Blog: Ceo letters
What is PVA and is it sustainable?
In my eternal quest to be completely transparent with you, today’s blog post will take you behind the scenes of running a zero waste shop and how we make our product decisions. Plus, what the heck is PVA (polyvinyl alcohol or PVOH) and is it actually sustainable?
An Honest Look at Mental Health and Entrepreneurship
If we don’t talk about mental health, we keep the stigma alive. When we brush it under a rug and pretend it never happened, we aren’t helping anyone. So instead, I want to share with you - in complete vulnerability - what really happened in my world in the last 10 days as I battled my mental health as an entrepreneur.
My favorite animal, the okapi.
Today, I want to tell you all about my favorite animal, the okapi. Because even though we're focused on waste and plastics around here most days, sometimes we could all use some cute animals and wildlife conservation in our lives. So what are okapi? And how can we protect them from home?
Why I don't recommend Seaspiracy.
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.
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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.
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Reflecting on 2 Years of A Drop in the Ocean
A Drop in the Ocean just celebrated our SECOND BIRTHDAY! 🥳🥳🥳 I can’t believe it’s been two years already since I pressed “Publish” on our little corner of the interwebs. So much has changed and evolved in the last two years. So today, I’m reflecting on the 12 things I’ve learned so far as a sustainable and zero waste business owner.
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We are but guests on this planet
When I started babysitting, my mom taught me to always leave the home better than when I arrived. I was a guest. And we are all but guests on this planet, trusted with its life.
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Lessons from Nature
I went for a walk in nature today, friend. And I was reminded of some beautiful lessons we can all learn from nature.
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An Exercise in Finding Gratitude in 2020
This year has been hard. There is no denying that. But this week - this week of giving thanks - I want to use this space to practice gratitude together. Because I think we could all use some light about now.
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Eco-Friendly Travel Tips: What are carbon offsets?
I'm a conservationist, but I'm not giving up flying. So when I talk about traveling, especially air travel, I often mention carbon offsets. But what exactly are carbon offsets, and why do they matter?
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Where do we source our products?
I always say that we prioritize locally-owned businesses when we’re looking for products to feature in our shop, but I was curious what percentage of our products actually reflect those values? So...I did some math, and I'm pretty proud of the results.
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Why I Don't Have Eco-Guilt {{Confessions of a Zero Waste Wannabe}}
A few weeks ago, a friend asked me if I ever feel guilty when I create trash. He was surprised when I answered that I don’t. But if there ever was a time that I would expect to feel guilty about trash, it would be now, in the time of COVID and frappuccino season colliding.
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We get to Marie Kondo the sh*t out of it all.
This time has been hard. I won’t pretend it hasn’t. But, for me at least, it’s shown me what truly brings me joy, what brings value to my life, and what doesn’t. Even if I thought it did before.
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Palm Oil: What is it, why is it a problem, 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?
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Finding Resiliency in Mangroves
Three summers ago, I embarked on a journey that would change my life. I had just started grad school, and was traveling to Baja, California for my first study abroad experience of the program. I reopened my Baja travel journal today, and I was reminded of the resilient mangroves.
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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?
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What's It's Like to Quit Your Job, Move Across the Country, and Start a Business (Part 2)
This is Part 2 in the series reflecting on my journey to moving to the Pacific Northwest and opening my own zero waste shop. This week digs into business ownership and how I really feel about living in Tacoma.
What's It's Like to Quit Your Job, Move Across the Country, and Start a Business (Part 1)
I recently packed up my life and moved from Ohio to Tacoma, and I’m taking time to reflect on this journey, how I got here, and what it’s really been like. Because honestly, it hasn’t been easy, but when I look at my life now, this is the life I want to live, and anything worth having is worth working for.
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The Ecological Footprint of a Zero Waste Wannabe
Earth Overshoot Day is the day each year that we use more resources than the planet can support. In 2018, Earth Overshoot Day fell on August 1. I calculated my personal Earth Overshoot Day and ecological footprint for the first time last January, and revisited the tool this week to see how far I’d come in the last year. The results were surprising...
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6 Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started Going Zero Waste
It was almost exactly two years ago today that I embarked on my first ever zero waste grocery shopping adventure. I’ve learned a lot in the last two years, and I’m still constantly learning as I go. Looking back on my journey, here are six things I wish I had known then.
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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.
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{{Video}} A Zero Waste Life Update
Big things are happening! Find out what's coming next for A Drop in the Ocean and be part of the zero waste process.
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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...
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DIY Zero Waste Heating Pad
Like many people, I carry all of my stress in my neck and shoulders. I decided I needed some way to ease the tension but I didn’t feel like spending the money on a heating pad - so instead I searched my apartment (and the bulk bins of my local grocery store).
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