly-periods
• Business Standard, Menstrual cups reduce plastic waste generation by 99% - https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/menstrual-cups-reduce-plastic-waste-generation-by-99-soumya-swaminathan-123060501144_1.html
• CNN, Menstrual cups are a safe, environmentally friendly option for people with periods, and few know about it -

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Be afraid... be very afraid... of your plastic Halloween costumes never degrading in the landfill. In this special Halloween episode, your favorite sustainability podcast hosts Kat and Tiff explore how to have a blast — maybe without the 16-foot skeletons. Listen as they chat about more eco-friendly costume ideas and how to do Halloween candy better.

Sources

• Instagrammers libery.mai fully vintage Scooby Doo costume
• Survey by HalloweenCostumes.com
• Survey by charity Fairyland Trust
• History Channel on history of Halloween
• Wallethub on Halloween stats
• Forbes on more sustainable Halloween
• Duke Today 
• Yale Sustainabiilty
• The Honest Consumer
• BBC on costumes
• SaveYourWardRobe.com
• Orangutan Foundation on palm oil
• EthicalConsumer.org 
• WildMinimalist for eco-friendlier candy

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Learn why we've been talking so much trash about landfills throughout season 2 of your favorite sustainability podcast. Find out why you should be trying to keep stuff out of landfills in this mini-episode and get a teaser for what's up in season 3 (starting October 17)!

Sources

• The EPA - https://www.epa.gov/landfills and https://www.epa.gov/pcbs/learn-about-polychlorinated-biphenyls
• University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Center on The Hidden Damage of Landfills - https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/2021/04/15/hidden-damage-landfills
• Live Science – What Happens Inside a Landfills https://www.livescience.com/32786-what-happens-inside-a-landfill.html
• Hazardous Waste Experts - A Brief Primer on Hazardous Waste https://www.hazardouswasteexperts.com/a-brief-primer-on-hazardous-waste-landfills

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Minimalism is way weirder than Tiff and Kat thought. In this episode, dive into whether or not The Minimalists' recommendations are actually eco-friendly. Plus, compare the pros and cons to the Buy Nothing Project and Swedish Death Cleaning. Does following The Minimalists' rules automatically lead to more sustainable living? Listen to find out.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links.

Sources

• The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan: Discover the Joy of Spending Less, Sharing More, and Living Generously book
• The Minimalists Podcast, website, and "16 rules" e-book
• The Commodification of Minimalism, Mike Grindle on Medium
• The Pitfalls and Potential of New Minimalism, Jia Tolentino for the New Yorker
• International Journal of Cognitive Therapy study
• Environment and Behavior study on office clutter
• JStor Daily on hoarding disorder
• Plain Simple Life blog on eco-minimalism
• NIH study on hoarding disorder
• Shelbizleee on YouTube
• The Swedes know the secret to happiness: You are not your stuff in Washington Post on Swedish death cleaning

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Find out if an electric scooter (e-scooter) is the green transportation choice of your dreams or if it's all just a green hooey fantasy in the lastest episode of your favorite sustainability podcast.

Sources:

• Reddit post - https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricScooters/comments/cnhox6/escooters_are_worse_for_the_environment_than_many/ - Are e-scooters polluters? The environmental impacts of shared dockless electric scooters - https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab2da8
• Nought (Scooter company) - Are e-scooters good for the environment? https://nought.tech/blogs/journal/are-e-scooters-good-for-the-environment
• Cenex -  Maximizing the benefits of e-scooter deployment in cities - https://www.cenex.co.uk/app/uploads/2020/08/Maximising-the-benefits-of-e-scooter-deployment-in-cities.pdf
• Colorado Sun - Electric scooters are the most efficient way to cut greenhouse gas emissions - https://coloradosun.com/2024/03/19/electric-scooters-transit-commuting-colorado-greenhouse-gas/
• 7 Reasons E-scooters are better than cars - Apollo - https://apolloscooters.co/blogs/news/7-reasons-why-electric-scooters-are-better-than-cars
• Consumer Reports - New Study Shows Safety Risks of Riding e-Scooters on the Sidewalk - https://www.consumerreports.org/electric-scooters/safety-risks-of-riding-e-scooters-on-the-sidewalk-iihs-study/
• Wired - Escooter rentals aren’t as green as you think - https://www.wired.com/story/e-scooter-rentals-carbon-emissions/

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Join Tiff & Kat in patting yourself on the back for bulk food shopping like a good American. Learn the pros and cons of bulk shopping, what makes it eco-friendly or less so, what the Dunning-Kruger effect is, and how old Kat's dog is in your favorite green living podcast. 

Sources

• Green Foot Mama - https://greenfootmama.com/bulk-buying-eco-friendly/
• Attitude Living - https://attitudeliving.com/blogs/lifestyle/5-eco-friendly-reasons-to-start-bulk-shopping
• Her Money - https://hermoney.com/enjoy/food/foods-to-buy-in-bulk-to-save-money/
• Apartment Therapy - https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-buy-and-store-bulk-food-108248
• Investopedia - https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/bulk_buying.asp
• The Good Trade - https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/bulk-shopping-tips/
• Supermarket Guru - https://www.supermarketguru.com/articles/benefits-of-bulk-buying/

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Is the ugly food movement really saving wasted food from landfills, or is it literally stealing food from the mouths of the poor? Learn more in this week's episode of your favorite sustainability podcast. 

What we talked about:

• Imperfect Foods
• Hungry Harvest

Sources:

• The Atlantic - Expiration Dates Are Meaningless https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/11/expiration-dates-food-waste-safety/672311/
• Recycle Track Systems - Food Waste in America https://www.rts.com/resources/guides/food-waste-america/
• Feeding America - Hunger in America https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america
• Reuters - Harvard Study Finds Food Expiration Labels are Misleading https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-foodsafety-dates/harvard-study-finds-food-expiration-labels-are-misleading-idUSBRE98H15F20130918
• Green Biz - Why is composting so hard in the United States? https://www.greenbiz.com/article/why-composting-so-hard-united-states
• Project Drawdown - Reduced Food Waste https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/reduced-food-waste
• Solus Group - Restaurant Composting and the Shift Toward Zero-Waste Foodservice https://solusgrp.com/blog/post/restaurant-composting-and-the-shift-toward-zero-waste-foodservice.html
• Berkeley Economic Review - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Produce Movement https://econreview.berkeley.edu/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-produce-movement/
• The New Republic - Does Your Box of “Ugly” Produce Really Help the Planet? Or Hurt it? https://newrepublic.com/article/152596/hungry-harvest-box-ugly-produce-help-planet-or-hurt-it

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Have you been marketed the Mill kitchen bin on Instagram and found yourself wondering, "What is this thing? Is it sustainable?" Well, maybe it will be in the future, but right now it's basically a half-drawn horse (which you should look up for a laugh). In this sustainability podcast episode, two marketing writers Kat and Tiff give you the scoop on what's really going on with this "sustainable" startup.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links.

What We Mentioned

• The Mill kitchen bin

What We Recommend

• Compost bin by GEOBIN
• ShareWaste
• Wastewell

Sources

• Honestly Modern review of kitchen composters and Mill
• The Slate review
• The EPA on food waste in landfills and Food Recovery Hierarchy
• The USDA on industrial composting facilities
• UCLA study on carbon sequestration
• The City of Tacoma food waste program site

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Journey with your favorite sustainability podcast into the world of online consignment shopping like thredUP and learn more than you ever wanted to know about why fast fashion is THE WORST. Bonus: find out what FFF means to us and start chanting it under your breath every time you pass a clothing store. 

Sources: 

• US News and World Report: 7 Top Online Consignment Shops for Selling your Clothes 
• The Guardian: ‘It’s like a death pit’: How Ghana became fast fashion’s dumping ground 
• Better Business Bureau: Complaints about thredUP, Inc. 
• The Roundup: 17 Most Worrying Textile Waste Statistics and Facts 
• Green America: What Really Happens to Unwanted Clothes? 
• The Good Trade: How does textile recycling work? 
• Reader’s Digest: This is What Really Happens to Your Used Clothing Donations 
• Vogue: How Sustainable Is Consigning Clothing? The RealReal Is Glad You Asked 
• We Hate Waste - Visible Mending is Trending 

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We examine reusable straws, beeswax wrap, and silicone sandwich baggies to figure out if they're actually more eco-friendly. Is the benefit worth the cost? Find out in this fun overview from your favorite sustainability podcast. Spoiler: The real impact depends completely on how you use it.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links.

