Sustainability In Your Ear

Omvits is a four-year-old British nutritional supplements company with a deep commitment to sustainability. Earth911 talks with Shameek Upadhya, a cofounder of the company about why they focused on making vegan vitamins, including an algae-produced Omega-3 oil supplement and vegan Vitamin D, and delivering it in the most sustainable packaging possible. Omega-3 oils are difficult to get in a vegan diet. Upadhya shares how he and his team learned that global fish supplies could collapse by 2048 and decided to make Omega-3 oil, which is usually harvested from salmon, using an algae. The company currently delivers its products in plastic bottles with refills available in low-plastic pouches. Later this year Omvits will introduce plastic-free refill pouches that biodegrade in household compost piles.We also explore how Omvit's vegan Vitamin D is made using lichen to eliminate lanolin collected from sheep's wool. The company has provided free annual supplies of vitamins to more than 25,000 children and is building charitable support for climate action into its business model. Omvits vitamins will reach the U.S. in early 2022; sign up at the https://omvits.com/ to receive alerts about U.S. availability.

On World Water Day, we talk water recycling with Stephen Katz, Market Development Manager at SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions. The company, which built the Suez Canal in the 1860s is a leader in water recycling, particularly in industrial settings but also, increasingly, to augment local drinking water supplies. More than 2.7 billion people around the world experience water scarcity each year and climate change, along with growing human and farm animal populations, stresses available freshwater, which accounts for only 3% of the water on the planet. Katz explains how SUEZ processes wastewater and post-industrial water to return potable supplies for human use. In Morro Bay, Calif., the company is replenishing groundwater supplies with water recovered from the city's wastewater treatment facility -- the program provides drinkable water and prevents land subsidence (sinking) due to depleted aquifers. Katz also discusses the growing interest in water as a tradable commodity and the potential for higher prices as regions compete to acquire drinking water and increase to their industrial output. The World Bank projects that water shortages could reduce global GDP by as much as 6% by 2050. Low-income countries, which currently use only 8% of their water supply for industrial purposes, compared to high-income countries' 59% will struggle to grow their economies because of water shortages. Water desalination, another SUEZ line of business, is an energy-intensive answer in some parts of the world, but recycling remains the most accessible option.

Danny O'Malley, founder and CEO of plant-based meat alternative company Before the Butcher joins Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe to talk about transforming the carbon footprint of  human food systems. The company's UNCUT and Mainstream branded vegan, gluten- and GMO-free soy-based meat alternatives to beef, chicken and pork in a variety of forms -- patties, chunks, tips and ground for use in recipes, as well as shredded versions -- can replace meat in a variety of recipes. O'Malley shares why he started the company and discusses the sourcing of Before the Butcher's soy proteins and canola oils to avoid producing CO2 emissions and serving people genetically modified ingredients.Meat alternative are becoming increasingly price competitive with animal products and the texture and taste more familiar to millions of people who have switched from meat for health and environmental reasons. Before the Butcher's Mainstream meats now sell for about $5.50 a pound, making it among the first to be competitive on a head-to-head with ground beef.  O'Malley also addresses the growing momentum of the pivot toward plant-based alternatives within the meat industry and the competitive advantage of making recipe ingredients instead of only finished pre-cooked meals with plant-based meats.

The energy crises of the 1970s have continued to shape U.S. energy and climate policy ever since, and historian Jay Hakes was part of the story. Earth911 talks with the author of Energy Crises: Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Hard Choices in the 1970s about how Presidents Nixon and Carter responded to the oil embargoes and Middle East conflicts that led to long gas lines and a focus on keeping oil prices low, often despite the potential for conflict. Hakes was the Department of Energy's chief energy analyst during the Clinton years and served as the director of the Carter Presidential Library for 13 years after participating in the policy-making process during the 1970s.The 1970s defined American perspectives on oil, gas, nuclear and solar energy. It was the era when oil was weaponized by the OPEC nations and early solar panel research first produced commercial results. Hakes explains how Richard Nixon's initial response to the oil embargo on October 17, 1973 has had repercussions over many decades and how Jimmy Carter's energy-centered foreign and domestic research agenda spurred investments in renewable energy. But the progress was interrupted in the 1980s by renewed support for oil exploration by petrochemical companies and did not recover its early momentum until the early 200s, when climate issues forced a new reality on Washington, D.C.Tune in to a fascinating conversation. His previous books include A Declaration of Energy Independence: How Freedom from Foreign Oil Can Improve National Security, Our Economy, and the Environment. In that 2008 book, he argued that America had ignored both the threat of climate change and the challenge of weaning itself from oil for decades. Now, U.S. energy independence is growing after the rise of renewable energy generation. Now, the U.S. must rethink foreign and domestic policy to address the distributed nature of post-fossil fuel energy. Energy Crises: Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Hard Choices in the 1970s  is available now.

Earth911 talks with Jennifer Maynard, CEO and cofounder of Nutrition For Longevity, a healthy and environmentally-friendly meal plan subscription service for vegan and pescatarian eaters. Most of the food is grown using regenerative farming techniques in New Jersey. Jennifer contributed an article to Earth911 last week, Zombie Soil: The Harmful Result of Industrial Farming, and we began with a conversation about the environmental impact of industrial farming. Take a few minutes to learn the difference between soil, which helps produce nutritious food, and dirt illustrate the urgency of making a switch away from using chemical fertilizers to wring crop volume out of the land.Nutrition For Longevity's prepared meals feature vegan and fish-protein options based on the Longevity Diet developed by Dr. Valter Longo. His research into the food that helps the longest-lived people stay healthy has shaped Maynard's meal plan, which is designed by a Michelin starred chef. In addition to low- and no-till farming, Nutrition For Longevity uses aquaponics to grow its greens year-round. Maynard's company is also working to reduce single-use waste in its meal deliveries, using bio-based packaging that can be recycled or composted after you eat.You can save $40 on each of your first two orders when try out the Nutrition For Longevity service. Enter the code EARTH40 when you checkout.

