Green America is building on our climate success of moving the entire telecoms industry to clean energy by taking on one of the largest climate polluters: refrigerator gases.

We and our supporters are getting major supermarket chains to deal with their polluting refrigerants, and Walmart, Trader Joe’s, and Kroger are all making progress as a result. But now, Trump's EPA has proposed new rules attempting to stall this progress. So, Green America is pushing back and submitted the following comments:

November 17, 2025 

Administrator Lee Zeldin 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

RE: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0005 

Via: Regulations.gov 

Dear Administrator Zeldin, 

Green America is a national nonprofit organization working with consumers, businesses, and investors to create a green economy.  We have 250,000 individual members and 500 business members nationwide. 

Green America is writing in opposition to the EPA’s proposed rule: Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Reconsideration of Certain Regulatory Requirements Promulgated Under the Technology Transitions Provisions of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0005). The proposed rule will create unnecessary delays in phasing out climate warming refrigerants and harm American innovation and job creation that is being created by the current implementation of the AIM Act. 

In the retail sector, changing the January 1, 2027, GWP limit on retail refrigeration equipment to 1400, from its original limit of 150 or 300, depending on charge size and equipment configuration, and delaying the enforcement of stricter limits to January 1, 2032, will dramatically increase climate emissions from refrigeration and increase the risk that stores will adopt refrigerants that produce PFAS substances.  Furthermore, the delay is unnecessary in light of transition efforts underway by retailers and will disrupt plans that are in place by US manufacturers and HVAC companies to scale up production of natural, ultra-low GWP refrigerants, equipment, and services in time to meet the deadlines of the original rule.   

Green America works to encourage the supermarket sector to transition to ultra-low natural GWP refrigerants to reduce the sector’s substantial climate footprint and create U.S. jobs in the transition to these refrigerants. As you know, climate change is already creating a detrimental impact in the U.S. resulting in catastrophic fires, storms, hurricanes, droughts, and rising sea levels. And the growing impacts of climate change, including the number of storms, each causing over a billion dollars of damage, are causing increasing economic harm to business, investors, and consumers.  

The need for the AIM act and EPA regulations to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) is clear. For example, a typical supermarket consumes 4,000 pounds of refrigerants each year with a quarter leaking out due to faulty systems. 

Refrigerant leaks from US supermarkets emit 45 million metric tons of greenhouse gases every year (the equivalent of 9.5 million cars on the road).  

Green America urges supermarkets to address the climate impact of refrigerants by:  

• Using only HFC-free, natural refrigerant systems in all new locations; 

• Releasing concrete timelines to phase out HFCs from all facilities by 2030;  

• Rapidly repairing refrigerant leaks and publishing annual leak rates; 

• And ensuring responsible refrigerant disposal to reduce emissions.   

In addition to their strong environmental benefits, utilizing natural, ultra-low GWP refrigerants provide cost savings, including significantly reduced operating costs through higher energy efficiency.  National and local supermarkets are successfully adopting natural, ultra-low GWP natural refrigerants as a result. 

ALDI US announced in 2024 that all its stores will use natural refrigerants in refrigeration systems by 2035.  While this was the first such commitment for a major U.S. supermarket chain, other large grocery chains have made progress in transitioning to natural and low-GWP refrigerants: 

• Walmart – announced a phaseout of all HFCs by 2040. 

• Trader Joe’s -- announced in 2023 that all its new stores will use CO2 refrigerants. 

• Kroger – announced in 2024 that, starting in 2025, all its new stores will use CO2 refrigerants.  

In addition, many local grocery stores and regional chains have made progress in adopting ultra-low GWP refrigerants: 

• DeCicco & Sons: This small, family-owned New York-based grocer installed its first HFC-free system using CO2 in 2016 and has since expanded the technology to other locations, noting significant energy cost savings 

• Midwest chain Coborn’s installed new sustainable refrigeration systems in two of its locations, which will lower the electricity consumption and CO₂ emissions at the two stores by 3 million kWh and 934 tonnes, respectively. Together, the new refrigeration systems will save roughly 1,160 tonnes of CO₂ emissions 

• Healthy Living Market & Café: This Northeast-based company has incorporated CO2 refrigeration systems in its newer stores to significantly reduce its carbon footprint. CO2 refrigerant systems and other efficiency upgrades are expected to save $86,400 per year in electricity costs.  

• Sprouts Farmers Market:  piloted sustainable technology in its stores, including a Woodstock, GA, location that features a CO2 ejection refrigeration system.  In 2024 the company transitioned 32 stores to refrigeration systems with lower global warming potential (GWP). 

Additional small grocery chains taking action to lower their climate footprint from refrigerants include:  

• Ralph’s Supermercado y Mayorista in Puerto Rico;  

• Raley’s, Stater Bros. Market, and Erewhon in California;  

• PCC Community Markets in Oregon;  

• Kwik Trip and Caputo’s in Minnesota;  

• Weis Markets in Pennsylvania;

• Cingari Family Markets' ShopRite stores in Connecticut ;

• Big Y Foods in Massachusetts 

The Food Industry Association and the National Grocers Association are ignoring this progress and have voiced their support for the EPA’s new rulemaking to reconsider the Technology Transitions Rule, claiming that the current regulations place an undue burden on grocery stores, and in particular smaller stores. 

Furthermore, industry trade groups allege that CO2 (R-744), ammonia, and other low- or ultra-low GWP systems present significant drawbacks.  Per the EPA: “These food retailers asserted that R-744 technologies in their current state expend a significant amount of energy to function at a cooling level comparable to commonly used HFCs.”  Also, these trade groups allege “that such technologies are unreliable, that leaks are difficult to detect and repair, and that such leaks can be catastrophic to the system's performance.” 

However, the examples above demonstrate that large supermarket chains, smaller regional chains, and independent grocers are all successfully making the transition to ultra-low GWP systems, with many of these grocery chains using CO2 systems, and that these energy efficient systems result in cost savings over time, including lower energy bills. The adoption of CO2 and other natural refrigerants also avoid a significant drawback of HFOs (Hydrofluoroolefins) as a replacement for, or addition to, HFCS.  While HFOs have a lower climate footprint than HFCs, HFOs can ultimately create PFAS substances, also known as “forever chemicals,” that can pollute groundwater, and ultimately impact human health. 

Research demonstrates that CO2 systems can use significantly less energy than HFC systems and that these CO2 systems, with their high heat transfer properties, are ideal for systems with long pipe runs, such as grocery stores. 

The ability to transition to natural refrigerants in grocery stores is also made clear by the evidence from Europe where 90,700 food retail stores are using transcritical CO2 systems (as of December 2024), representing a market penetration of 30%, up from 22.9% in 2023.  

There is also growth in North America, where transcritical CO2 installations increased by 40% from 2023 to 2024.  There, a total of 4,100 stores using such systems in 2024, with 2,800 in the US. This growth may now be slowed if the EPA reconsiders the timeline for adoption of non-HFC systems. 

In regard to concerns raised that “that future regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) could require retailers to change systems again from certain compliant fluorinated refrigerants to others,” the simple solution for retailers is to transition directly to natural refrigerant systems that do not produce PFAS substances. Significantly, the EPA’s proposal to change the January 1, 2027, GWP limit on retail refrigeration equipment to 1400, from its original limit of 150 or 300, would allow for the installation of HFC/HFO blends that have a GWP of up to 1400.  While these blends have a lower climate footprint than HFCs alone, these refrigerants are not a true climate solution as compared to natural refrigerants with ultra-low GWP that are available and being installed nationwide. As noted above, HFOs can lead to the production of PFAS substances that pose a significant public health risk. 

The AIM Act was passed with broad bipartisan support.  It was also passed with strong industry support, including support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Chemistry Council, and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). The AIM Act received such strong support because it is developing climate-friendly HFC alternatives, creating jobs, and ensuring U.S. competitiveness in the global market. The current EPA implementation of the Act is fully in line with this bipartisan mandate. 

The AIM act and EPA implementation of the Act are succeeding as intended, and there is no reason for the EPA to reconsider regulatory requirements at this time.  

Thank you for your consideration of these comments. 

Sincerely,  

Todd Larsen, Executive Co-Director 

Dan Howells, Climate Campaigns Director 

We cannot do this work alone. Help support our work and make a difference »

Whether it’s diet and exercise, getting up earlier, or saving money, the best results come when you make an intentional commitment – if only to yourself.

The same is true with aligning your money with your values. It’s all too easy to tell yourself, “I’ll look for a better bank later” or “I’ll apply for a new credit card tomorrow.”

We get it: Life is busy, and unless something must be done now, it often doesn’t get done. Making a commitment can help change that. Sign one or more of our pledges today to align your money with your values in banking, credit cards, insurance, and investing.

Pledge to switch to a better bank or credit union

Pledge to take charge of your credit card

Pledge to move to climate smart insurance

Pledge to move your investments (Coming Soon)

Back to the Action Center

For many of us, it's easier to commit to exercise when you do it with others who can both encourage you and hold you accountable. The same is true for moving your money.  

If you want to align your money with your values in banking, credit cards, insurance, and investing, you don’t have to go it alone.  

Green America, together with GreenFaith and Third Act, has created a 12-part curriculum that will walk groups through aligning their money with their values one step at a time – together.  

Your first step is to form a cohort of people interested in moving their money. Start with your church, synagogue or mosque, or with a nonprofit or club you participate in – or with friends and family.  

Gather a group of at least four people (including yourself) and fill out our Join a Cohort form. We will get back to you with our curriculum, resources, and personalized advice to get you started.  

>>FORM A COHORT<<

Our curriculum includes 12 sessions in four units on banking, credit cards, insurance and investing, as well as introductory, closing, and work sessions. The Facilitator’s Guide will walk you through each session step by step, with resources including slide decks and links to further information.  

Each session begins with a grounding and objectives, includes a short presentation, has plenty of room for interactive discussion, and closes with homework for you to bring to the next session. All sessions are designed for participants who have little to no background in finance.  

Session 1: Introduction 

Sessions 2-3: Banks 

Sessions 4-5:  Credit Cards 

Sessions 6-7: Insurance   

Sessions 8, 9, 10: Investments 

Session 11: Work Session (optional) 

Session12: Closing and Next Steps 

Ready to get started?  Fill out our Join a Cohort form today.  

Back to the Action Center

It’s no secret that the “most wonderful time of the year” leaves behind massive piles of trash.

It is estimated that waste in the U.S. increases more than 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day—that’s over 60,000 garbage trucks filled with wrapping paper, decorations, and unwanted gifts every holiday season.

Green America will help you enjoy sugarplum dreams instead of suffering sustainability dilemmas! Below are our tips for how to have a sustainable and green holiday, including what to use and not use, and proper disposal of these items after the celebrations end.

Wrapping Paper

You can still have the exciting element of surprise by wrapping gifts with sustainable wrap! The easiest way to ease your holiday waste guilt is by using alternative wrapping:

• Scarves or fabric you have around the house (I’ve used the same fabric on my family’s gifts for the past 5 years and have had no complaints about being a “gift-wrap repeater”).
• Reusable bags or tins.
• Old calendars, newspaper, or maps.
• Brown paper bags from grocery shopping decorated with drawings. (Do not use glitter or epoxy and vinyl stickers, it makes it unrecyclable!)

If the festive wrapping paper is your favorite part of the holiday season, there are still better choices available so you can lessen its environmental impact:

Look for a label signaling recycled content was used to make the paper (not just a simple recycle symbol, which can simply mean the paper is recyclable after use).

When disposing of your wrapping paper, be cautious of the type of paper you used. The widely-available shiny giftwrap is usually NOT recyclable. Wrapping paper is often made with foil or a plastic coating, making it unfit to recycle into new paper. You can call your local recycling hauler to determine if they do handle traditional wrapping paper, or simply use one of the alternative options above.

As for tissue paper, this thin material is not often recyclable in most communities, since most of it is made out of recycled paper and the fibers are too short. You can reuse in another gift, or you can compost tissue paper that does not have glitter or other additions to it. If your town has a composting program, check there first.

Gift & Food Packaging

When buying gifts try to find gifts made out of recycled materials and without excessive packaging. Check out the Green Business Network Member Directory for hundreds of U.S. businesses that have been certified as environmentally and socially responsible. 

When recycling plastic packaging, check for the number within the recycle symbol, this is a clue as to the kind of plastic you have and if it is recyclable in your area.

Recycling Rules by Zipcode >>>

Meal essentials: If you are entertaining a lot of guests for meals throughout the holiday season, and are short on plates and utensils, it might be tempting to use disposable cutlery and plates. Instead, consider buying inexpensive plates and utensils from a thrift store for the meals and then donate to a local community center after (or store them until your next large event). You can also simply ask your guests, “BYOP” (bring your own plate). If you do use disposable plates and cups, look for items that are made with recycled materials.

Unfortunately, paper plates, cups, and plastic cutlery are NOT recyclable after you’ve used them.

