Source: https://justenergy.com/blog/sustainable-ideas-for-an-eco-friendly-mothers-day/
Ever since Mothering Sunday, a 17th-century British tradition, evolved into the American Mother’s Day holiday in 1914, flowers, cards, and other gifts have become a consumer ritual. However, before you order flowers or select a card, take a few minutes to understand your gift’s impact on Mother Nature.
The conscious consumer will avoid the florist-delivered bouquet — sorry, Mom — and choose other gifts with careful consideration of their environmental impact. A little research reveals that commercially produced flowers aren’t good for the environment, not all greeting cards are created equal, and that sparkly bracelet could be very good — or very bad — for our planet.
Why You Shouldn’t Send Mom Flowers
The cut-flower industry has a heavy impact on the environment due to the amount of water, pesticides, and fuel required to deliver that beautiful bouquet to the recipient. The Asia & the Pacific Policy Society warns that cut flowers are poorly regulated. As many as one-fifth of the pesticides and preservatives used in the cut-flower industry don’t pass U.S. food and health regulatory muster.
Those regulations are not consistently enforced in the floriculture industry because flowers are not food; 80% of the flowers sold in the United States cross international borders and land in your mom’s hands full of chemicals she would not knowingly bring in the house.
Methyl parathion, a widely used pesticide in cut flowers, “exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s levels of concern for all aquatic and terrestrial species considered,” according to the EPA. The agency also reports that methyl parathion is an occupational risk to people who handle the flowers. Think about that before presenting a big bouquet to Mom.
Flowers are also water-intensive and the greenhouse gases produced to transport them result in a gift that wouldn’t make Mother Nature happy. “The cut-flower industry is a short-cycle production process that requires the extensive use of agrochemicals, which have a negative effect on the air, soil and water supply,” concludes the Asia & the Pacific Policy Society.
Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-you-shouldnt-buy-mom-flowers-on-mothers-day-2015-05-05
Are Your Greeting Cards Green?
Nearly 80 percent of people will give cards on Mother’s Day. Imagine all of that paper that gets read for one minute and then is tossed aside, probably to end up in a landfill.
The following are some aspects of the environment that are negatively affected by the card production process.
Trees. An estimated 18 million acres of forest are lost each year. Trees produce oxygen, protecting the planet from further global warming. When you save a tree, you ensure that enough oxygen is produced for 3 people to breathe.
Fuel consumption. It takes fuel for the delivery trucks and Postal Service and to get all of those Mother’s Day cards to stores and to moms’ homes.
Clean air. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pulp and paper mills are among the worst polluters to air, water, and land of any industry. Each year millions of pounds of highly toxic chemicals are released into the air and water from papermaking plants around the world.
Greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. The pulp and paper industry is the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases among U.S. manufacturing industries. Additionally, paper decomposing in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas with 23 times the heat-trapping capacity of carbon dioxide.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The right responsibly produced card can be a gift to Mother Nature.
Source: https://mothernatured.com/printables/mothers-day-nature-cards/
Some card companies are very good stewards of the environment. Hallmark Cards, for example, has cut waste in its business by 72%, greenhouse emissions by 46%, and water consumption by 12% while shifting to sustainable sources of paper for 99% of its production. By contrast, Shutterfly.com, the online custom greeting card maker, is rated by CSRHub.com — an aggregator of company environmental and social responsibility data — in the bottom 8% of all companies in the world.
Shutterfly has no public sustainability commitment, but it does conform to fair labor practices. If you are going to use Shutterfly, be sure to pick its “Signature Cardstock” option, which is sourced from “sustainable forested paper”; however, only one subsidiary of the company, Tiny Prints, had committed to replanting trees in an effort to offset consumption.
Lastly, probably the biggest impact we can make is by cutting back on our paper-based cards altogether by switching from paper to online cards for loved ones.
Be Careful with Jewelry Choices
If jewelry is your gift of choice for Mom, make your selection carefully. Diamonds present a variety of concerns, from illegal sourcing and labor issues to an immense environmental impact. Consider Swarovski crystals, which are manufactured — not natural — gems, made with lead oxide and a secret combination of materials. Lead oxide is safe in crystals, so Mom can wear them with confidence. Swarovski is rated in the top 5% of environmentally responsible companies in the world.
Source: https://www.amazon.com/Swarovski-Bracelets-Borealis-Jewelry-Girlfriend/dp/B07SVKBSRT
HOW CAN I GO GREENER THIS MOTHER’S DAY?
We have a major opportunity to make a difference and protect the environment through our gift purchases. Here are some suggestions!
1. Cut flowers have a huge environmental impact, producing large carbon footprints. Why not opt for house plants or healthy herbs as a more sustainable and holistic way of showing your love and appreciation?
2. Gift cards are a really wonderful gift option when we don’t know what someone wants. If possible, choose the electronic version instead of the plastic ones to cut back on plastic waste.
3. Homemade gifts are a great way to add a personal touch. This is the kind of gifts moms want most – more than flowers and cards. Remember, it is the thought that counts. Take a look at Pinterest boards for ideas of upcycled and the other eco DIY gifts. They are a fun way to get kids involved in making a present for mom. You can also teach them about the carbon footprint and sustainability along the way. Here is a suggestion – transform old tea cups into beautiful candles!
Source: https://inhabitat.com/diy-summer-craft-idea-how-to-make-vintage-teacup-candles/
4. Pamper your mom with all-natural, eco-friendly beauty products that will leave your mom feeling gorgeous, all while preserving the environment.
5. Thrift shopping seems to be popular these days, so why not hop on the trend and gift your mom with unique things (that are budget-friendly), while supporting small local business in your community? You will be helping the environment by purchasing second-hand goods.
6. Lastly, gift wrap tends to be wasteful, whether you use wrapping paper (sold in plastic) or cellophane. Fortunately, there are plenty of creative ways to present your gifts to your loved ones.
Make the wrapping part of the gift by using items like handkerchiefs, blankets or scarves.
Use fun cloth bags of all sizes and patterns to enclose your gift.
Make your own wrapping paper by using the plain backside of used paper and decorating it with stamps or other design elements like flowers and hearts.
Go rustic by using recycled brown parcel or butcher paper tied in twine or cloth ribbon.
For smaller gifts, try using jars or reusable containers.
If you have something fragile, opt for shredded paper or used tissue paper instead of polystyrene packing material.
We all love our moms, but remember when you’re honoring her to do something for Mother Earth, too. Happy Mother’s Day!
Source: https://medium.com/red-rose/mother-earth-a-mothers-day-poem-for-you-4de7aabb9f69
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