In essence, the set-up of your home can play a role in your longevity because of the often passive ways in which we make everyday lifestyle decisions, like what to eat and when to move. “For example, Cornell found that up to 90 percent of the food choices we make each day are unconscious,” says Buettner. “So, even if I were to convince you to make good conscious decisions about what you eat, and get you to remember to make those decisions for the next 30 years, that would only cover a fraction of the total number of food decisions you’d be making daily.”

“[Blue Zones residents] live in environments that nudge them unconsciously toward healthier behaviors, like moving more and eating plants.” —Dan Buettner, longevity expert

Instead, to ensure those frequently unconscious lifestyle decisions follow a longevity-promoting course, you can take steps to engineer your surroundings so that a healthy, safe choice is the default. In that realm, design considerations as seemingly mundane as where you place your TV, how your bedroom is organized, and the height of your furniture can all factor into a longevity-boosting home.

And ever since the start of the pandemic, that couldn’t be more important to prioritize. “We spend about 90 percent of our time indoors these days,” says Ryan Frederick, CEO of SmartLiving360, a real-estate development firm that specializes in housing for healthy aging, and author of Right Place, Right Time: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Home for the Second Half of Life. In Frederick’s research on home design for mature populations, he’s found that incorporating elements of mood-boosting biophilic (aka nature-inspired) design and taking care to address accessibility can also help make any home a longevity-enhancing machine.

Below, the experts share their best home design tips for longevity, based on how the longest-living and healthiest seniors outfit their spaces.

9 home design tips for longevity, according to healthy-living experts

1. Put your TV in a room that’s far from your kitchen

We’re not going to say you can’t ever dive into a bowl of popcorn or even eat a full meal while propped on the couch—but studies have found that people tend to eat past the point of fullness when they’re also watching a show. If you have to walk several steps (or even down the stairs) to get to your kitchen from wherever you typically post up for TV time, you’re not only less likely to snack mindlessly, but also, if you do get up to grab a snack, you’re doing a little bit of walking, too. “It’s that type of regular, built-in physical activity that’s easy to maintain,” says Buettner. “And over time, it can have a more consistent effect than a gym membership, which we’ve found most people use fewer than twice a week.”

2. Keep a shoe rack by the door

According to Buettner, this is a one-two punch for longevity. With a rack by the door, you’ll be more likely to take off your shoes right when you get home, a common habit among people in Okinawa, Japan (one of the Blue Zones regions). “We’ve found that 28 percent of shoes carry fecal bacteria,” says Buettner, “and you don’t want to drag that into your home because you can get sick from it.” And separately, a rack also encourages you to keep comfortable walking or running shoes near the door, which will make you all the more likely to put them to good, active use. We love this one from Open Spaces that doubles as a decorative entryway piece.

3. Eat with family members or roommates as often as you can

Sharing a meal with others is an easy way to become more intentional about eating—which can, in turn, lead you to eat more slowly, allowing adequate time for the fullness signal to reach the brain. Not to mention, socializing is one of the core tenets of the Blue Zones regions. “And one of the best ways to build bonds with family or friends is to sit around the dinner table,” says Buettner. Doing so also creates natural punctuation between the go-go-go of the workday and the personal time of the evening, which can help you maintain work-life boundaries.

4. Grow a vegetable or herb garden

If you have any kind of outdoor space, use it to grow edible things, whether in the ground or in containers on a porch or terrace. “Gardening is something we see in every one of the Blue Zones, with people well into their nineties continuing to tend to plants and vegetables,” says Buettner. This has the triple-whammy effect of encouraging you to spend more time in fresh air, be active (weeding and watering require bending down and standing back up, after all), and eat more freshly grown foods.

And if you don’t have access to outdoor space? Set up an indoor herb garden, like this one from The Farmstand. This way, you’ll at least be more likely to consume fresh herbs, of which Buettner recommends growing rosemary and oregano, in particular. “These are often found in the Blue Zones, and they’re not only high in antioxidants but act as mild diuretics, which could help reduce blood pressure,” he says.

5. Bring elements of the outdoors into your home

To mimic the beauty of nature, Frederick suggests decorating your home with houseplants, which can naturally reduce stress. (For an easy starter option, go with a low-maintenance snake plant.) “If you can’t do that, even having pictures of natural landscapes or incorporating natural earthy and green colors into your home can help foster a positive and creativity-boosting environment,” he says, referencing the biophilic design that’s characteristic of longevity hot spot Singapore. That concept also extends to filling your home with natural light during the day by opening blinds and windows, if the weather’s nice enough to do so.

6. Design spaces with low furniture and rugs

It’s estimated that a quarter of Americans older than 65 fall each year, and it’s one of the leading causes of hospitalization, says Frederick. But no matter your age, incorporating low couches and chairs throughout your home is one simple way to steer clear of a fall that could compromise your longevity.

In Okinawa, they take it one step further and sit on the floor, says Buettner: “That means you have a 100-year-old woman getting up and down from the floor 20 or 30 times a day, which is essentially a squat. They end up having better balance, more flexibility, and great lower-body strength.” You can certainly copy that in your own home by sitting on the floor, though Buettner says low furniture works well for this purpose, too. (A cozy chair-and-a-half can do the trick.)

7. Safeguard bathrooms against slips and trips

Because they’re slippery, bathrooms rank high on the list of spots where people tend to fall at home. To prevent that, Frederick suggests laying slip-resistant mats on the floor (or installing slip-proof tiles, if you’re able to renovate), adding grab bars to the walls in the shower, and even placing a little bench in the shower. And if you’re in the market for a new place, consider choosing one with a shower instead of a tub, if you have the option, so that you don’t need to climb over the ledge to get into it, adds Frederick.

8. Calm-ify your bedroom

Creating a space that’s as conducive to sleep as possible is an easy way to get more, well, sleep—which offers a host of longevity-boosting benefits, like boosting cardiovascular health and improving cognition. In that vein, Frederick suggests installing blackout curtains on any bedroom window that gets a lot of light and setting up a white-noise machine that can fill your space with a calming and sleep-inducing sound, while also helping block out noise from outside. Regularly dusting and vacuuming your bedroom, and making your bed can also help create the kind of tranquil, sanctuary-like space that’ll help you regularly achieve high-quality sleep.

9. Make your home welcoming to guests

In the same way that eating with family members can strengthen longevity-boosting bonds, socializing more with neighbors and friends can foster the kind of relationships that may also extend your lifespan. While you might already have a dining-room or kitchen table, Frederick suggests creating other little nooks for gathering with tables and chairs throughout your space, or perhaps right outside your front door.

“There’s certainly research to suggest that having close friends supports longevity, but we also know that loose ties, like you might have with neighbors or people in your community, can boost your overall health and well-being,” says Frederick. And the more opportunities you have for engaging with those folks in and around your home, design-wise, the more likely you are to do it.

Hanni stepped into the body-care space with a bang in 2021, introducing the Shave Pillow ($24), a solid shaving cream stick, in May of that year. Then, Lola Arnao launched in April 2022 with its Shave Bar Starter Set ($45), which includes a totally plastic-free option that resembles a bar of soap. And that was just the beginning: Over the past few months, we’ve seen big-time expansion in the category. WYOS launched with four stick-skin-care options, including the shaving suds stick Disappearing Act ($16); Good Time released its Moisturising Shave Bar ($14), and Kitsch launched its Solid Shave Butter ($9).

Because these products don’t use an aerosol can, they don’t inundate you with a whole bunch of foam—which is a good thing, IMO. But, they still lather up thanks to gentle surfactants (aka cleansers) derived from coconut oil. Each of the below bars also contains either glycerin, shea butter, or both. These are super moisturizing ingredients that give the products their buttery-smooth textures. The formulas also contain soothing ingredients like oat kernel extract or adaptogenic mushrooms to help offset any irritation that can come along with shaving. They feel as if a lotion bar and a soap bar had a baby and offer a mess-free alternative to traditional shaving cream in a much smaller package. Just wet them, wet your skin, rub them on, and get to shaving.

Solid shaving creams “offer a couple of things to the consumer,” says Wendy Charland, COO and co-founder of WYOS. “They’re travel-friendly not only because they’re solid and they’re small, but they also won’t leak in your bag. They also offer direct application.”

Additionally, they offer a sustainable benefit. “When you’re creating solid products, they use less water in the formulation, and the shipping impact is significantly less because they’re smaller and lighter,” says Charland. Although they’re small, a little goes a long way. For example, a Lola Arnao’s 3oz bar replaces two cans of shaving cream.

If you’re using a solid shaving cream that’s a bar rather than a tube, it’s also plastic-free. “The ideal plastic-free shower wouldn’t be complete without an alternative to traditional shaving cream,” says Jenn Stryker, body and hair-care expert at Good Time. “We developed a formula that can be used anywhere on the body with just the right balance of lather and slip for a smooth shave, without all the packaging you get from a can of shaving cream.”

When it comes down to bar versus stick, I enjoy both for different reasons. The most obvious reason I love bars is that they’re plastic-free. But, I do think the plastic tube that the sticks come in can be beneficial—they allow for mess-free application and they’re easier to travel with. I plan to keep the bars in my shower for everyday use and keep the sticks tucked away for travel. No matter which one you choose, you can’t go wrong.

Hanni, Shave Pillow — $24.00

Shave Pillow is the perfect name for this stick, which has a super luxe gel-to-milk formula and glides on effortlessly to deliver the perfect shave. It pushes up like deodorant and it feels so good on my skin. In addition to helping you get a good shave, it’s got adaptogenic mushrooms to soothe and protect skin and cactus water, which is full of moisturizing electrolytes and protective antioxidants.

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Lola Arnao, Shave Bar Starter Set — $45.00

At first, I thought this set was overkill. I figured the brush looked cute but there was no way it made any difference—and then I tried it. The brush makes this bar lather into a perfect foam that you can’t replicate without it (trust me, I tried.) The set also comes with a wooden tray for storage and a canvas bag for travel. However, if you just want the bar, you can grab it for $19. It’s made with oat oil to soothe and prevent ingrown hairs, French rose clay to give an extra smooth shave, mango butter to moisturize deeply, and apricot kernel oil to soothe.

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WYOS Disappearing Act — $16.00

This was the first solid shaving cream that I tried, and the one that made me convert. It’s a gel formula that’s not as buttery as the other options. Because I have dry skin, I tend to prefer those thicker options, but by no means did I find this stick lacking—it still gave me a great shave without irritation. And if you have oily skin or don’t love buttery body care, this is hands down the best option. It’s made with a couple of forms of glycerin (making it nice and slippery!) and anti-inflammatory ginseng root extract.

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Good Time, Moisturising Shave Bar — $14.00

Good Time makes some of my favorite bar soaps, so I was stoked to try its shaving bar. Out of all the ones I tested, this one provided the best lather. But, it’s still super moisturizing—it’s packed with shea butter, glycerin, aloe leaf juice, and oat kernel extract. It’s got a round, flat shape, allowing it to fit nicely in your hand and coat your skin with ease.

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Kitsch, Solid Shave Butter — $9.00

What I love most about this bar is the price. At $9, it’s the most affordable on this list. The formula is super simple—it has just two gentle surfactants, shea butter, natural fragrance, titanium dioxide, and vitamin E. The surfactants allow it to lather, the shea butter moisturizes, and the vitamin E soothes.

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“We use the word beautiful in a different way than anyone else,” says Davide Bollati, owner and chairman of the Davines group, the iconic Italian beauty brand behind Davines hair care and Comfort Zone skin care. He points out that the Italian language uses the word “bella” to describe a day, event, feeling, or personality. I noticed this myself, simply by observing the conversations as I tried (feebly) to pick up some more Italian myself during my visit to the Davines campus in Parma.

Bollati emphasizes that the primary approach to beauty—both in the Italian language and culture—is not about aesthetics. Beauty, according to Bollati, is about slowing down, enjoying the journey, and living a happy and meaningful life. “But what’s the point,” he posits, “in the spa treatments, self care, and aesthetic benefits if outside, the world is collapsing?”

This is why you won’t find Bollati evangelizing the shampoos, serums, and hair color products his businesses create. It’s almost as if he doesn’t care if the mass market knows about their exceptional skincare, or spectacular hair care—he’d much rather talk about the environment. His focus is on the planet… creating a bella terra.

Placing sustainability and transparency at the forefront

As brands, Davines and Comfort Zone have taken Bollati’s vision into every facet of their business. Sustainability, biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, and social initiatives are on the forefront for all their decisions. It’s not often you can wash your hair or apply moisturizer, and know that your purchase did something powerful for the planet… but that’s exactly what’s happening with this company and its products

As a certified B Corp since 2016, the Davines team has spent decades fine-tuning the brand’s manufacturing, supply chain, labor practices, and then some. To earn this certification, Davines “voluntarily met the highest standards for social and environmental performance,” … and this is not an accreditation that is easy to earn (nor maintain; you have to improve every year to keep your status). Only 61 beauty brands are currently B Corp certified. Weleda, Osea, Sunday Riley, and Typology are a few of the small handful you’ll recognize on the organization’s site.

Through its partnership with the Rodale Institute, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit funding regenerative organic agriculture research, Davines is helping to drive regenerative agriculture, extending it past “food and fiber,” and into the world of beauty and personal care. Rodale’s original mission is “Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People.” Davines essentially said, “Yes, and healthy soil = healthy skin and hair = healthy people.”

“What’s the point in the spa treatments, self care, and aesthetic benefits if outside, the world is collapsing?”—Davide Bollati, Davines CEO

Much of this happens through education, by empowering Mediterranean farmers, and leading by example on the expansive on-campus farm at the brand’s HQ (covering 24 acres, or about 18 football fields). Said campus also comprises a carbon-neutral village, scientific garden, and restaurant as well as the Davines lab, manufacturing and packaging centers, and corporate offices. Together, Davines and Rodale Institute want to help increase the number of organic farms in the Mediterranean region, while “incorporating regenerative organic sourcing into personal care products,” (thus, impacting the consumer goods supply chain, and making things better for the rest of the industry), and researching “soil health, yields, economic models, and more.”

The brand’s home base is also important to note. Davines is nestled in one of the major food centers of Europe: Parma (think: parmigiano reggiano, prosciutto di parma). Innovating agriculture in this particular region could have a massive impact not just on the beauty industry, but the condition of the planet, and our global food supply. Italy already has double the amount (percentage-wise) of organic farming compared to France and Germany, and is setting a precedent for how we can take better care of the planet and our bodies.

Walking the grounds of the European Regenerative Organic Center (EROC) with research director and agricultural expert Dario Fornara, PhD, I got to see the parallels between planetary health and skin health. Healthy soil, as Fornara explains it, is better able to retain moisture; you can typically glean that the earth is in a state of poor health if it cannot hold onto water. The same goes for skin; when our skin is compromised (particularly the barrier health), it too is unable to retain adequate moisture levels. I knew none of this when I bought a Comfort Zone moisturizer after a spa facial.

The ‘festina lente’ approach to beauty

“We don’t take shortcuts,” says Bollati, who points out that the desire for immediacy and instant gratification is a (perceived) American hallmark. “This is better for the long term… for health, for the planet.” He shared a Latin phrase with me to illustrate this: “festìna lente.” Bollati says this means “to make haste slowly,” and is exemplary of Davines’ approach.

The brand’s products are meant to be enjoyed slowly, to calm the body and mind—delivering a hefty dose of self care along with efficacious skin and hair-care ingredients. The development of these products is done mindfully, slowly, and deliberately, to ensure that everything from the packaging and shipping to the cultivation of aromatic herbal ingredients is not simply sustaining, but regenerating.

It can be a challenge to translate these initiatives to an aesthetically-driven market, particularly beauty consumers who are looking for results-driven products. With its inherently understated European nature, the products don’t necessarily shout their environmentalism from the rooftops. The consumer experience is still luxurious—colors, packaging, sensation, scent, and (yes) results all leave you feeling glamorous and gorgeous, but perhaps none the wiser about what’s going on behind the scenes.

However, the more recent emphasis on ‘green’ and ‘clean’ brands, and the collective awakening of the consumer consciousness (in the US, at least), is showing promise. This is also where greenwashing could potentially come into play… and can make it even more challenging to be a conscious consumer. But this is where Davines and Comfort Zone authentically shine the most.

Expanding the impact

For its part, Davines is walking the walk to bring consumers up to speed. 2023 marks the second year of the We Sustain Beauty and Grow Beautiful campaigns, in the brand aims to engage its salon and spa clients, as well as its direct consumers (hello, fellow online shoppers). An earthy performance by iconic French dancer Fanny Sage, a rain-fed cotton tote, and an annual €50,000 donation to the Rodale Institute are all “seeds” the brand is planting in the public consciousness (get it?!) to inspire and incite some planetary awareness.

“We want to be at the forefront of maximum performance, maximum results, maximum functionality for the product… delivering on the promise that we make [to consumers],” says Bollati. “And, at the same time, at the forefront of sustainability and regeneration. Minimizing, neutralizing, and offsetting our footprint.” Davines isn’t gatekeeping its practices—in fact, it’s encouraging other brands to follow suit.

Through its participation in B Beauty, Davines joined a league of other B-Corp beauty brands to create collective, impactful environmental change. “Beauty that prioritizes soil as much as skin.” As such, Bollati and his team have created a “regenerative index” designed to be “utilized by other industries,” outside of beauty and personal care. “We look at the function of products, but also ensure [each product is] regenerative through its life cycle, including the ingredients and our packaging,” he says.  The packaging is not just recyclable (with many products being refillable!), but also plastic-neutral and carbon-neutral. The shipping is carbon neutral. The business is carbon neutral, edging toward carbon negative. The products are increasing the percentage of natural origin and organic ingredients, with some products comprising 99%. Even some of their hair color has “88% to 93% natural origin ingredients and 95% to 99% biodegradable ones.”

All to say, what makes Davines so “beautiful” has nothing to do with the cosmetic benefits its products offer—it’s all about its dedication to sustainability and transparency. Bella, indeed.

As a clinical psychologist turned climate activist, it’s a primary focus of my career to consider such tricky emotions and help folks charge forward. (It’s also the very topic of my book Facing the Climate Emergency: How to Transform Yourself with Climate Truth, a new edition of which is out next month.)

Yes, the climate disaster holds bleak effects if we do nothing. But the truth is that we’re not without options, hope, or a path forward. Below, find my top climate anxiety tips for processing and channeling your emotions into effective action and mindful optimism.

6 climate anxiety tips to feel better and make a difference

1. Treat yourself with self-compassion

It’s a common tendency to be harshly self-critical, and that inclination extends to climate emotions. Think: “What am I, pathetic?” or “I have no right to feel this way when others are so much worse off?”

One of my top climate anxiety tips is to cut negative self-talk that only complicates things further. This kind of self-criticism shuts down emotional processing and exploration. It will not serve you.

Welcome your self-critical feelings as a means of building “emotional muscle.” Approach your pain with an attitude of curiosity and self-compassion.

Instead, welcome your self-critical feelings as a means of building “emotional muscle.” Approach your pain with an attitude of curiosity and self-compassion. An effective litmus test to gauge whether you are doing this is to ask yourself whether you would treat a beloved friend the way you are yourself.

You likely wouldn’t tell them to ignore their pain or call them a bad person. You would listen to their feelings with interest and respond to them with compassion and empathy. Don’t treat yourself worse than you would treat a loved one.

2. Welcome fear, grief, and other difficult feelings about climate anxiety

You are right to be upset! Your feelings are valid—all of them. Feeling fear is a healthy response to the climate emergency. It helps us protect ourselves, mediates between perceiving danger and taking defensive action, and launches us into action.

We can only fully process our pain, honor our loss, and enable ourselves to engage in reality by grieving what we’re losing.

Grief is also healthy in this time of mass deaths and extinctions. People grieve because they love humanity and the living world. We must decide that losses deserve to be remembered, felt, and mourned. We can only fully process our pain, honor our loss, and enable ourselves to engage in reality by grieving what we’re losing.

3. Get comfortable with crying

This can be challenging, especially for those who believe crying is a sign of weakness or that it signals an inability to cope. In actuality, crying is a specific act of emotional recognition and response that provides an outlet for all the grief and pain inside you. Its benefits include linking the emotional and physiological—and can even help you feel better, in some cases.

4. Rethink your life story: Maybe you have a mission?

The climate emergency will drastically affect your life and your future. Have you taken that in, and really thought it through? And even more deeply, have you considered why you are alive at this time of tremendous import? What if everything in your life, including its most painful challenges, has prepared you to help humanity protect itself from the climate emergency?

Many people who become activists have gone through this kind of identity rethinking in the context of the climate emergency. By viewing yourself as a potential activist or change-maker, you empower yourself and also place a great responsibility on your shoulders.

5. Share your feelings with others

The most common emotional experience with regard to the climate emergency I hear from people is alienation. “No one understands how bad it is” or “I can’t talk to anyone about it.”

Dealing with the truth is hard enough. No one should have to do it alone. It’s too hard, and totally unnecessary, as everyone in the world is dealing with the same issues.Some are doing so unconsciously, others are using defenses such as denial to protect themselves from painful reality. But remember that many of your friends and family are also worried, and they will be relieved and appreciative when you bring up your feelings, especially if you can listen and offer them support as well. Be personal, emotional, authentic, and empathetic.

A great way to get started is to join a Climate Emotions Conversation, and have a chance to share your feelings and hear the feelings of people, often from all over the world, who understand.

6. Join the climate emergency movement and disrupt normalcy

If you have tapped into your feelings, welcomed them, talked with others about them, and rethought your life story, you may wonder, What’s next? Am I just supposed to carry around almost unbearable pain? Or is there something to be done?

I recommend that you join or support a campaign that is disrupting normalcy, likely one using nonviolent civil disobedience. “Normal” channels for change have failed. Our institutions are not keeping pace with the accelerating emergency. It’s time to get outside of your comfort zone.

According to a 2021 Yale study, 8.6 million adults are “definitely” willing to personally participate in nonviolent civil disobedience for climate. Are you one of these willing Americans? If so, it’s time to activate.

Figuring out how to join the movement in a way that works well for you can be complicated. Only you can decide where you can be most effective. But know that any and every role is better than none.

No social issue affecting the world right now exists in a vacuum, though. And some experts want to shine a light on the intersectionality of the sustainability movement. Two of them are this week’s Well+Good podcast guests: Leah Thomas, founder of the nonprofit Intersectional Environmentalist and the author of The Intersectional Environmentalist, and Whitney McGuire, a fashion industry lawyer, sustainability consultant, and co-founder of Sustainable Brooklyn.

Thomas explains to Well+Good’s director of podcasts Taylor Camille that the term intersectionality was coined by lawyer Kimberly Crenshaw in 1989 to describe the ways that the court system was treating Black women and how they were not equally protected as a result of their overlapping marginalizations in both their race and gender. The concept of intersectionality points out the need to take in the whole picture and consider numerous circumstances at once.