Another disposable option is to use compostable plates and cups, but only opt for this if you have access to a composting program. Compostable materials need a certain amount of airflow to allow them to successfully compost, which will not happen in a landfill.

Festive Decor

Tree selection and disposal: If you celebrate a holiday with a decorated tree, there are several options for you to have a tree in a sustainable way. To properly dispose of a live, cut tree, you can compost in your own backyard or find local opportunities in your town to recycle and compost your fir friend.

If you are trying to dispose of an artificial tree, please do not place in your recycling bin, and instead check with local charities, shelters, schools, and churches to see if they could reuse your old artificial tree.

Twinkle lights are a fun way to brighten up the winter holiday months. Unfortunately, these lights are one of the most common items that people try to recycle but they are NOT recyclable through your curbside bin.

Please do not contaminate your recycling with these lights and instead drop them off at a hardware store like Lowe's, Home Depot, and Ace Hardware. If you live on the east coast, MOM's Organic Market has drop off bins for hard-to-recycle items, like holiday lights.

Tinsel is not recyclable. Use this sparkly decor as long as you can until you send it to the landfill. Or, you can opt for going all-natural with decorations of wreaths, mistletoe, pinecones etc. Just make sure to remove any added sparkle and bows before you put these outside to decompose or compost.

Hanukkah tapers made with beeswax are much better for indoor air quality than paraffin candles, which are made from petroleum. Natural beeswax tapers don't release harmful chemicals in the air, have a lower melting point than paraffin candles (reducing fire risk), and are less likely to aggravate allergies than paraffin.

From Green America to you: May your holidays be happy, green, and sustainable!

Updated November 2025.

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 tips!

Instead of taking to-go coffees in disposable cups, bring your own cup to the café. Baristas are usually happy to put your drink in your cup.

Grab-and-go snacks are very convenient but result in more packaging. Plane food is a powerful example—every person on the plane gets one individually wrapped cookie or savory cracker and a plastic cup. You can always opt out and bring your own snacks and drinks instead—yes, it is allowed! TSA will not confiscate your snacks, but liquids must still adhere to the 3-1-1 rule for carry-on luggage. And once you’ve passed through airport security with your empty reusable water bottle, you can refill it before your flight.

Plastic water bottles are stocked everywhere, but have you ever considered how strange it is to buy a resource that is often available for free? If you are traveling domestically in the U.S., bring your own refillable water bottle to avoid single-use plastic and fill it up at fountains, cafes, and restaurants; it’s worth noting that in many other countries, single-use water bottles are also made from glass and aluminum, which are recyclable. Editor’s Note: If you’re traveling internationally, the tap water of the country you are visiting may harbor bacteria and pathogens—ultimately making filtered water in single use bottles the only safe water to drink. In cases like this, please prioritize your health and safety.

Travel-size toiletries are another plastic culprit during travel. These are easy to switch out, however; refillable containers are widely available. Transfer your regular products into these containers.

Try to dine in at restaurants instead of eating to-go food. Not only is this a more tailored and immersive experience than a to-go counter, but you will also avoid disposable containers by using the restaurant’s ceramic plates and cutlery. You can also bring your own containers for leftovers.

If you are able, choose accommodations that have sustainability policies—and let them know those policies are why you’re there. Hotels are one of the biggest culprits of single-use goods, so choosing accommodations that have policies to reduce waste is an important action. Some hotels will take leftover soap and reheat and remold them into new bars. Others will wash sheets and towels only when requested to save on water.

When it comes to reducing single-use plastic, every action matters!

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 their new stores. Others like ALDI have been ahead of the curve by using natural refrigerants for years.

But rather than follow their lead in embracing natural refrigerants for use in cooling systems, the chemical industry continues to protect its profits at the expense of communities and the planet.

Instead of natural refrigerants, chemical producers are trying to push corporations to adopt usage of Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) in cooling systems, claiming that HFOs have a lower Global Warming Potential than HFCs. But, in some cases, companies are combining HFOs and HFCs—which results in refrigerants that still have a significant climate impact (up to 1,400 times that of CO2), although lower than HFCs alone. And while alternative refrigerants like CO2 and ammonia are naturally abundant, the chemical industry is quick to say that these alternatives are still extracted and refined through industrial processes that consume a lot of energy and contribute to climate impacting emissions, although the overall impacts are far lower than those of HFOs.

What chemical producers are not so quick to point out is how much more they stand to profit if consumers rely on their artificial patented products rather than naturally occurring refrigerants. More critically, unlike natural refrigerants, once HFOs enter the environment, they break down into Trifluoracetic acid and then trifluoroacetate (TFA), a forever chemical (of the PFAS family) linked to human health impacts.

“We need real solutions to climate change,” says Dan Howells, Green America’s Climate Campaigns Director. “Not more false promises from industry. We need climate solutions, not more problems with PFAS and HFOs for already hurting communities.”

In July 2025, the clean cooling energy accelerator group ATMOsphere released their report “The Rising Threat of HFOs and TFA to Health and the Environment” as part of an ongoing campaign to highlight concerns about the environmental and health impacts of HFOs. According to ATMOsphere’s Head of Content Michael Garry, it’s important to consider the long-term impact of the refrigerants we use in our cooling systems not just in terms of how they’re produced, but also how they react once released into the environment.

“The problem is that the most prevalent and smallest forms of PFAS, like TFAs, accumulate fast because they don’t break down and they’re difficult to remove,” Garry says. “The speed at which we can hit the planetary boundary threat is alarming.”

Advocates like Garry point out that while the U.S. currently has no regulations for HFOs, other countries
are already moving quickly to halt unrestricted HFOs use, implement safeguards, and conduct regular studies to evaluate the ongoing impact of TFAs accumulation in the environment and increasingly, in our own bodies. For example, Germany’s chemical regulator is seeking to classify TFAs as “reprotoxic, meaning it can harm human reproductive function, fertility and fetal development.” 

Additionally, at an ATMOsphere America Impact of HFOs Session in 2024, Garry noted in a 2022 study, “stream levels of toxic TFAs were found to have increased six-fold between 1998 to 2021 in parts of northern California and remote sites in Alaska.”

It wasn’t that long ago that the same companies pushing HFOs were claiming HFCs had little impact on the environment, despite evidence that they were a major climate pollutant. Repeatedly, chemical companies have shown that trusting the industry to regulate itself is a losing bet—corporations have not learned to value the well-being of people and the planet more than their profits. Their current shift away from HFCs is a direct result of people using our collective power to demand corporate accountability and federal regulations, not a change in corporate consciousness.

All the while, the speed at which TFAs are building up in our world is increasing. Not only is our warming planet putting additional stress on existing systems to keep our food preserved, our machinery working, and our living and working spaces habitable, the proliferation of data centers to handle more cloud storage and AI processing means an even greater demand for refrigerants in cooling systems to keep those centers running. And we’re facing even greater pressure under an administration that favors unfettered industry and is downright hostile to any form of federal oversight and monitoring.

All of this means that the ways we currently use HFOs matter to our daily lives whether we feel the immediate effects or not. Garry stresses that the need for greater caution around HFOs isn’t about fear—it’s about acknowledging the very simple fact that because forever chemical byproducts of HFOs build up very quickly, their negative impacts can start affecting us faster than we can mitigate them.

“Regulation of HFOs is vital because we need to be able to respond as soon as we know a problem is blooming,” Garry says.

This makes campaigns like Green America’s “Cool It for Climate” that pressure companies to go straight to natural refrigerants instead of soft-switching from HFCs to HFOs even more important. Using natural refrigerants in cooling systems is a solution that helps prevent any potential harms of HFOs from accumulating before we have a full understanding of the ways they’ll affect our bodies and our environment.
“It’s not a question of where we are now but where we will be in 10 years if it stays business as usual,” Garry says.

By demanding that companies adopt the use of natural refrigerants instead of products like HFOs that dump more forever chemicals into the environment, we can ensure that “business as usual” means being proactive about preventing harm to people and our planet instead of scrambling to catch up once harm has been done to everything but corporate profits.

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 for anyone looking to rethink their relationship to plastic. Here’s what they had to say:

Airnex

Eco kitchen essentials >>> Shop Airnex

How does your business reduce plastic waste?

Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We design home and kitchen essentials that aim to reduce single-use plastics with plant-based, biodegradable alternatives like bamboo, cornstarch, and wood pulp cellulose.

We’ve also partnered with CleanHub to ensure that for every product sold, we help prevent ocean-bound plastic from entering the environment. Through this collaboration, we’ve supported the collection of over 12,000 lbs of plastic waste.

What’s one piece of advice you have about rethinking plastic use?

Think beyond recycling—refuse and replace. The most powerful shift happens when we stop accepting plastic as the default. Whether it’s a bamboo toothbrush, a refillable cleaning solution, or plastic-free packaging, every small swap chips away at a big problem. Start with one habit, and you’ll see how quickly it adds up.

Supply Bulk Foods

Healthy foods without plastic packaging >>> Shop Supply Bulk Foods

How does your business reduce plastic waste?

Our whole primary mission—our raison d’être—is the reduction of plastics. We run a plastic-free, dry bulk grocery store. We also recycle everything that comes in that is recyclable (plastic bags, markers, batteries, and more).

What’s one piece of advice you have about rethinking plastic use?

Don’t use it! We now know that plastics are leaching chemicals into foods and there are so many alternatives now that mean we don’t have to use plastics. For home/personal items, there are zero waste stores all over the country (most ship) that can provide almost anything you need that doesn’t have plastic associated with it.

Hill+House

Sustainable and reusable essentials >>> Shop Hill+House

How does your business reduce plastic waste?

We use entirely plastic-free and sustainable materials for all our shipments, reducing our environmental impact and providing our customers with a true eco-friendly experience. Our shipping labels are 100% compostable, designed to naturally break down and return to the earth. We also use non-reinforced, kraft paper tape that’s free of plastic fibers.

What’s one piece of advice you have about rethinking plastic use?

Instead of thinking of plastic as something that just “goes away,” recognize that every piece of plastic you use is a permanent part of our environment. Plastic never truly disappears; it just breaks down into [progressively] smaller pieces (see “Microplastics 101” on p. 8).

Rethink the single-use habit. Before you grab a plastic bottle, a plastic bag, or a disposable coffee cup, take a moment to ask yourself, “Do I really need this, or is there a reusable alternative?”

Brush With Bamboo

Plant-based oral care and accessories >>> Brush With Bamboo

How does your business reduce plastic waste?

Our products are certified biobased and home-compostable wherever possible, ensuring they do not contribute to long-term plastic pollution. Every design choice—from sourcing to shipping—is focused on reducing or eliminating plastic at every stage of the product lifecycle.

What’s one piece of advice you have about rethinking plastic use?

View plastic as a last resort, not the default. Before purchasing, ask yourself if there is a natural, reusable, or compostable alternative. Small swaps, like choosing a bamboo toothbrush over a plastic one, add up to significant environmental impact over time. Changing everyday habits, even in seemingly small ways, is the key to reducing dependence on single-use plastics.

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 plastic culprits of the holiday season isn’t even a gift…it’s what the gift comes in.

Don’t Stop at Zero Plastic Gifts

So, you’ve found the perfect gift with no trace of plastic—but what’s a gift without the joy and surprise of opening it? Most wrapping paper, adorned with metallics and glitter, is made of a paper-plastic composite and cannot be recycled. Tissue paper similarly cannot be recycled; some can be composted, but due to its lack of nutritional value, it often winds up in the landfill. Gift bags are slightly better, despite being made up of plastic materials, because they can be reused.

If absolutely no plastic is the goal, here are some plastic-free gift-wrapping options:

A gift bag and present all in one: The handwoven cotton beach tote from Altiplano is a beautiful gift in and of itself, but put a couple extra gifts in it and it can be a gift bag all on its own, too! The small business has many handwoven bags from artisans in Guatemala that can be used for all sorts of gifts and bags—a jewelry holder, a cosmetics bag with some new non-toxic makeup, whatever you can dream of.

Cloth gift bags: Seeds to Sew International offers colorful, reusable gift bags of varying sizes made from upcycled fabric scraps and crafted by artisans in Kenya.

Unique wrapping and accessories: Happily, there are more sustainable options for wrapping paper and accessories than ever before. EcoPartyTime offers a variety of green packaging options, like biodegradable cotton twine, organic woven boxes, or linen drawstring pouches with decorative trims.

Sustainable paper: Whether recycled or made from fibers like hemp, there are all sorts of papers these days that can be used as gift wrap. Plus, you can get creative and draw or write a letter to make it unique and heartfelt.

Decorate boxes: Items like electronics or edible treats often come in well-made, sturdy boxes, so instead of throwing them away, redecorate them with sustainable paper and wrapping accessories to make your own unique gift boxes.

Repurpose glass jars and bottles: Homemade gifts of spice mixes, air fresheners, infused cooking oils, or simple syrups can be packaged in emptied glass jars and decorative bottles. Just give them a thorough clean, pretty them up with some sustainably made accessories like labels and ribbons, and voilà!

