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…)

Sorry guys, this is not an homage to The Karate Kid, so you may want to tune out while I address body waxing to my female audience.  Parissa at-home Salon Hot Wax kit scored well with me, so I thought I would share the details.

I stumbled across Parissa products at Whole Foods and settled on the strip-free hot wax for face, brow, and bikini.  I have used other brands that use strips, and decided strip-free would reduce some of the waste.

I used Parissa on my underarms, something I have never waxed before but shaving always leaves me a little teeny bit stubbly… which I loath.  I also used Parissa on my bikini line, as swimming and Outer Banks were in my near future.  One kit (pan) did both my underarms and bikini area.

The pros:

• The product melts smoothly, and the hot wax, when used as directed, is perfectly comfortable.
• Ripping the wax off was far from comfortable, but worked flawlessly!  Worth the pain!
• Parissa is PARAFFIN-FREE!  No petroleum-based waxes here.  Only gum rosin, beeswax, and canola oil.
• Made in Canada (unfortunately not USA, but better than Asia!)
• Not tested on animals.
• Paper from instructions and such is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, made of Mixed Sources from well-managed forests and other controlled sources.
• Pan is recyclable, so when you are done, chuck it with your cans! (updated 29 Oct)
• Wax refills are available via their website, and does not come with the azulene bottle or pans, so you reduce your waste! (updated 29 Oct)
• GREAT customer relations!  Check the comments below to see for yourself!

The cons:

• $10.  Not a bad price.  I just have little to spare right now.
• The wax comes in a metal pan, which I had to throw away when finished.  Sad.
• I have been unable to find “refill” packs at stores, meaning I must continue to buy the azulene bottles and metal pans individually, creating plenty of waste.  The Parissa website shows “refill” kits but offers no description as to the contents of said kit so order those.

If you plan to wax, I think Parissa is a pretty great eco-friendly option.  If shaving is more your thing, I am happy to reshare my review of Preserve brand razors.

Happy smooth and sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

After the SIGG debacle, which turned into the GAIAM debacle, it has turned to the war of bisphenol A-laden receipts.  Yes, according to articles in the last month, receipts are a primary BPA source that all Americans are exposed to (as well as canned foods).

Miss the receipt-full-of-BPA news clips?  Check here.

Really, this is annoying a bit.

Scare tactics abound us in the realm of living “healthy” and “green”.  Media and many other message-pushers rely on fear to get you motivated.  Have you seen the “Eat fruit alone or it gives you cancer” email?  Or “don’t drink cold water or it will give you cancer” email?

Further, we begin to feel like “hey, what around me isn’t toxic?”

It reminds me frequently of a conversation with my best friend Sara (also on Twitter) where we discussed ~ when is enough enough?  What all do we have to do in our daily lives to feel like we can breathe easily and safely?

Is avoiding nail polishes with formaldehyde, tolune, and phthalates enough?  What about your vinyl accessories?  Or the upholstery in your furniture, carpets, and car?  What about the paint on your walls?  Your drink bottle?  Your deodorant?  Your grocery bags?

And now, your receipts?

The loose-powdered BPA from receipts reportedly is much easier ingested and concentrated than that “locked” into polymers of can liners and water bottles.  Meaning, wash your hands super frequently because otherwise you eat it easily as the BPA moves from receipt to hands to food.

What about sticking the receipts in your wallet or purse?  Have you just transferred mega-toxins into (and onto) everything else you touch a hundred times a day and can barely wash out?

I mentioned last week that “no one gives” a hoot “about going green”, which I meant (in earnest) as a jab at deceitful companies such as SIGG and GAIAM.

The deeper issue is, however, it can be hard to give a hoot when it feels like a huge losing battle anyhow.

For instance, besides lousy water bottles and everyday receipts, you can find BPA in:

• ALL of your canned foods.  Yep.
• Soda cans.
• City drinking water.
• Pizza boxes made of recycled cardboard
• Recycled paper
• Wine (fermented in BPA-resin lined vats)
• Beer (likewise)

Find more info on that here.

So, what is a girl to do?

Give up?

Take it all on and battle every frustrating piece of news we get?

Quit our jobs and lobby congress?

All I can offer is the reminder that you are not alone in your frustration and efforts.  Together, we can hold our heads high and make differences where we can, forgive ourselves for the things we let slide, and resist temptation to give into the media pressure to scare you.

Stressing out frequently will kill you and your loved ones far quicker and more miserably than your receipts or your SIGG.

And as you keep living your life consciously and in stride, say no to receipts when you can (as a budding environmentalist, you prefer to save trees anyhow).  Pay attention to what is in your food… and cosmetics… etc.  Vote with your dollar and support companies you can believe in, who strive for progress.

Any suggestions?  I would love to hear from you.

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

Playing on Twitter this morning, I found this great post on the Seventh Generation blog regarding the failure rate of bringing your reusable bags to the store.