What We Mentioned

• Metal straws
• Stasher bags
• Bees Wrap

What We Recommend

• Reusable fork/utensils (or better yet, grab some from your drawer)

Sources

• Anthropocene
• International Journal of Lifecycle Assessment
• Vox 
• Stanford on straws
• Stasher bag website
• Our episode explaining the two-basin method of cleaning dishes
• What to Waste

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In this fun mini episode, learn how to reuse glass jars faster than you can say Classico marinara. Reusing is great! But it can be a pain in the patooty. That's why your favorite green living podcast is bringing all the tips to make it easier for you. Get rid of any lingering smells, obnoxious labels, and junky lids to be able to reuse your jars over and over... and over... and over.

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Source
Nancy Birtwhistle's book, Clean & Green

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Join your favorite green living podcast on their first-ever cocktail hour recording as they explore alternative household waste collection service Ridwell! Drink along with a glass of rosé, red wine or a G&T and find out if this subscription service is better than Netflix or not worth the effort. 

Sources: 

• Ridwell
• OPB: A Seattle-based startup challenges the status quo for garbage and recycling pickup in its expansion in Oregon
• Reddit: Opinion: Ridwell and Other Subscription Recycling Services Don't Address the Real Issue
• Willamette Week: Who's Afraid of a Ridwell Box?
• Ask MetaFilter: Paid recycling services -- verifying what they do, and best total impact? 
• KGW8: Ridwell adds campaign yard signs to growing list of recyclables
• Wastedive: Specialty recycling pick-up services flip the script on items accepted curbside

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There's still hope, we promise! In part 2 of our exploration of the dim world of plastics recycling, you'll learn:

• Where we are today and how we got here
• Whether recycling plastic is worth it
• Three proposed solutions -- and why there's always hope
• And more!

Ride along with Tiff and Kat as we figure out whether or not plastics recycling is pure green hooey in this green living podcast.

Sources

• Greenpeace petition on international plastics treaty
• Scientific American on plastics treaty
• BBC
• The Week
• John Oliver's Last Week Tonight episode on plastics
• WasteDive on packaging legislation
• How to Give Up Plastic book

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It's not an accident that there are actual mountains of plastic waste all over the world: it's advertising, baby. In part 1 of 2, meet the fourth horseman of the recycle-pocalypse: plastic. Plow through the dirty, ad-filled past -- and present -- of plastics recycling while Kat and Tiff provide a shoulder to cry on, or a bag to punch, on this entertaining green living podcast.

What To Watch

• 1990s Dupont Chemical ad for plastic recycling
• 1990s American Plastics Society ad, "plastics make it possible"
• 2020s ad that will make you want to rip your hair out after listening

Sources

• The Conversation on pandemic’s affect on plastic recycling
• Financial Times
• NPR & Frontline
• National Geographic
• PlasticsIndustry.org
• What plastic's made of (PlasticEurope.org)
• Alliance to End Plastic Waste (green hooey alert)
• The Guardian & Washington Post on enviro costs of recycling process
• DutchNews.nl and Plastic Soup Foundation on issues with Dutch recycling
• Ecology Center on plastic bags
• AP
• MyPlasticFreeLife.com

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Did you know glass won't break down for a million years? And we haven't even had glass for that long? Find out the #science in this week's look at glass recycling.

Sources: 

• Glass Alliance Europe: What is Glass? 
• Momentum Recycling: How is Glass Recycled?
• Glass Packing Institute: Glass Container Recycling Loop  
• Chemical & Engineering News (C&En): Why glass recycling in the US is broken 
• Eco Promotional Materials: Benefits of Recycling Glass 
• Roadrunner Smarter Recycling: The Decomposition Clock 
• Recycling Center Near Me: Glass Recycling 
• Recycling Coach: Is broken glass recyclable 

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Is ridesharing more sustainable than owning a car? Let's find out together on this episode of your favorite sustainability podcast. Hosts Tiff and Kat explain the (slightly shocking) study results, Uber's "road to zero emissions," and more. Vroom vroom!

