Tag: sustainability

Categories
Sustainability

A million-bottle start with Plastic Bank

LARQ Bottle Movement underwater

If you’ve been following our adventure for a while, you’re quite familiar with our mission of eliminating plastic waste and improving the health of our planet, not just with our sustainable self-cleaning water bottles, but also with our philanthropic initiatives. We’re proud members of 1% for the Planet, a network of nonprofit organizations and like-minded businesses that are proactively saving the world. 

LARQ Bottles at the beach - Pictured in Granite White and Seaside Mint color combinations

What’s the problem, anyway? 

Every minute, 1 million single-use plastic bottles are purchased. If we don’t act now, this number is predicted to increase by 20% by 2021. In addition, only 9% of plastic ever produced has been recycled. 

So, where does it all end up?

plastic bottle waste floating in the ocean

Plastic ends up in landfills, littered all over the world, and in rivers that lead to our oceans. They take approximately 1,000 years to decompose, simultaneously leaching toxic chemicals like BPA (Bisphenol-A), a known carcinogen into marine life, soil, and consequently, our food. The average person ingests about 70,000 microplastics a year–that’s about 100 pieces of plastic per meal. With this, comes long-term consequences to your health, which is why our passion for ending single-use plastic consumption is so great. 

As the world’s single-use plastic consumption is skyrocketing in today’s climate, we were eager to find a nonprofit to partner with that can help. We’re proud to announce that we’ve partnered up with Plastic Bank to help clean up our oceans. 

plastic bank logo transparent background

Plastic Bank has employed over 4300+ collectors around the world to intercept ocean-bound plastic. Our impact helps clean up the ocean and provides a living wage to families in developing countries like Haiti, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Plastic Bank translates the plastic collected into currency, ethically boosting local economies, and educating the next generation about waste management and its environmental impacts. Plastic Bank is also the only platform that directly impacts 14 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and indirectly supports the remaining 3.

With Plastic Bank, every $1 helps to prevent 100 single-use plastic bottles from entering the ocean. We’ve partnered with Plastic Bank to remove 1 million ocean-bound single-use plastic bottles. Together we can make an even greater impact.

oStarting May 12, 1% of every LARQ Bottle or LARQ Bottle Movement purchase helps to remove ocean-bound plastic waste. 

What can you do?

LARQ Bottle Movement in White/Coral color combination (24 oz, 740ml)

  1. Refuse single-use plastic as much as possible. Letting go of our dependence on single-use plastic like plastic wrap, bottled water, plastic utensils, and plastic bags will have a huge impact on our health and the future of our world. It may be difficult now, in many ways, we can end our dependence on single-use plastic and explore reusable options instead–even during a pandemic. If you’re looking for substitutions for normal household single-use plastic, check out our article on ways to live a more sustainable plastic-free lifestyle with some reusable swaps. 
  2. By switching to a sustainable water bottle like LARQ, you can help keep 1,460 plastic bottles per year from ending up in the ocean. 
  3. Support environmental nonprofits like Plastic Bank either by a direct donation or by purchasing a LARQ Bottle or LARQ Bottle Movement. Every purchase helps remove plastic waste from the ocean! 
  4. Educate those around you about the impact of single-use plastic waste, and be an advocate for living a plastic-free lifestyle. 

For those who can, we encourage you to take action. Together, we can make a change. 

 

Categories
Wellness

This is how much plastic you’re eating per week

confrontational plastic art installation - Photo by Martijn Baudoin on Unsplash
Photo by Martijn Baudoin on Unsplash

A 2019 study commissioned by the WWF and performed by the University of Newcastle, Australia revealed that people could be consuming approximately 2000 tiny pieces of plastic per week–which equates to about a credit card’s worth of plastic! That also equates to about 70,000 pieces a year or 100 pieces per meal–scary, right?

These tiny pieces of plastic are known as “microplastics” which are defined as broken down plastic no larger than five millimeters. Your next question might be, “how is anyone consuming this much plastic?” 

Aside from the infamous “island of trash” located in the Pacific Ocean, there are many parts of the ocean where trash accumulates and interferes with marine life. According to a 2016 study by the World Economic Forum, 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. The microplastics degrade and release toxins into the ocean and are ingested by marine life. For us seafood eaters, this has indications for the number of microplastics we’re consuming and in turn, toxins we’re absorbing. In fact, microplastics can be found anywhere from your food to your bottled water, to beer, and even in the air. Plastics also leach toxic chemicals into food through packaging or contact with heat and trace amounts are found in beer bottles. It’s almost unavoidable at this point, posing unknown health risks to humans. Chemicals used to produce plastic such as phthalates and Bisphenol-A (BPA) are known toxins that could lead to certain diseases and cancers. Studies have shown that nursing or pregnant women should avoid exposure to plastics in the same way one should avoid alcohol and cigarettes due to the potential absorption of these chemicals by their offspring. This includes avoiding bottled water, food that’s packaged in plastic, takeout containers, fragrances (which usually contain phthalates), and using non-plastic food containers. 

In a study by Nature Geoscience in 2017, data indicated that 79% of all the plastics produced by humans have ended up in nature or landfills. According to this study, most of the particles found in plastic water bottles were polypropylene–the type of plastic used to make bottled water caps. This finding suggests that the process of bottling water is contributing to most of the plastic. In fact, plastic found in bottled water was twice the amount of plastic found in tap water or beer, which shows that although bottled water is marketed to be “cleaner” than tap water, it is certainly is not the case. Americans buy 50 million plastic bottles of water annually. Globally, about 1 million single-use plastic bottles are purchased per minute. If we don’t act now, this number is expected to increase by 20% by 2021. Considering this, it’s a worthwhile cause to reduce or eliminate bottled water from your daily life altogether and invest in a sustainable water bottle. And that is why we created the LARQ Bottle–a sustainable water bottle that self-cleans and purifies water simultaneously using PureVis™ UV-C light, solving your most glaring issues with traditional reusable water bottles. 

In addition to plastic bottles, any plastic waste that can be avoided should be avoided. The ocean and waterways are littered with plastics straws, takeout boxes, plastic grocery bags, and other plastics. Which begs the question: couldn’t we just recycle these plastics? –the answer is no, we can’t. Most single-use plastics are not recyclable for a variety of reasons, whether it’s due to the chemical composition of the plastic or due to the lack of infrastructure to do so efficiently. Only a meager 9% of all plastic ever produced has actually been recycled. 

In this day and age, it’s difficult to avoid plastic altogether, but we can all make small changes and increase awareness about the issue of plastic to pave the way for a better, more sustainable future. 

