Flagstaff, Ariz. (May 6, 2020) – Kahtoola, creator of award-winning MICROspikes® and NANOspikes® footwear traction, is proud to announce its certification as an Innovator/Silver Level business from the Sustainability Alliance. Certification within Arizona is based on the Sustainability Alliance’s four scientific principles of a sustainable society including a reduction of non-renewable energy and materials, a reduction of pollution/waste, and a commitment to protect ecosystems while meeting human needs.   Kahtoola’s environmental commitment began with the company’s founding in 1999 and the subsequent launch of a grant program that provides 1% of annual sales to support indigenous cultures and fund projects that improve communities, healthcare, education, resources and the environment.   Over the past two decades, Kahtoola has also implemented projects locally to reduce their environmental impact at the company’s Flagstaff headquarters. Projects have included a building remodel to add windows and skylights that maximize natural light and reduce energy consumption. The addition of solar panels supplies 100 percent of the company’s daily energy requirements. A new basement warehouse ventilation system efficiently maintains clean air and proper heating throughout the building. And to reduce emissions, Kahtoola tracks Scope 1 and 2 emissions from fuels they burn and electricity used and is working to calculate Scope 3 emissions in the immediate future which includes employee commuting, air travel, shipping emissions and beyond.   On the production side, Kahtoola relies exclusively on ocean freight to reduce emissions on products manufactured overseas. A redesign of pallets and warehouse racks has increased the number of units per pallet. “With these changes and some planning adjustments we were able to decrease our shipping volume by 36 percent,” said Kelly Slutz, Shipping Associate for Kahtoola. “We can now get more units per shipment, but overall receive less shipments.”   The majority of greenhouse gas emissions from ground packages sent from Kahtoola’s warehouse are offset with carbon neutral shipments through UPS that are paid by Kahtoola. An onsite repair shop allows customers to easily return products for repair to extend their lifecycle. Any non-repairable parts are disassembled and recycled through a local metal recycler with plastic pieces sent to TerraCycle. Kahtoola also minimizes design process waste by creating 3-D printer prototypes in house to eliminate the frequency of shipping prototypes to outside vendors and implements recyclable packaging, natural and 100 percent recycled materials for their marketing giveaways in addition to reusable signage at events. “Whenever we go to trade shows, we always commit to zero single-use plastic,” added Slutz.   As the company continues to grow, it has implemented protocols for measuring environmental impacts while encouraging employees to lead the charge. “We are expected to hold ourselves accountable for our  contributions to the company, and build support from others where coordination is needed to put ideas into action,” said Betsy Harter, Customer Service Associate for Kahtoola. “Called the Associate Model, it supports associate empowerment and initiative. This model has allowed Kelly and I to create our roles as sustainability project leaders within the company.”   For more information on sustainable business certification in Arizona, please visit Sustainability Alliance.

To say the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted consumer behavior would be an understatement. Everything about consumers’ purchase behavior, from what they buy to where they buy it, has been shaken up, and everyone is calling into question things they once took for granted as “safe.” Here’s how these new trends in consumer packaging will impact the reusable packaging industry in the mid and long-term, according to the Reusable Packaging Association.  

Debunking the myth that single-use packaging = hygienic

  The general public has historically assumed single-use disposable packaging is synonymous with hygienic; the assumption being that newly-manufactured packaging is by its very nature sanitary. In the current environment, however, people are becoming aware of just how many hands touch single-use packaging between manufacture and consumption. From people wiping down cereal boxes (unnecessary, by the way) to leaving e-commerce packages on the porch for days before touching, consumers are handling single-use packaging differently for added safety assurances.   “No disposable package is today sterile, just to be explicitly clear,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, in a recent interview with Grist. Similarly, a statement by Upstream confirms, “Single-use disposables are subject to whatever pathogens have settled on them from manufacture, transport, inventory stocking and eventual use.” Of course, the chances of transmitting coronavirus through packaging of any kind are thought to be extremely low. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “…touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes…is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”   Still, the consumer behavior mentioned above shows the long-held public perception of the hygienic nature of single-use packaging is in question. In its place, there is now a hyper-focus on packaging sanitation processes and innovations—topics perhaps well-known to logistics and supply chain professionals, but as-yet unfamiliar to the general public.  

