ArcaMax

If you love to craft with kids, it’s important to stock up on supplies that are free of harsh chemicals. Many products like ink pads, markers and craft paints can contain asthma-triggering chemicals or have high levels of volatile organic compounds. The basic rule of thumb is, if the product has a smell, it’s likely chemical-based. How do ...Read more

Oranges have one of the largest carbon footprints of all fruits and vegetables, but it depends on where they come from. The majority of oranges come from Brazil, which means they are transported from far away to the United States. If you purchase domestically grown citrus from California or Florida, the footprint is much lower. Growing, ...Read more

Modern-day paper shredders do an excellent job of finely cutting, dicing and obliterating important documents so they are impossible to piece back together. While these shredders are great for protecting your privacy, they are terrible for the environment. When paper is cut into small pieces, the fiber sizes are reduced to the point of being non...Read more

Did you know that most yoga and stretching mats are made from hard-to-recycle PVC material? They can off-gas chemicals, and they don’t degrade in landfills. Instead of plastic mats, look for greener alternatives like cork, which comes from a fully renewable resource and offers more grip to help you achieve the perfect pose. There are also ...Read more

It’s not always necessary to send your wool and cashmere sweaters to the dry cleaner to get them clean. If the reason for cleaning is odor, just spraying the sweater with vodka can help neutralize the odor-causing bacteria and freshen your clothes right up. If they’re in need of a wash, the delicate or slow cycle on your washing machine is ...Read more

While most public tap water is safe to drink, it’s always a good idea to be aware of certain red flags before you take a sip. One of the easiest ways to assess your water's safety is to use your sense of smell. If water smells musty, metallic, fishy or like rotten eggs, that could indicate the presence of bacteria, organic matter or high ...Read more

Cash is always the most appreciated donation if you want to support a local food pantry, but so are things that are considered “nonessential.” Donate cake mixes, frosting, candles and a cake pan so families in need can celebrate a holiday or birthday. You can give cookie mixes and brownie mixes, too. And consider spices to help bring flavor ...Read more

If you shop online, opt for ground shipping instead of overnight. Yes, it’s cheaper, but it’s also better for the environment because it minimizes air shipping, which uses more fuel and has a higher carbon footprint than ground transport. Even better, if you work in an office, have your items shipped there. There's a very high likelihood ...Read more

Gift experiences instead of physical items. We waste about $9 billion every holiday season on gifts that are returned or thrown away. Focus on experiences like day trips or meals in restaurants, or cover the cost of digital services they already use like Netflix, Spotify or online workout classes. And forget gift cards: Nearly $23 billion in ...Read more

If you must wrap a present, use uncoated and unadorned paper to make your present look nice. Gift wrap that has flecks of shimmer and shine from foil and glitter is nearly impossible to recycle. And shiny gift wrap in general often can be rejected as undesirable by recyclers. Instead, use brown kraft paper and tie it up with natural twine and ...Read more

Plant-based meat alternatives are all the rage now, and they can be found as vegetarian and vegan options at popular fast-food restaurants. You might wonder if these protein alternatives also are better for the environment; the Good Food Institute studied just that, and they say that, yes, these meat alternatives are more eco-friendly. Just on ...Read more

LED lightbulbs are supposed to last for years, if not decades; so why do so many burn out quickly? Other than poor manufacturing, the most common reason is that the lightbulb has been paired with an incompatible dimming switch. LED bulbs aren’t designed to be dimmable; while they may change their light output when used with a dimmer, the ...Read more

The electronics retailer Best Buy has made it a mission to collection as much e-waste as possible for recycling -- so much so, Best Buy has recycled nearly 3 billion pounds of personal electronics and appliances. The program is free, and hard-to-recycle items like printers, webcams, modems, speakers, fans, vacuums, DVD players and more can be ...Read more

It’s not just bottled water that’s part of the single-use plastic problem; it’s cleaning products, too. It’s estimated nearly 2.5 billion plastic bottles that once held laundry detergent, dishwashing soap and surface cleaners end up in landfills ever year. Even though they're recyclable, the percentage that actually gets recycled is low....Read more

Even though they look like paperboard, ice cream containers are not commonly recycled. They are composed of layers of plastic and paperboard, and it’s nearly impossible for recyclers to separate the materials for recycling, so it’s best to reuse them or put them in the trash. If you have a green thumb, you can reuse ice cream pints as ...Read more

If you’ve squeezed the last few drops of toothpaste out of the tube, grab some scissors and cut it open. You can use what's left to help with a myriad of household tasks. Stains on your carpet? Just rub a small amount of paste on top and scrub away with an old brush to help lift the stain and brighten the fibers. And if you have watermarks or ...Read more

It may seem harmless, but it’s actually illegal to take rocks out of national parks. With millions of people visiting our parks annually, if everyone took a small natural souvenir home, it would have a devastating effect on the park. If caught, not only have you committed a federal crime, but it also can result in a hefty fee. And even ...Read more

During the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s estimated that food waste increases by 25%, on top of the 30% to 40% of our food supply that Americans throw away on average. To reduce this, think of holiday meals as you would any meal, rather than as all-you-can-eat feasts. Encourage guests to bring take-home containers with...Read more

It’s estimated nearly 30 million live Christmas trees are sold every year in the United States, which means a lot of people are shopping for holiday decorations for the tree. Instead of buying new, why not consider thrifting for antique or vintage pieces? Or make DIY snowflakes and other paper decor using scrap paper or items from the ...Read more

It might be shiny, sparkly and fun, but glitter is also well known for getting everywhere, and it’s an ecological problem. Those tiny particles are microplastics, which are among the biggest culprits of water pollution. So avoid glitter when you’re buying greeting cards, cosmetics, decorative items, craft supplies, etc. And it isn't just ...Read more