Author: Elaine

Categories
Travel

​How to Beat Jet Lag Before it Happens

What is jet lag exactly?

Well, jet lag or jet lag disorder is a really not-fun consequence of taking long-haul flights. Our bodies struggle when crossing time zones because they’re already accustomed to a certain sleep-wake cycle. This is a result of a disturbed circadian rhythm that throws your internal clock off balance. Other functions such as hunger and bowel movements will take time to catch up to the local time at your new destination. The more time zones you cross, the worse jet lag can get. If possible, try to avoid back to back flights that cross multiple time zones. It’ll ease up your jet lag symptoms (being on a plane for that long wouldn’t be ideal anyway. You’ll thank us later).

Some jet lag symptoms include:

  • Headaches
  • Insomnia or sleepiness
  • Fatigue
  • Stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea
  • Difficulty focusing or concentrating
  • Changes in mood

Traveling is fun, but the jet lag is seriously something we can do without–wait, that was an option? Yep. It’s actually really easy to avoid jet lag or travel fatigue! The factors leading to this symptom is primarily sleep-deprivation or dehydration. Chances are being sleep-deprived means you’re gonna have a rough go at it because your body clock hasn’t fully adjusted. By taking steps ahead of time to adjust your body clock, you just might be able to successfully beat jet lag.

Tips for Avoiding Jet Lag

  1. Plan ahead
    Do you sleep well on planes? If so, choose a red-eye flight where you’ll be able to catch a good night’s rest before arriving at your destination–refreshed and awake for daylight. If not, choose a flight where you will land closer to the evening at your new destination so you can sleep when you arrive. This will help you reset for the first day you arrive. If it’s your first time flying on a long-distance flight, you should probably stay away from red-eye’s until you know for sure if you’re able to sleep on a plane. It should be easier to stay awake on a plane than to fall asleep, so you can gauge for your future trips after trying it out the first time. Sleep deprivation plays a huge role in one’s jet lag symptoms. Unless you have unlimited PTO, you’ve probably already planned something on the itinerary for the moment you land to maximize your time. If it’s possible, try to schedule your flight a day before you have any activities to attend. If you weren’t able to adjust to your new time zone upon arrival, at least you have the breathing room to catch some sleep and be awake for your adventures the following day. When selecting your seat, you can also try to find a window seat where you won’t be disturbed when you’re trying to rest.
  2. Adjust your sleep schedule ahead of time
    Start a few days before your trip, either sleeping a little earlier if your new location is behind on time or sleeping later if it’s ahead. Your new schedule will help you get acclimated to the new destination time. Your biological clock will thank you. Tip: set your watch to local time at your destination. That way, it’ll be easier to close the gap of time to your new sleep schedule. If you have a hard time sleeping earlier, melatonin may be a good option to help you. Be sure to follow instructions for use beforehand and look for the words “non-habit-forming” on the label. If melatonin works for you, you can even bring it along on your trip to aid in getting your body clock on schedule. Avoid taking other over-the-counter “jet lag cures”–some can actually make symptoms worse and don’t agree with cabin pressure.
  3. Don’t nap longer than 30 minutes on ‘daytime’ flights
    If you’re taking a flight when it’s daytime at your new destination, try not to nap for longer than 30 minutes at a time. Doing this will prevent you from restlessness later when you land and it’s nighttime at your new time zone.
  4. Avoid drinking coffee, tea, or alcohol.
    We know, this can be hard, especially when you’re working on a flight or if you’re on vacation, but caffeine and alcohol are known as diuretics, which means they’ll actually dehydrate you–resulting in grogginess and sometimes even headaches.
  5. Drink lots of water
    Experts recommend drinking 6-8 oz of water per hour of flight to deter jet lag symptoms.
    We mean it. Even though it may seem like a hassle to constantly need to use the restroom, it’s a small price to pay for staying hydrated and diminishing the effects of jet lag.
  6. Take an empty reusable water bottle with you.
    Once you pass TSA, you can fill it up at a water fountain. Questionable water? Swap your regular water bottle for the LARQ self-cleaning water bottle so you always have clean water at your fingertips.
  7. Take walks
    Turns out, getting up to go the restroom more often will benefit you here! Taking walks–even if they’re short–can help improve circulation. Your body will thank you.

So you see, it’s easy to travel without the dreaded effects of jet lag. Try these simple methods to avoid travel fatigue, so you can not only survive a long flight, but THRIVE.

Categories
LARQ News

Beginner’s Guide: How to set up your LARQ Bottle

Wondering how LARQ Bottle works exactly? Well, wonder no more. (Hint: It’s actually really easy.)

Before you get started, give the bottle a little rinse. This step is probably not necessary because the bottle is self-cleaning, but we’re germaphobes, so we’re gonna do it anyway.

#1 Unlock LARQ

Press and hold the button down for 5 seconds to unlock the bottle for the first time. A white color light will flash signifying that it is unlocked and ready for purifying action!

 

#2 Give it a good charge

Power that baby up! Remove the cap from your bottle and insert the LARQ micro-USB end into the cap. Then, plug the USB end into a USB wall adapter or USB port of a laptop until the battery is fully charged. You’ll know when it’s fully charged when the green light is steady.

 

#3 Fill it up

Fill with clear water up to the indicator line. Then, screw on the cap and press the button to get purifying! Press once for Normal Mode, and twice for Adventure Mode. (Do not interrupt the purification cycle by removing the cap or pressing the button!)

Normal Mode Breathing sky blue light

 

Adventure Mode Pulsing blue light

 

Safety Mode Pulsing orange light flashes when activated outside the bottle

 

 

Functionality

Normal mode

Drinking water from a trusted source? Then press once to activate Normal Mode, a 60 second cycle with a breathing sky blue light.

Adventure Mode

Need an extra dose of purification power? Press twice to activate Adventure Mode, a 3-minute cycle with a pulsing blue light.