Carbon capture technology is a keystone investment in restoring the climate to pre-industrial CO2 levels. Earth911 talks with Rick Parnell, CEO of the Foundation for Climate Restoration about his recent Newsweek and Washington Post op-eds calling for investments in the technology and setting a price for carbon. He and his co-authors, Kathleen Rogers of EarthDay.org and Sir David King of the Center for Climate Repair at Cambridge University, point out that climate change-related health issues will lead to more than 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 and an that additional climate-caused food shortages will contribute to 529,000 deaths a year by 2050. While he does not see carbon capture as a silver bullet -- it must be combined with reforestation, changes in farming and human diets, and radical reductions in CO2 emissions -- he and his organization believe the technology can help remove more than 150 years' worth of excess carbon from the atmosphere.Parnell and Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe discuss where carbon can be stored using marine permaculture and in industrial applications such as concrete made from calcium carbonate mined from the sky, as well as his advice for the Biden Administration as it pursues an aggressive climate policy agenda. Learn about getting involved yourself, the Foundation for Climate Restoration has local chapters and youth education programs growing across the country.

Earth911 talks with Tessa Wardley, author of a handy new guide to reducing your environmental impact, The Eco Hero Handbook: Simple Solutions to Tackle Eco-Anxiety. Young and older people are increasingly battling a paralyzing fear for the future, known as eco-anxiety, but they don't have to feel trapped. Taking the time to do research about the carbon footprint of your daily activities to make simple earth-friendly decisions, such as reducing plastic use in the bathroom or choosing a slower form of travel than flying, does make a difference, she explains. You'll save money and individual decisions also add up to social transformation as companies and governments respond the people's new priorities. "Our consumer power is actually really powerful, and we should not underestimate that," Wardley said. She also points to the fact that businesses that take social and environmental responsibility get the most qualified talent when hiring -- green is already good business.She also draws on experiences in her work at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the U.K. ,sharing how to improve local pollinator and insect biodiversity by gardening with nativar plants without using chemicals. Even window plantings can contribute to local healthier environment, as recent research proves. The Eco Hero Handbook provides hundreds of simple steps, from reducing food waste, choosing more durable clothing and sharing used clothes to changing our driving habits are effective ways to break out of eco-anxiety. Wardley also talks about how to become better informed about your shopping choices and ways to amplify your decisions to make the biggest social changes.The Eco Hero Handbook and Wardley's previous books are available on Amazon. You can also follow Tessa on Instagram (@tessawardley).

Every region has its unique sustainable living challenges. Earth911 talks with Dorie Morales, publisher of Green Living Magazine based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The desert region last year broke records last year with 16 days and nights when the temperature stayed above 90F degrees. The region already sees 175 days a year of daily highs above 90F degree days. Morales shares how residents struggle to stay cool, find shade and preserve water, which is especially precious in the Southwest. She cofounded the Green Living and has built a series of regional green living events in addition to the magazine and website. Morales shares details about the upcoming Arizona Green Chamber and Green Building events, which you can join free online. Both offer tips on green choices in business and your personal life.Visit Green Living to follow its Arizona-focused green lifestyle coverage. They are giving away five free digital subscriptions to people who comment on the Green Living AZ Facebook page.  If you are interested in advertising, Morales offers 50% off one month of any advertising package when you send an email to info@greenlivingmag.com.

Waste at restaurants and grocery stores contributes to society's overall food waste problem. Josh Goodman started PourMyBeer in 2012 to make beer and beverage dispensing a self-service experience. Now, the company helps serve beer, wine and soft drinks to customers at Whole Foods, Dave & Buster's, Caesars Entertainment locations and military bases in 24 countries. It also won an investment from Coca-Cola's European bottling business to help develop solutions to reduce single-use containers for soft drinks. Earth911 talks with Goodman about how PourMyBeer makes getting a drink quick and safe, even during the pandemic. We also explore how PourMyBeer can participate in new reusable container programs to eliminate single-use plastic waste and the prospects for a delivery system based on reusable beverage containers.

As shopping from home grows, packaging waste is piling up. Loop offers an alternative, a delivery service for food and home goods that picks up used product packaging, cleans and the reuses it to eliminate trash. Earth911 talks with Heather Crawford, global vice president of marketing and e-commerce at Loop, about the company's expansion into Canada. Loop now offers service in the U.S., U.K. and France -- it's Loop Tote bag is dropped off and picked up by FedEx, and it will soon offer in-store Tote exchanges at Kroger, Walgreens and Canada's Loblaws locations.Crawford shares how Loop, which was launched by specialty recycling company TerraCycle, designs reusable packaging that can be repeatedly cleaned and refilled with products in order to reduce post-consumer waste. We also discuss the sustainability of online shopping and how, at scale, it can be more efficient than traditional bricks-and-mortar retail shopping. Loop is partnering with several grocery and drugstore chains to introduce in-store Tote pick-up and drop-off services. Both at-home and retail services are essential to reaching consumers who want to remove single-use packaging from their shopping list.Loop currently offers hundreds of product options and is expanding its partnerships with food and personal care brands to introduce more reusable product packaging. Take a few minutes to learn more at the U.S. Loop store (https://loopstore.com), Canadian store (https://loopstore.ca), U.K. store (https://loopstore.co.uk) or the French store (https://loopparcarrefour.com).