Sea•thos Foundation

Today is Ash Wednesday which, in the Catholic Tradition, marks the first day of Lent- a 40 day period (February 22 2012- April 7 2012) of fasting, repentance, charity, and sacrifice for observant Catholics. Lent is also considered a time of change and reflection on one’s life.

Many Catholics choose to “give something up for Lent” which means that they are observing the tradition of sacrifice. If you’re Catholic and are pondering on how to spend Lent, or if you are just looking for ways to help the planet, here are some fun, eco-friendly ideas for Lent and any time of the year!

1. Conserve water
Water is a very important resource which, sadly, is becoming scarce due to over consumption. Did you know that a measly four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water?!

We can do our part to conserve water by spending less time in the shower,  turning off the shower head/faucet when you are not using it, and choosing foods that require less water input. One very important awareness event coming up, which happens to fall during Lent, is World Water Day on March 22, 2012.

World Water Day (WWD) is an event that calls all global citizens to address the issues of food and water scarcity by making better consumption choices. Many do not know that most of the water we drink comes from the food we eat. Global water and food supplies are dwindling causing billions to starve.

Meanwhile, 30% of all food produced is never eaten and is wasted along with the water that went into its production. By conserving water, choosing food that requires less water input, and not wasting food, we can fight world hunger and other resource issues.

2.Ban Plastics!
1,000,000 seabirds are dying every year by ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic
86% of turtles, 43% of seabirds, and 44% of marine mammals have plastic in their guts

Plastics are filling up landfills, clogging our oceans, and causing marine life to suffer
To reduce plastic consumption, remember to bring your own bag to retail stores, use a reusable water bottle, and avoid using other single-use plastic items (plastic cups, spoons, forks etc.)

3. Recycle!
Similar to the previous tip, recycling properly and often can keep trash out of landfills and out of the ocean! Sometimes it is difficult to know which plastics are recyclable and which are not. Check out our Plastics 101 on how to recycle properly!

4. Conserve Energy
Unplug electric items such as your cell phone charger when you’re not using them, and remember to switch off the lights before you leave a room! Another event that falls during Lent is Earth Hour on March 31st, 2012. Everyone across the globe is encouraged to turn off all lights for one hour to acknowledge that Earth’s precious resources are running out and to show commitment to building a sustainable planet.

5. Eat Sustainable Seafood on Fridays!
During Lent, Catholics abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays until Easter as a form of fasting. While shying away from meat, try to go a step further and choose seafood that was harvested sustainably.  Here are our sustainable seafood guides to accompany you: Sustainable Seafood Guide, Sustainable Sushi Guide

Good luck to all on their life journey! <3

With the holidays just around the corner many of us are searching for the perfect gift ideas. This year try to avoid the awkward smile and uneasy interactions after receiving or giving a gift that sucks! By being more mindful of the impact of your gifts will have, you will not only dodge uncomfortable situations but will also be friendlier to the health our planet and oceans. Here are a few important things to remember this gift giving season:

1) Buy less: It is not just the thought that counts! Think about it…Wouldn’t you rather receive something like a meaningful card or a donation in your name to your favorite nonprofit than a gift that you hate but have to pretend to love!?!?  This season make a pact with your friends and family to cut out the ‘thoughtful’ gifts and only buy each other things that are useful and necessary. You can also arrange gift exchange where each one only buys a gift for one other designated person. By reducing the number of gifts bought you are not only saving money but also reducing the amount of waste you are putting out (think of all the plastic packing on most items these days!).

2) Keep it close to home: Buying locally made goods are a great why of supporting your local economy as well as keeping your carbon footprint to a minimum. You will get extra brownie points from the green gods by purchasing local goods made from recycled material.

3) Recycle: Why let that ill suited gift sit in your closet any longer?! After all ‘one person’s trash is another one’s treasure’! There is nothing wrong with re-gifting something to someone who will get better use out of it. Its a win win situation; you get to reclaim your closet space, spend less money and give someone something they will actually use!

4) Make it last: In this day and age many products are designed to break down or become obsolete within a relatively short period of time. It is, therefore, important and more environmentally sound to choose gifts that are not only durable but will remain practical for a substantial amount of time.

5) Give back to the planet: Many companies and organizations are becoming increasingly conscious of the need to give back to mother earth. Why not give a gift that is not only practical but also helps improve the health of our planet and oceans. This year the Sea•thos foundation is offering a limited holiday special on our environmentally friendly tote bag + Lifefactory water bottles. Other gift ideas are bus passes, bicycles and donations to environmental organizations.