Self-cleaning Mode

Your LARQ Bottle loves to stay clean. That’s why every 2 hours, it will intelligently activate Self-Cleaning Mode, a 10-second cycle with breathing sky blue light.

Travel Lock

Hopping around the world on your next adventure? Hold down for 5 seconds to activate the Travel Lock, which disables Self-Cleaning Mode for travel or storage.

#4 Wait just 60 seconds for brilliantly clean water!

Give your bottle a little whirl (we like to do our happy dance) while your bottle is purifying to spread the UV-C light’s love in there. Now you’re ready to #DrinkBrilliantly with fresh water from a cleaner bottle.

Seems simple enough right? Right! It’s super easy to use and is designed to fit into your life seamlessly. Beauty and brains. Something you never knew you’d want in a water bottle.

Before we let you go, there a few things you should know about your LARQ Bottle. There’s a whole lot of neat features in this thing. Just wait and see.

 

About your action-packed LARQ Bottle

  • LARQ Bottle is waterproof! You heard that right. Don’t stress about dropping it in the sink or rinsing it off if you got a little dust on it. Its USB has a waterproof rating of IPX7, which means it can handle immersion up to 1 meter (3 feet) in water for up to 30 minutes.
  • Take your bottle on adventures with you! LARQ Bottle is travel-friendly, whether it is traveling internationally (going through TSA), backpacking across the country, or camping. Since it’s a relatively new product, you might get some looks (probably in admiration), but we’ve flown with it and haven’t had any issues getting past TSA.
  • Live your life, charge less. One full charge lasts up to 1-2 months based on 3-4 cycles a day. Normal mode lasts up to 4-8 weeks and Adventure Mode lasts up to 10-12 days. What can we say? It’s ready for action.
  • Fill up with confidence. Refill your LARQ Bottle with water from water fountains, sinks and taps, restaurants, rivers, and even waterfalls (you little adventurer you). The minimum requirement is that the water is clear–no particulates of any kind. LARQ Bottle will eliminate up to 99%* of bio-contaminants (it’s even effective against e.coli) but isn’t going to filter heavy metals or chlorine out of your water. Use in Adventure Mode if you’re ever a little unsure about the water for an added boost of PureVis™ power. *Based on the elimination of 99.8% of E.coli in a 20-second cycle for all LARQ Bottles.
  • It’s quiet. In case you were wondering, LARQ Bottle is completely quiet. No humming, buzzing or singing so you can keep on doing you, uninterrupted.
  • Cold or hot? LARQ Bottle keeps water cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours.

And there you have it. A beautifully designed high-tech water bottle was just what you needed in your life to help you #DrinkBrilliantly with pure water anywhere you go.

We know, we’re in love too and we’re not afraid to say it.

Don’t have one yet? Shop the LARQ Bottle here.

 

Categories
Design

10 Unique Scandinavian Interior Design Ideas to Inspire You

Alright, you Scandinavian interior design fanatics–your inspiration for innovative interior design is here. We want Scandi, we want Hygge, we want inventive ideas we can use in our own homes–at some point in time… There are some cool innovative things people are doing around the world in interior design. Ready to be inspired?

 

If you have a space for a spiral staircase and a giant net nook, you’re one lucky person. Not for the faint of heart or if you’re scared of heights–this unique reading area is what design dreams were made of.

 

Have minimal space but want to spruce up your bedroom? Try this cool wood design on your wall and ceiling. It draws the eyes up to make the space feel a little larger. If you can find a great reclaimed wood carpenter, please make this come true for your space.

 

What better way to chill out in front of a fireplace than a gigantic round couch recessed into the ground? I bet you won’t ever want to leave this area–like ever.

 

A cool way to divide a large space–this hardwood and tile-work is a masterpiece of sorts. It’ll be the highlight of your guest’s visit. Guaranteed to spark joy.

 

Cool artwork aside, what makes this space unique is the rolling coffee table that appears to be made from a reclaimed barn door. The oversized industrial wheels make the space a little more interesting than your standard minimalist coffee table. Plus, you get the utility of being able to move it anywhere you want at a moment’s notice.

 

Are you a wine-lover? This cool peg wine rack is what minimalist dreams are made of. Install with caution.

 

The perfect remedy for a small space is this mock-loft. You got ample storage on the bottom and a cool looking loft-style bed area on the top.

 

Talk about unique workspaces. This area is made by its peculiarly cool bookcase. Who said you can’t have fun with your shelving? We love that the design partially covers some of the books drawing your eye to the design and not on any clutter.

 

Liven up your space with indoor plants. No floor space? Hang your plants on a sturdy lighting system. It’s a great way to add freshness and color to an otherwise dull space.

 

Give your kitchen a Scandi update with exposed pantry space like this one. It’ll make you neater (believe it or not) and the frosted sliding paneling breaks up the space and draws eyes up. We’re also fans of this stainless steel island–perfect for you aspiring chefs (or clumsy people).

We love how simple some of these concepts are that make them different than your average Instagram home. Next time you tackle your next home improvement project, think outside the box and do something a little different.

Inspired? Us, too. We love innovative design no matter what industry it’s in. Keep up with our blog for more design inspiration for the home, office and more!

Editor’s Note: Images used in this article do not belong to LARQ.

Categories
Interviews

Sustainable Living with Elana Jadallah

woman filling up seaside mint color LARQ Bottle at a public water fountain

We’re always inspired by others to become a more sustainable company. Reducing our environmental footprint and is a massive goal of ours not only as a company but as individuals as well. As part of our sustainable living series, we’ve got to gain some insight on what it means to be sustainable and some knowledge on how to live more sustainably at home and the office.

For this segment of Sustainable Living, we got to chat with Elana Jadallah, a photographer, marketing consultant and founder of elanaloo.com based in beautiful Hawai’i. Through her photography, writing and online channels, her mission is to captivate others with the incredible world around them, spread the knowledge she has surrounding sustainable living and inspire conscious action. Through her work with small businesses, her mission is to tap into the unique ripple effect that businesses have on this earth and help them amplify positive impact through regenerative and impactful strategies.