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 shredded and turned into pulp to be renewed as recycled paper for printing once more.

When foreign materials are introduced into these cycles, they don’t just disappear, they become part of it. And for “forever chemicals” like PFAS—a group of synthetic, fluorine-based chemicals prized for being waterproof, flame-resistant, and most notably, very long-lasting—their impact can upend ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who depend on them, especially under the current administration’s hostility toward regulations about their use and production.

This is the situation Maine farmers Adam Nordell and Johanna Davis found themselves in a few years ago. In 2014, Nordell and Davis bought land to raise a family and start Songbird Farm, an organic farming operation. They were successful—until soil testing in 2021 determined that their land had high concentrations of PFAS. But as an organic farm, they had not used synthetic fertilizer in their fields.

Instead, the contamination came from biosolids, a byproduct of wastewater facilities used as nutrient-rich fertilizer that had been spread on the land decades before Nordell and Davis purchased it. After the Clean Water Act went into effect in 1972, chemicals and toxins that had previously been allowed to flow freely into Maine’s waterways became processed through sewage plants. And the injection of PFAS into wastewater systems—through domestic washing and using of PFAS and industrial manufacturing waste—meant this centuries-old method of using biosolids as fertilizer became one of many pathways PFAS and other toxins entered the food web.

Up the Food Chain

Initially discovered in 1934, PFAS is now used in everyday products, such as nonstick cookware, aircraft manufacturing, rain jackets, medical devices, automotive parts, cleaning supplies, firefighting foam, and much, much more. But it’s only within the last decade that researchers have discovered that PFAS found in groundwater today likely came from manufacturing PFAS-laden products as far back as the Truman presidency.

So far, researchers have determined that PFAS exposure is connected to increased cancer risks, liver damage, high cholesterol, immune system damage, reproductive harm, and developmental issues in children. Still, companies continue to profit from using PFAS in their products while the chemicals seep further into soil and water—and people like Nordell and Davis bear the consequences.

In 2021, Songbird Farm was one of 60 sites identified by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection as “posing the highest risk to human health” because they’d had biosolids applied to the land. While some Maine farms recovered, Songbird Farm had to shut down. But thanks to a state buyback program enacted by Maine’s legislature, Nordell and Davis sold the land to Maine Farmland Trust in 2023 to make it available for PFAS research while the state geared up to launch a buyback program enacted by Maine’s legislature. (The couple did not return to farming.)

The trust is dedicated to supporting farms and the future of farming through conservation easements, technical assistance, farmland access, and policy advocacy. It was their efforts in coalition with other groups that brought the passing of L.D. 1911 in Maine of April 2022, which banned the land application of PFAS contaminated biosolids. Maine was the first state to enact such a ban.

Brett Sykes, Co-Director of the Farmland Protection Program at Maine Farmland Trust says that it was a policy priority for the bill to include “$60 million in the supplemental budget that would support a state income replacement program, funding research on remediation, and funding a state buyback program.”
Unfortunately, not all farmers and ranchers can rely on programs like Maine’s for support.

Jason Grostic, a multigenerational rancher in Michigan, was told in January 2022 that he was not allowed to sell his cows or forage crops anymore because the PFOS (a chemical in the PFAS family) levels were too high in the food he produced.

Turns out, PFOS was in the biosolids he had applied to the hay he used to feed his cows. The biosolids came from treated wastewater from an automotive parts manufacturer in Wixom—and illegally so, because the manufacturer, Tribar Technologies, was negligently dumping the pollutants in municipal wastewater (Grostic sued Tribar in 2022, and the lawsuit is ongoing as of printing.)

Unable to sell any meat products or move the livestock off the land for the next two years, Grostic’s cows essentially became large pets. It was a blow to his operation and his ability to support his family, until he was able to partner with the Michigan State University Center for PFAS Research. Now, he’s paid for having his cows tested for PFAS at the research center as part of ongoing grant-funded studies examining where and how PFAS bioaccumulates, how PFAS travels from crops to livestock, and strategies to mitigate PFAS exposure.

Down Into the Soil

While stories like those of Nordell, Davis, and Grostic illustrate just how dangerous it can be when we only become aware of risks posed by chemicals used in everyday products after the damage has been done, they also tell us what we can do better to protect our food systems and ourselves moving forward.

Sykes agrees that PFAS is a major issue but also notes that some farms can handle PFAS contamination by making different decisions around what crops to grow and how to grow them.

“Different management practices—for instance, corn uptakes PFAS at a much lower rate than hay—can help the final product stay below state action levels,” says Sykes.

Other affected communities, such as the Mi’kmaq Nation in northern Maine, are exploring phytoremediation, in which living plants are used to remove dangerous toxins from soil, air, and water. The Mi’kmaq Nation owns a portion of land that was once the Loring Air Force Base and is contaminated with PFAS, coal ash, petroleum jet fuel oil, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls that were banned in 1979), and many more pollutants. In 2019, Upland Grassroots was founded to test fiber hemp’s phytoremediation properties on Mi’kmaq land, as hemp is very effective at pulling up a gamut of chemicals—from heavy metals to petroleum and PFAS—and it grows very large in a short amount of time.

According to Chelli Stanley of Upland Grassroots, one step in solving the forever chemicals problem involves understanding how to break down long chain PFAS—which are less mobile—into short chain PFAS, so that it can be more readily taken up into the hemp. A 2023 joint testing effort conducted by the Mi’kmaq Nation, Upland Grassroots, the University of Virginia, and the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station revealed that while hemp absorbs PFAS, it doesn’t break down the chemical, so the next step is figuring out how to break PFAS into something harmless.

“Otherwise, we just have contaminated hemp that you’re then having to put in a landfill,” says Stanley. “For us, that’s not a solution at all, because we don’t want to move contaminants from one place just to cause problems in another.”

Preliminary research also shows that the Phanerochaete chrysosporium fungus can break down PFAS and PFOS into their short chain forms, but the technology to bring it to scale is not viable—yet.

Through Research Comes Informed Solutions

PFAS affects all of us through the food we eat and the water we drink. Efforts like Upland Grassroots’ highlight the importance of funding research to understand how PFAS moves throughout the environment and what is being affected so that we have a fighting chance at remediation in the future. Which is why federal funding for scientific research and regulations are important tools in building environmentally sustainable and responsible systems to produce our food and safeguard our health.

But they’re not the only tools we can use to create those systems.

Support from local groups like the Maine Farmland Trust and its coalition have demonstrated that emergency and mutual aid can go a long way in helping farmers recover from PFAS pollution. But to prevent total fallout for farmers like Grostic, Nordell, and Davis—and to safeguard our food supply—stricter oversight on PFAS use and disposal is necessary.

Additionally, state and municipal governments have been stepping up to fill the gaps left by the current administration’s anti-environmental science and anti-regulation policies. In New Mexico, the state Environmental Department and Department of Justice are suing the U.S. Air Force to clean up PFAS contamination at the Cannon Air Force Base, which has devastated local agriculture in neighboring towns like Clovis, New Mexico. (3,500 dairy cows were poisoned from drinking contaminated groundwater coming from the base and had to be euthanized.)

Also, much of PFAS regulation has come from action at the state-level. Working with and supporting local advocacy groups to protect our food and the soil and water we use to produce that food shows a track record of success. Maine’s victory of passing L.D. 1911 was made possible by the work of Maine Farmland Trust and several advocacy groups, leading to Maine being the first state to have a ban on PFAS in biosolids. As of June 2024, the Connecticut legislature signed a comprehensive ban on PFAS in various products. Maryland, Massachusetts, and Michigan conduct monitoring and testing of PFAS in land-applied biosolids.

Action on PFAS by State Bills >>>

The lack of consistent regulation across state lines also means that public pressure to ensure corporate responsibility—whether that be for enforcing stronger policies around waste or conducting thorough research before putting a material to use—remains crucial.

In our daily lives, the most likely way we consume PFAS is through our drinking water. You can reach out to your local water utility to ask how they are addressing PFAS in the water supply. If your water comes from a home well, it is important to conduct regular testing yourself as there is no oversight organization to ensure that your water has not been contaminated by irresponsible corporate and military actors. You can also install in-home water filters certified NSF/ANSI to lower PFAS levels.

PFAS is deadly persistent, both as a chemical and a public health problem. It requires solutions that can be scaled properly to both remediate and prevent contamination. With local advocacy groups, researchers, and our collective voices demanding protection from and prevention of PFAS, a future without it is still within reach.

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 of toxic chemicals in their water.

And then there are chemicals that seem to be everywhere, such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), some of the most alarming contaminants turning up in tap water. PFAS is a class of 12,000 chemicals used to create thousands of products, including firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, and water repellant clothing. In our work at Green America, we’ve discovered that PFAS can come from surprising places, including even refrigerants (see “Keeping Our Cool Without Risking Our Health” p. 22).

And it’s showing up in our water—PFAS has been detected in the tap water of many major metropolitan regions including Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans and the suburbs of New York City. Over 200 million Americans have been potentially exposed and that number is growing, which is alarming for a number of reasons.

All toxic PFAS, called “forever chemicals,” do not easily break down in the environment and can accumulate in the human body over time. Because these chemicals have been released into our environment in increasing amounts over several decades, many of us already have some level of PFAS in our bodies. Exposure has been linked to a plethora of human health issues, such as cancer, immune suppression, reduced fertility, and developmental abnormalities.

Countries worldwide have begun enacting policies to mitigate the amount of PFAS building up in our environment—the European Union has already banned several types of these chemicals and aims to phase them out of commercial use completely by 2030. In the U.S., we’ve seen some success, such as California’s recent decision to phase out PFAS in cookware and other commercial products, modeled on successful legislation in Maine. However, not only are we still behind Europe in regulating their use, but the Trump administration’s policies are also pulling us deeper into dangerous territory.

In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally adopted new rules to help protect
communities from being poisoned by six highly toxic PFAS via their drinking water. Over 11,000 Green Americans joined with members of allied groups to flood the EPA with comments in support of the rule. However, lobbying groups for municipal water authorities and the chemical industry quickly sued to block implementation of the rule, and in May 2025, the EPA announced it would delay implementation of the rule until 2031—putting millions of people at risk of exposure in the meantime. In a related action, the EPA is advancing four new pesticides that all contain PFAS for use on romaine lettuce, soybeans, oranges, apples, peanuts, and other crops. This will increase PFAS exposure for everyone.

So, how can we respond?

Protect your water. Install water filters in your home that meet NSF standards for removing PFAS. These filters will also remove several other contaminants.

Act now with Green America and its allies. As the EPA continues to issue rulemaking delaying the implementation of the PFAS rule and regulation of other hazards, we will continue to flood them with comments in opposition. We also need to address PFAS at the source. Currently, Green America is putting pressure on major retailers to use natural refrigerants in cooling systems, but chemical manufacturers are pushing refrigerants that result in PFAS contamination (p. 22).

Urge action at the local and state level. Call your local water authority and request information about the presence of PFAS and other contaminants in water. You can also do your own research using the Environmental Working Group’s “Know What’s in Your Tap Water” database and the U.S. Geological Survey’s interactive map. If PFAS are present in your water or you are getting the run around from your utility, work with other residents to urge your local and state officials to take action to ensure transparency and reduce harmful exposures from your drinking water.

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, but there are many ways we can reduce their impact and the dangers they pose to ourselves and our planet.

Every Plastic, Everywhere, All at Once

What started as a turn of the 20th century invention to make people’s lives easier is now one of the planet’s biggest pollutants. Every year, the world produces 400 million metric tons of plastic that ends up in oceans, our waterways, even our bloodstream.

The most pervasive is microplastic, solid particles that range in size from 5mm to 1nm (for comparison, the EPA states a single strand of human hair is 80,000nm wide).

There are two types of microplastics: primary and secondary. Primary microplastics are those intentionally manufactured and found in things like cosmetics and air blasters. Secondary pieces are the ones derived from degrading plastic debris.

It is not hyperbole to state that microplastics are found nearly everywhere and travel through seemingly endless pathways.

Though microplastics are related to and used interchangeably with PFAs and phthalates in conversation, they are not the same. While micro- and nanoplastics are small pieces of plastic, phthalates, BPA, and PFAs are all toxic chemicals found in plastics with their own litany of health problems.

The danger of microplastics to people and the planet is a minefield, particularly because our awareness of their dangers is relatively recent, and ongoing studies have only scratched the surface of the ways they affect the environment and our bodies.

What to Do?

The question of how to combat the effects of microplastics can feel overwhelming. But there are important and straightforward strategies to minimize microplastic creation and consumption. Ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption are the most common way microplastics pollute and bioaccumulate inside human bodies. Many solutions to prevent this are habit- and process-based. Here are four changes you can make today:

Swap out your cleaning products. Ditch the jelly-like detergent pods, especially the dishwasher ones. Heat is microplastic’s best friend and can cause the plastic to leach into your kitchenware.

