One of the things I love about living in Chicago is the abundance of fantastic food. We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to styles of cuisine, availability of fresh produce, and a variety of artisanal treats. My favorite neighborhood bakery even started selling traditionally-styled Filipino comfort food recently, which has inspired me to have…
Microplastics. The term haunts every conversation about sustainability and health. And with good reason—they’re found in every global ecosystem as well as human and animal tissue, and they pollute both the environment and health of all living things.
Thanks to unregulated industrial practices, microplastics have become increasingly pervasive,…
Water is essential to life. When we turn on the tap, we expect clean and pure water to flow. But, increasingly, that’s not the case. In recent years, criminally high levels of lead were found in water in Flint, Michigan, and many major cities are plagued with lead in their water pipes. Towns located near chemical factories often have high levels…
All natural resources on planet Earth are in an endless cycle of decomposition and renewal. Water travels from the sea to the sky and returns to the earth as rain. Vegetable scraps in our composts turn into feed for worms and bacteria that transform dirt into usable soil to grow more plants. Even man-made materials are part of a cycle—paper is…
Going into the holiday season, taking a zero-waste attitude can go a long way in curbing your waste footprint. And while “zero waste” can mean reusable gifts—such as refillable candles and refillable makeup—it can also mean gifts that are meant to last—like quality, fair trade clothing and artisan, upcycled homewares.
But one of the biggest…
At the Green Business Network®, our certified members inspire us every day with their innovation and commitment to sustainability. Running a small business is no easy task, especially when intention requires thoughtful approaches that still ensure success.
We spoke to four of our members about how they reduce plastic waste and tips they have…
It’s been encouraging to see efforts at pressuring corporations, including supermarkets, to move away from climate-destroying hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants (HFCs) gain traction. For instance, Green America’s “Cool It for Climate” campaign has successfully lobbied grocery giants Trader Joe’s and Kroger into using only natural refrigerants in all…
Single-use items like water bottles, toiletries, and snacks meant to last the duration of your trip often result in more packaging, and thus, more plastic. And it can be harder to keep sustainable habits when you’re not at home and outside your routines. But with a little forethought and effort, it’s possible to travel without plastic—try these…
The environmental movement’s fight against plastic goes back decades. It has fueled everything from the push to curbside recycling in the 1970s, to the straw bans of the 2010s, to documentaries highlighting how much of the plastic water bottle industry is a scam, and much more.
I joined the anti-plastic movement around 2015. It started simply…
Off the coast of Northern California, there is a swath of land bustling with ecosystems—redwood forests, coastal prairies, oak savannas, rivers. Crisp marine air blankets the Petaluma Gap, which runs from Bodega Bay, an inlet off the Pacific Ocean, to the tidal estuary of San Pablo Bay. Right in the middle lies Petaluma, California, chartered in…
When deciding on what to make for dinner—maybe grilling burgers or making chicken with a side of veggies—many of us think about how to balance making something affordable, delicious, and healthy. We’re less likely to consider whether child labor is involved in our meals. But increasingly, it likely is.
In recent years, numerous federal…
When climate disaster strikes, policyholders expect the property insurance they paid for to help them recover and rebuild. And as we’ve seen from the wildfires in Los Angeles and flash flooding tragedies in Texas to hurricane Helene destroying communities in and around Asheville, no one is immune to the risk of damage from extreme weather. What…
Where does your paycheck go after it’s deposited in your account? It doesn’t just sit there. Banks use those dollars to make loans and investments in other projects. They are depending on your continued patronage to fuel their revenue.
Local banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions often have clientele that live and work in the…
The constant stream of small-minded, xenophobic, and greedy orders coming from the White House is exhausting. Which, as several Trump advisors have said, is exactly the point—their intent is to keep us so overwhelmed that we have little to nothing left over after making it through our day to day lives. They want us to feel like we have few, if…
Picture this: a school gymnasium, alive with basketball games, pep rallies, and… an abundance of fresh food coming from the roof? It’s a future many want to see become reality—our community spaces reimagined and transformed to serve us better, like a sprawling garden on top of a school gym.
No matter where you live, growing fresh food is…
A light goes out in the ceiling, but you can’t reach it without a ladder. You head to the hardware store to buy a ladder, but even the smallest four-step folding ladder is $265. You don’t have a garage, so there’s no point in buying the eight-foot ladder, even though it’s the same price…and are you even going to use it enough to justify the $265…
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are fundamental to creating a truly just and sustainable world. The Civil Rights Era brought greater equity and justice to the U.S. over half a century ago—but the new administration is determined to dismantle that progress.