“It’s so important to consider those nuances. And then when applying it specifically to climate justice or environmentalism and sustainability, for example, I get so annoyed when I’m on Instagram, and I see sustainable fashion bloggers that are like, you’re a horrible person if you’re not buying this $300 t-shirt—and it’s just not accessible to the everyday person,” says Thomas, who is also known as Greengirlleah on Instagram. Her work centers on the overlap between environmentalism and racism, focuses on how the push to save the planet needs to include everyone. 

But it’s not just individuals who need to get mobilized. Corporations also have a responsibility to think about intersectional sustainability as well, and McGuire points out that they shouldn’t avoid making eco-friendly products and business decisions out of fears of being accused of greenwashing.

“As we address these really huge issues, especially when it comes to our planet, we cannot be afraid of f’ing up, right? Right. And so I would say that you know, corporations really need to have more courage, and more of an understanding of their responsibility across sectors, across industries,” says McGuire, who opened a law firm to support the sustainability of marginalized artists in 2013 and is currently the Guggenheim’s inaugural director of sustainability. “Engage and utilize collaboration and partnerships. Get rid of this idea of competition only for, you know, achieving the profit, the bottom line. And use competition to inspire creativity, and focus on how we can all really collaborate and work together.”

Because once again, the solutions lie in taking in the whole picture. To hear more about how an intersectional approach could change the sustainability movement, check out the Well+Good podcast, below.

“The most difficult thing about this whole issue is that there is no legal obligation for brands to share their ingredients list,” Frances Shoemack, founder and CEO of perfume brand Abel, tells us.“Even when you know the ingredients to avoid, there is typically no way for you to know if [they’re] in your fragrance or not.”

The best non-toxic perfumes, at a glance:

• Best overall: Abbott NYC, Exploration Set, $30
• Best spicy scent: Eauso Vert, Sintra, $185
• Best sweet scent: Dedcool, Taunt, $90
• Best woody/earthy scent: Sana Jardin Paris, Sandalwood Temple, $145
• Best citrus scent: Abel, Golden Neroli, $180
• Best fresh scent: Váhy, Neon Neroli, $175
• Best floral scent: Kai Fragrance, Rose, $80
• Best clean scent: Esas Beauty, Jasmine Beach, $40
• Best vanilla scent: By/Rosie Jane, Dulce, $70
• Best amber scent: Ellis Brooklyn, Super Amber, $108

A staggering 3,224 ingredients for fragrance coverage and 395 functional ingredients used to support a fragrance compound’s durability are listed on the 2022 edition of the IFRA Transparency List, which gives an inside look into the ingredients used by fragrance companies all over the world. These ingredients can be combined in multitudes of ways and feature hundreds of different chemicals.

The exception to this rule is the overarching umbrella of non-toxic fragrances—which are not only transparent almost to a fault about their ingredient lists, but adamant about only using ingredients that aren’t harmful. How to find them, exactly? Turns out, most non-toxic fragrance brands are super forthcoming about their ingredient list—which is a major beauty green flag (more of this, please!).

“Look for brands that disclose ingredients up front and known allergens that you feel may impact your relationship with the product,” say Tanya Gonzalez and Faye Harris, co-founders of fragrance brand Eauso Vert. “The key is seeking access to full ingredient lists and finding brands that can confirm their ‘made without’ list.”

Which ingredients should you avoid when choosing a fragrance?

So, what, exactly, are these harmful ingredients, and what makes them this way? “When it comes to fragrances, it’s really important to avoid phthalates, parabens, sulfates, phosphates, and microbeads,” says Gaye Straza, the CEO and founder of Kai Fragrance. “Those ingredients are often used to enhance the scent and make it last longer, but they have been linked to health concerns.”

According to a report by Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, which examined these chemicals and ingredients, some of the main health concerns can include carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals), uterine fibroids, hormone and endocrine disruption, environmental damage, allergens, breathing issues, and migraines. “I always suggest looking out for non-toxic callouts on packaging,” says Carina Chaz, CEO and founder of Dedcool.

While there are myriad ingredients that could (and do) make the list, some of the most typical offenders are:

Phthalates

Man-made chemical compounds that are used in plastics, solvents, and personal care products. According to the National Institutes of Health, they can cause hormone and endocrine disruption, reproductive defects, and lower sperm count.

Parabens

Artificial preservatives used to prolong the shelf life of cosmetics and fragrances. They can cause skin irritation (however, newer research shows the connection between parabens and cancer and hormone disruption is pretty weak).

Sulfates

These compounds, typically used to create lather in products, can cause skin irritation.

Butylphenyl methylpropional

A synthetic fragrance ingredient with a potent floral scent, also known as lilial or lily aldehyde. It can cause skin sensitivity.

Methylene chloride (dichloromethane)

This acts as a solvent in fragrances. Not only is it carcinogenic, but it can cause headaches, damage to the central nervous system, fatigue, and skin irritation.

Formaldehyde

Used as a preservative, and is carcinogenic.

Acrylates

They act as plasticizers, and have been linked to a host of issues including cancer, neurological damage, and skin irritation.

Toluene

This colorless liquid is used to add sweetness to fragrances. According to the CDC, it can cause fatigue, eye and nose irritation, dizziness, headaches, and damage to the nerves, liver, and kidneys.

The biggest takeaway is this: We need to do our best to truly understand what is actually making up our products in general, and in our fragrances specifically. Because, really, the goal should be to use a product whose ingredient list contains more than the nebulous term “fragrance”—which, coincidentally, is exactly what non-toxic fragrance companies do. “I felt strongly about creating formulations which were free from nasties and as naturally leaning as possible,” says Amy Christiansen, founder of Sana Jardin Paris.

Depending on your scent preference, there are a host of non-toxic perfumes to choose from. Below, discover a few of our favorites.

The best non-toxic perfumes

Best spicy scent:

Eauso Vert, Sintra — $185.00

Alluring, sensuous and just the right amount of spicy meets floral, Sintra is crisp and arresting without feeling overpowering. It features top notes of bergamot oil, Italian lemon, and aquaflora; middle notes of lavandin, French mimosa, and ylang-ylang; while base notes of orris, vetiver, sandalwood, and sensual musk round it out beautifully.

Fragrance ins and outs:

• The lavandin enfleurage is hand-picked at the flower head from the Provence region in France
• The scent is on the stronger side, so a little goes a long way—which means the 1.7 fl. oz. bottle will last for quite some time
• This fragrance, as with all Eauso Vert fragrances, is vegan, Credo Compliant and cruelty-free
• The cap is made of a light natural wood that’s 100 percent organic and compostable, and they offer a pre-paid return label to ship your bottle back so it’s properly disassembled and recycled

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Best sweet scent:

Dedcool, Taunt — $90.00

If you’re looking for a clean, easy to spray on and go type of fragrance, Taunt is it. The warmth of the vanilla and amber bottom notes melds effortlessly with the top notes of bergamot and fresh dew, and middle notes of floral and cassis. It smells almost like fresh, sun-warmed skin on the most relaxing of summer days, but better. One Sephora reviewer writes, “You’ll regret not finding this scent sooner! It’s not too overpowering to be worn every day. A little goes a long way and lasts for hours.”

Fragrance ins and outs:

• The glass bottle features a unique barcode design
• All Dedcool fragrances are genderless, vegan, and part of the Clean at Sephora curation of brands
• Multiple Sephora reviewers caution that the scent can fade quickly, so, depending on how strong you like your fragrance, liberal spraying may be encouraged

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Best woody/earthy scent:

Sana Jardin Paris, Sandalwood Temple — $145.00

If you’re looking for a rich, heady fragrance straight out of the bottle, Sandalwood Temple is the way to go. This woody bouquet is “sensual, earthy, and utterly addictive,” says Christiansen. One of Sana Jardin Paris’s best-selling scents, it’s made up of a fairly small assortment of notes, so a little packs a big punch. Top notes of bergamot, neroli oil Morocco, and orange flower water combine with a middle note of cedarwood, and base notes of sandalwood, vanilla, and guaiacwood, creating an earthy fragrance that’s reminiscent of a summer bonfire with friends. “You’ll always smell expensive,” says one reviewer on Credo Beauty’s website. “It’s intoxicating and the only perfume I buy. No matter where I go, someone always comments. It’s perfect.”

Fragrance ins and outs:

• Every Sana Jardin Paris fragrance is vegan and sustainable
• This scent is available in three different sizes, from rollerball to 50ml and 1.7 oz. to 3.4 oz
• It can be overpowering, so use sparingly

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Best citrus scent:

Abel, Golden Neroli — $85.00

One spritz of this fruity, tangy scent upon your skin, and you’ll instantly feel as if you’re traversing the orange groves of California. Top notes of neroli and matcha tea combine with middle notes of petit grain, ylang-ylang, and jasmine sambac, drying down to base notes of East Indian sandalwood and vanilla. The result is a delightfully rich and complex take on a time-honored, citrusy classic, all packaged up in a beautiful glass bottle with a metallic top. “The scent is sweet but not sickly, and has a lot of depth,” writes one Bluemercury reviewer. “Really thankful to have found a natural fragrance that works for me!”

Fragrance ins and outs:

• Each Abel fragrance comes with a different notecard, personalized for each scent with a thoughtful poem or phrase
• The bottle is on the smaller side, so it’s best to use sparingly
• Abel donates 1 percent of all revenue from Golden Neroli purchases to the global nonprofit, Pollinator Partnership

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Best fresh scent:

Váhy, Neon Neroli — $175.00

While Neon Neroli could technically be classified as a citrus scent, we’re denoting it as Fresh for its immediate ability to transport us to a seaside retreat. Top notes of neroli, bergamot, and orange meld beautifully with middle notes of orange flower, ylang-ylang and petitgrain, while the base notes of vetiver, vanilla, and Mediterranean sun bring a subtle warmth and depth. One reviewer calls it “happiness in a bottle,” and we’re absolutely inclined to agree.

Fragrance ins and outs:

• All Váhy fragrances are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly
• This is definitely a strong scent, so use sparingly. Váhy also recommends waiting about 30 seconds after applying to let the scent fully develop

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Best floral scent:

Kai Fragrance, Rose — $80.00

Rich, heady, and alluring, Kai Rose calls to mind the most evocative and romantic of rose gardens. Kai’s original perfume oil of gardenia and white exotics is layered with rose absolute, creating an utterly alluring, statement-making scent. Straza says, “It’s not like your grandmother’s perfume—instead, it’s light, youthful, fresh, and intoxicating.” This is the type of fragrance that makes you wish Valentine’s Day happened year-round. One reviewer on Revolve says, “The most beautiful scent I have ever found. I am not a perfume wearer in general, but this makes me want to put it on every day.”

Fragrance ins and outs:

• The 1.7 oz. glass bottle looks delicate, yet feels substantial and weighty
• The fragrance comes in recyclable packaging
• It can be intense or overpowering, so one spray is enough for all-day wear

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Best clean scent:

Esas Beauty, Jasmine Beach — $40.00

“If you’re into something a little more subtle, Jasmine Beach has a really nice warm, clean, and escapist vibe,” according to Esas Beauty founders Seda Bilginer and Amanda Sichon, whose entire fragrance line is “scientifically formulated with 100 percent natural and organic ingredients and full transparency.” With top notes of mandarin, lavender, and seaweed; middle notes of jasmine, ylang-ylang and coconut; and base notes of orris root, tonka, and sandalwood, Jasmine Beach evokes the feeling of dangling your feet off the dock in the heat of summer. “My new favorite. Smells so clean and unique,” says one reviewer.

Fragrance ins and outs:

• Esas Beauty donates 10 percent of all profits to The Ocean Cleanup
• While the .33 oz. size is on the smaller side, the glass bottle is refillable
• The fragrance comes in a 100 percent recyclable box

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Best overall:

Abbott NYC, Exploration Set — $30.00

Each one of Abbott NYC’s eight different unisex scents is inspired by a different aspect of nature, from the crisp mountain air of Montana (Big Sky) to the rich, woody scents of Sequoia National Park (the aptly named Sequoia). While it may at first be difficult to choose your perfect match, that’s why they created their Exploration Set—miniature sprays of all eight scents (the two aforementioned, plus Mojave, Montecito, Crescent Beach, Telluride, The Cape, and Voyageurs). Founder Jose Alvarez says, “We’ve never felt limited in the types of scents we can produce or in their level of beauty and sophistication.

Crescent Beach is a wonderful floral and amber fragrance, and it’s been our bestseller this year at both Sephora and Credo Beauty. If you’re looking for a good woodsy scent, Sequoia is one of our most popular perfumes.” No matter which one becomes your favorite (or if they all do), they’re delightfully intoxicating.

Fragrance ins and outs:

• All Abbott NYC fragrances are vegan and cruelty-free
• The purchase of an Exploration Set includes a discount code for $23 off one full-size bottle

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Best vanilla scent:

By/Rosie Jane, Dulce — $70.00

Dulce, by By/Rosie Jane, launched just as the vanilla perfume renaissance was taking off in the fall of 2022. But unlike the vanilla spritzes we’d sneak in between lunch and geometry class, Dulce offers a more grown-up, complex take on the classic scent (in fact, we investigated what makes a vanilla fragrance “good” last month). Aside from vanilla bean, notes include wafts of chocolate, hinoki wood (for a bit of earthy-ness), and nude musk that make it feel like a perfume an adult should be wearing versus 14-year-old you. The ingredients contain none of the “baddies” listed above, and the formulation is cruelty-free, vegan, climate neutral, and the packaging is totally recyclable.

Fragrance ins and outs:

• By/Rosie Jane takes its sustainability practices pretty seriously, and lists out all the ingredients it doesn’t “f*ck” with on its website
• Comes in a 50ml or travel-size 1.7oz bottle
• A little definitely goes a long way

 

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Best amber scent:

Ellis Brooklyn, Super Amber — $108.00

It seems like every fragrance Ellis Brooklyn releases is better than the last, but we keep going back to Super Amber, which launched August 2021, right before fall festivities started. Described as an “addictive scent that envelops like a cashmere blanket on warm bare skin,” Super Amber is definitely a more autumnal blend that combines sweetness with musk and a splash of woodsiness. What makes Super Amber especially unique is that it’s actually not formulated with top, middle, and base notes, and instead the blend of fragrances interacts to the individual’s skin chemistry—so everyone smells a little different wearing it.

Fragrance ins and outs:

• Ellis Brooklyn, which lists out their ingredient ethos here, received the EcoScent Compass AAA rating, meaning all green, social impact, and environmental impact boxes have been checked
• It’s PETA-certified vegan, and cruelty-free
• The bottle is totally recyclable (it’s from glass)
• It’s pretty strong, so start with a couple spritzes and see if you need to add more

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“There is an industry-wide issue with plastic waste. Single-use sheet masks and under-eye patches, for example, do contribute to this as many are made with plastic polymers. These polymers eventually turn into microplastics, which can take thousands of years to decompose and in the meantime, end up in our waterways and oceans,” says Laura Burget, co-founder of Three Ships Beauty. “The more we can pursue biodegradable or compostable options, the more our consumers don’t have to choose between their self-care and caring for the planet.”

With that in mind, I’ve scoured the internet to find compostable beauty products that I can use to decrease my waste. Composting is already a big part of my routine, so adding beauty products into the mix is an easy incorporation. I have a Simple Human Compost Caddy ($50) that attaches to the side of my garbage can (I have this fancy one but I think it should work with most square/rectangular metal cans). There, I collect food scraps while I’m cooking, and now, I’ll also throw in a compostable sheet mask after use. Once it’s full, I can turn it into compost in my Lomi ($499), which turns food waste into plant food. Or, I can drop it off at a compost bin in my neighborhood through New York City’s Smart Compost program. These items can also be broken down through traditional worm-and-dirt compost.

Simplehuman Compost Caddy — $50.00

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Lomi — $499.00

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If you don’t have access to composting, getting compostable beauty products isn’t that meaningful, explains Mia Davis, vice president of sustainability and impact at Credo Beauty.

“In many ways, ‘compostable’ would seem to be the gold standard for beauty products,” says Davis. “If materials can break down into CO2 and soil, amazing. However, there are not many truly compostable product offerings, and too few Americans have access to home or industrial compost. Furthermore, most industrial composters do not want compostable packaging (eapodsltl plastics), because it does not add any value to the end product and it takes much more energy to break down (compared to food or yard waste).”

So compostable beauty products are a step in the right direction, but still place a lot of onus on the consumer. “Considering that recycling guidelines are different from town-to-town, and that compostable material is pretty new to our industry, it’s essential for brands to not overstate their ‘eco-friendliness,’ which becomes greenwashing,” says Davis.

That being said, if you do already compost or have a legit plan to compost, swapping the single-use beauty items you love for compostable options is great. As an optimistic girly with a compost machine, I’m v down to dive head-first into compostable beauty. I tried and tested most of the below products (nine out of 14) in my Lomi along with food scraps and can confirm that they were no longer with us by the end of each cycle. Read about the products I found below and my honest thoughts.

My thoughts on these 15 compostable beauty products

Sponges

EcoTools, Bioblender Biodegradable Makeup Sponge Duo — $11.00

I’ve always hated throwing away makeup sponges, so once I switched these composable options a year ago I never looked back. They’re made with only 5 ingredients—water, corn, bionanopol (the secret ingredient that makes it biodegradable and compostable), a natural preservative, and natural pigment. Plus, the packaging has FSC-certified, biodegradable paper packaging printed with soy ink. I wash them after each use and they hold up like any other makeup sponge. Once I’m ready to use a new one, I toss this into the compost.

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Everist, Compostable Konjac Body Sponge Charcoal — $12.00

I haven’t tried this yet because I typically use just my hands or a cotton washcloth to wash off in the shower (which are defs the most eco- and wallet-friendly options). But if you’re looking to replace single-used cloths or makeup wipes, this is a great option. It’s made of 100 percent natural konjac plant fiber and is infused with bamboo charcoal. Konjac is naturally alkaline, helping balance skin’s pH and it’s fully biodegradable in a home compost.

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Lashes

Nood, Classic No. 21 — $24.00

These falsies made from Korean bioPBS, a 100 percent biodegradable plastic alternative derived from sugarcane with a cotton band. They’re available in 10 different lash styles and are compostable. Because you have to toss falsies after use (if you clean them down with rubbing alcohol after wearing them you can reuse them basically until they fall apart) I love the idea of a biodegradable option.

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Under-eye patches and sheet masks

Three Ships, Brighter Days — $29.00

These biodegradable hydrogel eye masks have a forever home in my fridge and I love throwing them on to get a cooling, brightening, depuffing, and hydrating effect. They’re made with red algae extract and upcycled avocado extract.

“What inspired Brighter Days specifically was actually the seaweed I came across on a beach walk when visiting my partner’s family in Prince Edward Island, Canada,” says Burget. “It had a beautiful texture and stuck flat to my skin without feeling heavy or slimy. At that moment, I had an epiphany and knew that this seaweed was our way to create a biodegradable mask. I took the seaweed home with me to Toronto, rehydrated it in my kitchen, cut out an eye mask shape, and applied it to my face. It worked! From there the idea for Brighter Days was born.”

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Masque Bar, Naturals — $5.00

Out of all the compostable face masks on this list, this one is my favorite because both the mask and the packaging are compostable! It’s like they never existed!!!! It’s packed with glycerin, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to soothe and hydrate skin. I love the way they feel and can confirm that both halves disappeared in my Lomi.

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ESW Beauty, Eco Glow Skincare Pack Compostable Spring Set — $23.00

I also tried out this set from ESW Beauty, which includes three compostable sheet masks. It includes the Green Reset Anti-Aging Raw Juice Mask, the Pineapple Bliss Revitalizing Raw Juice Mask, and the Avocado Banana Milk Hydrating Plant-Based Milk Mask. So far, I tested out the pineapple mask, got a great glow, and said “bye” to it in my Lomi. This set also comes with a reusable makeup remover pad, which is great if you want one and know you’ll use it, but if not it’s just more waste. Gift it to a friend (who wants it!) or opt to buy the masks outside of the set to forgo the pad.

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Invity. SuperNAD Youth Activating Facial Sheet Mask — $55.00

These masks use nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), an ingredient that activates up to 80 percent of your cellular energy, meaning it gives them a little boost to work more efficiently, addressing and preventing premature signs of aging. Plus, it has plant actives to replenish, hydrate, calm, and illuminate your skin. I love using these to kickstart my evening skin routine and once I’m done I put them to bed in my compost bin.

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Sephora Collection Compostable Face Masks — $6.00

If you’re like me, you’ve never made a purchase at Sephora and didn’t also walk out with a few sheet masks. Now, you can grab masks from the brand’s compostable collection. You have six options depending on what your skin is craving: Nourishing& Soothing, Mattifying & Pore Targeting, Purifying & Clarifying, Skin Perfecting & Radiance, Quenching & Plumping Effect, and Moisturizing & Glowing.

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Wipes and swabs

The Skinsheet — $24.00

I’ve been using these since over the summer and I’m in love. They’re made of tightly woven cotton cellulose that is totally compostable and strong. Use them to press in your products for deeper penetration and for thorough makeup removal. Skinsheet founder Mary Frances Knight made these because she didn’t vibe with reusable options but wanted something sturdier than a tissue or cotton round.

“It’s really hard to get [reusable rounds] clean and they’re not necessarily more sustainable,” she says.  Comparing them to reusable tote bags, “it would take like 20,000 uses [for a tote] to make up for its footprint. I just didn’t enjoy using [reusable rounds] and I felt like they were even more limited in function than cotton rounds.”

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Neutrogena Cleansing Fragrance Free Makeup Remover Face Wipes 2 Pack — $10.00

I prefer to wash my face with just my hands and a cleansing balm, but when I’m too tired to wash my face before bed, I’ll reach for a wipe. Neutrogena remade its iconic facial wipes with 100 percent plant-based fibers which biodegrade in 35 days in a traditional home compost. They’re soaked in a  micellar-infused triple emollient formula to remove makeup and cleanse skin. I’ll sometimes use these from bed, slap on a moisturizer and go to bed and then toss it in my compost bin in the morning.

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Twipes — $9.00

If you’re a wet-wipe lover, Twipes are for you. You can use them all over, but they shine when used… where the sun don’t. They’re the first truly flushable wet wipe. Dissolving in three hours, you can flush Twipes without worrying about it effing up your pipes. You can also compost them (but depending on where you use them, flushing might be preferred). They’re totally plastic-free and enriched with aloe vera. Plus, they’re subscription-based so you never run out. Pay $9 for one pack delivered monthly, $10 for two delivered monthly, and $13 for four delivered monthly.

