Sustainability In Your Ear

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Earth911 Podcast, May 3, 2019: Ripple Foods CEO Adam Lowry On The Future Of Dairy-Free Milk May 03, 2019

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After launching toxic-free household cleaning products leader Method, Adam Lowry cofounded Ripple Foods in 2014 to reinvent dairy-free milk. Earth911 talks with Lowry about the health and environmental benefits of Ripple's plant-based milks, half & half, and nutritional shakes. Using 100-percent recycled plastic packaging that can also be recycled, Ripple has pioneered pea-based milks with richer flavor and milk-like smooth textures. Available for the home and restaurant use, Ripple's plant-based milks are more nutritious than dairy milk and uses substantially less water than almond and cocoanut milks. You can find Ripple products at stores near you.

Earth911 Podcast, April 29, 2019: Spring Is Here! Apr 29, 2019

Show notes

Spring is here! Even in our northern corners, gardeners are assessing their plots and making plans. So we thought today would be a perfect time to talk about some spring garden essentials – particularly, soil prep, including building raised beds and greenhouses, as well as solarizing the soil and encouraging kids-and-beginning-gardeners to try their green thumbs. There are no mistakes in gardening if you are learning all the time from your experience.
We start with soil and preparing for planting, discussing nine pest-preventing plants, seven DIY greenhouse projects we like, and the benefits of native plants. On the topics of food and sustainable eating, we explore how to start small in the garden with edible container gardening and the many vegetable and fruit cast-offs from cooking that can be re-grown and eaten.
In the news, get the low-down on Earth911's first sustainability awards and the recent Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) national conference, where women in recycling leadership were in the spotlight.
As usual, we answer your Earthling Questions. This week, we talk through the disposal and recovery of spoiled mulch, how and where to recycle cathode-ray tube (CRT) televisions, and the proper disposal of Roundup and other herbicides and pesticides.

Earth911 Podcast, April 26, 2019: The USC Wrigley Sustainability Prizes Apr 26, 2019

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Ken Nealson led teams at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory that developed tools for detecting life on other planets. Now he leads the University of Southern California's sustainability programs and the Wrigley Institute, an ocean research center on Catalina Island off the coast from Los Angeles. The Institute and USC Business School recently announced its third annual Wrigley Sustainability Prizes, awarded to teams of students who built and pitched solutions to the challenges of recycling and preserving the environment.
Dr. Nealson talks with Earth911 about the prospects for careers in sustainability, the waves of innovation that have advanced our understanding, as well as new the questions we have about the Earth as we peer deeper into how life works. It has never been a better time to explore nature for biological solutions to our problems because of the growing realization that humanity's negative impact on the planet can be moderated and even reversed. He discussed how to get involved in the Wrigley Sustainability Prize and the Summer programs offered for families on Catalina, where scientists and families can work side-by-side on researcsh.

Earth911 Podcast, April 22, 2019: Earth Day Past And Future Apr 22, 2019

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Happy Earth Day, everyone! The Earth911 team sits down to talk about the history of Earth Day, the actions each of us can take to support endangered species, reduce our carbon footprints, and improve recycling outcomes across the world. Earth Day 2019 is focused on preserving and educating people about the extinction of species. Next year, the Earth Day Network aims to bring a billion people out into the streets.
Evelyn Fielding-Lopez, Sarah Lozanova, and Mitch Ratcliffe also discuss the evolution of pesticides and the use of natural alternatives that control pests. A great place to start is in your own garden, planting native species to attract birds and monarch butterflies. Are large wind and solar farms a potential location to rebuild pollinator species?
We also look back at some of the most inspiring stories on Earth911 this year, including the story of Health In Harmony's revolutionary approach to preventing illegal logging in Borneo, the Healthy Climate Alliance's efforts to kickstart direct air capture of CO2, and the importance of international treaties to prevent illegal transportation of endangered species as traditional medicine and souvenirs.
There is much to encourage environmental action, and you'll come away from this week's podcast with a raft of good ideas.
In our Earthling Questions this week: Can silicone be recycled? How to recycle motor oil? What to do with used cat litter buckets? Join the conversation and share your thoughts with the community in our Earthling Forum.

Earth911 Podcast, April 5, 2019: Recycling Issues with ISRI Chief Lobbyist Billy Johnson Apr 05, 2019

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Billy Johnson, the chief lobbyist for the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), joins Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe to talk through the major policy issues facing recycling in 2019. From the growth in ferrous metal exports despite China's ban on contaminated scrap imports to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board's impact on domestic recycling prices, we cover the growing sophistication of recycling companies as the United States shifts toward circular economies that preserve materials for reuse instead of sending them to landfills. We also talk about the job and entrepreneurial opportunities in recycling and the national, state, and municipal rules changing with the times.
It's also a great introduction to ISRI on the eve of its annual convention in Los Angeles, where Earth911 will be participating in a residential recycling workshop on plastic pollution and collection strategies. Tune in to get on top of recycling politics and policy.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts with the community in our Earthling Forum.