Fun facts: Elana loves hiking, swimming, paddle boarding, reading, cooking, storytelling, anything that pushes her out of her comfort zone, even just a little. “Since living in the islands, I’ve developed a love for traditional Hawaiian arts like Haku lei making and she intends to learn how to weave lauhala next.

Elana Jadallah holding seaside mint LARQ Bottle on the beach in hawaii

Elaine T.: What does sustainability mean to you?

Elana J.: Mmm, if you would have asked me that a year ago, WOW, would the answer have been different! My understanding of sustainability is constantly evolving and growing. I used to be so focused in on simply plastic pollution and the need for more sustainable packaging (which is still a big focus!) but now I understand that individual, corporate and governmental sustainability has many, many more facets and ripple effects.

 

To me, sustainability means creating more long-lasting, conscious solutions for individuals, businesses, and society as a whole. Supporting others who are also seeking out these solutions and creating change. Allowing myself to be a student and a sponge. Learning as much as I can about the whole picture and working towards more regenerative and restorative ways of doing things that reverse the damage we as a society have caused and support our natural environment and ecosystems for the future.

ET: Did you always live a sustainable lifestyle? If not, how did you get your start?

EJ: No, absolutely not. I grew up not knowing anything about where my food came from, where my plastic waste would end up or what a ‘sustainable lifestyle’ even looked like. Like so many others who are passionate about the environment, my journey started with a captivating ‘aha moment’!

 

It was fairly recent, just a few years ago, when I started cleaning our local beach while Aaron surfed. I began to notice there were more pieces of micro-plastic on the beach than there were seashells. It completely broke my heart. It was devastating. I wanted to know more about the plastic pieces and how they were landing on our beaches, so I started doing research and was shocked. I had been so unaware of the incredible crisis our oceans and our planet are in. I felt so stupid and blinded by the convenient lifestyle we all live as a society. How did I never think about these things? How could I be so unaware?

 

I’m a firm believer that once you learn something, you can’t ‘unlearn’ it…So this started my journey of continued research and making changes in my lifestyle. I started by analyzing my behaviors and seeing what exactly my impact looked like. First I eliminated single-use bags at the grocery store (they’re banned here in Hawai’i which is amazing), then I committed to only using reusable water bottles and cutlery no matter what. And now, this more-mindful, less-wasteful outlook has trickled into every room in our home and every aspect of our lives. I now look at life through this lens of awareness and intention. It’s been an unraveling; a wonderful, challenging and empowering unraveling of past patterns and behaviors.

ET: What’s it like living in Hawaii? What are your favorite things about it?

EJ: I love having access to the inviting ocean waters all-year-round and the active lifestyle that yields for us, I also love the variety of climates (we have 11 of the 13 micro-climates present on earth here on the Big Island) and the immense beauty that surrounds me. Living in Hawai’i is absolutely special, although very different than what many picture it to be. Yes, it is beautiful and enchanting but I argue that it is so in a much deeper, more profound way than you encounter at first glance!

 

The mana (energy) here is strong and the Hawaiian culture is rich and unique. I feel wildly honored to call this place home but it’s certainly not for everyone and there are many things that differ living here from vacationing here. The things we are blind to on vacation might be that 90% of our food is imported (although sadly the Big Island could be 100% self-sufficient with the number of farms and land here) or the tragic, mostly unknown history of these islands and their people or that it’s a very sensitive eco-system which is being harmed by the constant influx of people. For example, how mass-amounts of sunscreen being dissolved in the water daily has killed the reefs here, how our shorelines are covered in micro-plastics but plastics are still widely distributed, etc. There are so many things that people overlook that need attention, love and energy in these islands. It’s become such a huge part of my everyday life to shed light on these issues and be part of the solution.

woman filling up LARQ Bottle in kitchen sink

ET: Our team here at LARQ has been trying to go plastic-free for the past few weeks, but it’s been tough. What kind of challenges do you face in cutting out plastic? What solutions or alternatives have you found?

 

EJ: AMAZING! Good on you guys. This makes me wildly happy to hear! Something I read the other day that I loved was this: ‘The world doesn’t need a few people doing zero-waste perfectly. The world needs millions of people doing it imperfectly.’ There is so much power in simply starting the journey to finding answers, to seeking solutions, to QUESTIONING our convenience. Something I find helpful is to count how many times you encounter plastic in one day (specifically single-use) and take a tally. Most will be shocked by the number. You can’t just throw plastic ‘away’ – they go somewhere (often times shorelines far, far away) and don’t break down for over 400 years. Once you take a closer look, the hope is that you’ll feel compelled to find longer-lasting, less harmful alternatives for the things you encountered the most in your day.

My biggest challenge is sadly food packaging. I walk into a Costco or a big box grocery and don’t know whether I want to scream or cry. Similar to the idea that you can’t ‘unlearn something’ it’s hard to ‘un-notice’ something. Once you start eliminating convenient, unneeded plastic… you start realizing that it’s everywhere. And one of the worst culprits is our food. The best solution I have found is to SHOP LOCAL (find a local co-op or CSA and shop at farmer’s markets) and we bring our own jars/containers to shop in the bulk section at the grocery store. Whenever possible, buy things like kombucha or olives in glass jars that you can reuse. The last tip for food: make things at home! You’d be surprised how easy some things (like nut milks – I love my Almond Cow! – or hummus are to make at home). Next time you run out of something store bought, see if you can make it yourself.

 

Also, I found it hard to eliminate plastic in the bathroom! Shampoo + conditioner bottles, soaps, razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste, cleaning products, feminine products even TP! Whoa. There’s a lot of waste. But through research, there are so many solutions when you seek them out. I’ve found an alternative that is zero or low waste for each of the things listed above. Shampoo, conditioner and soap bars, safety-razors, bamboo toothbrushes, menstrual cup, even sustainably made TP. It’s all in existence and help eliminate massive amounts of waste. I’m happy to serve as a resource to you – always reach out and I can give you my recommendations!

