environment – Clear the Air

Should I subscribe to a produce box?

Jenna Phillips — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 11:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I hope you are doing well and staying safe. A lot has happened over the past few weeks – many hard moments, as well as positive change but also mental strain. Please remember to take care of yourself during these intense times <3

Today we are going to talk about produce boxes. I know a few friends who are subscribed to produce boxes and I get ads all the time when surfing the net. On several occasions I have debated whether to subscribe – they sound so good! However, I always decide against them, and for a few reasons which we will discuss today.

what is a produce box?

First things first: what is a produce box? If you are not familiar with the program, it is essentially a paid grocery subscription. You can pay for one box as a trial, or on a weekly/bi-weekly/monthly basis. Companies will usually offer multiple box sizes at different prices, and so they contain different items. Depending on the brand, size and items, I’ve seen boxes range from $25-30, with items like fresh berries, apples, leafy greens, onions and garlic, squash and more. Companies that offer “local” produce have more variation in the products offered because they are dictated by the seasons; other companies will offer fixed boxes year-round with items like avocados, bananas and so on. Some companies also sell meal prepping boxes, so you will have the exact ingredients and amounts needed to prepare certain recipes (included in the box).

the benefits of produce boxes

There is no denying that whoever came up with the business model for produce boxes was a genius. It has inspired so many other box subscription services for other products beyond food. For one, the convenience of a produce box is amazing. Especially during the pandemic when we are encouraged to limit our grocery store visits, I find myself still needing to go grocery shopping once per week just for produce – I can stock up on non-perishable foods, but produce doesn’t work the same way. A produce box can be delivered straight to your front door so you don’t need to make that weekly run to the store. A subscription service is also great for people living on their own with accessibility needs, like disabled or elderly individuals.

Additionally, produce boxes can* support local growers, which is crucial during the pandemic. Small, local farmers are being overtaken by large corporations and imported exotic goods. By subscribing to a local produce box subscription, you are helping your community thrive. Investing in local produce reduces your ecological footprint because you are cutting down on food mileage (read this post for more info on food mileage). It’s important to note that not all produce boxes offer local goods, so make sure to do your research before subscribing. Also, be aware that local boxes may be more inconsistent due to crop variability – some weeks, your tomatoes might be smaller than others, or you won’t get corn like you expected because the crops need more time to grow.

Another benefit of produce boxes is they can encourage you to eat a healthier and/or more plant-based lifestyle. As I discussed in this post, a plant-based lifestyle (which doesn’t necessarily mean cutting out animal products completely) has many environmental benefits including a lower carbon footprint, less land degradation and animal abuse versus the production of animal (by-)products. The new Canadian Food Guide promotes a more plant-based lifestyle, so subscribing to a produce box can encourage households to follow these health guidelines. Getting enough fruits and veggies in your diet is important for avoiding nutrient deficiencies, which affects millions of people around the world regardless of country, class, race, religion, gender and more.

the drawbacks of produce boxes

The following drawbacks have stopped me from investing in a produce box subscription in the past. They may not be significant enough to prevent you from subscribing, or these issues may not exist for you depending on the services available to you. Nonetheless, it is important to know both sides of any investment you are planning to make before you make it.

First, as I previously mentioned, if the boxes don’t specifically contain local produce, your box will likely have a large ecological footprint. Those “exotic” items I mentioned like avocados, bananas, kiwi, etc. cannot be grown in Ontario and usually are shipped overseas. If you are looking to cut down your food mileage, opting for a locally-based company that also sells locally-grown produce is a must.

The second drawback is packaging. When you see the advertisements for produce boxes, the only packaging you see is the cute box the produce comes in. In reality, many of these boxes individually wrap each item. Especially if they are recipe-based boxes, you may have individual peeled garlic cloves wrapped inside a plastic bag, inside another bag, inside a box. If you want to avoid unnecessary waste in your life, look for a box company that avoids excess packaging.

A third drawback is the economic costs. Since you are having groceries delivered to your door and box subscriptions can be viewed as “luxury” services, a produce box will often be more expensive than if you were to go buy the produce items as the grocery store yourself. This can make subscription services inaccessible to lower-income households. Also, if you are out of the normal delivery range there may be additional delivery costs – or they may not be able to deliver the box to you at all. If the cost or distance poses a barrier to you, see if you can find a local box company. If not, it may be more realistic to shop at the local farmer’s market or grocery store.

final thoughts

All in all, the decision to subscribe to a produce box comes down to you and your values. Who knows, I may subscribe in the future if I can find a box that fits my needs. Personally, I still enjoy visiting the farmer’s markets and interacting with the producers directly. Regardless, you now know more about what produce boxes are, how they are beneficial and what they could improve on.

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out these ones:

Have you ever purchased a produce box subscription? What was your experience like? If not, are you interested in trying one out? Let me know in the comments!

The post Should I subscribe to a produce box? appeared first on Clear the Air.

Episode 16: From fast fashion to community action and finding yourself with Yoshi Matsuzaki

Jenna Phillips — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:38:10 +0000

Episode 16: Yoshi Matsuzaki, Founder of Project Trashion, came to Waterloo three years ago after spending three years in the army and one year as a bartender in Singapore, and is now changing the world through fashion. Yoshi seeks to build a community of activists, artists, designers and all other forms of creative individuals to educate and tell their story of their journey towards a sustainable lifestyle. Learn how Yoshi is changing the fast fashion industry in this episode of the CTA Podcast.