I try not to get to judgy-wudgy, but I am who I am, and I judge.  Needless to say, I was a bit dismayed reading how people say remembering to use their bags at the grocer is so hard, so inconvenient, or just simply not on their mind.

Ann of Staten Island, New York, shuns plastic when she picks up her morning papers and coffee but admits to rarely using the shopping bag she carries in her purse. Alan, our mutual friend in L.A., uses his canvas bags as much as he can…that is, when he doesn’t forget to take them out of the car: “Hey, I’m 48 and the mind goes.”

One woman said using reusable totes is fine if you only shop for a tiny family, but a larger family is too difficult:

“The totes they sell at most places are so small it’s annoying, so you have to bring a ton of them. If I’m going to the store for something small I’ll take one. But for a regular grocery shopping expedition? With a family of five, it’s just impossible.”

This disheartens me.  My response to her is she’s simply using the wrong bags.  I agree the major inexpensive grocery chains tend not to provide decent size ~ or more importantly ~ decent quality reusable bags.  They are small and shred easily.  I have a large cloth tote, however, thrift stores always have large canvas totes you can buy for super cheap, make your own, or use the great (and cheap ~ $1) bags from Whole Foods that are made so sturdy!  We have 15 of them and have had to load up many of them when shopping for big family weekends.

Now, I will say I have left them in my trunk before.  That is becoming so infrequent it is almost never the case now.  Once, I did leave a clothing store and realize I never used the nicely folded Envirosax bag I had tucked into my purse.

It really is about getting your mind in the groove so it feels unnatural to take disposable bags.  As for grocer’s, in the rare event I forget my bags or do not bring in enough (my usual problem), I just load the cart back up (or my arms) and carry my goods that way until I get back to my car.  A cashier last week says he has more and more customers who do the same thing.  This act helps ingrain the habit and reminds me how good I feel in making this tiny decision, and knowing that I am not alone makes me even happier.

I apologize sincerely if I sound haughty about the issue.  I certainly am no green Saint, and I suppose my vigilance at the bag issue helps for the fact that I have several glaring gaps in my sustainability routine.  I just do not see age (he was kidding though), family size, or constantly forgetting you have your bags until the cashier’s already loaded it all in plastic as legitimate arguments for shrugging it off.

Judgy wudgy.

Perhaps I was actually most disheartened by the thought that many who purchase reusable bags only do so out of feeling the pressure of the “green guilt”.  If you buy something merely because peer pressure and enviro-guilt, of course you will have a hard time using it.  I can imagine each time you see them or pull the bags out, a little chunk of resentment hardens inside your gut.  Unfortunate.  That made me more sensitive to the rest of the article, I suppose.

On the contrary, as for the new mother who said she not only chooses to take the disposable plastic bags but grabs extras at the store too… well, I have no judgement on her.  I have no idea what having a child in diapers is like and wonder myself how much I will sacrifice for convenience if I am one day blessed with the joys and challenges of a new baby.

What do you think?  Are any of these solid arguments for not using bags?  Should the new mom think longer-term than to justify using plastic bags as well?  Do you have any suggestions for how to remember your bags while you shop?  Am I a green snob for knocking bag owners who rarely use their bags?

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

Shaving is another territory where our daily actions can have an immediate and huge impact on the environment.  Such a small choice, you would think, but consider all the people using razors and shaving products daily.  What if everyone used plastic disposable daisy razors and cheap, canned foam?

I’ve had this draft saved for over six months, but it took seeing Tiny Choices post on swapping razors to finish this up.

I’ll keep this easy… check out the Tiny Choices post.  Check out Allie’s post.  These two will be super comprehensive.

My vote?  I am a HUGE fan of Recycline’s Preserve razors.  My sister bought me a pack so we could get off our Gillette Sensor addiction.  I relate to Tiny Choices and her Gillette:

I have a Gillette Sensor lady’s razor and I dare say I’ve had it since the early 1990s – it’s been with me through high school and college, for sure, and ever since then. It’s served me well, and more so because it isn’t a disposable (the USEPA estimates that 2 billion disposable razors end up in landfills every year).

But Preserve has a great product, made of recycled plastic.  The double razor replacement heads can be a little rough, and you will notice the difference in quality if you had been using Gillette.  Spring and get the triple blade replacement heads.  You’ll totally dig them.

Or, just get really hairy when your razor is done, and save the water and waste.

Sustainably yours,

Ashley Sue Allen

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

Last week, one of my beautiful colleagues and I walked up to a local bakery for something yummy.  This locale offers scrumptious cakes, cookies, treats of all sorts, and a wonderful coffee to enjoy as well.

A little financially strapped, I knew the day was beautiful, my friend is amazing, so I was happy to walk up and buy a coffee and cookie to support this local company.

