Since natural resources are the main source of our daily needs, conserving them are very important. Additionally, there’s little evidence that the natural resources will last for much longer. Considering the regularity with which we consume these resources, there will eventually come a time when they will become scarce.

We can help maintain the ecological balance and reduce the meteoric exhaustion of biodiversity by conserving natural resources. One way to do that is recycling. Common items in our landfills include used rubber tires, junk mail, old bottles, and scrap cars. In sharp contrast to what most people believe, the resources required to manufacture these products are quickly being depleted. Fortunately there’s a solution for this in recycling.

In order to prevent new resources from being exploited, recycling allows all of the above-mentioned items to be used repeatedly. This helps in conserving natural resources such as timber, gas, oil, coal, minerals and water.

Recycling has another key benefit in regards to conservation of resources. Recycling allows more emphasis to be put on creating technology to utilize what already exists. This is the reason why programs where they can receive large quantities of recyclable material to convert into new items are being supported by a growing number of industries. 

Recycling also creates a significant amount of employment opportunities. According to a recent study, ten thousand tons of recycled waste creates more than thirty thousand jobs. This is significantly higher than the 600 jobs created by similar amounts of incinerated and land filled waste.

Recycling is a huge industry within itself even though most people think of it as an individual action.

The trash has to be sorted and shipped- off to the right places after the sorting out and depositing trash for recycling process. The growing recycling industry employs thousands of workers to do the job of sorting out and shipping trash for recycling. It most definitely creates more community jobs and provides stability to the entire process. It is our responsibility to make recyclable items available so that more jobs can be created.

So long are the days where consumers are just looking for the cheapest products. Consumers are more educated, more environmentally responsible and crave what we call ‘total value’. Total value includes products that deliver practical benefits like price and quality and negate buyer’s remorse by providing societal and environmental good.

These products also provide “tribal benefits” that help consumers feel connected to a larger community that shares their values. Brands that hit on all three categories and effectively communicate this will be rewarded with the loyalty of these consumers. 

Consumers across and all over the world are calling for brands to innovate saying they would purchase more socially and environmentally responsible products if only they performed better, reasonably priced and had more believable claims. 

From a corporate perspective this is an opportunity of a lifetime. The consumer is telling you what they want. Also, consumers are ready to do their part by believing that as a society, we need to consume less and work to improve the environment and society for the generations to come.

They believe that companies should address social and environmental issues like water, healthcare, and fair wages through their products, practices, and policies. They are also interested in lending their ideas, opinions, and experiences to help companies create better products and new solutions.

By better understanding the aspirations and actions of consumers, brands have the opportunity to rethink consumption, redefine value, and re-imagine a more sustainable future. The consumer’s desire to both shop for better products and help better the planet is clear. If businesses can pass on all the benefits of corporate sustainability to the consumer, there is a very good chance of increased sustainable consumption in the future.

The year 2003 saw Oprah become the first African-American billionaire woman, according to Forbes Magazine. Over the years, Oprah has broken through cultural, geographical and gender barriers letting the world know it’s not your circumstances, but your heart that determines how far you go in this world.

As Oprah’s wealth and influence have grown, so has her compassion. For many years now, Oprah Winfrey has supported countless humanitarian and environmental causes. Her sole aim is to make the lives of those living today better as well as that of the future generations.

As far as her environmental support is concerned, Oprah Winfrey has been actively involved since 1998.  It was in 1998 that Oprah Winfrey joined hands with ‘Habitat for Humanity’ and Certified Forest Products Council (CFPC) to sponsor the construction of a 1040-sq.-ft. house in Beaverton, Oregon. The house was constructed using some of the latest environmental innovations in materials and residential building methods.

Winfrey started the ball rolling by challenging corporate America to sponsor a Habitat house in each of her show’s 205 broadcast regions. It was after Winfrey’s initiatives that CPFC and Habitat for Humanity joined hands with her to build the Environmental Friendly House.

Apart from this, Oprah Winfrey in the year 2006 gave $1 million to the Green Belt Movement International for tree planting and community development initiatives in Africa. As you can see, Oprah is definitely on the move to encourage green living and advocating corporate sustainability practices.

The growing threat of global warming and the excess demand for earth’s natural resources have made the issue of environmental sustainability more important than ever. Recycling is one thing that can help tackle this issue.

Recycling has so many benefits: it reduces the amount of landfill waste, it reduces the need for raw materials, and it helps in protecting the environment.  However, in spite of all these benefits, there are some people that just don’t see the benefits. They only see it as a chore; an activity that is monotonous, uninspiring, and exhausting. You can’t inspire someone to take up recycling until and unless you become inspired first.

We all have a role to play when it comes to recycling. There isn’t an easier way of contributing towards saving the environment than recycling. Unfortunately, this is something that not everybody understands, acknowledges, or participates in. According to a recent study, less than a third of Americans recycle at home. Even if you’re someone that advocates and practices recycling on a daily basis, it is likely your extended family and fellow neighbors are not active in recycling.

At this point, you may be thinking how you can encourage those around you to incorporate recycling habits into their daily routines. You may be thinking what services, campaigns, and tools I can design to support changes that stick. Well, the first thing that you need to do is portray recycling as an event and not a chore. You need to find creative ways to encourage the people around you to recycle.

