Without knowing it, you may be buying goods from manufacturers who commit to being green and assisting their workers in moving from welfare to successful careers. The books you buy could be coming from a seller who recycles used books and uses the funds to support local libraries and global literacy.

Companies around the world have been redefining their mission to use business as a force for good by solving social and environmental problems. They’re becoming Certified B Corporations, a program that launched in 2007.

“B” the Change

Through requiring practices such as transparency, commitment to protecting the environment and resources, and defining their responsibilities to workers, B Corp certification challenges companies to not only be the best in the world, but also the best for the world—serving society as well as shareholders.

Currently, there are about 2,000 companies in 50 countries working to redefine success in global business, according to the Harvard Business Review. Perhaps the most famous members are Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s.

Obtaining B Corp certification is an excellent way companies can stand out among the greenwashing hype being promoted by some companies that don’t walk their talk. Becoming certified is a rigorous, time-consuming process that assesses companies in four areas: governance, workers, community, and environment.

“In the Bioforce portfolio of brands, Herbatint is the first to become B Corp certified,” said Pierce Sioussat, CEO of Bioforce USA, the company responsible for making Herbatint available to the American marketplace. Herbatint “made the investment to build a new LEED certified manufacturing facility and put in place new worker policies that provide environmentally friendly transportation and community programs. They then made the decision to become one of the first Italian companies (and to date the only hair color company) to become B Corp certified,” Sioussat said.

The B Corp certification process, while challenging, was “viewed as positive by Herbatint management since they knew all companies were being held to the same high standard of rigor and verification,” Sioussat said.

Taking a Closer Look

In terms of governance, transparency lies at the forefront. B Corps must have employee-facing or public clarity with regard to company finances and operations, as well as a clear mission.

B Corps pay significant attention to income inequality, whether it be the gap between their lowest- and highest-paid workers, going above and beyond basic employee benefits, and/or providing skills and training opportunities for people to move up in the workplace.

A positive impact on the community is another consideration. Locally sourcing goods and services, advocating for social and environmental programs, and making an effort to hire from local, underserved populations are ways businesses can prove their commitment to community.

Additionally, a proven commitment to environmental stewardship, such as using renewable energy and environmentally beneficial materials, and showing an interest in sustainable practices proves companies are concerned with the environment.

Whether you’re part of a company with a mission to become B Corp certified or a consumer determined to buy B Corp-certified goods and services, choose to use business as a force for good.

"There is nothing more natural than to love the Earth, to feed the Earth that feeds you back. And the more you love her, the more she gives you." - Bharat Mitra, founder of Organic India

Learn more, and find all-natural organic supplements, at Organic India

Everywhere we turn there’s an abundance of plastic items: packaging, to-go cups, bags, utensils, straws. In fact, over the last decade we’ve produced more plastic than we have in the previous century—nearly 300 million tons each year—half of which is used once and thrown away. Plastic is cheap to produce and ship. It’s highly flexible and versatile. And it’s become a $100 billion global industry.

Despite all its conveniences, the ubiquitous use of disposable plastic comes at a cost. According to a study by Jenna Jambeck, PhD, an environmental engineer at the University of Georgia, an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year—and that number continues to grow at an alarming rate.

Allison Schutes, senior manager at the Ocean Conservancy, said, “Year after year volunteers find millions of pounds of trash including candy and chip wrappers, plastic bottles, caps and straws littering our waterways and beaches.”

Plastics Leach Toxins

Apart from the problems volumes of trash cause, plastic is made of petroleum and contains dangerous toxins. According to Julie Andersen, executive director of the Plastic Oceans Foundation, “While many plastics don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade. UV light exposure combined with salt water and the churn of the ocean breaks down all those plastic bottles and bags into tiny toxic pieces, which are ingested by marine animals and get into the food chain.”

Bonnie Monteleone, ocean researcher at the University of North Carolina, added, “Some plastics have been shown to leach toxic chemicals when exposed to heat or prolonged use. Styrene, for example, has been classified as a possible human carcinogen while many plastics contain phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), originally designed to be a female hormone replacement, that mimic estrogen and can disrupt the endocrine system. Our endocrine system is what manages every cell in our bodies. When ingested, these chemicals have been linked to reproductive issues, neurological disorders, cancer, obesity—and can affect male genitals before birth.”

Most Plastics Downcycle v. Recycle

Yet we continue to consume disposable plastics at an astounding rate. While recycling is always better than tossing something in the trash, the global waste infrastructure can’t keep up with the consumption.

Plastics are complex and don’t melt down the way aluminum and glass do. “Only a few plastics are truly recyclable,” explained Monteleone. “Most containers are downcycled into something of lower quality that will eventually end up in landfills or our oceans.”

