Our new study investigated whether meat consumption increases as income increases. We specifically tested if there’s a point at which improvements in GDP per capita are no longer associated with greater meat consumption. In other words, in a world of increasing GDP, when might meat consumption peak?

After analysing data for 35 countries, we identified such a tipping point at around US$40,000 (A$57,000) of GDP per capita. Only six of the 35 countries, however, had reached this, with other countries continuing on an increasing trajectory.

Overall, we found each person worldwide ate, on average, 4.5 kilograms more meat per year in 2019 than in 2000. While we can’t say what’s behind the general choice to eat more meat, our study identifies some insightful trends.

The problem with meat

Emissions from meat production are largely due to land clearing, including deforestation, to create more pasture and grow feed for livestock.

To put it into perspective, human settlements occupy only 1% of the planet’s landmass, while livestock grazing and feed production use 27%. Compare this to 7% used for crop production for direct human consumption, and 26% occupied by forests.

As a result, a recent UK study found a vegetarian diet produces 59% less emissions than a non-vegetarian one. And interestingly, it found that the average diet for men in the UK had 41% more emissions than that of women, because of their greater intake of meat and other animal-based products.

Despite the growing evidence and awareness of the climate impact of our diets, we found the average amount of meat – beef, poultry, pork and sheep – a person ate each year increased from 29.5kg in 2000 to 34kg in 2019.

Poultry is the most popular option (14.7kg), followed by pork (11.1kg) and beef (6.4kg).

Poultry on the rise

Nearly all countries studied (30 of 35) experienced a steady increase in annual per capita poultry consumption between 2000 and 2019. It doubled in 13 countries, with more than 20kg eaten each year in Peru, Russia and Malaysia.

In addition to the poultry industry’s long-term focus on creating cheap and convenient food, many western consumers are now replacing beef with poultry. One possible reason is because of its smaller environmental footprint: chickens require less land and generate much lower emissions than cattle.

However, this comes at a price. It exposes the world, including Australia, to new virus outbreaks such as the bird flu, and results in the overuse of antibiotics in farm animals. This could lead to antimicrobial resistance developing, and the loss of antibiotics to treat human bacterial infections.

Industrial farming practices have added further pressures, with animals raised in confined spaces where they’re easily exposed to pathogens, viruses and stress, making them more prone to disease.

We have seen similar impacts in China, the world’s largest producer and consumer of pork. Our analysis revealed major dietary fluctuations, such as when pork consumption dropped substantially in 2007 after prices increased by over 50%, following outbreaks of swine influenza and SARS outbreaks in humans at the time.

Which countries have reached peak meat?

While meat consumption increased around the world on average, taking a closer look at individual countries reveals a more complicated story.

Of the 35 countries we studied, 26 had a clear correlation between GDP growth and meat consumption levels. For the remaining nine, there was no such a correlation, while six appeared to have reached a meat consumption peak: New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland, Paraguay, Nigeria and Ethiopia. The reasons for this span both sides of the economic wealth spectrum.

The three western countries may have reduced meat consumption because of conscious preferences for plant-based foods, as the health and environmental benefits become more well known. Most notably, people in New Zealand decreased their average consumption from 86.7kg in 2000 to 75.2kg in 2019.

For the remaining three countries, reaching the peak probably wasn’t voluntary, but related to economic downturn, weather calamities and virus outbreaks. In Paraguay, for example, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2011 resulted in cattle slaughter.

Australia continues to be one of the world’s top meat-eating countries, with an annual consumption of 89.6kg per capita in 2019, up from 88.2kg per capita in 2000. Most of this was poultry.

Outdoor livestock are extremely vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as droughts, heat waves and floods. This is one reason the share of beef in Australia’s meat exports decreased by 15%, due to weather extremes and drought during 2019. Beef consumption in Australia still remains high in relative terms.

Meat was left out of climate talks

Meat consumption was largely left out of the debates at the international climate change summit in Glasgow, Scotland, last month. Our study makes it clear this omission is unacceptable.

The food we eat is a personal choice, but it needs to be an informed personal choice. The climate, environmental and health and welfare implications of our food choices require awareness and role setting not only by climate warriors such as activist Greta Thunberg, but also by policy leaders.

There were two positive developments at the climate summit: the agreement to put a stop to deforestation (which was joined by Australia) and the collective pledges to reduce the levels of methane (which Australia did not join).

The relationships between deforestation and livestock, and between methane emissions and livestock, must be made transparent. Otherwise, it will be difficult to expect people to shift their food preferences towards more plant-based meals.

The change could start with what we put on our plates this holiday season.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Authors: Diana Bogueva, Team Manager/ Adjunct Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Sydney; Clare Whitton, , Curtin University; Clive Phillips, Former Foundation Professor of Animal Welfare, University of Queensland, Curtin University, and Dora Marinova, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University

Recommending reading:

• Net-Zero Emissions: The Countries and Corporations Working Towards Carbon Neutrality by 2050
• 6 Ways Small Businesses Can Honour World Environment Day
• 5 Climate Takeaways From the G7 Summit in Cornwall
• Win the War On Waste by Offsetting Your Plastic Footprint and Going Plastic Neutral
• Wells Fargo Joins Largest U.S. Banks in Setting Net-Zero Emissions Goal
• Companies Are Developing ‘False’ Solutions to Plastic Pollution, New Report Reveals
• European Union’s Ambitious Climate Roadmap and How It Will Impact Africa and Other Developing Nations

Cover image by Rumman Amin.

The post How Much Meat Do We Eat? New Figures Show 6 Countries Have Hit Their Peak appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

Here are some reasons why it’s crucial to start throwing a green Thanksgiving dinner:

Animal agriculture

Over 100 world leaders came together at Glasgow, Scotland in October for COP26 with the aim of reaching agreements on how each nation can tackle the climate crisis and keeping temperature from rising over 1.5 degrees celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. It seems the final agreement settled at the conference by world leaders fell short.

While we wait for world leaders to move the needle on the crisis, there are still many things we can do as global citizens to take climate action. One easy and simple way to mitigate of the rapidly escalating effects of climate change is to eat more plant-based meals. Livestock emits more greenhouse gases compared than all transportation emissions in the world combined. However, leaders have dismissed this fact. This is why a plant-based solution is our best bet to catapult us into a better future.

So when preparing Thanksgiving dinner, aim to serve more plant-based meals. Check this post out for easy, super tasty vegan meals you can prepare for the occasion. Want to go further? Make sure to sign the Plant-Based Treaty and share it with you networks.

Animal cruelty

Hundreds of slaughterhouses are getting ready to give in to the carnivorous demands and appetites of those who are preparing to celebrate an opulent feast for Thanksgiving. Crammed in industrial farms before being prepared for human consumption, turkeys’ beaks and toes are removed to prevent the birds from harming each other in confined spaces. In 2018 alone, over two million turkeys were slaughtered in the United States and over six million turkeys were slaughtered in 2018 worldwide. Last year, over 200 million were slaughtered in the US alone.

