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

A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Sustainable Living Blog 10 Ways to Celebrate World Ocean Day
It's World Ocean Week! This year’s World Ocean Day theme is protecting at least 30% of our blue planet by 2030, and we've put together our 10 favorite zero waste wannabe ways to celebrate World Ocean Week - and have fun in the process.
Do we need corporate action or consumer action for zero waste?
Last week I posted a TikTok about how plastics aren’t actually recyclable. I very quickly received a comment that said, “Pretending this is a consumer issue is not going to help anything.” And I agree. But these are complex issues. So in our quest for a zero waste world, do we need corporate or consumer action?
A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Sustainable Living Blog Why I Don't Recommend Seaspiracy Documentary
These are big issues. These are complex issues. These are issues that involve governments, corporations, communities, individuals, scientists, and activists. And because of all of that and more, here's why I can't recommend the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy.
What's the Environmental Impact of Online Shopping?
I want to take a little deep dive into the impacts of online shopping versus in-person, and how we are optimizing our systems to get you the essentials you need, as fast as possible, as safely as possible, and with the smallest carbon footprint possible. Because the answer to "which is more sustainable - online or in person?" may surprise you.
A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Sustainable Living Blog Is a reusable straw better than a plastic one?

Straw messaging is generally seen as the gateway swap to a more sustainable lifestyle, which is great! Everyone’s gotta start somewhere, right? And while I do believe that we’ve overplayed the straw card, it’s still an important topic. Because the 500,000,000 straws used every day add up. FAST. So if you’re new to the zero waste and sustainable lifestyle, here’s what you need to know about straws.

A Drop in the Ocean Sustainable Living Zero Waste Blog How to Write to Companies About Sustainability and Packaging

I’m a huge advocate for living by your values, voting with your dollar, and making changes in your life to leave a smaller footprint on our planet. But we can’t reach a sustainable future for all living things in a vacuum. We need bottom-up and top-down change. So let’s talk about reaching out to companies to improve their practices.

How to Invest in Renewable Energy
Today, I want to explore how to invest in renewable energy, and break it down into an easy-peasy beginner's guide. Because investing in sustainability doesn’t have to be scary or expensive - no matter your age or your financial education.
10 Ways to Combat Wildfires and Protect Our Climate
Wildfires - both natural and human-caused - are burning longer and hotter as a result of climate change. Our global temperature is rising, our precipitation is decreasing, and it's creating the perfect storm for these massive fires to run rampant. Here's what we can all do to help.
A Drop in the Ocean Sustainable Living Zero Waste Plastic Free Blog Is bioplastic the answer we've been looking for?
"Greenwashing” is when companies spend more time and money making you think they’re doing something good for the planet than actually doing good for the planet. And there's one that I see so many well-meaning people fall into...
A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Sustainable Living Blog What is palm oil and can it be sustainable?
Palm oil has become a buzzword in sustainability, and there's a lot of messaging about how it's causing habitat destruction, loss of wildlife, and other harmful environmental impacts. But what actually is palm oil, and is boycotting it the most sustainable option?
A Drop in the Ocean Sustainable Living Zero Waste Plastic Free Blog Have we overplayed the straw card in zero waste?
When I launched A Drop in the Ocean, I never wanted to be known for reusable straws. But straws are the poster child for the zero waste and plastic-free movements. Yet if our messaging stops with “Straws suck!”, how will we move the needle with enough magnitude to truly combat climate change?
A Drop in the Ocean Sustainable Living Zero Waste Plastic Free Blog Mental Health, Intersectionality, and Zero Waste
We’re about to get very real up in here.  I know that this post is going to be difficult for my parents, grandparents, and other family members to read, but I do feel that it is important to share these experiences, and have honest and raw conversations about mental health, and in this instance, how it relates to living zero waste.
A Drop in the Ocean Sustainable Living Zero Waste Plastic Free Blog Lessons from Paraguay: Living Your Values
It’s easy to say you care about the environment, and it’s easy to say that someone else should adjust their life to be better for the environment. I was guilty of it my whole life...
A Drop in the Ocean Sustainable Living Zero Waste Plastic Free Blog Plastic Free July Confessions
Plastic free is a journey, not a destination.  So while it is always my hope that this little corner of the internet inspires you to make small changes for our planet, it's also important for me to share my own struggles and challenges with you.  None of us are perfect, but we can all do our little pieces.
A Drop in the Ocean Sustainable Living Zero Waste Plastic Free Blog #EcoWarriorChallenge - DAY 1 - Straws
As we begin to think towards World Oceans Day, I want us to focus on the things that we can do to help our oceans.  There are so many facets to conservation. If we each choose one action to protect our oceans, they will thank us. So over the next seven days, I’ll be focusing each day on ways we can protect the waters and the creatures of the oceans.  I’m calling it the #EcoWarriorChallenge - World Oceans Day Edition.
A Drop in the Ocean Sustainable Living Zero Waste Plastic Free Blog Why Recycling Isn't the Answer
Since I started on my zero waste journey, I’ve found that when I tell people I’m trying to be zero waste, more often than not they respond with “Oh that’s cool! I recycle everything - my recycling bin is always so full!” But recycling isn't the zero waste answer we think it is.  Here's why.