Sources

• HyreCar sustainability claims: https://www.hyrecar.com/environmental-benefits-ridesharing/#how-does-ridesharing-contribute-to-the-improvement-of-the-environment 
• Union of Concerned Scientists: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/ride-hailing-problem-climate 
• Yale Environment Review: https://environment-review.yale.edu/ridesharing-part-sustainable-future 
• NRDC: https://www.nrdc.org/bio/rabi-abonour/report-role-uber-and-lyft-sustainable-cities 
• Uber's road to zero emissions: https://www.uber.com/us/en/about/sustainability/ 
• Rideshare Guy: https://therideshareguy.com/uber-statistics/ 

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Is recycling paper and cardboard worth it, even if you can only recycle it a handful of times? Kat and Tiffany were skeptical, but it seems like it is! Learn why in this week's look at our second horseman of the recycle-pocalypse, paper recycling.  Listen to Tiffany be terrible at acronyms in this lively episode of your favorite green living podcast.

Sources

•  Citizen Sustainable on paper
• Citizen Sustainable on cardboard
• Science Focus 
• Treehugger
• EPA
• Reuters on paper mill run by billionaire Robert Kraft
• landfill methane 
• NIH: toxic surfactants used during recycling
• Calrecycle.com: “totally chlorine free” (TFC) recycling process
• UNICEF on reducing paper use
• GreenMatters on reducing cardboard use

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Check out your favorite green living podcast in their triumphant return to your headphones with a second season! This week, Kat and Tiff explore aluminum recycling as the first in their series on the Four Horsemen of the Recycle-pocalypse (spoiler: this one is more of a Sparkle Pony).  Celebrate AMERICA! by listening to this podcast, finishing your beer, rinsing the can, and throwing it in your recycling bin. 

Source Links

• Aluminum Leader: What is Aluminum? 
• Aluminum Leader: How is aluminum produced? 
• Gabrian: Is it Aluminum or Aluminium? Learn about the metal’s fascinating spelling history
• Green Citizen: Is Aluminum Foil Recyclable? 
• Better Meets Reality: How Much Aluminum Is Left In The World, Will We Run Out, & What Happens If We Do? 
• The Week: Why we will never run out of aluminum: 
• Green Tumble: How is Aluminum Recycled: The Recycling Process 
• Recycling Partnership: Recycling Initiative Drive Captures 4.1 Million New Pounds of Aluminum Annually 
• Republic Services: Two Things You Should Always Recycle to Help the Planet 
• Studies on the Impact of Bauxite Mining Activities on the Environment in Kolhapur District
• Columbia Climate School State of the Planet: Project Drives Sustainability commitments from Guinea’s Bauxite Mining Industry 
• Institute of Physics: Processing red mud as a factor of removing the risk of environmental disasters: RUSAL experience 
• Tomra: Bottle bill states and how they work  
• Seattle PI: Environmental Problems Associated with Recycling Aluminum
• Oberk: Which States are the Best (or Worst) for Recycling 

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Join two marketing writers as they dig deep into our trash piles, look past the marketing fluff, and discover the truth behind our current solutions to waste. In season 2 of Greening Up My Act, learn answers to questions like:

• Did I get swindled into buying a reusable Ziploc bag?  
• Does my trash actually get recycled or is that arrow symbol a bunch of green hooey?
• What's up with this newfangled home composting device called Mill?
• What the eff is Swedish death cleaning?

Hosts Kat and Tiff can't wait to continue your favorite green living podcast by diving into all these trashy topics with you.

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In our last episode of the first season of your favorite green living podcast, Tiff and Kat come clean about essential oils and whether they're worth all the hype -- or hate. Spoiler: it's complicated.

We put a lot of chapters in this episode because there's a lot of info you may want to know. Learn away!

Season 2: Waste debuts July 4!

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links.

What We Bought
Nothing, actually! We had essential oils already (mostly gifted).

What We Talked About:

• doTERRA Essential Oils
•  Amazon (basic search for "essential oils")
• Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Lavender Soap
  
  Sources:
• National Library of Medicine - Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents – Myth or Real Alternative?
• National Institutes of Health - Essential Oils
• NLM -  Prepubertal gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oils 
• ASPCA - The essentials of essential oils around pets 
• Cleveland Clinic - Essential Oils 101 
• Healthline - What Are Essential Oils? 
• NLM - Aromatherapy for Health Care: An Overview of Systematic Reviews 
• NLM - A Systematic Review of the Effect of Inhaled Essential Oils on Sleep
• NLM - An Overview of the Biological Effects of Some Mediterranean Essential Oils on Human Health
• The Kind Store - A Guide to Sustainable Essential Oils
• Sustainably Chic - Are Essential Oils Sustainable?
• Red List of Threatened Species

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