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Grove Co. Cotton Swabs with Organic Cotton — $5.00

As long as your cotton swab is made from 100 percent cotton and doesn’t have a plastic wand, it’s compostable. I opt for these from Grove Co. because I already order my cleaning supplies from them and appreciate the way they’re made. They’re made with cotton grown in the U.S. and farmed using organic methods that replenish soil, protect air and water purity, and preserve resources.

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Yes To Face Wipes Brightening Facial Cleansing Wipes — $23.00

If you love a good face wipe night and want one that does more than cleanse, grab these from Yes To. They’re formulated with antioxidant-rich grapefruit and vitamin C to help even skin tone. They have a slight texture to help remove makeup and are made from compostable, FSC-certified fabric. And I can confirm, they disappeared in my Lomi.

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maude Wipe — $12.00

These wipes are basically hypoallergenic towels that travel easily. Soak them in water and they turn into full-size wipes so you can clean up post-workout or after sex with ease. But remember what Davis said about actually composting what you use for it to make sense? They’re a wonderful tool to have in your to-go kit, but unless you’re gonna carry around your used wipe until you can drop it into a compost receptacle, you’re not getting the sustainable benefit.

 

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Floss

Radius Anywhere Floss Sachets — $5.00

Danielle Jezienicki, Grove Co.’s president of sustainability loves using this “Compostable floss made of natural silk and plant wax to keep my mouth feeling clean for when I’m traveling or on the go,” she says. But again, these are most likely to be impactful when used at home where you can compost them, or you’d need to carry around used floss.

 

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Get Your Petroleum Off My Body

Fashion's impact on the environment—and our well-being—has as much to do with the fossil fuels used in the making of synthetic fabrics as it does factory emissions.

When you look at a piece of fashion—a swishy long dress, a pair of yoga leggings, a bright turquoise T-shirt—what do you see? I see petroleum. 

That’s right: When oil is pulled out of the Earth, it’s not just going to power cars and heat homes. It’s also going into the making of and materials used in clothing, shoes, and accessories. The $2.5 trillion global fashion industry is estimated to be responsible for somewhere between 2 percent and 5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main driver of global warming. That’s more than the emissions from the aviation sector or deforestation. 

A quarter of fashion’s emissions come from the cultivation and extraction of raw materials, from cotton and silk to viscose and acrylic. But out of all fabrics, in 2019, the production of polyester—a petroleum-based fabric known for its durability, breathability, and stain-resistance—produced the most emissions, at 98 million metric tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gasses), which is three times more than cotton.

Manufacturing high-performance polyester (and other synthetic textiles made from fossil fuels) involves extracting and refining crude oil, using a high-temperature chemical reaction to turn that oil into petrochemicals and then plastic polymers, turning that plastic into fabric, and then dyeing and finishing the textile with additional petrochemicals, again at high temperatures. Every step requires petroleum and produces waste and emissions that, if not properly handled, can pollute the local environment and contribute to global warming. 

And it’s not just a polyester problem. The versatile fabric is just the biggest offender; it’s so cheap to make that production has skyrocketed to nine times what it was 50 years ago. In fact, according to the World Resources Institute, half of all fiber used in fashion today is polyester, while another 5 percent is nylon—which brings with it similar environmental detriments. 

Case in point: One nylon manufacturer in Florida produced more emissions in 2019 than a million cars, mainly due to the “super-pollutant” nitrous oxide—a byproduct of nylon manufacturing—flowing out of its smokestacks.

According to a 2021 report by the Changing Markets Foundation, the synthetic fibers produced by the fashion industry account for 1.35 percent of global oil production. Even as we swap gas-guzzlers for plug-in cars and gas stoves for electric ones, the fashion industry continues to slurp up ever more petroleum and natural gas, turning them into petrochemicals that are then used to create not only polyester and nylon, but also fuzzy acrylic sweaters, stretchy fabric for jeans and underwear, colorful dyes, sparkly sequins, and the finishes that go on top of all of that. If we don’t change course, in fewer than 10 years, research estimates that almost three-quarters of textiles will be synthetics made from fossil fuels.

Petrochemicals used to make fashion finishes and dyes worsen the climate impact of petroleum-based clothing

In addition to the petroleum used to make the synthetic fabrics themselves, more petroleum is often added in the form of finishes and dyes composed of petrochemicals. And there’s a good chance you wouldn’t ever know it.

The United States government doesn’t require fashion brands to list all chemicals present on and in a garment. As I found during my research for my forthcoming book To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick—And How We Can Fight Back, if fashion brands did provide a complete list, it often wouldn’t fit on the label. For example, when the University of Washington tested Alaska Airlines attendant uniforms in 2012, the lab found a whopping 42 different chemicals—many of them later connected to health problems among attendants—in one piece of fabric. 

While we don’t have data on the extent of the fashion industry’s use of petrochemicals for finishes and dyes, specifically, we know that it’s certainly not negligible. According to a report from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, “the residues of finishing agents in garment textiles may account for up to 8 percent of the textile product weight.” And in the 2010s (the last time anyone measured and published these figures), the fashion industry was the second largest consumer of chemicals in China.

Even a clothing item made of natural fibers—like a cotton T-shirt—can have a panoply of petrochemicals applied to it as it’s spun, woven, and sewn: sizing chemicals for strengthening the threads for weaving, lubricants, solvents, and binders. Then, chemicals are used to strip these off, so more chemicals can be applied, such as bases for cleaning the fabric, bleach to make it bright white, and formaldehyde to make it anti-wrinkle. If a T-shirt is going to be dyed, it will also have surfactants applied to prepare it to receive the color, and finally, will be coated with fabric softener to make it feel nice. (That will wash off quickly once it’s in your hands, but if it helps make the sale at the store, it’s worth it for brands to add it.)

All these chemicals require a significant amount of oil and gas to produce, adding to the fashion industry’s contribution to greenhouse gasses and negative planet impact. They also have to be shipped, and it’s hard to do that safely. 

For example, the main chemical in the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment earlier this year was vinyl chloride, used to manufacture PVC, a type of plastic used in vegan "leather" fashion and clear plastic shoes and raincoats. While some chemicals are safely locked inside products by the time they’re in their final form, PVC products can off-gas (aka release into the air) vinyl chloride, especially when they’re new. (New pleather smell, anyone?) As a result, vinyl chloride pollution is now widespread, present in one-third of the federally designated toxic waste sites in the U.S. 

Let’s also talk about dyes. One of chemistry’s first, most profitable inventions—before pharmaceuticals, before photography—was the dye color mauve, invented in 1845 by a chemist who was playing around with the noxious waste that came from burning coal during the Industrial Revolution. In fact, many pharmaceutical and chemical multinationals today—BASF, DuPont, Novartis—got their start as dye manufacturers.

As Alison Matthews-David writes in Fashion Victims: The Dangers of Dress Past and Present, within a few years of fossil fuel dyes being invented, some consumers were reporting nasty reactions to their colorful clothing, like striped rashes showing up on their ankles and feet from coral-colored striped socks. Because not everyone suffered the same effects, the dye and chemical industry deliberately downplayed these reports, according to Simon Garfield’s Mauve: How One Man Invented a Color That Changed the World. 

The industry voluntarily phased out some of the most toxic dyes, but they were never internationally banned, leaving the door open for unscrupulous manufacturers in less regulated countries to cut corners and make a profit.

For the past century, all dyes for fashion (unless otherwise stated) have been made from petroleum or natural gas. For example, synthetic indigo made from volatile petrochemicals started to replace plant indigo at the beginning of the 20th century. 

Petroleum-based azo dyes now make up 70 percent of the 9.9 million tons of industrial dye colorants used globally each year. Once released into the environment—usually by dye houses pouring them untreated into drains and rivers—they are extremely difficult to clean up. They don’t biodegrade, and instead, bioaccumulate in both wildlife and humans, blackening rivers and killing aquatic life in places like Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia.

Petroleum-based fashion has negative ripple effects for our health, too

It’s not just the planet that suffers when the fashion industry uses fossil fuels to manufacture the bulk of our clothing and the finishes and dyes that lay atop it; it’s likely that we do, too. The sad irony is that the more chemicals present on and in a garment, the harder it is to decipher which health effects come from which chemicals, and the easier it is for a brand or manufacturer to evade responsibility. There are hints that something is amiss, though. 

The French Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) ran a 2018 study that connected skin reactions to certain chemicals found in clothing. As a result, it has called for azo benzene disperse dyes—the type used in polyester—to be banned. 

Whatever is in or on the fashion you buy is also in the microfibers that break off from clothing and mix with your home’s dust, which you can then inhale. A 2021 study analyzed dust from 124 households with young children and found azo disperse dyes floating around in every single household. The research team also tested 13 polyester kids shirts from the local mall, and one contained more than 11,000 parts per million azo disperse dye, or 1.1 percent of the total weight of the shirt. For comparison, that’s three hundred times higher than the EU’s limit for certain azo dyes.

Then there is the ongoing saga of airline uniforms. Up to a quarter of airline attendants from four major airlines—Alaska, American, Delta, and Southwest—have fallen ill after receiving new, brightly colored, polyester-blend uniforms coated in performance chemicals that provided stain-, water-, mold-, and wrinkle-resistance. (All but Southwest Airlines have swapped out these uniforms, but none have admitted that they caused harm.) 

When you move and sweat in skin-tight plastic fashion, your sweat can also draw chemical finishes and dyes out of the fibers, at which point they can soak into your skin. These chemicals include not only environmental pollutants, but potential human toxins, too: bisphenols (BPA), PFAS (or "forever" chemicals), and phthalates, all of which are known hormone disruptors. Current research doesn’t quantify how much of these chemicals can cross over from clothing into our bodies nor the effects of that potential transdermal absorption. That said, researchers have largely concluded that there is no absolutely safe dose of endocrine disruptors, the scientific term for the above hormone-disrupting chemicals.

When the Center for Environmental Health in California tested socks from large brands, including Adidas, Hanes, and Timberland, it found high amounts of BPA in over a hundred polyester and spandex pairs. The polyester part is important—CEH did not find BPA in socks that were mostly cotton, but did go on to find BPA in a half dozen polyester sports bras and athletic T-shirts from large brands, too.

“

The Center for Environmental Health found high amounts of BPA in over a hundred pairs of polyester and spandex socks and in several polyester sports bras and athletic shirts from large brands.

Stocksy / Lumina

The PVC used to make vegan-leather fashion, noted above, also often contains phthalates, which are added to make it pliable. Phthalates, which can be breathed in or absorbed into the skin, have been connected to asthma, plus behavioral problems and genital abnormalities in children, and reduced fertility in men. (Experts are also calling for more research on whether phthalate exposure in young women puts them at increased risk for breast cancer.)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has banned some (but not all) phthalates from children’s products, but they’ve still been found in kids’ and adults’ plastic bags and sandals in the past few years, most recently in “glass slipper” heels at Walmart and a Limited Too backpack in March. And very little testing is done on children’s clothing coming into the United States. Unless you live in California, which has the Proposition 65 regulation that requires brands to at least label clothing that contains known toxins, you’re currently on your own when it comes to chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and PFAS in plastic fashion. 

How we can move toward a cleaner closet—and world

If we want to reduce our usage of oil and natural gas, and also protect ourselves and the planet from the negative impacts of these fossil fuels, we need to get petroleum-based products out of our fashion. That will mean switching back to natural materials and reducing our use of synthetic dyes and finishes. 

Fortunately, more and more brands are going the natural-fiber route, from merino wool and silk base layers for outdoor sports, to 95-percent cotton yoga leggings and sports bras, and plant-based swimsuits. Even in the activewear space, where the stretch and durability of synthetic fabrics would seem to make their use a necessity, plenty of brands, like Mate the Label and Groceries Apparel, are launching innovative options made with natural fabrics and dyes. 

Also, avoid clothing that has any performance promises, such as being stain-resistant, water-resistant, antibacterial, or anti-wrinkle—all of which signify the use of the above petrochemicals that pollute the environment and may wreak havoc on our health. Unless you are a professional athlete or fisherman, you don’t need chemical-based waterproofing. Antibacterial finishes often wash out anyway, and any stylist will tell you there’s no replacement for a good clothes steamer. 

If you find the petroleum-free options to be too pricey for your liking, don’t feel bad. The best thing you can do when it comes to reducing the petroleum in your closet is to shop less, and buy secondhand items, with an eye on the label.

Climate Anxiety Disproportionately Impacts Communities of Color—And Cultural Stigmas Around Mental Health Increase Their Burden

But an uptick in mental health resources and a passion-fueled young generation are breathing new hope into the conversation.

When Chicken Little thought the sky was falling down around him, he panicked. Growing up, it was hard to relate to the tiny chick's immense terror. But now, as an adult, it’s a panic I know all too well. Due to climate change—with the deterioration of the ozone layer and increased natural disasters—the sky really is now falling down around us, and an increasing number of people are feeling the weight of the Earth's uncertain future.

Climate anxiety, as defined by Yale professor and clinical psychologist Sarah Lowe, PhD, is distress about climate change and its impacts on the landscape and human existence. Climate anxiety affects all communities, social classes, and races: According to The Commonwealth Fund, at least  68 percent of U.S. adults have reported experiencing anxiety around climate change. Every person’s experience with climate anxiety is incredibly valid. However, the effects of climate change—and climate anxiety with them—disproportionately affect communities of color. Yet, because of the stigma many communities of color have against mental health conditions and treatment, members of these communities aren't set up to get the support they need.

Many people in predominantly white, middle and upper-middle class communities are anxious about climate change because they're worried about the future. Will my children suffer in tomorrow's world? Their approach to curbing this anxiety is to switch to electric cars, promote using reusable containers, and speak with their therapists about how to cope with the looming climate dread. I admit, I also do many of these things. I recycle, use my emotional-support reusable water bottle, and talk with my therapist about my anxieties and worries surrounding climate change. I’m lucky that the effects of climate change don’t impact my day-to-day existence and I can focus on what the future holds. 

This isn't the case for many communities of color. Rather than worry about conditions they'll be faced with in the years to come, these communities deal with the anxiety of climate change in their daily lives. Systemic factors like the lack of political representation, pre-existing health conditions, and poor constructions and building materials are disproportionately prevalent in communities of color. And research shows that these and other factors contribute to a "climate gap," wherein underserved communities of color and low-income communities experience greater levels of harm from climate change impacts. (The cruel irony is that these people often contribute to climate change the least.)

One natural disaster can devastate a community for years, making it even more difficult to manage the effects of climate change. For instance, communities of color, especially Black communities, are still rebuilding after the effects of Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans in 2005. In 2015, the Black population of New Orleans was still 110,000 fewer people than before Katrina; this reduction is attributable to the fact that tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained destroyed. Surviving seasons of extreme temperatures without adequate electricity, access to clean water, or the ability to rebuild homes and businesses are stressors that communities of color live with on a daily basis. And, these are the communities typically forgotten after the initial coverage of the disaster. According to a 2022 report by Media Matters, only 21 percent of guest appearances in climate segments in nightly and morning news shows were people of color, compared to 79 percent of guests who were non-Hispanic whites. The lack of voices from communities of color on mainstream TV shows leads to the lack of in-depth follow-up coverage needed to highlight the impact of climate change on these communities. 

It's an understatement to say there's a lot to be anxious about. So while climate anxiety does touch all populations, the unique combination of environmental challenges, the immense impact these have on individuals and communities, and the cultural stigmas that surround mental health struggles is specific to communities of color.

As a person of color, I'm subject to the ways many communities of color stigmatize mental health issues. In these communities, struggling with your mental health or getting treatment for a mental illness is seen as a kind of personal failure or weakness. This can be incredibly isolating, and that feeling of disconnection can become an added burden that people of color deal with on top of their climate anxieties.

I know the feeling of shame that can be paired with admitting that you are struggling with mental health and it makes the situation even more complicated. Growing up in a socioeconomically disadvantaged community, my perception of who went to therapy was skewed. The majority of people in my community looked down on those who sought out help for their mental health. It took at least a decade for me to, personally, shake that stigma and seek mental health help.

The cultural stigma is also coupled with limited access to mental health resources for many of these communities. A disproportionate number of communities of color are underserved and underrepresented. This means that they do not have the ability (most likely financially) to receive mental health support. So, even if a member of these communities overcomes the cultural stigma and decides they'd like to seek professional support, the chances are they still won’t be able to receive the help they need to manage their mental health struggles. 

This isn’t to say there isn’t hope. Hope is an important aspect of climate anxiety that tends to be overshadowed by the doom and gloom of climate change.

First, more mental health resources in the past three years  have become accessible for people of color, including: free support groups sponsored by local hospitals and organizations (like the Blackstone Public Library in Chicago), smartphone apps such as The Safe Space and Liberate that are designed to teach people of color about mental self care and meditation, and free resource libraries that include tips and practices on managing mental health struggles for people of color, like the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective and the Asian American Health Initiative Resource Library. 

Also, younger generations in communities of color are breaking down the stigma around mental health by talking about their mental health struggles, their need for support, and how the culture in their communities has made it difficult for them to find and receive mental health help. And they're taking action against climate change at its root. For example, students at Long Beach Polytechnic High School have started an initiative to make their school 100-percent fossil-fuel-free by 2030. These teenagers are fighting for their future as 16-year-olds. They are witnessing the effect climate change has on their daily lives and have been spurred into action because of it. Many Gen Zers are using social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to spread information about the environment and climate change and advocate for better conditions, support, and solutions-based climate coverage for their communities.

These young advocates recognize that bringing awareness to not just their communities' struggles with climate change and climate anxiety but also to how their communities persevere in spite of these challenges is important for generating support and hope. They show how important diverse perspectives are in regard to climate change and how each community, race, social class, and individual person experiences its effects differently. For example, Vic Barrett, who is of Black and Indigenous Honduran descent, was spurred into action at age 14 after experiencing the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy on his community. However, he uses his experience to fight for all who are affected by climate change to provide a world for his kids where they do not have to. 

Highlighting communities of color and their intersection with climate change and climate anxiety is an incredibly important step in bringing diverse voices and experiences to the forefront as well as providing a wide range of resources for these communities. Climate anxiety affects most of us, but remember: Even though it may feel like the sky is falling, there's hope that we can make it better. 

“When you’re looking at doing perennials for your outdoor space, whether you have a garden or you’re going to do container gardening, however you plan to approach your garden, you really want to make sure that you’re thinking about the environment that you have,” says Palomares. “You want to take into consideration how much light you have in your space, whether you get a lot of sunlight or you’re in a more shady environment. That’s going to be really important to understand as you plan for the plant that you pick going into your garden.” A light meter ($16) can help with that.

Next, you’ve got to think about soil and spacing. Figuring out if you want to place your perennials directly in the ground or in pots will help you figure out how many to buy. If your plant needs a special type of soil that’s very different from what you have naturally, choosing to pot your perennials can be an easy solve.

“You also want to think about how big these perennials are going to get over time and the space that you have, and whether that’s going to work in your favor,” he says. “Because if you’re talking about low-maintenance plants, you want to make sure your planning ahead so it’s going to get the desired effect that you have.”

Lastly, you want to consider when your plants will be in bloom. If you plant nothing but daffodils, they’ll be super pretty until they start to wilt in May, leaving you with a bare garden for the rest of the year. Planning your garden with this in mind is called “staging,” explains Palomares. Keep in mind that you can always supplement your perennials with annuals (plants you have to replant every year) if you need some added color that will last throughout the warmer months.

8 Low-Maintenance Perennial Flowers That Return Year After Year

Lavender — $20.00

“One of my favorites is the lavender plant. This is a great plant, it’s a fragrant plant,” says Palomares. “It has beautiful blooms as it comes up in the season. You can really find those in nice temperate climates throughout the United States. That one does require more sun, and you really do want that well-drained soil. You want to make sure you have the right environment for that.”

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Daffodils — $9.00

“Something like a daffodil, which is really one of those first signs of spring, if you plant those bulbs in the fall, those are a great plant that you’re going to see early on in the season, just as the seasons are about to turn away from winter to spring,” says Palomares. You can buy five and get five bulbs to get this gorgeous dandelion mix for $15.

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Azaleas — $17.00

Azaleas are a fantastic low-maintenance plant available in a variety of blooming colors, whether it’s a white, pink, red. “Sometimes you’ll see some yellow blooms on there as well,” says Palomares. “Azaleas thrive in a nice, cool, moist climate, and they bloom in late spring and early summer. And they bloom for quite some time, so I think that’s a really easy-to-care-for plant that gives you that great pop of color that you might be wanting. It’s also is one that you can also plant in a container. You might have to prune back slightly just to make sure that it stays within the right size. But that one also does very well, whether you do that in the ground or a container.”

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Tulips (2-Pack) — $20.00

“Tulips—a great, easy, low-maintenance bulb that, as long as you’re planting it at the right times, you’re going to get that really first pop of color, that first bloom in your garden, and then you progress into some of your other perennials,” says Palomares. Shop eight Amber Glow Tulip bulbs for $13 and plant them in the fall.

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Peonies — $30.00

“Peonies, again, those are just those really big just gorgeous floral blooms that you’re going to get out of your perennials plants, and they come in great colors—white, red, coral, purple,” says Palomares. “These are plants that are going to go dormant in the wintertime, but when you plant them they’re going to thrive. They can grow to be five feet tall, so these are one of those you want to plan ahead for. You want to make sure you have that space to support the peonies.” Peonies thrive in areas with cold winters so be sure to take that into consideration. Shop this 5-pack of peony bulbs and plant them after the first frost.

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Lilacs — $58.00

“Lilacs are also known for their very fragrant florals. It’s a beautiful perennial,” he says. “You’re going to see that in many different shades of purple and lavender and blues.” Lilacs bloom in the spring.

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Black-Eyed Susans — $17.00

“Other favorites are the black-eyed Susans, which is this really bright, happy plant,” says Palomares. “It’s really one of those things that attract all of those pollinating insects, bees and butterflies, and all of those great things.” Shop this three-pack of 2.5 quart yellow black-eyed Susan plants.

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Hostas — $27.00

“Hostas are probably one of the easiest perennials that you could handle. They love partial shade, so that’s perfect for those areas if you’re more north-facing and don’t get a lot of sun in your backyard,” says Palomares. “They can get very large in size, provided you have the right space and care for them. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Hostas are a great perennial. Even if you do have full sun, there’s always kind of that spot in your garden that doesn’t get quite all of the sun—this is one of those great plants for that space. And they will spread. So you’re putting them into the ground, this is one that has that opportunity to give you additional plants year over year as that root system continues to grow.” Shop this pack of four hosta plants.

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The most pet-friendly plants, according to a plant doctor:

The Great Last Gasp of the Great Salt Lake

The Great Salt Lake, in northern Utah, is the largest saltwater lake in the Western hemisphere. Or, at least, it has been. Due to climate change, the lake's very existence—and the ecosystems that depend on it—is at risk of disappearing.