Give these birds a chance, adopt a turkey for Thanksgiving. Give our planet a chance, and push for the Plant-Based Treaty.

Health

We have been programmed to over-indulge even on regular days so it’s no surprise that on Thanksgiving we gorge ourselves and overeat, giving in to our gluttonous side. It is no wonder that health threats such as heart and diabetic issues are a concern during Thanksgiving.

It’s for this reason that the US Surgeon General declared Thanksgiving as a day to celebrate National Family Health History Day back in 2004 – to urge families to record their family’s health history. So start a conversation with your relatives to know where you are – health and genetic conditions-wise. Being aware of your family’s health background will make you more mindful of what to eat and what you plan to prepare for the family during Thanksgiving or any other day.

While it is highly unlikely that majority will go for a vegan turkey (tofurkey!) to carve on Turkey day, there are plenty of healthy, sustainable and delicious alternative recipes that your tastebuds will enjoy.

Food waste

It should be mentioned that while Thanksgiving dinner focuses on gratitude and giving thanks, it’s equally important that while giving thanks to the elaborate meal laid out in front of you, that you also aim to reduce food waste. A major contributor to the climate catastrophe, the food wasted in the US alone during Thanksgiving is a staggering 200 million pounds worth of leftovers every year. Out of the 200 lbs of food wasted during this time, only 6.3% of it gets composted. So if there is food waste at the end of the day that cannot be fed to your pets, make sure to compost it. Food waste sitting in landfills create methane, an extremely potent greenhouse gas worse than carbon dioxide.

Recommending reading:

• How to Host a Zero Waste Christmas Celebration This Year
• 12 Affordable Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas for He/Him (Under $35)
• The Christmas Gift Guide to Eco-Friendly Gadgets for Tech-Lovers and Geeks
• Eco-Friendly Recycled Christmas Wrapping Paper That Empowers Girls in Developing Countries
• The Anti-Consumerist Guide to Christmas Gift Giving
• 15 Cruelty-Free and Vegan Xmas Gifts For Eco Beauty Lovers
• 30 Tips for a Zero Waste and COVID-Safe Christmas and New Year Celebrations

Cover image by Brooke Lark.

The post Why You Should Celebrate a Green Thanksgiving appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

Over the years we’ve published many articles on veganism and plant-based living but this year we wanted to curate a list of some kickass brands and folks creating animal-cruelty free crafts that we never thought possible. Salute to these rulebreakers giving vegans a chance to live their values and pushing for a peaceful, compassionate and animal-friendly world through their products.

Play music with a vegan guitar

You lift the guitar up from where it’s sitting and immediately, there’s spell on your fingers as you strum and pluck and fondle the strings as you play the tunes. Suddenly, a rapport between the guitarist and the instrument is in the air.

But a deeper and more soulful connection between them becomes more than just the sound produced when the guitar that had been crafted is created with compassion and respect. A regular guitar often uses animal bone for the guitar nuts, saddles and pins. The inlay on regular guitars can be made from mother of pearl and abalone shells. The glue that is used to seal things together contain the substance called casein which is an adhesive made from milk protein.

Cue Bedell Guitars, a business making handcrafted guitars that promote vegan lutherie; there are no animal byproducts in their vegan guitar range. Plus, they use sustainably-sourced materials too. And when guitars are made with love for all life as Bedell Guitars are, there’s more magic in the acoustics, there’s wizardry charging from instrument to hands and there is sorcery in the air. The music will never fade because the sound of respect and kindness reverberates in the air.

Roll in the hay with a vegan sex kit

For most of us, our built-in appendages are enough to satisfy our sexual urges and desires. However, for those looking for some extra fun or just some novelty to keep things spicy, you can now “go vegan” in the bedroom. Here is the ultimate vegan sex kit for the playful vegans:

Rose Body Butter

A rose body butter can be concocted in your very own kitchen. It is a sustainable and healthy recipe which is safe enough to also be used as a sex lube! So, go whip up that rose body butter and make a night out of it. You can find a tutorial for whipped rose body butter here.

Sustain Condoms

Condoms contain the substance casein which is a milk protein making it non-vegan. Sustain Condoms promote safe sex and respect for animals; they are made from the healthiest ingredients without any additives, animal byproduct, and is better for the planet and your body.

Rose Massage Oil

A rose infused oil is the perfect tool for a sensual massage and the pleasure of a steamy touch can easily boost your libido. Here’s a simple way on how you can make your own rose infused massage oil.

Vegan Sex Toy

Tantus sex toys are safe, flexible and easy to clean. They come in all shapes and sizes and offer a wide selection of choices for the super kinky!

Try herbalism

Herbalism is as old as the world and going back to the ancient and natural way to heal ourselves gives us the chance to cultivate a whole new relationship with plants, the environment as well as with our body. Check out our previous post to get to know about this traditional healing practice and the amazing herbalists who are committed to promoting a farm to pharmacy way of healing.

Recommended reading:

• A Guide to the Best Vegan Sandals of 2021
• Thankyou’s New Range of Vegan Beauty Products is Completely Plastic-Free
• 20 Items That Should Be On Your Zero Waste List
• Why You Should Be Using Vegan Makeup Brushes
• Where to Shop Online For Sustainable, Plastic-Free and Zero Waste Products in Australia
• Introducing the World’s First Vegan Bag Made From Recycled Car Glass
• Dutch Brand Introduces Plant-Based Fish Substitute in Response to Seaspiracy

Cover image by Juno Jo.

The post It’s World Vegan Day. Here Are Some Out-of-the-Box Ways You Can Celebrate appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

Our need for ceramics began before they were even used for decorative purposes. As far back as 4500 BC, our ancestors used it as kitchenware. In fact, pottery may just be the oldest handicraft in the world. These exquisite artifacts showcase the evolution of arts and culture across civilisations and what is astounding is that many of these masterpieces were fashioned from dirt!

Clay ceramics and porcelain are made from the earth and when their purpose is over, they go back to, well, the earth. However, what originally was an all-natural, hand-thrown art has evolved to a practice that has become rather hazardous to human health and the planet’s. Adding plastics to the clay mix to make them more durable, glazing the clay with lead compounds or leaving heavy carbon footprint with just the process of firing the clay in the kiln are just some ways our love of pottery can cause pollution and damage.

Some potters are taking a more sustainable approach to pottery such as embracing ‘greenware firing’ and recycling ceramic waste. Here are just some of the places you can find sustainable, handcrafted vases and flower vessels made by passionate potters and talented artisans:

Alma Terra Pottery

Founded by Jessica Ruiz, a Chilean living in Australia (where the ceramicist discovered her love for pottery), Alma Terra Pottery is handmade, small batch pottery that is designed for the art lover’s home. Ruiz is fairly new to this raw craft but creates quirky, utilitarian pieces like a master potter. Her unique pieces are ideal to give as a present. Alma Terra ceramics are all handmade using 10 stoneware in the beautiful Ovens Valley in Victoria.  