 

ET: What is a guilty pleasure of yours that you wish was sustainable? What would you tell the company who produces it?

EJ: Oooh! This is a good one. There are a few things that come to my mind. First is traveling – specifically flying. Flying is probably the dirtiest act in our lives. One round-trip flight between New York and California generates about 20% of the greenhouse gases that our cars emit over an entire year. I’m dedicated to learning more about effective, restorative carbon-offsetting for travel specifically.

 

The second that comes to mind is coffee. This one’s easy to solve by bringing a reusable to-go cup, choosing to have your coffee ‘to-stay’ or simply making it at home! Avoid K-cups at all costs and if you have to get a to-go coffee for some reason, ask for no lid and no stir straws.  

 

The last thing is my essential oils. Yep, I’m that hippie. I love to diffuse essential oils in our home, I wear them as perfume and use them for countless uses in our home. Sadly though, there’s a huge gap in the wellness industry when it comes to sustainability and regenerative business practices. I find that many wellness products (such as essential oils, protein powder, snack bars, etc) are still packaged with plastic elements, not using renewable energy for production, are sourcing from unsustainable farms, etc. so I have found myself buying less and buying more intentionally. The best thing we can do is communicate our concerns and needs to the companies who produce our ‘guilty pleasures’ and help them shift to better practices. They value customer feedback because their business relies on it.

Here’s a little excerpt of the email that I send to any company that I love but would love to see improve:

 

As you may know, _____________ (plastic pollution or climate change or unethical work conditions, etc) is a huge problem and I would love to see your company shift towards practices that are more conscious and sustainable. Below is a checklist of conscious business practices that I consider a standard of excellence. Any brand I give my business to must check three or more boxes on this list:

  • Repurposed/Recycled Materials
  • Compostable or Post-Consumer-Recycled Packaging
  • Fair Trade
  • B-Corp Certified
  • Carbon Neutral Shipping
  • Natural or Organic Materials (preferably GOTS certified)
  • Made locally to base consumer
  • Independently Owned
  • Not mass produced
  • Give back to cause/organization/community
  • Made with intention (i.e. honors tradition, brings awareness, tells a story

If you want the full email template to send out, sign up here!

ET: How do you find sustainable options that fit your needs? Can you name a few things you are constantly using, reusing or purchasing?

EJ: Great question! When I started this journey, I definitely felt like I was ‘the first pioneer doing this’ and like I had to find all the answers myself. Thankfully, that was not the case at all! There are so many people out there who are innovative (like LARQ for example!), aware and educated that have found or created more regenerative and sustainable alternatives to what we use on a daily basis. A simple google search will typically give you the answers you need. Also, one of the best books I’ve purchased that was helpful in this way was a used copy of ‘How To Give Up Plastic’ – written by Will McCallum, the Head of Oceans at Greenpeace.

 

Things that we constantly use + reuse:

Get creative, use what you already have and invest in better options when you run out.

ET: In your opinion, what’s the biggest change someone can make in their daily lives that will have the biggest impact on sustainability?

EJ: Your mindset. It’s not just about saying ‘No, thank you!’ to straws or eliminating single-use plastics ‘when you have the chance.’ It’s adopting the mindset that questions our own behaviors and allows for the vulnerability in saying ‘this is not a behavior that supports the future I want to see.’ By being willing to be self-critical and honest with yourself about that, it’s so much easier to make changes that are long-lasting. If you’re empowered with a strong mindset, you will seek out solutions and become a force of nature.

Elana Jadallah sits on blue beach towel with her seaside mint LARQ Bottle

ET: You got a chance to try our LARQ Bottle for a while, what are your thoughts on it? In what ways have you used the bottle that you can’t with others?

 

EJ: The LARQ bottle added value to my life by giving me peace of mind that I can always have access to clean water. We are mindful at home about filtering our water with charcoal but can’t always fill up from home. With the LARQ bottle, we can fill our bottles anywhere with confidence knowing that our water is clean. I can’t wait to take ours on our travels! I know this solves a huge problem for travelers who are going to different countries with different water treatment practices. By bringing the LARQ bottle while traveling, I am wildly inspired by how many plastic water bottles will be avoided.

 

ET: What are some parting words you have for people wanting to live a more sustainable and mindful lifestyle?

EJ: Remember this: striving for perfection will only defeat you. Instead, strive for progress.

 

Stay curious, allow yourself to be a sponge, keep asking questions and seeking out answers. The way I see it is that there are four phases of awakening: the ‘aha’ moment, the overwhelming phase, the research and action phase and lastly, the opportunity to use your voice. Keep striving for progress in all aspects of your life one step at a time. I’m here for you as a resource both for yourself as an individual or if you’re a business owner that is looking to make big shifts on your impact on this world.

 

It was an honor chatting with you today – I hope you found a takeaway that resonated with you! If you ever have any questions or want to connect, I’m here for you! Mahalo nui loa + a hui hou!

 

Categories
Sustainability

Are you recycling plastics correctly?

Ever walk up to a waste disposal area and wonder what goes where? There’s trash, compost, plastic, paper–it can be a bit overwhelming. You don’t want to put a recyclable plastic in the trash that goes to the landfill, but you also aren’t sure if what you have is even recyclable.

Get to know your trash a little more so you’ll know what goes where next time you encounter this dilemma. Here are some facts about recycling plastics that may help you along the way:

#1 Plastic bags aren’t always allowed in the recycling bin

Although plastic bags are made up of the same materials that theoretically can be recycled in most modern recycling systems, machinery just isn’t able to handle it. Depending on your waste management service, plastic bags might not be accepted as recyclable items because they get tangled in the machines which slow down the process of recycling. They end up being manually detangled and ripped from the machines and thrown into the landfill. Do a little research to find out if your local waste management services allow plastic bags.