In this issue of Green American, we present the moral and business cases for diversity…
The raging fires in Los Angeles, made more likely and more uncontrollable by dry conditions exacerbated by climate change, destroyed the homes, communities, and livelihoods of tens of thousands of people. The impacts affected people of all races and incomes. Yet some Angelenos, including immigrants, were among the hardest hit.
Thousands of…
In a rolling farmland in Goldsboro, North Carolina, where generations have coaxed life from the earth, Cheryl Alston walks through her fields with a knowing smile. She runs her hands through the dark, nutrient-rich soil and plucks a bright, firm tomato from the vine.
“Can you imagine eating a tomato so sweet you might call it a piece of candy…
At the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) about Small Island Developing States (SIDS), U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the disproportionate risks their communities face in the era of the climate crisis and the shared challenges to sustainable development, including limited resources, susceptibility to natural…
As Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wesley Lowery says in his book “American Whitelash,” white Americans have historically reacted to racial progress in a “three steps forward, two steps back way”—and this time, the scapegoat is corporate DEI policy.
Companies claim that rolling back DEI programs are about “ensuring our executive incentives…
Committing to a successful DEI program at your business and reaping the benefits is no small task. Truly impactful DEI programs create committed leadership, employee engagement, integrate DEI practices into organizational operations, use needs-based training and education, and have clear metrics to measure success and ensure accountability.
“…
While the Trump administration demonizes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and many large corporations fold to political pressure by walking back prior commitments to support minority-owned businesses in their stores and supply chains, Green America’s Green Business Network® members are preserving and celebrating their heritage. By…
Climate change and the need for developing environmentally sustainable systems of business, food supplies, power production, and so forth, are issues that affect communities worldwide. Disabled people are particularly vulnerable to how climate change exacerbates inequitable access to resources like disaster relief, health care, and housing, yet…
Nothing is more threatening to those who crave absolute power than an engaged public that knows and exercises their rights to the fullest extent. Which is why the Trump administration has clearly set its sights on uprooting decades of social, political, and economic programs providing resources and support for historically marginalized…
The mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, were my first love. Rushing rivers and the whisper of the wind through the trees taught me from an early age that my peace and clarity are found in the quiet corners of the Earth. In a world consumed by noise, screens, and schedules, the outdoors is my escape—an antidote to the frantic pace of modern…
History gives me comfort even in the most troubling of times. When this current moment seems overwhelming, I remind myself how our ancestors fought for a better world—often against greater odds. Their stories inspire me, and history tells me that the hard path to a better world has been worn deeply from centuries of effort. History lets me know…
Community is critical for humanity to thrive. In times of uncertainty, having people to catch and provide for you is how we face the future with strength and empathy. Now, at the dawning of a new year, Green America encourages you to rethink generosity and how we can give more holistically to our communities and those in need.
Try Gifting to…
When political channels narrow, Green America’s economic strategies become even more crucial. For over 40 years, we’ve demonstrated that in our economic roles as responsible consumers, strategic investors, and innovative businesses, we can create profound change for people and the planet—regardless of who holds political power.
Our…
This isn’t the Green American issue that we had originally planned, but in the wake of the 2024 presidential election, it is the one we feel called to create.
The return of the incoming administration to the White House was always a distinct possibility, no matter how much we might have worked for a better outcome. And regardless of who took…
I became an environmental advocate in the 1980s. I was at college in New York City when I saw an ad in the Village Voice from New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), looking for activists to fight garbage burning incinerators. Little did I know that the job involved going door-to-door, day after day, for hours on end, attempting to get…
For nothing is fixed,forever, forever, forever,it is not fixed;the earth is always shifting,the light is always changing,the sea does not cease togrind down rock.
Being an activist is caring. It is disrupting and organizing. It is building and healing. Being an activist means understanding how deep bias and privilege are woven into our systems…
I’m a millennial, and our generation has a saying: “I am so tired of living in unprecedented times, I would like to live in precedented times, please?”
There are many ways to interpret this but to me, in this moment, it speaks to a very long history where women like myself—Black, middle-aged, professional—have gone to bat for human rights time…
My advocacy comes from a place of anger.
When it comes to advocating for a better world, the message is usually towards a joyous future of community and love. And while joy is part of my advocacy, too, it’s not the lens in which I view the world, politics, or society.
