Tracy Angus’ Post

Thanks for these tips! I'll be considering it for decorating future friend gatherings!

Remember the Good Ol’ Days When Wood Was Wood? by Matthew Little Epoch Health Senior Editor I am fond of wood, glass, wool, brass, and other natural materials. There is something so luxurious and honest about them in a world drowning in plastic. Not that plastic doesn’t serve its uses. It’s cheap, easy to work with, and plentiful. We can use plastic to make everything from blankets to baking sheets. Its versatility has been enhanced with thousands of chemicals to give it attributes like flexibility, heat resistance, and structural integrity. Unfortunately, plastic has become a plague of sorts. Among other things, it exposes us to chemicals that interfere with our hormones. Image A study published in Environmental Science & Technology earlier this year found even our plastic food packaging has hormone-disrupting chemicals and puts us at risk of developmental and reproductive issues, not to mention hormone-related cancers. Coincidentally, two hormone-related cancers, breast cancer and prostate cancer, are the most prevalent cancers for women and men respectively. Another issue is that plastic breaks down into particles small enough to be inhaled and ingested without our awareness. That means even plastic that has never touched our food or water can end up in our bodies. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, microplastics were found in the blocked arteries of over half the people in a study published in March (150 out of 304 people). These people were 4.5 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die in the following three years that researchers monitored them. And the above problems are becoming more severe due to the rapidly rising volume of plastic in the world today. Australian researchers estimate that many people could be eating the equivalent of a credit card in plastic each week. We often buy things second-hand to get higher-quality items at a cheaper price, whether that be winter clothing or real-wood flooring. If we need something, I set a reminder on our local buy and sell website to alert me if something comes up. I can include the materials I prefer: brass lamp, teak table, leather chair. There is something of the time held in these better-made goods. Something authentic. They do more than hold their value, they hold something of the people of their era. People had fewer things back then, but better things. I cringe at the thought that people will buy particle board furniture with a plastic coating to make it look like wood while solid oak bedroom sets go to the dump because they are “dated.” The benefits of our plastic floors (vinyl), blankets (microfiber), and cookware coatings (Teflon) are that they are convenient and cheap to buy, but they cost us as well. As the things we cook with, sit on, wear, and fill our homes with become cheaper, and more disposable and unnatural, I worry we lose touch with the very idea of enduring quality and authenticity.

Indeed such tips when implemented at large scale, will definitely create a positive change movement. also, 1. Celebrating special occasions in an open setting, where we could see and feel the nature, which is also more economical unlike banquet halls and bars. 2. Preferring Teetotalism would make it a more healthier option and contribute in lessening the carbon footprints. #SustainableLiving #EcoFriendly #PositiveChange #CelebrateInNature #GreenInitiatives #Teetotalism #HealthyLiving #NatureLovers #ReduceCarbonFootprint #OutdoorGathering