What to do instead: Use organic and nontoxic dishwashing products, like the vegan solid dish soap from Hill+House or plastic-free detergent pods from companies like Blueland. And don’t forget about handwashing tools—check out Airnex’s natural cleaning brushes and sponges. For general cleaning, try making your own home cleaners with ingredients like baking soda, water, and vinegar.

Speaking of the kitchen, opt out of plastic packaging. Plastic tupperware, especially when exposed to heat through warming food in the microwave or being run through the dishwasher, can release millions of micro- or nanoplastics. The same goes for kitchen tools and water bottles.

What to do instead: Invest in high-quality, durable, and safely reusable products like stainless steel water bottles, glass tupperware, plastic-free food storage containers from Food Huggers, or wood cutting boards and utensils.

If possible, opt for more organic food and try to avoid highly processed foods. A 2023 study in Environmental Pollution revealed processing machinery like conveyer belts can make microplastics leach in products. Pesticides have also been shown to contain microplastics that can get absorbed into crops.

What to do instead: Go to your local farmer’s market. At the grocery store, shop for organic and non-packaged foods when possible. And advocate with your local grocers and elected officials to provide greater accessibility to affordable quality and sustainably produced food.

Invest in better-quality clothing and fabrics. A lot of modern clothing is made with synthetic and manmade materials, whether as a blend or whole cloth. These are the materials that should be avoided whenever possible: nylon, spandex, polyester, and acrylic.

What to do instead: Apparel businesses within the Green Business Network® feature clothing and raw textiles made of hemp, 100% organic cotton, eco-friendly wool, bamboo, linen, and more. Thrifting is also a great option. But if you purchase secondhand clothes made of synthetic blend, was by hand and
line-dry—exposure to the agitation and heat of the washer and dryer will release microplastics.

Finally, do not spiral with shame or guilt if you do use plastic. Corporate marketing strategies and lax government regulations have intentionally designed a world that requires considerable effort and cost to avoid the use of plastics in every day life because it increases corporate profits—even at the expense of the public’s health. I still have plastic in my house because I can’t replace every single kitchen or bathroom product in one fell swoop, least of all an entire wardrobe. But each swap, each habit change, makes a difference.

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 food safe silicone and stainless steel takeout containers available when I’ve got a craving for tapsilog—tender jerky-style beef over garlic rice with a fried egg and fresh chopped cucumber and tomato—or pork adobo and lumpia.

Any source of motivation I can get is helpful because changing habits can be hard, and few things have become as habitual in American life as our acceptance of disposable plastic in, well, everything. And all that plastic continuing to build up in our environment comes at a price that corporations are happy to have us pay while they profit.

Whether it’s in the soil, water, or even our own bodies, microplastics and the “forever chemicals” leached by many plastics are now part of our planet’s endless cycles of renewal and decomposition. And that buildup is happening much faster than our ability to understand just how deeply microplastics and forever chemicals can impact our health and the health of our planet, never mind how we can remediate or even prevent those consequences from happening.

Despite mounting evidence that microplastics and forever chemicals have been linked to a variety of health issues—such as cancer, liver damage, harmful changes to gut biomes, and genetic defects—corporations remain slow in replacing commercial use plastics with more sustainable alternatives and remediating their contamination of our soil and water. Even worse, the regulatory policies and government organizations meant to protect the public continue to be defanged and defunded by the current presidential administration.

While it’s essential to demand our local governments and federal agencies enact and enforce policies that prioritize our health and safety over corporate bottom lines, there are still plenty of other ways we can leverage our resources and voices to protect ourselves and our communities. This issue of Green American highlights some of those avenues by sharing stories about farmers partnering with researchers to find ways to revive land that has been poisoned by PFAS and what sustainably-minded businesses are doing to cut down on the amount of plastic in their products, as well as offering primers on the difference between microplastics and “forever chemicals” and why artificial refrigerants being promoted by chemical producers are not actually “environmentally-friendly.”

Knowledge is power because it enables us to act, and under an administration that chooses to side with wealthy corporations instead of the communities it’s supposed to serve, it’s more important than ever to know how we can leverage our connections and resources to take care of each other. Ever since the first Reagan administration, Green America has consistently proven the effectiveness of collective action, both in holding corporations to account and in making changes in our everyday lives to bring us that much closer to a greener world. It’s why we’re committed to sharing stories in this publication and across our content channels that not only talk about the problems we’re facing but also provide well-researched information and multiple ways you can contribute to a more sustainable and just future for all of us.

As this issue came together, I often thought about that iconic scene from The Graduate in which Dustin Hoffman’s character was told, “There’s a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?”
Well, we have thought about it, and it’s clear that a plastics-dominated future is anything but great.

hanging that future can be difficult, especially under a corporate-friendly administration that is deeply hostile to making it easier for us to “say no” to using plastic in our lives. But it’s not impossible if we continue to opt-out of using plastic wherever we can, keep up the pressure on industries to adopt safer, more sustainable practices instead of dumping chemicals into our food systems and waterways, and demand our local governments and federal agencies maintain and strengthen existing regulations that protect our health and safety, not corporate profit margins.

And hopefully in doing so, we can treat ourselves to some delicious food made by the good folks sharing our communities because this time, we remembered to bring those reusable takeout containers.

From the ocean to the heartland, communities are working to remove plastics and PFAS from our ecosystems.

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 6, 2025 – Green America, Beyond Pesticides, Public Research Interest Group, People and Pollinators Action Network and Re:wild Your Campus launched the new Save Beer! Campaign to call on major beer companies to eliminate pesticides from their supply chains, starting with barley and hops. Toxic pesticides like glyphosate and 2,4-D threaten human health, kill essential pollinators, contaminate water, and ultimately threaten the key ingredients and agricultural systems needed for beer production.   

In the U.S., beer is the #1 alcoholic beverage, with the typical American age 21 or older drinking an average of 26.5 gallons per year. While brands often advertise the purity of their ingredients, reports of significant pesticide levels in beer undermine those claims. And although several companies have sustainability goals, they do not explicitly include pesticide reduction targets.  

Emma Kriss, Food Campaigns Manager at Green America, said: “We love beer, and we need to take steps now to save it so that Americans can continue enjoying it for generations to come. Our goal is to help brewers implement integrated pest management systems, and ultimately regenerative organic practices that avoid using toxic pesticides like glyphosate and 2,4-D.” 

Clariss Mancebo, Policy Associate at Re:wild Your Campus, said: "Consumers should be able to trust major beer companies like Anheuser-Busch when they make sustainability pledges, but as we see time and time again these are narrow and often hypocritical pledges that tend to overlook the health of their consumers, their farmworkers, and the environment." 

Jay Feldman, Executive Director of Beyond Pesticides, said: “It is critical that corporations play a leadership role in requiring practices in the production of their agricultural ingredients that eliminate petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers, which contribute to adverse health effects, biodiversity decline, and climate change. With tremendous advances in organic hops and barley production, the beer industry should be at the forefront of ecologically responsible organic farming, that also protects workers in these labor-intensive crops.”  

Pesticide use in agriculture has exploded in recent years, with more than 800 million pounds of pesticides used annually in the U.S. Since the 1990s, pesticide use has become 48x more toxic to essential pollinators like bees. There also have been devastating impacts on soil health and ecosystem health across agricultural supply chains. 

A 2024 case study on just four U.S. food crops — soy, corn, apples, and almonds — identified a $219 billion risk for the U.S. food retail sector in financial, climate, and biodiversity costs between now and 2050 from the use of pesticides.  

New scientific research has also linked pesticides to health impacts like kidney disease and cancer. In 2024, Bayer, which produces the herbicide Roundup, was ordered to pay $2.25 billion to a man who developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma from exposure to Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate. 

Policymakers and several food and beverage companies are increasingly moving to phase out harmful pesticide use. Several states have taken action to restrict neonicotinoid pesticides, adopting more restrictive measures than the EPA.  Leading food retailers including Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods, and Giant Eagle have all established pollinator health policies aimed at reducing pesticides in their supply chains. 

The campaign is calling on Anheuser-Busch, Molson Coors, Constellation Brands, Heineken USA, Pabst Brewing Company, and Diageo to: 

• Make a time-bound commitment to eliminate harmful pesticides from your supply chains, starting with barley and hops 

• Work with suppliers to implement integrated pest management and organic farming practices 

• Ensure complete supply chain transparency by publicly disclosing pesticide policies and progress 

• Support farmers and farmworkers in transitioning to regenerative, organic agriculture practices 

• Collaborate with environmental organizations and prioritize science-based approaches 

• Fund substantial assistance for suppliers adopting pesticide-free farming methods  

• Use third party-verified measurement and verification to demonstrate commitment to a healthy and high-quality product 

Addressing pesticide use requires a holistic approach. Consumers are asking these companies to implement these recommendations comprehensively, demonstrating genuine commitment to eliminating toxic pesticides from their operations and to protecting the health of farmers, farmworkers, consumers, and ecosystems. 

Consumers who want to learn more about the campaign to Save Beer! or to sign the petition can go to: https://action.greenamerica.org/page/89737/action/1   

### 

MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin for Green America, (703) 276-3255 or mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com. 

ABOUT  

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power, and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org    

Leading Health Supplement Brand Supports Farmers in Advancing Soil Health

WASHINGTON, DC — November 5, 2025 — Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) proudly announces its expanded partnership with True Grace, a Wisconsin-based, women-founded health supplement brand dedicated to regenerative agriculture and nutrient-dense wellness. As one of the first SCI Regenerative Partners, True Grace will directly sponsor the Regenerative Transition Program to support its network of over 165 farms and 350,000+ acres of land in  the transition to regenerative agricultural practices.

Through its support of SCI’s Regenerative Transition Program, True Grace is helping to provide farmers with a holistic package of technical assistance, agronomic expertise, outcomes testing, peer-to-peer learning, and a clear framework for measuring regenerative progress. This model helps build the trust, tools, and connections needed to shift our food system to a more thriving, sustainable, and nutritious future.

True Grace’s roots in regeneration run deep. Even before the company’s founding in 2020, its executive leadership team was actively engaged in advancing SCI’s mission. Kristie Hall, Founder and President of True Grace, alongside Brian Hall, CEO, and Sara Newmark, COO, helped catalyze the initiative from its earliest days, with both leadership and seed funding provided through Kristie’s family foundation. Their shared commitment to soil health and climate solutions is what ultimately brought them together to build True Grace—a brand designed from the ground up to embed regenerative agriculture into its products, partnerships, and purpose. In 2023, True Grace introduced the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) microgreens powder, underscoring its commitment to advancing both human and planetary health.

“From the beginning, our vision for True Grace has been to link human health directly to the health of the soil. Partnering with SCI allows us to expand that vision beyond our products to directly support farmers as they adopt regenerative practices. It’s about creating a healthier future for our families, our communities, and our planet,” said Kristie Hall.

In addition to this partnership, True Grace is working with SCI to assess the land impact of its supply chain using SCI’s Acre Footprint Calculator, a proprietary tool that quantifies the acreage needed to grow a brand’s products. This analysis will provide powerful insights to guide True Grace’s regenerative sourcing strategy and opportunities to spur innovation in its supply chain.

“At True Grace, we believe transparency and accountability are critical to building trust with consumers. SCI’s Acre Footprint Calculator gives us a powerful way to measure the land impact of our supply chain and ensure our sourcing is truly regenerative. By investing in data-driven insights and farmer partnerships, we can scale a model that regenerates both the earth and the body,” said Sara Newmark.

“True Grace is exactly the kind of brand we built the SCI program for,” said Adam Kotin, Managing Director of SCI. “They’re combining purpose with accountability, giving farmers the tools they need while investing in the insights needed to scale regenerative agriculture and support lasting, meaningful change.”

Regenerative agriculture is emerging as one of the most powerful levers for climate resilience, soil health, and human nutrition. By partnering with SCI, True Grace is offering a real-world model for how companies can invest in both farmers and data-driven impact, supporting regenerative transitions while measuring and communicating their role in stewarding the land.

