Feeling trapped in plastic, much like this poor couple, I came to a new stance for Marc’s and my wedding (and sanity).

Somehow, when I Googled “Plastic-free wedding”, I found nothing, though I figured all the overlay of eco-concern and weddings would naturally have had a blog or something named this.

Anyhow, I am not going the route of creating a specific website and blog to this specific topic, but you will find posts regarding how I try to make my upcoming wedding friendlier to the Earth and our future. My first vow is to make my wedding as plastic-free as possible.

I have already been weighing the disposable plateware versus china rental conundrum. I think I am within a week’s decision on that one. How about everything else though?

The wedding industry (sometimes referred to as the WIC – Wedding Industrial Complex) is a complete craphole for useless, disposable, stuffs. Favors, decorations, hair goodies, foods, clothing, invitations, programs, and so much more. In fact, it feels that with each year, new crappy disposable things get tacked on to a new bride’s “must-have” list.

Like Save-the-Date cards (sadly referred to as STDs). Those used not to be at all. Now, not only do many brides feel they are mandatory, but the new thing is Save-the-Date magnets. I have received three from friends… and while they are actually cute, it feels weird to leave magnets of all my coupled friends on my fridge for years to come.

We are just bypassing wedding STDs completely.  *chuckles*

(more…)

One of my favorite companies is Equal Exchange.  Their coffee is superb*, their mission is amazing.  Since 1986, Equal Exchange has taken on the mission of creating a world where farmers are getting paid fairly for their work, farm families are able to support themselves financially, and sustainable farming methods are used to insure a healthy farming society, a healthy planet, and a healthy us!

Their products are more than coffee.  They have teas, chocolates, nuts and berries, and another favorite of mine: cocoa.  In fact, Marc and I are decking the halls tonight with Equal Exchange hot chocolate in our hands!  Yum!

So why, you ask of me, am I raving about Equal Exchange?

Equal Exchange is an awesome gift for the holidays. AND they have a great deal on a holiday gift basket until December 15th!**

Now, my families do not give presents for Christmas.  Not because we’re Jewish.  Not because we are holier-than-thou and snub the holiday.  In part because we decided to peel away the stress of what holiday gift-giving had become, and in part because nearly half of the people in my families have lost their jobs and been out of work for longer than a year.

Regardless, I like to bring coffee beans and treats with me for holiday fun.  Everyone gets to enjoy treats and company.

I always preach that no matter if you are struggling with money, or floating in money, each dollar you spend is a vote, each penny is a reflection of what you care about or disregard.  Coffee and chocolate are always two areas I feel guilty if I do not buy fair trade and sustainably grown.

The Equal Exchange holiday gift basket has all of these yummies in an awesome grass basket from Ten Thousand Villages:

• Organic French Roast Coffee – 10oz, drip grind
• Organic Hot Cocoa Mix – 12oz
• Organic Very Dark Chocolate – 3.5oz bar
• Organic Dark Chocolate with Almonds – 3.5oz bar
• Organic Milk Chocolate with a Hint of Hazelnut – 3.5oz bar
• Organic Tamari Roasted Almonds – 5oz
• Roasted Salted Pecans – 5oz

Hurry though.  Seriously, December 15th.  Twelve days.  Less than two weeks to order, which you need to be getting all the shopping you are going to do anyhow.  Trust me, remembering you do, indeed, need to buy something for someone and rushing out a couple days before Christmas is the perfect recipe to buying stuff from China that you do not even feel good about giving because it is a cheap, thoughtless crap.

The site has lots of other cool gifts and items as well, each with a full description and pic. 

Cheers to each of you, your holidays season, your family, great ethical companies, and a belly of yummy Equal Exchange!***

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

PS.  This cool company also offers educational materials to help you and your kids’ school groups share awareness that each penny we spend, each sip we take, each bite we enjoy, impacts many others than us.  How cool?!

*In case you’ve never read this blog, I have a bit of a coffee addiction.  I’ll even drink Maxwell House instant if I must… yck… of course, only if it is my only option for a long time to come, a situation which I try to avoid putting myself in.