Disposable coffee cups are some of the worst offenders. The US churns through more than 50 billion cups every year, yet many consumers don’t realize that cardboard cups have a thin plastic liner that can’t be broken down through recycling. “Plastics are predominantly made out of petroleum, but we eat and drink out of them even though they’re known to leach chemicals like BPA, especially when heated,” said Monteleone. “We’ve got to do more than reduce, reuse, and recycle. We’ve got to refuse plastic.”

A New Way of Thinking v. the Old Way

Some organizations are taking nonrecyclable plastics and turning them back into fuel to help offset offshore drilling. Others are developing environmentally friendly plant-based materials and compostable plastics. But other companies are fighting environmental progress every step of the way because they’re profiting from the problem. “No one is holding those organizations accountable,” said Andersen. “Unless proper policies are put in place to make them responsible for the waste they produce, the problem is going to continue. Our goal is to encourage people to reduce what’s not essential.”

Plastic bags, plastic bottles, and straws are the biggest threat to our environment. In the old days, we brought coolers with paper cups instead of plastic water bottles. Milk, ketchup, and salad dressings came in glass bottles. And we made coffee at home.

“Start by making a difference in your own life,” Schutes suggested. “Use reusable beverage containers. Say no thank you to straws. And bring your own bags whenever you can. There are a ton of small simple steps you can take that will have a huge impact in the long run.”

Become an agent for change. Consider the following:

• 
  Take your own coffee container, like this Klean Kanteen insulated BPA-free bottle, to the places you buy coffee.
• 
  Take your own grocery bags.
• 
  Go back to the bar. Bar soap comes in recyclable cardboard versus plastic for body washes, and lasts longer too.
• 
  Forget the straw. Or try a pretty paper one instead of plastic.
• 
  Think before you bag. Instead of plastic bags try a washable container.
• 
  Take a closer look. Not all plastics are created equal. Look for the triangle with the number 1 or 2 on the bottom. These are the best choices.
• 
  Ditch the doggie bag. To-go cartons are often made of nonrecyclable styrofoam. Use a Klean Kanteen 100 percent plastic-free stainless steel lunch box instead.
• 
  Use your voice. Write to your favorite companies and ask them to choose biodegradable or recyclable materials instead of plastic.
• 
  Take action. Volunteer at the Ocean Conservancy’s annual Coastal Cleanup the third Saturday in September. Or contact screenings@gmail.com to host “A Plastic Ocean” film in your community or school.

For eco-conscious travelers looking to be one with nature, choosing the perfect sunscreen may be about more than preventing sunburn.

Fortunately, more natural alternatives exist. In some cases, certain sunscreen ingredients may even boost skincare without affecting marine life.

For example, oxybenzone is also a chemical known to be both harmful to humans and ecosystems.

Sunscreen and Marine Life

Certain sunscreens contain microscopic metals, toxic chemicals, and other ingredients that may be harmful to surrounding ecosystems, according to a study published in The Journal of Environmental Science.

The study notes that products containing nanomaterials, 100,000 times smaller than a human hair, may affect marine life in unpredictable ways. For example, nano-zinc, nano-copper, and other nano-metals may be most harmful to small animals like crustaceans, worms, fish, and algae, the study suggests.

The eco-conscious shopper may also want to avoid benzophenones and plastic microbeads, which are now banned in the United States.

Ingredients That Can Damage the Environment

• benzophenones
• camphor derivatives
• cinnamates
• zinc (clear or nano)
• cylcopentasiloxane
• cyclomethicone
• methylisothiazolinone
• sodium lauryl sulfate
• octyl methoxycinnamate
• oxtinoxate
• ​oxybenzone
• parabens
  • propyparaben
  • benzylparaben
  • methylparaben
  • butylparaben
• plastic microbeads

Sunscreen and Human Health

Aside from the aquatic environment, certain products can also harm human life.

Ingredients with Health Concerns

Harmful chemical ingredients found in sunscreens include:

• diazolidinyl urea
• DMDM hydantoin
• homosalate
• laureth sulfate
• methylisothiazolinone
• octyl methoxycinnamate
• oxybenzone
• oxtinoxate
• parabens
  • propyparaben
  • benzylparaben
  • methylparaben
  • butylparaben
• quaternium-15
• retinyl palitate
• sodium lauryl
• nano particles

Endocrine Blockers

Many FDA-approved chemical ingredients in sunscreen are considered “endocrine blockers,” which can affect the body’s production of hormones, according board certified doctor and Dr. Oz Show advisor Arthur W. Perry.