---

ABOUT

True Grace was born out of a passion to improve the health and well-being of future generations. Education inspires change, and change begins with awareness. We believe that a small group of like-minded individuals can have a major impact on our food supply chain, improving the health of our soil, food, people, and ultimately, our planet.
True Grace provides nutrient-dense products to combat nutrient deficiencies in our soil, communities, and selves. The brand supports regenerative agriculture and is revolutionizing traditional supplements by focusing on nutrient density and sustainable practices that regenerate the earth and the body. True Grace currently offers a One Daily Probiotic, One Daily Women’s Probiotic, One Daily Women’s Multivitamin, One Daily Women’s Multivitamin 40+, One Daily Men’s Multivitamin, and Highly Concentrated Omega-3 Fish Oil. www.truegracehealth.com

Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) is a nonprofit originally launched in 2018 (formerly the Soil Carbon Initiative) in collaboration with farms, companies, NGOs, and soil scientists. Its mission is to accelerate the transition of agricultural acres under regenerative management by supporting and engaging every link in the supply chain. SCI offers a holistic suite of regenerative transition services, such as farm planning and agronomic support, soil testing, supply chain engagement, reporting, and third-party verification. These efforts help drive measurable improvements in soil health outcomes, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, water quality, climate resilience, food security, farm profitability, and the overall well-being of rural communities. www.soilclimateinitiative.org

Soil & Climate Alliance is a collaborative network of farmers, food companies, researchers, and mission-driven organizations working to accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture. Through cross-sector partnerships, events, and market-based strategies, SCA aligns the entire food system around soil health, climate resilience, and community wellbeing. The Alliance helps scale solutions that strengthen farm viability, improve food quality, and advance equity and regeneration from the ground up. www.soilclimatealliance.org Nutrient Density Initiative (formerly Nutrient Density Alliance) connects the dots between soil health and human health by advancing science, transparency, and collaboration across the food system. NDI works with farmers, brands, researchers, and health professionals to expand nutrient density testing, interpret data, and communicate the value of regenerative practices to consumers. Together, these efforts are transforming how we understand, measure, and deliver nutrition from the soil to the table. www.nutrient-density.org

Together, Soil & Climate Initiative, Soil & Climate Alliance, and Nutrient Density Initiative form an ecosystem of regenerative agriculture programs working collaboratively to scale soil health, climate resilience, and nutrition from the ground up.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Max Karlin, (703) 276-3255 or mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com

It might sound harder and more annoying then it is, but switching your bank is straightforward and one of the most effective ways to take a stand for climate justice.

In a single decade, when the Paris Agreement was first unveiled in 2015, the world's 60 largest banks, like Wells Fargo and PNC, committed $6.9 trillion to the fossil fuel industry. Projects in this industry include fracking on national parks to pipelines with over 400 water violations.

The money anyone puts in a bank doesn't just sit there, the bank uses it for financing loans—for whatever projects they want. While US Bank and Goldman Sachs disproportionately fund fossil fuel projects, other banks like community development banks and credit unions prioritize community projects: mortgages, small businesses, public works, and more.

This is exactly what Laurie Kay, a longtime Green American, was looking for when she switched banks.

Below, Kay discusses how she switched and what she's already learned in # years.

Anya Crittenton: When did you realized you wanted to switch your bank?

Laurie Kay: It was around the time a story came out in the Green American Magazine about two banks making loans that were not only free of fossil fuel investments, but important for people like me who want to get loans for clean energy products and people who have been regularly overlooked by "big banks." The banks were Clean Energy Credit Union and Self-Helf Federal Credit Union, and I switched that year in 2023.

It was important to find a bank that would be helpful to friends and neighbors.

Crittenton: How soon did you begin the process to switch banks?

Kay: Immediately. Once I found those banks, I started transferring money and feeling a lot better about my money working for good causes.

Crittenton: Did you look into any other banks as possibilities for switching?

Kay: Those first two were easy, but I've recently needed another so I went to Get a Better Bank and began going through options. I had three different criteria I was looking at. First, it had to be a credit union. Then I looked at the types of certification the institution had. Finally, I compared CD rates. Though I had no preference about an online only or brick and mortar bank, I ended up settling on Rize Credit Union this year, which has offices in my area.

Crittenton: What made you settle on Rize?

Kay: They met my criteria, with especially excellent rates. Also, my area was impacted by a big fire and it was important to find a bank that would be helpful to friends and neighbors in need of loans. I'm also really proud of them for helping foster kids as they get older by opening an account with them to set them on their way to becoming financially secure.  

Crittenton: What was the process of switching banks like for you?

Kay: Each of the three credit unions I mentioned were easy to open accounts and transfer money into. I opened the accounts online and had wonderful staff that guided me through. I basically opened an account, then transferred a small amount from my checking account, and then started opening CDs as funds became available. I have one last IRA CD maturing shortly and will celebrate when it's out of my old fossil-fuel supporting bank, woohoo!

Crittenton: Did you tell your former bank why you closed your account?

Kay: I didn't tell my former bank why I was moving my money out. They didn't ask. And, honestly, the people there were very friendly and I totally get that they are just trying to make a living. 

Crittenton: Have you talked to your family and friends about switching banks?

Kay: Not a lot yet, but they know I'm happy and if anyone asked about my banking choices, I'll gladly share as much as they want to hear. I've given my friends copies of the Green American Magazine and maybe they'll want to jump on board.

Crittenton: What have you learned through this process and since you first transferred banks two years ago?

Kay: I was clueless about how banks actually make their money, so I'm ever so grateful to Green America for educating me on the subject! It's one thing when you don't know, but when you do, the little effort to make the switch to good banks that help the community and the planet is well worth it!

Crittenton: What excites you most about what's next?

Kay: Knowing my money is helping real people, the planet, and me! I read the annual board meeting statements eagerly, something I never did before, and have attended board meetings on Zoom. It's interesting and encouraging hearing from professionals that are not pulling the wool over people's eyes as to how their money is being used. 

Anyone can switch their bank—and it's easier thank you think. Find your new bank or credit union from hundreds of options at Get a Better Bank now.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming our world at lightning speed, and using energy just as fast. The current costs to our climate and communities are unsustainable and unacceptable.

AI is using energy at unprecedented rates. AI's massive energy appetite, mostly for its data centers, could either accelerate the climate crisis and pollute our planet OR supercharge our renewable energy future, where communities have a real voice in how and where AI facilities are built.  

Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft are breaking their promise to use 100% renewable energy while spending billions of dollars on AI and accelerating both our climate and energy crises.  

There’s a lot at stake, especially for the communities where these data centers and power stations are being proposed or turned back on, but it can be difficult to cut through the noise and misinformation. Here are some common questions and misperceptions:

What can I do?

There is really great work being done by local organizers around the country who are feeling immediately and directly the effects of data centers, or who are mobilizing to block data centers, knowing their community will be negatively impacted if they are built. If an AI data center is planned for your community, you can fight back using this guide from Kairos Fellowship.

To support those local efforts, join Green America in calling on Amazon, Meta, Google, and Microsoft to protect communities nationwide and honor their climate promises. Every time you call for renewable-powered AI, you're helping write the next chapter of both technology and climate progress.

We have a great track record in driving the renewable energy future by getting Amazon and the telecoms to make historic corporate purchases of solar and wind.  Now we need to do the same for AI.  Amazon, Meta, Google (Alphabet), and Microsoft.  They have all made massive renewable energy purchases in the past, with public pressure, they will do so again. 

If tech giants insist on pushing AI forward, let's make sure we direct that energy toward the just and sustainable future we all deserve. 

TAKE ACTION NOW

**********************************************************************************

Green America is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination regarding: actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, or reproductive health disorders), age (18 years of age or older), marital status (including domestic partnership and parenthood), personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, citizenship status, credit information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic is included as a form of discrimination and is strictly prohibited.

How to add socially and environmentally responsible funds to a workplace retirement plan - 2022 version

Banking for GoodEmpty heading

Banks and credit unions can use your money in ways that align with your values – or not. Where you put your money has an impact.

Watch the video below to learn how three financial institutions are investing in a more sustainable and equitable world through small business, affordable housing, public works, and more.

Featured institutions include Beneficial State Bank, Self-Help Credit Union, and Adelphi Bank. You’ll also be introduced to Hip Hop Caucus' Bank Black and Green program as well as Green America’s upgraded Get a Better Bank map

Why You Should Switch Banks

Benefits of switching to a community development bank or credit union include:

They invest in their local economy – things like mortgages and small business.
They have more accountability to individual customer members, not shareholders.
They provide financial services to low-income individuals and/or supply capital for small businesses, affordable housing, and education facilities.
Banks and credit unions dedicated to community development help create good local jobs.
They may support clean energy, fair labor, and food security in food deserts.

Get a Better BankEmpty heading

To help you find a better bank or credit union, Green America has created the Get a Better Bank map. This new website lists over 3,000 banks and credit unions - with almost 17,000 locations - whose mission is to build their communities.

The map is fully searchable by name and location. You can also find online-only banks and credit unions, as well as information about why and how to switch banks, and learn more about how we selected the institutions listed.

Green America's mission is to harnesses the economic power and strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace in order to create a socially just and sustainable world. Learn more about our finance work here, including responsible credit cards and socially-responsible investing.

Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) | Program Implementation
Hours: Full-time (4 days, 32 hrs. per week)
Salary & Benefits:  $62,000 -$67,000 with excellent benefits; grant program track
Location: Mississippi Delta Region (Required)
Reports to: Senior Manager, Farm Transition Services

The Background

Delta Regen Rice+ is a regionally-based collaboration to regenerate soil, build farmer prosperity and boost regenerative agriculture markets in the Delta, starting with rice. 

Formally launching in November 2025, Delta Regen Rice+ is a program of the Soil & Climate Initiative. SCI is a farmer-first holistic farm-to-shelf regenerative agriculture transition program with options for 3^rd party verification. www.soilclimateinitiative.org

SCI seeks a Farm Program Specialist to work with farmers in the Delta Region who wish to transition to regenerative agriculture and be part of a dynamic program to build markets for rice and other regeneratively-grown products in the Delta. You’ll join our growing, passionate SCI Team, (www.soilclimateinitiative.org/team), which includes two colleagues who work and farm in Arkansas, along with Delta Regen Rice+ founding farmers, who are already engaged in pilots in the region.

The Opportunity

Support the transformation of agriculture in the Mississippi Delta as the operational backbone of our regenerative agriculture transition program. As SCI’s Farm Program Specialist, you'll ensure program excellence through meticulous compliance management and farmer coordination, directly enabling the success of farmers transitioning from conventional to regenerative practices.

Working primarily with rice farming operations across the Delta, you'll be the essential link between farmers and our technical support team, ensuring documentation is complete, requirements are met, and farmers receive the coordinated support they need. This role places you at the operational heart of a movement to prove that farming can be a powerful solution to climate change while supporting thriving agricultural communities.

Your Impact

Deliver Program Excellence through Effective Farmer Engagement (60%)

Serve as the primary farm program account manager, tracking farmer progress across the Delta Regen Rice+ Project and other verification-oriented initiatives. You'll build strong working relationships with our farmer participants and proactively support them in their program participation by: building trust and buy-in for the program, identifying missing documentation, co-developing technical support packages suited to participants' individual needs, and maintaining comprehensive tracking systems that ensure program quality and farmer success.

Enable Strategic Program Coordination (25%)

Transform expert consultations into actionable resources by adapting farmer interview transcripts into farm plans, soil health reports, field activity logs, and completed SCI forms. Your document generation and administrative coordination will ensure all materials are clear, actionable, and properly formatted, directly supporting farmers in their regenerative transition journey.

Facilitate Learning and Engagement (15%)

Coordinate the logistics that make learning possible by scheduling farm plan consultations, webinars, office hours, and field days. You'll coordinate group learning sessions and farmer working groups, ensuring farmers have access to the peer networks and educational resources that drive successful transitions to regenerative practices.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications:

• Experience working with farmers, agricultural producers, and/or rural communities
• 5+ years of experience in program coordination, compliance management, or administrative roles requiring systematic tracking
• Exceptional organizational abilities with demonstrated experience managing complex documentation and compliance systems
• Strong attention to detail and ability to track multiple requirements across large portfolios
• Experience coordinating schedules and communications between multiple stakeholders
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite, CRM systems, and database management
• Systematic approach to process management and ability to maintain accurate records
• Comfort with technology and ability to learn new platforms
• Must be located in or willing to relocate to the Mississippi Delta region

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with agricultural data collection or certification processes
• Previous experience coordinating multi-stakeholder projects or programs
• Background in compliance management, quality assurance, or regulatory tracking

Essential Skills:

• Ability to manage complex documentation systems while maintaining high service standards
• Strong interpersonal skills for coordinating between diverse stakeholders including farmers and technical experts
• Capacity to transform technical information into clear, actionable resources for farmer participants
• Please note, we recognize that experience doesn't always look the same – skills are transferable, and passion is important. Please tell us how your experience can lead to success in this position.

Ready to Transform Agriculture?

Join us in building relationships with the Delta Regen Rice+ farmers and providing the  operational excellence that makes regenerative agriculture transitions successful. This role offers the opportunity to directly support farmers while contributing to systemic change in one of America's most important agricultural regions.

More about Compensation and Benefits:

• Competitive salary between $62-67,000 annually, commensurate with experience
• Full benefits package including employer-sponsored health insurance, retirement, and generous vacation and sick leave
• Professional development opportunities
• 4-day work week
• Remote work flexibility

To Apply: Please email your one-page cover letter and one-page resume highlighting relevant experience in program coordination, account management, and agricultural support services to hiring [at] soilclimateinitiative [dot] org

Applications should demonstrate exceptional relationship building and organizational abilities, systematic tracking experience, and passion for supporting farmers transitioning to regenerative agriculture.