***Sorry I sound like an advertisement recently.  I figure, for Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, birthdays or whatever, we all do give gifts out of love… and I can promote ethical, loving companies as where each of our dollars goes.  Cheers!

If you struggle to make greener decisions, sometimes the battle within yourself is if the green you need to save most is the green in the world or the green in your wallet.  With the holidays zooming toward us, temptation to shop “big sales” and get “huge savings” can bear upon you.

Black Friday sales woo tons of shoppers annually and mark the official beginning of the Christmas shopping season.  I understand that retailers need shoppers in order to make profit, which in turn means sales associates keep their jobs and can pay their bills.  I get it, I get it, I get it.

I beg you to consider, however, the kind of purchases you make when you shop these stores, these sales, these “giant blowout” events.  I yearn for you to realize that big box stores want you to get caught up in the whirlpool of low numbers, shiny vases, plush blankets, sparkly dresses, and jingling toys.

-

These sales want you to spend beyond your means.

These stores want you to buy now, and pay later.  Like still paying it off in September 2010.

These “shopping holidays” want you to feel like whatever you give, it has to be big to prove it is given in love.

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… to fear that no matter what you give… that the receiver might give you something that even bigger.  Now you wouldn’t want to look like a cheap shmuck, right?

… to continue handing over that plastic-fantastic credit card, blissfully ignoring the poisons in those toys (every child should chew on some lead and phthalates, right?), slave labor in that jewelry, and child labor and questionable labor practices in… well, just about everything, right?

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Now, is that the backstory you want for gifts you give?

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Perhaps you’ll say no.  If so, consider a handmade holiday.  Or consider a no-gift holiday.  Or the challenge of a “Made in America” only holiday.

Just consider that the holiday is really is about spending special time with the special people in your life.

Whatever you choose to do, make the most of your Thanksgiving weekend.

With much love, tremendous thanks, and sustainable thoughts,

Ashley Sue

Plastic has become such an evil word to those of us pushing an enviro-friendly agenda, but buying recycled plastic products can be an amazing way to get that “I’m reducing trash in the world” high.  Case-and-point:  Preserve products.

I have written before out using Preserve razors and Terracycle toothbrushes, both of which are made by inspirational companies that use recycled plastic for their goods.  Cheers to corporate awareness of how they can work with consumers to make an impact.

While Marc and I camped last month in the Pisgah National Forest, however, we spent our first couple days also camping with Marc’s oldest brother and nephew.  In those couple days, paper plates and plastic Solo cups were the containers of choice.  I cringed the whole time… we had brought permanent cups for the trip, but dang if the disposable convenience mentality does not prevail among the masses.  :/

The good news was that once it was just Marc and me again, we did not use another disposable cup or plate.  Only our enamel-coated camp ware for us.  Still, I felt horrible.  Damage had been done.

Preserve makes a great “powered by leftovers” product line of colorful cups, plates, bowls, and utensils.  For some people, this may be a great summer purchase.  Stop by your local Earth Fare or Whole Foods, pick a couple vivid colors for your palette and just imagine sitting down with family and friends at a picnic table with these nifty, lightweight cups full of mojitos and plates loaded with cool, zingy potato salad and steaming, sweet cobbler… Then you carry it all inside and put load your dishwasher!  So easy, so eco!

Marc brought up his desire to inspire our family not to use those typical disposable cups and plates, but pointed out he believes the primary reason they use Solos is for the weight as well as convenience.  He said he thinks they get tossed between drinks because people forget to label their cups with their names for reuse… then they all get mixed up on the table.

Alas, Marc noticed these great multicolored aluminum tumblers!  Why are these so lovable for us?  Well, beside the fact a pack of six is a pack of six different colors for easy remembering, aluminum is lightweight for packing on trips.  Even better, when these get too dinged up to be usable anymore, aluminum can be recycled countless times.  If you accidentally leave your cup on the picnic table and a bear comes and tries to eat it, after he realizes he does not want the cup and spits it out, you can chunk it into your recycling bin!