The growing importance of sanitation processes for packaging

  Forced to make hard decisions amidst all the unknowns of the coronavirus, companies like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts have banned customers from bringing in reusable cups and some retail stores have banned reusable bags due to fears these items could potentially spread the virus if contaminated. These widely publicized actions have sparked a new public discourse about sanitation and different types of packaging, and how such items are sanitized.   The recent attention on packaging sanitation is new to many consumers, who’ve never thought twice about the cleanliness of the reusable plates, silverware and containers they utilize every time they eat in a restaurant. Now, some consumers are questioning sanitation processes even within their own homes—an unnecessary concern, according to Vineet Menachery, an assistant professor of microbiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Says Menachery, in an interview with Grist, “When it comes to reusable cups, mugs and plates, plain old soap and water does the trick.”   This attention can be expected to impact expectations on packaging of all kinds in the future, which will be a boost for the reusable packaging industry, as well-defined and sophisticated sanitation processes are already part of existing business models.  

Hygiene innovation in reusable models

  Necessity is the mother of invention, and the Coronavirus pandemic has already proven to be one tough mother, spurring major leaps forward in shared/reuse model hygiene.   Wheels, a shared bike service, is outfitting its bikes with self-cleaning NanoSeptic handlebars and brake levers. According to the company’s website, “NanoSeptic’s technology, which is powered by light, uses mineral nano-crystals to create an oxidation reaction that is stronger than bleach.” This technology is then applied to skins and mats to turn anything covered in its material into a self-cleaning surface.   Corplex, a leading corrugated plastic extrusion company, has developed translucent polycarbonate dividers to enable easy social distancing in office and warehouse environments. According to the company’s website, these hygienic dividers are easy to install, “…thicker than cardboard dividers, ideal when bigger wall partitions are needed…allowing good light transmission.”   In a post-Coronavirus world, these shared reusable models will emerge even stronger and more trustworthy to consumers, having made major advancements in addressing hygiene concerns through new product innovations and process validations.

Flagstaff, Ariz. (May 6, 2020) – Kahtoola, creator of award-winning MICROspikes® and NANOspikes® footwear traction, is proud to announce its certification as an Innovator/Silver Level business from the Sustainability Alliance. Certification within Arizona is based on the Sustainability Alliance’s four scientific principles of a sustainable society including a reduction of non-renewable energy and materials, a reduction of pollution/waste, and a commitment to protect ecosystems while meeting human needs.   Kahtoola’s environmental commitment began with the company’s founding in 1999 and the subsequent launch of a grant program that provides 1% of annual sales to support indigenous cultures and fund projects that improve communities, healthcare, education, resources and the environment.   Over the past two decades, Kahtoola has also implemented projects locally to reduce their environmental impact at the company’s Flagstaff headquarters. Projects have included a building remodel to add windows and skylights that maximize natural light and reduce energy consumption. The addition of solar panels supplies 100 percent of the company’s daily energy requirements. A new basement warehouse ventilation system efficiently maintains clean air and proper heating throughout the building. And to reduce emissions, Kahtoola tracks Scope 1 and 2 emissions from fuels they burn and electricity used and is working to calculate Scope 3 emissions in the immediate future which includes employee commuting, air travel, shipping emissions and beyond.   On the production side, Kahtoola relies exclusively on ocean freight to reduce emissions on products manufactured overseas. A redesign of pallets and warehouse racks has increased the number of units per pallet. “With these changes and some planning adjustments we were able to decrease our shipping volume by 36 percent,” said Kelly Slutz, Shipping Associate for Kahtoola. “We can now get more units per shipment, but overall receive less shipments.”   The majority of greenhouse gas emissions from ground packages sent from Kahtoola’s warehouse are offset with carbon neutral shipments through UPS that are paid by Kahtoola. An onsite repair shop allows customers to easily return products for repair to extend their lifecycle. Any non-repairable parts are disassembled and recycled through a local metal recycler with plastic pieces sent to TerraCycle. Kahtoola also minimizes design process waste by creating 3-D printer prototypes in house to eliminate the frequency of shipping prototypes to outside vendors and implements recyclable packaging, natural and 100 percent recycled materials for their marketing giveaways in addition to reusable signage at events. “Whenever we go to trade shows, we always commit to zero single-use plastic,” added Slutz.   As the company continues to grow, it has implemented protocols for measuring environmental impacts while encouraging employees to lead the charge. “We are expected to hold ourselves accountable for our  contributions to the company, and build support from others where coordination is needed to put ideas into action,” said Betsy Harter, Customer Service Associate for Kahtoola. “Called the Associate Model, it supports associate empowerment and initiative. This model has allowed Kelly and I to create our roles as sustainability project leaders within the company.”   For more information on sustainable business certification in Arizona, please visit Sustainability Alliance.