Application Deadline: September 29^th, 2025

**********************************************************************************

The Soil & Climate Initiative is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination regarding: actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, or reproductive health disorders), age (18 years of age or older), marital status (including domestic partnership and parenthood), personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, citizenship status, credit information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Harassment based on a protected characteristic is included as a form of discrimination and is strictly prohibited.

Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) | Program Development & Implementation
Hours: Full-time (4 days, 32 hrs. per week)
Compensation: $85,000 - $90,000 annually, excellent benefits; grant program track
Location: Mississippi Delta Region (Required)
Reports to: Managing Director, Soil & Climate Initiative

The Background

Delta Regen Rice+ is a regionally-based collaboration to regenerate soil, build farmer prosperity and boost regenerative agriculture markets in the Delta, starting with rice. 

Formally launching in November 2025, Delta Regen Rice+ is a program of the Soil & Climate Initiative. SCI is a farmer-first holistic farm-to-shelf regenerative agriculture transition program with options for 3^rd party verification. www.soilclimateinitiative.org

SCI seeks a Delta Regen Rice+ Program Director to build this market-based collaboration and work with its key stakeholders in the Delta Region – farmers, processors, buyers, technical specialists and more – who wish to transition to regenerative agriculture and be part of a dynamic program to build markets for rice and other regeneratively-grown products in the Delta. 

You’ll join our growing, dynamic SCI Team, which will include a dedicated Delta-based farm program specialist.  Meet our team (www.soilclimateinitiative.org/team), which includes two colleagues who work and farm in Arkansas, along with Delta Regen Rice+ founding farmers, who are already engaged in pilots in the region.

The Opportunity

Lead the transformation of agriculture in the Mississippi Delta. As the Delta Rice+ Program Director at the Soil & Climate Initiative, you'll spearhead our strategic expansion into this critical agricultural region, driving the transition from conventional to regenerative farming practices that restore soil health, sequester carbon, and strengthen rural communities.

Starting with rice farming operations across the Delta, you'll build the partnerships, systems, and market connections that make regenerative agriculture both environmentally beneficial and economically viable. This role places you at the center of a movement to prove that farming can be a powerful solution to climate change while supporting thriving agricultural communities.

Your Impact

Drive Regional Transformation

Lead the Delta Regen Rice+ Program from pilot phase through full-scale implementation. You'll work directly with farmers to transition thousands of acres to regenerative practices, creating measurable impact on soil health, carbon sequestration, and farm profitability across the region.

Build Strategic Partnerships

Develop and manage relationships with processors, CPGs, and supply chain partners to create market incentives and access for regeneratively grown crops. Your partnership strategies will provide the economic foundation that makes regenerative transition sustainable for farmers.

Manage Stakeholder Relationships

Oversee a comprehensive portfolio of program participants and agricultural value chain stakeholders. Ensure high-quality program delivery while advancing our mission through strategic relationship management and farmer support services coordination.

Secure Growth Resources

Collaborate with Growth & Impact and Grants & Partnerships teams to identify and secure funding sources and strategic partnerships. Drive program expansion to reach more farmers and convert additional acres through effective resource mobilization.

Lead Impact Measurement

Direct cross-functional efforts for data collection, analysis, and reporting to farmers, partners, and funders. Ensure program impact is accurately measured, documented, and communicated to support continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications:

• 7-10 years of experience working with farmers and/or food companies
• Experience with regenerative, organic, or biologically-based agricultural systems
• Strong understanding of agricultural supply chains, from processors to brands
• Strong project management and team leadership skills
• Proven business and client development experience
• Must be located in or willing to relocate to the Mississippi Delta region

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with certification or verification procedures in agricultural settings
• Experience with facilitative leadership and multi-stakeholder networks
• Strong research, writing, and speaking skills
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree or directly related work experience

Essential Skills:

• Ability to discuss complex sustainability and agricultural issues with diverse stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal skills for building relationships with senior executives and agricultural leaders
• Capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high service standards
• Please note, we recognize that experience doesn't always look the same – skills are transferable, and passion is important. Please tell us how your experience can lead to success in this position.

Ready to Transform Agriculture?

Join us in proving that regenerative agriculture can revitalize rural communities while addressing climate change. This role offers the unique opportunity to lead systemic change in one of America's most important agricultural regions.

More about Compensation and Benefits:

• Competitive salary between $85-90,000 annually, commensurate with experience
• Full benefits package including employer-sponsored health insurance, retirement, and generous PTO
• Professional development opportunities
• 4-day work week
• Remote work flexibility

To Apply: Please email your resume and cover letter to: hiring [at] soilclimateinitiative [dot] org

Application Deadline: September 29^th, 2025

**********************************************************************************

The Soil & Climate Initiative is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination regarding: actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, or reproductive health disorders), age (18 years of age or older), marital status (including domestic partnership and parenthood), personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, citizenship status, credit information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic is included as a form of discrimination and is strictly prohibited.

By Mathilda DeCosse, volunteer, and Todd Larsen, Executive Co-Director

Time is running out to benefit from federal tax credits for installing residential solar power that are available thanks to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. With the passage of the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” residential solar power systems need to be installed and likely placed in service by December 31, 2025 in order to qualify for the up to 30% solar tax credit in 2025. It’s unclear whether or not the credit may apply to systems that are installed but not in operation by December 31, but to be on the safe side, your system should be operational by the end of the year.

The tax credit has helped make the cost of solar panel installation less expensive for homeowners. With the credit, the average panel installation cost is about $20,000.  Without it, people will have to pay thousands of dollars more.

There are still individual state or local incentives for installing solar panels that may still help reduce the cost of installing solar panels after December 31, but losing the federal tax credit is still a big hit to homeowners and sustainable energy efforts.

Installing solar panels makes sense for many homes. Homeowners save money on their electric bills and those savings can pay back the cost of installing panels within 7-10 years—with the rebate in place.  Without the rebate, that payback period will be longer.

And there are the environmental benefits of installing solar power—the more our homes are powered by solar, the less we rely on the fossil fuel industry which continues to be one of the major drivers of climate change.

To qualify for the installation tax credit by the December 31 deadline, here’s what you should know:

Should I purchase the panels or lease them?

The credit is only available for purchased solar panels. Purchasing solar panels has several benefits, but the most important is that you will receive the entire benefit of your reduced electric bill throughout the life of the panels, which can last 25 years or longer.

If you do not have enough funds available to pay for panels outright, and can’t or don’t want to finance the cost of panels, solar leasing is an option.

With a lease, you pay $0 upfront to have panels installed, and the company that leases you the panels pays for repairs. But, the company that leases you the panels owns them throughout the lease, which lasts 15-25 years.  During that time, you will pay a monthly fee to the company that installed the panels, which will eat into any savings you see on your electric bill.  Also, it is very difficult to end a lease, and if you sell your home, you may need to arrange to have the panels installed on your next house (if you are moving locally) or try to get the new buyer to assume the lease.

Another option to finance solar is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)  Similar to a lease, you have little to no upfront costs or maintenance but you do not actually own the equipment. In most cases this means the homeowner buys the energy produced by the solar panels at a fixed rate from a company that owns and pays for the panels. Separately, the home owner will still pay for any additional electricity that they need from their local utility. PPA’s are less common than leases since they are only allowed in certain states.

How do I choose an installer to work with?  What red flags should I look for?

As the window to benefit from these federal tax credits rapidly closes, there is a real risk of unethical companies coming by and trying to push you to install panels quickly.  

Fraud in the residential solar sector increased dramatically in recent years.  Door to door salespeople may overinflate the savings to be gained by rooftop solar and lock unwary customers into predatory loans.  In some cases, companies engage in shoddy work and even install non-functioning systems.

To protect yourself, it pays to do your homework:

1. Ask local homeowners who installed solar if they were satisfied with their contractor.  Reach out to companies that several people recommend.
2. Be careful when searching online.  Look for credible options.  For example, installers that belong to the cooperative Amicus Solar are certified B Corps that partner with lenders like Clean Energy Credit Union ( community development financial institution) to obtain financing.
3. You can search for qualified solar contractors in your area by using Energy Sage, which provides competing quotes from several solar installers near you.  
4. Make sure to look online at reviews, and if your state has an ethics pledge for solar installers, make sure the company has signed the pledge.

What are typical solar installation costs? 

Solar Panels can range from $15,000 to $35,000 upfront without tax incentives. Ongoing maintenance can be $300-$500 each year, excluding any necessary replacements. For example, inverters are a part that often needs to be replaced at least once during a system’s lifetime.

The upfront cost of installation includes the price of the physical equipment, such as panels (6kW system: $7,000), inverters ($1,000- $6,000), and mounting hardware ($800), as well as installation costs, which are often priced according to the system being used. People should expect to pay around 20% of the system cost for installation.

How can I obtain financing that’s on the up and up?

Cash will always be the “cheapest” way to finance solar panels in terms of overall cost. But not everyone will have $25,000 available! 

The most common options to borrow money are loans and installer financing. Loans can be granted through state programs (such as Property Assessed Financing), finance companies, or local  bank or credit union solar loans. Installer financing often offers lower rates but may have higher origination fees. Many of these also require credit scores above 650.

Be careful if you are considering Property Assessed Financing as the source of your loan.  A property lien will be placed on your home and your property tax bill will increase to pay back the loan. Your mortgage lender may prohibit such loans.

When obtaining financing, beware any mention of “free” products and services, along with anyone who says that the government will pay for your solar—it will not. Another warning sign is when a company suggests using tax credits to pay for solar without checking your eligibility. You should get a paper copy of any transactions, deals, or contracts. If you are not provided with these, the offer is a scam.

When financing, do not feel restricted to use the financing of the salesperson. You might be able to get a better deal by getting a loan from a bank or credit union. Explore lenders and find the best deal with low interest rates, lender fees and good terms. You could use our Get a Better Bank site to find local community development banks and credit unions near you that offer homeowner loans.

What should I expect for the installation process?

Generally, to place solar on your home, you will need to obtain a permit from your local government and undergo an inspection. Detailed permit fees and requirements vary heavily across jurisdictions. Residential solar permits typically take several weeks but some areas may grant them in a few days, so do your research and plan your timeline accordingly. 

On the flip side, some areas may take months to approve a solar permit. Permit fees usually cost about $150-$300. After obtaining a permit, the physical solar installation typically only takes about two days. Once the system is installed, it must be inspected by your local utility and a municipal inspector, and connected to the grid to begin producing electricity. These final steps may take a few weeks. 

Delays in physical installation are typically caused by issues such as unsuitable weather, unsafe conditions, or roof complexity. Though annoying, these complications are often resolved in a few days. Longer delays are often caused by time-consuming permit processes. 

Are there states that support rooftop solar?

Many states, municipalities, and utilities provide rebates or credits for solar installation. Check the Unbound Solar site to see if there are incentives where you live.

What should I know about basic maintenance?

When cleaning, avoid kneeling or walking on the panels, as that could damage the mechanism. Never clean on a hot day as the sudden temperature change of water on the panels can cause cracking. Cleaning on cloudier days or in the morning is recommended to reduce risk of temperature shock.

For smaller solar panel systems, cleaning is not often required. Rain can usually get the job done. If your area is experiencing a dry spell, cleaning might be needed to clear the dust and debris collecting on the panels. If panels are mounted horizontally, this will also require more frequent cleaning. No matter the situation, solar panels should be cleaned at least twice a year.

If there is an electrical problem with the system, reach out to the system provider. Getting little to no energy even when it is sunny is a telltale sign of a damaged circuit.

What if rooftop solar isn’t an option for me?

If you live in an apartment building, or a house that is shaded by trees, solar is not a good option for you.  But you may still be able to take part in advancing solar power by signing up for a community solar project.  Community solar projects are larger-scale installations of solar panels located in your community.  You take part by subscribing to the project, which can result in lower electric bills for you, while supporting the transition to solar energy.  You can see if community solar is an option in your state here.

You can also take action to make your home more efficient by adding insulation, fixing drafty windows or doors, and installing more efficient air conditioners or furnaces.  These fixes are often simpler than installing solar, but to receive federal tax credits (up to 30% of the costs) the work must be in progress by December 31, 2025.

And, if you want to receive a federal tax credit for the purchase of an electric vehicle and charging station, you must make your purchase by September 30, 2025.

A resource for beginners: Take charge of your finances in four areas - banking, credit cards, property insurance, and investing.

Part Time Fellow, Nutrient Density Alliance 
Salary:  12-13 hours /week at $32-$35/hour  
Reports to:  NDA Managing Director, Mary Purdy 
Remote. Flexible work schedule. Fellow positions do not include benefits.  
 

This is a part-time Program Associate role with strong potential to grow. We are seeking a dynamic candidate with exceptional project management and stakeholder engagement skills. While the initial focus will be on administrative and coordination support, we envision this position expanding into deeper program engagement, strategic contributions, and leadership opportunities as the Alliance evolves. We welcome your ideas, problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking too. This is an exciting chance to be part of a mission-driven team working at the intersection of regenerative agriculture, nutrition, and public health, with room to develop skills and responsibilities over time. 

