Mother Lovin’ Summer

Summer is the most loved season for many, and also one of the hardest on the natural environment. More humans enjoying our parks, beaches, and oceans, can put a greater strain on an already burdened Earth. With that in mind, we present to you some of our favorite summer essentials for enjoying the outdoors without harming it.

Relief for the Reef

Very few people will argue the importance of sunscreen when it comes to protecting your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. The CDC recommends a minimum SPF 15 before going outside, even on partially cloudy days. But did you know that most sunscreens contain chemicals that can harm our ocean’s fragile eco-system? Coral reefs are particularly sensitive to these chemicals, which can disrupt their growth and reproduction cycles, leading to bleaching and death. Choosing a reef-safe sunscreen like our favorite from All Good will protect you and the environment.

Lasting Shades

Have you ever thought about how much new plastic goes into producing and packaging sunglasses? Luckily for the planet, the folks at Sunski did. Their sunglasses are made from recycled plastic that would otherwise end up in US landfills. Even their packaging is recycled, utilizing origami folds rather than glue or plastic to protect the frames. They also offer a lifetime warranty, which makes them less likely to end up in the trash if they break. Better for your pocket and better for the environment.

Summer’s Best Accessory

4Ocean bracelets are made from recycled materials, and every purchase funds the removal of one pound of trash from the oceans and coastlines. In just two years, the company has removed nearly 5 million pounds of trash from our beaches and waterways. Remember when you used to tie a string around your finger to keep you from forgetting something important? Seeing it on your wrist acts as an environmental reminder to do your part toward cleaning up, before you leave the surf and sand for the day.

Sole Searching

Did you know that over 1.5 billion waste tires end up in landfills every year? You can help prevent tires from polluting the planet, by shopping with Indosole for your summer sandals. They take tires that would normally be dumped or burned, and turn them into durable soles for their eco-friendly line of footwear. Shoes that look and feel good on your feet, while also doing good for the planet? Sign us up!

Say Nah to the Straw

Single use plastic straws and lids are two of the biggest environmental offenders year round. More than 500 million straws are used daily in the US alone, making them a top 10 contributor to plastic marine debris across the globe. Highwave’s Earthlid was created to replace single use straws and lids, so that we can stop the flow of plastic onto our beaches and into our oceans. And like all of the products above, 1% of every purchase goes toward healing Mother Earth.

 Happy Solstice!