Students from Parkview Public School's Green Team plant flowers. The school won $20,000 for their environmental efforts. (Submitted)   An elementary school in Komoka, Ont. is being rewarded for its environmental prowess, winning a $20,000 grant from Staples Canada to go toward new technology.   Staples' Superpower your School Contest is an annual campaign that hands out $400,000 to 20 schools across the country. Parkview Public School is one of two elementary schools in Ontario that won this year.   "It's a tremendous recognition for the Parkview community," said Julia Schmalz, the principal at Parkview Public School. "It's not just our students, but our staff and even our parents, and as a community as a whole, we're excited to have been chosen for this grant."   To be considered for the contest, schools have to meet three environmental attributes:  

• Making a positive environmental impact through projects and programs.
• Making environmentally responsible behaviour part of everyday school life.
• Displaying a long-term commitment to supporting a healthier environment.

  Parkview students start their environmental journey as early at kindergarten, where students hatch salmon eggs, grow the fish and then release them near Sarnia. They've established a Green Team which boasts about 60 environmentally engaged students. There are also outdoor classrooms for students to explore and investigate the world around them.   The Green Team was started by Grade 6 teacher Deb Perkins. She said that when she began teaching at Parkview 15 years ago, the only environmental initiative was paper recycling. Students upcycle used markers, grow plants in a hydroponic garden and plant gardens outside of the school. (Submitted)   "Fast forward to 2020, now we are recycling almost everything, upcycling, the community is bringing in batteries, cartridges, saving pop tabs for wheelchairs," said Perkins. "The upcycling's a big one. We can generate a little bit of money with snack pouches, we collect thousands of those and send them off to TerraCycle."   One of the school's most impactful initiatives is their composting cones, which students use to compost food scraps, reducing the school's waste from snacks and lunches. With over 650 students attending Parkview, the Green Team also encourages students to pack litterless lunches.   In addition to their conservation efforts, students are also learning how to grow plants. Some are using hydroponics indoors, while others are planting gardens outside of the school.   The Staples contest prize will be used to purchase items such as Chromebooks to support ongoing learning.   "My Green Team is usually about 60 members, so we're quite large, and to get that technology fast in their hands, it needs to be accessible and portable," said Perkins. "That's where the money's going to go."   Perkins says Green Team members do walk-a-bouts to the classrooms and do audits for conserving energy and minimizing waste.   "What we'd like to do is start weighing the garbage bins in the classrooms, tracking it, and we can turn it into math lessons for the teachers to see how much they've reduced their waste," she said.   The Staples contest is held in collaboration with EcoKids and Earth Day Canada to mark Earth Month.    