Episode references and resources:

Project Trashion

If you enjoyed learning about Yoshi’s journey, check out these conversations on creating change by following your passions:

It’s time to Clear the Air of all this confusion about climate change. It’s time to learn how we, the youth climate leaders of today, can make a change. It’s time to take our future into our own hands.

Make sure to rate, subscribe and follow the Clear the Air Podcast, and follow the journey on social media:

Website: https://ctablog.ca

Podcast site: https://ctablog.ca/podcast

Instagram: @_ctablog

Twitter: @_ctablog

YouTube: Clear the Air

Don’t forget to share your sustainability journey on social media and tag Clear the Air!

Clear the Air – The Podcast

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Clear the Air seeks to educate, empower and mobilize youth to take action against climate change. These weekly episodes will focus on a specific theme, teaching you how to take action RIGHT NOW in your own life. By listening to the podcast, you will become a sustainability expert in no time.

Jenna Phillips is the podcast host, a passionate university student, and a local climate action leader. She uses her expertise and desire for change to make a difference in the lives of others.

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Episode 14: The value of experimental learning with Maddi LeBlanc

Jenna Phillips — Fri, 22 May 2020 09:46:37 +0000

Maddi LeBlanc, Founder of On Board, Instructor for SUP Kids and competitive stand-up paddle boarder, shares how experimental learning teaches kids and adults alike to be responsible environmental stewards – all while having fun. In this episode, Maddi shares her process for turning passions into two projects: a community fundraising event and an educational program for youth.

Episode references and resources:

If you enjoyed learning about Maddi’s journey, check out these conversations on creating change by following your passions:

Make sure to rate, subscribe and follow the Clear the Air Podcast, and follow the journey on social media:

Website: https://ctablog.ca

Podcast site: https://ctablog.ca/podcast

Instagram: @_ctablog

Twitter: @_ctablog

YouTube: Clear the Air

Don’t forget to share your sustainability journey on social media and tag Clear the Air!

Clear the Air – The Podcast

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Jenna Phillips is the podcast host, a passionate university student, and a local climate action leader. She uses her expertise and desire for change to make a difference in the lives of others.

The post Episode 14: The value of experimental learning with Maddi LeBlanc appeared first on Clear the Air.

Must-read books about the environment

Jenna Phillips — Tue, 19 May 2020 11:30:58 +0000

Whether you’re doing a summer school term online, working from home or already off on summer break, many of us have some extra time on our hands. Why not spend it curled up reading with a good book? Even better, a book that’s educational, inspiring and shares and promotes environmental stewardship? It’s a triple-win. There are definitely a few must-read books about the environment out there that fit these criteria. Throughout my years of school and obsession with reading (I used to do challenges at my library over summer and would devour 50+ books in four months alone), I have come across a few amazing books that have left a lasting impact on me.

When selecting which books to include on this list, another important factor to me was reading ease. If I am reading an educational book for pleasure, I don’t want it to be filled with jargon, equations, complicated processes or anything that – I already get enough of that from course work! These books are therefore great to pick up at any time of day, no matter how much time you have to read and if you want something you could read through in a few days (or less).

Why is it good to read environmental books? It totally reshapes your perspective. Much of what we hear about the environment is on the news, online or in journal articles. How often do we hear first-person, real stories? Moreover, there is something to be said in the quality of a product that is free versus bought. It’s like an online course you paid to attend or a subscription to a magazine; you are paying for quality information you may not have access to elsewhere. Many of the authors come from unique backgrounds as well, from professors to politicians to scientists. In a book, they have a chance to say exactly what they want, no filters or pressures to say something else from the outside world.

Without further ado, let’s check out my must-read books about the environment.

1. Braiding Sweetgrass by robin wall kimmerer

Not only is this one of my favourite environmentally-focused books, but this is hands-down one of my favourite books of all time. This book was on my wish list for months and I finally had the opportunity to read it during my First Nations and Environment course last semester. Let me tell you, it is life-changing. I don’t say that often (if at all), so the fact that I am now means this book is a gem.

Robin W. Kimmerer is an expert at “Two-Eyed Seeing,” an Indigenous concept of blending traditional views of the environment with Western science to create a balance in the way we approach environmental stewardship. She is an Anishinaabe of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation as well as a plant biologist and professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She grew up with a love and respect for the environment, which translated into her career as she educates her students and the world about the sacred role of plants and nature in our lives.

What I love is that Kimmerer blends both views – traditional and scientific – in just about every chapter. She talks about the role of mycorrhizae for plant health in scientific terms, but then also from a holistic perspective of the plants nourishing one another because they are family. She shares the lessons she learned growing up with Traditional Ecological Knowledge as the basis for her learning, teaching you to appreciate every little thing – from the sun in the sky to the rocks under your feet and the strawberries you picked in your backyard. By sharing her stories in both lenses, Kimmerer is able to connect with her readers and make them think. Every passage was meaningfully written and allowed me to view the world in a deeper, more holistic way.

The main takeaways from the book are that, first, we are all family. Not just you and I, but our friends and classmates, the land we walk on, the water we drink and the park we walk through. Everything is connected. Second, the concept of reciprocity is the essence of life: the earth is a gift, as is our food and water, and even the relationships we build with one another. They all feed our spirit. In return for these gifts, it is our responsibility to express gratitude and be mindful of our consumption, to never take anything for granted.