Standing on the shore of Utah’s Great Salt Lake, you can look out across the water and see the sky reflected on its glassy surface. But every year, you have to work a little harder for this view. The Great Salt Lake, a vital ecosystem for migratory birds and a $1.32-billion part of Utah’s economy, is shrinking, 

“We’ve seen this long-term trend that shows the lake is losing water year to year,” says Nate Blouin, Senator for Utah State Senate District 13. “It’s at a much lower level than we’ve seen at any point in history.” In December 2022, the lake hit a record low surface elevation: 4,188.5 feet. (Historically, the lake has sat around 4,200 feet on average.) From its recorded high, the lake has lost 73 percent of its water volume and 60 percent of its surface area. Activists are calling for a minimum level of 4,198 feet to maintain a healthy ecosystem. 

Most of this decline is human-caused: The Great Salt Lake is receding every year as humans divert water away for agricultural and urban use before it can reach the lake. Farmers and water users (such as industrial operations managers and residents) upstream from the lake own rights to certain water allocations. Currently, the rivers and streams that feed the Great Salt Lake are overallocated, meaning all of the water is accounted for before it ever makes it to the lake. And due to a decades-long “use it or lose it” water policy, water users were encouraged to use every last drop or risk forfeiting their allotment, even if they didn’t need it all to water their crops or lawns. As a result, for years, very little water was left over to refill the lake.

In 2022, this changed: Water users can now let water flow to the lake without risking their share—but many are hesitant to do so after decades of practice. Years of overuse, exacerbated by decreased streamflow and increased evaporation due to climate change, caused a water shortage. And now, “the lake is on the brink of ecosystem collapse, says Molly Blakowski, a PhD student at the Utah State University’s department of watershed sciences. “We’re at a really critical point to take action before things are barreling too far out of our control.”

The Great Salt Lake watershed is a closed basin, meaning everything that flows into the lake—the water that runs into the lake from waterways that terminate there along with any materials carried within this water—stays there. ”It’s a final destination for water,” says Blouin. “Everything that happens around the lake ends up there.” When water evaporates from the lake—which is a natural and important part of the water cycle but is accelerating at an alarming rate due to climate change—solutes (such as salt and other minerals) are left behind. Over time, these materials accumulate in the lake as sediment. (This left-behind salt is what gives the Great Salt Lake its salinity in the first place.)

Over the past few decades, human industrial activities like mining and farming have marred the land in the Great Salt Lake watershed. Pesticides and heavy metals, like lead and arsenic, flowed downstream and, with nowhere else to go, settled into the lakebed. “These contaminants have been flushed into the lake—out of sight, out of mind,” says Blakowski. 

As the lake dries up, this sediment—and all the accompanying contaminants—is uncovered and gets kicked up into the air. Between 2019 and 2021, dust emissions from the lakebed increased, according to Blakowski. As the dust fills the air and blows into surrounding areas, communities fear a public health crisis due to air quality concerns. 

After decades of human activity, “the contaminants could be blown back into our faces,” says Blakowski. Residents will be exposed to high concentrations of atmospheric particulates that come with a whole host of negative health risks, including increased rates of diseases like reproductive dysfunction, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular damage, and cancer. But it’s not just the air that could be hazardous. In her research, Blakowski found that heavy metals in dust leach into garden vegetables through the soil. Residents could experience effects depending on what’s on their plate. 

“A lot of people I know are weighing the question of, How long can I live here?” says Nan Seymour, a Salt Lake City resident and activist. How long until clouds of dust make it hard to breathe? Until the air that residents breathe is toxic? “It’s a big deal. The Wasatch Front [the chain of cities home to two million people that lies along the western edge of the Wasatch Mountains] would become a pretty uninhabitable place if we don’t take serious action,” says Blouin, the state senator. Many residents, like Seymour, can’t imagine a world without the lake: “This is my lifelong home; I don’t have any desire to move other than my desire to breathe.” 

Sarah Woodbury grew up in Kaysville, Utah, and could see the lake every day while she was growing up. She would spend summers sailing on the lake with her neighbors or splashing in the water to find brine shrimp. “It has been a central piece in my spiritual healing,” she says. When she visits now, places that were once a few steps from the car are now a half a mile walk. “It’s painful to see the water out that far—it feels like a friend is leaving,” says Woodbury. 

Around the lake, mats of microbes, called microbialites, anchor to the ground as reefs, covering around 30 percent of the lake bottom. Brine shrimp and brine flies, the two dominant lake species, feed on these underwater mats. But when the microbialites rest above the water’s surface, the sun bleaches them; some die from exposure. Without the microbialites, brine shrimp and flies are deprived of their primary food source. The impacts reverberate up the food chain, as migratory birds rely on these species. 

For the past two winters during the Utah State legislative session, Seymour has led a seven-week vigil on Antelope Island along the lake shore. Over 400 individuals gathered to walk along the shore, write, and grow their relationship with the Great Salt Lake. “People would come out and we would walk a long way along the shoreline to Buffalo Point [a rocky point of land that extends into the bay] so I could show them some of the exposed microbialites,” says Seymour. “This year, I didn’t even have to leave the campground—the whole bay was striated with [mats].”

The Great Salt Lake is also an essential stop for migratory birds. “Birds will arrive looking for food,” says Woodbury, an activist and birdwatcher. “They won’t find any and will essentially die.” This year during Seymour’s vigil, Seymour saw over 500 bodies of dead grebes, an aquatic bird species. Her scientist friends told her this loss may be attributed to avian flu, but she couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding while she was counting those bodies.

“It was a hard thing to be with,” says Seymour. “Imagine this times 10 when [the birds] won’t have sustenance next year.”

Researchers say the choices that the State of Utah makes over the next few months will be imperative for saving the lake—and emergency measures are needed. “I want to see a commitment from the State of Utah to recognize a healthy elevation range for the lake,” says Lynn De Freitas, the executive director of Friends of the Great Salt Lake, a nonprofit that works to preserve the lake through education, research, advocacy, and art. The target level—4,198 feet—would serve as a measure to evaluate the success of conservation policies.

One glimmer of hope is the record-breaking snowfall in the Wasatch Mountains this winter, which puts the snowpack at 201 percent of average. While it is unclear how it will impact the lake just yet, many anticipate it will increase the lake level. But Blouin cautions against seeing this as a miracle fix. “Just because we had a great water year this year, don’t think all our problems are solved,” he says. “It is a gift and we ought to rise to it,” says Seymour. 

Activists and residents are holding rallies at the Utah State Capitol and participating in public hearings during legislative sessions in an effort to raise awareness and put pressure on political officials to sign bills that will get more water to the lake. “There’s a lot of energy surrounding the lake right now,” says Blakowski. Seymour feels optimistic because the people who are gathering around the issue “are fierce and devoted and smart—and they care a lot.” 

During this year’s session, lawmakers didn’t act on emergency water-saving measures, but they did budget $200 million to help farmers make irrigation systems more efficient.

Citizen involvement is crucial to showing lawmakers that residents care about this issue. If you want to get involved, “you could attend public hearings, participate in comment periods at legislative sessions, write letters to the editor, call [or text] your local representative, or talk to your neighbors about the Great Salt Lake,” says De Freitas. But even if you’re not a Utah resident, you can continue the conversation in your community or on social media with tags like #saveourgreatsaltlake.

And while the window to act is closing, it’s not closed. “We’re not powerless. But we have to use our voice even when we don’t feel accomplished or knowledgable in every way,” says Seymour. “We have to speak on behalf of the lake.”

Climate Change Is Turning Outdoor Athletes Into Some of Our Planet’s Fiercest Advocates

Meet four women whose love of outdoor activities inspire their environmental action.

Australian professional surfer Tully White’s visit to California for the Malibu stop of the World Surf League’s longboard tour was not going as planned. An oil spill to the south of Los Angeles meant that, each day, the precise location of the competition had to change based on where the oil floated. Among the fans, workers in hazmat suits scrubbed oil off of the beaches and wildlife. 

“Everyone said it was common,” White says. “Like it was no big deal.”

Meanwhile, back home in Sydney, White learned that the Australian government was in the process of renewing a petroleum exploration permit for an oil pipeline. The California oil spill and the Australian pipeline were on opposite sides of the globe, but White could not help but draw a straight line from one to the other. Once she had witnessed firsthand the damage an accident could cause, White did not want to see that permit get renewed, so she decided to do something about it: advocating against the pipeline, and all future oil and gas pipelines off of the Australian coastline.

Those of us who work at a desk don’t often come face-to-face with environmental destruction, which means global warming and damage to the planet can feel like remote, theoretical problems. But experiences like White’s—witnessing environmental harm in action—are more common among people who make their living, or spend a large portion of their time, exercising, competing, and playing outdoors. As a result, it’s little surprise that outdoor athletes have founded several organizations to advocate for conservation and environmental action, like Surfers for Climate, Protect Our Winters, Footprints, and others.

“They're actually living it and worried about it and thinking about it,” says Earthday.org president Kathleen Rogers.

The diverse experiences of athletes and outdoors people paint a broad picture of environmental disaster at every elevation and terrain—and subsequently spark action at every level, too.

For instance, as professional skier Sierra Quitiquit has traveled around the globe to countries like Japan and Switzerland, and seen once consistently snowy places like Alaska become more temperate, her skiing seasons have gotten shorter and shorter. (Researchers report that the average ski season was shortened by a whopping 34 days from 1982 to 2016.) Quitiquit has witnessed the impact this has had on businesses as well as athletes, and learned from the communities just how different things have become in recent years. 

“As a skier, you spend a lot of time outside in the elements and you really become in tune with the rhythm of nature,” Quitiquit says. “Showing up on locations that traditionally had snow pack their entire history for as far back as it was written and there being no snow, it just is this feeling that something is seriously wrong.”

It’s not just her travels; Quitiquit has experienced that feeling of unease in her hometown of Park City, Utah, too. As a young girl, she even started a MySpace page called “Skiers Against Global Warming.” Today, she is an activist with Protect Our Winters, a coalition of winter athletes, and an ambassador for Earthday.org’s Athletes for the Earth program. She also works with NATO, has founded her own environmental advocacy projects, and traveled to Capitol Hill to lobby for climate change legislation as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (called the Build Back Better bill at the time). 

Quitiquit’s representative in congress impressed upon her that if he was going to support the climate change provisions in the legislation, it was up to her and others like her to deliver public support for the idea. “He was like, ‘I need you to educate and mobilize the people in support of this bill so that I have the public's popular opinion and I can vote for this bill,” Quitiquit recalls. “It opened my eyes to the way that politics work and how we can't discount ourselves. The public has the ability to move mountains.”

The IRA eventually passed in August 2022, and the EPA describes it as “the most significant climate legislation in U.S. history, offering funding, programs, and incentives to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy [that] will likely drive significant deployment of new clean electricity resources.”

Rogers agrees that athletes are uniquely positioned to do the kind of heart- and mind-changing that supporting political action on climate change requires. She says that while celebrities like actors and singers are often considered “liberal,” athletes are viewed as more politically-neutral role models, and that hard-to-reach sectors of the public take what they have to say seriously. 

“You're trying to save winter because your career depends on it,” Rogers says. “It's not perceived as anything shallow.”

Contrary to much of the environmental movement, in which women disproportionately drive action on climate, Rogers’s experience is that male athletes tend to be more visible in environmentalist initiatives (perhaps because society pays more attention to male athletes than female athletes in general). That makes Quitiquit’s and Tully’s involvement invaluable, as well as leaders like Olympic sailor Hannah Mills and rower Melissa Wilson, whom the Olympics have spotlighted for their activism. But Rogers wishes still more would lend their voices to the cause, and actually take the moments when they’re in the spotlight—such as when they’re sharing how they feel after a victory—to connect their sporting accomplishments with the need for environmental action.

“I do think they're great spokespeople for this,” Rogers says. “We just don't have enough of them.”

Luckily, professionals aren’t the only athletes getting involved. Kamilah Journét was a high school and college runner, and later became a high school track coach in Ventura County, California. While growing up, she recalls that there were days she was not allowed to run because of nearby fires and the potential danger of smoke inhalation. 

A few years ago, she met the founder of Runners for Public Lands, an organization that seeks to imbue running culture with environmental responsibility through initiatives like reducing waste at races and mobilizing runners as climate activists. Around the same time, Ventura County experienced devastating wildfires, harkening back to the smokey days Journét experienced while running as a teen. 

“It’s really hard for me to just completely disconnect from something that I so visibly see,” Journét says.

So when Runners for Public Lands asked Journét to be a member of the board, she was intrigued. As a younger woman of color, Journét realized it was a perfect way to take action on concerns she’d developed for the planet as a teen runner, and for the disproportionate way climate change affects people of color.

“It just seemed like such a natural way to lend my voice in a space that was really dedicated to building inclusive running communities and dedicated to protecting the environment,” Journét says. 

Journét notes that professional athletes often garner the most attention for their environmental activism. But Journét and Runners for Public Lands feel that there could be strength in numbers if runners—the largest recreational group in the country—mobilized to advocate for climate action. Runners, she feels, are uniquely suited to the demands of taking on an issue as large as climate change.

“There's a natural link between endurance sports and enduring the challenges that are coming with the climate movement because it's going to be something we have to commit to for longer than just a short stint of time,” Journét says.

That’s not to mention the love that runners, or any athletes who spend much of their time outside, end up having for the outdoors. For instance, photographer, documentarian, and recreational fly fisher Katie Falkenberg describes the feeling of fly fishing as one of “awe”—so it’s only natural it’d become something she’d want to protect. “Catching a wild fish and then releasing it is just the most magical feeling to me,” Falkenberg says. “It is this brush with this wild thing that you hold in your hands, and then let go.” 

After working for a decade at the Los Angeles Times, Falkenberg recently decided to go freelance, in part to tell stories about what she was witnessing in nature as a result of climate change: Namely, the warming of rivers and drying up of tributaries, as well as the wildfires that have wrought havoc on forests in Oregon. “Where we are in terms of climate change has been so tangible to me, but especially the last three or four years,” she says. “When I'm on the river or on the mountain, I'm constantly thinking of stories that I could tell.”

Today, Falkenberg makes films and documents those drying up riverbeds and the people working on their survival, hoping to inspire action by telling their stories. But she thinks that the best way to galvanize the fight is for more people to spend more time outdoors, fostering a relationship with—and responsibility for—our planet. (One small 2021 study even proved that spending just a week in the outdoors increased people’s sense of environmental responsibility.)

“I feel incredibly obligated to tell stories that might motivate people to get outside and to realize what is at risk, what we have to lose,” Falkenberg says. “If people aren't outside recreating and doing these activities, there's less people who are going to feel the desire to protect them.”

That desire to protect wild places is what connects these women who want to continue to surf, ski, run, fish, and otherwise live outdoors. Quitiquit refers to it as an “intimacy” with the snowpack. The way she bears witness to climate change happening in real time fuels her activism—and what she believes can empower athletes and anyone else who likes to spend time in nature, too. 

“There's so often a sentiment of like, ‘Who am I to lead?’ or ‘Who am I to lean into this, and what do I know?’” Quitiquit says. “There's this sentiment that someone else should be solving this problem. But in reality, this challenge belongs to all of us.”

As Microplastics Amass, Our Planet’s Plastic Problem Is Getting Personal

How the “forever” remnants of our plastic pollution are now threatening the integrity of key ecosystems we rely on to live and jeopardizing our health.

A floating “island” in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of Texas, the conglomerate of plastic trash known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch bobs in the breeze, filled with straws that can lodge in the noses of turtles and six-pack rings and bottle caps that can strangle and choke sea creatures. It conjures a compelling visual—even if it falsely implies that the plastic-waste issue is contained, harming only the animals unlucky enough to brush up against the mass. 

But what recent research suggests is that such easily visible garbage is “just the very tip of the iceberg” when it comes to the world’s plastic problem, says Matt Simon, science reporter at Wired and author of A Poison Like No Other: How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies. Beneath the surface, both literally and figuratively, is a massive number (in the trillions) of tiny microplastics and even tinier nanoplastics that are “accessible to the entire tree of life,” he says.

Occurring in a variety of shapes and colors, these mini plastics are unified by their size. Scientists refer to any plastics smaller than five millimeters (about the size of a sesame seed) as microplastics and have recently differentiated the very smallest of these pieces, smaller than 100 nanometers, as nanoplastics, which are not visible to the naked eye. The particular trouble that these tiny plastics pose is two-fold: It’s very tough to clean them up, and it’s very easy for them to pollute our ecosystems, as they can be either ingested or inhaled, or both, by all living things.

As for where they originate? Like any large plastic object, called a macroplastic, microplastics can, in some instances, be manufactured intentionally. Think: glitter, foam balls for bean bags, and microbeads in exfoliating cleansers of the 2010s. (After those microbeads were deemed a hazardous pollutant in 2015, a U.S. law banned the production of rinse-off cosmetics containing them, foreshadowing the crisis to come.) Also in this category are what’s known as pre-production nurdles or pellets, plastics created in the size of rice grains that are then transported to manufacturers, where they’re melted down to create things like shampoo bottles and chip bags. And in transit alone, these pellets have been known to spill in mass quantities. 

But where the real core of the microplastics issue lies is a far more familiar source: the macroplastics—plastic bottles, bags, containers, even synthetic clothing (which is a type of plastic)—we use on a daily basis. Though these products are often proclaimed to last forever, it’s more accurate to say that they degrade forever, breaking down into tinier and tinier pieces (aka microplastics, and eventually, nanoplastics) that pollute our environment, compromising the balance of our planet’s ecosystems and creating ripple effects for our own well-being. “I like to think of macroplastics as microplastic pollution just waiting to happen,” says Anja Brandon, PhD, associate director of U.S. plastic policy at Ocean Conservancy. 

To that end, any single macroplastic can disintegrate into a theoretically infinite number of micro- and nanoplastics over the course of its endless existence—and starting right away, when it encounters water, heat, or physical friction. In fact, one of the biggest contributors to microplastic pollution is a process that includes all of the above: washing clothes in the washing machine, which sends millions of microfibers into water-treatment facilities, where they can easily slip through filters and wind their way into waterways and the ocean.

The urgency of the microplastics crisis comes from its mega size: Humans around the globe currently produce roughly 300 million tons of plastic each year, more than ever in our history, and all of it will spend eternity breaking down, meaning the problem is a compounding one. As a result, microplastics are now everything, everywhere, all at once: Researchers have identified them not only in the ocean but in all compartments of the environment, from the air to freshwater systems and soil. “There’s nothing and nowhere on Earth that isn’t impacted by microplastics,” says Janice Brahney, PhD, associate professor at Utah State University's Watershed Sciences department. 

How the effects of microplastics on ecosystems pose a threat to global well-being

Microplastics in the ocean

Of all environmental spaces, the ocean is where scientists have conducted the most microplastics research, largely because they happened upon them there first, identifying “plastic particles” floating atop the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean in the 1970s. It wasn’t until 1997 that Captain Charles Moore discovered plastics were accumulating in the ocean en masse—cue the plastic island—and 2004 that Richard Moore coined the term “microplastics” to refer to the tiniest offenders.

Further explorations revealed that clusters of plastic on the ocean’s surface are surrounded by far more debris than initially meets the eye. Rather than patches of macroplastics, these areas contain “a soupy mix of microplastics and nanoplastics accumulating in the water,” says Lea D’Auriol, founder of Oceanic Global, an international nonprofit dedicated to ocean preservation. This synthetic stew forms as the result of the sun breaking macroplastics into microplastics, which float alongside the 11 percent of plastics that enter the ocean already in micro form.

This plastic soup is then consumable by even the most miniature of ocean critters, which has implications for the entire food web that scientists have only begun to untangle over the course of the last decade. Research on ocean plastics prior to that had focused primarily on the consumption of macroplastics by larger ocean creatures, like whales and seabirds—because scientists knew that only these big animals could eat, say, a full plastic bottle or even a cap, says Dr. Brahney. In these studies, researchers found that the plastics could damage the digestive systems of these animals, leading to smaller meal sizes and even death. 

Now, with the prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the ocean, the issue of animals eating plastics extends to the smaller fish and microorganisms that can’t take down a full-sized macroplastic, says Dr. Brahney. And as nanoplastics and microplastics accumulate up the food chain—through even the tiniest zooplankton that accidentally eat them with algae, that are then eaten by larger fish that also eat nanoplastics and microplastics, and so on—they can cause direct harm at every stage. “These small plastics can lodge in the guts and gills [of fish], blocking their digestive tracts and leading them to feel full without absorbing key nutrients, and to stop eating,” says Dr. Brahney, “which eventually causes death.”

But these physical blockages aren’t the only threat to sea creatures; the breakdown of microplastics can cause chemical fallout, too. Manufacturers add a variety of chemicals to plastics—a set that includes upwards of 10,000 different options, some of them known toxins—to make them malleable, flameproof, waterproof, durable, or any number of other qualities. And these aren’t chemically bound to the actual plastic molecules, “so they can leach out like water from a sponge as the plastic breaks down,” says Dr. Brandon. The composition of plastic also creates room for the microplastic molecules to pick up other chemicals in the environment, like heavy metals and pesticides, and even bacterial pathogens, and transport these toxic hitchhikers up the food web. This, again, threatens the continued availability of the fish that we eat and the gentle balance of the ecosystem of which they’re all a part.

Climate research also points to a few ways that microplastics can interfere with the ocean’s helpful ability to trap carbon in its depths; this process is essential for cooling our planet by drawing a huge amount of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Usually, it works like this: Carbon dioxide dissolves into water at the ocean’s surface, at which point algae absorbs it, and then zooplankton eat algae, eventually releasing the carbon as part of their poop, which sinks down to the ocean floor (for good). But now, that zooplankton poop is laden with the tiny plastics that they’re eating, too, which is causing it to sink more slowly. At the same time, microplastics may be toxic to zooplankton, shortening their lives and thus reducing their overall ability to trap carbon—again, a process we rely on to draw carbon out of the air and keep the planet cool.

Microplastics in the air and atmosphere

Microplastics suspended in the air we breathe pose a relatively new threat to the health of the planet and its inhabitants. Only in the past five years have scientists begun to identify and quantify airborne microplastics, and it wasn’t until 2020 research by Dr. Brahney’s team that it became clear how extensively these little particles are circling the atmosphere.

“Ten years ago, I was like, ‘Microplastics are a marine problem, and I don’t work in the marine environment.’ But we’ve polluted the ocean for so long with plastic [and to such a large extent in recent years] that now, microplastics are being aerosolized off the surface of the ocean and are traveling back, through wind, into the terrestrial environment,” says Dr. Brahney. Not to mention the mass amounts of microplastics being whipped directly into the air by car tires wearing down on roads. Indeed, the concentration of airborne microplastics is so large now (exact numbers are tough to come by, but thousands of tons is a ballpark estimate), they’re detectable even in regions of very high altitudes, hundreds of miles from urban centers.