Categories
Lifestyle

Best practices for decluttering your home and keeping it that way

decluttered inviting office space for working from home

It’s spring, so get into the spring cleaning spirit and declutter your home. If you’re spending more time at home than usual, you might be noticing that the house needs a good decluttering. Whether you want to declutter because it’s been on your list of to-do’s for far too long, or you’re clutter is affecting your productivity, don’t get overwhelmed. It’s natural to fall into clutter when life gets crazy. What’s important is learning how to declutter in a way that won’t overwhelm you and approaching your lifestyle minimally moving forward. 

Set intention

Whether your goal is to make your room more inviting or more productive, or calm and relaxing, setting an intention for your space before starting your decluttering project is paramount. This sets a tone for how you approach the actual decluttering and will help you decide what to keep, what to donate, and what to repurpose. 

Work in sections

Don’t try to tackle cleaning the entire home at once. You’ll just be setting yourself up for unnecessary stress and potential failure, and we don’t want that. Instead, work in sections. For a smaller apartment, that could mean decluttering your workspace first and then moving on to your TV console, then your kitchen, and so on and so forth. For a larger home, this could mean following the same approach as with a smaller space, or to working from room to room. Don’t be afraid to break up your decluttering into smaller sections despite how large your home is. The key is to take on what you can handle so you don’t become overwhelmed. Even if it takes you several weeks to a month to get your home to where you want it to be. 

Take everything out 

Laying everything out will help you really see how much stuff you actually have. It’s amazing how much clutter builds up in drawers and other storage areas. Start by laying out everything you had in those drawers and storage bins on the floor. As you clear everything out, you’re able to find things you may have forgotten about or duplicate items. This will also allow you to plan where you want to organize everything.

Keep, donate, or repurpose

Now, we take a play out of Marie Kondo’s book. The KonMarie method outlined in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, advises you to ask yourself, “does it spark joy?” in order to decide whether or not to keep an item. Although you may not feel too strongly about your stapler remover, a similar approach can be used anyway–maybe instead, you ask yourself “do I need this?”. If the answer is yes, move on to the next step. If no, you can decide to donate it, recycle it (if possible), or to repurpose it (if possible). 

Organize & plan

While all those items are laid out in front of you, you can start to organize things. Let’s say you’re emptying out things from your desk, for example. Start to put all the electronics together including charging cables and wall plugs, put all the small office supplies like paperclips, pens, and staples into a pile, and gather all your shipping materials like packing tape and box cutters in one place. Once everything is organized in front of you, you can visually see how much space you need to store the items in each category.

Invest in organizational storage

If you’re tossing everything into one big pile, you might want to rethink things. Storage bins, boxes, and trays can help you maximize your storage as well as keeping things neat so that they’re easier to find. Being able to find things means you won’t have to keep repurchasing items you already have because you “lost” them. Sound familiar? It’s not absolutely necessary to go out and purchase storage accessories either if you’re on a budget. You can repurpose boxes from products you’ve purchased in the past, like your old iPhone’s box to store your charging cables, or even use the top and bottom separately as trays to keep your paperclips and thumbtacks in their own spaces. That mug you don’t love can be repurposed as a pen and pencil holder too. The possibilities are endless. 

Put away

As soon as you’ve made spaces for your items and planned where you want to put everything, you’re ready to go. If it’s been a while since your last good cleaning, you might notice there’s a lot less clutter as you’re putting things away. What an amazing feeling right? 

Prevent future clutter

As you’re putting things away, be mindful of where everything is, and set the intention to put things back where they belong to ensure a clutter-free future. It may help to label things and communicate with others living in your home where things are. Getting everyone on board with the organizational structure of your home will take a bit of time, but will pay off in the long run. 

 

In addition, now that you’ve probably had to donate quite a bit from your decluttering project, you might begin to see how wasteful it can be to buy things. Taking on a minimalist approach, and applying the KonMarie method, be mindful when you’re making purchases–Will this improve your quality of life? Will you keep it for years to come? Does it spark joy? What use does this provide for you? Will you use it often? Asking yourself these questions will help you decide what you want to bring into your home. What we don’t want is more waste, and you can prevent that purchasing quality items that will last. With less waste, you’ll also be lessening the load on Mother Earth. Let’s do more by buying less. 

Categories
Lifestyle

Grow your own produce from kitchen scraps

home garden herb plants

Getting a bit stir crazy cooped up inside during COVID-19 shelter-in-place? Us too. We know a lot of you guys have been cooking for yourselves at home so you’re probably wondering about the same things we are–like, can we grow some of our frequently purchased produce at home? If you find yourself constantly using certain grocery items, it might be a good idea to set up your own little garden at home. 

There are so many benefits to growing your own produce at home. Most common produce items are extremely easy to grow. All you need is some water and some sunlight to grow most of these fruits, vegetables, and herbs from their otherwise discarded scraps! 

  1. You can control what goes into your produce–it doesn’t get more organic than this.
  2. You’ll end up saving money in the long run! If you’re constantly buying garlic, or if onions are a staple in your home cooking, it might be worthwhile to start growing your own!
  3. Especially during shelter-in-place, grocery shopping has become difficult in some regions where high demand for certain produce has resulted in scarcity. Seriously–have you tried driving to 6 different stores just to find fresh basil? It’s brutal. Growing your own produce at home means you’ll have your own supply, and no need to worry about finding it at your local store. 
  4. Produce from the safety of home. It’s important for your health to limit exposure, which is why staying at home helps to flatten the curve and reduce new cases of COVID-19. Having your own supply of fresh produce reduces the need for you to go out and find your essential ingredients. 
  5. It’s sustainable. You produce what you like to eat, and chances are, that doesn’t include harmful pesticides that are detrimental to the environment. Plus, there’s no need to wrap up your produce in a plastic produce bag either (although, we like to use reusable produce bags anyway), or worrying about extra packaging or the cleanliness of your produce. 

Seriously, there has never been a better time to start your own home garden than now!

Scallions

Green onions, also known as scallions, are super easy to grow and they grow FAST. Just cut off 1-2 inches (2-5 cm) from the root of each scallion stalk and place them in a glass jar with clean water. Replace the water daily to ensure healthy growth. If you want to foster the growth of these more, transfer the growing scallions into nutrient-rich soil in a pot. Otherwise, growing them in the jar on your countertop works fine too. Just trim off what you need and replace the water frequently. 

Garlic

Garlic is used in many different cuisines so it’s no surprise that this might be something you’re using quite frequently nowadays. To grow garlic from the grocery store, it must be organic to ensure it hasn’t been treated with pesticides and or treated to prevent sprouting. You’ll want to select a large clove from the bulb–preferably one that has sprouted slightly already. Place the clove in a shot glass with water just filled above the root end of the clove. Once the clove has sprouted roots, transfer to a pot with soil and cover the entire clove, leaving the sprouted end above the soil surface. 

Basil 

This fragrant herb provides flavor and aromatics to any dish. They can be quite expensive, and oftentimes we don’t end up using all the basil before it goes bad–bummer! Luckily, these can be planted quite easily. Take a single stalk of basil and put it in a glass with water and change the water every other day until you notice roots beginning to sprout from the base of the stalk. Once this occurs, transfer the basil into a pot with soil, water, and watch it flourish. 

For that matter, mint, cilantro, thyme, rosemary, and oregano are all highly successful herbs to regrow from kitchen scraps using the same method. 

Lemongrass 

Lemongrass can be placed into a jar with water until roots begin to sprout. When this happens, transfer the lemongrass into a pot with soil. Water these every day for the first week. They need lots of direct sunlight, so make sure you put them in a spot that gets plenty of sun. It’ll take 4-6 months before you can harvest. When it comes to harvesting, trim your stalks (leaving 1-2inches in the soil) and freeze the lemongrass until its needed. 

Lettuce

Cut off the base of the lettuce and put into a shallow bowl half full of water. Be sure to change the water in the bowl every couple of days. You’ll begin to see leaves sprouting from the original stems. You can continue to harvest and trim the leaves for salads or sandwiches! They won’t get as large as the original bunch through this method, but you’ll definitely get more out of the lettuce you purchased from the store. There isn’t always success with lettuce, so it’s a good idea to keep trying if your lettuce isn’t producing new leaves. 

Celery 

Celery is a relatively easy vegetable to grow from kitchen scraps. Cut off the base where the stalks meet, and place into a bowl of water. Once it starts sprouting new leaves, you can leave them in the bowl or continue to let the flourish be transferring them to a pot with soil. Cover the base with soil, leaving only the new sprouts visible and water daily. 

Get creative with your garden! We don’t know how long this shelter-in-place will be but we can make the most of it and pick up a new hobby–like gardening. I mean who could complain about fresh home-grown food?

 

Categories
Sustainability

How to live sustainably during a pandemic

kitchen ingredients inside repurposed glass jars

These days, living a sustainable lifestyle seems to have taken a backseat to grabbing what we can from the stores while they’re still on the shelves. Seriously, why can’t a person find paper towels or toilet paper anywhere? Whether it’s the result of hoarding or that people simply have been using more due to quarantine, this is a cause for reflection on how much we’re using. 

In recent news, grocery stores have temporarily banned reusable grocery bags from entering the premises. In addition, quarantine or shelter-in-place for COVID-19 means that more people are ordering takeout than before. This is causing a major spike in plastic consumption during this time and expected to rise as more time passes. 

Reduce, reuse, recycle–is this possible during a coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, or rather any global crisis for that matter? We think so. If you really thought about it, you could very well find workarounds for using say, too many paper towels, or too much plastic wrap, or even too many disinfectant wipes. 

Refrain from buying bottled water

The importance of sustainable habits and living a mindful lifestyle is more important than ever. As we approach Earth Day, we want to drive home the fact that people are buying more plastic bottled water than ever, among other products, that add to the single-use waste issue. Bottled water should be used as a last resort in disaster situations to provide relief to the masses. Not for daily consumption. 

Plastic bottles are made with toxic chemicals like BPA that will leech into the very water it’s bottling, and as you can gather, you’d be exposing yourself to unnecessary chemicals by drinking it. Instead, use a filter system to eliminate heavy metals from your tap water, or use your LARQ Bottle to purify and eradicate germs from your water. 

Reduce paper towel use 

If you got your hands on paper towels, that’s great! But that doesn’t mean that you should use them to your heart’s content. Paper towels can be used for everything under the sun, but if you’re using a sheet every single time you wash your hands, this can get quite wasteful. 

The CDC recommends washing hands thoroughly and wiping dry on a clean cloth or air drying. The important steps are lathering with soap and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds (about the length of singing “Happy Birthday” twice). Use a clean cloth to wipe your hands. You should replace your hand towels routinely depending on how many people in your household are using it–the frequency should be increased if there are more people using the same cloth after washing. 

For light kitchen spills or cleaning, use a washcloth for spot cleaning countertops after cooking instead of using paper towels or disinfectant wipes every time. Simply hand wash the washcloth with dish soap and warm water after each use and hang it to dry. 

You can probably tell there are a lot of little ways to reduce your paper towel use. Always reuse when you can. And please, don’t hoard essential products like this from people who might desperately need them. People caring for infected loved ones at home or severely ill individuals need these to take extra precautions at home. 

Be stingy with your disinfectant wipes

Some of us are in a place where nothing that enters the home without a good disinfectant wipe-down, and with good reason. However, being extra careful doesn’t mean being extra wasteful. With wipes, we all know sometimes they’re a little too saturated or the sheets are too large for what you’re using them for. 

How I’m living now with my partner has changed drastically since our pre-shelter-in-place days. First of all, before quarantining, I only used disinfectant wipes to do a weekly deep clean of my room, living areas, kitchen, and the bathroom. Now, it’s used for everything that enters the house. So, we try to cut down our sheets if we only ordered a few grocery items via Instacart, or packages from Amazon. If we did a big grocery haul, we cut a sheet in half and divide and conquer. For phones and other electronics, we’ve been using 91% Isopropyl that we already had on hand, soaked a tiny spot of this on half of a cotton pad (yes, we’re being stingy with this too), and wipe our phones down. Alternatively, we’ve been using our Bust-a-germ box to do a zero-waste UV-sanitization clean. The Bust-a-germ box was a really quick and easy DIY on how to build your own UV-sanitizer to utilize with your LARQ Bottle caps you already have. We built two Bust-a-germs for our phones, keys, hand sanitizer, and even our reusable face masks. Basically, anything that we took with us out goes into the Bust-a-germ as soon as we get home and finish washing our hands. 

Use your DIY Bust-a-germ box

The Bust-a-germ box is no doubt the best method to sanitize sustainably and without the use of scarce resources like disinfectant wipes or sprays. This DIY UV-sanitization chamber we concocted uses your LARQ Bottle cap’s PureVis™ technology to neutralize bio-contaminants from your household objects without the use of harsh chemicals or supplies you can use for other things. This device has saved us from using too many disinfectant wipes and sprays which we use on larger surfaces and objects in the house. Did you know your LARQ Bottle’s technology could do all that? Well yes, it can, and all the while, it’s doing the same thing in your water bottle to purify water and keep it bacteria-free. 

Make your own reusable face mask

The CDC is officially recommending the public to use or make reusable cloth face masks instead of buying N95 masks or even surgical masks as these should be reserved for our frontline healthcare professionals. In fact, we donated the 1,000 face masks that we had on hand to healthcare heroes fighting COVID-19. And instead, we’re using our own reusable cloth face masks, reducing the amount of time we’re out to avoid exposure, and staying 6ft apart from others when we are out. 

 

Reusable cloth face masks are more environmentally friendly than single-use masks. They’re not meant for people who are regularly interacting with a loved one who is ill, but are for everyone who is not working the frontlines during COVID-19. Just remember to launder or hand wash your reusable face masks routinely (depending on the frequency of use) and follow the CDC’s guidelines on how to make reusable cloth masks. 

Use reusable containers or eco-friendly cling wrap

Due to the quarantine, we’re staying home and cooking a lot more, which also means that there is the potential need for plastic sandwich bags and saran wrap for storing leftovers. Not to mention all the takeout containers for those days where you’re ordering in instead. 

If you’re cooking up a storm and have leftovers, opt to use your reusable food containers instead or eco-friendly cling wrap made from silicone or beeswax instead of saran wrap. 

As for your frequent takeout situation, we believe you should support local restaurants, but try to limit the amount of takeout you’re ordering in a week. Or, make a note to the restaurant to omit single-use cutlery from the order, or encourage restaurants to use paper instead of plastic. 

Prevent food waste 

For those of us who aren’t used to cooking every meal, cooking at home can be challenging and inadvertently result in food waste. An easy way to prevent this is to plan ahead. Do your research on some meals you want to cook. It’s important to find recipe ideas that call for similar ingredients. Also, keep some produce on hand that you know you can whip up something fast with like avocado toast, grilled cheese, or a caesar salad. Just remember to consume within a week to avoid food waste! If you haven’t already, compost any food scraps. This reduces the volume of waste going into landfills and helps repurpose organic material. 

Reuse glass jars

Whether you’re buying tomato sauce or jams, opt for glass jarred products instead of plastic at the grocery store when possible. These glass jars can be recycled or even upcycled as containers around the house. You can grow your own scallions in just some water in a glass, and 2-3 inches of the root of the scallion. You can organize your snacking nut collection in jars or make some overnight oats in them too! Think beyond the kitchen and organize your push pins or paper clips in the glass jars. The possibilities are endless.

Take shorter showers

Water conservation is more important than ever as more products are being produced all the time. Most processing, produce, and production requires an amount of freshwater and carbon emissions. Only 3% of the world’s water is freshwater supply, and 70% of that freshwater supply is used for agriculture. With everyone (hopefully) washing their hands frequently, we’ll need to find other ways to conserve water. 

Categories
Sustainability

World Water Day 2020: What It is and How You Can Help

There are a ton of “holidays” throughout the year to get excited about (hey there, Ice Cream Day), but let’s step back a minute to observe something way more pressing–World Water Day. This and other environmental awareness dates like Earth Day (April 22) and World Environment Day (June 5) are designated days to bring attention to the environmental crises our world faces each day.

What is World Water Day?

International World Water Day is held on March 22 each year. The importance of World Water Day is to bring attention to the lack of access to safe drinking water to impoverished and disadvantaged individuals around the world and to advocate for more sustainable management of freshwater resources. Every year, events are held around the world on this day to bring awareness and action upon people who have the power to inspire change.

History

This international day to celebrate freshwater was suggested at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. Shortly after, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 22, 1993, as the first World Water Day.

Why World Water Day?

World Water Day invites people around the world to observe and take this day as an opportunity to learn more about water-related issues around the world, to spread awareness regarding access to water, and to make an impact on the global water crisis. We should really be aware of our water usage year-round, but having a dedicated day is like a reminder that we all need to be a bit more conscious.

If you’re here, you’re making the effort to learn about what World Water Day really means, and that’s the essence of it, so GO YOU.

What is this year’s World Water Day theme?

Every year, UN-Water sets a theme for World Water Day that corresponds to a current or future challenge. The central theme for World Water Day 2019 is ‘Leaving no one behind’, an adaptation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6)’s core promise to bring access to clean water to every person on earth by 2030, also known as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: as sustainable development progresses, everyone must benefit.

Last year’s theme was ‘The Answer is in Nature’. World Water Day 2020’s theme will be about climate change.

What problem does World Water Day aim to solve?

Billions of people are still living without safe water worldwide–households, schools, workplaces, farms, and factories struggle to survive and thrive. The lack of access to clean water occurs in marginalized groups–women, children, refugees, indigenous peoples, disabled people, and many others–and they struggle to gain access to the safe water they need and deserve due to discrimination. Examples of some of the ‘grounds for discrimination’ are sex and gender, race, ethnicity, religion, birth, caste, language, and nationality, disability, age, health status, property, tenure, residence, economic and social status–among others.

It is important to think of clean water as a basic human right. It’s a critical resource that everyone should have access to. The water crisis is a public health issue as well as a sustainable development issue that we need to work together to improve.

Water Sanitation and Hygiene

Without proper systems in place for water sanitation, contamination between water sources can pose a real problem for communities. Along with the issue of accessibility to clean water, people all over the world are still prone to disease from contaminated water and unhygienic water conditions that can lead to death.

Warning: Some of the following statistics might shock you.

Facts about Water Sanitation and Hygiene from the World Health Organization

  • 71% of the global population is using a safely managed drinking water service
  • 2 billion people around the world are using a drinking water source that is contaminated with fecal matter
  • 68% of the global population uses improved sanitation facilities Water sanitation is critical for public health. Good sanitation practices prevent diseases including diarrhea, intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, and trachoma, which affect millions of people today.
  • 2.1 billion people have access to improved sanitation facilities and sanitation services since 1990
  • 842,000 deaths by diarrhea per year resulting from a lack of safe drinking water and poor sanitation and hygiene
  • 58% of the diarrheal deaths could be prevented through safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene

Visit www.who.int for more information.

Facts about the Global Water Crisis from Water.org

  • 1 in 9 people lack access to safe water
  • 1 in 3 lack access to a toilet
  • 844 million people are living without access to safe water
  • 2.3 billion people are living without access to improved sanitation
  • women and girls around the world spend approximately 200 million hours every day collecting water
  • every 2 minutes, a child dies from a water-related disease
  • 1/3 of all schools lack access to water and sanitation, taking time away from school and play
  • the 3rd leading cause of child death is diarrhea, caused by unsafe water

Visit www.water.org for more information.

Ways to Observe World Water Day

  1. Conserve water at home
    Even though it may not seem like you use a lot of water, being mindful of your water footprint is an important step toward conservation. Reduce the amount of time it takes for you to shower, invest in water-saving toilets, low flow shower-heads, reduce the number of times you run the laundry machine–every bit counts.
  2. Organize a campaign to raise funds and awareness

    Spread the word about the global water crisis. It’s important to talk about water issues and how they can be mitigated across the world. Discuss what can be done to improve water quality through proper water services and how water sources can be brought to water-scarce areas. You can also donate your birthday to a cause via Facebook, a crowdfunding tool that allows you to raise awareness and funds for a non-profit of your choice.
  3. Companies can contribute too
    Setting an example in your industry or for your employees can help boost company morale and culture. Your company can seek opportunities to aid the water crisis by partnering with non-profit organizations, becoming sponsors for water projects, and implementing sustainable practices company-wide.
    At LARQ, we’re doing our part by partnering with 1% for the Planet, an organization that aims to amplify the impact of member-nonprofit partnerships through strategic donations to fuel environmental change. By contributing to 1% for the Planet, we’re benefiting nonprofits in that help improve our environment and protect the planet from further damage. This network of environmental non-profits includes organizations in the land, climate, food, pollution, water, and wildlife sectors. For 2020, we’re committing 1% of proceeds to Well Aware, a member of 1% for the Planet that builds water systems in communities lacking access to safe drinking water. These well systems are life-changing. No longer do women and children need to walk miles to get water–missing work or school in the process. Access to safe water also reduces disease rates otherwise caused by drinking contaminated water.
  4. If you would like to contribute financially to the water crisis, here’s a list of nonprofit organizations that help close the gap for access to water around the world:

1% for the Planet

Become a member as a business or as an individual in 1% for the Planet’s member-nonprofit network. You’ll be contributing to global environmental causes–water-related and other.

Well Aware

Well Aware is a nonprofit organization based in Austin, TX that builds sustainable water systems in communities lacking access to safe drinking water. With Well Aware’s help, disease rates are reduced by at least 64% and education is increased by 34%. It’s amazing what clean water can do for communities. Further instilling the fact that water is a privilege–not a right. For the year 2020, LARQ is donating 1% of all proceeds to Well Aware to support their efforts. In addition, the LARQ Bottle Benefit Edition donates 5% of proceeds to Well Aware.

Charity:Water

With Charity:Water, 100% of your donation will bring clean water to people in need. They partner with local organizations worldwide to provide sustainable water and sanitation services. They’ve funded 35,281 water projects for 9.5 million people all over the globe, and want to continue to do this with your help. To help with the water crisis, LARQ helped fund a water project in Uganda with Charity:Water during the launch of our self-cleaning water bottle. We believe in action more than words, and intend to continue bringing awareness to the water crisis and environmental pollution.

Water.org

Water.org wants to bring access to safe water and sanitation by providing help with small, affordable loans. They make your $1 donation go further by putting it into something called WaterCredit, which creates $47 worth of impact. Founders, Matt Damon and Gary White, discovered this smart sustainable solution to the water crisis, helping to bring water and sanitation expertise to people in need.

WaterAid

Established in 1981, WaterAid equips people with clean water and functioning toilets to normalize a clean quality of life. By focusing on bringing clean water, toilets, and promoting good hygiene, WaterAid hopes to reduce the number of child deaths resulting from diarrhea and transform people’s lives for good.

Planet Water Foundation

Planet Water Foundation supports more than 1 million people in 13 countries by bringing clean water to impoverished communities. Their chief water projects include the “AquaTower” and “AquaHome”, community-based water filtration systems that are installed to provide access to clean water, coupled with Water-Health and Hygiene Education programs. Planet Water Foundation focuses its efforts on schools, children, and rural communities across the Asia-Pacific Region and Latin America.

Water For People

Water For People’s goal is to promote the development of high-quality drinking water and sanitation services, to make them accessible to all, and to be sustained by strong communities, businesses, and governments. Water For People explores possibilities for innovation, cost reduction, and overall improvements of the communities they support.

Lifewater

As a Christian clean water organization, Lifewater has been bringing clean water, improved health, and gospel hope to people living in extreme poverty around the world. Donate directly to a project of your choice on their website.

Blood:Water

Help Blood:Water equip African organizations with the resources to provide access to clean water through technologies. They also support individuals affected by HIV/AIDS on medical, psychological, social, cultural, material, and legal levels throughout their illness.

Generosity.org

The spirit of generosity is about giving and empowering, and that’s exactly what Generosity.org does. They focus on water and sanitation to give clean water to impoverished peoples, medical aid, education, family support, and much more.

Splash

The goal of Splash is focused on bringing clean drinking water to children by providing customized hygiene education services, to change lives by bringing safe water to kids in schools, orphanages, hospitals and shelters around the world.

Remember, water is a basic human need and no one should be left behind. Let’s help the entire population of the earth to gain access to clean water by 2030!

Categories
Sustainability

Step up your sustainable shoe game

Photo by Cody Board on Unsplash

More than 20 billion pairs of shoes have been produced worldwide. On average, one shoe produces 30 pounds of carbon dioxide. Plus, it takes on average 30 to 40 years to decompose. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Americans alone throw away at least 300 million pairs of shoes per year. That’s a lot of waste. 

If you reflect on how many shoes you’ve purchased in your lifetime–we’re talking from the time you could even crawl or walk ‘til now–how many shoes do you think you’ve gone through? Where did those old shoes go? 

On the bright side, sustainability has become a priority with many companies, big and small, and there’s a huge demand for more sustainable footwear and sustainable practices. 

Textiles

It’s no secret that the textile industry is a primary contributor to pollution on a global scale. The processing that it takes to produce new textiles requires an abundance of resources and results in a large carbon footprint. Likewise with footwear, producing these new textiles is extremely wasteful, but companies are starting to change this by finding carbon-neutral solutions such as using wool or natural fibers instead of synthetic. 

Rubber

Another main component of shoes is rubber to form rubber outsoles. The majority of shoes produced use synthetic rubber. This results in the release of more waste than the volume of rubber output. The danger of this is that the process of making synthetic rubbers forms volatile organic compounds that include suspected carcinogens. We don’t have to tell you the adverse effects of these, now do we? Cariuma, a footwear brand from Rio, Brazil, uses natural rubber found in the hevea brasiliensis tree. By ethically tapping hevea brasiliensis trees to harvest the milky sap, the unharmed trees can continue to live and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen for us. This is a model example of how to reduce the environmental impact of footwear, but it’s a rare case in the shoe industry. 

Recycled Plastic

Other companies in the shoe industry are making moves to reduce their footprint by recycling post-consumer plastics. We can’t inform people enough that 1 million single-use plastic bottles are being used and tossed away per minute. After decades of this kind of gross use of single-use plastic bottles, we’re up to our eyeballs in it. Rothy’s, a women and children’s shoe company, makes shoes from recycled plastic bottles. Post-consumer plastic bottles are taken through a process that spins them into a thread that they work into a textile for shoes. Allbirds, another sustainable shoe company, makes sleek shoelaces from plastic bottles too.

Natural Materials

Moreover, Allbirds also uses better-for-the-planet materials to make the rest of their shoes. Materials like insoles made of merino wool produced using castor oil instead of petroleum-based foam. Or, their carbon negative green EVA called SweetFoam™, made from Brazilian sugarcane instead of synthetic rubber.

Closing the loop

Another piece is closing the loop on footwear altogether. Nike is a star example of this. They have been recycling shoes for a while now. In fact, 71% of Nike’s footwear and apparel products are made with Nike Grind, their trademarked recycled textiles. Yes, your beloved Flyknit Vapormax’s are made from recycled materials! They also offer a recycling program, Reuse-a-shoe, where anyone can drop off their old shoes for Nike to recycle and produce new ones. What better way to recycle your old shoes than with the sportswear giant that can turn them into premium performance gear? In addition to Nike’s commitment to go zero waste, Nike also launched a new footwear collection aptly named “Space Hippie”, an exploratory collection inspired by life on Mars. The collection marries sustainable practices and radical design. Space Hippie is made from scraps they call “Space Junk” that includes at least 85% rPoly made from recycled plastic water bottles, t-shirts, and yarn scraps. 

Luckily, more and more brands are adopting sustainable practices and going zero waste. We’re hoping to see this trend skyrocket in the coming years.

Categories
Travel

9 Eco-friendly Earth houses you can rent on Airbnb

Earth House Airbnb in Ubud, Indonesia

If your idea of a getaway means literally getting away from the business of the modern world, book your next vacation in an Earth house or an eco-friendly Airbnb. Earth houses are homes that are sustainably made with natural materials. Some of the features on this list include Earth homes that are located on beaches, islands, mountains, forests–you name it. 

It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day, so reconnecting with nature is oftentimes the therapy we all need. Maybe that’s the tree-hugger in us talking but we’re huge fans of this Earth and if we can marry the idea of adventure, sustainability, and design together, we will. And that’s how this post was born. 

Up next, you’ll read about some of the most remarkable homes we could find on Airbnb that are eco-conscious and promise the tranquility that nature has to offer. Plus, there’s a little something in here (aesthetically-speaking) for everyone. 

Architectural wonder in the forest

El Cope, Panonome, Cocle, PanamaInifinity Pool of Home in Panama

If unique architecture and eco-design really tickle your fancy, this Earth home secluded in El Cope, Panama is for you. It’s truly a getaway as it is tucked away in the near the Omar Torrijos national park, called “a cloud forest” by its Airbnb host. The home has features in various architectural magazines hailing from the US and Europe and surely one to see. You’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the luscious landscape while lounging in the home’s saltwater infinity pool. You will also enjoy nearby hikes, waterfalls, and birdwatching–our kind of vacation if you ask us. 

Hygge Hobbit Haven 

Orondo, WashingtonHobbit House in Washington, US

With an uncanny likeness to our favorite Hobbit house, you can live out your best life in this cozy and fantastical one-bedroom home. It’s a 2-mile drive up a remote hill, but when you get to the top, the view is breathtaking. The home is complete with the iconic round green door, and barrel-shaped architecture. The furnishings only make it that much more magical. It’s also pet-friendly! 

Tranquil Balinese Eco-dome

Bali, Indonesia

Eco-friendly sustainable bamboo dome bungalow in Bali, Indonesia

For anyone who wants to be immersed in the natural surroundings Bali has to offer, this eco-friendly bungalow is a must-stay. It’s a BioArchitectural dome made from bamboo and other natural materials. It’s equipped with a luxurious California King size bed, skylight, bird’s eye view of the landscape, and plenty of power outlets and access to wi-fi. But let’s be real–in a place like this, you don’t want to be on your phone the entire time. 

Villa Aalaya

Ubud, Indonesia

earth house villa in ubud, indonesia with outdoor pool and tropical view

Villa Aalaya is Sanskrit for “home”, but don’t be fooled–this site is probably your dream home. It comprises of three antique teak buildings. The first is a daytime space that includes the kitchen, dining and living rooms. Another building is complete with three bedrooms, a TV area, a library, and two upper-level spaces for working, meditation, or whatever suits your fancy. Lastly, there is a private bedroom with its own private outdoor bathroom and veranda. 

Eco-Loft Bamboo Bungalow

Tambon Ko Phy-ngan, Thailand 

eco-loft thailand bamboo bungalow bedroom

Tucked away in a tropical garden by the sea, the Eco Loft is a beautiful eco-retreat in Thailand. It’s made entirely of bamboo and wood so you’ll get the feel of living right in nature. The bungalow features a gorgeous sea view from the upper level complete with a balcony that overlooks the canopy of trees and the nearby beach. 

Agave Moon

Porto, Portugaleco-chic apartment in portugal

On the smaller scale, this doesn’t qualify as an Earth home, but it’s important to call out hosts that create eco-conscious homes. This eco-chic apartment located conveniently in Porto, Portugal features eclectic decor that blends modern and traditional Portuguese styles. The space is light and airy and includes all of the essential amenities. It’s nestled in a traditional part of Porto which is home to many family-owned shops and restaurants, so if you want to live as the locals do, this is the spot. This part of Porto offers serene, quiet nights and it’s just a short walk from shopping and bar streets. 

Spacious Sustainable Earth House

Bonogin, Queensland, Australiaspacious villa with natural chemical-free pool

This large property is a unique retreat centered on sustainability. It’s an oasis in the Mudgeeraba forest with rammed earth walls, recycled timber, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a chemical-free 10-meter pool. Immerse yourself in nature in this beautiful villa and you’ll enjoy it. The property is a 22-minute drive from the Gold Coast, so it’s a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the area. 

Idylle Maison 

Matera, Italyminimalist clay interior - home in madera, italy

If you keen to live like the Italians do in a romantic bright and airy home, Idylle Maison will surely be a treat. It’s thoughtful furnishings and bedding make it a space you want to surrender to. It’s minimalist, calming, private and surrounded by gorgeous views of Matera’s skyline.

Canava Villas II in Medieval Village 

Emporio, Santorini, Greece

earth house in greece with outdoor patio viewIf tranquil surroundings away from busy city streets are your idea of a vacation, look no further. Canava Villas II is situated in Emporio, Santorini’s largest village, is set on a hill overlooking the town and nearby sea. The home’s design is thoughtful and accents natural stone walls. However, it’s not short of creature comforts like an outdoor patio with a jet plunge pool among many other amenities. 

 

With sustainability at the forefront, we’re seeing a lot more eco-friendly homes popping up for rent on Airbnb and we dig it. Have you ever just typed “Anywhere” in the search bar? For your next adventure, go the road less traveled and take a few friends along for the ride. Which of these is your next eco-getaway? 

Categories
Sustainability

Tips for nurturing your dream sustainable home

Photo by Taylor Simpson on Unsplash rattan chair in outdoor patio

Is your home eco-friendly? Take a few tips from the experts. You don’t have to break the bank in order to save the planet (believe it or not). And you don’t have to completely change your home’s aesthetic either if you don’t want to. One of the keys to cultivating an eco-friendly home is to buy less. 

Yes, the minimalistic approach to home design can be more eco-friendly but we’ll talk more on that later. 

Be mindful

Be mindful of what you bring into your home. This is the foundation of any sustainable home and sustainable lifestyles. Being mindful means that you are considering the outcomes and repercussions of your purchase. Does it add value to your space? Does it perform multiple functions that improve your quality of life? What is the longevity of the item? How likely are you to keep it for years to come? Considering these questions and more can help guide your decision–a decision that mitigates waste. 

Go for minimal

We’re not saying everyone needs to be a minimalist, but taking a minimalistic approach to your home can be more sustainable in the sense that you should be buying less. Think Marie Kondo–only keep what sparks joy in your life and nothing else. Taking this approach will help you build a home free of clutter and distractions–just pure oasis (what a home should be in our opinion). More stuff means more potential for trash. Let’s face it–impulse purchases are not our best moments, but they tend to happen. 

Energy-efficient appliances and lighting fixtures

Daily use of appliances and light is a fact of life, but there are ways to make it sustainable. For starters, switch to energy-efficient everything. Your refrigerator, toaster oven, microwave, laundry machine (washer and dryer), lightbulbs, TVs–you name it. 

Water-saving appliances and fixtures

Similar to energy-efficient appliances, there are water-saving ones too. Think about your dishwasher, kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, and even your toilet. Swapping out old fixtures (if the house was built before 1994) can reduce your water consumption and lower the water bill. Who doesn’t want that? 

Our friends at Nebia, partnered up with Moen to create the latest water-saving shower: Nebia by Moen. The Nebia Shower is a piece of luxury in itself with its proprietary H2Micro technology that optimizes droplet size and controlled water coverage to have maximum impact without the extra water. The latest project, Nebia by Moen aims to reach more homes than ever in order to save one billion gallons of water by 2021. You can actually become a Kickstarter backer and receive your own Nebia by Moen shower (starting at $160) now until February 28. 

Sustainable materials

The demand for eco-friendly materials in homes has grown just over the last few years, so naturally, eco-friendly materials for the home are more accessible than ever. So your dream sustainable home is certainly within reach.

Bamboo

Unlike wood, bamboo is a highly renewable resource. It requires minimal care and water to produce. Technically, bamboo is a grass, not a tree. And it grows at a higher rate than trees do; it takes just three to five years for bamboo to regrow to its full adult size. Bamboo is naturally pest-resistant (no need for pesticides in growing it), antibacterial, antifungal, and requires far less water than similar plants. It’s also better for the environment–absorbing 5 times more carbon dioxide, and producing 35% more oxygen than similar plants. 

FSC-certified wood

Wood is a luxurious component to add in your home, but it can be costly for the environment. Shop responsibly for FSC-certified wood. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible and sustainable forest management. This certification indicates that the wood was sourced from a responsibly-managed forest.

Reclaimed, recycled or salvaged wood

These tend to be used interchangeably, so we’ll define them for you. Reclaimed wood is wood taken from old buildings, warehouses, or ships, that are then upcycled and repurposed. Its physical properties are not changed. Recycled wood refers to wood that is reconstructed into a new product. Salvaged wood refers to unused wood such as fallen branches, trees or logs.

Rattan

Similar to bamboo, this natural material also grows quickly and uses minimal energy and resources to produce. Since it’s a natural material, it is also biodegradable and recyclable.

Recycled plastic, metal, and other recycled materials

As aforementioned, the demand for more sustainable furniture is on the rise, and so are the options. When shopping for furniture, keep an eye out for furniture made from recycled materials. These can comprise of anything from recycled ocean plastic, to recycled metal, and even stone. 

Natural fabrics and textiles

Textiles can have a major impact on the home, adding texture and warmth. For home textiles such as throw blankets, rugs, bedding, towels, and window treatments, seek out organic products. Processing takes a lot of energy and resources and varies drastically. Certified organic textiles can be identified by GOTS- (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification. This certification is the standard for processing organic fibers and certifies the ecological and social criteria of the entire supply chain. Organic fibers include cotton, organic wool, bamboo, hemp, jute, linen, ramie, and Tencel–to name a few. 

Buy used. Upcycle. Get creative. 

Depending on the type of furniture, buying used can be a bit taboo. We’d steer clear of buying a used mattress from someone you don’t know. You know, for hygienic reasons. But how about that cool vintage dresser at the antique store? Or that free coffee table at the yard sale? Part of fostering your sustainable home is to find new ways to buy less. 

Oftentimes, these can add a whole lot of character to your space, or they can be refinished to fit your home. After all, who doesn’t love a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that makes a bold statement or tells a story?

Donate or give away your old stuff

If you can, donate, resell, or give away your used furniture and household items instead of hauling them to the landfill. You never know if someone could potentially upcycle or reuse the item for years to come. 

 

Categories
Wellness

8 Life-changing wellness habits to kickstart your new year

man and women stretching via unsplash matthew lejune
Photo by Matthew Lejune

For many, entering into a new year is the time for a clean slate–to start fresh no matter how unhealthy (physical, mental, or otherwise) your previous year was. 2020 is the turn of a decade which means many bigger shifts in habits, health, and overall wellness. If you’re having trouble kickstarting your new year, try shifting your mindset. It’s not about reinventing yourself or making major changes in your life, but rather, a series of small ones and changing your attitude for overall wellness–mind, body, and soul.

 

Whether you’re jumpstarting the new year with some hardcore fitness goals or pining for a big promotion at the end of the year, here are some healthy habits that will help you stay sane no matter how crazy life gets. To us, sustainability isn’t just about the planet, it’s about personal health too. 