This book definitely has a spiritual element to it, but regardless if you believe in spirits or god or the afterlife, ANYONE can connect to this book. My class last term was a very diverse group of individuals from all ages, races, religions and educations, yet we all connected through Braiding Sweetgrass. That’s how powerful it is. Kimmerer is also a beautiful writer; every line was so smoothly written and connected like art.

2. This crazy time by tzeporah berman

Braiding Sweetgrass shares the perspective of a scientist/traditional knowledge practitioner. In contrast, This Crazy Time is written by Tzeporah Berman, a world-renowned environmental activist, researcher, campaigner for esteemed NGOs like Greenpeace, and mother (this last point makes her story very relatable, as you will see throughout the book). Berman’s book essentially tells the story of how her career took form, and how she became active in the world of environmental justice. Specifically, this Canadian activist passionately drove campaigns on deforestation, environmental degradation, Indigenous rights and climate change. From working on the frontlines of protests (chaining herself to a tree in British Columbia) to developing a global campaign against the Victoria’s Secret catalogue to balancing it all with parenting while inspiring the next generation of climate activists, Berman brings so many unique perspectives and stories to her book.

What I found really interesting and relatable is how she describes her journey. Berman didn’t know where she would end up when she was in high school – some of the organizations she worked for didn’t even exist at that point! Especially in the environmental realm, it’s hard to say “what” you want to do for a career because the field is ever-evolving. Berman’s story shows that if you just go with the flow, follow your passions and seize opportunities when they come, you can be successful. So not only is this a motivating environmental book, but it’s also a comforting self-help guide.

It’s also interesting to hear the perspective of someone working on the front lines of activism. Unless you or someone close to you is actively engaged in such things, our understanding of them is shaped strictly by the media and often portrayed in a negative light. Berman began as a researcher then founder herself a part of the Clayoquot protests against clear-cutting, slowly working herself up from localized campaigns and blockages to national and international ones. It is clear that Berman is passionate about the environment, not only from the stories she tells but the way she tells them. She is also very witty, making her stories both admirable and humorous to read.

Overall, This Crazy Time is a mix of educational (I didn’t know about all the campaigns she worked on), inspirational (one personal really CAN make a difference) and actionable (showing YOU how you can make a difference, just like her). If you are curious to learn about the various campaigns she has worked on, the inside view of NGOs and activist work or how to follow your passions, you need to check out this book.

3. eating animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

I read this book in one of my very first university courses (circa 2017) when I was still new to the world of plant-based living, animal rights and the global food industry. This book is by no means trying to convert you to veganism or vegetarianism, rather educate you about the impacts our food choices have on the planet as well as the lives of animals and people. In fact, Foer used writing this book to help him decide whether his newborn child should or should not be raised eating meat from an industrialized world. If you’re not familiar with the problems in our industrialized food system (specifically within the meat industry) I strongly suggest you read this post. I talk a lot about it on the blog, but to summarize the main issues with the meat industry include animal abuse, a huge ecological footprint, unethical employment practices and poor-quality products (lots of fillers, cheap animal feed, etc.). This is not to say that every animal farm demonstrates these behaviours, which Foer makes clear, and are most common in factory farms. Foer therefore focuses on the industrialized system, uncovering all of the challenges and injustices found there.

One of my favourite things about this book is that – just like the other two – it is written like a story. Foer isn’t just throwing facts at the reader. He is telling the story of his journey as a new parent trying to do what is best for his child, a task that seems so complex in today’s industrialized world. How can you know what is good or bad for your child (or yourself) when it is so easy to lie or hide behind labels? Foer also realizes the value in storytelling to communicate a point and how stories are embedded in our food culture. Does your family have a traditional recipe that is passed through generations, or do you gather together for meals during the holidays? There are stories there. Humans learn and process information best through stories because it allows us to relate to what we are being asked to understand.

Foer also dives into the psychology of eating meat, which I found really interesting. We know of the dangers and injustices of the meat industry, yet we continue to support it every day. Why? We dissociate from our food: you see the chicken breast on your plate, which was served, bought and packaged in that form. It dissociates you from the living being the chicken once was. Most of the time we don’t even know where our meat is coming from because our food systems are so disconnected. When we can connect to our food, know where the meat came from and be grateful for the life that was taken to allow us to thrive, we can heal our relationship to our food and food system. In short, Eating Animals is not about not eating meat; it’s about rebuilding our ethical and moral relationships with the meat that we do eat, and to food in general.

honourable mentions

Costly Fix by Ian Thomas Urquhart. Another course reading in one of my favourite courses to date (Environmental Policy, Politics and Governance with Dr. Jennifer Clapp). This insightful book brings a local perspective on a long-standing Canadian issue: the oil sands. Urquhart explores how the oil industry came to be the giant that it is today, as well as who (and what) had to be exploited in the process. For someone that wasn’t very knowledgeable of Canada’s oil history, this book was very informative and gave me a clear picture of everything it encompasses. That said, it is definitely a heavier read (lots of facts/numbers) and sometimes I found myself having to re-read passages to make sure I understood. There are also many moments where I sensed the author’s bias: while Eating Animals is very subjective and allows the reader to make their own judgement on consuming animal products, Urquhart is definitely taking a more persuasive, subjective approach – he is telling you what you should believe. Nonetheless it is still a great read, just keep the bias in mind as you read it.
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. Another amazing book that explores the relationships between us and nature. If you are unfamiliar with the amazing communication networks between trees, you must read this. This book has become very popular over the last few years for the unique perspective of trees that it provides.
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Likely one of the most infamous environmental books ever because it basically started a new wave of environmentalism in the 1960s. I’ll be honest here (and I feel really guilty about this), I haven’t actually read the book entirely yet. I have read several passages for coursework but for some reason I have yet to read it all – it is the next book I am going to buy!