Here and Now Pottery

Here and Now pottery is proudly and sustainably made in the Ukraine. Founder Yuliya Makliuk crafts each piece by hand and is dedicated to practicing her craft without consuming too much energy and producing lots of waste. Finding ways to incorporate broken ceramic shards, glass shards and even clay waste sludges into existing pieces, Here and Now Pottery proves that minimal waste pottery is possible. All ceramic items, except for the large vases, are packed plastic-free and even Christmas tree ornaments are made with reclaimed clay and hemp thread.

KINTO

Made of porcelain and handcrafted by artisans in Hasami, Japan, these stylish, high-quality ceramic vases suit the minimalist home. Japanese porcelain dates as far back as 1300 years and in the region of Hasami, about 400 years old. KINTO employs local craftspeople who keep the heritage artform alive.

Related Post: 2°EAST Sustainable Watches: Minimalist Design, Maximum Sustainability

Udumbara

Founded in 1994 and made in a studio-showroom in Kallio Finland, Udumbara has built a reputation on luxury earth-friendly pottery and handmade sculptures made from red clay. Potter and artisan Eva Spoof hand-spins her flower pots into a beautiful and durable work of art that will suit many corners of your home – inside or out.

Oxford Clay Ceramics

It amazes me how incredible people can be. As much as we have gotten used to consuming too much and then producing a lot of waste, here comes the great souls who do whatever they can to take care of the planet, such as Katherine Tomlinson who handcrafts vegan-certified ceramics at Oxford Clay Ceramics in the UK.

Using eco-conscious pottery glazing, 100% renewable energy and zero animal byproducts Oxford Clay Ceramics’ sophisticated, dainty and eco-friendly vases and vessels make a wonderful addition to the vegan home.

Related Post: The Ultimate Guide to Decorating a Vegan Home

Nature By Hand

Nature by Hand is made in Denmark and offers craftsmanship that is in harmony with nature. All handcrafted products have a minimalist, earth tone design with a stylish flair. Each work of art features natural materials and are so well-made that all their items look high-end and expensive.

Pagburnayan

Rather than a shop, Pagburnayan in the main Filipino dialect of Tagalog translates to a place to make pots. And you can hit terra cotta heaven in Vigan, Ilocos Sur in the Philippines where jars upon jars of earthenware are found. However, there are a lot of towns in Ilocos where you can find a Pagburnayan (pottery shops) to buy the famous clay pots known as burnay.

A burnay is originally used to age vinegar, wine and bagoong (or fish paste) but these jars, that come in all sizes, are also used in a lot of different ways such as using it as a plant or flower pot.

Some burnay artisans are still practicing the ancient art form of making pots in Ilocos – where the clay that is mixed with sand is trampled by a carabao (a water buffalo native to the Philippines), pressed and molded by hand before baking the pot in an open kiln then leaving it to dry. However, these days some burnay artisans use a more sustainable approach of greenware pottery where pots are unglazed and unfired which is more eco-friendly than the general practice.

Second-hand vessels

For a wide selection of secondhand vases and used vessels, you can also check out Etsy, eBay, Facebook Marketplace or your local thrift store and op-shop. Many of these places carry heaps of pre-loved vases and pots that range from antique chic to whimsical.

Recommending reading:

• 10 Best Places to Find (or Sell) Your Second-Hand Furniture in Australia
• Best Flower Growing Books for Beginner Slow Flower Farmers
• The Art of Slow Living: Chasing Less, Living More
• 7 Creative Gifts for Plant and Flower Lovers
• Flower Photography: Tips for Taking Stunning Photos of Flowers
• How to Challenge Neoliberalism’s Mantra of Consumerism and Infinite Growth to Save the Planet

Cover image via KINTO/Made Trade.

The post Where to Shop Ethical and Sustainable Vases and Flower Vessels appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

In recent weeks alone, Ben & Jerry’s has launched a new ice-cream flavour called “Change is Brewing” to support Black-owned businesses and raise awareness of the People’s Response Act, proposed legislation to establish a new public safety agency in the US.

Lego declared it would promote inclusive play and address harmful gender stereotypes with its toys. Mars Food rebranded Uncle Ben’s rice to Ben’s Original in response to criticisms of the racial caricatures in its marketing.

At the same time, businesses have a chequered history when it comes to engaging with societal problems, from self-serving “box ticking” corporate practices under the guise of social responsibility to shifting responsibility to consumers to make ethical choices (such as reusable coffee cups).

More recently, “woke washing” has seen brands promoting social issues without taking meaningful action. Consider fast fashion brands that promote International Women’s Day while simultaneously profiting from the exploitation of female workers.

Change from within

How then can brands legitimately shoulder responsibility to support or promote societal transformation?

Our research introduces the idea of “transformative branding”. This involves companies working with customers, communities and even competitors to co-create brands that lead on both market and social fronts.

Transformative branding can be achieved by for-profit organisations, not-for-profits and social enterprises. The common factor is balancing business and societal goals to create change from within the market system.

Marketing concepts with a social edge have proliferated in the past 50 years, but finding actual solutions has been less successful. We ask how corporations can act to genuinely contribute to society and show how transformative branding can help brands shoulder that responsibility.

Beyond making money

Transformative branding works via two main market-shaping elements: leadership and collaborative coupling. These enable companies to partner with stakeholders to change their business landscapes.

First, leadership involves building a vision for the transformation. This requires leaders to think flexibly and creatively, work to long time horizons and stay attuned to changing ideologies. This involves fundamentally re-imagining what branding can do – beyond making money.

Second, collaborative coupling involves implementing this vision across the different dimensions of the brand. Key to this is mobilising stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, suppliers, governments, communities and competitors.

When the brand and its stakeholders collectively throw their weight behind the goal of transformation, it signals commitment, distributes expertise and resources and establishes legitimacy.

Leadership and collaborative coupling work together to change the business environment. Our research shows this has ripple effects, creating opportunities for transforming economic, regulatory, socio-cultural and political environments.

Transformative branding in practice

Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard is a good example of transformative branding at work, particularly in his candid admission that the notion of a fully sustainable business is “impossible”. Instead, Patagonia has reframed its priorities around responsibility, with Chouinard re-imagining the brand as a solution to environmental degradation.

This vision is central to the brand’s iconic “demarketing” campaign, “Don’t buy this jacket”, which aims to shift the consumption ideology from purchase to repair.

More recently, Patagonia’s “Buy Less, Demand More” campaign and its “Worn Wear” scheme for used apparel have brought the notion of a circular economy into the company’s strategy to promote a culture of reuse rather than always buying new.