In most cases, it’s recommended to have loose plastics in your plastic recycling bin rather than plastic that is tied up in plastic bags. It’s confusing because we think, “well it’s all plastic right?” Right, but they’re not the same type of plastic. We’ll get into more on that later.

Most large grocery store chains accept clean, dry, used plastic bags for special recycling programs to be used to make new items. Take them here if you have plastic bag waste!

#2 Rinse it out

Any recyclable containers that originally contained food should be rinsed out before tossing into the recycling bin. You just need to make sure you rinse out any remaining food particles. However, for sticky substances like jam or honey, you will need to scrub a little to get the stickiness off of the container.

If your local recycling program allows plastic bags, make sure you get any remaining residue off before tossing it into the recycling bin. If there are small crumbs, shake it out; if you had a spill, rinse off the remaining residue and allow to dry before tossing.

#3 Always cap your bottles

In the past, it was advised that people remove caps from bottles because the caps are made from a different material than the bottle, which made them difficult to recycle. Now, waste management facilities are able to recycle the bottles with caps and are advising that people first crush the empty bottles, then put the cap back on. This will increase the number of plastic bottles that can be transported at one time.

#4 Check the codes on plastic cutlery

Not all plastic cutlery is made of the same recyclable resin. And unfortunately, the recycling symbol is not always labeled on each individual fork, knife, or spoon. The plastic recycling number should be indicated on the box or bag that the cutlery comes in, so before you toss it, read the labels so you can let your guests know to throw them in the trash or in the recycling bin.

#5 Remove paper labels on plastic mailers

 

This one seems intuitive if you think about it since paper and plastic are recycled separately, but if you didn’t know, please remove the paper labels from your plastic mailers before putting them in your plastic recycling bin. The paper and adhesive interrupt the recycling process of the actual plastic, and with interruptions, there is more time wasted and less plastic being recycled.

#6 Know what those recycling symbols and numbers mean

There are 7 Resin Identification Codes (RIC), those little numbers with recycling symbols you see on plastic packaging and products. Be advised: just because a product has a RIC labeled on it, doesn’t mean it can go in your curbside recycling bin at home. As the name suggests, these are merely identification numbers to let you know what kind of material the plastic is made of–some are easy to recycle and accepted almost all recycling programs, and some are extremely difficult to recycle or cannot be thrown into your usual curbside recycling bins.

Why do you need to know these codes? Chances are if you’ve been throwing everything with an RIC on it thinking they all can go in the same recycling bin, you’ve probably been making the recycling process more difficult, inefficient, and causing more problems for the environment along the way. As it turns out, sometimes throwing a certain plastic in the trash is far better than guessing that it’s recyclable, as you read in tip #1.

 

PETE (1) – Polyethylene Terephthalate

PETE or PET products like soda bottles, water bottles, salad dressing containers, peanut butter containers, and others are allowed in your curbside recycling.

HDPE (2) – High-Density Polyethylene

HDPE include products like milk jugs, shampoo bottles, household cleaner containers, cereal box liners, and yogurt containers that are allowed in your curbside recycling.

PVC (3) – Polyvinyl Chloride (also known as Vinyl)

V or PVC is difficult to recycle, so it is rarely accepted by curbside recycling programs. These products include food wrap, plumbing pipes, window cleaner bottles, detergent bottles, medical equipment, cooking oil bottles and shampoo bottles.

LDPE (4) Low-density Polyethylene

LDPE products are not accepted by most curbside recycling programs. However, there are some that do, and even some independent recycling programs that may be accessible in your community. Common LDPE products include squeeze bottles (think hand creams and toothpaste), plastic shopping bags, carpets, food wraps, shopping bags, clothing, dry cleaning bags, and frozen food or bread bags.

PP (5) Polypropylene

PP is considered one of the safer plastic products and can usually be recycled by your local curbside recycling program. PP products include medicine bottles, straws, bottle caps, ketchup bottles, syrup bottles, and some yogurt containers.

PS (6) Polystyrene (Styrofoam)

PS has been deemed difficult to recycle and has even been subject to local bans as it poses health and environmental risks. PS products include foam packing, insulation, egg cartons, disposable cups, plates, carry-out containers, and meat trays. Most curbside recycling programs won’t accept these.

OTHER (7) Miscellaneous Plastics

Products with this symbol are difficult to recycle and contain toxic BPA. It is extremely rare for a curbside recycling program to accept this type of material. Number 7 products can include nylon, baby bottles, certain food containers, signs and displays, computer cases, sunglasses, and bulletproof materials.

#7 Check your local recycling programs

In order to find out what type of plastics your local recycling program accepts, Search.Earth911.com and Berecycled.org are great places to get started. These sites narrow down your search in your zip code and provide links to information from your communities recycling and waste management programs.

If you find that some products aren’t accepted like shopping bags, How2Recycle.info might have drop-off locations near you. You’ll find a list of items that will be accepted and be on your way to helping this global issue.

Earth Day may be over (April 22), but here’s your gentle reminder that you should be thinking about your impact on the Earth every single day. You don’t have to go completely plastic-free (because we know how difficult that is), but every small change–even something like sorting your waste properly–can make a huge difference. Wherever you can, refuse or substitute single-use plastic, especially the harmful ones we’ve mentioned in this article. Don’t know where to start? Check out our article on sustainable ways to start living a plastic-free lifestyle.

Categories
Lifestyle

Our #BrilliantMoms

Woman holding bouquet of tulips photo by Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash

When you think of your mother or mother figure, the memory of her singing to you might come to mind, or of her tending to your scraped knee, or even of her cooking your favorite meal in the kitchen. Moms do so much for us in helping us when we feel weak, to molding us into the people we are today. They may nag and annoy us at times (who’s mom doesn’t?!), but at the end of the day, they love us unconditionally and that’s what matters most.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so we decided to really tug at everyone’s heartstrings (hopefully yours, too) by asking our LARQ family to share some fond memories with the mothers in their lives.