The food we eat and our health have an undeniable connection. On occasions though this relationship can become complicated and somewhat confusing. The confusion may be a result of the constant media coverage of fast foods and other unhealthy alternatives. However, there is one thing you can be sure of when it comes to attaining optimal health and that is choosing sustainable food is the best thing for your health. You will be on the right path when you make the much-needed connection between your health and sustainable living.

The growing awareness of raising organic foods in an ethical and ecologically responsible manner to incorporate in your daily lifestyle. Sustainable agriculture is the change of the day. Sustainable agriculture employs practices that provide fair treatment to workers, are humane to farm animals, safeguard human health, and protect the environment.

Eating food grown or raised according to these principles is what eating sustainably essentially means.There are countless benefits of eating sustainably including the potential to increase consumption of certain nutrients and antioxidants and decreasing exposure to harmful substances such as unhealthful food additives, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and pesticides.

The holiday season is when sustainable thinking is definitely the mindset one should have. There are many people that purchase impulsively when shopping for holiday meals and get-togethers. Often, they end up regretting as a lot of food goes to waste. In order to figure out exactly what you’re going to need and to only buy what you’re actually going to use, plan your meals beforehand. This will help prevent the food from going to waste.

Additionally, learn to purchase in bulk. Such a practice is economical as buying in bulk costs less and also lowers your travel cost by reducing the frequency of your visits to the local store.The sustainable benefit of this is lesser carbon footprint and fewer bags to dispose.

You will also be supporting a more environmentally and socially responsible food system by eating sustainably. This makes it a win-win situation for the earth, its inhabitants and the entire ecosystem!

 Designers have put their best foot forward when designing fashion pieces for this year’s fall season. In the last few seasons, we have seen a comeback of the 70s and the 90s fashion pieces flooding the fashion scene. In fall fashion for 2017, the 80s have made a bold comeback. Let’s take a look.

 Some of the famous 80s fashion themes that have made a comeback include the shoulder pads, oversized blazers, and many more voluminous pieces. However, unlike the 80s there are no outrageous neon colors and other fun pieces.

Velvet used to be luxurious fabric in yesteryears. It has made a big comeback this fall season and showing up on many runways across the world. The most striking varieties are jeweled toned options. 

 Checked prints will create a lovely match for many pieces this fall season. The checked coats were favorites for most of the fashion designers. In addition to the outerwear, plaids were also present in the other pieces such as the dresses and tops.

 The 2017 fall season will be the era of fanciful trimmings. Feathers are back proudly and bold. Big brands such as Calvin Klein and J.W Anderson create superb pieces that make the model lovely feathered creatures. In addition, brands like Pucci, Michael Kors, and Prada made plentiful of colorful strings and fringes.

The fashion designers also borrow a leaf from the traditional embroidery designers. Several runways have witnessed crafted embroidery as part of the fall runway. One of the most eye-catching pieces this fall is patchwork pieces done at Acne and Coach as well as church pew pillows created by Alexander McQueen.

Red is not fading from the fashion scene anytime soon. Fashion designers have recreated lovely dresses, tunics, and tops in red. Brands such as Prada, Versace, Fendi, Monse, and Giambattista Valli have created sensational red looks to grace this fall in style. 

 The power suits are not just for men in the recent onslaught by the fashion designers Max Mara and Celine have led the way in creating wonderful suits that give the wearer a sense of prestige and power. They come in black and gray hues. 

This futuristic concept will take the world by surprise this fall season.  Silver was the highlight of most of the futuristic pieces with a touch of metallic look and inspiration from space exploration. J.W. Anderson and Mugler leads in this awesome fashion concept.

 Making homemade jewelry is not only fun but also a great way to get quality jewelry cheaply. You also get to try your creativity in creating something that is unique. You may find the start somehow challenging. However, it does not require any special skills to get going. Here are some tips on how to make a few common categories of jewelry. 

Making homemade necklaces

 There is a large number of pendants, charms, strings, wires, thread findings and beads in the market that come in different colors, shapes and aesthetic designs. It is good to have a variety to create varying jewelry pieces for wear in different occasions and with different attire.

Pendants are fixed on the threads to hang on the neck and most of them have a loop or a hole where you pass the thread. Those with small holes need a finding to put the thread in position.

 Jump rings are also popular necklace items. You can have one two or several of them hanging on your neck. The thread is set on top of beads using a jump ring. Other common items that you can use include a bail and loop as well as hanging drops. 

Make homemade earrings

Just like the necklaces, there is a wide variety of materials that you can use to make your rings. Common types of earrings are made of pendants or beads connected to an ear wire.

 The earwire go through the piercings on your ear. You can hang your beads and pendants at the bottom loop. There are also kidney wires that are formed close to the ear. If you love drop earrings, you can go for a stud and hook and attach on of your favorite bead drops.

 If you do not have pierced eyes and do not intend to pierce them, you can go for clip-on earring findings. Jump rings can then be added to help pendants hang freely. The important thing when making earrings is to determine whether the wire can go through the pendants or beads and require a finding to put it in place.

 Homemade bracelets

 You can make bracelets by the use of leather simple beads and wire or threading using elastic. Start by selecting the kinds of stones or beads that you will use for your bracelet then run an elastic band around your wrist to ascertain the diameter. Ensure that it is not too tight. You can run the elastic band through the holes in the beads or use findings to attach the beads together.

These are fun and creative earthy ways to express your personality as well as use raw materials to create unique items that you can wear that have a hint of bohemian style.