When you plan your next family outing by the lake, in the backyard, or deep in the forest, maybe you as well will pick up Preserve tableware or some easy, inspired, lightweight enamel, aluminum, or steel products.

Sustainably yours,

Ashley Sue

The list of companies claiming natural and green efforts grows every day, and often, unfortunately, these companies have little to offer.  Two national companies, however, showing progress in their sustainability practices are Reynolds and Kerr Drug.

What do these two companies have to offer?

Reynolds finally caught on to recycled foil.  For an Earth Day promotion, they gave away coupons for a free roll of their 100% recycled aluminum foil.  I am partly excited by this because I do think Reynolds foil is often better quality than many off-brand foils.  Plus, Aluminum, which can be recycled countless times, is a great way to practice your Rs.  When you finish with using foil, you can recycle it or reuse it yourself.  No matter what, make sure you clean off the foil.  Any foil with residual grease and oil cannot be used by recycling facilities, and you certainly do not want to reuse sticky foil.

Kerr Drug, which I never thought I would be giving thumbs-up, sent a “Naturally Kerr” flier in the mail this week.  Claiming to carry “over 3,000 natural and organic products for a healthy lifestyle”, I opened the paper and gave it a look.

Honestly, I was thrilled to see how many legit products they stock.  From organic groceries such as sugar, Late July brand crackers, FEED granola, JASON and Avalon Organics toiletries, natracare tampons and organic cotton pads, Seventh Generation products, Amy’s Organics, gluten-free foods, vegan foods, and even Pirate’s Booty snacks (I wonder if they carry Tings), Naturally Kerr by Kerr Drug is setting a standard for what a chain pharmacy/store can provide for their communities.  Who knows where this chain can go and where they are headed!

If you have not noticed, I rarely give chains a shout-out, so this post is a big deal for me.  Naturally Kerr, which is located at Harvest Plaza, 9650 Strickland Road, Suite 105, Raleigh, and 1124 Patton Ave. in Asheville, even had an Earth Day celebration today.  They gave away free reusable tote bags filled with natural and organic goodies.  The store also had drawings for a free mountain bike, as well as gift certificates to my absolute favorite Raleigh restaurant Irregardless Cafe and Flying Biscuit (never been).  I love the local aspect of this.

So, Kerr and Reynolds, cheers.  Keep up the amazing progress and set even higher standards.  Ready, set, go!

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue

After my quick post questioning Costco as being a blessing or a blight to the communities it serves, I intended to write on more general levels for follow-up posts.  Which will happen…

Then, however, Jo commented regarding a Costco proposal for New Brunswick.  The Costco in question could be destroying wetlands in order to bring forth their mega-store.  Many residents are rallying to defeat the giant from entering their community.  On the other side, some citizens support the expansion.  From the previously linked articles to a Facebook group regarding the controversy, comments show support both for and against Costco.  Philip Lee is chronicling the advances and debate within the community (like here, here and here).  The comments section from the Daily Gleaner article chronicles those that simply hate Costco, those that blindly love it, and those that think it will be good for their community, but not at that location.  Anywhich way, this is certainly of major concern for environmentalists.

It is hard to label a company as leading corporate America in sustainability if they build a gasoline bar in a wetlands lot.  On the contrary, perhaps that is a sign of corporate America… not perfect, but progressing.

Turns out, Costco alone seems to deserve a thorough look-over on Green Grounded.

To be fair, I am starting with support of Costco because I feel like positive is the natural start in a compare and contrast.  Maybe that is just me, but I am not apologizing for it.

The Good of Costco (through my perspective):

~ Rwanda’s President recently thanked Starbucks for using Rwandan coffee and boosting the farm community there.  Starbucks became involved with Rwandan coffee farms upon suggestion and coordination from Costco’s CEO Jim Sinegal.

~ Costco is a big fan of solar energy, both using and selling.