“My favorite memories are of my mother baking fresh bread in the kitchen. The aromas would permeate every inch of the house, and my siblings and I would all come running into the kitchen to see what she was baking. Now, when I smell freshly baked bread, it always reminds me of my mom.” – Elaine, Content Marketing Associate

“One great thing about moms is that they always keep you afloat, both figuratively and literally. I am forever grateful to have her in my life.” – Adria, Customer Experience Manager

“#BrilliantMom. Where your mom shines so bright she overshadows her sons. Raising two boys (three if you include Augie dog) and kicking booty. Literally. My mom was the first person at our martial arts school to be awarded the rank of 4th-degree black belt (far surpassing my one) and has been training for 20 years. She’s an inspiration to us all and embodies determination, hard work, and a welcoming spirit. Well done mom. She is also an avid painter: @patriciaoji” – Kevin, Director of Business Operations.

“My mom is an optimist and always knows the right advice to give whenever I need it. My mom told me that if I’m ever stuck in a rut, take a trip somewhere and it will change my perspective on things. It keeps me from overthinking and she said it also changes my luck and good things will happen. Sounds a little eerie but I find it to be very true.” – Yvonne, Senior Marketing Communications Manager

“I’m grateful for my mom for molding me into the person I am today with her strength and creative thirst. She always knew when I needed the freedom to grow and the discipline to stick it through a challenge. ” – Justin, Co-Founder and CEO

Whether it’s your biological mother, your mother figure, the mother of your children, or a bestie who’s a mom, celebrate with us by sharing your own fond memories. What’s your fondest memory with mom? Tag us in your #BrilliantMom Instagram stories for a chance to be featured on Mother’s Day.

Not sure what to get Mom this year? For a limited time, add a complimentary Mother’s Day card* with any LARQ Bottle purchase. It’s the thoughtful gift of fuss-free hydration, with bacteria-eliminating tech even mom would approve of.

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*Offer valid while supplies last. Limit one per customer. Available to US & Canada only.

Categories
Travel

What is a sleep vacation and where do we sign up?

white hydrangeas in a mason jar on a nightstand next to a bed. Photo by Logan Nolin on Unsplash

Ever come back from a vacation and needed a vacation from that vacation? Do you stress levels prevent you from sleeping well at night? Do you just need to get away from it all and rest for a once? Enter: sleep vacations. Yes, they’re totally a thing. 

In fact, sleep vacations have been on the rise for some time now and are offered at a number of destinations around the world by boutique hotels and larger chain hotels alike. The actual sleep packages offered by each of these establishments vary immensely and range from offering aromatherapy to guided meditation, to massage packages, premium bedding and more. They’re the perfect setting for unplugging and really enjoying that hard-earned time off. Sound good? Yup, we think so.

 

If you’re getting pumped reading this (we know we are), check out some amazing hotels we’ve rounded up that offer the royal sleep treatment.

 

#1 Westin Sleep Well Package

Hotel room at the Westin in new york Time Square Courtesy of The Westin New York Times Square Courtesy of The Westin New York Times Square

 

The Westin offers their Sleep Well Package in a number of locations nationwide, so wherever you are, sleep is within reach. The package includes their sleep well Lavender Balm (which they also sell in their online store), a $100 (USD) credit toward a spa treatment, and a $10 (USD) dining credit per night towards the Sleep Well Menu.

 

The Sleep Well Menu includes foods that are packed with amino acids, vitamins and minerals that promote restful sleep. After all, the key to healthy living is in the food you eat. The Westin’s really honed in on solving your sleep problems from the inside out.

 

#2 Kamalaya Koh Samui Sleep Enhancement Wellness Program

Kamalaya Suite Room in Koh Samui Southeast asian island Courtesy of Kamalaya Koh Samui

 

Kamalaya is located on the tropical island of Koh Samui, an island off the coast of Thailand. The Sleep Enhancement Wellness Program at Kamalaya is packed with amenities all around to help you improve your sleep. Packages can range but the standard package includes accommodation, 3 Kamalaya meals per day, roundtrip airfare, wellness consultations, Body Bio-impedance Analysis (BIA), traditional Chinese medicine, massage, and more. For those wanting a full-blown relaxation experience and detoxing, Kamalaya will do just that.

 

#3 Sleep with Six Senses

Dimly lit room with ambient lighting machine next to bed on nightstand at the Six Senses Hotel Resort and Spa Courtesy of Six Senses Hotels Resorts & Spas

Sleep with Six Senses was developed with sleep doctor, Michael J. Breus and implemented across select resorts in the Six Senses family. Some amenities from this upgraded experience include premium organic bedding (that come standard in all rooms), a sleep tracker, a 30-minute sleep consultation, a sleep bag that includes pajamas, an eye mask, earplugs, nose strips, nasal neti pot, and jasmine sleep spritzer. This place means business when it comes to sleep. They even include additional amenities for really troubled sleepers like a high-definition sound machine, specialty body pillows, and humidifiers/dehumidifiers. They’ve really pulled out all the stops to help you sleep deeply. As an added bonus, they also leave you tips on how to sleep better at home so you can take your newfound restful sleep to your own bedroom.

 

#4 Carmel Valley Ranch Hypno-health: Wellness for Mind & Spirit

Carmel Valley Ranch, California wrap around deck attached to suite Courtesy of Carmel Valley Ranch

 

Carmel Valley Ranch really wants you to sleep better and relieve stress. They offer a Hypo-healthy: Wellness for Mind & Spirit treatment at Spa Aiyana where Dr. Bee Epstein-Shepherd uses gentle hypnotherapy as a fast and effective way to reduce stress and promote deeper sleep. She will even teach you self-hypnosis techniques to use at home so you can rest better even after your vacation is over.

 

These hotels and resorts offer sleep vacation packages that are truly fit for royalty. Would you try one of these sleep retreats?

