Good Together: Ethical, Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Living

There’s nothing less romantic than trashing the planet. This week, Laura is giving you the low-down on how to celebrate Valentine's Day in the most sustainable way possible. From gift ideas that won't break the bank (or the planet) to simple ways to reduce waste, you don’t need to sacrifice romance for sustainability. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/how-to-have-an-eco-friendly-valentines-day. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Graham Hill has worked in the environmental field for more than 20 years. From founding the website Treehugger in 2004 to the creation of The Carbonauts in 2019, he’s made it his life mission to better the planet. In this week’s episode, he’s helping you do the same by sharing what he calls “The Big Six”—the most impactful actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/how-to-reduce-carbon-footprint. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Temperatures are rising all around the world. But if you feel like the streets of your urban neighborhood are especially sweltering, you may be right. Climate scientists like Dr. Jeremy Hoffman are studying the heat island effect, an infrastructure, equity, and climate-based issue that results in higher localized temperatures than those experienced in outlying areas. Climate change is undoubtedly turning up the heat on this issue—but there are things you and your community can do to help, starting with learning about heat islands themselves. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/heat-islands. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Small changes can have a really big impact on the planet—and what better way to make a difference than by creating New Year's resolutions that help you live more sustainably in 2023? This week, Laura takes you through her own resolutions and shares tips and tricks on how to create eco-habits that stick. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/sustainable-new-years-resolutions. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Yep, you read that right—restaurateur Kayla Abe wants you to eat your trash. In this week’s episode, learn how her San Francisco eatery, Shuggie’s Trash Pie + Natural Wine, relies on ingredients that might go unused elsewhere—think irregular produce and offcuts from the meat industry—to create a menu that’s unique, climate-friendly, and delicious. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/kayla-abe-interview. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Whether it's a clothing item that doesn't fit or decor that isn't your style, returns are inevitable. But while most people assume a returned item goes back onto the shelf, that's unfortunately not always the case. In this week’s episode, we dive into what *actually* happens to your returns—and what you can do to combat the issue. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/what-happens-to-returns. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In today's fast-paced, stressful world, a wellness routine isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. This week, Laura chats with Samantha Leal, the deputy editor at Well+Good, about how taking care of yourself and the planet can go hand-in-hand. From choosing activewear made from eco-friendly materials to swapping single-use beauty products for refillable options, consider this your go-to guide. To learn more, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/sustainable-wellness-tips. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Let’s be real—some people are really hard to shop for. This week, Laura is sharing her top tips for choosing the perfect holiday gifts, which not only brings on the holiday cheer, but also prevents returns—a category that accounts for five billion pounds of landfill waste every year. To shop her top sustainable picks, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/gifts-for-people-who-are-hard-to-shop-for. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The holidays are quickly approaching, and you know what that means: it’s time to decorate the Christmas tree! Before making a purchase, let’s dive into one of the most popular holiday debates: Which is better for the environment—real or artificial? This week, we answer that question with Andy Finton, a Massachusetts-based Forest Ecologist for The Nature Conservancy. For more information, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/christmas-tree-sustainability. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We talk a lot about greenhouse gas emissions and what they’re doing to our atmosphere. But what about our oceans? That’s a question best posed to Dr. Jessica Cross, a research oceanographer with the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Seattle, WA. In this week’s episode, you’ll learn everything there is to know about ocean acidification and the effect it has on the planet. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/ocean-acidification. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy