In my studio, I use:
- Electricity from renewable and sustainable sources, such as wind, solar, and hydro power (through Green Mountain Energy).
- Paper products and plastics (when used) that are made from post-consumer recycled material.
- Containers that are either recycled, recyclable, or able to be re-used and/or re-purposed.
- Natural and organic soap products and detergents made without dyes or chemicals and never tested on animals.
- No bleach, which is poisonous and highly toxic to the environment. Instead, proper disinfection and sanitization is achieved by using all-natural and biodegradable compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, distilled vinegar, and other bleach alternatives.
- Natural cleaning products that do not pollute our water supply.
- Linens and towels made of cotton (organic cotton, when possible).
- Re-usable canvas bags for shopping and toting.
- Massage oils and lotions made entirely from vegetable sources and never tested on animals.
- Candles made from soy and other vegetable waxes (not petroleum) with pure cotton wicks.
- Pure essential oils to create scents instead of using man-made chemical fragrances and perfumes.
- Light fixtures that are fitted with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) where possible.
These are a few of the ways in which I try to reduce my ecological footprint and do my part to help protect the earth and its resources, and I am constantly trying to learn about new ways that I can improve my efforts.
What are you doing? If you would like to learn more about how you can help protect the environment, or if you just need some resources to help you do so, I have included some helpful links below.
Here are some quick tips to help get you started:
- Watch An Inconvenient Truth. Whatever your politics, it’s quite eye opening.
- Start reducing the number of plastic bags you use and throw away. The typical plastic grocery bag takes at least 450 years to biodegrade, and, even then, the petroleum products it is made from are toxic to the soil and to wildlife. Try reusing any plastic bags as often as possible, or, better yet, purchase a few reusable totes/shopping bags made from natural materials and take them with you every time you shop.
- Change one light bulb in your home to a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). If every person changed just one, it would be the equivalent of taking 3.5 million cars off the road every year.
- Car pool, walk, ride a bicycle, or take mass transit whenever possible. It will save fuel, reduce greenhouse gases, and might just be good for your health, too.
- Use Biobags (biodegradable plastic made from vegetable oil) for containing and disposing of animal waste.