Procter & Gamble's Tide laundry detergent brand first introduced in January 2019 its "Eco-Box," which has been compared to a wine box because of its design made from paperboard with a tap for dispensing, in an effort to reduce the plastic in its packaging. In mid-May, the Eco-Boxes are becoming available for other fabric care product lines, including Tide purclean, Downy, Gain and Dreft.   The initiatives are related to P&G's current sustainability goals introduced in 2018, Ambition 2030, which include a commitment to make its packaging 100 percent recyclable or reusable by 2030.   Each business unit within P&G has its own approach, and the Eco-Box was one way P&G’s Fabric Care division set out to meet its packaging goal.   To be clear, the Eco-Box package still includes plastic — with the bag that holds the liquid detergent itself — but uses 60 percent less of it than the traditional packaging for P&G’s detergent brands. "We've moved to a huge reduction in plastic, but [the plastic bag] not curbside-recyclable," said Todd Cline, section head for P&G Fabric Care’s research and development team.   "I think perfection is [figuring] out the technologies to make this so that that bag and tap are also just easy curbside recycling," he continued. "But there's just not technologies for that yet today, to create bags to hold liquids that are puncture-resistant and will survive all of the shipping."   In the meantime, P&G has a stopgap solution for collection and end-of-life processing in place. When the Tide Eco-Box launched, P&G partnered with TerraCycle to offer a recycling option for the inner bag. That program will continue, now including the full Eco-Box portfolio.   Cline said P&G uses life cycle assessment (LCA) to guide its work, "particularly as it comes to sustainability," noting that from an LCA standpoint, P&G is making a huge reduction in its carbon footprint and amount of plastic that's going to landfills through the Eco-Box packaging effort.   "For us, that's a technical trade-off at the start. But it's one of those that if we waited for perfection ... we would be sitting on this technology that could have a really great benefit from a sustainability standpoint, but holding it until it's perfect," Cline said, referring to the need to engage TerraCycle on collection.   When the new Eco-Box detergents hit the market — the products will be available online only from major U.S. retailers — Cline said they will continue to test and iterate on the packaging to improve it.   All paper, no plastic   In a different part of the company, P&G Beauty, the packaging strategy is likewise taking another turn away from plastic: toward all-paper packaging. Indeed, these are just two recent examples of how P&G is working to meet its 2030 goal.   "This is just one of many innovations that P&G is working on to address the problem of plastic waste. This is an important step forward, and there is much more to come," wrote Anitra Marsh, associate director of global sustainability and brand communications with P&G Beauty, by email. Two of those beauty and personal care brands are Old Spice and Secret, which will launch all-paper packaging for their aluminum-free deodorants this month at 500 Walmart stores in the U.S.   "As the largest retailer in the world partnering with the largest deodorant and antiperspirant brands in the U.S., we know this new paperboard package has the potential to have significant positive impact and lay the groundwork for even broader impact," said Jason Kloster, senior buying manager for body care and grooming at Walmart, in a press release.   Marsh said P&G co-designed the all-paper deodorant packaging for its Secret and Old Spice products with consumers interested in cutting back on plastic waste. The package format contains 90 percent post-consumer recycled content and 10 percent new paper fibers. P&G developed package prototypes then shared the designs with consumers to see which options were "most appealing and easy to use."   P&G isn’t the only company trying to eliminate plastic packaging for deodorant. Across the pond in London, a company called Wild raised $621,775 in seed funding for its refillable no-plastic deodorant packaging — made from durable aluminum and bamboo pulp — after a successful pilot launch in 2019.   Marsh said it took less than a year to bring P&G's all-paper, plastic-free deodorant packaging to market. During the development process, the first package design did not pass a key recyclability test because the glue used for the label diminished the quality of the recycled paper pulp.   "We quickly went back to the drawing board to find another label glue that doesn’t impede recycling, and this is what we are using now in our Old Spice and Secret paper tube packages that are launching in May," she said.   The deodorant hit the shelves May 1, and P&G will continue to evaluate the recyclability and repulpability of the packaging this summer, according to Marsh.   "We are aiming for 100 percent recyclability," she said.