Green America is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a just and sustainable society by harnessing economic power for positive change. Our unique approach involves working with consumers, investors and businesses to create a world that works for all. We deploy marketplace solutions to solve the most pressing social justice and environmental problems facing society today. Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions focuses on bringing together focused multi-stakeholder innovation networks with the objective of making significant, industry-wide system change. 

The Nutrient Density Alliance is an initiative of Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions.  Our mission is to ignite awareness and mobilize action around the nutritional benefits and improved food quality that result from soil-building regenerative agriculture. We aim to drive demand for a more sustainable food system and improve human health outcomes for all. 

We collaborate with a diverse network of stakeholders in the food and agriculture sector, including food brands, farmers, ranchers, communications professionals, regenerative agriculture advocates, nutrition and health care practitioners, and Food is Medicine programs. Together, we work to make the vital connection between soil health and nutrient density clear, compelling, and actionable. 

NDA team members can choose to work remotely or in our Washington, DC office. This position could involve occasional travel including to Network meetings, conferences and business cultivation meetings, staff training, Green America’s annual staff and board retreat and other stakeholder engagement meetings.   
 

Key Responsibilities 

Program & Event Support 

• Help design, plan, and execute network meetings, webinars, and working groups (virtual and in-person), including speaker coordination, session development, and participant communications. 

• Ensure events run smoothly through clear communications, organized logistics, and timely follow-up with stakeholders. 

• Translate discussions and working group activities into actionable next steps and shared resources for members. 

• Support the Managing Director in coordinating, tracking, and amplifying speaking engagements (both virtual and in-person), including logistics, scheduling, communications, and post-event follow-up to maximize visibility and impact. 

Communications & Knowledge Management 

• Assist in developing messaging that clearly communicates the connection between soil health, nutrient density, and human health to diverse audiences. 

• Document processes, key learnings, and successful strategies to strengthen the organization’s institutional knowledge. 

• Leverage social media and other digital platforms to share stories, resources, and event highlights, helping amplify the organization’s message and engage wider audiences. 

• Collaborate with Green America colleagues to ensure consistent and aligned communications across programs. 

Member & Partner Engagement 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with members, partners, and prospective collaborators across sectors including food brands, producers, nutrition and health professionals, and Food is Medicine initiatives. 

• Connect members with relevant resources, expertise, and networking opportunities. 

• Support the creation and delivery of compelling content  (newsletters, event follow-ups, member updates)  that highlight the value and impact of participation in the Alliance. 

• Maintain ongoing conversation tracking and conduct targeted outreach to current and prospective members and partners to advance project objectives and maintain engagement. 

Strategic Contributions & Thought Partnership 

• Monitor and synthesize trends, research, and policy developments in regenerative agriculture, nutrient density, and sustainable food systems; provide regular updates and recommendations to the Managing Director. 

• Proactively identify opportunities for the Alliance to participate in events, collaborations, and thought leadership that advance our mission and visibility. 

• Contribute to strategic planning and organizational development efforts, ensuring alignment between daily activities and long-term goals. 

• Assist in shaping narratives and messaging that articulate the link between soil health, nutrient density, and public health to multiple audiences. 

Qualifications 

• Minimum 3–5 years of professional experience in program coordination, partnership development, stakeholder engagement, or related work in the nonprofit, advocacy, or sustainable food systems space. 

• Foundational knowledge of regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems; demonstrated interest in the role of nutrition and nutrient density in human health. 

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to evolving circumstances. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. 

• Demonstrated interest and/or experience in research, trend monitoring, or knowledge synthesis, especially in agriculture, health, or sustainability fields. 

• Comfort with digital tools including Zoom, Squarespace, email marketing platforms, and event management systems; experience with budget tracking a plus. 

• Preference for familiarity with CRM’s such as Salesforce, Zoho etc.  

• Collaborative, proactive, and resourceful, with the ability to work independently while contributing to a team-driven mission. 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. 

• Please note, we recognize that experience doesn't always look the same – skills are transferable, and passion is important. Please tell us how your experience can lead to success in this position.   

How to Apply 

• To Apply: Please email your resume and cover letter and an example of external written communication to hiring@nutrientdensityalliance.org by September 5. 

**********************************************************************************

Green America is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination regarding: actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, or reproductive health disorders), age (18 years of age or older), marital status (including domestic partnership and parenthood), personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, citizenship status, credit information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic is included as a form of discrimination and is strictly prohibited.

Tech Giants Google, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft to Hear from Front-Line Communities and Consumers Demanding Clean Energy, Efficiency and Transparency. 

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 26, 2025 – Green America launched a new consumer campaign to call on AI companies to use 100% renewable energy instead of driving fossil fuel demand, re-starting old nuclear reactors, creating more pollution and increasing energy rates for ratepayers. The new Dirty Data: Stop Big AI From Polluting Our Climate & Communities campaign will also push companies to listen to families and stakeholders living near proposed data centers and fossil fuel power plants, and to give them a say over their own exposure to health burdens from data center and air pollution. 

AI already consumes enough electricity to power 7 million American homes, and communities are paying the price to feed the demand. Largely due to new energy-greedy data centers, electricity costs $500 more annually for families in Georgia, while Oregon residents saw 50% rate hikes. Families near data centers also experience increased noise, congestion, and pollution.   

Dan Howells, Climate Campaigns director at Green America, said: “There is a lot of excitement about artificial intelligence and its potential to make all our lives better. But for all the benefits, AI comes with a big environmental cost. So, the choices companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft make are critical. They could choose a new clean energy future and not return to a dangerous and dirty energy past. In order for the AI revolution to really be intelligent, it must be powered by renewables.” 

Triple Threat: Coal, Natural Gas, and Nukes 

AI is a major driver of polluting and dangerous power plants nationwide. It is so power-hungry that utilities are keeping coal-fired power plants that were slated for closure running to meet the needs of massive servers. 

Natural gas is a new go-to energy source for AI. In the American South alone, there are plans for 20 gigawatts of new natural-gas power plants over the next 15 years—enough to power millions of homes—to feed AI’s energy needs. 

Tech companies are also turning to nuclear power—with Microsoft and Meta re-opening or expanding nuclear plants.  And both Google and Amazon are investing in small nuclear reactors.    

Nuclear power has many downsides, including safety issues, the problems with nuclear waste disposal, and cost overruns and delays, and is unlikely to meet AI’s soaring energy needs— which means even more reliance on fossil fuels unless tech titans ramp up renewable energy fast. 

Driving Climate Chaos 

Major corporations must  reduce their emissions to keep the world from warming more than 1.5 degrees, and yet carbon emissions from major tech companies in 2023 have skyrocketed to  150% of their average  2020 values: 

• Operational emissions grew to 182% of 2020 values for Amazon 

• 155% for Microsoft 

• 145% for Meta 

• 138% for Google 

All four tech giants previously made major climate commitments and pledged to use 100% renewable energy. By spending billions of dollars on AI, they are breaking their promise to use 100% renewable energy and furthering the climate and energy crises. 

Meanwhile, other industries reliant on data servers are making progress on climate. For example, emissions from large telecom companies decreased to 94% of 2020 values.  Green America’s “Hang Up on Fossil Fuels” campaign urged telecoms to switch to 100% renewable energy and their resulting use of wind and solar power has lowered their carbon footprint.  Progress is possible! 

Your Voice Powers the Energy Revolution 

The Dirty Data campaign will mobilize Green America members and people around the country to ensure AI becomes a force for climate solutions, not climate destruction. The campaign will demand that tech giants: 

• Build Smart, Build Clean 
  Data centers should go where they won’t harm communities. Many existing data centers create more noise, pollution, and congestion for underserved neighborhoods already dealing with unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Communities should be fully involved in the placement process to ensure everyone benefits from data center construction. 

• Put Efficiency First 
  Design AI programs to do more with less energy—more efficient chips and processing. No more wasteful computing when lives and our climate are on the line. 

• Zero Fossil Fuels, No Nukes, Period 
  Every aspect of AI processing must run on clean energy—no coal, no gas, no nuclear. We don’t lack the right technology, just corporate commitment and accountability. 

• Community Power 
  Listen to families living near proposed data centers and power sources and give them a say—they deserve transparency, pollution protection, and fair electricity rates that don't subsidize corporate energy consumption.  

• Transparency 

Major AI companies are building more and bigger data centers without being fully transparent about issues like the electricity and water needed to run them. If these companies are to be good neighbors and take responsibility for the pollution generated from fossil fuels, they first need to be honest about the scope and scale of the problem. 

### 

MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin for Green America, (703) 276-3255 or mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com.  

ABOUT  

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org  

AI is supposed to be the future. But it's being powered by the past.  

Artificial Intelligence is generating tons of buzz. It can do everything from helping students write an essay to helping doctors diagnose diseases. But there’s another “buzz” AI is generating and that buzz you hear is coming from restarting coal and natural gas power plants, and building new gas plants, to feed the energy greed of the data centers. And in some cases, companies are extending the life of existing plants -- including 3 Mile Island! --  and planning new nukes.  

Major tech companies including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon are embracing AI as the best of what is to come. And they plan on profiting handsomely.  

But all that profit comes at a deep, deep cost.  

• The power being generated is polluting communities near power plants and the data centers. Many of these power plants are in low-income communities leading to more negative health effects, including air and noise pollution, in places that are already polluted.  

• Instead of decreasing climate pollution as most of the companies pledged to do, their emissions are increasing. The World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN agency for digital technologies, report that the operational emissions of the four most prominent AI-focused technology companies increased by an average of 150% from 2020 to 2023.  

• AI’s demand for energy is driving up electric rates across the country.  Rates could surge by 20% this summer and there could be power shortages as utilities struggle to meet increased demand from data centers. 

• AI has a growing hunger for electricity. By 2028, the researchers estimate, the power going to AI-specific purposes will rise to between 165 and 326 terawatt-hours per year. That’s more than all electricity currently used by US data centers for all purposes; it’s enough to power 22% of US households each year. That could generate the same emissions as driving over 300 billion miles—over 1,600 round trips to the sun from Earth.   

• AI has a great thirst for water too. In some places, local residents are reporting that their taps are running dry from data centers taking all the water. And this thirst is only projected to increase. 

• Besides the pollution and climate issues AI has many other problems as well including but not limited to copyright and privacy issues. AI has been shown to have bias and discrimination issues as well. 

When it comes to the costs to society from all the pollution, there are solutions that can mitigate them. Solar, wind and battery storage are the cheapest sources of energy, and they don’t produce local pollution or climate emissions. 

And these Big Tech companies know it. Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon already use renewable energy for much of their needs. But more must be done to ramp up renewable energy purchases and improve the efficiency of AI to reduce energy needs. And if these companies don’t take the lead, AI energy demand will only take us back to the days of more pollution and to a future where climate change is significantly  worse.  

Green America is pushing Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies to use renewable energy so communities aren’t polluted and climate change isn’t made worse by fossil fuels they plan to use.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming our world at lightning speed, but the current costs to our climate and communities are unsustainable and unacceptable. AI's massive energy appetite could either accelerate the climate crisis and pollute our planet OR supercharge our renewable energy future, where communities have a real voice in how and where AI facilities are built.  

Among the companies using AI are four giants that previously made major climate commitments and pledged to use 100% renewable energy: Google, Meta,  Amazon, and Microsoft. By spending billions of dollars on AI, they are breaking their promise to use 100% renewable energy and furthering our climate and energy crises.  

AI’s enormous energy needs are driving fossil fuels demand, re-starting nukes, and creating greater pollution and higher energy rates for communities nationwide. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way. AI could be powered by renewable energy that is non-polluting and works to reduce energy costs for us all. AI could use energy that is clean and just. 

AI’s huge power appetite 

AI already consumes enough electricity to power 7 million American homes—by 2028, that could jump to the amount of power needed for 22% of all US households.  

And American communities are paying the price to feed AI: electricity costs $500 more annually for families in Georgia, while Oregon residents saw 50% rate hikes—largely due to energy-greedy data centers. Families near data centers experience increased noise, congestion, and pollution.   

Triple Threat: Coal, Natural Gas, and Nukes 

AI is a major driver of polluting and dangerous power plants nationwide. 

It is so power hungry that utilities are keeping coal-fired power plants that were slated for closure running to meet the needs of massive servers. 

Natural gas is a go-to new energy source for AI. In the American South alone, there are plans for 20 gigawatts of new natural-gas power plants over the next 15 years—enough to power millions of homes—to feed AI’s energy needs. 

Tech titans are also turning to nuclear power—Microsoft and Meta re-opening or expanding nuclear plants.  And both Google and Amazon are investing in small nuclear reactors.    

Nuclear power has many downsides, including safety issues, the problems with nuclear waste disposal, and cost overruns and delays, and is unlikely to meet AI’s soaring energy needs— which means even more reliance on fossil fuels unless tech titans ramp up renewable energy fast. 

Driving Climate Chaos 

All those fossil fuels from coal and natural gas plants will have a huge climate impact! 

