It’s almost Saint Patrick’s Day, and everyone and their leprechaun is going green. In the sense of wearing a color, going green is easy, much like it is in the sense of just updating a label to look more eco-friendly. But what does it mean to truly “go green” and why do it?

As many of us are all too aware, modern beauty products have a history of waste and harmful chemicals. While we’ve come a long way from the lead-filled powder used in Queen Elizabeth I’s day (giving new meaning to the phrase drop-dead gorgeous…), companies today are still putting products on the shelf that aren’t exactly healthy for us or the environment. Some wary consumers have decided to forego beauty products entirely because of this, but if you love your beauty routine, take heart! Corporations have noticed that shoppers are fed up with excessively packaged poison and are increasingly offering cleaner, more natural, and sustainable products. A great beauty product can be a part of self care and a mood booster, and you don’t have to sacrifice it entirely to find sustainability.

Spring is in the air this week, and, suddenly, all this stuff in the house has GOT to go, and that which is staying has GOT to be cleaned! All the stores know this too, and they are working overtime to sell you cleaning supplies, organizing trays, calendars, books, etc. Some of these items you may need of course (all the soap, for example), but some you probably don’t (why are there so many styles of dusters??).

It used to be that low-waste shampoo was hard to find, not that great, and lacking variety. As more and more people are moving away from harmful chemicals and unnecessary waste, better and better options for earth-friendly shampoos have emerged. Because of this, we at Sankoty Sustainables are able to offer multiple options to keep your hair sustainably silky!

Haul out the holly and…all of a sudden there is dust EVERYWHERE! Don’t fret, because we have some sustainable (and more importantly, easy) cleaning solutions to share just in time for those hosting company this holiday season.

There are two major holidays coming up in November: Thanksgiving…and Black Friday. At this point, Black Friday has its own season, extending through Small Business Saturday to Cyber Monday, followed by Giving Tuesday. It is not only a commercial frenzy, but it has become a litmus test for the health of the economy in the United States. Wow!

The most common suggestion to help conserve energy this Energy Awareness Month is to turn off unnecessary lights…but did you know there is an entire international organization dedicated to doing just that? They are DarkSky.Org, and they are working to certify “dark sky” parks around the globe, as well as to lower light pollution at night from our commercial, industrial, and residential outdoor lighting by making it more sustainable and educating others about sustainable lighting practices.

In observation of Energy Awareness Month this year, we want to share a few ways to save energy this fall and winter season. When consuming energy, we think there is no waste, because we don’t immediately see it, but in fact, producing energy can create some of the most harmful waste to the environment. The combustion involved in energy production releases air, water, and thermal pollution as well as solid waste into the environment, and creating energy also takes land and resources. By using less energy, we are reducing demand and creating the sustainable lifestyles we want to see.

Today is Zero Emissions Day! The goal of this day is to raise international awareness of our need for clean air and how emissions pollute our environment. Most people hear “emissions” and think of cars, and while deciding to bike to work can certainly be one way to celebrate this day, there are many other things that emit pollution into our air, some sneakier than others. While Zero Emissions Day aims to put a hard stop to air pollution one day a year, being mindful of what contributes to these emissions every day can help you make small, sustainable changes that will add up to an even bigger change over time!

Incorporating sustainability into your back-to-school preparations (whether you are a parent, teacher, or awesome cousin) doesn’t have to be chaotic or expensive. From backpacks to snacks, check out our top tips for making sustainability cool at school!