~ Costco CEO Jim Sinegal works to put transparency in his company.  Huge.  Pays their employees well with great benefits. Some stakeholders aren’t impressed.  Yet, Costco, unlike one of their major competitors, is known for taking good care of their staff, even encouraging “van pools” to reduce gas use and price-effect for employees.

~ Though most produce and florals are not local, many are still supporting great environmental causes.

~ Costco takes your unwanted electronics, and even pays for some, for recycling.

~ My personal joys:  they have many biodegradable soaps and products from great Triple-Bottom Line companies, they carry a large variety of hormone-and-antibiotic-free meats for Marc, they have organic juices and fairtrade chocolates I can get for gifts or for our home, and, yes, I like things being cheaper there… meaning…

~ Many people in the lower-rung of the middle-class are upon very difficult times.  People are out of jobs, people who have jobs are taking pay and benefit cuts, yet we still have to pay all of our bills and buy groceries and buy gas to get to work.  These are real issues, right now, for a growing sector of our society.

Now with the bad of Costco:

~ Mega-box chains do perpetuate suburban sprawl.  Lots of people still do not mind sprawl, but it is inherently bad for a community.  The chain is always more concerned with making money than protecting that individual community, meaning location choice can be quite damaging.  Such as with the Fredericton, New Brunswick case.

~ For every item Costco sells that is eco-friendly and sustainably-oriented, they also continue to sell “a totally unnecessary product with extraordinarily bad consequences”, such as air-in-a-can convenience office-cleaning product.

~ As with today’s greenwashing trends, Costco, like many other retailers, does carry some products that market themselves as “green” but are highly skeptic, if not disproved, by the environmental community.

~ Costco carries plastic bottled water.  I get it, people like their plastic-bottled water.  Regardless, it bites.

~ Costco carries a large number of “individually packaged” products.  Drinks bottles, cheezy poofella pouches, etc. for easy lunch-box packing or for mass crowds.  These items have their use, but that does not make them environmentally sound.

~ Even buying a major national pharmaceutical product there (like we do ~ as it is much cheaper) hurts a local business owner who you could be buying from.

Costco shopping round up:

Buying from the local coop, or even the local Earthfare / Wholefoods just is not a realistic option for many Americans right now.  I blew through money buying local organic fairtrade in 2008.  Some of those products came from Costco.  Now, Marc and I are really having to decide where and what we can buy.  Basically, we are having to decide on a case-by-case basis, every day, what our priorities are in accordance to what we can afford.  That is unfortunate and true.

I am not advocating throwing one’s hands up at spending more for local / organic / fairtrade, but we each have to find the balance we (individually) can afford with the reality of today.

Today, I heard a coworker saying he does not support Wholefoods because they carry produce from Chile.  While that environmentally is a valid energy concern, I feel we cannot hang Wholefoods’ Chilean produce as hypocritical to the green movement if we consumers are drinking coffee or tea in our daily routine.  Or consuming chocolate.  Those products are grown down the road.

I argue the answer lies in finding the balance.

If you can afford to buy only local / organic / fairtrade, kudos.  Further, advocating conscientious buying habits amidst your peers is always Rockstar.  Questioning corporations and demanding transparency, promoting progressive goals, and striving for triple bottom line standards is necessary.

Whether or not you can afford to buy only local /organic / fairtrade, considering our fellow humans, both those working on farms, and those living two blocks over, is the most important part of community.  My organic coffee helps workers not be exposed to poisons and gives them a decent wage to live on.  The fact that my in-laws (both jobless due to unavoidable circumstances) cannot afford to indulge in such things as $10 lb. coffee is also something I refuse to hold against them.  I do what I can, and they do what they can. 

…and what I “can do” is becoming increasingly less during this time of my life.

I, for one, will continue my Costco love/hate membership for a third year.

I will do my best with what they offer and what I can afford to buy elsewhere.

