The Season of Sustainable Shifts: Green Cleaning, Ethical Brands & Zero-Waste Dining

It’s that time of year when the urge to purge is real — it’s officially spring cleaning season. This year, why not go beyond deep cleans and closet clear-outs? Spring cleaning isn’t just about scrubbing baseboards and tidying up closets. When you focus on eco-friendly cleaning habits, you can create a healthier home and reduce your environmental impact. 

At Green Calgary, an urban environmental charity, one volunteer assembled a helpful roundup of green cleaning tips that are easy to implement and may even save you money. For starters, you can swap out harsh chemicals for homemade cleaners made with vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and other natural ingredients. Other simple swaps include reusable cleaning cloths in place of single-use towels. These are simple ways to lessen your eco-impact and avoid adding to landfills.

Little habits add up to big wins for the environment, your wallet, and your home. Read the complete guide to instantly step up your spring cleaning game.

A 6,900-acre stretch of land in Anderson County, Texas, is now a preserved natural space, thanks to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). With the creation of the Trinity River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), the TPWD is helping to safeguard the floodplains along the Trinity River, which work to naturally absorb and slow floodwaters, minimize erosion, and enhance water quality downstream. Meanwhile, the effort protects habitats for wildlife in the area, including migratory birds, pollinators, and more.

There are more than 50 WMAs in Texas, spanning over 700,000 acres in various ecological regions of the state. The TPWD’s latest endeavor adds to its Middle Trinity River Ecosystem Project, which includes five major WMAs. The TPWD also strives to help Texans connect with nature through outdoor recreation opportunities, such as hiking and birdwatching, while protecting natural habitats. Learn more about these efforts in the link

On any given day, anyone can hop online and order a trending pair of boots or undereye concealer and have it on their doorstep the next day. The fashion and beauty industries know this, and therefore, many brands have begun prioritizing speed, cost, and scale over environmental responsibility. 

However, not all brands are on board with fast fashion and beauty. There’s Dressarte Paris, which uses high-end, lower-impact materials to make custom clothes. And there’s Odylique, a vegan beauty brand whose ingredients meet Soil Association standards. 

In the link, you’ll find 20 different examples of fashion and beauty brands doing “Great” for the planet. The rating criteria include everything from their environmental policies to their impacts on water and deforestation. Read the complete article to learn which brands are putting the planet first to reduce the environmental impact of their operations.

You might not think much of the food scraps you discard after making dinner. However, for forward-thinking chefs, those scraps serve as inspiration for creative, delicious dishes that minimize food waste. 

Amid rising food costs and global sustainability challenges, restaurants around the globe are rescuing scraps — even keeping trash cans out of their kitchens — to turn food discards into culinary delights. All the while, they’re boosting sustainability, cutting costs, and driving menu innovations — from fish eye macarons to passion fruit reductions brushed over scallops. 

Some restaurants have even gone fully sustainable; for example, Jaras, a Michelin-listed fine dining spot in Thailand, has a zero-waste menu and sources underutilized produce from small farmers. Get all the juicy details in the link — and don’t be surprised if you’re feeling a bit peckish afterward.