An Earth-Friendly Edition For People Who Love The Planet
FUN STUFF TO READ, LEARN, & DO
“Your money is power, so be aware of the products you’re buying and the companies you’re supporting to make sure you’re helping the companies that are leading the way in sustainability.”~ Gretchen Bleiler
FUN STUFF TO READ:
Imperfect Environmentalist: How To Reduce Waste and Create Change For A Better Planet
by Sheila Morovati
A practical guide and inspiring story of how one person really can make a difference when it comes to saving the environment. She’s my hero!
FUN STUFF TO LEARN:
Over half of corrugated cardboard is recycled into new cardboard. The rest is downcycled into items like cereal boxes and shoeboxes.
How is cardboard recycled?
1. It’s separated from other types of paper like office paper and newspaper.
2. It’s baled and sent to a mill where it’s shredded into small pieces.
3. It’s mixed with water & chemicals to break down the cardboard into fibers.
4. Tape and labels are removed and paper fibers begin to bond.
5. Fibers are rolled and dried and sent off to make new products.
Reminder: Only dry cardboard is accepted for recycling. Don’t leave it in the rain or snow. Break down your boxes so they’re flat.
FUN STUFF TO DO:
Tea Time!
All types of tea begin with the leaf from a single plant, Camellia sinensis. Americans consume more than 50 billion servings of tea annually – 85% of which is on ice!
LOOSE LEAF VS TEA BAGS
Can you see the difference in the tea leaves?
Top left: tea in a bag. See how ground up the leaves are? Kind of looks like dust. You want to drink that? Opt for tea bags that are completely biodegradable, plastic-free, organic, and made with plant-based materials.
Top right: Say no to nylon! A nylon sachet has better sized tea leaves but the plastic bag sheds microplastics when the hot water comes in contact with it. Yuck!
Bottom pic: whole leaves. Fair-trade certified organic loose leaf tea is the best quality, most eco-friendly option, from the way it’s grown, dried, and packaged.
Don’t forget to consider the outside packaging. Does your tea come in a tin can, a paper bag, or wrapped in plastic?
My favorite loose leaf tea brand is: Arbor Teas and the packaging is compostable.
Happy sipping!