I am a woman. I have an immigrant Filipina mother and a blue-collar white…
Truth be told, I did not touch grass until my late twenties. Being in nature felt unnatural—I grew up in the world’s fourth most densely populated city, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. With over 60,000 people in each square mile, there is not much room for nature to thrive in the megapolis. There are trees, shrubs and bushes, even a couple of…
From fire-spinning to knitting, self-care can take many forms. Another form that Green Americans like to practice is “action.”
Action can look like volunteering, calling on our senators to support environmental and socially just legislation, and protesting unjust policy and corporate practices.
This November, join Green America in taking…
Waves crest and crash in echoing booms as the morning mist floats over the water. In wetsuits and boards under arm, surfers step on to the beach, anticipatory exhilaration burning in their lungs. The power of the ocean beckons—loud, massive, and inviting. Walking deeper, their bodies disappear into the depths as they take part in a centuries-old…
Whatever a website might claim, your best bet is always to ask your own questions before booking, and to look for the greenest independent options first. Try these steps the next time you travel:
Choose a home-exchange instead
Save money and develop connections within the communities you visit when you join a home-exchange service. You…
Consider planning trips that intentionally cut out the carbon when you move from point A to point B. If you are able, choose options that move you from place to place on calorie-power, rather than carbon-power, and give you a chance to slow down, observe, and appreciate the world around you when you travel. For example:
Walking Tours
Active…
Traveling is a popular choice for people looking to relax, but leisure time doesn’t always have to involve leaving the comfort of your own home. As a bonus, staying in means you can relax without expanding your carbon footprint—and maybe take the time to plan responsible travel options. In the meantime, here are some suggestions for games,…
Prepping for travel often includes buying things you need: an international wall adapter, a tent, packing cubes, puffy jackets, or beach dresses. And while many of these items can continue to have a purpose after your trip, others end up collecting dust.
When it comes to decluttering, it’s important to be honest with yourself about where you…
I have been fortunate enough to have yearlong access to fresh fruits and vegetables from the grocery store, but I have rarely questioned how they’re sourced. Stuck in the weekly routine of grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking, I tend to forget how the food that nourishes my mind and body does not originate in the neatly stacked aisles of…
Whether you’re enjoying time outdoors or relaxing on the couch, leisure wear plays an important part in our day-to-day comfort. But as the scale of fast fashion’s detrimental environmental impacts grows, it can be difficult to find and afford green clothing. Here are a few things to look out for to reduce your carbon footprint and keep your…
Generations of families have harvested and tended to the same thick-trunked olive trees for thousands of years, sharing their fruits with people around the world through liquid gold: olive oil.
Canaan Palestine now cultivates this heritage for small-scale farmers in Palestine, selling their Fair Trade and soon-to-be Regenerative Organic…
My now-wife and I booked our wedding venue in the fall of 2021. We had secured a perfect wedding date: February 3, 2023, aka 2/3/23, with the hopes for a crisp and sunny winter day in Los Angeles, California.
From the start, my wife and I wanted to prioritize sustainability at our wedding, because I knew the stats:
The average carbon…
Since Green America’s founding in 1982, as a new green-economy organization known as “Co-op America,” US voters have seen ten presidential election cycles come and go, beginning with the contest between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale in 1984.
Then, as now, the stakes were high for many of the priorities Green Americans care about.
The…
With rising global temperatures and an increasing number and frequency of extreme weather events, the toll of the climate crisis can be seen in towns and cities across the globe. As Green Americans, we have adopted our own sustainable habits to cool the planet, from installing energy-efficient appliances to prioritizing walking and biking and…
Farmers feed us. From the fresh apples we buy to the popcorn we toss in the microwave, our access to nutritious food is all made possible by the daily efforts of farmers across the nation and around the world.
But here in the US, farmers say bureaucracy makes it hard for them to grow food in a manner that is restorative for the environment.…
When Brenda Alvarez-Lagunas was nine years old, her mother’s job in the packaging department of a Florida factory came to an end. Brenda’s parents—Mexican immigrants looking for a way to support their young family—turned to farm work to make ends meet.
With the harvest coming at different times for different crops in different parts of the…
When as you sow CEO Andrew Behar testified before the House Judiciary Committee’s legal counsel on March 28 of this year, he brought with him letters from 16,265 Green Americans and others demanding the freedom to invest responsibly.
As You Sow’s work is being investigated by the Republican-led committee, alongside 13 other shareholder…