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

Valentine’s Day:  It’s that time of year ~ adored and yearned for by many, completely dreaded and mocked by another many.  Personally, I don’t buy into it, which is why this is posting one day before…

BUT if you do, Green Pepper has a whole wonderful giant, organized list of links you can use to find the right flowers, chocolates, gifts, etc.  Green Pepper is UK-based, and to do green right, try to take these options and make it happen with your LOCAL shops, farmers, etc.  At the very least, you will certainly be able to wrap your head around some ideas of what a “Green Valentine’s Day” can be.

Also, feel free to check out my video, posted last year.

My favorite gestures of love (from a gift perspective): antique, second-hand, or fair-trade jewelry.  Forget the mass-market mall jewelry lines.  Get something unique and beautiful with a story and no cruelty, like the jewelry at my new favorite Asheville store Elementality.

No matter how you celebrate or who you celebrate VDay with,

Love love love.

Sustainably yours,

Ashley Sue

In case you are not attending what may be one of the most environmentally-unfriendly Super Bowl parties you know, like I will, you may be wondering how a Super Bowl party can be green and eco-friendly.  At least greener than the disposable plates, cups, lack of recycling, and meat-oriented everything that normally goes with these events.

In fact, if you are lucky enough to be hosting your own shindig, and you are curious in this short notice how to make your party have more splash with your friends but less impact with the environment, I have rounded up some great links to check out for your pursuit:

Lighter Footstep advises you on grilling (oh, tasty!). 

Green Diva Mom writer shares a full-out healthy menu plan.

Trey of Earth911 has got the eight best tips, from menu, to toilets, to gambling, and souvenirs.

Last year, I posted these tips on buying bulk, beer, and links I liked.

The NFL consistently works to progress their sustainability initiatives and reduce their environmental impact.  The NFL as an organization and the Tampa Bay Super Bowl are only a small part of the picture:  we fans are accountable for our impact, and it adds up.

We are not pushing to provide only organic, fair-trade, and locally-grown foods, or to use solar power to fuel your party, because as great as those choices are, many of us and our friends are just “getting our feet wet” with being more environmentally-friendly (if they care at all).  So do what you can, and be proud of that.

So, in whatever effort you can, make that difference, and go have fun!  

Sustainably Steelers,

Ashley Sue

OK, so the title is a little severe, but if you are pulling out your hair finding gifts that are meaningful, as well as socially and environmentally responsible, Green Grounded is promoting changing your gift giving and buying habits.

Goodnight, Raleigh! tips you to the idea of Consignments as gifts. Seriously, neat neat gifts that are second-hand can be beautiful, special, interesting… I am intrigued by making up ideas and stories for the wonderful second-hand gifts I’ve been given that are delicate and beautiful…

My favorite idea this year is No Impact Man’s Christmas with No Presents. Both of my families instituted this rule this season, and I look forward to stressless TIME TOGETHER over amazing food, laughter, and general merriment… the VERY essence of Thanksgiving ~ and why all my Beau’s family loves Thanksgiving so!

What if you have already purchased some gifts for people, but still want to try something like this instead??? Well, you can buy handmade, like at Etsy, you can make your own gifts, you can buy responsibly through a variety of retailers…

Or you can save those gifts to give those people at their BIRTHDAYS, when you can celebrate that person for the fab contribution they are in your life… instead of having to buy EVERYONE somethings because the retailers and society in general says it’s important…

Which reminds me of a post I just read… Fun Times Guide to Living Green has some suggestions on dealing with your houseguests… which includes remembering Christmas is NOT your birthday, tips on encouraging recycling, and remembering that an IV of alcohol will cure whatever else you can’t seem to solve.

Cheers and happy holidays,
Ashley Sue Allen

Each of us add tremendously to our carbon footprint during the holiday season. Waste is a major consequence of all our generosity, so here are a few tips for reducing your waste load in the next few weeks.  As much fun as opening presents with your family and friends is, I always feel the momentum deflate as envelopes, cards, and paper continue to pile over the floor, covering gifts, the carpet, and our better sense of environmental oneness.