~100-150 uses is the estimated #breakeven #carbon #footprint for #reusable #bags vs. #plastic ones… That’s a lot of trips to the store 🏪 , and this got me thinking about how #sustainability is #taught and #explained. #Background: My daughters are learning about sustainability in school and naturally shared their disdain for plastic bags. No brainer 🧠 to me, but then next to our front door, I see ~7 or 8 reusable bags hanging there. Curiosity set in and I did a bit of research. The answer to #breakeven #carbon #footprints is basically #too #complex to accurately calculate with so many variables and inputs. But, what’s clear is #HOW #we #consume vs. #WHAT #we #consume -our #behaviors - is far and away the most important factor. So, why isn’t teaching behavior stressed more? 🤔 … #Tension #Points: ✴ #Simple vs. #Hard #Truths - In this increasingly binary world, “bogey man” 😱, overly simplified arguments seem to rule. Plastic bags are easily #relatable and highly #visible 🔎 - quickly identifiable in our streets as #litter or in our oceans as floating #garbage #patches. The hard truth is that we don’t #USE plastic bags as intended by inventor Sten Gustaf Thuin, who envisioned #saving #forests 🌲 (less paper bags) and #high #reuse #rates. Another hard truth is reusable bags overall are likely worse environmentally - unless, each individual bag is used 100+ times but who’s counting?… ✴ #Action vs. #Follow #through - A challenge for more #sustainable #outcomes, in my opinion, lies in the #bridge 🌉 #between #actions and #behaviors. A participation action such as buying a reusable bag is easy and feels good - we are #saving #the #planet 🌏 - but using that bag 100+ times is #hard. It’s a commitment, a new muscle memory to form #habits. Unlike workouts, trackable on Apple Watch, I don’t know how to easily and systematically measure how my behaviors influence my environmental impact… Doing what’s right may not be measurable but how does this slot into our digital 💻 , everything is trackable world?… So what’s one to do and what’s one to teach 📊 ?… For my daughters, the lessons are simple 1) “#use #what #you #have” - enjoy them as many times as you can, and 2) “#be #a #critical #thinker” - as the answer is often times much more nuanced. At Pollen, we are helping companies #build #new #muscles 🏋♀️ and habits as it relates to #unsold #inventory and #liquidation 📦 . By leveraging #data and #tech to impute and estimate recovery rates & #value 📈 (#not #cost), we are transforming liquidation from a #oneoff #haphazard #exercise into an #ongoing #systematic #workflow to unlock more #sustainable #outcomes. #startup #entrepreneurship #circularity #complicated #FMCG #brands #Singapore #Southeastasia #asia #analytics https://lnkd.in/ey6kuvRC

Most of us tend to use single-use products everyday, but we’re dealing with a major plastic and trash problem. Our climate crisis can’t be totally solved by consumers—the corporations causing major climate change need to do their part—but switching even some products out for an eco-friendly alternative meant to be reused again and again can help our planet. Not to mention that you can save quite a bit of money by buying a product only once. The best reusable products are ones you’re going to want to use again and again. So if you prefer the water bottles from your favorite coffee chain or fancy handkerchiefs from a local boutique, that’s what you should get. You don’t need to be perfect. No one is saying you have to switch to reusable diapers or never ask for a plastic straw again, but we’ve compiled all our favorite reusable products so you can make a swap or two. Don’t see anything you need here? Check out some of our other roundups, like the Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products, Best Recycled Bags, Best Recycled Clothing, and for everything else, Our Favorite Products Made of Recycled and Upcycled Materials. Updated April 2024: We’ve added Cliffset’s Silverware Starter Pack, Keiko Furoshiki Reusable Fabric Gift Wrap, and Dieux’s Forever Eye Mask. Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day. Source link By Nakisisa George

Ever wondered about the true sustainability of reusable grocery bags? ♻ ✅ Despite their eco-friendly reputation, reusable bags may have a higher carbon footprint if not utilized efficiently. ✅ Meanwhile, many shoppers fail to maximize the potential of their reusable bags and opt for frequent replacements instead. ✅ To make a real difference, it's crucial to prioritize reusing existing bags rather than continuously acquiring new ones. In the context of sustainable liquidation for businesses dealing with excess and overstock, this underscores the significance of optimizing existing resources. Just as reusing bags is essential for environmental preservation, effectively managing surplus inventory can minimize business waste and uphold sustainability objectives. 👉 Pollen is here to help you manage your stocks better by automating work streams, unlocking the power of pricing analytics, and empowering teams to take action for more sustainable outcomes. Learn more about what we do at https://www.pollen.tech/

What is recycled plastic used for? Plastic rags to riches Ever wondered what happens to that plastic bottle once you’ve tossed it in a recycling bin? Ever wondered what your jacket filling, outdoor furniture, decking, yoga mat, active wear, togs or toothbrush is made from? That’s right – if rinsed out properly, your recycling can be reincarnated. Onto a new life Once picked up, your recycling is sorted and recyclable plastics are separated from glass, paper, and the items that can’t be recycled. The plastics are then shredded and filtered to remove impurities like paper before being baled and sold to plastic processors, either domestically or offshore, who’ll make new products from the plastic pellets. A batch of clean, separated PET (#1) bottles can be made back into water bottles or broken down, heated, and turned into polyester for clothing, insulation for jackets and sleeping bags, or carpets, cushions, plant holders, buckets, outdoor furniture, decking, and playground equipment. Number 2 plastics used in water bottles, milk bottles, bottles of cleaning products and personal cosmetics can be made into new containers, plastic timber, picnic tables, signage, lawn furniture, playground equipment, recycling bins, shoes, piping, garden edging and Lego. Packaging, wraps, plumbing pipes, flexible packaging and bags made of #3 plastics go into new piping, carpet backing, fencing, traffic cones and new plastic bags. Plastic film and GladWrap can be turned into rubbish bin liners, floor tiles, compost bins, outdoor furniture. #5 typically used for clear and coloured medicine bottles, takeaway and ice-cream containers, lunch boxes, plastic cutlery, rope and wrapping tape, as well as jam and honey containers can be transformed into automotive products, household utensils like toothbrushes and razors, outdoor tools, such as garden rakes and brooms and trays. #5 plastic bottle caps can be recycled into car batteries, storage containers, reusable shopping bags, ropes, yarn for rugs, and more bottle caps. Light yet stiff #6 plastic used in plastic plates, cutlery, food containers, cd cases, small hard-wearing bottles, cable spools, and toys can become light switches, plastic mouldings, packaging, desk trays. https://lnkd.in/ggE4es8m #sustainableworkplace #sustainabilitytips #sustainabiltymeetspracticality #hygieneproducts #environment #biodegradable

✅A Green Choice or Just Plain Primitive? [Banana Leaf Plates] A video recently landed in my inbox, showing the process of cutting banana leaves into plates – a scene that feels plucked from another time. It came with the hashtags #Creative, #Handmade, #Handcrafted, and #Productivity. These resonate with today’s eco-conscious mindset, but in 2024, with automation, efficiency, and hygiene as standard expectations, the approach seems.. quaint, at best. Is there more here than meets the eye? Or is it just a charming reminder of the past, like seeing someone churn butter by hand next to an industrial dairy? ✅The Charm of Handmade Using banana leaves as plates is undeniably eco-friendly. They’re biodegradable, leaving no waste, & carry cultural significance in many parts of the world. There’s something refreshing about using a material that decomposes as easily as it’s produced. Banana leaf plates are practical where banana trees grow abundantly, supporting traditional craftsmanship without specialized machinery. But this handmade approach has limitations. ✅Productivity and Efficiency in 2024? Today, production isn’t just about functionality; it’s about scaling to meet demand. Handcrafted plates are labor-intensive, & for every leaf that’s washed, cut, & shaped, time is lost. In a world where almost everything is automated, hand-cutting leaves feels inefficient. Imagine automating this process: machinery shaping & sterilizing leaves in seconds, boosting output & reducing costs. Consistent quality would make them a viable alternative to plastic & paper plates. ✅Hygiene Standards: Meeting Expectations? There’s also the hygiene angle, which we’re more attuned to today. Watching hands repeatedly handle these leaves might be fine in small settings, but in larger-scale production, it raises hygiene concerns. A 2024 consumer expects more than eco-friendliness; they want hygiene. Automation could add a sterilization step, making each plate biodegradable & pristine. Machine cleaning doesn’t diminish the charm; it shows tradition & technology can coexist. ✅Are Handcrafted Banana Leaf Plates Sustainable? Sustainability today isn’t just about materials; it’s about scalability & viability. Handmade banana leaf plates may be eco-friendly, but they fall short in meeting growing demand. Labor-intensive methods risk making them a niche option. ✅Final Thoughts: Modernize the Method, Preserve the Purpose So, does this handmade banana leaf plate deserve all the hashtags? Partly, yes. #Creative, #Handmade, & #Handcrafted celebrate traditional methods. But if we’re aiming for #Productivity and #Efficiency, it might be time to rethink this process. Imagine a future where automation meets tradition: machines honoring the charm of banana leaf plates while boosting production, meeting hygiene standards, & scaling to meet demand. In 2024, we’re not just looking for products that feel good. We’re looking for ones that work – fast, clean, & in sync with the times.

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