I carted the coffee away in a disposable cup, having left my own travel mug at home and not knowing I might be stopping somewhere for coffee that day.

When we returned to the office, I realized my disposable cup, which looked like it was a heavy paperboard material, was actually styrofoam covered in a thin sheet of paper-looking veneer.  What?  Why would a company buy cups that seem like such an obvious “lesser of an evil” greenwash?  Styrofoam, as I see it, is evil!

Just as I start to ridicule this local company for purchasing these cups, my two colleagues pointed out that the economy is difficult.  Small businesses have to make some tough decisions right now in hopes of staying open.  We do not know what financial decisions had to determine such purchases such as that cup.  We are in no place to judge them.

One colleague took it further and said the government has to be the one to ban styrofoam use, as these changes happen from the top down (I disagree with that, but to each, their own).

I felt a little bit of a sting, but instead of taking it personally, I knew they had a point.

I have noticed the economy is tough.  I know independently-owned restaurants usually have a harder time than any other business.  Even with the unfortunate to-go cups, this company is still a local treasure in so many ways.

Ultimately, I can only be mad at myself ~ I have a travel mug, and I failed to bring it.

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

Quick tip for greener living:

Rethink what to do when you run out of toothpaste.

Better toothpaste habits, of course, start with which toothpaste you buy.

I have used Colgate Total for years because, frankly, it is the only toothpaste I had ever used that made my teeth feel beautifully clean.  In seeking an animal-cruelty-free toothpaste over the years, I have dabbled with purchasing a major-label natural brand toothpaste, but felt my teeth were dirty after using it.  At least Colgate made my smile feel pretty and clean!  So I threw the natural brand away, and disgusted with that experience and the price of other more natural brands, stuck with my standby.

Years ago, however, I got a tiny free sample of JASON seasalt toothpaste.  While I was running out of Colgate and fretting over replacing it, I remembered that sample tube and how much I liked it.  The taste was refreshing without being artificial.  My teeth felt dazzling.  It was great, just more expensive than my Costco three-jumbo-sized-tubes-for-six-dollars Colgate.

As I have preached before, every dollar you spend of your hard-earned money sends a message of what is important to you.  Consequently, I sucked it up, drove to my health store, which, during the move, turned from Wholefoods to Earthfare, and bought a substantial tube of the JASON sea salt toothpaste.  Six dollars.

I feel great about the purchase though.  My teeth are sparkling and smooth, the essential oils in the toothpaste leave my mouth minty-chilled, the product is cruelty-free, and I have fewer scary ingredients entering my body.

When I run out again, I am going to consider a new approach:  making my own toothpaste.  An Asheville friend, JuneAllison, tweeted me her recipe after I posted on twitter how much I liked my seasalt toothpaste.

Making your own toothpaste, simple and quick, not only allows you to know exactly what you are cleaning your teeth, tongue, and gums with, but it also ends your reliance on those pesky tubes that have no where to live except for in the ground for all eternity.  

Here’s the recipe, so if you run out of toothpaste before I do, feel free to make it and let me know what you think.

2 parts baking soda to 1 part salt. we typically add a crushed vitamin C and a few drops of goldenseal tincture.

Sounds easy, right?!

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue Allen

Quick tip for greener living: 

Get everything you can out of the toilettries you buy prepackaged.

Instead of always buying travel-sized toilettries for your convenience, just get a couple (preferrably ones you already have), and always refill them with the goods from your regular-sized shampoo, conditioner, lotion, face soap bottles.  Reusing those is better than constantly throwing tiny bottles in the recycling bin (or worse – gasp! – trash!!).  A big no-brainer that’s easy to overlook.  Just remember to write what’s in each bottle with a sharpie so you don’t forget which is shampoo and which is facial soap!

And toothpaste, for instance.  In fact, After seeing how long I fought with a flattened out tube of Colgate Total toothpaste last month, this article topic came to me.  Despising that when I finish using a tube of toothpaste that a chunk of aluminum and plastic ends up in a landfill, I was able to continue covering my toothbrush head with minty-fresh paste for two solid weeks AFTER the tube seemed empty.

Just use a little ol’ fashioned “elbow-grease”, and a credit card, smoothing all of the remaining paste from the end of the tube to the tip.  Then, clip the tube and be careful when filling your toothbrush not to distribute the paste back into the tube again.  Voila!

Conserving my toothpaste saved me a morsel more of money, and in this economy, any money savers are welcomed.  Further, I put off adding to the trash a bit longer.

If you want to go a step further, I have read that some people actually cut open the tube and use their brush to get every last smear of paste for use!

I also did this with a tube of chapstick I had.  When I was so close to running out that the dial on the bottom couldn’t push the gloss high enough to actually apply to my lips, I would use my pinky to scoop out a little and apply it myself.  I did this for over a week until I had scooped that little plastic cylinder clean.

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue