One of the largest issues when it comes to sustainability is lack of traceability.

WHAT IT MEANS

We look for products with short supply chains and raw materials sourced from as few locations as possible, so we can keep track of them Many of our brands actually work with farmers directly and manufacture their own goods in house! 

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The bigger and more complicated a product's supply chain is, the harder it is to keep track of the myriad of raw materials, chemicals, manufacturers, transportation, and energy sources that go into making it. Companies can say they're trying to be sustainable, but it's easy for things to fall through the cracks.

Traceability is crucial because it keeps supply chains transparent. That creates trust and accountability, so companies that operate sustainability can get the credit they're due.

Organic may seem like a broad term, but it actually refers to a specific set of farming practices that prioritize natural methods and avoid synthetic additives. Here's a breakdown of what organic means, how it works, and why it's important for sustainability.

WHAT IT MEANS

• Soil Health: Organic farmers focus on building healthy soil through practices like crop rotation, cover cropping, and composting. This promotes natural pest control and nutrient cycling.
• Natural Pest Management: Instead of synthetic pesticides, organic farmers rely on natural methods such as beneficial insects, bird boxes, and crop rotation to deter pests.
• Organic Fertilizers: Manure, compost, and other organic materials are used to nourish crops instead of synthetic fertilizers.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Unlike mainstream farming, which often uses harmful chemicals that can pollute the land and waterways, organic farming eliminates these synthetic inputs. By incorporating farming into the natural ecosystem, organic practices promote biodiversity and soil health. This creates a hospitable environment for pollinators and healthy soil that retains water and sequesters carbon, contributing to a more sustainable future.

WHAT IT MEANS

Vegan goods exclude all animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, and any ingredients derived from animals. That also means avoiding products tested on animals or made from animal byproducts

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Animal agriculture is among the highest contributors to deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions. This includes things like methane production from cows and other animals (farts and burps) but also the cutting down of large parts of the Amazon and other rainforests to grow the soybeans needed to feed them.

That's a big deal, because the Amazon is one of the world's largest and most important carbon sinks. Over the past 20 years alone, the Brazilian Amazon has lost 350,000 square km of forest and emitted 13% more CO2 than it has absorbed.

Even if you're not vegan, prioritizing vegan products whenever you can reduces the overall demand for livestock and the emissions and deforestation that come with it.

WHAT IT MEANS

Plastic is fossil fuel intensive to make, rarely recycled, can take hundreds, if not thousands of years to decompose. But the world is addicted to it, and as a result it's ended up polluting nearly every part of our planet. Prioritizing plastic free goods can begin to change that, reducing the impact and building a more sustainable future.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

• Fossil Fuels and Chemicals: Over 350 million tons of plastic are produced annually worldwide, often using fossil fuels and harsh chemicals.
• Marine pollution: Approximately 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year.
• Landfills: A significant portion of plastic waste ends up in landfills, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose.
• Microplastics: Microplastics, tiny pieces of plastic, have been found on all corners of the earth, polluting oceans, rivers, and even ending up in us!

By choosing plastic free products we can reduce marine pollution, mitigate climate change, protect wildlife and improve human health.

Recycling and upcycling may sound similar and in a sense, they are, but there is one key difference. Unlike recycling, which breaks down products into raw materials and uses them to create new products, upcycling reuses materials in their current state to create something new.

WHAT IT MEANS

Upcycling is basically giving old items a new lease on life by transforming them into something new and useful. It's like taking something unwanted and turning it into something valuable, often with a creative twist.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

• Reduces waste: By reusing things instead of throwing them away, upcycling keeps them out of landfills. This helps conserve space in landfills and reduces the environmental impact of waste disposal.
• Lowers reliance on new materials: When you upcycle, you're not creating a demand for new resources to be extracted and processed. This can help conserve natural resources and reduce pollution from manufacturing.
• Promotes a circular economy: Upcycling contributes to a circular economy, where materials are kept in use for as long as possible. This is in contrast to a linear economy, where things are used once and then discarded.

Why create something new when you already have what you need!

Recyclable refers to materials that can be collected, processed, and turned into new products. It's a key component in reducing waste and conserving resources. Here's a breakdown of the recycling process and its importance:

WHAT IT MEANS

1. Collecting: The first step is collecting recyclable materials through curbside pickup programs, drop-off centers, or deposit systems (like bottle deposits).
2. Sorting: Recyclables are then sorted by type (paper, plastic, glass, metal) at sorting facilities. This ensures they can be effectively reprocessed.
3. Processing: Each material undergoes specific processing depending on its type. For example, paper might be pulped and formed into new paper products, while plastic bottles are crushed and melted into pellets for new plastic items.
4. Manufacturing: The reprocessed materials are then used to manufacture new products. This can include things like recycled paperboard boxes, plastic bottles made from PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) plastic, or aluminum cans made from recycled aluminum.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

• Reduces Landfill Waste: Landfills are overflowing, and recycling diverts a significant amount of waste, extending their lifespan and reducing the need for new landfills.
• Conserves Natural Resources: Manufacturing new products from scratch often requires extracting virgin resources like trees for paper or ores for metals. Recycling utilizes existing materials, reducing our reliance on these resources.
• Lowers Energy Consumption: The process of creating new products from recycled materials generally requires less energy compared to using virgin resources. This translates to lower greenhouse gas emissions and a smaller environmental footprint.

In spite of this, recycling still faces lots of issues. It can be complicated and time consuming for a lot of people, leading to mistakes being made. Contamination is a huge problem, sometimes resulting in whole batches of recycled goods being thrown out. Sometimes recycled goods can even be shipped abroad where they end up being landfilled instead.

Ultimately however, recyclable goods are a positive for the planet, giving much of our trash a chance at a second (and third and fourth...) life.

Biodegradable materials can be broken down by living organisms, primarily microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. This breakdown process happens naturally and turns the material back into its basic components, which are often water, carbon dioxide, and biomass (organic matter).

WHAT IT MEANS

1. Microbial Feast: Microbes like bacteria and fungi recognize the biodegradable material as a food source. They release enzymes that break down the material's complex molecules into simpler ones they can absorb and use for energy.
2. Gradual Decomposition: As the microbes consume the material, it gradually weakens and disintegrates. This process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years, depending on the material and environmental conditions (like temperature and moisture).
3. Back to Nature: The end products of biodegradation are typically harmless and can even be beneficial. Water hydrates the ecosystem, carbon dioxide is used by plants for photosynthesis, and biomass becomes part of the soil, enriching it with nutrients.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

• Reduces Landfill Waste: Biodegradable items decompose in landfills instead of piling up for centuries. This helps conserve landfill space and reduces the environmental impact of overflowing landfills.
• Minimizes Pollution: Biodegradation is a natural process that doesn't involve harmful chemicals or byproducts. This helps minimize pollution in the environment compared to non-biodegradable materials that can leach harmful chemicals as they slowly break down.
• Promotes a Circular Economy: Biodegradable materials can be composted, turning them back into nutrient-rich soil. This creates a closed-loop system where organic waste becomes a valuable resource, reducing reliance on virgin materials and promoting sustainability.

However, it's important to note that while biodegradable materials will eventually decompose, the timeframe can vary greatly. Some materials might take years or even decades to break down completely. Others are only designed to break down in industrial composting facilities that create specific conditions. These facilities might not be readily available everywhere, so proper disposal is crucial.

Overall, biodegradable materials offer a more sustainable option compared to their non-biodegradable counterparts. However, understanding the breakdown time and proper disposal methods is essential for maximizing their environmental benefits.

Compostable refers to materials that can break down quickly and safely under specific conditions into a nutrient-rich amendment called compost. It's a specific type of biodegradation with big benefits for the environment.

WHAT IT MEANS

• Designed for Decomposition: Compostable materials are made from organic matter like plant starches or bioplastics specifically formulated to break down rapidly in controlled composting environments.
• Controlled Breakdown: Composting facilities create ideal conditions for breakdown, including proper moisture levels, good aeration, and specific temperature ranges (often around 140°F).
• Microbial Action: Just like biodegradation, microbes like bacteria and fungi break down the compostable materials. However, the specific materials and controlled environment accelerate this process significantly.
• Nutrient-Rich Compost: The end product of composting these materials is a dark, crumbly mixture called compost, teeming with beneficial microorganisms and nutrients for plant growth.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

• Reduces Landfill Waste: Organic waste like food scraps and yard trimmings make up a large portion of landfills. Composting these materials diverts them from landfills, saving space and resources.
• Creates Valuable Fertilizer: Compost is a natural and sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. It nourishes plants, improves soil health, and reduces reliance on non-renewable resources.
• Lowers Methane Emissions: Landfills create methane, a potent greenhouse gas, when organic waste decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen). Composting happens aerobically (with oxygen), significantly reducing methane emissions.
• Promotes a Circular Economy: Composting creates a closed-loop system for organic materials. Food scraps become compost, which nourishes plants that grow more food, reducing reliance on virgin resources.

It's important to remember:

• Not All Biodegradable are Compostable: While both break down eventually, compostable materials are designed for faster decomposition in specific environments. Not everything labeled "biodegradable" is suitable for home composting.
• Check Local Guidelines: Different municipalities might have varying guidelines on what materials are accepted in their composting programs. Be sure to check your local guidelines before adding anything to your home compost bin.

When done properly, compostable products end up going back into the Earth that made them, helping nourish the planet and contributing to a system that is symbiotic with nature, not parasitic.

PCR stands for Post-Consumer Recycled material. It refers to plastics that have already been used by consumers and then collected, processed, and reborn into new plastic products.

WHAT IT MEANS

1. Collecting and Sorting: The journey starts with used plastic bottles, food containers, and other items collected through recycling programs. Sorting facilities separate these plastics by type (PET, HDPE, PP, etc.) to ensure proper reprocessing.
2. Cleaning and Reprocessing: The collected plastics undergo rigorous cleaning to remove dirt, debris, and labels. They're then crushed into small flakes or pellets. These pellets go through a purification process to eliminate any remaining contaminants.
3. Remanufacturing: The cleaned plastic pellets are melted down and molded into entirely new plastic products like packaging containers, clothing fibers, or even car parts.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

• Reduces Environmental Impact: Manufacturing virgin plastic requires significant energy and resources. PCR utilizes existing plastic, lowering the demand for new plastic production. This translates to less energy consumption and reduced greenhouse gas emissions associated with creating plastic from scratch.
• Lessens Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Virgin plastic is derived from non-renewable fossil fuels like oil and natural gas. By using PCR, we rely less on these resources. Existing plastic gets a second chance, reducing our overall demand for fossil fuels.
• Reduces Plastic Waste: By incorporating PCR materials into new products, we divert plastic waste from landfills and oceans. This helps minimize plastic pollution, a major environmental concern.
• Circular Economy: PCR promotes a circular economy for plastics. Used plastics are collected, reprocessed, and given a new life, keeping them in use for longer periods. This reduces overall plastic waste and conserves resources.

PCR materials offer a significant advantage over virgin plastics. As recycling technology improves and collection systems become more efficient, PCR is expected to play a major role in reducing plastic pollution.

FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council. It's an independent organization that certifies forests meeting specific environmental, social, and economic benchmarks. So, when you see a product labeled "FSC Certified," it means the wood used comes from a responsibly managed forest. Here are just some of the things FSC certified forests do:

WHAT IT MEANS

• Protect old-growth forests and other critical habitats.
• Maintain genetic diversity within forest populations.
• Avoid practices that harm endangered or threatened species.
• Implement sustainable logging practices that minimize damage to forests.
• Protect riparian buffer zones to prevent erosion and maintain water quality.
• Use natural forest regeneration techniques whenever possible.
• Avoid practices that lead to soil erosion, such as clear-cutting and excessive logging.
• Use cover crops and reduced tillage to improve soil health.
• Protect water sources and quality by avoiding activities that pollute or deplete them.
• Reduce emissions from forest-related activities, such as deforestation and forest degradation.
• Promote forest carbon sequestration by planting trees and managing forests sustainably.
• Respect the rights of indigenous peoples and their communities.
• Provide fair wages and working conditions

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

• Environmentally friendly: FSC forests are managed to conserve biodiversity, minimize harm to soil and water, and avoid harvesting from endangered areas. This helps ensure the long-term health of our forests.
• Socially beneficial: FSC certification protects the rights of indigenous people and forest workers. It ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect for local communities.
• Economically viable: FSC promotes sustainable forestry practices that ensure a steady supply of wood for future generations. It also helps businesses demonstrate their commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

In a nutshell, FSC certification is a way to be sure you're buying wood products that come from forests that are good for the environment, good for people, and good for the long-term health of our planet.

We especially look for this label for bamboo products, which are a great alternative to trees, but controversial when grown on deforested land to meet growing consumer demand.

Because most of our customers are in the United States, we look for products made in the USA or in North America when possible. This is to keep the supply chain as local as possible and reduce how far products need to travel before reaching you, which reduces transportation emissions.

Direct From Farm:

• Meaning: This refers to purchasing products directly from the farmers or producers who grow or raise them. This can happen through farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, or farm stands.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN

• Consumers can buy directly from the farmers, eliminating middlemen like distributors or wholesalers. This often leads to fresher produce and potentially lower prices for consumers, while farmers may receive a higher share of the profits.
• Importance: It can support local agriculture, promote fresher produce, and potentially benefit small and medium-sized farms. It allows consumers to connect directly with the people who grow their food.

Fair Trade:

• Meaning: Fair trade refers to a system that sets international standards for how farmers and workers in developing countries are treated. It ensures they receive fair prices for their products and promotes sustainable farming practices.
• How it Works: Fair trade organizations certify products that meet specific criteria. These criteria include fair pricing for producers, safe working conditions, and environmental sustainability. Consumers can look for fair trade certifications on product labels.
• Importance: Fair trade helps ensure farmers and workers in developing countries receive fair compensation for their labor, improve their livelihoods, and contribute to sustainable farming practices.

Choosing Between Them:

• Direct from farm is a great way to support local agriculture and potentially get fresher produce. However, it may not guarantee fair treatment of farmers or sustainable practices.
• Fair trade ensures fair prices and working conditions for farmers globally but may not involve local producers.

In some cases, you might find products that are both direct from farm and fair trade. This is ideal as it supports both local agriculture and fair treatment of farmers worldwide.

Regenerative certified is an even more stringent standard than organic, focusing on actively restoring and improving ecosystems. While organic farming avoids synthetic inputs to avoid harm, regenerative agriculture goes further by aiming to actively improve soil health, biodiversity, and water quality.

WHAT IT MEANS

• Cover Cropping: Planting cover crops between main crops helps to improve soil structure, prevent erosion, and sequester carbon.
• No-Till Farming: Minimizing soil disturbance helps to preserve soil structure, promote microbial activity, and increase carbon sequestration.
• Livestock Integration: Integrating livestock with crops can enhance nutrient cycling, improve soil health, and reduce the need for external inputs.
• Rotational Grazing: Moving livestock to different pastures regularly helps to prevent overgrazing and promote plant diversity.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Since the 1970's, earth has lost 30% of our topsoil. One of the main reasons that our soil is becoming lifeless is because we are practicing monocropping at scale, and these crops (mostly corn, soy and wheat) are extracting the same nutrients from the ground over and over again.

While organic certification ensures the avoidance of synthetic inputs, regenerative certification takes a more proactive approach to restoring and improving ecosystems. By focusing on practices that enhance soil health, biodiversity, and water quality, regenerative agriculture offers a more comprehensive solution for sustainable food production.