Certainly, that means we’re breathing in microplastics. But from an ecological standpoint, the breakdown of plastics in the air also signals the release of potent greenhouse gasses like methane, says Simon. “It’s important to remember that 99 percent of plastics are still made out of fossil fuels—oil and gas,” he says, “and once they’re out in the environment and hit with sunlight, they release quantities of that carbon back into the atmosphere.” More carbon in the air just contributes, again, to rising temperatures by way of the greenhouse effect.

“

It’s important to remember that 99 percent of plastics are still made out of fossil fuels—oil and gas.

—Matt Simon, science reporter at Wired

Stocksy / Malin G

An atmospheric haze of microplastic and nanoplastic debris may also act as condensation nuclei, which are surfaces upon which water vapor can condense to form clouds. If this happens at high altitudes, the formation of “ice clouds” can trap the heat radiating off the Earth’s surface within the atmosphere, further contributing to global warming.

Microplastics in the soil

While microplastics can settle on soil from the air or get there through freshwater sources—many of which are as heavily polluted with plastics as the ocean—they can also make their way into soil through the common process of using “biosolids” (aka solids filtered out of water in wastewater treatment facilities) as agricultural fertilizer, says Dr. Brandon.

Typically, when we wash our hands, shower, cook, use the toilet, or do laundry, the resulting wastewater flows to a treatment plant, where solids (like dirt, debris, and food particles) are cleared from the liquid. This process captures much of the microplastics (as discussed, some microplastics do slip through filters and run into our waterways), which amass in the resulting biosolids. Because those biosolids are nutrient-dense (think of all the organic matter they contain), they’re often applied to farmland as fertilizer. Unfortunately, this sends all their constituent microplastics onto the soil, where they become, again, an environmental pollutant.

The ripple effects for the soil ecosystem may be as significant as they are for marine life. For starters, microplastics can change the balance of the local microbiota, or the community of microbes responsible for recycling nutrients in the soil, says Dr. Brahney. When plants die, these microorganisms get to work, breaking down their organic material into bioavailable nutrients that allow for new plant growth. “Without this nutrient-recycling process, we see reduced plant height and less new growth,” says Dr. Brahney, “which has implications for food security.”

To similar effect, microplastics “have also been shown to get into the bodies of critters like earthworms—which we rely on to process soil and create fertilizer for crops—and to reduce their reproduction or shorten their lifespans,” says Simon. Paired with physical changes to the soil prompted by microplastics, including a reduced capacity to hold water, these harms to the soil ecosystem may reduce crop yields, again threatening our own livelihoods. 

How the microplastics that we’re consuming and inhaling may affect our health directly

While the effects of microplastics on the planet's ecosystems will certainly jeopardize our long-term well-being, the question of how microplastics affect our health imminently—as in, right now, as you inhale microplastics, or when you consume microplastics in food—is less clear. 

After all, it’s tough to study. You can’t exactly ask people to eat or breathe in microplastics, and see what happens. And even epidemiological studies, where scientists might analyze the level of microplastic buildup in people with certain illnesses, are tough to organize. “You don’t have a control group to compare against that hasn’t been widely exposed,” says Dr. Brandon.

But the fact that microplastics are indeed so prevalent is reason for concern, in and of itself, especially given that several studies have pointed to levels of microplastic exposure being higher inside our homes than outside (not shocking, given we’re surrounded by plastics at home, and ventilation is worse in enclosed environments). Exploring how these microplastics amass in our bodies, recent studies have found them “everywhere scientists have looked,” says Dr. Brandon. So far, that’s in lung tissue, poop, placentas, breastmilk, and even blood. 

Separately, scientists who have assessed the potential impact of microplastics on human cells using tissue cultures in a lab have found that they can induce cell damage and even death. And similar research using models of the human epithelial lung and gut barriers (aka the tissue that lines the lungs and gut) has shown that microplastics can create small openings in those barriers and slip through, potentially triggering an inflammatory immune-system response.

To Cezmi Akdis, MD, PhD, director of the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research, it’s this potential for microplastics to break down epithelial barriers that’s most concerning. “The open spaces in the epithelial barrier can allow bad bacteria to translocate, moving in between cells, and as the immune system tries to expel the microplastics and the bacteria, it cannot differentiate between good and bad,” he says. This can disrupt the overall bacterial balance and trigger inflammation, both of which are at the root of a wide variety of chronic diseases.

At the same time, microplastics tote along with them all their chemical additives when they enter the body, including endocrine disruptors like bisphenols and phthalates—which may pose a particular threat to infants and toddlers, says Simon. “If you are in these really delicate developmental stages as children, you do not want the endocrine system disrupted,” he says, referencing the key role of hormones in healthy growth and development. And that’s especially worrisome given that babies are also known to have high exposure to microplastics, by virtue of consuming warm formula or breastmilk in plastic bottles, putting plastic toys in their mouths, and crawling around on the floor, where microplastics are known to settle.

Coupled with the trickle-down effects of microplastics on ecosystems noted above, these initial harbingers of harm in people are reason for collective action to turn off the plastic tap. Buying, using, and tossing less plastic—and opting for reusable materials, like glass or aluminum, or biodegradable ones, like paper—is one way we can all help slow the flow. As is reusing and properly recycling as much as possible in order to move toward a circular economy, where we’re sending fewer materials, overall, into the environment as trash. But ultimately, legislation is necessary to prompt manufacturers to switch away from plastics—and that’s now in the works. 

California recently passed SB54, a law that requires 100 percent of the packaging in the state to be recyclable or compostable by 2023. And four states (California, Colorado, Maine, and Oregon) have passed extended producer responsibility laws, which put the onus on manufacturers to consider end-of-life solutions for any product. More broadly, the federal Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, designed to reduce the production of single-use plastic across the U.S., is gaining cosponsors, and there’s a United Nations treaty under negotiations right now that aims to put an international cap on plastics production.

Though our microplastics problem is the fallout of a macroplastics crisis we let go on for too long, the experts are still optimistic about our ability to turn the tides. After all, plastic is a relatively new staple in our arsenal of materials. “One statistic I always come back to is the fact that half of all the plastics we have ever made have been made in the last 20 years,” says Dr. Brandon. “That means, what we do in the next 20 years matters a whole heck of a lot.”

Food Waste Is One of the Most Actionable Issues We Can Tackle in the Fight Against Climate Change

Consumer habits are the largest cause of food waste in America—but they can evolve. Here’s how to eat like your planet depends upon it.

Our food system is radically inefficient.

Overall, it is estimated that 24 percent of all food in the U.S.—about 54 million tons—goes to waste annually. That means that each year, we’re letting the equivalent of nearly 90 billion meals’ worth of food go unsold or uneaten, which is roughly 2 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

At ReFed, a national nonprofit where I serve as executive director, we focus on ending food waste across the U.S. food system by using market data and consumer insights to help inspire change and targeted action at touchpoints along the farm to trash-can pipeline. As it stands today, less than one percent of food waste is donated to those in need and more is recycled—but the vast majority goes straight to landfill, incineration, down the drain, or is simply left in the fields to rot. 

The impact of food waste on our climate and environment is significant: Food that is never eaten still requires resources to grow, harvest, transport, cool, cook, or otherwise prepare. And when it ends up being disposed of, food generates methane as it decays. Methane lingers in our atmosphere and, along with carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses, contributes to the dangerous warming of the planet by trapping heat in the atmosphere. Roughly 8 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions come from food waste. In fact, the United Nations estimates that if global food loss and waste were a country, it would rank third in the world for greenhouse gas emissions (after the U.S. and China). 

In America, consumers are the largest source of food waste, with the average household of four people wasting almost $1,500 per year on food that goes uneaten. While businesses and governments can (and should) help solve the food-waste epidemic by reshaping consumer environments to promote waste-free lifestyles (especially when it comes to inconsistent date labels on food products and waste-promoting portion sizes at restaurants), it’s equally important to highlight the fact that the majority the food being thrown away in homes comes down to our own individual habits and behaviors.

The important thing to remember is that just because something goes in the trash doesn’t mean it’s actually “waste.” This is especially true when it comes to food. Much of what’s discarded is actually nutritious, delicious, and perfectly safe to eat, having just been disposed of because they “look funny,” confusion over date labels, and so on. What’s more, even the inedible food parts like bones, pits, and peels can have enormous value when they are upcycled into completely new products.   

To curtail the amount of food waste that comes out of your own kitchen, start practicing these practical tips as you shop for, prepare, serve, and store your foods.

Simple, impactful strategies to reduce food waste at home

Prioritize meal-planning—especially prior to grocery shopping

For starters, try to avoid going for a grocery run without thinking ahead a few days (even a week) to consider what you’ll be cooking and which nights you may be eating out or ordering in. After jotting down your grocery list and surveying your pantry for which shelf-stable items you already have on hand, do your best to solely buy the items you know you’ll use.

Also, consider prepping some of your perishable ingredients in advance so you can easily incorporate them into multiple meals throughout the week. For example, if you cook a roast chicken for dinner one night, make chicken tacos the next night, and chicken salad for lunch the following day. The same can be done with sauteed or grilled vegetables, tofu, grains (try making a big batch of rice or quinoa and using it as the base for grain bowls), even sauces and salad dressings. When it comes to cutting food waste at home, prioritizing versatile ingredients that can be easily repurposed is key.

Put food away properly

All fresh foods have an ideal way to be stored, and they’ll last a lot longer when they're kept correctly. For example, fresh herbs should be stored in a glass of water (just like flowers) in your fridge, apples last significantly longer when kept in the crisper drawer in the fridge, oranges stay juiciest when kept on your counter, and bread should be wrapped in a reusable bread bag to retain its moisture.

Embrace your freezer

Freezing food is a great way to extend its life. Think of your freezer as a magic “pause” button to keep food fresh longer—you can freeze practically anything, both cooked and uncooked. An added benefit? When you don’t feel like cooking, you can just grab something you already cooked and chilled out of the freezer to defrost, heat, and eat. 

What’s more, frozen food allows you to get the nutritional quality of fresh produce year-round, and they last (almost) forever. To preserve the quality of your produce, give fruits and veggies a thorough wash and dry, then slice and dice them up. (Make sure to dry everything before freezing to keep ice crystals from forming.) To prevent chunks of berries or broccoli florets from sticking together, line them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, you can transfer the produce to a reusable freezer bag or sealed container and scoop out one serving at a time.

Soup can last for months in the freezer, too, but the single serve strategy is the key to success. Rather than freezing soups or stews in bulk, divide them into single-serve, airtight containers or in freezer bags. Make sure to cool down the soup before you put it into the freezer to prevent heating up other foods inside—and try to remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag. 

Don’t rely solely on expiration dates

Something hugely important to keep in mind when meal-prepping: In the U.S., there is no federal standard for date labels (aside from infant formula). And while some states have their own policies, a lack of consistency makes it difficult for consumers to know how long it’s practical or safe to keep both perishable and non-perishable items.

The most common date labels are “best if used by,” “sell by,” or “expires on” followed by a specific date—but learning what these labels actually mean can save you from throwing something away when it’s still perfectly good to eat.

Date labels typically refer to quality, not safety. Major food industry groups have endorsed the use of “use by” to indicate when a product should be discarded for food safety reasons and “best if used by” to indicate that the date is simply about quality and the food can be consumed beyond that date. 

My recommendation? Use your best judgment. If a product looks good, smells good, and tastes good, and has a “best by” or “best if used by” label, it’s probably okay to consume it past the date listed (except when it comes to baby food and infant formula; be sure to follow the labels for those). That being said, if you do detect any “off” odors, flavors, or changes in the appearance of a food or beverage, don’t risk it—it could be a sign of bacterial growth. 

Get creative with past-due produce and leftovers 

As you plan ahead and consider what you’ll be cooking for the week ahead, work in a day where all your meals get designed around what’s still lingering in your fridge and pantry. Fry up your last few eggs, slice your sourdough ends up for toast and sandwiches, dice up the dregs of your herbs, produce, and proteins, and finally reheat that lingering leftover pasta. 

Separately, the odds and ends in your fridge might not be enough for a full meal, but together, they’re just right. You can create a smorgasbord of leftovers to graze on, or toss together versatile dishes like stir fries, soups, and sandwiches where you can be creative with a range of different ingredients. (Think of it like going out to a restaurant and ordering a delicious array of appetizers for dinner—reimagining what a “square meal” looks like can be an asset to those looking to reduce waste.) And whenever possible, try to prioritize eating leftovers for lunch.

Become a more climate-conscious shopper

Outside of your home kitchen, you can reduce food waste by employing your wallet. 

Get started next time you’re at the supermarket. Keep an eye out for “upcycled” products, which are made with ingredients that are byproducts of other foods that would otherwise have gone to waste. Same goes for “ugly” produce: the wonky-shaped, slightly-imperfect pieces of fruits and vegetables that tend to get tossed because they don’t meet the strict appearance standards of consumers and retailers. (Roughly 10 million pounds of cosmetically imperfect food gets wasted each year globally. Remember: You don’t always have to reach for the reddest apple!) 

You can also use markdown alert apps, like Too Good To Go and Flashfood, which pinpoint retailers and restaurants offering discounts on food at risk of going to waste. And finally, consider testing out a meal-kit service—these can help you cut food waste by giving you pre-portioned ingredients so you’re only purchasing the exact amount you need. They’re a great way to explore a range of menu options while also preventing waste.

For a healthier future food system, we need to galvanize together

Cutting food waste by half in the U.S. would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75 million metric tons each year—the same as taking 16 million gas-powered cars off the road. It would also generate an economic return of $75 billion each year due to the positive impact on the supply chain. 

Reducing food waste leads to significant co-benefits for other critical issues. The United Nations predicts the planet will need roughly 60 percent more food than we have today to feed the estimated global population of 9.3 billion in 2050. It is imperative that we start to consider where that food will come from. Reducing the amount of food that goes to waste lowers overall demand, reducing pressures to convert more native ecosystems to agriculture. And as the planet continues to warm, we need to learn to adapt our systems and lifestyles to this new reality. 

Climate change is already significantly impacting agricultural productivity around the globe, so making the best use of the food that’s already being produced isn’t just a “nice” thing to do—it is necessary. Food waste is a system-wide problem, which means it requires system-wide action to stop. But if we all did our part, together we could create a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system that makes the most of the food we grow—including every last peel, pit, and bit of leftover penne.

How Community Activism Is Saving Me From My Climate Despair

Finding optimism has motivated me to fight like hell to protect the planet.

As a Girl Scout, I learned to always leave a place nicer than I found it. During my days as a troop member, the maxim primarily applied to camping sites, but now, as an adult, it feels relevant on a much larger scale. Being mindful of those who come after you, and ensuring that you leave a world for them to enjoy, seems like a big part of being a human being. 

As an adult, though, the “Girl Scout Way” has long felt inaccessible in that broader application. Thanks to the human-made climate crisis, the global temperature is rising, glaciers and ice sheets are shrinking, and so-called “once in a lifetime” storms seem to happen on a regular basis. Yet most days, it feels like the people in charge—officials we vote into office to govern such matters—aren’t doing anything to stop it. Frustration related to this inaction used to keep me up at night, grinding my teeth, and doomscrolling through my newsfeed. If the most powerful people in the world don’t care, I thought, or can’t get anything done, then what hope do the rest of us have on our own? 

I’m not alone in my climate anxiety, also called ecoanxiety—a concept that was popularized in the early ‘90s—which the American Psychological Association (APA) defines as a “chronic fear of environmental doom.” A 2021 study published in The Lancet Planetary Health found that 59 percent of people aged 16 to 25 around the globe were “very or extremely worried” about climate change. And a survey conducted by the APA in 2020 found that 67 percent of U.S. respondents were “extremely or somewhat anxious” about the impact of climate change.

“[Feeling this way] is normal,” says Robert Feder, MD, a psychiatrist, member of the Climate Psychiatry Alliance, and the APA representative to the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health. “People are very concerned about [climate change] and worried about their futures and the futures of their family and the world in general.” He stresses that climate anxiety is not an illness or disorder, but rather a healthy reaction to the state of the world.

Unfortunately, this worry can cause many of the hallmark symptoms of an anxiety disorder, like panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath, and ruminating thoughts. If left unaddressed, Dr. Feder says a person’s climate anxiety can develop into depression, causing feelings of hopelessness and despair. That rang true for me—until last summer. 

My climate activism origin story

My perspective started to change last July when I got a message from my friend Veekas: “We’re starting a climate justice group!” he shared in our group chat with other friends. “If you’re interested in learning more, come to our house on Wednesday evening!” I had never been involved in any kind of community organizing before. But what could it hurt to go try? 

The icebreaker activity at that first meeting—which consisted of about 15 people gathered on Veekas’s back porch—was to share what brought you there today. I felt a little bit like I was back in Girl Scouts as we went around in a circle, talking, one by one, about our fears for the planet, our collective disdain of Senator Joe Manchin (who at the time, had just tanked a huge spending bill because it contained provisions for fighting climate change), and our desire for a better world. 

“I’m angry,” I said when it was my turn. “I’m tired of standing on the sidelines and feeling powerless. I want to do something with this anger.” A chorus of nods and snaps greeted me from the rest of the group. For the first time in a long time, I felt a little bit lighter. I’m not alone. 

In subsequent weeks, our little group evolved rapidly. We named ourselves—Beacon Climate Action Now (BCAN), since most of us were based in Beacon, New York—and settled on our core mission as a politically engaged, progressive group centering climate justice and community care. 

We sketched out visions of a green future on the back of old pieces of poster board, welcomed in dozens of new members, and debated about the focus of our first campaign. By August, we landed on the answer: Petitioning the city of Beacon to pass legislation that would ban fossil-fuel hookups in new construction. Thirty percent of New York’s carbon emissions come from buildings, so by ending fossil-fuel use in new buildings, we’d significantly cut back on future state emissions.

From there, we mobilized. I knocked on neighbors’ doors in 90℉ heat to try and get petition signatures, I led a smaller committee to put together fact sheets about natural gas, and I talked to community members at the farmers’ market about our campaign. I was suddenly spending my weekends canvassing or brainstorming strategy with my friends over walks by the river. But it didn’t feel like work. It was fun. 

Engaging in climate activism single-handedly transformed my outlook on this existential issue—and it currently helps me better manage my anxiety around it all. I can’t pinpoint exactly when the shift happened, but I’m grateful for it. 

This outcome didn’t surprise Dr. Feder, who wrote a research-based guide for therapists in 2022 to help people with climate anxiety. “One of the primary things that people ended up reporting about as being helpful was getting involved in some sort of purposeful action to make a difference,” he says. 

The “why” is multifaceted, though. For starters, doing this work has connected me to experts and advocates who have taught me about the solutions alongside the vast problems that previously felt insurmountable to me. 

Basically, I’ve learned that the climate crisis is not a “closed case,” as Dr. Feder puts it. “We try to help [people] see that the situation is probably not as catastrophic as they’re seeing it,” he says, “that there are things that are happening that are good.” In my case, better understanding the fixes—like electrification and regenerative agriculture, to name a few—makes the huge crisis seem a bit more approachable, and gives me some hope for the future.

Being a member of BCAN has also helped me feel less isolated, which Dr. Feder says is a critical part of addressing climate anxiety. My husband and I didn’t know anyone when we moved from Brooklyn to Beacon in 2020. Joining the group has not only introduced me to so many new friends, but also provided us a natural outlet to hang out and connect with each other. That social support alone is crucial for my mental health. “The fact that you're working together on something with an endpoint goal involves an inherent hope,” adds Dr. Feder. Hope, he says, is kryptonite to climate anxiety.

And wow, is hope powerful. In October, BCAN organized a free festival to support our campaign. We had live music, performed by group members; a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses; a climate-themed story hour for kids; and an interactive trivia game to educate folks about the benefits of gas-free buildings. It was so much work to pull together, with very little lead time, and absolutely no money. But seeing hundreds of people show up on that beautiful fall day completely took my breath away. People actually wanted to turn out and make change on a scary issue—and we showed them it could be fun and healing to do so. I rode the high I felt following the event for weeks. 

Breaking down my feelings of climate anxiety further were the tangible results to our efforts we were seeing. At the end of March, our city council unanimously passed one of the most ambitious municipal electrification bills in the nation, banning fossil fuels in new construction and major renovations starting in 2024. That bill started as a mere idea in my friend’s backyard, and was championed by a group of 50 volunteers, many of whom had no prior organizing experience. It might also help push the state to pass its own version, making the impact on state-wide emissions even greater. If that’s not proof of the power of collective action, I don’t know what is.

How to start sparking change (and quieting your climate anxiety)

If this all sounds appealing to you (and I hope it does), there are a few places where you can start getting involved. 

First, look up local chapters of national organizations that you like and see if they have meetings you can join. Some great options include Food and Water Watch (which focuses on safe food and water), the Climate Justice Alliance (which centers addressing inequality), Sunrise Movement (which is geared toward young people) and 350.org (which targets the fossil fuel industry). 

There may also be independent groups in your area more targeted to your community’s needs. Examples include LA Forward Action and East Yard Communities in Los Angeles, We Act or NYC Environmental Justice Alliance in New York City, or regional organizations like Midwest Environmental Justice Network or the Southeast Climate and Energy Network. Other groups also focus on specific populations most affected by the climate crisis, like the Indigenous Climate Resilience Network and the National Black Environmental Justice Network. 

Educate yourself about what your city government offers in the realm of climate activism, such as climate-themed community forums or committees focused on environmental policy ideas. Attending city council meetings could be a good starting point to see what’s in progress (if anything) and where there might be opportunities to contribute or make change. 

If you’re not finding an existing group doing what you’d like to do in your community, you could always gather with friends and acquaintances and build your group from the ground up. You might be surprised what you can accomplish. Take BCAN, which now boasts over 50 members and is crafting a climate-justice policy platform and endorsement process for this year’s municipal elections. We also recently joined New York Renews, a coalition of hundreds of smaller climate justice groups, in order to tap into and support larger state-wide initiatives. 

Even Dr. Feder has taken to activism to address his own eco-anxiety as a member of groups including 350NH (the New Hampshire affiliate of 350) and No Coal No Gas. Organizing with others to take action on the climate crisis has “basically given me a feeling that there are ways of intervening in the situation that have possibilities for success,” he says. “[Organizing] gives you a sense of real action about it.” 

Yes, I am very aware that it will be a long fight to make the changes that need to be made. And yes, there are days where caring about the Earth—and climate justice—feels like you're chipping away at a boulder with a toothpick while everyone else denies that the boulder is even that big. 

But ultimately, I am choosing to have faith in a better world rather than accepting the fate that seemingly has been handed to us through decades of inaction. Being optimistic about that fate motivates me to fight like hell to protect my future and that of everyone I love—even on the most difficult, frustrating days. So if you’re overwhelmed thinking about how to leave the world a better place, take this step with me. You’re not alone.