Perry wrote in a 2013 blog post that these chemicals seep into the skin rather than sitting on top of it to block UVA/UVB rays.

As the chemicals move into the bloodstream, they are unable to be detoxified and digested by the liver and can be traceable in blood or urine for the next two days.

Natural Ingredients

Recently, in a yearlong study by experts at Eckerd College, products were tested to determine if they passed as “eco-friendly.”

The Florida-based study looked at how ingredients could potentially affect sensitive coral larvae and freshwater fish.

Many natural products include natural, antioxidant-rich ingredients like wakame seaweed, green tea extracts, and olive leaf extracts.

• Green Tea

  Green tea is known to reduce premature aging caused by the sun.

• Olive Leaf

  Olive leaf is known for its immune-boosting strengths.

According to Google’s annual Zeitgeist List—a compilation of social trends based on what people are searching for on the Internet—the most researched diet online in 2014 was the Paleo diet, beating out the juice cleanse diet and the Mediterranean diet.

Also known as the Caveman diet, Stone Age diet, and hunter-gatherer diet, Paleo is short for the Paleolithic Era, the time period that anthropologists define as starting 2.5 million years ago and ending 10,000 years ago, when early humans sustained themselves on wild plants and meat, before the development of agriculture. Paleofantasy by Marlene Zuk

What is The Paleo Diet?

It is primarily a low-carb diet, advocating the avoidance of grain. The recommended daily intake mostly consists of grass-fed meat, fish, poultry, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds as well as an elimination of dairy, wheat, corn, rice, sugar, alcohol, potatoes, legumes, and processed oils.

The noticeable increase in mouse clicks and Paleo-friendly restaurants aside, does this diet actually result in weight loss?

Does the Paleo Diet Work?

In general, yes—if adherents strictly follow the low-carb formula. In a 2013 study conducted at Umea University in Sweden, 10 obese postmenopausal women were switched to a strict Paleo diet for five weeks. At the end of the period, the average weight loss was nearly 10 pounds with an average of 3.1 inches lost in waist circumference. Moreover, there was an average reduction of 49 percent in liver fat, a significant risk factor for metabolic disease. A longer two-year trial of the Paleo diet with the same demographic group provided similar results.

Other limited-scope Paleo studies show similar findings. A 2009 randomized cross-over study at Sweden’s Lund University split up 13 patients with Type 2 diabetes to try either a Paleo diet or their recommended low-glycemic diabetes diet for three months. The Paleo group lost an average of 6.6 pounds more than the diabetes diet group and reduced their waistlines by an average of 1.6 inches more. The Paleo followers also had slightly lower blood sugar levels.

While many nutritionists embrace the Paleo avoidance of processed foods and sugary snacks, the romantic notion that all our hunter-gatherer ancestors had six-pack abs has come under attack. In her book Paleofantasy, evolutionary biologist Marlene Zuk challenges the idea that replicating the eating habits of cavemen is even possible.

“Trying to emulate what people ate 10,000 or 100,000 years ago is really difficult. Our foods have changed so much that virtually every item in a supermarket is drastically genetically different from its prehistoric equivalent,” she recently told New Scientist Magazine. “This is what humans do: We modify foods so that they become more palatable and digestible.”

Zuk’s skepticism is reinforced by a 2013 University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine study that looked at whole-body CT scans of 137 mummies from Egypt, Peru, American Pueblo Indians, and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Researchers found evidence of calcified plaque in the artery walls of ancient hunter-gatherers. Their conclusion: Atherosclerosis is not a modern scourge; it’s been impacting human longevity for at least 4,000 years.

Is the Paleo Diet Right for Everyone?

Regardless of how effective it is for weight loss, the Paleo lifestyle isn’t a realistic—or desirable—solution for everyone.

Cost Concerns

Animal protein, especially grass-fed beef and poultry, can be among the most expensive items at the market. The Bloomberg Protein Index, which tracks a dozen animal and plant protein commodity prices, has increased by 28 percent over the last five years.

Cost aside, there are inevitably ethical concerns that arise from a meat-centric diet.

Environmental Concerns

“From an environmental and animal welfare concern, it’s narcissistic to advocate eating pounds of animal protein per day at the expense of so many animal lives when we can certainly meet much of our protein needs from plant sources,” asserts Elizabeth Brown, a registered dietician and personal trainer based in California.



“Even when I do recommend animal protein, I am adamant about advocating for grass-fed, free-range, and wild sources,” she says. “Not only for their more humane treatment of the animals, but also because these animals are fed their natural diets and therefore accumulate fewer harmful substances which we are all trying to avoid.”