Procter & Gamble's Tide laundry detergent brand first introduced in January 2019 its "Eco-Box," which has been compared to a wine box because of its design made from paperboard with a tap for dispensing, in an effort to reduce the plastic in its packaging. In mid-May, the Eco-Boxes are becoming available for other fabric care product lines, including Tide purclean, Downy, Gain and Dreft.   The initiatives are related to P&G's current sustainability goals introduced in 2018, Ambition 2030, which include a commitment to make its packaging 100 percent recyclable or reusable by 2030.   Each business unit within P&G has its own approach, and the Eco-Box was one way P&G’s Fabric Care division set out to meet its packaging goal.   To be clear, the Eco-Box package still includes plastic — with the bag that holds the liquid detergent itself — but uses 60 percent less of it than the traditional packaging for P&G’s detergent brands.     "We've moved to a huge reduction in plastic, but [the plastic bag] not curbside-recyclable," said Todd Cline, section head for P&G Fabric Care’s research and development team.   "I think perfection is [figuring] out the technologies to make this so that that bag and tap are also just easy curbside recycling," he continued. "But there's just not technologies for that yet today, to create bags to hold liquids that are puncture-resistant and will survive all of the shipping."   In the meantime, P&G has a stopgap solution for collection and end-of-life processing in place. When the Tide Eco-Box launched, P&G partnered with TerraCycle to offer a recycling option for the inner bag. That program will continue, now including the full Eco-Box portfolio.   Cline said P&G uses life cycle assessment (LCA) to guide its work, "particularly as it comes to sustainability," noting that from an LCA standpoint, P&G is making a huge reduction in its carbon footprint and amount of plastic that's going to landfills through the Eco-Box packaging effort.   "For us, that's a technical trade-off at the start. But it's one of those that if we waited for perfection ... we would be sitting on this technology that could have a really great benefit from a sustainability standpoint, but holding it until it's perfect," Cline said, referring to the need to engage TerraCycle on collection.   When the new Eco-Box detergents hit the market — the products will be available online only from major U.S. retailers — Cline said they will continue to test and iterate on the packaging to improve it.   All paper, no plastic   In a different part of the company, P&G Beauty, the packaging strategy is likewise taking another turn away from plastic: toward all-paper packaging. Indeed, these are just two recent examples of how P&G is working to meet its 2030 goal.   "This is just one of many innovations that P&G is working on to address the problem of plastic waste. This is an important step forward, and there is much more to come," wrote Anitra Marsh, associate director of global sustainability and brand communications with P&G Beauty, by email.       Two of those beauty and personal care brands are Old Spice and Secret, which will launch all-paper packaging for their aluminum-free deodorants this month at 500 Walmart stores in the U.S.   "As the largest retailer in the world partnering with the largest deodorant and antiperspirant brands in the U.S., we know this new paperboard package has the potential to have significant positive impact and lay the groundwork for even broader impact," said Jason Kloster, senior buying manager for body care and grooming at Walmart, in a press release.   Marsh said P&G co-designed the all-paper deodorant packaging for its Secret and Old Spice products with consumers interested in cutting back on plastic waste. The package format contains 90 percent post-consumer recycled content and 10 percent new paper fibers. P&G developed package prototypes then shared the designs with consumers to see which options were "most appealing and easy to use."   P&G isn’t the only company trying to eliminate plastic packaging for deodorant. Across the pond in London, a company called Wild raised $621,775 in seed funding for its refillable no-plastic deodorant packaging — made from durable aluminum and bamboo pulp — after a successful pilot launch in 2019.   Marsh said it took less than a year to bring P&G's all-paper, plastic-free deodorant packaging to market. During the development process, the first package design did not pass a key recyclability test because the glue used for the label diminished the quality of the recycled paper pulp.   "We quickly went back to the drawing board to find another label glue that doesn’t impede recycling, and this is what we are using now in our Old Spice and Secret paper tube packages that are launching in May," she said.   The deodorant hit the shelves May 1, and P&G will continue to evaluate the recyclability and repulpability of the packaging this summer, according to Marsh.   "We are aiming for 100 percent recyclability," she said.

the brand has partnered with Terracycle – the global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials – to ensure that its capsules are all 100 per cent recyclable. The scheme allows customers to return their empty capsules for free to avoid landfill.

As you grapple with the new normal of the pandemic crisis and prepare to hit the ground running once practices reopen, you might not be thinking about Earth Day 2020, the worldwide environmental movement's 50th anniversary. However, it's always a good time to consider tips to go green and safeguard the planet when your practice reopens.   AOA Focus asked green-conscious doctors of optometry for tips on how to get started if you're looking to reduce, reuse and recycle in your office.  

