5 Ways to Live More Sustainably // Josephine Bush

Shopping smart can be the first thing that could help cut on your carbon footprint, but it can also cut your shopping bills! This year make a choice to shop smarter by buying goods in bulk and items with less packaging. If you start off the year by purchasing household goods in bulk, such as flour, sugar, olive oil, along with spices, you will pay less per weight and also pay less for packaging since you won’t have to purchase these everyday goods for awhile!

King Arthur, Special Bread Unbleached Flour, 5 lb

Sugar in the Raw 6 lbs bag (Pack of 2)

Kamenstein Criss-Cross Bamboo 18-Jar Spice Rack with Free Spice Refills for 5 Years

Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 liters

Say No to Plastic
And say yes to reusable grocery bags, and your favorite water bottle. Plastic is something that never goes away, so making sure you play your role in cutting it out of your daily life is hugely impactful. You can make these bags and your water bottle your signature items.  We love and use these:

Hydro Flask 32 oz Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Leak Proof Sports Water Bottle

Earthwise Deluxe Collapsible Reusable Shopping Box Grocery Bag Set

Get There “Greenly”
Transportation is one of the largest environmental impacts. Within the context of the United States cars and trucks account for ⅕ of CO2 emissions, one of the primary fuelers of global warming and climate change. Each independent action has the ability to reduce overall emissions. There are many great options. If you live in a city where public transportation is a viable option: take that. However, if that’s not an option - bike or run to work! This is a great alternative to driving. If you invest in a great running backpack, you can bring your change of clothes, have your water, and enough room for lunch too. If you have to drive to work, but still want to reduce your carbon footprint, offer your car up as a car to share rides. Some great apps for this are Carma Carpooling and Trees for cars.


If you do not own a car, Cargo and Zipcar are great options. Whatever you can do, even if it is once or twice a week, has the ability to greatly impact the world around you, make you happier, and work towards a better world, where we all do our part.
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Spring Cleaning? No Winter Revamping:

This winter, revamp your house and make it green. Again it will reduce your bills and your impact. Change all of your lights to LED (use less electricity-both a cut in coal burning and in your monthly bill), seal up your window seals and keep more heat in (use less heat). Most states offer free energy audits to find more ways you can make your living situation even more green!

Philips LED A19 Non-Dimmable 800-Lumen, 2700-Kelvin, 8.5-Watt (60-Watt Equivalent) Light Bulb, E26 Medium Base, Soft White, 16-Pack

3M Indoor Window Insulator Kit, 5-Window

Join a Local CSA
Joining a local CSA means two things —you will get wonderful, seasonal and fresh veggies all year long and because your produce is locally sourced your food will have a very small environmental brunt given that it must not travel long distances to get to your table. Also, in many places if you volunteer to help plant, weed, or help with sales at a CSA you can get your share of veggies in fruit in turn for your work. Check out some local recipes from Portland's Farmers Market Cookbook for inspiration!

It is the small things, done by many people that create a wave of change. In order to create a world that is more sustainable it is up to each individual to integrate sustainable practices into their lives to create this change. Please reach out to us with any ideas or contributions. If you own a company that is creating sustainable change we would love to interview you or highlight your product on our website!