The Case for Hot Girl Walks To Save the Planet

Swapping even some of our short drives for a self-care stroll could majorly cut down on carbon emissions.

In the court of public opinion (aka the internet), if I had to plead my case for hot girl walks being good for not just you, but the environment, I’d feel as confident doing so as Gwyneth Paltrow sitting in front of a jury of her peers.

For starters, there are the many physical benefits associated with the practice, like helping you live longer and reducing your risk of developing chronic diseases, NBD. But did you know that swapping your short commutes in the car for these self-care strolls could not just help save your sanity, but also help save the planet? Let’s just say that all the pretty* girls walk like this. 

Despite the name, you do not, in fact, need to identify as any particular gender in order to enjoy walking like a hot girl. All you need is to embody the energy as described by hot girl walk creator Mia Lind: “The hot girl walk is a four-mile, outdoor walk that builds confidence through movement, serving as a dedicated time for you,” she says, emphasizing the you. “During a hot girl walk, you focus on three things: gratitude, goals, and confidence.” 

“

During a hot girl walk, you focus on three things: gratitude, goals, and confidence.

—Mia Lind

It may seem hyperbolic to declare that these TikTok trendy hot girl walks could “save the planet.” But when you consider that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) names transportation as the number-one generator of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., I don’t sound like I’m so full of hot, carbon-dioxide-filled air, do I? 

Right now, Americans take an average of four car trips daily, totaling a whopping collective 1.1 billion rides every 24 hours. But here’s the thing: According to the Federal Highway Administration, almost a quarter of those trips are less than a mile long, and 45 percent are under three miles, putting them in prime hot girl walking territory. 

Opting to hoof it more and drive less can reduce your carbon footprint significantly. Sure, you will burn calories that need to be replaced by eating more food, which itself takes greenhouse gasses to produce and transport. But a study conducted by the environmental research organization Pacific Institute found that walking 1.5 miles created less than a quarter of the carbon emissions as driving the same distance—and that’s taking into account your post-walk snack. 

Researchers found that driving that far would generate 1,000 grams of CO2, while walking the same distance generates 230 grams. To put that into perspective, the average cup of coffee has a carbon footprint of about 50 grams of CO2, so you could theoretically consume about 17 more cups for the same amount of carbon if you opted to walk that mile and a half instead of take a car.   

What’s more, the EPA says Americans could collectively save $900 million in car costs (including $575 million in fuel alone)—and the CO2 equivalent of taking 400,000 cars off the road—by swapping just half of our short drives (the ones that are less than a mile) for walks. 

Even though she wasn’t initially considering the environmental impact when she created the hot girl walk, Lind, who lives in Los Angeles (arguably one of the least walkable cities in the country) says she’s noticed her own car usage has dropped for little errands she’d normally drive for. Another unexpected side effect? “Spending more time outside also made me more aware of the effects of carbon emissions on our planet,” she says. Lind recently teamed up with the fitness app Strava to start turning hot girl walks into a global challenge to raise money for charity; she hopes to do more to support climate activism in the future, and this April Strava is collectively asking its community to divert enough vehicle trips to circle the globe 100 times by walking, running, or cycling instead.

I realize that there are some limits to the argument I’m making here that would certainly come up in a cross examination. Walking isn’t an option for everyone (though you could reap the same environmental benefits from riding a bike, or making the trip in a wheelchair, if those are options available to you). Not all places even have sidewalks or streetscapes that are conducive to walking. And unless you are a member of the postal service, you’re unlikely to hoof it in inclement weather—understandable. 

These are all valid, but I would conjecture that the reason most people who are able to walk don’t is because they think taking a car will be faster. Fight me. A lot of times, though, driving isn’t all that much faster. How often have you hopped in the car to head to the pharmacy because Google Maps tells you it’ll only take six minutes to get there, compared to 12 minutes walking, only to spend another 10 minutes driving around looking for a parking spot? You do the math. I rest my case. 

* Read: eco-conscious 

What are heirloom and perennial grains?

Perennial grains are pretty straightforward to define. Perennial plants, including grains, mean that they regrow year after year without needing to be replanted. This enables their root systems to grow far deeper into the earth than an annual plant that needs to continually be replanted.

A general go-to is that heirloom grains encompass grains that have not been adulterated or genetically modified in any way.

Heirloom grains, on the other hand, have varying definitions depending on who you ask. Some equate them to ancient grains, while others feel there’s a distinct difference. Ancient grains refer to grains that originated in indigenous cultures and have been grown the same way for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, like amaranth, sorghum, and pseudo grain (though actually a seed) quinoa. While heirloom or heritage grains, to some people, indicate indigenous grains that were brought to the West by immigrants. These grains will also be grown using the same centuries-old techniques. Some examples include farro, triticale, einkorn wheat, and kamut or Khorasan wheat. Many ancient grains will also heirloom grains but ultimately, there’s no official definition of these terms. A general go-to is that heirloom grains encompass grains that have not been adulterated or genetically modified in any way.

In this country, these grains date back to before the Green Revolution, explains Eric Skokan, owner and farmer at Black Cat Farm in Boulder, Colorado. The Green Revolution was a time when grain production skyrocketed and farmers started to engage in selective breeding. This breeding was aimed at “decreasing the stature of the grains so that the plant put the vast majority of its energy into seed production,” says Skokan. This would yield more harvestable grain, perfect for its future in subsidized commodity crop farming. He paints a lovely picture of what grains looked like pre-revolution, “when we, as Americans, envision fields of grain being roughly waist to chest high, golden and weaving…we’re thinking of heirloom grains.”

Health benefits of heirloom and perennial grains

One way these grains set themselves multiple steps above the conventionally raised grains pervasive in our food supply today, is the nutrition they offer. Among the dozens of various heirloom and perennial grains available to us, the nutrition will vary slightly, but generally you can expect these grains to offer vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, iron, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc. They’ll also deliver serious amounts of fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and plant compounds. These nutrients combine to offer us sustained energy, strong bones, optimal tissue growth and repair, improved heart health, and boosted immune function.

While the wheat we’re used to generally can offer many of these same nutrients, much of it is stripped away in refinement and processing. Refined wheat flour, for example, has the outer two layers of the grain removed. These layers are the bran and germ—where you’ll find the majority of the fiber, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. This process yields a shelf stable product, but offers very little nutrition.

Even in the case of whole wheat flour you’d buy at the grocery store, much of it has been heat treated or processed in some other way to yield a shelf stable product. Yes, you read that right, freshly milled whole wheat flour is NOT shelf stable. The germ in whole grain wheat contains oil that will go rancid if not kept in the refrigerator or freezer. The processing required for whole wheat flour to be able to sit on grocery store shelves for months and months can reduce the micronutrient and antioxidant content—and thus its overall nutritional benefits.

Perennial and heirloom grains obtain their rich nutrition mainly through their lack of processing but also their deep root systems. Perennial grains, in particular, are going to have extensive root systems, especially if they’ve been in the ground for multiple years, offering up to seven times the amount of root structures when compared to annual crops. This allows them to extract more nutrients from the soil, creating a healthier final product.

Heirloom grains, though planted annually, also have much more intricate root systems than the conventional grain plants that we see today that are bred to be much shorter in stature. This is because, “whatever you have above the ground, you have an equal amount of growth below ground,” explained Skokan, referencing a plant’s root systems.

Sustainability potential of heirloom and perennial grains

When it comes to sustainability, these grains also shine, mainly due to their ability to positively influence soil health. When grain is harvested, what often happens is the remaining plant and its roots are either left in the field to decompose or are tilled back into the soil as is or in the form of compost—this introduces what’s called organic (or living) matter into the soil. Organic matter in soil directly influences its productivity and ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide. Fun fact: Soil is one the major carbon sinks on our precious Mother Earth. Skokan expands a little further, “we are at 50 percent of the soil organic matter that our great grandparents farmed with. All of that organic matter is carbon, and all of that carbon is now in the atmosphere instead of being in the ground.” This is an obvious problem when looking at the climate issues that we face as a global community.

But here’s where perennial and heirloom grains present an exciting opportunity. As we already know, these grains grow deeper root systems while also offering more plant matter above ground to help boost soil’s organic matter and store carbon in the ground. These deep root systems equate to increased drought resistance as they can find water deeper in the ground.

This all translates to these incredible grains having the potential to not only improve soil health and sequester carbon, but also provide food security in a changing climate with less predictable weather and precipitation.

Including heirloom and perennial grains in your diet

So, with all this exciting information on heirloom and perennial grains, where can you find them and what are the best ways to include them in your diet?

Heirloom grains are becoming much more mainstream, and you can usually find at least one variety in most grocery stores. Some common types include farro, spelt, sorghum, amaranth, millet, and quinoa. If you have access to local farmers growing more niche heirloom wheat varieties like sonora, turkey red, or blue emmer, you should also totally give those a try.

Perennial grains are a bit harder to come by. Kernza is the first commercially available perennial wheat, and you can now find products made with it on Amazon and in Whole Foods. Though, expect to see more and more perennial grain options in the coming years as Whole Foods named them a top 10 food trend in 2022.

Once you have your hands on either heirloom or perennial grains, one key concept when it comes to wheat products is fermentation. Fermentation is the digestive process carried out by microorganisms like bacteria and yeast, in this case typically introduced by way of sourdough starter, to create a desirable change in food. When it comes to fermentation in wheat products, these organisms start to break down the gluten molecules that are the culprit of so many stomach complaints. This yields a more digestible product for us as well as the delicious, tangy flavor sourdough is known for.

From nutrition to sustainability, perennial and heirloom grains are impressive on so many fronts, more than justifying their increasing trendiness. Whether you’ve been enjoying some of the classics like farro or quinoa for years or are new to this wide world of grains, trying your hand at some of the newer and more niche varieties is not only fun, but can also help improve both your health and the health of the planet.

One video had me cleaning my fridge with a specific spray, while my dishwasher needed another—neither of which I really needed to do the job. And I’m not the only one shilling out more on cleaning supplies these days. According to a 2023 study, Americans are spending more on cleaning supplies than in the past. In 2021, the average was $178.45 annually compared to $147.55 in 2014. An extra $31 isn’t a ton of money, but it does add up, and spending even a penny on unnecessary cleaning products isn’t worth it.

So if your budget line item for cleaning supplies is feeling a bit inflated, it may be time to review which products your purchasing and cut the fluff. Knowing what’s worth your money and what’s not can help you in this endeavor.

Here are 5 unnecessary cleaning products that you can skip and save your coin on

1. Stainless steel cleaners

During a recent deep clean, aka procrastination cleaning, I convinced myself I needed to buy a stainless steel cleaner. It’s also important to mention that the only stainless steel I have in my apartment is my tiny kitchen sink. Turns out, dish soap and olive oil do the trick just as well. “Dish soap is great for removing grease, oil, food, and fingerprints from appliances,” says cleaning professional and president of Beat the Dust Cleaning, Sergio Sanchez. “Start by putting a little bit of dish soap on a microfiber rag and moisten it with a modest amount of water.” Wipe along the grain of the appliance, he says, then use olive oil to polish it (start with a dime size and add more as needed depending on the surface area.

2. Toilet cleaners

Of course, keeping our toilets clean and sanitized is imperative—experts suggest a deep clean at least once a week. But when it comes to the actual toilet cleaner, Sanchez suggests making your own. “Combine baking soda and essential oils to give it a nice smell, in a glass bowl and drop a tablespoon into the toilet before adding a few drops of white vinegar,” he says. Then all you have to do is scrub it with your regular toilet brush.

3. Floor cleaners

”Floor cleaning products can be pricey and most leave a residue,” says Sanchez. Instead he suggests filling up a mop bucket with a gallon of warm water, white distilled vinegar, and a drop of dish soap. “This will leave your floors looking and smelling fresh—but be sure to change and wring out your mop head as needed so you’re not spreading grime.”

4. Drain cleaners

Using drain cleaners may keep us from the expensive call to the plumber, but “most drain cleaners use powerful chemicals that can be hazardous when inhaled,” warns Sanchez. Rather, combine 1/3 cup baking soda and 1/3 cup vinegar and pour it down the drain. “When we mix those specific ingredients, a chemical reaction is formed that creates the pressure needed to dislodge the clog,” Sanchez says. “For best results, follow up with boiling water.”

5. Oven cleaner

I’m also guilty of making this purchase. And to be honest, the only difference it made was the toxic hazardous smell made it hard to breathe. While the oven cleaning setting is the best and safest way to loosen up any extra grease and grime, not all ovens have that option. But even if you do have the self-cleaning feature, Sanchez recommends following up with this easy recipe of dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar—combine equal parts dish soap and vinegar, then add baking soda until it forms a paste. “Use a sponge to apply a liberal amount of paste to the walls of your oven, including the oven door,” he says. “For best results, let it sit for 30 minutes and then use the abrasive side of the sponge to wipe away the paste along with all grease and grime.” To finish off, simply rinse the inside of the oven with water.

Second, and more selfishly, I wanted a chic chair. Like, one of those cloud-like bouclé chairs all the influencer girlies have in their airy, modern apartments. A tried-and-true Cancer, I’m naturally a nester and a homebody. I love aesthetics and creating a spaces that make me feel good, places I can retreat to when I’m craving alone time, or can show off when I’m entertaining. That leather chair was not part of the equation—it was time for a change.

So when I had the opportunity to check out a Sixpenny slipcover chair, I jumped at the chance. The New York-based furniture brand makes stunning, timeless pieces using beautiful, eco-friendly materials, many of which are washable and easy to care for. An excuse to ditch the leather fossil for good!? And with something that looked like it was handpicked by an interior designer? Count me in.

Turns out, we don’t miss that old leather chair so much anymore. In fact, we love our Sixpenny armchair so much we often fight over who gets to sit in it, dog included. Find my full review, below.

Customizing your chair

I finally settled on the Neva Chair ($1,449) which, per the website, is “the fluffiest, comfiest ‘wow this is soft’ collection we’ve made. Neva’s playfully minimal style will turn any room into an effortless oasis.” Sold.

Sixpenny, Neva Chair

Prices start at $1,449 and vary by upholstery. 

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Before ordering, though, I was sent a box of fabric swatches to choose from, which I highly recommend doing, since this is an heirloom investment piece. Currently, the Neva Chair can be upholstered in 32 materials: cotton canvas, cotton linen, thread-dye cotton linen, washed cotton linen, washed cotton velvet, lightweight linen, medium-weight linen, and faux fur. Prices vary based on material. You can choose up to 12 fabric and leather swatches for free; anything after that is $2 a piece.

You also choose your fill, which is available in a feather down (a blend of ethically-sourced feather, ethically-sourced down, and vegan poly fiber) or a vegan poly-fill, “made to mimic the decadent, sink-in experience of feather-filled cushions.” Color-wise, I landed on a creamy washed cotten-linen blend called “Corn Silk” (since the slipcovers can easily be cleaned, I felt a bit more comfortable going with white than I normally would). As for the fill, I opted for the poly-fill, since I try to live as animal-free as much as possible.

Some of the color/fabric combinations are ready to ship, but the “Corn Silk” was not. Since the piece was handcrafted, it took 10-12 weeks to order. Depending on the materials you choose, the lead time can fluctuate  bit, Still, 10-12 weeks is pretty standard for custom furniture.

Delivery

Fun fact: Nearly every piece of furniture I own I’ve had to put together myself. From my bed-frame and dressers down to my ottomans, almost all of my furniture has arrived disassembled in boxes, leaving me and my disgruntled boyfriend to put them together. To my delight, the Neva Chair is made-to-order and arrives fully assembled (for free) at your door, no flat-lay boxes or Alan wrenches to be wrestled with. Scheduling your delivery is easy, and if there are any special requirements or arrangements to be made, the company coordinates that with you ahead of time.

On delivery day, my Neva Chair arrived in one of the biggest cardboard boxes I’ve ever seen, which was promptly brought inside and opened by two delivery men. I simply told them where I wanted it to go, they stripped away the cardboard and other packaging, and set it up—easy as pie. It took all of five minutes and—arguably the best part—they discarded all of the waste for me, so I wasn’t stuck with mounds of cardboard until trash day. This was my first go at white-glove service and let me tell you—it’s luxe!

The Sixpenny Neva Chair: An honest review

Look and feel

My first impression of the stunning Neva Chair was, “Wow, it’s huge.” Measuring out at 44 “x 41” x 33”, it’s a big, boxy throne. While it’s not noticeably taller than most chairs, it’s definitely wider—the seat width is a whopping 38”, meaning there’s plenty of room for sprawling out in.

Size aside, as soon as it was set up I turned to my boyfriend and said, “This is the nicest piece of furniture I will probably ever own.” It’s stunning. The Corn Silk Linen is gorgeous and so soft, it practically drips luxury. I love its minimalist look, slightly mussy covers, and soft lines, and find it really opens up my space (especially against the ’70s-style wood paneling that’s been leftover in our living room).

More importantly, it’s a cloud a chair form. Holy soft. As soon as I sat down into this thing I knew I’d never want to get out of it. The poly-fill cushion is so sink-in-able but still supportive, so your body can completely and totally relax. Even more impressive is its width. At 5’9″, I can sit on my side with my knees curled up, almost like I’m on a human-sized dog bed—it’s that big. If we wanted to, my boyfriend and I could sit in it together with our legs sprawled out on my Levity Ottoman ($299) (which matches perfectly, BTW). However, if I do share it, I prefer to do it with my dog, who’s smaller and arguably a better cuddler. However, we all like our space, which is an issue because we all like the chair, and are thus constantly fighting over who gets to sit in it.

Quality and price point

As my first “adult” piece of furniture, I get why people pay for custom furniture. I’m not discounting drop-ship products, by any means. But there is something satisfying about having a piece that’s made for you, with the high-quality fabrics and fill you want.

The Neva Chair is undoubtedly my nicest piece of furniture because of its quality. Like I said, everything is handcrafted, not put together by machines or robots. The frame is made from kiln-dried wood and plywood, which is then reinforced with corner blocking and finished with a high-tenacity webbing (aka, you won’t fall through). The cushion isn’t just filled with poly-down but rather features three layers of foam for additional support. Each cushion in Sixpenny’s lineup is made with a foam core of high-density foam sandwiched between two “comfort layers” of medium-density foam. That way they’re still lofty but not so lofty you get stuck in them.

Its piece de resistance, IMO, are its slipcovers. Yes, slipcovers! If before you were scratching your head as to why I would let my dirty, rotten hound climb up on a $1,500 chair, it’s all because of the slipcovers, which can be unzipped and cleaned in a pinch. Technically, it’s a washable chair, however, you’re going to want to wash it carefully depending on the materials you get.

Per the Sixpenny website, natural linen (like mine) and cotton are better off dry-cleaned. You can definitely get away with a spot treatment (I’ve done it) and, if you’re really careful, a washing machine with cold water and mild detergent. Additionally, “while we always recommend washing every component of your slipcover consecutively to maintain color uniformity, it’s important to wash every piece of the slipcover on its own.” And with the zippers closed, as they can get snagged on the agitator when left open.

I haven’t found I’ve needed to clean mine yet. As I mentioned, spot cleaning has done the trick (heads up: there are some fabrics, like the thread-dyed linens, that can’t be) as has vacuuming with my upholstery attachment for dirt and dog hair. Even if I am forced to go to the dry cleaner, having slipcovers makes me feel so much better about the lifespan of my chair, which, given the hefty price tag, better be a long time.

Sustainability

In the year 2023, we should be doing everything we can do be sustainable. This includes shopping from responsible, ethical brands which prioritize the earth’s well-being as much as our own. Thankfully, Sixpenny does just that.

First are the materials, most of which are natural (pure linen, cotton), if not at least recycled. Most fabrics are hand-dyed in small batches, and nothing is treated or coated with any protective performance repellants—it’s au naturel. Certain pieces also feature reclaimed woods like oak and pine “etched with over 30 years of history in every knot.” There’s also the fill, which is ethically sourced, too. According to the Sixpenny website, their distributor “only uses non-live-plucked down feathers, which they obtain as natural byproducts of the food industry. They’re audited and inspected by the Feather and Down Association every year, and their certification is renewed annually.”

Each piece is also built to last. Considering the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates an average 9 million tons of furniture end up in landfills each year, durability is automatically a win for planet Earth. The slipcovers are a big part of this. Rather than having to throw a piece away or replace something entirely, you can clean it in a jiffy. Perhaps a slipcover is beyond repair—that’s okay, you don’t need to nix the whole chair. You can buy another one on its own. (Just be prepared, it’ll cost a pretty penny—The Neva Chair Slipcovers currently start at $449 each.) But better than forking over another $1,500 to replace the whole chair.

A steep price tag can be tough to swallow but with eco-friendlier options, it’s worth it in the end if you can swing the cost. For you, the planet, and (maybe) your wallet.

Final thoughts

Time for the million-dollar question: Is the Sixpenny Neva Chair worth it? Unequivocally, undoubtedly yes. In fact it’s so good, I’m trying to convince my boyfriend to let us buy the matching Neva Sectional, which is a cool $4,000. (He’s not having it.)

I think my mother—a tough critic with a natural eye for interior design—said it best: “Wow, this chair is the bomb.” She never said that about the old leather chair we replaced, so… ’nuff said

Since Oprah, there have been many other plants that have come and gone. My mom even suggested purchasing a hard-to-kill snake plant that’s I’ve named Isobel. I’ve been doing everything in my power to keep her alive—and that includes figuring out what to threats to soil to avoid so that I don’t wind up with another Oprah situation on my hands.

So before it’s too late for Isobel, I spoke with soil and environmental scientist Agnieszka Piwowarczyk, PhD, (better known as Dr. Aga) to learn more about what plants need from soil to not only survive, but thrive.

Firstly, what is potting soil made of?

Potting soil or potting compost isn’t technically soil at all. It’s a mix of components like peat moss, and some extra organic materials like stone wool, perlite, and vermiculite that are very nutrient-dense and offer good drainage, says Dr. Aga. Unlike real soil, which can contain fungus or bacteria that could harm your houseplants, potting mix is typically sterilized to protect them from microorganisms that could cause disease.

So you can sort of think of potting compost as a blank canvas. To maintain its high-nutrient quality, you need to water and fertilize it regularly, but equally as important as what you introduce to your soil is what you make sure to keep out of it.

3 common threats to soil and how to safeguard against them

1. Home pesticides

Like with humans and what we put in and on our bodies, introducing toxins into your potting mix is a common threat to soil that can disrupt its natural ecosystem. “We want to avoid the different forms of [commercial] pesticides for home use,” says Dr. Aga. “These chemicals not only contain reduced concentrations of the active ingredients, but can be equally harmful to the life of the soil overtime, thus affecting our plants too.” The purpose of any pesticide is to protect plants for irritants like insects, weeds, or even infectious organisms. Should you find yourself in need of safeguarding your houseplants from any of the above, opt for natural pesticides like neem oil instead. They are non-toxic solutions vetted by the EPA for use on organic food so they are A-okay to spritz on your plant babies.