 

Exercise

You’re thinking about it anyway, so might as well put this at the top of the list. Exercise is important on so many different levels (so you’ve heard), but we’re not talking about weight loss goals or hitting your benching PR. We’re talking about cardiovascular health and mental health. 

 

You don’t have to commit to 6 days at the gym or running 5 miles every morning. 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week of any physical aerobic activity will help maintain overall cardiovascular health. If you wanted to, the American Heart Association suggests that breaking these up to 10-15 minute segments of your day will provide benefits too. This can be anything from a brisk walk to a jog or a swim to get your heart rate going. 

 

In addition to cardiovascular health, exercise can relieve stress. Exercise reduces cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone) over time and increases the release of endorphins, which help boost mood! It’s also a great way to get better sleep. 

 

Eat well 

balanced healthy meal via Unsplash
Photo by Brooke Lark

Trust us, we love our In-n-out just as much as the next guy, but it’s really easy to overdo it. Eating well comes to the top of our list for many reasons; our diet can affect our health, mood, and even the planet. With disease and cancer rates increasing and fertility rates dropping, we’re not too far off from a Handmaid’s Tale type situation. 

 

The EAT-Lancet Commission’s Planetary Health Diet is shifting thought on what it means to eat in a healthy way that doesn’t accelerate the degradation of the Earth. Eating well means increasing our intake of fruits and vegetables (by almost triple) and reducing our consumption of meat, namely red meat which requires significantly more resources than any other food, and releases the highest number of greenhouse gas emissions than even their animal-based counterparts. If you’re a meat-eater, try eating less than 50g of red meat per day to reduce your impact. 

 

For better health, the Planetary Health Diet also recommends eating more plant-based foods that provide more nutrients to the body for optimum health and reduced risk for diseases and certain cancers. This means eating more whole grains, less refined sugars, more legumes and nuts, and colorful fruits and vegetables. With more conscious food choices, you’ll live longer, better, and prolong the life of the Earth for generations to come. 

 

Meditate

This is no joke. With the volume of stressors that modern life throws at us, it’s increasingly difficult to completely shut off for the day. The practice of meditation takes time to get down, but can be extremely beneficial for mental health and even sleep. 

 

Reduce phone time 

Our smartphones are usually on us 24/7–it’s practically impossible to not be around your phone for more than a few minutes at a time. They’re tied to work, play and everything in-between so how could we possibly unplug? 

 

Exposure to light is healthy throughout the day because it regulates your body’s circadian rhythm and melatonin secretion. However, when exposing yourself to light even in nighttime hours–for example, before bed–you more often than not will have trouble falling asleep and have poor quality of sleep to boot. Light exposure is not limited to just your phone though; your TV, laptop, tablet, and everything of the sort, expose you to blue light which has the same effect on your melatonin levels. For the betterment of your health, it’s recommended to avoid all electronics at least 2 hours before bed. 

 

Keep living spaces and workspaces neat

If you’ve ever seen the show Hoarders, you’ll know why this is important. Cluttered spaces can lead to stress, fatigue, reduced productivity, and can even put a strain on your relationships. Keeping your living spaces and workspaces neat prevents you from losing important documents and prevents cloudy thoughts from clutter. It makes for a messy mind. 

 

Drink more water

This might not come as a shock to you, but most people are probably not drinking enough water. Requirements for how much water to drink aren’t one-size-fits-all because everyone’s body has different needs. What we do know is that chronic dehydration can take a toll on a person’s body since our cells and organs depend on it. Adult humans are made of 60% water and blood is 90% water, hence the need to constantly replenish. Not sure how much to drink? Drink enough water so that your pee runs clear–and if it’s on the yellow to the dark yellow side of the scale, you’re dehydrated. 

 

Dehydration also has negative side effects on your kidneys. Your kidneys filter fluids that flow through the body, so water is essential for the kidneys to function. Without water, waste products and excess fluid can build up inside the body leading to chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, or kidney failure–yikes. They can also lead to urinary tract infections (the second most common type of infection in the body). The solution to all of this? Drink plenty of water.

 

If you haven’t done so already, invest in a reusable water bottle that you can carry with you to have water on you at all times of the day. Among many other reasons, people are choosing a sustainable self-cleaning water bottle–the LARQ Bottle–because it uses UV-C LED technology to eliminate harmful, odor-causing bacteria all day long. This creates a more convenient approach to using reusable water bottles so you don’t need to wash it after every refill (the recommended amount to prevent bacteria growth). It even purifies water on the go so that you can drink from most water sources with peace of mind. No Bali belly here. 

Ditch fast food and takeout

Not only is it better for the planet, but it’s also better for your health. Making your meals at home lets you control what ingredients you’re putting in and puts you in control of your weight and your health. Plus, you’ll only put in things you love to eat, so why not right? 

 

In addition, less takeout means less waste. Those styrofoam boxes, plastic containers, and plastic utensils are not recyclable and go straight to the landfill after you’re done. Instead, make your own meals at home or dine in. You’ll enjoy the experience more and you won’t be contributing to the growing waste issue. 

Go zero-waste

One thing we really need to put an end to is this culture of single-use waste. Dependency on plastic single-use products is accelerating the degradation of the Earth and poses health risks to both humans and wildlife. In this new decade, if there’s anything you should resolve to do–it’s reducing waste. This means reducing packaged food purchases, single-use plastic waste (disposable straws, utensils, plastic wrap, sandwich bags, etc.) and spreading awareness of this issue to others. There is no action too small! Check out this list of things we’re ditching in 2020 for inspiration on what to swap out in place of some of the most wasteful everyday products. 

Keep a journal 

Journaling is an excellent way to unpack the day’s events, vent, or keep your thoughts in order. It may help you sleep better too because you’re not just going to bed with your thoughts. If you’re the type of person who has trouble going to sleep because you’re thinking about a million things a minute, the act of writing something down–we’re talking about taking pen to paper here–is the most effective method of clearing those thoughts. Set aside time at the end of your day to detox. Preferably a couple of hours before you plan to sleep. This allows you enough time to write and think about what you’ve written down before going to bed. 

 

A great way to conclude your journal entry is to also review the positive highlights of the day, what you’re grateful for–whether that’s from that specific day or overall in life. Sometimes we can get caught up in the curveballs that life throws at us, but it’s important to also reflect on the things you’re grateful for. Regularly writing down what you’re grateful for can meaningfully increase your well-being.

2020 is the year for growth, wellness and overall happiness. Ditch those old unhealthy habits, and step into a new you this year. Your body and the planet will thank you.