Earth911 Podcast, April 1, 2019: Green Myths, Falsehoods, and Greenwashing Apr 01, 2019

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April Fool's Day could be the global holiday for greenwashers and ecological mythmakers, but the Earth911 team is on the case. We discuss the realities of products labeled biodegradable and compostable, how to shop for sustainability when presented "organic" and "recyclable" products, and the habits that will make a real difference in your carbon impact. From myths and truths, how to recognize and avoid greenwashing, and the FTC Green Guides to use to find responsible manufacturers.
Evelyn Fielding-Lopez, Trey Granger, Sarah Lozanova, and Mitch Ratcliffe also talk through approaches to socially responsible investing, how to evaluate charities, and, in Earthling Questions, how to recycle large amounts of business waste - such as a 1,500 cases of beer -- and the disposal of gel packs and using plastic to solarize a garden to prevent weeds.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts with the community in our Earthling Forum.

Earth911 Podcast, March 29, 2019: Sana Packaging Aims for Sustainable Cannabis Mar 29, 2019

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The fast-growing cannabis industry is a growing source of packaging waste, with billions of packages made of plastic, composite materials, and glass already contributing to a new problem. Sana Packaging, founded by two University of Colorado Boulder students, Ron Basak-Smith and James Eichner, has developed hemp- and ocean-plastic-based alternatives for cannabis packaging that is made from natural and recycled materials. Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe talks to the Ron and James about their experience as young entrepreneurs in a young industry.
Sana makes packages for cannabis flower (the part you smoke), extracts and vape pens, as well as edibles. The company' latest tube packages are made from 100-percent recycled ocean plastic. Because cannabis products are tracked from "seed to sale," it may be the first industry to grow up on a circular packaging model, but the early packaging investments by cannabis distributors were not sustainable. Sana Packaging is working with more than 50 customers to change how pot is packaged.
We also discuss how older laws, such as those requiring child-proof seals, present special challenges to sustainability -- the locking caps are made with parts of harder plastic that can be more difficult to recycle. If you are considering legal cannabis, consider the impact cannabis packaging will have when you buy.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts with the community in our Earthling Forum.

Earth911 Podcast, March 18, 2019: Global Recycling Day Mar 18, 2019

Show notes

The Global Recycling Day episode of Sustainability In Your Ear features a conversation about the future of recycling, circular economies, the business value of preserving resources, and the power consumers have to drive companies to embrace environmental values.
Evelyn Fielding-Lopez, Trey Granger, Sarah Lozanova, and Mitch Ratcliffe discuss producer responsibility laws, global access to waste removal services (more than half of the human species does not have regular trash pickup), and the viability of recycling on the West Coast after China's ban on contaminated waste imports. With recycling changing rapidly, the gang talks about how to reduce plastic use in the home,
And, of course, we talk Earthly Questions: How to recycle K-cup coffee waste; The difference between compostable and biodegradable materials, and how to clean wax off glass bottles before recycling.

Earth911 Podcast, March 11, 2019: Sustana Group Aims for 100% Paper Recycling Mar 11, 2019

Show notes

The Sustana Group is a pioneer in paper recycling. The company's Rolland division started producing recycled paper decades ago and now provides annual sustainability and production lifecycle assessments of its supply chain to ensure customers have all the necessary environmental information to make a carbon-aware purchase. Today, Sustana is partnered with Starbucks and other food packaging makers to capture and separate plastic and paper fibers used in wet packaging such as coffee cups and microwaveable food dishes.
Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe talks with Sustana's senior marketing director, Michele Bartolini, about the power consumers have to shape an industry's production process. She shares how consumers can identify recycled paper products to support environmentally resonsible products. They also discuss the role of technology in creating more efficient and carbon-neutral products and lifecycles. You can check how purchasing Sustana products will impact your personal or organizational footprint with the company's Eco-Calculator.

EARTH911 Podcast, March 4, 2019: Water, water, everywhere! Mar 04, 2019

Show notes

The Earth911 gang sits down to talk about the water we drink, the water we use, and the consequences of extreme water-related weather events. Evelyn Fielding-Lopez and Trey Granger survived the flu and travel challenges that kept the usual group from gathering, and they talk through the growing recognition of lead, carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl used in dozens of familiar products in the water supply. California also introduced new legislation to establish a public trust for safe drinking water that could serve as a model for national approaches to preservation of supplies.
We also discuss the rising tide of water-related weather impacts due to atmospheric warming that could severely limit fresh water available for human and agricultural use. Did you know that 38.4 percent of the contiguous U.S. was in drought at the beginning of February 2019? Evelyn and Trey dig into the reports from NOAA and other organizations warning of increasing drought. They look at recent news from Northern and Southern California, where weather aberrations are changing local life and economies. We also look at five natural solutions to dry skin and eco-tips for personal hygiene.
The recycling crisis is also on tap with Earthling questions. Trey explains how PET plastic recycling is poised for a recovery, the ability to earn money from recycling, and the disposal of mercury.

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