1. Reduce energy use.

G. Michael Murphy, O.D., has graduated to solar panels on the roof of his practice, but even he had to begin somewhere.   "If you have an older building, insulate and tighten up leaks," Dr. Murphy recommends. "Check with your utility company, which may offer assistance with installing more ef­ficient HVAC equipment and lighting. A local power company in my area offered an instant rebate on LED replacement tubes for my fluorescent lights."   He put each tube's retail cost at $6.99, but with instant rebates and a volume discount, his cost dropped to 99 cents apiece. "Considering that each tube now uses 15 watts instead of 32, the cost of energy in our locale is about .12/kWh and the lights operate roughly 40 hours per week; that's a savings of 8 cents per week per bulb. That means that the upfront cost of those replacement lights was recouped in one year."   2. Recycle contact lens packaging. Start by educating patients on contact lens disposal. Once her patients are enjoying the visual freedom of wearing contact lenses, Pamela Lowe, O.D., says they sometimes ask about the environmental impact of disposing of them.   Dr. Lowe, who is chair of the AOA's Contact Lens and Cornea Section, says, "Using up to 365 pairs of contact lenses per year for the everyday contact lens wearer has raised the question of how to ef­ficiently and environmentally dispose of the packaging and waste these lenses create. Our practice is proactive in educating patients on how single-use lenses actually have a positive impact on keeping America green. We also point out that, if patients have a recycling program in their community, the disposable, single-use packs are recyclable, and if they do not­ have a recycling program, we encourage them to save and return their contact lens packaging to our of­fice and we dispose of it in the Bausch & Lomb TerraCycle program. The company graciously provides, at no charge, containers for practices to collect contact lens foil and plastic packaging, no matter who manufactures the lenses, and will ef­ficiently recycle these materials at no charge to practitioners." At-home recycle containers for patients also are available.   3. Conserve plastic and paper. Start by saying no to plastic water bottles and yes to recycling. "Disposable water bottles are one of the least environmentally friendly, nonessential items you can eliminate. Buy a water dispenser and use paper cups," says Dr. Murphy.   He suggests a giveaway: reusable water bottles or thermal cups with your practice information on them. For at least 20 years, the practice of Douglas Melzer, O.D., has recycled. "Oregon is a very 'green' state and had one of the ­first bottle recycling bills in the nation that provided financial incentive to customers for returning the bottles for deposit." Recycling and garbage bins are conveniently side by side throughout his practice. Cardboard boxes from deliveries are flattened and placed in recycling bins.   "Almost all paper gets recycled-of course anything that contains protected health information is shredded," says Dr. Melzer, noting that the cost of the mobile shredding service is shared with the chiropractic of­fice next door. "Start with the simple stuff (cardboard, mail, magazines and such) and watch how much space you save in the garbage."  

Living Proof, a company that uses scientific innovation and human ingenuity to tackle problems big and small, and international recycling leader TerraCycle, have joined forces to ensure that all Living Proof hair care packaging and spent aerosol cans are diverted from landfills and sustainably recycled nationwide.   “We are pleased to count Living Proof among a select group of luxury hair care brands that offer consumer-facing recycling programs that actively address this large category of waste,” said TerraCycle CEO and Founder, Tom Szaky. “Through the introduction of these innovative recycling programs, Living Proof is giving their consumers a powerful, sustainable option to divert their empty hair care and aerosol packaging from landfills, as well as demonstrate their respect for the environment through the products they choose to include in their hair care regime.”   Through this partnership, consumers are invited to recycle their empty Living Proof packaging in two ways:  

• Living Proof Aerosol Recycling Program: Participants wishing to recycle their empty Living Proof aerosol cans, including trial and sample sizes, are invited to sign up on the program page at www.terracycle.com/living-proof-aerosol. When ready to ship, following the shipping instructions provided on the program page, download a free shipping label and the included “Limited Quantity” label. Package the empty aerosol containers in the box of your choice and send it to TerraCycle for recycling.
• Living Proof Recycling Program: To recycle all other Living Proof product packaging, including trial and sample sizes, participants are invited to visit the non-aerosol program page at www.terracycle.com/living-proof. When ready to ship their packaging waste, simply download a free shipping label, package the empty hair care packaging in the box of your choice and send it to TerraCycle for recycling.

  “We are proud to partner with TerraCycle,” said Living Proof Brand Marketing Director, Sarah Mountcastle Mitchell. “Living Proof is committed to solving the toughest beauty challenges with safe, cruelty-free innovations that don’t compromise our planet, and partnering with TerraCycle has helped us further develop this commitment.”   With every shipment sent to TerraCycle through either program, consumers can earn points that can be used for charitable gifts or converted to cash and donated to the non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice. Both Living Proof recycling programs are open to any interested individual, school, office, or community organization.  

For more information, visit https://www.livingproof.com/sustainability or http://www.terracycle.com.

Giada Lubromirski spent the early parts of her career as a stylist and gallery director. However, after having children, Giada realized she wanted to have a hand in helping make the world a better place. Now as a mother of 2, Giada is working as an activist and is on the board of several sustainability programs, and is working on making the fashion landscape greener.  

