Sole Mates, Part 2

The first step in sustainable footwear decisions is reducing how much we consume. In order to do that, taking good care of our shoes is a necessity so they stay in good working order for a long time. There are also modifications we can make to ensure they are as comfortable as possible, fitting and supporting our unique feet, keeping us happy and healthy.

Sole Mates, Part 1

If you know me, you know that I hate shoe shopping. Generally that approach saves me money because I buy fewer shoes in the long run. However, when I do buy them, I want to get something that will last a long time. I also want something that supports my values as well as my feet. As with any investment, I didn’t make this decision lightly.

Plastic Waste Options in Pittsburgh

I recently heard that the recycler near my house was accepting plastics #1 through #7, and I was incredibly skeptical. Plastics are difficult and expensive to recycle, which is why they almost exclusively become trash, winding up in the landfill, the incinerator, or the ocean. While this new program isn’t recycling the plastic, it is repurposing them for the time being.

Plastic-Free July (Corona Edition, Continued)

I’m off to a terrible start with Plastic Free July, since we’ve been out to eat three days in a row. Because of COVID, there is still a lot of single-use plastic in circulation. Our collective need for single-use plastic creates a lot of waste, but it also creates a lot of demand for the component materials, one of which is natural gas.

Expiration Dates

Some of my most controversial, infamous, and still-talked-about Facebook posts of all time involve something that seems to draw opinions from even the most reserved people I know: expiration dates. Many people believe that the “sell by” or “best by” dates stamped on food are the end-all, be-all, definitive line between “safe” and “not safe” for food, and in almost every case that is not accurate.

Plastic-Free July (Corona Edition), Part 5 – Reducing Demand

The vast majority of our clothes contain synthetic materials, i.e. plastics. If reducing plastic waste is your goal, limiting clothing containing synthetic fibers should be among your priorities. As with plastic materials in other parts of our lives, our approach with synthetic clothing should be (first) Reduce, (then) Reuse, and (last) recycle. This final post on Plastic-Free July suggests some options for responsible clothes shopping.

Plastic-Free July (Corona Edition), Part 1 – Setting the Stage

It is July once again, and I am reviving a challenge I gave myself this time last year: to participate in Plastic Free July. Of course, the global pandemic has led to a steep increase in single-use plastics and zero-contact transactions, making last year’s game plan effectively useless. This year I’ll see where I can make environmentally-friendly choices while still staying safe.