2. Soil compaction

Dr. Aga says you also never want to let your potting soil lose its structural stability, a state known as soil compaction that doesn’t allow air and water to pass through. Similarly to how we want our skin care to really sink in through our pores, soil needs tiny holes through which to absorb water and plant food. When compaction occurs, the pore space is so tight, and that reduces the rate of both water infiltration, as well as drainage on the other side. This can impact root development (or even create root rot) and lead to smaller plant sizes. Over or under watering your plants can cause to soil compaction, as can using a pot without adequate airflow—typically, this is the case with plastic ones. To aerate your soil and loosen things up, you can use chopsticks to poke holes into it, but if that doesn’t work, consider repotting your plant with new potting mix.

3. Bleached soil 

The color of potting soil is another indicator of its health. “Never let the soil go light in color unless your plants don’t have many requirements like cacti,” warns Dr. Aga. “For  most plants that enjoy richer soils, we want the soil to be dark brown or even almost black. Losing this dark color indicates losing the soil organic matter. Adding compost and other soil amendments like feeds should help to maintain the desired organic matter status of the soil.” If that still doesn’t help, she suggests changing the soil.

The good news? It seems like each year people are becoming more and more aware of how pervasive this issue is, and smart leaders are coming up with solutions that could help us cut it down.

In her research for Well+Good’s upcoming Climate Issue, lifestyle editor Erica Sloan got to know an innovative new brand called Cabinet Health that is tackling the pharmaceutical industry’s single-use plastic waste problem in particular. For the most recent episode of the Well+Good podcast, our director of podcasts Taylor Camille was able to sit down with the founders, Achal Patel and Russell Gong, and talk to them about how their idea to create reusable packaging for over-the-counter medicines became a reality—including an appearance on Shark Tank earlier this year.

Why focus specifically on medicine packaging? The use of plastic in the healthcare sector has increased significantly in recent years: According to the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, the US healthcare system generates 14,000 tons of waste daily, and 20 to 25 percent of that is plastic. What’s more: 91 percent of that plastic is not recycled.

Cabinet Health offers reusable glass containers for over-the-counter drugs—like acetominophen or lactase enzyme—that can be refilled. Each container comes with a magnetic label for the top that includes the details you need about your medicine, and you can purchase additional refill packs whenever you need more, rather than buying a whole new bottle. This alternative is meant to cut down on the reported 194 billion plastic medicine bottles produced every year.

Sloan points out that medicine is one part of our lives in which most of us rarely think twice about the plastic we go through. “I think most people just take over-the-counter drugs, even prescriptions, and aren’t really thinking about the eco impact of those bottles or where they’re going because those drugs are something that you need to take, so it’s not really a thing that’s on your mind,” says Sloan.

Yet those bottles we go through can be a significant contributor to pollution and harm the environment, wildlife, and human health. To learn more about Sloan’s reporting on microplastics and Cabinet Health, check out this week’s episode of the podcast:

All April long at Well+Good, we are celebrating Earth Month and organizations, brands, and founders that walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to fighting climate change and caring for our planet. So stay tuned for more.

It may sound a little weird or even gross, but urine can be a good fertilizer when properly prepared (more on that below—no, you can’t just pop a squat over your pots) because it contains some of the most-needed nutrients, like phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen, a byproduct of eating protein, that plants need to thrive. In fact, the United Nations finds that there’s enough phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen in the world’s wastewater (aka pee) to replace 13.4 percent of global fertilizer needs.

“You can do this at home and save on the cost that would have been used to buy fertilizers,” says professional gardener Miguel Palma, owner of the gardening advice site Jardin Tienda. Plant fertilizer can range in price from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, depending on the amount you need, so while money isn’t the only factor to consider here, it can certainly add up.

Plus, why pay for something you can get for free? The same nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium found in your urine are the three basic plant nutrients in most commonly used fertilizers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Urine also contains trace amounts of zinc, which is another micronutrient found in some fertilizers (not all) that the EPA says plants also need to grow. So pee is a solid substitute for store-bought fertilizers with the added bonus of already possessing these nutrients in a soluble form that’s easy for plants to absorb.

You can urine as frequently as you would any other type of plant food (or fertilizer), which will vary depending on season and type of plant. So do your homework on your specific plant or speak with a specialist at your local nursery or plant shop who can offer you recommendations based on whether your plant is indoors or outdoors, potted or not, as well as what phase of its growth cycle it’s in, all factors to keep in mind.

What to know about peeing on your plants

Palma says that the first thing to note when intending to use human urine as fertilizer is that the urine is too concentrated. “It should be diluted before application,” he says. Otherwise, it can burn the leaves or kill off microorganisms that you need in the soil.

If you’re worried about the smell, it should dissipate pretty quickly, Palma says, or you can add some vinegar to the container while it’s empty to counteract any odors.

Another factor to consider, no matter what form of fertilizer you’re using, is the temperature of the soil, which should be at least 50º F for cold-season crops outside and 60–70º F for warm-season plants, to make sure the plants can properly absorb the nutrients, according to horticulturalists at Oregon State University. This is really only a factor to consider with outdoor plants, but still something to keep in mind.

Urine also has salts in it, and salt is not great for your plants. As long as you water well between pee applications, the salts will be diluted and you won’t have a problem. If you start to see scorched leaves, wilting, or a white crust on the soil, your salt levels are too high and you need to dilute the urine more and water with more pure water between fertilizations.

The drawbacks of using urine as plant fertilizer

Using your own urine as fertilizer sounds like a free, relatively simple way to ensure your plants get the nutrients they need to stay healthy, and it is. But there are a few drawbacks to using pee on plants you should also consider. For starters, urine is high in nitrogen (according to the journal Nutrition Research and Practice, the average concentration of nitrogen in human urine is around 0.14g/L), which can cause burning and other damage to plants if it is not used in the correct amounts. Additionally, its odor can repel beneficial insects like bees and butterflies if you’re using it outdoors, and it can attract animals like rats, which can cause additional problems.

There are ways to mitigate these issues; however, and depending on where you live and whether your plants are indoors or out, it may still be worth exploring using your own urine as fertilizer.

How to use pee on plants as a fertilizer

Step 1: Collect your urine

To do this, you’ll need a cup (if you’ve every given a urine sample at the doctor’s it’s the same idea). Pee into your cup and then transfer your urine to your watering can.

Step 2: Prepare your pee

As Palma mentioned, pee is too concentrated to pour directly onto plants, so you need to dilute it first. Dilute your pee with five to 10 parts water using the same cup your collected your pee in to help . The ratio doesn’t have to be exact, you can just eyeball it, Palma says.

Step 3: Sprinkle your soil

Just like during a normal watering session, you don’t want to douse your plant’s leaves with fertilizer; instead, aim to saturate the soil. Palma says it works best when applied to actively growing plants before they grow fruit or seeds.

Is using pee on your plants safe?

Just like with any fertilizer, when using pee as plant food, you want to be mindful to handle your urine carefully. Wash your hands after handling urine and wash your fruit and vegetables before eating them—two things you should already be doing anyway. If you’re fertilizing produce in your garden, the Rich Earth Institute, which researches the safety of using urine on crops for eating and is using donated human urine to make commercial fertilizer for sustainable farming, recommends waiting at least a month after fertilizing to eat anything you’ve grown (regardless of type of plant food). But this shouldn’t be an issue in practice since, as Palma points out, the time to fertilize your soil is well before harvest season.

For starters, whenever we consume more protein than the body can absorb at one time (the amount of which is still under investigation), the excess will be stored as fat and/or be filtered through the kidneys and excreted as nitrogen, a key building block of protein, and shockingly, this is harming American waterways.

Why excess nitrogen excretion is an environmental issue

A recent study out of University of California Davis found that high protein intake amongst Americans is causing excess nitrogen to leach into U.S. watersheds and aquatic systems through wastewater. Seeing as fertilizer for plants is primarily made of nitrogen, excess nitrogen in these waterways, also known as eutrophication, will cause aquatic plants and algaes to flourish.

But many times, the species that flourish are not most beneficial to the ecosystem in question, causing toxic algae blooms and “dead zones” for animals due to toxicity and overuse of oxygen from these plants. This can be devastating to aquatic environments across the country, especially coastal areas. It can also pollute precious drinking water. Excess nitrogen in drinking water is usually in the form of nitrate that when consumed in high amounts can interfere with healthy oxygen transportation in the bloodstream.

The connection between animal protein consumption and climate change

Beyond these glaring issues, the livestock farming industry as a whole is contributing to climate change in a serious way. Livestock production contributes at least 14.5 percent of all total greenhouse gas emissions globally. These are related to the production of livestock feed and other inputs like antibiotics, deforestation for new pastureland, operations of concentrated feeding operations (i.e. feedlots), and methane emissions from the cows themselves (i.e. cow burps). These impacts are most significant for ruminant animals, such as beef and lamb, and followed closely by dairy, pork, poultry, and egg production.

How to reduce the environmental impact of eating protein

Through balancing your intake with the amount of protein your body needs, you can make a meaningful environmental impact on both your locally and globally. UC Davis found that if Americans committed to this change alone, nitrogen releases into U.S. aquatic systems would be reduced by at least 12 percent. Here are some easy tips to get started.

1. Know your protein needs

One of the first steps in reducing the environmental impact of your diet, especially from a protein perspective, is to get an idea of exactly how much protein your body needs. In order to get the completely individualized number here, you’d need to consult with a registered dietitian. But there are some calculation methods that will get you in the ballpark.

One of those is a grams of protein per kilogram of body weight calculation. Most people will need somewhere between 0.8 grams and 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, depending on activity levels. The average person should shoot for around 0.8 grams. To calculate your needs based on this method, simply convert your body weight into kilograms and multiply by 0.8. You might be surprised by just how “little” this number may seem to you, but that’s kind of the point.

2. Opt for plant protein sources

Eating animal protein sources with lower carbon footprints, as outlined above is a good first step, but better yet, try opting for plant-based proteins. Just some of the options here would include nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, lentils, tempeh, and tofu. Not only are these lower in cholesterol and saturated fats than animal proteins, but they provide some of your daily fiber needs, making them a healthier choice.

There’s also a whole market for alternative meat products out there, from your run-of-the-mill veggie burger all the way to product brands like Beyond and Meati where you can barely tell that you’re not eating ground beef or breaded chicken breast. When it comes to these alternatives, some are definitely healthier than others. Try to choose options with fewer ingredients that you recognize.

3. Consider local, regenerative, or grass-fed aimal proteins

If you’re looking for more sustainable animal-based proteins, try looking for regenerative, local, or grass-fed options. Regenerative agriculture, especially when it comes to raising livestock, involves a process called rotational grazing. This means that the animals are continuously moved from one pasture to another, preventing any one area from being overgrazed. This helps to restore and maintain optimal soil health through continual plant growth and the healthy reintroduction of nitrogen from animal waste.

These conditions will actually sequester carbon from the atmosphere into the soil through healthy plant and root growth while reducing, if not eliminating, the need for chemical fertilizers and processed animal feeds. It also helps to reduce nitrogen runoff from the animals that pollutes waterways, as is often the case with feedlot operations. Plus, it helps rebalance ecosystems and protect vital insects like pollinators. Oftentimes, when a product says grass-fed this is what it means.

On the local front, while not all local meat producers will operate in this way, they are usually engaging in practices that are more environmentally friendly than what you’ll find in the grocery store. Plus, there are fewer emissions associated with transport. But the real benefit to local producers is that you can ask them questions about their production practices.

It should be noted that some studies have found that grass-fed beef does technically release more emissions per pound when compared to grain-finished or feedlot-raised animals because the cow’s lifespan will be longer to reach processing weight and thus it will produce more methane through its lifetime. Also, completely grass-fed animals do require more farmland than the grain-finished. Even so, the overall consensus in the sustainability community is that the benefits and carbon sequestration potential of regenerative farming far outweigh these statistics. Plus, if Americans ate meat in a more moderated way there would be less need for the high amounts of meat produced in our country through feedlots and concentrated livestock operations.

4. Embrace balanced eating

If determining your protein needs seems too complicated, there are other ways to balance your protein intake without having to pull out the calculator. Balanced eating is one way to do this. It entails that at most meals and snacks you’re including a source of protein, complex carbohydrate, healthy fat, and fruit or vegetable. Through eating in a way that is inclusive of all the food groups, you’re ensuring that you’re not eating too much of any one food group while getting a balanced array of both macro and micronutrients. There are some great visualizations of how this should look, one I highly recommend is the Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate which illustrates a balanced meal plate composed of ¼ protein source, ¼ whole grains, ½ produce (fruits and vegetables), and a side of healthy fat.

5. Shop sustainable seafood

While seafood is both delicious and nutritious, it can be among the most unsustainable protein choices out there. Nearly 90 percent of global fish stocks are over-exploited or already depleted. But there are ways to make more sustainable choices, you just have to ask the hard-hitting questions of your fishmonger.

The method of catch, especially for larger fish, is important as many fisheries will use large wall nets that will catch many more species of fish than they’re after, also known as bycatch. Bycatch, when caught on large scales, will have a huge impact on the marine ecosystem of that area. Whether in discussion with your fishmonger or perusing food packaging, look for terms like pole caught, FAD-free, school caught, free school, and pole-and-line-caught, indicating that the product was caught in a way that minimally impacted surrounding marine life.

Also, give seafood that is lower on the food chain a try. Though they sometimes get a bad rap, sardines, anchovies, clams, mussels, and oysters are all really delicious choices that will have a lesser environmental impact as their fast growth cycles enable them to repopulate more quickly. There is a lot more to be said on this topic, so check out seafoodwatch.org for more information.

The global food system is a major contributor to climate change. It’s responsible for 33 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according the United Nations. So the more we can support food producers that are making it possible to buy foods with lower carbon footprints, the further we can move the needle toward carbon neutral, or even carbon negative, practices being the norm.

Thankfully, we have evidence showing us which foods have a lower carbon footprint you can buy at most grocery stores… because what’s sustainable about turning you on to a niche, carbon-negative tea you have to order from Canada?

8 foods with lower carbon footprints

1. Root vegetables

Our World in Data, a far-reaching research group, has compiled data from 38,700 farming operations across 119 countries to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of simple ingredients that many of us utilize so often in cooking. On average, plant-based foods have 10 to 50 times less CO2 emissions when compared to most animal-based products. This is evident when looking at our first low-carbon-footprint food, root vegetables, which emit 0.4 kilograms of CO2 per kilogram (kg CO2/kg).

2. Nature’s Path Products

One packaged food brand you can readily find at the grocery store that is supporting sustainable food production is Nature’s Path. They offer a variety of cereals, oatmeals, bars, granolas, chips, pastries, waffles, and more. This brand is considered an industry leader in sustainability, due in large part to the Regenerative Organic CertifiedⓇ label they proudly display on their products, verifying that they uphold high environmental standards. This certification takes an important step beyond organic toward even more impactful sustainability practices.

Regenerative organic farming combines a variety of processes that help to revive soils and ecosystems, increasing the carbon-sequestering power of the soil and surrounding plant ecosystems, while naturally reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, the certification also prioritizes animal welfare and social equity.

3. Citrus fruits

Because citrus fruits are harvested from trees that typically remain in the ground for decades–sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and keeping it in the soil long-term—they’re a great sustainable food choice. With only 0.3 kg CO2/kg, you can feel good about enjoying these bright bursts of flavor.

4. Oats

It’s hard to beat an artfully assembled bowl of oatmeal with all the fixings in the morning, especially once you realize how low of an environmental impact it has. This is also true when considering oat milk. Compared to other alternative milk options, oat reigns supreme as it uses much less water, about six-times less than almond milk. Dry oats emit only 0.6 kg CO2/kg, making your grandmother’s oatmeal cookie recipe that much sweeter.

5. Algae

Similarly to how plants on land sequester carbon, so do plants underwater. Various types of algae including seaweed, kelp, wakame, nori, and spirulina have become super popular as of late, largely due to their impressive health benefits. But the marine ecosystems that these salty superfoods call home remarkably exhibit 20 times the carbon sequestering power of land forests as they grow faster and can cover more surface area.

6. Neutral organic milk and butter

Emerging in larger grocery stores from coast to coast, Neutral Foods is a line of dairy products that proudly boasts carbon neutrality across the brand. They achieve this through partnering with dairy farmers to significantly reduce their production emissions, choosing smarter packaging options, diligently measuring (and reducing) emissions across the entire life cycle of their products, and purchasing offsets where further reductions can’t be made. This is significant as dairy production contributes up to one third of all greenhouse gas emissions associated with the global food system. Plus, they are the first dairy brand to claim carbon neutrality – and have the evidence to back it up.

7. Nuts

While nuts can get a bad environmental rep due to some varieties’ high water needs, Our World in Data has found that they provide 0.3 kg CO2/kg. What’s more, the data actually shows that nuts have a negative land use figure in their emissions calculation. This is because, with the increasing popularity of nuts, nut trees are replacing cropland, sequestering serious amounts of carbon, and building healthy soil for years to come in the process.

8. Beans

When it comes to sustainable protein choices, it’s hard to beat beans. The BBC created a sustainability calculator showing the environmental impact of around 40 different foods based on data from 40,000 farms and 1,600 processors, packaging types, and retailers. Using this calculator, eating one serving of beans every day for a year produces the same amount of greenhouse gasses as driving 93 miles. Compare this to the emissions a daily serving of conventionally raised beef for a year would rack up—a staggering 7,196 driven miles.

While this list is far from comprehensive, these foods can give you a head start toward living a more environmentally conscious culinary life. Generally speaking, when browsing the grocery store with a low-carbon lens, try to focus on plant-based foods, products with minimal ingredients, package-free or minimally packaged foods, seasonal produce, and locally produced foods from farmers that employ environmentally sound practices.

The project is an $8 billion development venture that will allow ConocoPhillips, a crude oil producer, to drill into the underground reservoir of oil in the region and extract 600 million barrels of oil.

On March 13th, the Biden Administration approved the Willow Project after decades of legal debates. This massive development project stands to transform a portion of the northern Alaskan landscape into a facility capable of pumping out over 180,000 barrels of oil per day over a 30-year timespan, according to ConocoPhillips.

The Willow project stands to negatively impact the surrounding wildlife habitats and Alaska Native communities, in addition to the prospect climate-focused progress.

Proponents point out that the project stands to create an estimated 2,800 jobs and generate between $8 and 17 billion in revenue for the federal government, the state of Alaska, and the North Slope Borough communities.

The project is at odds with President Biden’s climate goals to create a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. It also stands to negatively impact the surrounding wildlife habitats and Alaska Native communities, in addition to the prospect climate-focused progress.

Why was the Willow project approved?

Most of the land in the NPR-A is federally owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is legally available to lease for oil and mining. ConocoPhillips acquired the leases to the land back in the 1990s, and in 2020, the Trump Administration gave the green light for drilling.

However, Sharon Gleason, chief judge on the U.S. District Court of Alaska, reversed this decision in 2021, citing that the environmental analysis was flawed and failed to properly measure greenhouse gas emissions. The BLM then performed a supplemental analysis to address gaps in the initial plan.

The Biden Administration has approved this project to appease the oil company and stay “consistent with the terms of existing leases,” according to the BLM’s Record of Decision. The project also received high praise from both Democratic and Republican Alaskan lawmakers for its potential to drive economic revenue and job creation.

It’s worth noting that the Biden Administration didn’t grant the Willow project full approval. Originally, ConocoPhillips proposed to operate five drill sites, but the approved pared-down version of the plan includes three sites. The aim here is to mitigate negative impact on wildlife habitat by reducing the surface footprint by cutting out things like roads. While this may be an environmentally preferred alternative than more invasive proposals of the plan, it still comes with a whole host of problems.

Potential negative impacts of the Willow project to know about

Nonprofit environmental groups, like Earthjustice and the Wilderness Society, have critiqued the Willow project for its short- and long-term environmental and social justice ramifications for local communities. With regard to the social justice component, officials from the City of Nuiqsut and Native Village of Nuiqsut, which sits on the border of the National Petroleum Reserve, oppose the development due to concerns for their health and way of life. According to a statement by the U.S. Department of the Interior, even the BLM has concerns about the project, including “direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and impacts to wildlife and Alaska Native subsistence.”

This project has indirect emissions of 239 million metric tons of CO2, which is equivalent to the total annual electricity use of over 30 million homes. Environmental analysis also found that this project would also release black carbon (pM2.5), which research has found to have toxic effects on the health of community members near the pollution source. “If the BLM knows that our health is deteriorating, how can it in good conscience allow an activity to go forward, which will make our health worse?” ask Nuiqsut city mayor Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, vice mayor Carl Brower, and president of the Native Village of Nuiqsut Eunice Brower in a joint letter to the Department of the Interior.

Not only would the drilling and extraction release harmful levels of greenhouse gases into the air when the U.S. should be reducing our emissions for climate-protection efforts, but the associated infrastructure to produce and transport the oil would be massive. The final proposal selected by the Biden Administration includes 199 oil wells, 89.6 miles of pipeline, hundreds of miles of roads, bridges, boat ramps, an airstrip, a central processing facility, and a gravel mine site—among other required developments. These roadways and landscape changes stand to stress out animals, potentially altering the migration and movement patterns of caribou, wolves, and thousands of bird species.

That could yield an ecological disaster, and it would also impact the Nuiqsut population’s harvest access and ability to support themselves. A 2018 analysis found that the effects on subsistence and sociocultural systems of oil drilling in the region may be highly adverse and disproportionately born by the Nuiqsut population. According to the document, rapid modernization associated with a huge development boom (think: noise and air pollution and increased human activity) could increase stress levels and exacerbate mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.

But while President Biden’s approval gives the go-ahead for ConocoPhillips to start building, we won’t see any oil pumped from the ground until the infrastructure is in place. In the meantime, environmental organizations and law groups are saddling up for a series of legal battles to attempt to delay development. Now is the time for concerned citizens to make their voices heard, whether through social media campaigns like #StopWillow (on platforms including Instagram and TikTok), via donation to nonprofit organizations like Earthjustice and Wilderness Society, or otherwise getting involved in the efforts such orgs support. Because what do jobs and money matter when the health of the planet hangs in the balance?