Dutch chocolate brand Tony’s Chocolonely demonstrates collaborative coupling in its campaign to clean up production and supply chain practices in the chocolate manufacturing industry, and to eliminate illegal child labour and modern slavery.

The company’s “open chain platform” helps all industry players, including competitors, to foster equitable and transparent supply chains and ensure a living income is paid to cocoa farmers. The brand actively erodes its own potential competitive advantage in the process.

Staying sceptical

But transformative branding is complex and dynamic, and authenticity is paramount. For instance, earlier this year, Tony’s was removed from watchdog organisation Slave Free Chocolate’s ethical producers list over its partnership with a major chocolate producer being sued for allegedly using slave labour.

Tony’s responded by claiming it was important to educate and inspire business partners and competitors to adopt ethical principles and practices.

This complex and often slow process of negotiating what it means to be ethical is all part of transformative branding. It adapts to the differing goals and values of many stakeholders.

And while transformative branding offers a path towards a more sustainable and equitable future, we should continue to cast a critical eye on brands claiming to be a force for good, challenge them and hold them accountable where necessary.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Authors: Amanda Spry, Lecturer of Marketing, RMIT University; Bernardo Figueiredo, Associate Professor of Marketing, RMIT University; Jessica Vredenburg, Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Marketing, Auckland University of Technology; Joya Kemper, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, University of Auckland, and Lauren Gurrieri, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, RMIT University.

Recommending reading:

• Net-Zero Emissions: The Countries and Corporations Working Towards Carbon Neutrality by 2050
• 6 Ways Small Businesses Can Honour World Environment Day
• 5 Climate Takeaways From the G7 Summit in Cornwall
• Win the War On Waste by Offsetting Your Plastic Footprint and Going Plastic Neutral
• Wells Fargo Joins Largest U.S. Banks in Setting Net-Zero Emissions Goal
• Companies Are Developing ‘False’ Solutions to Plastic Pollution, New Report Reveals
• European Union’s Ambitious Climate Roadmap and How It Will Impact Africa and Other Developing Nations

Cover image via Patagonia.

The post Consumers Are Wise to ‘Woke Washing’ – But Truly ‘Transformative Branding’ Can Still Make a Difference appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

Unlike most technology advancements, cryptocurrency directly impacts and disrupts the government in an area that has been under their exclusive control for a very long time; that is the subject of money. Put differently, world leaders have always controlled the degree as well as value of the fiat currencies in circulation in their countries through their national banks. Blockchain technology upon which cryptocurrencies are based has turned this around by its decentralised nature.

In the context of blockchain, decentralisation refers to the equitable distribution of a database across multiple participants, each of whom has a complete copy of the blockchain. Decentralisation’s major feature is, in theory, this. We have a common database with the whole history of money transfers, user account numbers, and other information that is saved on millions of PC systems that are constantly synchronized with each other, rather than on a single server. All transactions are transparent and recorded but for various good reasons, cannot be singled-handedly altered, modified or controlled by any one person.

A central or national bank is no longer required because Bitcoin, the currency, can be produced by anyone running a full node. Peer-to-peer transfers between two parties on Bitcoin’s network means that intermediaries are no longer required to manage and distribute currency. It is this principle of decentralisation that has made Bitcoin the safest, most reliable and sought-after cryptocurrency on the market. And like most other progressive advancements, blockchain technology has become subject to strong regulations and sometimes downright hostility by governments and regulators. Just a few weeks ago, the Chinese government declared cryptocurrency transactions to be illegal and banned.

Related Post: With Cryptocurrency Launch, Facebook Sets its Path Toward Becoming an Independent Nation

The general and most popular reason presented by these countries and governments is that cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin are unstable investment vehicles and pose dangers to citizens and their economic well-being. While it is their responsibility to care, it will take a lot for me to believe that this is sincere especially as they don’t really mind if banks screw over their citizens all the time.

Another excuse of course is that cryptocurrency is being utilized by criminals and therefore should be banned. This argument falls flat when you think about the fact that the dollar has long been the de facto currency of the criminal underworld. The difference between the dollar and Bitcoin is that the Nigerian government (as well as other governments) can determine who gets what which is critical for power.

I believe the real reason for this crackdown on crypto and blockchain is that government’s fear of losing control. Cryptocurrency by its very nature of decentralisation takes away the power of control from these governments. With crypto, central banks are virtually useless as they are not needed to print money since Bitcoin, the currency, can be produced by anyone running a full node. And the government and Central Banks are not required to serve as intermediaries of trust either. With Peer-to-peer transfers and the open ledger, all transactions can be confirmed by everyone on the network. With this structure, the governments are robbed of power, control and relevance.

For instance, during the #ENDSARS protests in Nigeria, young people were unable to fully donate towards the protest through regular banking channels due to government pressure on banks and banking platforms. In a matter of hours, the aggrieved youths resorted to the use of cryptocurrency and Bitcoin, successfully ignoring the government and their antics. Such seamless transition represented the greatest fear of the Nigerian government (and a lot of other governments). In the aftermath of the protests in 2020, the government started a crackdown on cryptocurrency trading. By February 2021 it officially declared bitcoin trading illegal in Nigeria.

Related Post: Forceful or Conciliatory– What Form Should Activism Take?

All the arguments by governments about the “dangers” of cryptocurrency falls on deaf ears in light of what it offers these youths; a straight shot at financial freedom and independence. In Nigeria youth unemployment stands at a whooping 33%. The minimum wage can barely meet needs. Chances of getting well paying government jobs are seriously marred by corruption and nepotism.

Today however, with a smartphone and some data, cryptocurrency offers many Nigerian youth the allure of financial freedom as straightforward as it may come. It also offers a chance to build wealth that is inflation proof. In the last five years, the Nigerian Naira has lost 30% of its value against the dollar. The inflation rate currently stands at 16.6% with food inflation at 20%. The situation might not be as dire in places such as the US, but parallels can be drawn. According to data from the Federal Reserve, millennials born between 1981 and 1996 control only 4.6% of wealth in the US. With these realities, it is no surprise that young people worldwide have embraced cryptocurrency.

For youths in developing nations like mine, the blockchain technology and crypto offers something valued even beyond financial freedom; a critical survival ingredient called hope. A hope that there is something in the future for them. Along with this hope is a sense of belonging, a formation of a new identity, and the promise of breaking out of a certain prison of birth. It Is perhaps this hope that the government seeks to control and perhaps even crush.

While regulations might come down hard, the good news is that the global crypto community sees them as just bumps in the road. In Nigeria, the youths responded with overwhelming but unsurprising resistance finding ways to circumvent the crackdown and the restrictive laws on cryptocurrency trading. Despite the government efforts to nip things in the bud here, according to Coinbase, Nigeria has the highest peer-to-peer trading adoption in the world. 