Here is the Green Grounded Guide to Less Holiday Waste:  Four Ways to Reduce Your Paper Impact.

1. Reconsider which holiday cards you send.  

My sister purchased two different sets to send: one set supports Unicef, so her money is going to a great cause (they were also made in the USA and the box is made of 100% recycled materials), and the other set is made with sustainability at its core (from Tree-Free greetings with the message “reduce. reuse. rejoice.”, these cards are USA made of reclaimed sugar-cane fibers, wind power, soy-inks, and a biodegradable cornstarch lid).

If you cannot shell out the extra bit for socially-conscious and eco-designed cards, consider yourself in my boat. My recent move has me living more frugally than usual, but I knew I could still be aware of the impact my cards have. I get simply giddy when I see glitter and shiny, metallic foil, but as I perused through the box store’s card collection, I snubbed all the prettily embellished cards of winter sparkle and golden luster. Cards donning glitter and foil are not recyclable, so bypass these in favor of more subdued traditional holiday card splendor.

Points earned:
+2 Recycled paper, soy ink, or other sustainable materials in card selection
+1 Recyclable materials only
+1 Cards made in USA
+1 Handmade cards from USA
-3 Purchasing glittered and/or foiled cards or envelopes

Bonus points:
+5 for sending e-cards (try www.jibjab.com for hilariously personalizing options)

2. Reconsider your wrapping paper.

Holy wowser at the mass pile of paper and packaging that makes it into trash cans across the globe on December 26th. Gift bags can be regifted, however, so consider that option. Or purchase craft-paper and decorate your own wrapping job. Or the old standby – the Sunday comics. Or get creative and use fabric remnants on boxes and around baskets.

Points earned:
+2 Using the remnant fabrics, newspaper comics or magazine cutouts
+2 Recycled paper, soy ink, or other sustainable materials in purchased wrap/gift bags
+1 Recyclable materials only (the glitter and foil applies to wrap and gift bags as well)
+1 Using gift bags
-2 Using more than two sheets of tissue paper in any gift wrapping/gift bag
-3 Purchasing glittered and/or foiled wrap
-3 Wrapping gift baskets in Mylar or cellophane wrap

Bonus points:
+5 Regifting a gift bag you have been given gifts in
+5 Finding a creative way to give gifts without wrapping

3. Consider gift bling.

Instead of buying that cheap, tacky bag of pre-adhesive bows in an array of cliche holiday colors, adorn your gifts in true style. Use twine or hemp string to tie in a rustic fashion around your gifts. Use long strips of reusable fabric ribbons on people you feel will find a good reuse for the ribbons. If you feel these are too simple looking, tie-on a real cinnamon stick, horehound stick, or peppermint stick to add extra flair.

Points earned:
+2 Using hemp, twine, remnants, etc.
+1 Using a spool of ribbon
-3 Purchasing a new bag of plastic, pre-adhesive ribbons and bows

Bonus points:
+5 Using plastic, pre-adhesive ribbons and bows from gifts you received last year

4. Reconsider gift name tags.

Why spend another couple dollars on some shiny, factory-produced, tiny, paperboard cutouts donning Santa or a toy soldier? These are just extra blobs of trash, not to mention the paperboard and plastic packaging they come in. Instead, why not just write the name of the recipient somewhere on the gift… maybe an inconspicuous side or corner?

Points earned:
+2 Completely avoiding unnecessary gift name tags.

5.  No matter how your holiday is wrapped up, enjoy the time you are sharing with the people you care about. That is where change begins.

A couple extra bonus points:

+7 Talking with your family ahead of the holidays to share your neat wrapping tips and suggestions in a fun, friendly manner.
+10 Making sure not to judge or act haughty with family members and friends who forgot to consider the environmental impact of their wrappings and trim. The holidays truly are about gratitude for the love and time you share with each other. You will have plenty of opportunities to talk up environmental politics later, and without making them feel guilty for something they gave out of love and generosity.

Sustainably yours ~ Ashley Sue