We are becoming increasingly aware that plastic never goes away. In fact, the U.S. is ranked #1 in plastic waste generation globally.¹ Did you know that plastics poison our food chain, threaten wildlife, and affect human health? As the facts pile up, we all need to be avoiding non-recyclable materials such as items wrapped in plastic film and plastic straws.
The impacts of products that are not sustainably produced are incredibly far-reaching and affect communities around the globe. Some of the major issues are greenhouse gas emissions, labor injustices, and groundwater contamination. At current levels, greenhouse gas emissions from the plastic lifecycle threaten the ability of the global community to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C degrees. By 2050, the greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach over 56 gigatons—10-13% of the entire remaining carbon budget. ² A carbon budget is the level of allowable emissions consistent with keeping warming below a specified limit. At the Paris Agreement, it was stressed that the need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius was of the utmost importance.
Using reusable items is a great way to combat these issues we are facing. Refilling a reusable water bottle instead of buying water in single-use plastic bottles is a great first step. Another simple solution is wrapping food in reusable food wraps instead of plastic film.
This is where the Ecology Center Store comes in to help! We have an extensive process that we use when we bring in new vendors and products. It’s important to us to make sure that what we sell is as aligned with our mission as possible, transforming the ideals of sustainability into everyday practice. Our Product Policy page is widely shared to ensure full transparency, so that you can trust what you are buying when you shop with us. And if you have any questions about our process, you can always email us at store@ecologycenter.org.
Our store carries products that encourage environmentally and socially responsible lifestyle practices and sustainable gift giving. We have a unique selection of products that are carefully vetted to fulfill our mission: to inspire and build a sustainable, healthy, and just future. We have a large variety of products for yourself, as well as gifts for others! Our selection includes housewares like Meli beeswax food wraps, baby clothes and gifts like Oli & Carol natural rubber bath toys, reusable bottles and food containers like Klean Kanteen TK Canisters, personal hygiene products like Sustainabar lotion bars, Albatross stainless steel razors, and so much more!
We are continually grateful to our community for supporting the Ecology Center Store! It’s because of you that we have grown to be the community resource that we are. Thank you for continuing to shop with us—we need your support now more than ever. Visit our Store and Resource Center, where you can find free info sheets, access to the Help Desk, and the seed library.
We are open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm. https://ecologycenter.org/store/
See you soon!
References:
1. The United States’ contribution of plastic waste to land and ocean
2. GAIA – Global Alliance for Incinerator To Solve the Climate Crisis, We Must Solve the Plastic Crisis