A better approach might be geared towards legislation aimed at fostering the development of the cryptocurrency. Digital currencies are the future, that much is clear. These kinds of waves are unstoppable. We can battle them, but to what end and effect? We can choose to ignore them, but only at our danger and risk of missing out. If our leaders really cared, the best thing they can do here is learn to ride these crypto waves, and use them to our collective advantage.

Recommending reading:

• Tesla’s Bitcoin About-Face is a Warning for Cryptocurrencies that Ignore Climate Change
• Increasing Women’s Participation in Politics: Lessons From African Protests
• 5 Climate Takeaways From the G7 Summit in Cornwall
• Explaining Cryptocurrencies and Why They’re Killing the Planet
• Wells Fargo Joins Largest U.S. Banks in Setting Net-Zero Emissions Goal
• Companies Are Developing ‘False’ Solutions to Plastic Pollution, New Report Reveals
• European Union’s Ambitious Climate Roadmap and How It Will Impact Africa and Other Developing Nations

Cover image by Executium.

The post As Governments Crack Down on Crypto, the Hopes for Financial Independence Fades appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

noun

: a feeling of enjoyment that comes from seeing or hearing about the troubles of other people

In recent times, the world has witnessed quite the dramatic increase in climate-related natural disasters in the global West. The Amazon rainforest, once one of the world’s largest and most important carbon sinks, now produces more CO2 than it removes. From the German and US floods to the wildfires in Turkey and Italy, news media has been awash with think-pieces on the climate change issue with focus on the wealthier nations. The rush is of such a nature that, as a journalist put it on Twitter, suddenly ‘every journalist is about to become a climate journalist’. With these devastating environmental events arriving on the heels of the COVID pandemic, jokes have been thrown around as to the end of the world and questions on whether or not Mother Nature has begun to fight back has been repeatedly asked. It’s almost as if the issue of climate change just surfaced in 2021.

I have realized that the big news is not that there are climate disasters happening; the world has seen those for some time. Some flooding in Peru or Brazil or India is not much of a surprise. These things are particularly scary not because they are floods but because of where they are happening. What has everyone worried is that these disasters are now happening in cities that were before now “untouched” by the climate crisis.

The rest of the world has been battling with the effects of climate change for some time now. Mozambique, for one has had a higher than normal number of cyclones with death tolls in the thousands. This is hardly surprising when you consider that a few years ago, the World Bank estimated that the poor developing nations across the globe will bear the brunt of climate change events like these. I should point out here that these developing countries are not responsible for carbon emissions or climate change. For instance, Africa’s 54 countries produce 2-3% of global carbon emissions and are only responsible for 1% of all historic carbon emissions. On the other hand, the US has contributed more excess carbon dioxide than any other country on the planet.

In the last few years the response of most developed countries towards the climate crisis has been that of benevolent indulgence. Meetings have been held, conferences and summits hosted, promises made but in the end, little action has been taken. The appearance of action that we have witnessed has been more for political expediency than any actual attempt to provide sustainable solutions to the crisis. I do not blame them entirely. The major indicators of a climate crisis in these countries have been mostly political; protests by school students, the climate as an issue for voters. With the events of the past few weeks I can’t help but think that perhaps there will be a collective realisation that climate change is not a fight for developing nations alone. At least I hope so.

Back in July, when Germany and some neighboring countries experienced unusual floods during the summer, scientists blamed the changing climate for the floods as hundreds of lives were lost. In an interview with BBC one of the survivors of the flooding said words that I find very poignant and which I feel the need to repeat here. “You can imagine this sort of thing happening in Asia, but not here”. Another survivor in an interview with DW said “…there are so many people dead. You don’t expect people to die in a flood in Germany, you expect it maybe in poor countries but you don’t expect it here. But it was all too fast, too quick”.

These comments might be politically incorrect and cringeworthy to many residing in the poorer nations but in reality, they are not surprising. When you look beyond the press conferences on climate action, you will understand that most of the Global West and their leaders share this sentiment. Whether or not this stance is solely based on World Bank estimates earlier noted, remains unclear.

My people have an old saying: a funeral procession appears insignificant to a bystander until the death hits his own home. The wealthy nations can no longer look away in this case because now, their houses are being affected as well as ours. Things like devastation from hurricanes and flooding are no longer the results of the incompetence in developing countries. The climate and weather occurrences of the last couple of months have perhaps made it clearer to us all that climate change is an actual global crisis that cannot be solved by merely just having big economies or strong militaries.

To be clear, this is by no means an attempt to mock the people affected by these events, I know firsthand how these events can turn life upside and bring sadness and grief. What I feel is a real sense of vindication and hope that we might be on a verge of a collective awakening. That been said, I will not advise you to hold your breath though as the wealthier nations have shown an unusual collective knack for being tone deaf towards the plight of other people beyond themselves. It could be that these countries will double down and consume even more of the world’s resources in hopes of a perceived immunity from climate change and all its attendant problems. Or they just might make the choice to do better.

As COP26 is around the corner, coming on the heels of the events of the past weeks, for the sake of all of us, I hope our countries do better. Climate change has been slow and in the making for a while now. It weaves through our daily lives – from global politics and business trade to sea levels and weather to the clothes we choose to wear and the food we can eat. I hope at the end of it all, we aren’t only left with more kinds of tragic stories to tell.

Recommending reading:

• Net-Zero Emissions: The Countries and Corporations Working Towards Carbon Neutrality by 2050
• 6 Ways Small Businesses Can Honour World Environment Day
• 5 Climate Takeaways From the G7 Summit in Cornwall
• Win the War On Waste by Offsetting Your Plastic Footprint and Going Plastic Neutral
• Wells Fargo Joins Largest U.S. Banks in Setting Net-Zero Emissions Goal
• Companies Are Developing ‘False’ Solutions to Plastic Pollution, New Report Reveals
• European Union’s Ambitious Climate Roadmap and How It Will Impact Africa and Other Developing Nations

Cover photo by Alexandros Michailidis.

The post Schadenfreude: Climate Change Meets the Global West appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

If you are a florist looking to improve on the fundamentals and practice floristry using a more eco-friendly approach, here are a few simple tips that will help you become more sustainable.

Ditch floral foam

The use of floral foam in the floral design industry is prevalent as it often forms the foundation of flower arrangements; providing a water source to help keep flowers fresh throughout an event.

However, floral foam is a large contributor to waste in the floral design business. Not only is floral foam often single-use, it is also a petroleum-derived product made from two toxic chemicals – phenol and formaldehyde. This plastic material breaks down into smaller pieces becoming microplastics which destroys habitats and is ingested by wildlife when released into the natural environment.

A more sustainable alternative to floral foam is chicken wire. A malleable material, it can be cut and molded into a ball that will hold the structure of a flower arrangement in place. Moss can also be used as a water source to keep the arrangement fresh rather than using plastic floral foam.

For a quick tutorial on how to use the chicken wire a compote arrangement, check out this YouTube video.