We need all major corporations to reduce their emissions to keep the world from warming more than 1.5 degrees, and yet carbon emissions from major tech companies in 2023 have skyrocketed to 150% of average 2020 values: 

• Operational emissions grew to 182% of 2020 values for Amazon 
• 155% for Microsoft 
• 145% for Meta 
• 138% for Google 

Meanwhile, other industries reliant on data servers are making progress on climate. For example, emissions from large telecom companies decreased to 94% of 2020 values.  Green America’s Hang Up on Fossil Fuels campaign urged telecoms to switch to 100% renewable energy and their resulting use of wind and solar power has lower their carbon footprint.  Progress is possible! 

Expanding Nationwide 

AI data centers are cropping up all over the country.  As demand for AI grows, the number of data centers nationwide will grow dramatically as well. 

Local Impacts 

And what does all this firing up of dirty energy mean for local communities?  

The communities near the power plants and the data centers are forced to deal with air, noise, and water pollution.  And some people are finding that their taps are literally running dry because data centers are using all the ground water where they live. 

Chicago-based airline pilot Joshua Zhang told CBS News in 2021 that a new data center in his Printers’ Row neighborhood whines like a gigantic vacuum cleaner that never shuts off. “I try to fly as much as I can to stay away from here,” he said. “I can’t really sleep well… and I have to operate a flight.” 

On top of all that, electric rates near data centers are going up fast— and projected to rise much faster.  An analysis by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse found that: 

• Mid-Atlantic States will see 11-19% bill increases this year. 

• Entergy Louisiana is projecting a 90% increase in rates by 2030. 

• Yearly power bills have gone up $500 for the average Georgian since 2023. 

• Oregon residential rates have increased 50% in the last five years. 

We are increasingly paying for AI’s growing need for power in our electric bills, and it’s projected to get much worse. 

Big Tech Has the Money to Do Better 

The tech titans are raking in the profits. They have the money to invest in renewable energy: 

• Google: revenues were $350 billion in 2024, with a net income of $100.1 billion. 

• Meta: revenues were $164.5 billion in in 2024 with net income of $62.4 billion 

• Amazon: $638 billion in revenue for 2024  with $59.2 billion in net income. 

• Microsoft: revenues were a record $262 Billion in 2024 with net income of $93 Billion. 

The Solutions Are at Hand 

We don’t need to wait for renewables to power AI's future sustainably. Solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage are already the cheapest and fastest ways to meet this exploding energy demand. The Department of Energy confirms renewable technologies could deliver hundreds of gigawatts by the 2030s. 

Advanced battery storage also means data centers can run on 100% clean energy 24/7—storing sunshine and wind power to feed AI systems when needed, without a single blackout. These are some of the wealthiest and most sophisticated companies on Earth. They have the resources and must be held accountable. 

And tech titans can boost renewable energy that advances energy justice – creating high paying jobs, supporting local communities, lowering energy costs, and ensuring that the people and communities manufacturing solar, wind, and battery storage technologies are treat well. 

Your Voice Powers the Energy Revolution 

Tech companies won’t take action unless they feel the pressure. 

Green America is mobilizing our members and people around the country to ensure AI becomes a force for climate solutions, not climate destruction. Together, we're demanding that tech giants: 

• Build Smart, Build Clean 
  Data centers should go where they won’t harm communities. Many existing data centers create more noise, pollution, and congestion for underserved neighborhoods already dealing with unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Communities should be fully involved in the placement process to ensure everyone benefits from data center construction. 

• Put Efficiency First 
  Design AI programs to do more with less energy—more efficient chips and processing. No more wasteful computing when lives and our climate are on the line. 

• Zero Fossil Fuels, No Nukes, Period 
  Every aspect of AI processing must run on clean energy—no coal, no gas, no nuclear. We don’t lack the right technology, just corporate commitment and accountability. 

• Community Power 
  Listen to families living near proposed data centers and power sources and give them a say—they deserve transparency, pollution protection, and fair electricity rates that don't subsidize corporate energy consumption.  
• Transparency 
  Major AI companies are building more and bigger data centers without being fully transparent about issues like the electricity and water needed to run them. If these companies are to be good neighbors and take responsibility for the pollution generated from fossil fuels, they first need to be honest about the scope and scale of the problem. 

Action Matters  

Every time you call for renewable-powered AI, you're helping write the next chapter of both technology and climate progress. We have a great track record in driving the renewable energy future by getting Amazon and the telecoms to make historic corporate purchases of solar and wind.  Now we need to do the same for AI.  Amazon, Meta, Google (Alphabet), and Microsoft have all made massive renewable energy purchases in the past, with public pressure, they will do so again. 

If tech giants insist on pushing AI forward, let's make sure we direct it toward the just and sustainable future we all deserve. 

Ready to reshape how AI technology serves our planet’s climate and our communities?  All year long, stay tuned for our “Dirty Data: Stop Big AI from polluting our climate & communities” campaign calls to action.  Together, we got the entire telecoms industry to make massive renewable energy commitments – let’s do it again with AI.   

TAKE ACTION NOW

Blogs

Is water in a box really better for the environment? What about sneakers labeled eco-friendly? How about green-accented soap bottles with plant visuals?

These words and images may look environmentally friendly, but they could also stem from a marketing strategy known as greenwashing. The practice occurs when companies sell the idea of “green” products while accomplishing little or nothing for the environment.

There is a growing market for products that minimize damage to the environment, according to Todd Larsen, executive codirector for consumer and corporate engagement at Green America, a nonprofit that certifies environmentally responsible businesses and promotes ethical consumption.

Big fast-food companies are employing children as young as ten years old to work in dangerous conditions. They also work hours so long that it negatively impacts their education.

WASHINGTON, DC — July 23, 2025 — The non-profit Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) is expanding its partnership with​​​​​ breakfast ​brand Seven Sundays, engaging 15 farmers on over 2,400 acres in the transition to regenerative agriculture. This collaboration gives farmers the comprehensive support they need to implement new practices that foster healthy soil, climate resilience, and farm profitability. This crucial support helps farms build biological abundance on the land through agronomic practice incentives, technical assistance, and actionable soil testing.  

Since founding the brand in 2011, Seven Sundays has worked directly with Midwest farmers to source locally grown crops like oats, buckwheat, flax, and sunflowers. As part of their continued commitment through their partnership with SCI in 2022 via the Regenerative Transition Program, the brand has doubled down to drive even greater outcomes within its sourcing network. 

“We’re excited to grow our partnership with Seven Sundays, a regenerative leader committed to charting a new path forward for our food system,” said Adam Kotin, SCI Managing Director. “Together, we are equipping farmers with the tools and support they need to grow delicious food in ways that rejuvenate the land.” 

Through its collaborations with SCI​​​​, the brand is making direct investments in its growers while also working alongside processors to strengthen supply chain resiliency. This integrated approach delivers the transparency and traceability that today’s consumers increasingly desire and expect. 

“We are excited to collaborate with SCI to further our mission in restoring people and planet health for future generations,” said Brady Barnstable, co-founder and Chief Cultivation Officer at Seven Sundays.  “SCI’s farmer-first approach aligns with how we’ve built farm-direct relationships based on mutual transparency, trust and education since our early Farmer’s Markets days.”   

By participating in SCI’s Regenerative Transition Program, brands like Seven Sundays sponsor farmers with a holistic package of technical assistance, agronomic expertise, soil testing, peer-to-peer learning, and a clear framework for measuring regenerative progress. In doing so, they build the trust and connections needed to shift our fraying food system to a more thriving, sustainable (and delicious!) future.  

### 

ABOUT 

Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI), a project of the national nonprofit Green America, was originally launched in 2019 (formerly the Soil Carbon Initiative) in collaboration with farms, companies, NGOs, and soil scientists. Its mission is to accelerate the transition of agricultural acres under regenerative management by supporting and engaging every link in the supply chain. SCI offers a holistic suite of services, such as farm planning and agronomic support, soil testing, supply chain engagement, reporting, and third-party verification. These efforts help drive measurable improvements in soil health outcomes, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, water quality, climate resilience, food security, farm profitability, and the overall well-being of rural communities. www.soilclimateinitiative.org   

Green America, founded in 1982, is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Green America provides economic strategies and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s most pressing social and environmental problems. www.greenamerica.org 

Seven Sundays, a certified B-Corp, is rethinking the food system from the ground up, making cereals that improve the health of people & the planet. Founders Hannah and Brady Barnstable started Seven Sundays to flip the US cereal aisle on its head after they had a taste of good muesli and a sustainable food system during their inspirational honeymoon to New Zealand. Seven Sundays makes breakfast options, like Muesli, Sunflower Cereal, and Oat Protein Cereal, with 100% real foods. Since 2020, Seven Sundays has saved over 150 tons of waste from the food waste system by using upcycled ingredients. The brand does not use artificial or "natural" flavors, dyes, preservatives, refined sugars, GMOs, or Glyphosate. Seven Sundays is sold at Costco, Sprouts, Whole Foods, and more. www.sevensundays.com 

MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin, (703) 276-3255 or mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com 

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 neighboring communities. But corporate mega-banks have clientele ranging from family households to multimillion-dollar corporations, which gives them more money to loan to industries and practices that harm the environment and put people at risk.

Concentrating your financial power in your local economy is one of the best ways to support your community. But patronizing your favorite neighborhood shops and restaurants isn’t the only way you can put your money to work where you live—investing in local community development financial institutions can also help strengthen community connections, grow local businesses, and even have an impact beyond the borders of your neighborhood.

Move Money Back into the Local Economy

Unlike big banks, community development banks are more likely to follow a strong social justice mission and invest their resources back into the local economy, bolstering support and opportunities for small businesses to expand, and individuals to buy homes. Additionally, these banks are often much more familiar with the needs and conditions of the communities they operate in, and they tend to be more invested in maintaining a community’s stability and health because the bank’s fortunes are more directly tied to the people and businesses it works with.

According to a 2024 report from the Federal Reserve, small business owners were more satisfied after their dealings with community development banks than big banks, and more likely to have loans and credit line requests approved by community development banks. Community development banks and credit unions are also regular supporters of local events like Pride celebrations, music and arts festivals, and public initiatives.

Banking Aligned with Personal Values

In today’s complex, globally integrated systems of finance and industry, it’s incredibly difficult and frustrating to know how to spend and invest your money while causing the least amount of harm. When it comes to the choice between community development banks and credit unions versus big banks, the data is clear.

According to the 2025 Banking of Climate Chaos report, 65 of the world’s largest banks have sunk $7.9 trillion into financing fossil fuels since the Paris Agreement—including $3.3 trillion since 2021, the year the International Energy Agency found no room for any fossil fuel expansion. Yet the 10 U.S. based banks—JPMorgan Chase, Citi, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Truist, PNC, U.S. Bank, and Capital One—are now increasing their funding of both new and expanded oil, gas, and coal operations, accounting for about one-third of the global bank funding for fossil fuels. In addition, big banks also contribute significant financing to the weapons industry and factory farms, which also drive climate change through deforestation, soil erosion, and environmental destabilization, as well as exploit workers, abuse animals, and violate human rights.

Maybe you live in a farming community and want to support farmers looking to adopt regenerative agriculture practices. Or your neighbor is opening a new restaurant that will ensure they work with ethical producers throughout their supply chain. Maybe you volunteer with the library’s Drag Queen story time or a food bank fundraiser and need the support of local businesses and institutions. By banking within your community instead of big banks, your money is more likely to help bring beneficial businesses and events to fruition, rather than produce weapons, unsafe food supply systems, and fossil fuels.

Going Local is Easier than You Think

Making the switch from megabanks is worth your consideration and effort. You’ll want to research a bank’s or credit union’s ownership, memberships, and certifications, as well as ask about fees, services and products, and if the institution is FDIC or NCUA-insured, before deciding.

You can start by visiting Green America’s recently updated Get a Better Bank Map online and enter your zip code to find institutions local to you. The site also has a 10-step checklist to follow once you’ve decided to make the switch.

All banks promise that by working with them, your money will be there when you need it. But not all banks can promise this truth: until you do need that money, it will be used in ways that align with your values, and that will ensure the growth, stability, and safety of your community and the planet. The institutions in our Get a Better Bank Map can.

Moving your bank account to a new bank or credit union may seem like a daunting task, but once you get started, it is easier than you think. Just take it one step at a time. The first step is to research responsible banks and credit unions in your area. Are they a mission-driven institution that supports your community? Do they offer the services you need? Are they in a convenient location with reasonable hours?

Once you’ve decided on a new community development bank or credit union, the next step is to establish a relationship. You can start by opening a checking or savings account, or even a certificate of deposit. After that, move your automatic deposits to the new account, then your automatic withdrawals. Finally close your megabank account and tell them why.

None of these steps need to be rushed—just keep making progress. Every transaction you can move from a megabank to a community development bank or credit union will put us all one step closer to the better world we envision and deserve.

Find a Better Bank near you using our Get A Better Bank Map! >>>