Categories
Sustainability

We tried to go Plastic-free – Here’s what happened…

Plastic water bottles Photo by Jonathan Chang via Unsplash

The focus for Earth Day 2019 (April 22) is to protect our species, a focus that aims to educate and raise awareness of the unprecedented spike in endangered species due to human activity. Deforestation destroys habitats of plant and animal species, sunscreen washes into oceans killing the coral reef, and pesticides pose major health risks to a wide range of species including humans–just to name a few. One major issue we’re especially passionate about is plastic pollution.

Plastic can take 500 years or more to photo-degrade, becoming micro-plastics that continue to pollute the Earth and releasing toxic chemicals into the Earth. Plastic pollution is littering the oceans and shores, causing the deaths of wildlife that ingest plastic materials inadvertently. At current rates, plastic is expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050.

 

We decided to do our own #PlasticFreeChallenge in light of Earth Day by attempting to going plastic-free for the past few weeks and boy, was it difficult. Through this plastic-free challenge, we’ve come to realize exactly how much waste we produce on a daily basis.

 

At the start of this challenge, we really didn’t know what we’d be getting into. Seriously. Everyone in the office expressed how simple it would be to not use plastic cutlery we originally had in our break room and use silverware instead, or how we wouldn’t use plastic straws anymore and used the stainless steel ones we all had tucked away in our desks. Although those are great ways to reduce our environmental footprint, we had no idea how much more there is out there–in packaging, in our kitchens at home, in our grocery shopping, in our bathrooms–yikes! Plastic is EVERYWHERE.

mean girls plastic Source: GIPHY

Perhaps we did know how much there was or could acknowledge the amount of plastic waste we produce, but we were blinded by the convenience or so used to seeing and using certain items that we just didn’t notice it anymore. Everyone in the office was asked to log their plastic waste in a journal. We found that through logging each piece of plastic waste, we became more conscious of our decisions to buy certain things or to refuse others.

 

#1 Plastic Cups and Plastic Bottles

Plastic waste - plastic bottle, plastic cup

This was an obvious one for us. Yes, we actually do use our LARQ Bottles everywhere we go–they truly don’t leave our side. But, we’re constantly seeing plastic cups and plastic water bottles at parties and social events, or even when traveling.

 

Most of us have our own mugs here, and the office has some mugs, plates, and bowls for people who don’t. They’re actually great conversation starters and allow us to express ourselves!

 

However, I’ve personally had an experience with helping to plan a party for my sister’s birthday and the issue of hydration came about. The simple answer was to buy a case of mini water bottles. My response–please, no. The solution wasn’t the easiest, but it definitely reduced plastic bottle and cup waste. We purchased two large water dispensers (yes, these were plastic, but we figured potentially less than the 100 pack of plastic water bottles we would’ve purchased instead) and we got paper cups instead of plastic. It was actually a relief to not have half-consumed bottles of water lying around everywhere unclaimed, and not having to fish out empty plastic water bottles from the trash to put into recycling. It actually made cleanup EASIER and more green.

 

#2 Plastic Cutlery

 

As mentioned before, plastic cutlery was one of the easier ways to minimize our plastic waste. We used silverware from home, and some of us ordered nifty silverware for travel on Amazon. It even became more acceptable to lend utensils to our peers if they forgot theirs.

 

#3 Drinks to-go

tumbler and paper cup with stainless steel straw

Remembering to bring straws or reusable tumblers was difficult but we got the hang of it. We did get some weird looks from baristas but we took the opportunity to tell them about the plastic-free challenge and most people were understanding and accommodating! Some even had paper cups for their hot drinks that you can request instead of using plastic cups.

 

#4 Take-out

take out food from pupuseria and plastic and styrofoam waste

When it comes to food, take out can sometimes be more convenient than dining it, but at what cost? A few of us went to a Pupuseria near the office to get lunch one day and they didn’t have any seating, so we had to get take out. The amount of waste we received that day was unsightly. If we weren’t doing this challenge, it wouldn’t phase us because it’s so normal, but having to document this, we were frankly embarrassed. We even refused plastic cutlery here.

 

Here’s what our Customer Success Manager, Adria had to say: “Being out of town/ having a family emergency/going and eating out made avoiding plastic extremely difficult. Going for the healthy choice (salad) meant it was coming in a plastic container, getting Mexican meant we had plastic salsa containers (but their tacos came in compostable boxes) and Indian came in plastic containers. Some of these containers are reusable, but there comes a point where the balance between storing them and actually using them hits a breaking point.”

 

We even noticed that ordering certain foods, we’d naturally get more plastic–anything that has a sauce accompaniment would come in a plastic sauce container, all wrapped in a giant plastic bag, with plastic utensils thrown in, sometimes in excess. The solution? Try to dine in whenever possible.

 

#5 Food packaging

food packaging waste

Part of the struggle here was we all love snacking so much, and most packaged food is riddled with plastic packaging, which by the way, you can’t even recycle. Yvonne, our Senior Marketing Manager, describes her personal experience with this, “I needed to go to the grocery store because I make my dog’s food from scratch so had to pick up a few items. I went into Trader Joe’s and realized that almost EVERYTHING is in plastic even when it doesn’t even need to be. I did pick up my favorite snack (butter waffle cookies) then realized the inside packaging was plastic! I headed my way to Safeway in the produce section which, thankfully, had packaging-free veggies that I could pick up. This one grocery trip really made me realize that we are surrounded by plastic and made me much more conscious about where I should go buy my food.”

man eating chips Source: GIPHY

To further illustrate the struggle of refraining from snacking, Adria chimes in again: “Tough moments were not eating chips at work, or forgetting about the challenge when eating things like a fortune cookie — the wrapper was already open by the time I even thought about it!” Now, I can’t really think of a real solution for this besides not snacking, but that probably is the solution here–or at least in moderation. It’s probably better for your health anyway?

 

This wasn’t just snack packaging either–but some drinks. K-cups and tea wrappers all were used in the office which compelled a lot of us to switch to loose-leaf and purchase stainless steel tea diffusers. Adria chimed in on this matter as well, “I didn’t realize how much my tea I drank every day, and how many wrappers I was throwing away that would end up in the landfill. Switching to loose leaf tea was something that I had been wanting to do, and this gave me the push to do it. I also didn’t realize that they had it at my local co-op, so it was a much easier transition than expected.”