I am aiming to live a more conscious lifestyle, which is not always easy with the expectations of the fashion world, but even harder as a mother. You are a mother of two. How do you share your passion with your sons? Are your sons aware of today’s issues?

Our sons are 9 & 6 years old and are now very aware of the environment. They know what “waste” means. We started to teach them about “waste” early on. It’s an easy word and it’s an easy concept to understand. They are totally aware of how their actions affect mother earth. It’s a beautiful thing I am proud of as a mother. At times, they are more aware than us, and as their parents, it brings such serenity knowing they are aware of these important issues that will shape everyone’s future, especially theirs.   With that in mind, we have fun with it. We believe style and trends shouldn’t be a compromise to mother earth and so we like to show how we can live our daily lives, content, knowing we haven’t purchased anything new to fill “satisfied or enriched”. We have challenged ourselves to feel that buying something used is still buying something new for yourself. Does that make sense? ha! They know there’s way too much on this planet already because we show them and educate them. When we go places they identify waste on their own and ask questions. Never ending questions hahahahaha!   We invite our kids to be part of our daily activities whenever possible. Focused on environment, in the past, they’ve experienced many climate marches, community beach clean ups and initiatives. This has allowed for them to use their creativity to spread their messages on how to “take care” of mama earth. Even things as simple as taking care of the street you live on with your neighbors, can teach a child a lot. Whether it’s cleaning up the street, weeding or planting new flowers in our community garden, they are part of everything, whether it is watching or doing.

How do you recommend informing our kids about the environment, global warming etc. to make them aware but not scare them? Are there any books or programs you enjoy with your kids on these issues?

Inform your kids through your daily actions. They absorb everything and what they observe, they will live by as they grow into their own individuals. It will be etched in their soul. They are curious and will ask deep questions. Answer them truthfully, don’t sugar coat everything. They deserve our honesty more than ever at this time. We also talk a lot about “feelings of fear” when finding out the truth and how it is okay to feel fear, but then it is important to turn that feeling around with positive actions. It’s as simple as that.   To be completely frank, whilst I am doing research and watching documentaries or footage organizations send me, sometimes the kids stumble upon things that may not be completely appropriate for their age, but allows us to open wide truthful dialogue about the circumstances the environment and the animal world is facing at this time.   We believe some of these experiences are shaping their curiosity to the natural world. They are eager to know because they are connected more than adults. They are constantly trying to think of ideas to help make things better. This curiosity and eagerness for solutions then crosses over to their school work and projects. We see this a lot.   They don’t really watch much TV, but we do allow them to watch a movie or nature shows and series during the weekend. They love David Attenberg and all the BBC specials he’s done, such as Blue Planet, The Planet Earth series etc… Our kids love anything National Geographics related. They also love the cartoon the Wildcratts (I love it too ha!).   We also like to look up eco science projects on youtube. We like to challenge ourselves with our creativity by using things we find around the house or in the backyard. We create colorful “jarnados” (tornadoes we make with reusable jars, baking soda, colors and wake ingredients from our cupboards).   Any books about nature, the environment, the ocean, deep sea creatures, are all subjects they love to dive into. We have a huge list of favorite books (See attached photo and pdf list for a few suggestions).

What are your top 3 tips for teaching kids about how to be sustainable? How/Do you see your kids taking sustainable measures on their own?

1. Teach by “doing” —Meaning teach them by showing them how you take care of the planet at home, at work and during your daily lives. 2. Clean a beach with your kids—This simple family activity is a great one for any age. It’s fun, it can become a “game” of who can find more items, and it is truly educational. I have watched so many kids’ reactions during beach clean ups and they are stunned because most had never noticed how much garbage humans leave behind. They can also connect the dots and see “what we buy” can directly affect a bird, a marine animal and be toxic to the living organism on the beach. 3. Involve them in your daily activities whenever possible. For me personally, the weekends are my days to dedicate to them and involve them in what I want to do or create. I try to think of ideas prior to the weekend, but we often “make up” projects. Many times they join me at prapping my vegetable & herb gardens, dehydrating apples to make apple chips, saving orchids, making bird houses, making paper airplanes and having contests, picking up litter in the near by forest. Taking nature walks is a big one and they love to play “poo sticks”(as winnie the poo) at the nearby creek. Playing games outside (we love frisbee and soccer) is also a daily activity they love. Most of the time, our kids use their own imagination and look for natural or found objects outside or inside the home. My 9 year old made an entire puppet show out of card board pieces he found in our recycling from some packaging. When he showed me this, I got so inspired and said “let’s all make a character!” We have many moments like these. We are blessed to have a private backyard, which allows them to experience nature, outdoor adventures, animals and can play outside.