6) Holiday wrap: Avoid the metallic and shiny wrapping paper! It is not only tacky but also non-recyclable. Try to re-use wrapping paper, ribbons and bows whenever possible. There are some companies that now make eco-friendly wrapping paper from fibers such as hemp. Fabric scrapes, newspaper, old calendars, maps or poster are creative and alternative materials that can be used as wrapping paper.

7) Make your own cards: Making your own cards not only adds a personal touch but is also much more earth friendly. Get the kids involved and make an afternoon out of it!

Happy gifting

Working out is good for our minds and bodies. Here are a few tips on how to stay fit without making the environment sweat it:

1. Be mindful of your threads: Did you know it takes over 400 gallons of water and a third of a pound of pesticides to make a SINGLE cotton teeshirt. The chemicals used to grow cotton are extremely harmful to the surrounding soil, insects, bodies of water and marine life. Some sports wear is covered in bug/sweat/water resistant chemicals that are absorbed by the body (especially when pores are open from sweating) and are particularly detrimental to aquatic life. Clothing made from eco-friendly fibers such as hemp and organic cotton are stylish and a green way to keep it clean. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should only consume what you need. Simply refrain from buying clothing that is not essential!

2. BYOB: As we all know slow degrading plastic water bottles are filling landfills to the brim. Over 60 million water bottles are discarded annually. Many even end up in the ocean effecting sea life and ultimately our own health. Bringing your own (glass) water bottle to your workout is an affordable and easy way to reduce plastic pollution and save the ocean.

3. Transport yourself: Walking, running, biking or skateboarding to the gym or your yoga class is a great way to warm up and reduce your carbon footprint. If your gym is too far (or it is an exteremely cold and snowy winter day) take the bus or carpool with a friend.

4. Disconnect from it all: If the treadmill was a car it would be a gas guzzling SUV. Try to find gym workouts that require more use of  exercise ball (such as medicine balls) and less stationary contraption with moving floor! Doing a yoga class is a great way to use your own body weight to build muscle. Take your cardio outdoors by going on a bike ride, a run on the beach or hike in the nearby woods. These are much better alternatives to staying indoors on a stationary machine with your eyes glued to the TV.

5. Share your sole: Don’t throw out those old runners! Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program takes your old soles and turns them into sports courts, tracks and flooring! Click here to find your closest drop off location!

Thanksgiving is supposed to be the time of year where we give thanks for the things we have; much of which is provided to us by mother nature. Let us show her how thankful we truly are by greening up our Thanksgiving!

Here are a few ways to have a cleaner and greener Thanksgiving:

1) Natural Decorations: This Thanksgiving let nature be your inspiration for decorations. Beautifully colored gourds, pumpkins, squash and maize are in season and widely available. These are great alternatives to those cheesy store bought decorations. Pinecones and the colorful fallen leaves are other natural and pocket-friendly props you can incorporate in your holiday decorations. Try lighting beeswax or soy candles for some mood lighting.

2) Plan ahead: By making an extensive list of everything that you need to prepare your holiday meal you can avoid taking multiple trips to the store; saving yourself both time and gas.

3) Buy Local and Organic: Organic food is not only healthier for you but it also reduces the amount of harmful chemicals that are released into the environment. What’s even better than buying organic food is buying organic food that is grown locally! You can buy most of your holiday meal ingredients from your local farmer’s market or nearby family farm. Localharvest.org can help in your quest to buy locally grown produce! Try to choose recipes which require locally grown, as oppose to imported ingredients.

4) The table: Try to avoid using one-time use items including plates, napkins and utensils. Using actual silverware, dish-ware and cloth napkins will definitely class-up the dinner table! Remember that running a full dishwasher conserves more water than hand washing.  If it is absolutely necessary to use disposables, make sure they are eco-friendly and biodegradable. Wooden plates and utensils are now widely available and a much greener option than their plastic counterparts.

5) The Meal: Not all turkeys are raised equally! Buying a heritage turkey is both a tastier and healthier option. If, however, this option is not available to you, you can opt to get an organic or sustainably raised turkey or chicken. This will ensure that the birds have had access to the outdoors and are antibiotic-free/hormone-free.

Another option is to forget the birds all together and go vegetarian. There are so many yummy meat-free holiday recipes.

6) Left-overs: DO NOT THROW THESE OUT! Remember Thanksgiving is a holiday that reminds us to be mindful and thankful for what we have. If you’re invited to someone’s house for dinner remember to BYORC, bring your own reusable container. Also don’t forget that by letting your food cool down before putting it in the fridge you are saving energy and money.

7) After the meal: Don’t be a couch potato! Put down the remote and actually spend some quality time with your friends and family. Here’s a novel idea: instead of sitting on the couch watching football try getting some exercise by playing the game OUTSIDE! In the fresh air!

