Welcome to the A Drop in the Ocean blog!

Every Monday we're popping into our EcoWarrior community's inboxes with practical + actionable tips for living more sustainably, and we're always working hard to add those emails to our blog as well. But we're a small team and sometimes we get behind because, hey, we're human.

So if you want these kinds of tips every week, without even leaving your inbox, join the EcoWarriors for Make Waves Mondays - because that's one thing we don't get behind on. Pinky promise.

Blog

5 Things You Didn't Know About A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store
Sometimes I can’t believe it’s already been 5 years since I launched A Drop in the Ocean. So much has changed since then, but our core values and mission has always remained the same. In honor of this significant milestone, today I'm sharing 5 things you probably didn’t know about A Drop in the Ocean.
A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store: Liquid Refillable Shampoo and Conditioner Ingredients

Let's talk ingredients! I recently did some digging into the ingredients in our liquid, refillable shampoo and conditioner, and even thought I knew they’re all healthy, natural, hair-loving ingredients, I wasn't sure what they actually *do*. And you know what I found out? They do a LOT. Let's get into it! (Plus 4 tips for how to use them!)

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store 2023 Year-End Sustainability Report
Today, I'm sharing with you our first ever full, year-end report! We're pulling the curtain WAY back on what's happening behind-the-scenes at A Drop in the Ocean - including our sustainability impacts, donations, financial summary, and goals for 2024. Let us know what you think!
What is "green hushing"?

I learned a new term recently... Green hushing. Apparently, this term is nothing new. A quick Google search for the term yields a plethora of results, but this is a whole new world to me, and I thought it might be for you too. So let's talk about green hushing and why it may be the new corporate greenwashing.

A Drop in the Ocean Blog: 24 Sustainable Actions to Try in 2024

I want to kick off the new year with something super simple… 24 sustainable actions to try in 2024. Every action on this list is intended to perhaps push you a little outside your comfort zone, but still be totally actionable and do-able in most of our lives. Which ones will you try this year?

What happens to all of the stuff we return?

With the holidays upon us, I thought it might be time to talk about returns. It happens - sometimes we buy or receive things that just aren’t what we expected, and our first reaction is typically to send it back. But what happens to all of those returns? Are they really going to be sold as new, no harm done? Let’s dive into it.

A Drop in the Ocean Blog: How "closed loop" is becoming greenwashing

I stumbled across an ad for a skincare company that said their products are closed-loop refillable. So I went to their website and and I found a video explaining their so-called "closed-loop" refill system... And that's how I learned "closed loop" is becoming greenwashing. Here's what you need to know.

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store: How eco-friendly are laundry detergent sheets?
I get asked ALL the time why we don’t sell laundry detergent sheets. They're everywhere these days. But allow me to set the record straight. Laundry detergent sheets aren’t the sustainable silver bullet those ads would have you believe. Let me tell you why.
How sustainable are bananas?

The other day, a friend of mine purchased a bunch of bananas because they said they'd “feel weird just buying a single banana.” Which [shocker...] got me off on a whole tangent about banana sustainability, leaving everyone in the room staring at me like some kind of banana fiend. So buckle up, friend, 'cause I'm about to hit ya with some 'nana trivia.

A Drop in the Ocean Blog: 4 Tips for a Zero Waste Move

Last month my partner and I moved into a new home together, and now that we're all settled in, it’s about time to talk all things zero waste moving! I think we can agree that typically, moving house creates a lot of waste. Between the cardboard boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and general decluttering…it adds up! But honestly, it doesn’t have to be that way.

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store: I wish I didn't care about sustainability

Living a zero waste lifestyle is about living in alignment with your values. And I am so here for that. It makes me feel good to know that the choices I make every single day reflect the core values that I hold true. But over these last couple of weeks I sure have missed the ease and the mindlessness of my pre-zero waste days. I wouldn’t go back to those days for anything, but let's talk about why this feeling is important.

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store: 5 Lessons Learned from Plastic Free July

This week marked the last day of Plastic Free July, and instead of our usual blog format, today I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past month and some of the lessons I’ve learned from it. Some of these are new lessons for me, and some are simply reminders that were brought to the surface again, but all of them are so valuable, and might resonate with you, too.

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store: What is wishcycling and why is it a problem?
Let's be real... Recycling makes us feel goodBut unfortunately, our brains are so wired to do the “right” thing that it can actually lead to "wishcycling" instead of true recycling, and, ultimately, all that wishcycling actually leads to less being recycled. So let's talk about that really means for sustainability.
The 7 Types of Plastic You Need to Know (And How to Recycle Them)

Recycling is not the solution to our waste crisis, but when we do recycle it's important we do it right. So this week, we’re diving deep into the 7 different types of plastics - what they are, how to identify them, how to recycle them correctly, and ultimately, how to avoid them completely.

A Drop in the Ocean Online Zero Waste Store: What does the chasing arrows recycling symbol mean?
We all know and love the chasing arrows recycling symbol (♻️), but let's talk about it a bit. What does it really mean? Is recycling really the answer to our waste problem? Who are the loudest voices pushing us to recycle more? Recycling has a fraught history, so let's dive into it!
How to Use a Zero Waste Dish Soap Bar

I’ve been using a zero waste solid dish soap bar for years and I can’t imagine ever going back to liquid. It’s just so much more convenient to use, is quite literally zero waste, and honestly just looks better next to my sink than a plastic bottle of Dawn. But if you’ve never used a solid dish soap bar before, you might be hesitant to make the switch. So let's talk about it!

How to Use a Safety Razor for a Plastic-Free Shave Routine
My safety razor is my all time favorite zero waste swap! So today we’re gonna take a dive into the world of plastic-free shaving and what makes safety razors the ultimate zero waste swap you’ll ever make - plus a step-by-step guide for how to use a safety razor for a totally plastic-free shave.