final thoughts

While you may or may not be an avid reader, I encourage you to give just one of these books a try. I believe it is important to constantly learn, whether that be in a classroom setting or on your own time by digesting a good book. It’s also important to learn about new topics that don’t typically catch your eye (for myself, the oilsands). Who knows, you may suddenly become passionate about the new topic. Even if you don’t, you will finish reading with more knowledge than you had when you started.

Have you read any of the books I listed? If so, what are your thoughts on them? Do you have any of your own must-read books about the environment that I haven’t discussed? Let me know in the comments!

I hope you all have a great day, and happy reading! Until next time.

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Episode 13: Five common misconceptions about recycling

Jenna Phillips — Fri, 15 May 2020 10:35:05 +0000

Episode 13: How much do you actually know about recycling? There are many myths and misconceptions about how recycling works and what you can/cannot recycle. This episode clarifies the five of the most common misconceptions so that you can live more sustainably.

Make sure to rate, subscribe and follow the Clear the Air Podcast, and follow the journey on social media:

Website: https://ctablog.ca

Podcast site: https://ctablog.ca/podcast

Instagram & Twitter: @_ctablog

YouTube: Clear the Air

Don’t forget to share your sustainability journey on social media and tag Clear the Air!

Clear the Air – The Podcast

Episode references and resources:

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Jenna Phillips is the podcast host, a passionate university student, and a local climate action leader. She uses her expertise and desire for change to make a difference in the lives of others.

The post Episode 13: Five common misconceptions about recycling appeared first on Clear the Air.

How to repurpose food scraps

Jenna Phillips — Tue, 12 May 2020 11:30:00 +0000

Today we are going to talk about how to repurpose food scraps. Why? I am passionate about reducing food waste because it is an avoidable problem that ANYONE can help solve. Did you know that Canadians waste 40 percent of all their food? Of that, 63 percent is still edible, equating to $1,100 of household earnings lost annually or 2 percent of the national GDP through food waste alone. Meanwhile, there are families and entire communities that struggle to put food on the table each day.

This is unacceptable, and it is up to us to reduce our food waste, balance our supply chains, and rebuild a sustainable food system. One way to do that is to repurpose some of those food items being thrown out each day.

What counts as food "waste"?

An important thing to note is that there is a difference between food waste and food loss. As defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, food waste is:

the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by retailers, food service providers and consumers.

FAO

Food waste can occur in many ways, including:

Removal of produce from store displays because they do not appear “normal” in size, colour, shape, etc.
Disposal of foods because they are nearing their “best before date” or “expiry” even if the foods are safe for consumption.
Leftover foods from restaurants, hotels, etc. that accumulate in large quantities as a result of events or regular practices.

In contrast, food loss refers to the actions taken by food supply chains, as opposed to food waste where the actions are determined by retailers, food service providers and consumers. In other words, actions during the supply chain (harvest, slaughter, etc.) that result in foods being discarded before they reach retailers.

Today we are going to focus on food waste because, as consumers, this is the problem we directly contribute to, and represents where we can take the most action at the individual scale.

What waste can we reduce?

Food waste falls into two main categories: avoidable and unavoidable food waste. Avoidable food waste includes food items that are still edible, such as dairy products, lumpy produce or other items that are not dangerous to consume yet are still discarded. Unavoidable food waste includes those that have realized their utility, no longer providing nutritional benefit or purpose. This can include eggshells, fruit and vegetable peels, bones and other foods we don’t normally eat.

I do not believe that food waste can be unavoidable. In fact, I think all food items can be repurposed in some way, shape or form. That’s why I want to share ways for you to repurpose your food scraps, or “unavoidable” food waste. Without further ado, let’s check out how to repurpose food scraps in five ways.

1. Good for your garden

Food scraps are amazing for your garden because they can replenish nutrients, providing your plant with healthy, natural fertilizer. Eggshells are a great example. They provide calcium, which is important for building the cell walls (like the “skeleton”) of plants to make them strong and healthy! To use eggshells in your garden, you first want to grind them into small pieces or powder using a blender, mixer, or mortar and pestle. The finer the pieces, the faster they will decompose – eggshells take a while to break down.

Sprinkle them into the soil of your potted plants, or till them in the soil of your outdoor garden. If you do decide to use eggshells in your garden, it’s advised that you first wash and allow the shells to sun-dry before handling (they can carry salmonella). No, they won’t smell!

Other great food items to use in the garden include coffee grinds, banana and orange peels to repel various insects and animals while providing your garden with extra nutrients.

2. Haven't started your garden yet? Now you can.

Onions, garlic, root vegetables, lemongrass, avocados, leafy greens, the list goes on. You can propagate these plants simply using the leftovers you may typically throw out! For onions, simply place the root end in enough water that it covers the root base entirely, and watch it grow within a few days. For garlic, plant a full clove in soil root-down so that a sprout can emerge from the top. Avocado plants are a bit more complicated (but still doable for anyone!) and usually don’t bear fruit, but this tutorial can help you get started.

