Category: Zero Waste

bookmark_borderHow to Have a Zero Waste Picnic This Summer!

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Hey earth muffins! I don’t know about where you live, but the summer weather is officially here in Michigan. Last week we had a day that was over 90 degrees, and the lowest temp this week is 84. 🥵 The sun always makes me happy – and a picnic is a great way to relax in the summer! For those of you looking to stay eco-friendly, here are my top tips for having a zero waste picnic during the hotter months.

Bring your own picnic blanket!

Can you really have a picnic without a blanket? I don’t think so! But, does that mean you have to have a checkered blanket specifically for picnics? Of course not! As a true sustainable earth muffin, use what you have already. Throw blankets, comforters, anything that can be washed if it gets dirty. A few years ago I found a vintage picnic blanket at an antique store – it even has little ants and picnic food on it! 😂 I leave that blanket in my car year round for all my picnic/outdoor needs.

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bookmark_borderThe Truth About Deadstock Fabric: Is It Sustainable?

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Hey earth muffins! With a big boom in sustainable fashion companies, there has been an increase in clothing created from deadstock fabric. You might be asking yourself, “Well, what exactly is deadstock?”. I was doing some reading on it recently, so I thought it would be a great post to write. Here is the truth about deadstock!

What is Deadstock Fabric?

“Deadstock fabric” encompasses numerous things:

  • Unsold fabric from mills
  • Overstock (fabrics that did not sell)
  • Scraps from production runs by brands
  • Damaged or imperfect fabrics

With the rise in popularity of eco-friendly living, there has been an influx in brands that use deadstock fabric in their pieces. But, is deadstock actually sustainable?

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bookmark_borderHow to Stay Eco-Friendly While Traveling Post-Pandemic

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Hey earth muffins! While the pandemic isn’t totally over yet, there has definitely been an increase in traveling again. 🎉 I don’t have too many trips planned yet, but (especially now that I’ve already had COVID) I want to book a few more vacations before the summer months are over. It is so important to be sustainable even on trips; just because you aren’t in the same place doing your daily routines doesn’t mean you can’t stick to your low waste values. Here are my top tips for staying eco-friendly while traveling!

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bookmark_border5 Unique Ways to Use Up Fruit & Veggie Scraps

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Hey earth muffins! I always seem to find myself doing more baking during the summer months. While I cook meals for myself almost every day, the summertime always makes me crave fun, home-baked goodies. With all this extra cooking, I find myself with more fruit and veggie scraps. And it is important to utilize these instead of just throwing them into the trash! Food waste is a huge environmental issue, so here are five unique ways to use up those fruit and veggie scraps! 🥕 🥦 🍅

1. Make a “zero waste” recipe

The best way to reduce food waste is to cook/bake with a zero waste mentality – nothing (or almost nothing) will end up in the trash. If your recipe calls for peeled potatos, maybe leave the skins on. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables where the peel is actually delicious and nutritious! I was surprised to learn recently that you can even eat the fuzzy skin of a kiwi. If you search for zero waste recipes on Pinterest, there are plenty of options to choose from (like carrot top pesto)!

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bookmark_borderEasy Ways to Get Connected to Nature This Summer

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Hey earth muffins! If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen that I recently read the book The Nature Fix by Florence Williams. This book was great, as it lays out facts on why nature is good for you in all ways… And I definitely have to agree! Spending even 5 minutes with Mother Nature always improves my mood. Now that the months are getting warmer, here are my suggestions on how you too can get connected to nature this summer. 🌲

Hike

Growing up on the East Coast, I went hiking a lot when I was younger. I live in Michigan now which does have some hiking, just not super gorgeous trails like I was used to. The Upper Peninsula has more mountains than the area I live; but, there are still flat trails all over the place here. I encourage you all to see what hikes are in your area! You might be surprised at how many forests, nature preserves, and parks are accessible to hike in.

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bookmark_borderHow to Pack a Suitcase: Low Waste Edition

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Hey earth muffins! Summer is just around the corner – time for some fun vacations!! As of yet, I only have one major trip planned in July… But I will definitely be planning some weekend getaways too. 😍 The travel excitement always gets me once I start packing for my destination. And who said you can’t pack your suitcase to align with your eco-friendly values? Here’s your ultimate guide on how to pack your bags the zero waste way this summer!

Make a list of everything you need for the trip.

This is obviously helpful if you are doing specific activities that require certain gear… But, making a detailed list is the way to go for any trip. Think ahead to what you will be doing and also research the weather forecast too. Once you have a list, stick to it and pack only what you need. Set a rule with yourself that you will make do with what you have on the trip – no need to buy that extra sweatshirt or flip flops when you already thought ahead and packed them.

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bookmark_borderHow to be Zero Waste on a Road Trip

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Hey earth muffins! Summer is just around the corner which means one thing – time for some vacations! Road trips are one of my favorite ways to take some time off work. 😎 I recently took a short trip to attend a graduation, and it was super fun… Until I tested positive for COVID when I got home. Yupp, after 2+ years and 3 vaccines Mister Corona still got me. I’m (thankfully) all better now and hoping my next road trip doesn’t come with any surprise illnesses. Here are my tips on how to have the best zero waste road trip this summer!

Tip #1: Pick the most eco-friendly car you have access to!

Depending on who/how many people you are traveling with, you might have more than one vehicle to choose from. While things like number of seats and vehicle age are obviously important, make sure to consider each car’s environmental impact as well. Pick the car that is a hybrid or gets the best gas mileage to reduce your emissions on the road. (And this will save you money too with how crazy gas prices are right now.)

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bookmark_borderAllbirds Wool Runners Review – The NEW Sustainable Shoe You Need this Summer!

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Hey earth muffins! Back in February I reviewed my Allbirds flats for you all. I still wear those shoes to the office often – when my Nike sneakers finally wore out (after 4+ years might I add!), I thought it would be a good idea to invest in some sustainable running shoes. Allbirds was obviously the brand that came to mind first. Let’s jump right into my Allbirds Wool Runners review!

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