 

Through researching how to recycle K-cups, we found out that you can separate each component of the K-cup to be recycled. Some of us actually have Nespresso machines at home, which are made from aluminum (no plastic) that can be recycled at a Nespresso boutique or you can order a free recycling bag and drop it off at UPS.

 

#6 Beauty products

Another one that seems unavoidable to some is beauty or personal care products. Beauty and personal care packaging are most commonly made of plastic that requires special care to recycle or isn’t recyclable at all. Yvonne reflected on the matter, “I finished one of my cleansers and was about to recycle it but – guess what? It’s plastic. I took a look at my vanity and bathroom and realized that I had tons of travel size products which are all in plastic. I plan on refilling them but some are one-use which makes it harder to refill…I’m planning on purchasing products in glass packaging which is easier to recycle and re-use.”

beauty packaging plastic waste

Becoming more aware during this challenge made us question alternatives or solutions for recycling products like these. Through quick Google searches, we were able to find out that companies like L’occitane have recycling programs for beauty packaging (from any brand!) and some other brands like MAC offer recycling programs for their own packaging.

 

#7 Shipping packaging

plastic waste from shipping

Ordering things online at our convenience has become so normal that we rarely think about the environmental impact. As we realized after a couple of online orders that the bubble wrap lined paper envelopes are not recyclable, we tried to combine our Amazon orders to reduce waste or wait until we had a few things in the cart instead of shipping one thing at a time to reduce waste.

#8 Food storage

mason jar food stroage containers

Learning to avoid using plastic cling wrap or zip bags for snacks and loose food items was a big one for this challenge, especially at home. The remedy for this, although not as convenient, was to use reusable food containers, Stasher bags, mason jars, or purchasing products in glass jars when available. If your local grocery stores have a bulk section, bring your containers with you to fill up instead of using a plastic bag. We like to bring an expo marker to write the code and date of purchase on the lids to keep everything extra organized.

 

The challenge helped us become more conscious of the plastic in our lives. Truly, once you start seeing it, you won’t be able to unsee it. Now, we invite you to do your own plastic-free challenge. Just remember, it’s not about doing anything perfectly–in fact, we sure as hell didn’t! But small changes can be the push you need to live a more sustainable plastic-free lifestyle.

 

Depending on your lifestyle, you might want to pick up a few things to help you along on your journey. Here’s a checklist of products we mentioned (and some we didn’t) that you might want to invest in to get you on your way! Keep in mind, you don’t need everything on this list. If you see plastic items in your daily life that can be swapped with an item or two below, you probably should get it; if not, don’t! It’s that simple.

 

Build your own eco-kit:

 

  • Reusable water bottle
  • Tumbler
  • Stainless steel straw
  • Reusable cutlery
  • Silicone storage bags
  • Mason Jars
  • Reusable food wraps
  • Glass food containers
  • Reusable shopping bag

 

Find out more on ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

 

Whether it’s in observance of Earth Day or a change you want to make to help make the world a better place, we invite you to do your own #PlasticFreeChallenge and tag us in your Stories on Instagram so we can cheer you on! Before you get started check out EarthDay.org’s Plastic Pollution Calculator to help you gauge how much plastic you’re currently using and how much you can commit to cutting out for the rest of the year.

Categories
LARQ News

Our Partnership with 1% for the Planet

clear ocean water on the beach

We’re proud members of 1% for the Planet, a nonprofit network dedicated to funding diverse environmental organizations so that together they can have a more meaningful impact on the world’s environmental issues.

one percent for the planet logo

1% for the Planet was founded in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Matthews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, their mutual love of the outdoors led them to realize their responsibility in saving it.

As members, we donate 1% of sales to this network, contributing to six core environmentally focused nonprofit sectors: climate, food, pollution, water, and wildlife. How do we know our money is going to the right place? 1% for the Planet approved nonprofit partners are carefully vetted in order to be eligible to receive funding from members like us. They are continuously vetting environmental nonprofits around the world. Being in partnership with 1% for the Planet connects us to nonprofits and working on diverse sets of projects around the world to combat some of society’s major environmental issues.

At LARQ, we’re passionate about doing better, as a brand, and as a company, striving to become a more sustainable business. Not only are we hoping to reduce single-use plastic consumption globally, but we are also hoping that as a business we can strive to reduce our carbon footprint. If we can all make small steps toward leading more sustainable lives, we’d have a greater impact on the world as we know it.

Categories
LARQ News

Come say hi, Canada!

White Granite LARQ Bottle with maple leafs

We’re live and ready for adventure!

We’re excited to announce that we’re now shipping to Canada! You read that right. Canadian residents: now’s your chance to be among the first to #DrinkBrilliantly with the LARQ Bottle.

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It’s kind of a big deal.

 

Due to overwhelming demand worldwide for the LARQ Bottle, our team has been working tirelessly to make LARQ Bottle available internationally, making the first leap by supporting the availability of the product and shipping to Canadian residents.

 

BUT–we didn’t stop there. You will soon find LARQ Bottles hitting Indigo stores across Canada very soon. If you’re the type of person that wants to touch it and see what it looks like in person, you’re going to want to check them out at Indigo as soon as they hit the shelves. If you’re in the neighborhood, feel free to snap a pic and tag us on Instagram @livelarq!

 

For all you non-Canadians and non-US residents, we’d like to express how appreciative we are to have such massive demand for our product! This proprietary technology was not easy to develop and manufacture. It is our goal to make LARQ Bottles available everywhere so that every person has water purification in the palm of their hands.

Aerial view of ocean crashing into rocks Photo by Oz MLCN on Unsplash

We’re passionate about tackling the issue of plastic pollution, and it doesn’t stop there. Did you know that a portion of your purchase goes to 1% for the Planet? We want you to feel good about your purchase–inside and out. We know we do.