3. bones to broth

While I no longer eat meat, my family does, and I always encourage the family to save the bones after Christmas dinner or from a roast chicken to make bone broth. It’s very simple to make. All you need to do is boil the bones in water and spices for several hours; you could also make it in an instant pot or pressure cooker. Bone broth has many health benefits, can be used in a variety of recipes, or enjoyed on its own when you’re feeling ill. For a detailed guide on how to make bone broth, check out this page.

Fret not, plant-based eaters: you can also make vegetable broth! This recipe shows you how to make use of frozen vegetable scraps to make broth. Since it also requires you to use whole items (garlic, onion etc.) you could make a soup simultaneously and then save the extra broth for other recipes.

4. Rinds and peels make amazing Tea

I got inspired to do this by my Airbnb host when I attended the Leading Change Forum in Vancouver. While they weren’t making tea, each morning they boiled lemon and ginger scraps on the stove. I did some research and found out it is a common aroma/natural air freshener technique, which got me to thinking, why not make a tea out of this?

You can use most fruit peels to make a yummy tea – hot or iced. Lemon, ginger and orange peels are really popular for making tea, but you can mix and match with other fruit peels, spices (think cinnamon, clove, anise, etc.). Simply bring all the ingredients to a boil in a pot of water, allow them to simmer for about an hour, then discard the peels and you are good to go!

5. no more buying breadcrumbs or croutons

We’ve all been there: buying more bread than you realize, freezing half loaf after half loaf until you have entires loaves’ worth of bread in your freezer. For stale bread, don’t throw it out! Use it to make breadcrumbs that can be used as a coating in many recipes, or croutons for salads. You can make croutons by cutting stale bread into cubes and toasting them in the oven with olive oil and other spices, or blending them in a food processor or blender to make breadcrumbs. You can also use a grater to make breadcrumbs.

5. banana peels elevate your baking/coffee game

Banana peels surprisingly have many uses beyond the garden. One fun one is to infuse milk (including non-dairy ones) for your baking and caffeine needs. Ever seen banana extract? It’s similar to that. Simply add peels to hot milk and allow them to steep overnight, then remove the peels and you have a yummy infusion! Make sure to wash the peels before doing this.

final thoughts

As you can see, there are simple ways to repurpose or reimagine food items that otherwise would have gone to waste. Especially for those of you who do not have access to municipal organics waste disposal in their homes, repurposing food items is one of the best ways to act sustainably in the kitchen.

Now that you know how to repurpose food scraps like a pro, be sure to check out these other ones about food systems and waste:

What are your favourite ways to repurpose food items? Are there specific food items you struggle to find a second use for? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time.

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Episode 11: How sustainability helped me recover from my eating disorder

Jenna Phillips — Fri, 01 May 2020 10:34:59 +0000

Mental health is an important part of personal wellbeing, yet we don’t talk about it openly enough. In this episode, I share my story on battling an eating disorder and how discovering my true passion for the environment not only helped me overcome my mental health issues, but helped me change the world. Finding joy in your life is the first step to overcoming your challenges, which is why I share my story on how sustainability helped me recover from my eating disorder.

Make sure to rate, subscribe and follow the Clear the Air Podcast, and follow the journey on social media:

Website: https://ctablog.ca

Podcast site: https://ctablog.ca/podcast

Instagram & Twitter: @_ctablog

Don’t forget to share your sustainability journey on social media and tag Clear the Air!

Clear the Air – The Podcast

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Jenna Phillips is the podcast host, a passionate university student, and a local climate action leader. She uses her expertise and desire for change to make a difference in the lives of others.

The post Episode 11: How sustainability helped me recover from my eating disorder appeared first on Clear the Air.

How to celebrate Earth Day 2020 during COVID-19

Jenna Phillips — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 10:45:00 +0000

Earth Day is this Wednesday, April 22, which represents a historical moment in several ways. For one, it’s the 50th anniversary of this international day for the planet. It’s also the first time we cannot experience it together due to COVID-19. As part of several initiatives that had Earth Day events planned for this week, the current situation has required a lot of creative thinking around how to celebrate Earth Day 2020 during COVID-19. If anything, I think the ideas that have come out of these unexpected brainstorming sessions are not only creative, they also allow more people to access them given their virtual nature.

So, how can you celebrate Earth Day from the comfort of your own home this year? We will explore a few ways in this post. First, let’s quickly chat about the history of Earth Day.

April 22, 1970: The birth of the modern environmental movement

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets to protest the environmental injustices taking place in their country. Following the release of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (READ THIS!!) in 1962, people across the globe were suddenly made aware of how disruptive their everyday activities were to the planet, and to their own health.

Initiated by the efforts of an American Senator and activist, the day was chosen late-April to maximize college student participation. News of the event was spread through educational campaigns, NGOs, religious groups and more. The protests on April 22, 1970 marked a historic event because it was one of the rare times people of all political, religious and economic classes could come together to agree on one thing: their industrialized behaviours are harming the planet, and their health.

The first Earth Day created momentum for the formation of several key environmental legislative pieces in the USA – the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Environmental Education Act, the Clean Air Act and more. In 1990, the first global Earth Day took place with over 200 million participants from 141 countries, building a strong foundation for the first-ever United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which was a monumental turning point in the environmental movement. In essence, Earth Day can be considered the “birth of the modern environmental movement” as it was the first time that people across the world were mobilized to take environmental action. To this day, millions of citizens around the world come together to demand action to protect their sacred planet.