In celebration or Earth Day, take care of yourself, your family, and your planet with these eco-friendly tips.

Ideas for How to Celebrate Earth Day

• Avoid Plastics

  Water bottles, straws, and plastic cutlery may contain toxins. They are also harmful to the environment when they are not properly re-used or recycled. Click here for avoidance tips and plastic-substitution options.

• Plant a Garden

  Save money, and eat healthy by growing your own food. For the best growth, consider companion planting.This strategy involves placing two or more plants next to each other that will benefit each other. Learn more here.

• Eco-Construction

  If you’re building a new kitchen or remodeling an old one, embrace green living techniques to make the room more sustainable and energy efficient. Check out these tips.

• Natural Spring Cleaning

  Consider cleaning with safe and all-natural supplies or products to avoid harsh chemicals. If you are trying to save, make your own organic cooking spray.

• Do It Yourself!

  There are many home products that can be made from simple kitchen ingredients. If you are looking to go all-natural, try making your own deodorant  or facial masks.

• Green Groceries

  Buy organic, non-GMO, or fair trade for products that are healthy and made sustainably. Create budgeting strategies, or learn more about product labeling before your next trip to the store.

• Go Outside!

  Spring has finally sprung, and it’s time to explore the outdoors. Have a picnic, or play sports with friends or family. Make sure to stay hydrated, and avoid insect bites or ticks.

In the classic film The Graduate, Mr. McGuire (Walter Brooke) gives young Benjamin Braddock (a 30-year-old Dustin Hoffman) one word of advice: “Plastics.”

There’s a “great future” in the stuff, he says. McGuire was right. There was a great future in plastics—for plastics manufacturers, not for the rest of us.

Plastics now pervade our lives in countless ways, obvious and obscure. Even more murky is the havoc they wreak on our health. Some toxic effects are known, others are suspected, and still others may go undetected.

Ways to Reduce Plastic Exposure

While you may not be able to eliminate plastics from your life entirely, there are many ways to reduce contact.

• Avoid Plastic Containers

  Make purchasing decisions based on whether or not there’s plastic involved.

  • Choose produce that’s not packaged in plastic.
  • Buy products (such as laundry detergent) packaged in boxes instead of plastic bottles.
  • Use reusable bags for groceries. 

• Use Reusable Bottles

  Avoid bottled water. Use reusable water bottles, coffee cups, and travel mugs whenever possible.

  Billions of single-use plastic bottles are trashed every year.

  The EPA estimates Americans dispose of 25 billion plastic foam cups annually. That's 82 cups per person a year.

• Don't Use Plastic Straws

  Talk about toxic contact—lips to plastic straw is one of the worst.

  Straws are also among the most commonly found litter on beaches.

• Avoid Plastic Cutlery

  If you’re getting take-out, ask the restaurant to skip the plastic tableware or suggest they start using compostable cutlery because it’s important to you—their customer.

  If you’re expecting leftovers while dining out, bring your own container from home. 

• Wear Natural Fabrics

  Every time you wear and wash your clothes, tiny bits of fabric rub off, either onto you or into your washer and down the drain into the ecosystem.

  Choose clothing made from natural fibers such as cotton—not plastic-based materials such as polyester. 

• Buy Cloth Diapers

  The EPA estimates the typical child uses 8,000 diapers before being potty trained.

  Cloth diapers reduce your child’s exposure to plastics and help the environment.

• Use Reusable Razors

  Using a razor with disposable blades versus a disposable razor will reduce plastic toxicity entering your home and the environment.

Creating an appreciation for nature in our children is one way to promote future generations of environmentally friendly adults. It also helps our kids learn to enjoy the simple beauty and pleasure found in the natural world. While younger children may not be so keen on reflection, they do love to collect things. For an engaging activity that promotes a love of the outdoors for two- to eight-year-olds, consider a Nature Table. It works like this:

You will need a small, low table to place in a common area of the house, such as the living or dining room. This is your Nature Table.

When you are out and about with the children, allow them to collect one or several items to bring back and place on the Nature Table. The only rule is that the objects must be natural.

Kids will love finding these treasures, like rocks, leaves, sticks and so on. Allow them to play with the items on the table and rearrange them as they wish.

Here are some tips to have fun with your Nature Table:

• Create different themes for the table, such as the seasons or rocks, leaves or sticks.
• Go on a weekly Nature Table walk to find treasures.
• Cover the table with different colors of fabric for a change or to mark a change of season.
• Change the Nature Table on specific days, such as winter and summer solstice or the first day of a season, to connect your child to seasonal changes in nature.
• Place a magnifying glass on the table to inspect items close up.