When Shara Ticku landed in Singapore 10 years ago, she was shocked by the air quality. It was 2013, and the island was in the midst of a haze crisis brought on by intentional fires on palm oil plantations to prepare the land for use. “The air quality index was over 400—and anything over 300 is heavily toxic,” says Ticku. The experience led her down a palm-oil rabbit hole. She learned that it’s in 50 percent of products on supermarket shelves despite its known contribution to pollution and deforestation

“Today palm oil is produced through industrial agriculture, so it’s natural, but it’s this highly extractive industrial agriculture system,” says Ticku. “The tree can only grow in a spot of land that’s about five or 10 degrees around the equator. So as there’s been demand, we’ve seen the slashing and burning of rainforests.” A report from Greenpeace found that palm oil suppliers to the world’s largest brands cleared more than 500 square miles of rainforest between 2015 and 2018. “When my co-founder and I found out about this we were just outraged. We were shocked to hear that we’re just destroying rainforests to make a vegetable oil. And we thought there has to be a better way of doing this and that could we use the power of biology to solve this problem.”

The solution they arrived at uses biotechnology to produce a palm oil alternative—named Torula Oil—in a lab.

“We found a yeast which was naturally oil producing,” says Ticku. “We’ve got the yeast’s sequenced genome and we were able to get it in-house and understand how it grows. We’ve optimized its conditions for growth to make it better at producing oil, more efficient, more productive, and making the right profile. Then we’re able to extract that oil. Mother Nature did a lot of the work. We’re just helping to harness it and elevate it.”

Ticku’s company, C16 Biosciences, created Torula Oil for brands to use as a palm oil alternative when formulating products. And to raise awareness around the issue, they just launched a limited-edition consumer-facing product, Save the F*cking Rainforest ($45). It’s a skin and hair oil that blends Torula with a host of other skin-loving ingredients.

“It’s got this sort of aggressive name, right? It’s modeled like a protest poster,” says Ticku. “We’re here with a mission, we’re here with a purpose, and this is our call to action to the industry.”

Palmless Save the F*cking Rainforest — $45.00

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To address the palm oil problem, the simplest option would be for us all to pivot to palm-free beauty. But that’s nearly impossible to do right now because it’s in so many products.

“If you look on the ingredient list it could be one of like hundreds of names,” says Ticku. “It’s not necessarily that people are trying to hide it,” it’s just that it comes in many different forms like surfactants, emollients, and emulsifiers and they all have different names. “Palm oil is really common because it’s really good at what it does. So you find it in everything from soaps and shampoos—it’s the reason that your shampoo lathers and cleanses. It’s found in color cosmetics, so anything like lipstick or eyeliner, because it’s really good at retaining color.”

It creates a solve for a problem the industry has spent a decade trying to address. “All the major companies have commitments on their website to their consumers, to their shareholders talking about what they’re going to do about palm oil,” says Ticku. “And they’ve done nothing over the last 10 years.”

As we manage the palm oil problem, Novakovich warns against the blanket vilification of palm oil.

“Millions of individuals, especially smallholder farmers, depend on this crop for their livelihoods,” says Novakovih. “Without it, income and food insecurity would likely become a big issue for them. Have there, and do there continue to be, unethical/environmentally damaging sourcing? Absolutely. The fact that we’re sourcing from richly biodiverse regions is also challenging. Inherently bad? I don’t think so. Note, there are NGOs such as the RSPO working to do things better.”

Smaller brands like Alaffia, for example, have found ways to use sustainably sourced palm oil. “Our natural West African palm oil is grown and harvested by small-scale farmers in the Maritime region of Togo…the oil is extracted by our Fair Trade cooperative in Sokodé using traditional methods,” reads the brand’s website. And larger brands like Unilever and Johnson&Johnson have made commitments to responsible sourcing. With Torula oil, C16 presents another solution to this extremely complex and nuanced issue.

Torula oil is the first product that falls under C16’s Palmless portfolio, explains Ticku, to be purchased by brands to manufacture palm oil-free products.

“It’s really hydrating and blends really well in a lot of formulations,” she says. “It can be used in liquid formulations like oils, but also solid formulations. We’ve used it in like soaps. We’ve put it in sunscreens to deliver actives and things like this.” Expect to see the first wave of brands using launching their products with Torla oil in the coming months. “Then the next set of products that will come after Torula Oil will be the categories of surfactants, emollients, and emulsifiers that are palm-derived today.”

The beauty industry is evolving, and Torula Oil is a way for us to use the ingredients nature has given us without harming ecosystems. “It showcases sort of the power of biotechnology to make new powerful ingredients,” says Ticku.

The physical differences between pothos and Philodendron

Many people often mistake pothos for Philodendrons, particularly the Heartleaf Philodendron, and vice-versa, according to plant expert at The Sill Paris Lalicata, though there are tells—like their foliage, for one—that make them distinguishable from one another.

As their name implies, “Heartleaf Philodendrons have more heart-shaped leaves compared to pothos,” says Lalicata, whereas the leaves of a pothos plant resemble “a folded pizza slice.” Caroline Copeland, an online design expert at Yardzen also mentions that Philodendrons feature a prominent arch at the point where the leaf attaches to the stem (aka the petiole), as well as a pointed tip, further lending to its heart-shaped appearance. What pothos leaves have that Philodendron leaves do not is an indented midrib, which is the line that runs down the center of a leaf blade.

The plants’ foliage don’t just look different, they also feel different: “Philodendrons have thinner leaves that are smoother in texture, while pothos have thicker, waxier leaves,” says Lalicata.

You can also distinguish between pothos and Philodendrons when the plants have new growth. “Philodendrons have these cataphylls, also called sheaths,” says Lalicata. “Whenever a new growth comes up, there’s always this little protective sheath that covers the leaf until it unfurls and then starts to decay once it doesn’t have a purpose anymore, which is something that pothos don’t have at all.” She adds that whenever Philodendrons put out new growth, it is reddish in color before turning green, while pothos’ new growth starts out pale green in color and deepens over time.

Lastly, while Pothos and Philodendrons both have aerial roots that supply moisture to the plants while allowing them to scale adjoining objects (like stakes or walls), they look different. According to Lalicata, Philodendrons have thin aerial roots that are grouped together. Conversely, pothos have thick, stubby aerial roots that grow longer if they are trained to climb. In other words: “When you look at a the aerial roots on a pothos, you will see individual little nubs or stubs, whereas when you see the aerial roots on a Philodendron, there are usually two or four clustered together and [the roots] are really thin compared to the Pothos,” she says.

Pothos vs. Philodendron: care and maintenance

For all their physical differences, pothos and philodendrons require similar care. In fact, Lalicata says there’s little to no difference in caring for either of the plants. “Both are considered low-maintenance plants, which means they’re versatile, and they can tolerate lower light conditions,” she says. However, Lalicata and Copeland mention that they will typically prefer brighter light conditions. Additionally, the two plants can withstand normal room humidity for as long as the air isn’t too dry. Usually, their watering requirements are similar, too.

Copeland typically recommends watering them when the top layer of the soil feels dry and dusty. Lalicata likewise recommends letting the soil dry out in the pot between waterings. If in doubt about watering, Lalicata says you can check the moisture of the soil using your finger, a soil moisture meter, or a soil sleuth. “Some people also use the chopstick method,” she says. “Put a chopstick in there and if it’s clean when you pull it out, that means the soil is dry and you can water your plant.” Both, however, are “super resilient plants,” Copeland says. “If you do end up forgetting to water them, there’s a strong chance they will recover.”

All that is to say, whether you’re caring for a pothos or a Philodendron, “they would be in the same category together as far as care and maintenance go,” says Lalicata.

Propagating pothos and Philodendrons

Pothos and Philodendrons don’t have many differences when it comes to propagating them either. Both plants can be propagated by cutting. For the uninitiated, “cutting is the method of taking a piece of a baby plant from the mother plant and reproducing it, plant doctor and consultant Maryah Greene previously told Well+Good. Leafy plants, like pothos and Philodendrons, can be propagated in water, says Lalicata—and the process is simple. Using sanitized pruners, clip a cutting from the node of your plant and place it in a vessel, like a Mason jar or a propagation vase, filled with water. After two to three weeks, or when the roots are about an inch long, you can transfer the cutting in a pot of soil.

Alternatively, Lalicata says that you can leave pothos or Philodendron cuttings in the water indefinitely. “I have several vases of both Philodendron and pothos that I’ve had for many years in water,” she says. “It’s an alternative way to decorate your space with the [plants] and not in soil.”

Below, plant experts share what you’ll need for your new plant, plus helpful dos and don’ts to ensure your leafy beauty thrives.

Shopping checklist for bringing home a new plant

1. Pot

When you buy a plant, it will probably come in a grower’s pot, or nursery pot. They aren’t, however, the most aesthetically pleasing—and if it’s important to you that it matches with your decor, you can place it in a more stylish-looking pot. Caroline Copeland, an online design expert at Yardzen, recommends choosing one that’s one to two inches larger in diameter than the size of the nursery pot, which can also offer sufficient room for the plant to grow.

Pots are also available in a variety of materials, from terra cotta to ceramic and plastic—and while each have their pros and cons, Paris Lalicata, a plant expert at The Sill, says it’s ultimately a matter of personal preference. Regardless of material, Copeland recommends a pot with drainage holes to ensure your plant receives the water it needs without becoming waterlogged.

In addition, drainage holes also help prevent overwatering, Kaylyn Hewitt, a plant expert and ’s lead floral designer, previously told Well+Good.

D'vine Dev, Terracotta Plant Pot With Drainage Hole and Saucer, 6-Inch — $25.00

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Rivet, Geometric Ceramic Planter Pot, 7.6-Inch — $31.00

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Kubvici, Plant Pots, 8-Inch (Set Of 2) — $18.00

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2. Potting mix

“Potting mix can help provide nutrients to the plant,” says Copeland, and in addition to offering plants the sustenance it needs, it allows for aeration and helps drain excess water. Lalicata says you’ll always want a fresh bag of the stuff when bringing home a new plant. “Potting mix degrades and gets old over time,” she says. “It becomes hydrophobic [and] it becomes degraded in nutrients so that’s why plants can’t live in the same soil indefinitely.”

As you shop, you’ll likely come across a wide array of options for potting mix. Lalicata says that most standard indoor potting mixes can work for a wide array of indoor plants. However, if, for instance, you’re growing succulents and cacti, they should be planted in a potting mix that’s specially designed for them. “Since they originate from an environment that’s drier, they have a low nutrient environment where they naturally come from, so having a succulent specific potting mix helps because it has more inorganic ingredients that allow for more aeration and drainage,” she says. “It also doesn’t have as many nutrients because of the lack of organic material.”

If you’re somebody who is a rare plant collector or has a plant that isn’t as easy to care for, she adds that it’s always best to do research on what kind of soil would be best for them.

Miracle-Gro, Indoor Potting Mix, 6 Qt. — $6.00

3. Watering can

You can always use a drinking glass or the kitchen faucet to water thirsty plants, but a watering can allows you to control how much water you’re pouring and direct it where you want it to flow. Watering comes in a range of sizes and styles, with some so pretty they can double as decor. Selecting an option with these factors in mind will depend on how many plants you have to water—or alternatively, the amount of times you’re willing to refill the can—as well as your own aesthetic preferences.

In any case, Lalicata says to opt for one that’s narrow-spouted. A narrow-spouted watering can will not only allow you to reach the soil underneath the leaves of your plant, which is especially important if it has thick foliage, but will also make less mess compared to, say, a water glass or a measuring cup.

HB Design, Indoor Watering Can, 35 Fl. Oz. — $25.00

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4. Water moisture meter

Since different plants each have unique watering requirements, Lalicata recommends a water moisture meter, or, alternatively, a soil sleuth, to help you gauge the moisture level of the soil. She says that tracking the soil moisture level is the best way to know when to water your plant rather than sticking to a strict watering schedule. “There are so many different things that fluctuate in an environment that impact how fast a plant drinks up water,” she says—and it can also make plant parenting much easier.

You can also use your finger. Consider a plant watering hack that STYLUSH plant expert Reagan Kastner shared on a TikTok video: Just place your finger an inch into the soil of the pot of your plant; if you pull out and there’s dirt on your finger, hold off watering, if there’s only a little dirt, you can water.

Dr.meter, Soil Moisture Meter — $9.00

5. Neem oil

Like it or not, houseplant pests come with the territory of caring for plants—and worse still, you never know when they are going to pay a visit. That’s why Lalicata always recommends having a bottle of insecticidal soap or neem oil within reach. These pest repellants are typically made of natural ingredients that are free of chemicals so they are safe to spray indoors.

Verdana, Organic Cold Pressed Neem Oil, 8 Fl. Oz — $12.00

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6. Pruning shears

Lalicata also says to consider pruning shears, which will come in handy when your plant drops leaves or stems due to natural leaf turnover or stress. While a pair of scissors can help tidy up a plant, she says to avoid using them as an alternative. “Pruners make a more precise and cleaner cut compared to scissors,” she says. “Usually, if you use scissors and it’s not sharp, it can damage the stem tissue.”

The Sill, Micro-Tip Pruning Snips — $14.00

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7. Fertilizer

If you want to give your plant a little pick-me-up, Lalicata says that you can consider purchasing a fertilizer to use in the spring or summer months. “Fertilizer isn’t food—it’s really just a vitamin—so fertilizing your plants in the spring and summer months can help plants grow a little bit more vigorously,” she says.

Jobe’s Organics, Organic All-Purpose Granular Fertilizer, 4 Lb. — $9.00

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8. Hygrometer

A hydrometer can help you monitor the humidity and temperature levels in your home—and Lalicata says it’s useful for any plant parent to have. This is especially important for those who own plants that require a particular humidity range to thrive.

SMARTRO, SC42 Professional Digital Hygrometer — $18.00

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Dos and don’ts of bringing home a new plant

Do research on your new plant

Bringing home a new plant typically requires a little more thought than choosing one based on looks. It’s important to do your research on the plant species you’re interested in to ensure your home has the right environmental conditions for it to thrive. Lalicata says that the first and most crucial thing you want to do is assess the amount of light that your home receives. This will help you determine which types of plants can do well in your space as some can tolerate low-light conditions while others benefit from environments that receive direct sunlight.

In addition, you also want to research on whether a plant is low maintenance or requires more care—and from there, decide if you can give it the time and attention it needs. For example, “if you’re somebody who is always traveling or you’re always out, consider getting a more low-maintenance plant that is drought-tolerant or can thrive in various light conditions,” says Lalicata. “It’s really about being honest with yourself about the time and attention that you can give each individual plant.”

Don’t repot your plant right away

If you’re thinking of repotting your plant the moment you arrive home, think again. According to both Copeland and Lalicata, you’ll want to refrain from repotting your new plant right away—it’s important to let them acclimate to its new environment. “Usually, we say to acclimate your plants for up to two weeks,” says Lalicata. “Some lower-maintenance or hardier plants, like ZZ or snake plants, require just a week because they aren’t as fussy.”

Do quarantine your plant for a week

“If you already have other plants, it might be a good idea to quarantine the new plant for a week,” says Copeland. The reason being is that it may carry pests that may not be immediately visible. “Even if you investigate the plant before bringing it home, it’s always good to pretreat it first and also keep it quarantined for at least a week away from the rest of your plants,” says Lalicata. To rid a new plant of any pests, Lalicata gives it a quick rinse in her sink or tub, and once it dries, pretreats it with an insecticidal soap or neem oil. “If I find that after a week, no pests are popping up, then I will go ahead and integrate it into the rest of my collection,” she says.

Don’t water your plant unless it needs it

“Resist the temptation to water your new plant and wait until it actually needs it,” says Copeland—and the best way to check if your plant needs hydration is to check the moisture of the soil. “If you buy a new plant and the soil is moist, you do want to refrain from watering it,” says Lalicata, “whereas if you check the soil and it’s bone-dry, then go ahead and give the plant some water.”

The differences between buying plants from local nurseries vs. big-box stores

The two biggest differences between local nurseries and big-box stores are price and the quality of plant care. “Most of the time, plants from local nurseries will receive better care and attention,” says Caroline Copeland, online design expert at Yardzen. At a local nursery, plants will most likely be watered according to their individual needs as opposed to being watered on the same schedule, which often takes place in big-box retailers to streamline the care process of tending to a large selection of plants. “And it’s more likely that you will pick up a diseased or pest-infected plant from a big-box store,” she says.

One other difference? Plant variety. Big-box retailers typically purchase their plants in bulk, and while you’re likely to find a wide range of plants, they are often limited to the most popular varieties. If you’re on the market for a unique plant species, she recommends paying a visit to your local nursery. Often, the staff at local nurseries will be knowledgeable too, which is ideal for people who want detailed information on which plant to purchase and how to best care for them. Plus, “they’ll be a great ongoing resource during your gardening journey,” says Copeland.

Where should you buy plants—local nurseries or big-box stores?

Copeland recommends buying plants from a local nursery—particularly if you are a first-time gardener. It’ll cost you more than buying from a big-box store, though Copeland says it’s well worth the investment. “The plants are going to be more expensive than those from a big-box store, but having a healthier plant and instructions on how to keep it that way will be worth the extra cost.” As a bonus? When you buy plants from local nurseries, she says, you’re supporting local businesses, too.

Ultimately, though, it’s a matter of preference when deciding to buy plants from local nurseries or big-box stores. If you’re looking to purchase plants from big-box retailers due to budget constraints or simply because of convenience and accessibility, Copeland says it’s important to know how to pick a healthy plant.

How to pick a healthy plant from a local nursery or big-box store

Whether you’re buying from a local nursery or a big-box store, it’s important to select a healthy plant. It stands a better chance of thriving in your home than ones riddled with disease or pests. Maryah Greene, plant expert and founder of Greene Piece, previously told Well+Good, that there are a few tells—vibrant colors, for one thing—that indicate a plant is healthy.

Look for plants showing signs of new growth, says Greene. “New growth is the sign of a healthy plant, regardless of any shedding or discoloration.” she says. Plants with limp or discolored foliage, can also be indicative of pesky houseplant pests, plant coach Nick Cutsumpas (aka “Farmer Nick”), previously told Well+Good. That said, a pest infestation can be tricky to diagnose before the infestation becomes unwieldy or difficult to control. With this in mind, when you bring home a new plant—be it from a quality nursery or a big-box store—you might want to quarantine your plant for a day or two, isolating it from other plants until it has been proven to be pest free.

Alternatives to buying plants from local nurseries or big-box stores

Local nurseries and big-box stores aren’t the only places to get new plants. There are alternatives, some of which will cost you nothing at all:

1. Buy plants online

Those who don’t have easy access to a local nursery or big-box retailer, or would simply prefer to have greenery delivered straight to their doorstep, can buy plants online. There are a number of websites to choose from, and many offer more than just plants, serving as one-stop shops where customers can find gardening tools, pots, planters, and more. The one caveat to online shopping for plants? You won’t know what state it’s in until it arrives at your door. To avoid the risk of buying an unhealthy plant, purchase from a reputable website, and better yet, somewhere that has a return policy.

2. Join a plant swap

For the uninitiated, “a plant swap is typically a community-based event for people who are looking to find new plants or offload some of their existing plants in exchange for new ones,” Pat May, founder of Prōpa, previously told Well+Good. Not just limited to in-person events, there are websites and apps where you can coordinate individual plant swaps. Whether you’re joining or hosting a plant swap party, May says there is one thing to keep in mind, which is to ensure only healthy and pest-free plants make an appearance at the party.

3. Propagate new plants from your existing collection

Propagating your plants is the easiest—and cheapest—way to expand your collection. There are several methods to propagate plants, but the most common is cutting, which is “the method of taking a piece of a baby plant from a mother plant, and reproducing it,” said Greene. You can propagate the cutting of leafy plants, like pothos and monstera, in a water propagation vase, or in soil if you want to reproduce your succulents. In any case, you want to use a pair of shears that are clean and razor-sharp.

What is a plant swap?

“A plant swap is typically a community-based event for people who are looking to find new plants or offload some of their existing plants in exchange for new ones,” says Pat May, founder of Prōpa, an online social platform that lets users upload pictures of their plants and exchange plants for new ones. These events typically allow people to expand their plant collection, or get rid of plants they don’t want without having to throw them away. Besides the obvious benefit of taking home a plant by way of trade, it’s also an opportunity to meet people in your local plant community. “Plant swaps are fun,” says May. “I usually say that people come for the plants and stay for the people.”

Where can I join a plant swap near me?

If you want to join a community plant swap, a quick Google search can lead to any number of events in your area. You can also search Facebook or Instagram, where, according to May, many plant swap events are coordinated. In addition, local online forums can provide information on upcoming events. And if there are no upcoming events in your area, there are websites that coordinate individual plant swaps. PlantSwap.org is a website where people can list plants they want to donate, swap, or adopt, and Prōpa and Blossm are other options that you can download onto any iOS or Android device.

Practicing proper etiquette at plant swaps

If you’re joining a plant swap for the first time, there’s a certain etiquette involved when it comes to joining the party—and this can vary from one event to the next. Some plant swaps also have rules and typically it’s best to adhere to those coming into an event, but if it’s not readily stated, May says to ask the organizer. Regardless of the rules, there are a few things that you’ll want to keep in mind.

“Whether or not it’s required, label your plants,” says May. “Labeling your plants is really helpful because you want people to know exactly what plant they’re receiving, and though you might tell them what is, they might not remember later on.” If a plant swap is being organized on Facebook or another social media platform, you might also want to tell people which plants you’re bringing in advance, he says. “It makes for a better event because if other people know that good plants are going to be there, then they’re going to bring their good plants.”

However, if you only have a few plants to trade, it shouldn’t discourage you from attending an event. “A lot of plant swaps will have TAPLAP shelves, take a plant, leave a plant, where you can get new plants,” says May. He also suggests talking to people in the event, many of whom would be willing to give you propagated plant cuttings or whole plants to help you diversify your collection.

The most important consideration, says May, is to bring healthy, pest-free plants. In addition don’t give plants that are “smelly,” which May says would be indicative of fungus or mold.

How to throw a plant swap: the three Ls

Those who want the social aspect that typically comes with a community plant swap but don’t have access to one in their area might want to throw one of their own. There is no one way to throw a plant swap—it can be as orchestrated as a neighborhood-wide event or as casual as a gathering with friends and family. May only asks that you keep three Ls in mind: “labels, legs, and libations.”

1. Labels

According to May, it is best practice for participants to label the plants they bring to a plant swap—and ideally, it will also involve knowledgeable individuals to verify whether the labels are accurate. Alternatively, you can use an app that identifies the species of a plant. This will help ensure that everyone involved knows what they’re giving and receiving.

2. Legs

When May talks about legs, he is referring to houseplant pests, which you don’t want to make an appearance. Pets travel quickly from one plant to another and can potentially cause an infestation. With this in mind, May recommends you request all plant swap attendees to bring pest-free plants to the event.

3. Libations

According to May, it isn’t a plant swap party without libations, and he recommends offering food and drinks for attendees. “You want people to linger around and talk to other people,” he says, also mentioning that you might want to reach out to restaurants or bars to host an event. “A lot of these places are more than happy to host these events [and] it’s also a very easy, compliant way of hosting a party.”