Earth day 2020: a new approach

We now know that Earth Day is, historically, characterized by people taking to the streets in large numbers to demand change. That is not an option this year. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t act on Earth Day. We just have to act in a different way than normal! Let’s look at how to celebrate Earth Day 2020 during COVID-19 in four unique ways.

1. set a goal

Have you been wanting to kickstart your sustainability journey, but putting it off until the “right” moment, like a New Years resolution that can only happen on January 1st? Or are you already living sustainably but want to take that further? Whatever the case, treat Earth Day as your motivation to make a change in your life. Choose one thing that is manageable to change, and create a SMART goal. It could be eating more plant-based, using less plastic in the kitchen, driving less, thrifting more clothing – the list is endless! Make sure that your goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, otherwise you will not be motivated to achieve it.

2. get outside

Earth Day is about the Earth, so why not reconnect with your surroundings? Go for a walk or hike in your nearby natural areas, play in the backyard, tend to your garden, or just sit outside and enjoy some fresh air. Many of us are cooped up inside the house, sometimes for days on end. Getting outside for even ten minutes each day is mentally refreshing for yourself while reminding you of the amazing ecosystem services (air filtration, carbon sequestration, natural beauty) that the Earth provides!

3. tune in to virtual events

Since events are no longer happening in-person, community organizations and action groups have taken to the Internet to inspire change. There are live webinars, workshops, concerts and more taking place all around the world – the majority of which are free to (virtually) attend! Check out my resources at the bottom of the page to explore virtual events in your area and around the world.

4. talk about it

An important aspect of environmental action is to talk about why action is needed. What are the issues that concern you, and how can you engage in meaningful solutions? Have these conversations with friends, family or whoever else you are in quarantine with (or phone/video calling). You may inspire them to view the issues in a new perspective, or brainstorm new ways to take action in your own life. Effective solutions to any problem – environmental, social, economic, calculus homework – are built from productive conversations and collaboration.

helpful resources

Check out these pages for more information on how you can celebrate Earth Day 2020:

Earth Day 2020 Event Map: a global tracker for all the virtual events going on. Zoom in on your home town, or use the search engine to filter by event type, organization, interests, etc.
My list of easy zero-waste swaps: a great goal you can set is to start incorporating more zero-waste habits into your daily life. Three years ago in honour of Earth Day, I wrote this guide for living zero-waste.
#EarthDayAtHome: a list of awesome activities you can do from the comfort of your own home to celebrate Earth Day this year.
Earth Day Live: a free, 3-day virtual event you can sign up for that will showcase activists, artists and more (including Al Gore) as they mobilize climate action.
Check out local initiatives on social media: I’m participating in Peel Climate Council’s Earth Week. Every day they are hosting a new virtual event. Be sure to check out their lineup, and explore what’s going on with your local groups!
Register your own digital event: Eager to start a discussion or create change in your local community? Register with Earth Day Network as an official event and watch your virtual audience grow.

helpful resources

Let’s all take a moment to thank and celebrate the Earth for all that it provides us. While the world may be a strange place right now, it is the Earth that allows us to thrive.

If you enjoyed this post and want more inspiration for how to take climate action at home, check out these posts:

What are your plans for Earth Day? Are you starting a virtual event in your community? Let me know in the comments, or tag me on social media at @_ctablog for a feature!

Until next time.

The post How to celebrate Earth Day 2020 during COVID-19 appeared first on Clear the Air.

6 Criteria for Sustainable Makeup

Jenna Phillips — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 10:30:00 +0000

Is your makeup sustainable? How do you know? Today I am sharing all you need to know about sustainability in the cosmetics world, including 6 criteria for sustainable makeup to help you make informed purchases!

Before we get started, I wanted to share a survey I am running. For youth ages 12 to 25, if you could fill out this quick (<5 minute) survey on your understanding of climate change, its causes and solutions I would greatly appreciate it! It will help me with a future project to enhance the number and accessibility of climate action initiatives for youth like you! If you have friends or family in this age group, please share it with them as well! It doesn’t matter where you are from, so long as you fit the age category.

In other news, I am starting up the Clear the Air Newsletter again! Sign up to receive a special letter from me in your mailbox every two to three weeks, which includes exclusive sustainability tips I don’t post on the blog, early-access information and more. All you have to do to sign up is fill out that form on the sidebar (to the right of this post)!

Why care about makeup?

For some of us, makeup is a part of our everyday lives. That means we go through A LOT of product quickly. There’s also the beloved makeup drawer (I know you have one), full of makeup products you bought on a whim but wouldn’t wear in everyday life, or they weren’t the right colour, or you moved on to bigger and better things. Needless to say, for something we use so much of, makeup plays an important role in our lives and therefore presents an opportunity to promote sustainable change! Remember, every sustainable change, no matter how small, makes a difference. That includes switching up your makeup.

Why is makeup unsustainable?

Some of the reasons are obvious, others not so much. Let’s look at a few reasons why switching up your routine is important:

1. Toxic chemicals

Just because we put it on our face doesn’t mean makeup is safe or “clean.” Makeup products often include UV filters (SPF), microplastics, formaldehyde and asbestos (carcinogens, i.e. cancerous), toluene (harmful to the brain and nervous system), parabens (endocrine disruptors) and more. Those little specks of glitter in your eye shadow and highlighters that you adore so much? Plastic.

2. Pollution

When we wash our face and take all that makeup off, where does it go? Down the drain. All those toxic chemicals travel through our water systems and can end up in rivers, lakes and soil. These chemicals poison surrounding ecosystems, resulting in genetic defects, reproductive issues and even cancer.

3. Waste

Most packaging from makeup cannot be recycled, therefore it will end up in landfills, which could then end up in waterways and so on. If they are made of plastic, those products can take hundreds to thousands of years to break down. Don’t forget about the packaging on your makeup product, either: more than 120 billion units of cosmetic packaging are produced every year. Most of that will end up in our environment.

4. Animal testing

More and more companies are stepping away from animal testing thankfully, but it still exists out there. I don’t want to get into the horrid-ness of this problem, but you can easily look it up on the Peta website. Here is a link to brands who still test on animals (note: published in 2017, so some of these brands may no longer be testing on animals. Do your research!)

5. Palm oil

One of the most well-known and dangerous industries in the world today, the palm oil industry is a major source of deforestation. Palm oil is also one of the most common ingredients in our everyday products – check out the cosmetic, food, cleaning and other personal care products lying around your house. I guarantee you at least one of them contains palm oil. The oil palm plant grows in tropical rainforests where lax environmental regulations have resulted in rapid, uncontrolled deforestation. As a global biodiversity hotspot, thousands of species are at risk, and one of the world’s major carbon sinks (i.e. ABSORBS greenhouse gas emissions, helping to fight climate change) is being destroyed. Deforestation turns these ecosystems into carbon SOURCES (i.e. produces GHGs, contributing to climate change). Palm plantations are also major sources of human trafficking, slavery and poor working conditions.

6. Health impacts

The health impacts of makeup are not limited to the natural environment. You’re putting toxic chemicals like carcinogens, endocrine disruptors and more onto your skin, which can directly absorb into your bloodstream.

How do I know if it’s sustainable?

Now that we know the importance of WHY we need to switch to sustainable makeup, let’s look at the HOW. Here are 6 criteria for sustainable makeup that you can use while shopping for any cosmetic product:

Vegan / Cruelty-Free
Non-toxic
Palm oil-free
Recyclable / reusable packaging
Ingredient source
Social responsibility

1. Vegan and Cruelty-Free

Why this matters: A product can be vegan without being cruelty-free, meaning they could be testing on animals still. Make sure the product is BOTH vegan and cruelty-free.

What to look for: Leaping Bunny certification (cruelty-free) and Peta Beauty Without Bunnies Logos (cruelty-free and vegan depending on the logo).

2. Non-toxic

Why this matters: Avoid the health risks associated with toxic chemicals in makeup while reducing environmental risks when these chemicals find their way into water or soil.

What to look for: Natural-based ingredients (e.g. coconut oil), paraben free, food-grade ingredients (meaning safe for consumption…but please don’t eat your makeup), Certified Organic, Ecocert’s COSMOS Certification (natural and organic cosmetics).

3. Palm oil-free

Why this matters: Reducing your contribution to deforestation, biodiversity loss, climate change and social injustice.

What to look for: Palm oil-free Certifications (through POFCAP or Orangutan Alliance).

4. Recyclable / reusable packaging

Why this matters: Cut down your waste that will end up in landfills, and reduce the amount of resources and energy required to fuel your everyday habits.

What to look for: Give-back programs where you can bring packaging back to stores, packaging made of recycled materials, plant-based dyes, packaging without pumps, brushes or mirrors.

5. Ingredient source

Why this matters: Ensure your makeup products are not sourcing from environmentally destructive practices (e.g. deforestation) and cut down your carbon footprint by using products that source ingredients more locally (fewer emissions from transportation).

What to look for: Locally-grown ingredients, Certified Organic, ingredient type (does it have to be farmed or mined?), whether the brand is transparent about their ingredient sourcing.

6. Social responsibility

Why this matters: Protect the rights of workers across the world by ensuring they are working for safe, respectful employers.

What to look for: Certified-B Corporation, Fair Trade, Ecocert’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Certification.

Other general tips

Use ALL of the product.
Try to repurpose packaging.
Read the label.
DIY your products.

Other helpful resources

This awesome database provides you with different eco-labels that can be used on cosmetic packaging. Next time you see an unfamiliar logo on your packaging, check the database to see what it means.
Peta’s Beauty Without Bunnies database allows you to search through hundreds of cosmetic brands that are cruelty-free and/or vegan based on a variety of search criteria (search by product type, regulation standards, certification type, etc).
This list of sustainable makeup brands ranks various companies by their packaging, ingredients and more. There are some Canadian brands on there, too!
The Think Dirty app – scan the barcode of your cosmetics to learn what toxic ingredients are in it, and be offered alternatives.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed this post on sustainable makeup. Next time you need to make a cosmetic purchase, use these 6 criteria for sustainable makeup to help you find environmentally and socially sustainable products that also support your health!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out these ones that show you how to incorporate sustainability into your everyday life:

Do you have your own criteria when shopping for sustainable makeup? Do you find the experience challenging? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time.

The post 6 Criteria for Sustainable Makeup appeared first on Clear the Air.

Is sunscreen sustainable?

Jenna Phillips — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 11:30:00 +0000

The warm weather is upon us, which means you may be spending more time outside getting some fresh air and sunshine! Especially since we’re all cooped up indoors with COVID-19, it’s so important to spend some time outside for your own wellbeing. That said, you should also be protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. But is sunscreen sustainable?

Before we get into today’s post, I wanted to ask a favour from you. I have created a short survey for youth (ages 12-25) to understand their perceptions of climate change and the barriers youth feel are preventing them from contributing to their community’s climate action initiatives. I would really appreciate if you could fill out this anonymous survey here. Thank you in advance! 🙂

So, sunscreen. As something we put all over our bodies including our faces and on children, you would think that sunscreen is safe to use. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. Let’s dive into the question, “is sunscreen sustainable?” to see what answers and solutions we can find.

First, what’s in sunscreen?

Active ingredients

The most important ingredients in sunscreen are the ones that filter out UV radiation from the sun, blocking its rays from interacting with your skin. There are six main ingredients that do this, known as active ingredients which usually are combined in some form. Active ingredients include oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate.

Aside from the fact that most of these ingredients have have been insufficiently tested for epidermal use (applying to your skin), oxybenzone is considered the most toxic ingredient from the bunch because of its ability to cause allergic skin reactions, endocrine dysregulation and birth defects. Other active filters are reported endocrine disruptors, reducing fertility. Octinoxate, another high-concern active ingredient, is reported to cause thyroid and behavioural changes in animal studies, along with endocrine disruption.

Inactive ingredients

Inactive ingredients make up 50 to 70 percent of sunscreens. One inactive ingredient that is worrisome is methylisothiazolinone, a preservative that often causes allergic reactions.

What does this mean for the environment?

Think about where you wear sunscreen most often: likely when going to the beach, or the pool. Even if you are just wearing it as you run everyday errands, at the end of the day you are washing that sunscreen off in the sink or shower. These toxic ingredients therefore end up in our lakes, oceans and rivers. You can consider it the invisible threat to marine and aquatic life, next to plastic pollution, rising ocean temperatures and eutrophication.

Coral reefs are already seriously threatened by climate change, and our sunscreens are worsening the problem. A 2016 study found oxybenzone and Benzophenone-2 are highly toxic to coral reefs and marine life. Some of the impacts to coral include abnormal growth in juveniles, endocrine dysruption causing abnormal skeletal growth, genotoxicity (DNA damage), increased susceptibility to coral bleaching. Other ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium oxide (found in mineral sunscreens) can cause coral bleaching and possibly be consumed by marine life, due to their minuscule size.

Active chemicals impact other marine life. Juvenile mussels and algae experience growth deformations, and photosynthetic abilities in algae can also be impaired (i.e. it can’t make food to grow or oxygen). In sea urchins, immune and reproductive systems may be impaired, along with growth deformations. Fish experience reduced fertility and hormonal issues, and dolphins bioaccumulate the chemicals in their tissues, which can be passed onto offspring.

When we swim in lakes and oceans, the sunscreen can wash off into waters, directly exposing aquatic life to these chemicals. These ingredients are not removed during municipal wastewater treatment, so they are discharged into oceans from treatment centres and boats.

How can we protect our skin AND the environment?

In an ideal world, sunscreen producers will change their products to remove these harmful chemicals. While that can definitely happen, it is not happening any time soon. In 2018, Hawaii passed a bill to ban oxybenzone-containing sunscreens (but won’t be in effect until 2021 at the earliest), which is a huge step in a positive direction to protecting their at-risk coral reefs. That said, this ban is not universal, nor does it address the ongoing problem right now. That is why taking action at the individual level is so important to protect our marine and aquatic ecosystems. You can help do so in a few simple ways:

Check the ingredient list. Purchase sunscreens without oxybenzone bensophenone-2 or other toxic active ingredients we discussed.
Invest in UV clothing. There are countless clothing brands out there that now offer UV-protective apparel. There are some strictly for swimwear (including swimsuits, hats, rash guards, etc.) as well as clothing for casual wear and fieldwork – the latter was REALLY popular in my last co-op job, where we would spend entire days out in the blazing sun. Protect your skin without having to apply harmful chemicals.
Embrace the Shade. Avoid sitting in direct sunlight for extended periods of time is a quick and easy way to reduce how much sunscreen you need. Additionally, it’s not good to sit in the sun for prolonged periods: you increase your risk of skin damage (yes, tanning and sunburns are skin damage) and cancer.

final thoughts

We need sunshine, there’s no doubt about that. We also need to protect our skin without compromising the environment. If anyone asks you “is sunscreen sustainable?” you are now ready to whip out all this good information, and share with them what you can do to make a change.

Other resources about sunscreen:

Haereticus Environmental Lab publishes an annual list of environmentally-safe sunscreens that are Land + Sea (PL+S) Certified. To be Certified, sunscreens cannot contain microplastics, toxic active chemicals mentioned above (include oxybenzone) and others. When shopping for sunscreen, looking for their PL+S logo to know it’s safe.
The Environmental Working Group provides an annual guide on the safety and effectiveness of sunscreens, including how SPF rating can correlates to environmental impact.

If you liked this post, make sure to check out these ones as well:

What are your thoughts, is sunscreen sustainable? Do you have any unique ways of protecting your skin and reducing your impact from sunscreen? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time.

The post Is sunscreen sustainable? appeared first on Clear the Air.