What are the biggest challenges you face being a mom trying to maintain a sustainable household? Food waste for picky eaters? Growing out of clothing too quick? etc.

The biggest challenge for me personally as a mom, is to decrease the plastic that still comes into our household. Now with the Coronavirus, it will be way more challenging. No matter how hard we try, we still haven’t reached a zero waste lifestyle with the entire family. It’s very hard. From the kids bringing in useless plastic waste from their schools and birthdays, receiving unexpected packaging inside boxes, gifts, the few plastic items we still have to buy due to emergencies or necessities, to Alexi traveling and bringing in “travel waste”, has definitely proven to be my biggest challenge as far as keeping a sustainable household.   For non recyclable plastics, we have joined Terracycle’s various programs. For those who do not know what Terracycle is please check them out! I highly recommend joining one of their free programs or if you can, purchase their all in one box. They recycle non recyclable items such as film plastics, tooth brushes, toothpaste tubes, dirty diapers and all things that are non recyclable (ex: potato chip bags, bubble wrap, plastic wrap, beauty products, plastic tubes and pumps etc…). They have free programs and they also sell boxes online which allow you to recycle everything. We like to support them so we always get the “all in one” box.   In our home, food waste that happens due to picky eaters = composting at home or parents eating left overs ha! As for clothing, we haven’t purchased anything new due to two reasons: 1. I have various hand-me-down circles with friends and school parent friends 2. I shop at used whenever I need to. My go to places are: Once upon a child (all over USA), Clementines (nyc), Jane’s Exchange (nyc) Ebay (online), Etsy (online), thrift stores, and flea markets etc.. They grow out of everything so fast, so when you go to these places the clothes are like new! I am also obsessively building on their vintage tshirt collection because that is a personal obsession of mine haha!

What are the top three things you think kids can do on a small scale to aid environmental change?

1. They can help you do “projects” at home or outside. This can involve going to the farmers market, meeting the farmers that grow your food and then cooking at home for the family. 2. Get them involved in community projects. This can be anything from a beach clean up or street clean up with their friends or classmates. 3. Become an “ Earth champion” in class or at school. My 9 year old son Sole Luka inspired his class by starting a TerraCycle box inside the classroom (for non recyclable school items and snack packaging). My youngest son Leone (6 yrs) started a marker and crayon recycling box, which he then sends through the Colorcyle program led by Crayola, because markers and crayons are non recyclable items. The great part about this program is that they will recycle any marker and crayon brands.  

What tips would you have for mothers to stay as sustainable as possible? I know you dress your sons in vintage and second hands, but how do you do with toys etc?

It’s the same with toys too. Everything we buy for them are used toys and books from Once Upon a Child, Ebay, Etsy, flea markets, thrift stores and through hand-me-downs circles. Everyone should know about Once upon a child, it’s honestly the best place for used everything for kids.

Talking about second hand and vintage, what are your favorite shopping destinations for kids?

I am a little nutty in the sense that I love to look for the “finds”. Boys fashion is hard, so I thrive in trying to find them cool vintage sweaters and then get the “necessities” at the used and consignment store : Once upon a child, which is a U.S franchise which has used toys, clothes, books, puzzles, halloween costumes, sports gear, baby & child furniture and lots more! I mix it up between hand-me-downs, once upon a child, flea markets, thrift stores and online vintage shopping. It’s also because I have fun and it’s my passion that I like to try different things, there are so many possibilities and options out there for us not to buy new, it’s easy now. It used to feel hard but now it feels super easy.   During Covid, I will have to buy my oldest son more Ebay and Etsy used clothing, but that’s ok. I always message the seller to avoid plastic packaging and tape if possible. Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don’t, so if we get non recyclable packaging we TerraCycle.