Join the sustainable swrm
Thanks to all of you who have downloaded our App and sent through support and feedback! It really makes us proud. Today, we’re peeking behind the curtain to explore how we bring you the carbon footprint of products in our App.
Read more
Ozone is a gas. A toxic, pale blue, odorous, irritative and explosive gas. But without it being naturally formed and making up part of our atmosphere, we’d be unable to survive on Earth. We’d literally fry from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The thin layer of ozone, which sits in the bottom part of the stratosphere about 9-18 miles above the Earth, absorbs approximately 98% of extremely harmful UVB rays, which are the most damaging of the ultraviolet types (A, B and C). So, way back in the 80’s when it was discovered that there was a ‘hole’ in this protective layer of gas over Australia, Antarctica and the Arctic, a massive global response was initiated.
But what ever happened? Are there still holes up there? The ozone layer doesn’t get much air time these days. And is ozone anthropogenic or natural? Read on to learn all about it!
One concept which confounds many people in discussions around climate change and global warning, is that a rise of 1.5°C could be significant. I’ve never known a single day in my life where there’s not been greater variation than that, let alone then talking about seasonal variations in temperatures. So it’s no wonder that an average increase of a paltry 1.5°C leading to disaster is a difficult concept to come to grips with. Let’s explore how much it could really mean.
Read moreWelcome to the Hive from home, QuarantineTV Edition! Today, we’re talking about water. Specifically, what type of emissions are produced bringing this magical elixir into and out of our lives. As our population increases, we need to learn how to adapt to sharing our limited freshwater resources. Water is essential to life on Earth, and providing access that is more sustainable just makes sense.
Read more
Now that most of us are spending our days quarantined indoors is the perfect moment to tackle some simple DIY projects. For these environmentally friendly and zero-waste crafts, you will only need the items that you already have at home.
Read moreToday, we’re at Lighthouse Restaurant in New York City to talk sustainability and community with co-owner Naama Tamir! Occupying a triangular corner in Williamsburg, BK this sunny restaurant is indeed a beacon of light for sustainable dining out and reducing food waste.
Read more
We’ve talked about the staggering problem of food waste before. If you missed it, check out our article, “Farm to Table to Trash” and video, “Fighting Food Waste.” It’s difficult to imagine, but one third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. And the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more food reaches landfills and incinerators than any other single material in our everyday trash, constituting 22 percent of discarded municipal solid waste.
We’ve also talked about compost before, as something we can all do as individuals to deal with waste and live more sustainably, in general. But what we haven’t done is explain what compost actually is and how you can incorporate composting as part of your most sustainable life to reduce your carbon footprint. Soooo…
Read more
The construction industry in the United States has seen a steady increase over the last 10 years. By 2023 it is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 4.9% and be responsible for $1.8 billion in transactions. As such a major force in the global market the industry is starting to garner more attention for environmental improvements. Right now construction and buildings account for 39% of all CO2 emissions annually. Builders for Climate Action, a respected organization pushing to make sustainable changes in the construction industry, suggests practices which can be built into a building’s design stage to not only reduce, but absorb, carbon emissions.
Read more
You may have heard your wedding day described as the most important day of your life. Regardless of whether that’s actually true, what better way to start off a life with the one you love than by doing it in a way that also shows your love for the Earth?
Read more
Population control is an increasingly common debate I’m seeing pop up on forums, FaceBook groups and the like. Some particularly hard line folks contest that anyone who is truly an ‘environmentalist’ or ‘fighting climate change’ or ‘leading a sustainable life’ is simply not going to procreate. But I have two delightful, tenacious, challenging little girls. And as an ‘environmentalist’ and co-founder of a company aimed at helping direct people along a path toward sustainability, I will not concede that having children puts me at odds with those things. In fact, the idea that climate change is bringing a far less comfortable world to live in for all the children of the world, is 100% motivating. And this is 100% necessary to grab hold of, instead of guilt at bringing children into this world. So, the idea of this piece is to look at taking a practical approach for maintaining a sustainable lifestyle for those of us who already have (or who will have) children.
Read more