Source locally grown flowers and foliage

Who knew that with so many plants and flowers involved, that the floriculture industry isn’t really as green as it seems? In our previous post we outlined the environmental costs of the fast flower trade. Roughly 90% of flowers in the United States are imported from other countries, such as Ecuador or Colombia. Once the processed flowers are loaded in the refrigerated truck, the race against time begins to ensure that these chilled flowers are delivered to their destination as preserved and intact as possible. They are taken to the cold storage facility near the airport, are prepped and packaged to be stacked and loaded in a chilled airplane and then delivered to various destinations – often this occurs on the same day they are harvested. Such a huge carbon footprint for a highly perishable item.

As a florist, sourcing flowers and foliage locally, from your own region or at the very maximum within your country’s borders, as well as sourcing organically grown flowers and native flowers, will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimise synthetic chemicals sprayed into the natural environment. You can find local flower farms that offer seasonal, local and organic blooms using the Grown Not Flown app, an app purposely built to help florists and customers find slow flower farms.

Related Post: The Best Flower Growing Books for Beginner Slow Flower Farmers

Recycle flower waste

There are tons of flower waste left in churches, temples, event places each and every day. A huge volume of these stale blooms are thrown in landfill and even in bodies of water where chemicals and insecticides – that were used to preserve these once-fresh blossoms – are washed away, poisoning marine life. Furthermore, rotting flowers are the perfect home for microbes that cause pollution, produce a harmful stench and even spread infectious diseases.

One way to manage flower waste is to encourage your customers to vermicompost the discarded blooms. It is not only an effective way to clean the environment from flower waste pollution but it also serves as an organic fertilizer. Alternatively, you can offer to remove the flowers after the event and compost these yourself.

Source secondhand

A cute flower shop attracts many – young and old, man, woman and non-binary alike. Decorating it successfully, especially your shop window, is critical to a successful floristry business. However, you don’t need to use brand new and expensive furniture and decor to beautify the place up. Sourcing items second hand will do the trick. Check out sites such as Facebook marketplace, Craigslist and eBay for preloved items – and you’ll save money by doing so too. The same applies for buckets and vessels.

Plastic-free packaging

Last but not least, go plastic-free. Veto plastic tape and cellophane and choosing to wrap bouquets and arrangements in natural, biodegradable materials such as recycled paper and paper tape such as Woodruff & Co’s eco-friendly tape that uses FSC-certified paper and also uses a vegetable adhesive derived from potato starch! And instead of using ribbons made of synthetic fabric such as polyester, opt for ribbon made of natural fibres such as cotton, hemp or silk.

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Recommending reading:

• 10 Pretty Flowers That You Can Actually Eat
• A Guide to the Best Dried Flowers and Plants to Decorate Your Sustainable Home
• From Veggie Gardening to Op-shopping, Migrants are the Quiet Environmentalists
• Edible Flowers: Popular, Cute and Profitable
• 15 Native Australian Foods to Forage or Grow Yourself
• Flower Photography: Tips for Taking Stunning Photos of Flowers
• 10 Ways to Style Your Indoor Space with Plants, Flowers and Greenery

Cover image by S O C I A L . C U T.

The post 5 Simple Ways Florists Can Become More Sustainable appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

In light of this legislation, it’s easy to believe that testing cosmetics on animals isn’t something that happens anymore – and that is in fact what many people believe. Unfortunately, reality is much bleaker: according to PETA’s estimates, approximately 300,000 animals are used every year in China alone for cosmetics testing, and the global figures are likely to be much higher.

What actually happens to animals in tests? Life in laboratories are akin to the stuff of nightmares: pregnant rabbits are force-fed ingredients, then killed with their unborn babies. Ingredients are rubbed into animals’ skin, dropped into their eyes, or forced down their throats. Animals used for cosmetics testing include rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, mice and dogs. They often live in small, barren cages, and after the test is concluded, the animals are most commonly killed.

PETA UK’s Science Policy Manager Dr Julia Baines joined the organisation after having worked in a laboratory that performs animal testing, and her experiences are haunting: “I’ve seen mice torn apart by cagemates who had been driven insane and made aggressive by the stress of confinement. I’ve visited laboratories where dogs are experimented on, and I’ll never forget the anguished cries of the beagles there, who were vying for attention, longing for someone to play with. I’ve observed primates imprisoned in cramped, almost barren cages – which have no ropes for them to swing on – who are given no opportunity to socialise. They’re so desperate for affection that they reach out to passing visitors, hoping for someone – anyone – to stop and notice them.”

Related Post: Everything You Need to Know About Transitioning to Vegan Beauty Products

But all of this doesn’t apply to our beauty products…correct? After all, if we live in a country where animal testing is banned, none of this happens for our lipsticks and face creams, right? Wrong. Let’s take the EU sales and marketing ban, for example. Under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) legislation, even ingredients that are used only for cosmetics can be tested on animals if there is any risk of workforce exposure during the production process. This constitutes a pretty major loophole. And this legislation – with all its imperfections – is now under threat, as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has introduced recent test requirements that circumvent it and put animals back in laboratories. ECHA is calling for new tests of ingredients that have been safely used for many years, and data on their safety already exists. To counteract this, animal protection groups such as PETA and Cruelty Free International, alongside cruelty-free beauty brands Dove and The Body Shop, have launched a European Citizens’ Initiative calling for the vital bans to be saved.

And then we have China – the second-biggest beauty market in the world, which requires cosmetic products that will be sold in the country to be tested on animals. This means that any brand which brings its products into China cannot be considered cruelty-free. So no, your favourite big-name brands from the beauty counter are not “automatically” cruelty-free just because of the bans. To know whether they are, it’s not enough to ask them whether they test on animals – but it can give helpful clues. Brands that do engage in animal testing are likely to say, “we never test on animals…unless required by law.” The requirements they are talking about are indeed those needed to be able to sell their products in China. So a better way of knowing if a brand is indeed cruelty-free is to find out whether they sell in China. Companies have been taken off cruelty-free lists for succumbing to the lure of selling in China, and others have pulled out of this huge, lucrative market in order to be approved as cruelty-free.

However, there is significant progress going on in China, too. Last year, the country put an end to the mandatory requirement for animal testing for many types of cosmetic products, including shampoo and most makeup. As monumental as this step is, it doesn’t mean that all animal testing for cosmetics in China is now over. The RSPCA notes that the change does not include “special-use cosmetics”, which applies to hair dye, sunscreen, and more. Companies that wish to avoid testing on animals also have to pass a series of application steps.

“We believe there’s absolutely no justification for causing animals to suffer for testing cosmetics, and consumers across the globe have shown that they feel the same,” the head of the RSPCA’s animals in science department, Dr Penny Hawkins, has told Dazed. “Whilst we of course welcome this step forward for China, globally we still have a long way to go before we see our ultimate aim realised of all animal experiments being replaced with humane alternatives.”

What humane alternatives is Dr Hawkins talking about? Well, considering the fact that over 90% of drugs tested on animals fail in human trials, it’s definitely time we stepped away from this outdated and inaccurate form of doing research – in all areas, not just cosmetics. And modern science does just that. Alternative methods include growing 3D structures from cells to mimic human organs, donated human tissue, and computer models. These methods are able to more accurately provide life-saving results than pretending that the body of a human and that of a mouse don’t have a variety of physical and biomedical differences that make animal testing unreliable.

Animal testing for cosmetics will one day come to an end. Before it does, there is only one sure-fire way to ensure you didn’t pay for a guinea pig to suffer for your eyeshadow: only buy from brands that are certified as cruelty-free. The main certifications are Cruelty Free International’s Leaping Bunny (commonly used in Europe), PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies programme (global, very prevalent in the US) and Choose Cruelty Free’s rabbit (the main Australian accreditation, which has recently become part of Cruelty Free International). Don’t trust companies’ own rabbit symbols and assurances. Go with the programmes that are proven to have a rigorous certification and verification process, and you can trust that the end products – and all ingredients – are truly cruelty-free.

Recommending reading:

• How Vegan Sneakers Became All The Rage
• 15 Celebrities and Famous People on Plant-Based Food, Veganism and Cruelty-Free Living
• 10 Plant-Based Influencers and Bloggers to Follow for Veganuary Inspiration
• 5 Ethical Fashion Books Newbies Must Read
• 10 Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Podcasts to Tune Into
• A Guide to the Best Vegan Sandals of 2021
• Can Vegans Get Botox?

Cover image by Elnur.

The post In 2021, How is Animal Testing for Cosmetics Still a Thing? appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

From their launch in 2017, female-founded food delivery business Your Food Collective has been taking a slice of Australia’s $7 billion online grocery sector. The company has achieved 135% year on year growth, a $1.6 million revenue run rate with profitable operations, and achieved 12% market penetration within their founding market. The sustainability focused food company is on track for $5 million in revenue in FY22.

“Food is key to achieving all of the 17 SDG outlined by the UN and we need to drive rapid, systemic change across all sectors of our food system to create a net zero emissions circular economy,” shares Your Food Collective Co-Founder and CEO Lauren Branson.

Over 95% of the fruit and veggies sourced by the company is grown within 250 kilometres of its headquarters. The business also works with local growers such as Hunter Valley Produce and Riverbank Organic who prioritise soil health and use regenerative farming practices

“If we can get food right, starting with the health of our soil, how our food is going, who it’s grown by and where it’s grown we can drive significant change and start building a food system that will nourish our people and the planet,” said Branson.

Research from the International FMCG/ CPG Report 2021 reveals that more than 54% of consumers are looking for sustainable, local brands they can trust. Your Food Collective is making responsibly grown food more accessible to Aussie consumers. It has built its own unique back-end fulfilment with a short supply food chain from local diverse producers, inventory predicting and just-in-time order to improve customer impact.

To date, the company has delivered nearly 50,000 orders, achieved over 60% reduction in household carbon emissions for over 15,000 households, and reduced food waste by up to 50% across the supply chain. Its technology and operating model has enabled market opportunities for over 100 Australian growers and producers.

The equity raise will enable the online grocery business to execute its growth strategy, with near-term plans to grow to $28 million in revenue from the Sydney and Newcastle markets. The company has its sights set on a nationwide service to scale its offering and impact across Australia.

Recommending reading:

• 10 Ways We Can Make the Food System More Sustainable
• What Are the Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen List of Foods?
• 7 Reasons Why Your Veggie Scraps Won’t Regrow
• Sustainable Seafood: Can Fish Really Be ‘Sustainably Farmed’?
• Why Eating Seasonally is the Key to Food Sustainability
• How My Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Saves Me Over $7,000 a Year
• Want to Reduce Your Food Waste at Home? Here are the 6 Best Evidence-Based Ways to do it

All images supplied.

The post Sustainability Focused Australian Online Grocery Platform Raises Equity to Fund Expansion appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

This characterisation may sound dramatic. After all, UN climate talks are held every year, and they’re usually pretty staid affairs. But next month’s COP26 summit is, without doubt, vitally important.

In the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, each nation pledged to ramp up their emissions reduction pledges every five years. We’ve reached that deadline – in fact, a one-year delay due to the COVID pandemic means six years have passed.

This five-yearly requirement set a framework for countries to reach net-zero emissions across the global economy by mid-century. The Glasgow summit is the first real stress test of whether the world can meet that goal.

Global mega-trend toward a clean economy

The Paris Agreement was the world’s first truly global treaty to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It set a shared goal for countries to limit global warming to 1.5? above the long-term average.

The agreement has been signed and ratified by 191 of the world’s 195 countries, giving it near-universal legitimacy.

But the actual emissions-reduction commitments countries brought to Paris, known as “Nationally Determined Contributions”, left the world heading toward 3? of warming this century. This outcome would be cataclysmic for ecosystems and human societies.

That’s why, every five years, countries must bring progressively stronger pledges to reduce emissions.

The years since the Paris summit have seen a dramatic shift towards climate action. Today, countries representing more than two-thirds of the global economy have set a firm date for achieving net-zero emissions.

More importantly many jurisdictions – including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan and Canada – have substantially strengthened their 2030 targets. This constitutes a powerful market signal, driving a global reallocation of private and public investment from fossil fuels toward clean energy solutions.

What’s at stake in Glasgow?

While the world is moving fast, there remains a crucial gap between current pledges and the goals of the Paris Agreement. Glasgow is seen as the last chance to close that gap and keep the 1.5? goal within reach.

Without stronger national commitments, we risk crossing irreversible “tipping points” in the Earth’s climate system, locking in uncontrollable global warming.

The Australian government has inched toward announcing net-zero emissions by 2050. But such a commitment will not be seen as particularly helpful in Glasgow.

In reality, such announcements are merely the summit’s entry ticket. Discussions have moved on, to ensuring much deeper cuts this decade.

Barring Australia, almost all advanced economies have set new 2030 targets to slash carbon pollution. By 2030 the UK, the summit’s host nation, plans to cut emissions by 68% below 1990 levels. Meanwhile, the US will cut emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels.

The G7 countries have announced they will collectively halve emissions by 2030. There are clear expectations Australia will follow suit.

At present, Australia plans to take to Glasgow the same 2030 target it took to Paris six years ago – a 26-28% cut by 2030, from 2005 levels. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hinted he will take an upgraded 2030 projection (rather than target), but this ruse won’t pass muster.

The Paris Agreement is about targets, and countries are required to set new targets representing “highest possible ambition”. If projections suggest we will outperform our target, a new 2030 target is clearly needed.

Global diplomatic pressure is driving a sea change in Australia’s climate politics. Just this month, the Business Council of Australia backed cuts to emissions by 46-50% by 2030. The Murdoch press has thrown its weight behind net-zero emissions. Even many conservative Nationals MPs appear to have dropped opposition to a net-zero target.

There is also dawning recognition within the Morrison government that the global energy transition is underway, and it will significantly boost Australia’s economy.

Thriving in a net-zero world

Australia’s economy is shaped by trends in the global marketplace. The international car market is switching rapidly to electric vehicles. And around the world, wind and solar energy are now cheaper than coal and gas.

Our export markets are changing too. As growing economies in Asia meet their climate targets, they will no longer want to buy coal and gas. Instead they’ll want renewable energy, delivered directly via undersea cable or stored as renewable hydrogen.

Such nations will still want Australian iron ore. But increasingly, they will want “green steel” made using hydrogen instead of coking coal.

Global demand for batteries, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies will drive Australian exports of critical minerals – including lithium, cobalt and rare earths. Globally, these minerals will be worth A$17.6 trillion over the next two decades.

With the right policy settings, Australia could grow a clean export mix worth A$333 billion annually, almost triple the value of existing fossil fuel exports.

Getting to net-zero could also create 672,000 jobs, and generate A$2.1 trillion in economic activity by mid-century.

Commitments in Glasgow will spark a global race toward net-zero. But it is not a race we should be scared of. If we embrace the transition, Australia will prosper. It’s time to get started – we have a world to win.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Author: Wesley Morgan, Researcher, Climate Council, and Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University.

Recommending reading:

• Net-Zero Emissions: The Countries and Corporations Working Towards Carbon Neutrality by 2050
• 6 Ways Small Businesses Can Honour World Environment Day
• 5 Climate Takeaways From the G7 Summit in Cornwall
• Win the War On Waste by Offsetting Your Plastic Footprint and Going Plastic Neutral
• Wells Fargo Joins Largest U.S. Banks in Setting Net-Zero Emissions Goal
• Companies Are Developing ‘False’ Solutions to Plastic Pollution, New Report Reveals
• European Union’s Ambitious Climate Roadmap and How It Will Impact Africa and Other Developing Nations

Cover image via COP26.

The post What is COP26 and Why Does the Fate of Earth, and Australia’s Prosperity, Depend on it? appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.

Torrential downpour, rain fury, record-breaking floods are prime examples of how the climate crisis is changing our lives.

Climate change has a huge impact on how the rain system works and the changes happening in our water cycle can either make some parts of the world a whole lot wetter (or drier, for that matter). Ever wondered why rainstorms are getting more intense? Climate change could explain why.

This year alone, severe flooding have occurred in different countries across different continents: China, India, Germany, Belgium, New Zealand, Philippines, Nigeria, Iran, Arizona – to name a few, have all been impacted by devastating floods.

And if you’re gearing up for the wet season and need proper rainwear for the annual monsoon spells and climate-induced apocalyptic floods, we’ve got you covered – and by proper, we mean choosing raincoats and rainwear that hasn’t been made from virgin synthetic materials such as nylon or PVC, materials that gravely contribute to the degradation of the environment and pose human health risks due to the fluorocarbon chemicals in the production process – chemicals that have been linked to cancer and kidney damage.

Since building an ark is out of the question, here’s a list of sustainable and ethical raincoats and rainwear to arm you during wet season.

365 Dry

Sustainable rainwear brand 365 Dry‘s raincoats are funky, fun and stylish, unisex rain gear that you can dance in the rain in. Responsibly made in Bali, Indonesia – where the heavy rain season is a natural occurrence each year and where disposable plastic ponchos are often found littering the beautiful island – 365 Dry’s eco-friendly and fashionable raincoats and ponchos made from Repreve, a material sourced from regenerated recycled plastic bottles, are 100% waterproof and are a far more superior and sustainable alternative.

Patagonia

Patagonia outdoor wear and rain jackets are made to protect you against natural elements. Founded by a group of mountain climbers who love and respect the planet, Patagonia has gone on to be the leading sustainable outdoor apparel brand in the world. This conscious outdoor and rainwear company is serious about producing long-lasting apparel for men, women and children that can withstand harsh and wet conditions – all while protecting people and planet.

Culthread

Who knew that rain jackets could look so classy? Female-founded sustainable luxury outerwear brand Culthread produces stylish vegan rainwear that can range from chic and classy to functional and edgy. Made from cruelty-free deadstock materials and recycled fabrics such as recycled polyester, you can feel good buying and wearing Culthread’s rainproof vegan jackets.

icebreaker

For cold-weather waterproof outdoor jackets and vests, make sure to check out icebreaker. Founded by Jeremy Moon in 1995 in New Zealand and now part of the VF Corporation, icebreaker pioneered the ethical and sustainable production of natural performance apparel, specialising in the use of merino wool in its clothing. Roughly 91% of icebreaker’s total fiber composition is now merino or plant-based. While the jacket ‘faces’ are made of nylon and polyester, the brand is committing to being completely plastic-free and synthetic-free by 2023. The brand also produces its products in China under fair factory conditions where suppliers are required to meet high ethical standards.

Baxter Wood

Raincoats aren’t made to make you look good or even bring out your fashion sense but Baxter Wood raincoats produce designs for all genders that aren’t only durable and reliable but they are sophisticated too! Baxter Wood raincoats are made from disposable plastic bottles which makes them waterproof. Plus, their boots are made from rubber that are non-toxic and biodegradable.

LangerChen

LangerChen’s high-quality, vegan urban rain gear and sustainable jackets are made from natural fibers and eco-friendly fabrics such as hemp and cotton, recycled polyester, deadstock fabrics or post-consumer waste. Prepare your eyes for some serious ogling as these rainproof sustainable coats are gorgeous and browsing through so many minimalist designs makes it impossible to choose just one! They produce eco-conscious rainwear designs for all genders.

Thought

This British conscious brand produces women’s clothing including rainwear that is made from a range of sustainable materials including organic cotton, hemp,recycled and leftover fabrics. What began with the founders’ shared love for natural and sustainable fabrics has become a 26-year-old sustainable brand committed to producing apparel that is kind to the earth and to everybody in the supply chain.

Lea & Jojo

Rainwear for the little ones shouldn’t only be environmentally friendly, but should also be free from toxic chemicals. Swiss rainwear label Lea & Jojo specializes in raincoats for kids that are both sustainable and non-toxic. Made from 100% recycled materials such as PET and old bottles, these raincoats are also 100% recyclable, waterproof, windproof and even dirt resistant. Perfect for the little ones.

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Disclosure: This curated list does not fully take into account all ethical considerations that are unique to each individual. Before making a purchase, we encourage you to do your own research paying particular attention to the supply chain and your own particular set of ethics. Prices are correct at time of publishing. For more information, click here. Cover image by LangerChen.

The post A Guide to Ethical and Sustainable Raincoats and Eco Rainwear Brands appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.