Happy Thanksgiving

Companies that utilize disposable cans and plastic bottles such as Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Coors, and International Bottled Water have declared November 15th  ’America Recycles Day’. We are all growing increasingly aware, however, that simply resorting to recycling is not good enough for the health of our environment and oceans. We say forget “America Recycles Day’ and celebrate the more responsible and environmentally conscious ‘Zero Waste Day’!

‘America Recycles Day’ was created by the mega-companies as a tactic to influence public perception and shift responsibility of waste disposal from producer to consumer. Once upon a not-too-long-ago these companies actually cleaned up after themselves. They had an effective system in place whereby they would distribute beverages in refillable bottles which would then be returned by the consumer and reused. But then the big bad cheap plastic bottle entered the picture and everything changed!

With the increased use of disposables came the public’s uncertainty of what to do with the empty bottles. Initially, they were instructed to trash them. Once landfills started fill up, however, people started raising environmental concerns and viola recycling was born.

One of the goals of Zero Waste Day is to help us become more mindful consumers and ‘disposers’. Just because large companies such as Budweiser and Coca-Cola are giving us a pat on the back for recycling doesn’t mean we are doing the right thing. We are still throwing things away! Zero waste Day should be celebrated with the 7 Rs (and none of these are recycle!):

1) Reduce: consume less
2) Return: Look for companies such as Apple and Dell that are taking back old/worn out products
3) Reuse: Don’t be so quick to throw things away even if they are a little banged up…They can still be of use
4) Repair: fix it, don’t ditch it
5) Refill: use refillable bottles. Urge local companies to have a blast to the past and reconsider the refillable bottle
6) Rot: Composting turns waste valuable nutrients
7) Refuse: Stop buying products that support the destruction of our environment

HAPPY ZERO WASTE DAY FRIENDS

Plastic water bottles are hazardous to both our health and our environment. The majority of them are recyclable yet most end up in the landfills or the ocean. Over 60 million plastic water bottles are thrown away annually; posing a threat to our land, waters and wildlife. Here is the truth about the big bad plastic water bottle:

Plastic bottles in a landfill: Every piece of plastic ever made still exists today. As you may already know plastics take an extremely long time to biodegrade. Many unrecycled bottles end up in already overcrowded landfills indefinitely, taking up space that could be used for other purposes. Landfill waste is linked to to the production of methane. An overproduction of methane is in turn linked to greenhouse effects and global warming!

Recycling plastic bottles: Although recycling is a much better alternative to merely tossing them in the trash, it is still not the greenest. A significant amount of energy and resources are involved in the recycling process of plastic bottles.

Plastic bottles and their chemicals: Many of us think by refilling our plastic water bottles before disposing of them we are being more conscientious individuals. In reality, this practice is quite hazardous to our health. Microscopic scratches and cracks allow for harmful chemicals from the plastic to end up into our water. Unwashed reused plastic is also a bacteria breeding ground which can make us quite ill. Furthermore, the supposed reason we buy plastic water bottles in the first place, the quality of the water, may actually be worse than tap water!

The making of a plastic bottle: New water bottles must be produced to keep up with consumer demand. Unfortunately the amount of raw materials and fossil fuels required to produce new bottles is extremely high. Most interesting, however, is that the water required to produce a single water bottle far exceeds the amount of water the bottle can hold!

Plastic bottles in our oceans: Often trash, particularly in coastal cities, ends up in our oceans. The ocean is vast, it can absorb all this garbage without any harm being done to it… right ?!?! WRONG! Marine debris, which is largely comprised of plastic, is actually very harmful to the health of our oceans and marine life. Firstly, when sunlight hits floating plastic it begins to photodegrade, a process which breaks down the plastic into tiny pieces and releases harmful chemicals into the water. Secondly, marine animals often ingest plastic debris mistaking it for pray. This has disastrous consequences on their own health and those that consume them (including us humans). Lastly, Marine animals often get entrapped in marine litter including the cap rings of plastic water bottles and six pack rings!

After being confronted with the reality of plastic water bottles and their effects on the planet you may want to consider the alternatives:

A) Drink tap water: the water quality may be even better than its bottled counter part.
B) Buy a home water filtering system: Some are relatively cheap while others can be quite pricey. Regardless, over the long run you will not only benefit by drinking cleaner water and being kinder to the environment but you will also save money!
C) Refill your water: Generally, your local health food store can provide you with clean water at a reasonably low price. Be sure to use a glass container!
D) Use a LifeFactory water bottle: These smartly designed glass water bottles are a clean and great alternative to plastic water bottles. Click here to get one.

Kick the habit of buying plastic water bottles and you will be ensuring your own health as well as that of our oceans and planet!