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

The 7 Best Documentaries for Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Living
Most sustainability documentaries are trash. But there are some truly spectacular documentaries about sustainability, waste, and climate change that have had lasting, positive impacts on my life. Here's 7 of my favorite documentaries to inspire you to live more sustainably - without guilt, shame, fear, and absolutism.
A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store: Why You Shouldn't Rake Your Leaves This Fall

It’s officially that time of year when the leaves are changing color and starting to fall onto our lawns. As they start to accumulate over the grass, you may be tempted to rake them all up into piles, toss them in some bags, and leave them on the curb for trash pickup. But is that really the best way to manage the increased [natural] debris? Let's talk about it!

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store: Get to Know Okapi Conservation Project
In honor of the BEST DAY OF YEAR - *ahem* World Okapi Day *ahem* - I’m passing the proverbial mic over to Lucas Meers, Program Manager for the Okapi Conservation Project, to share with you more about the work Okapi Conservation Project is doing and how you can support okapi from the comfort of your own home.
A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Blog: Sustainable Lawns
The American lawn is iconic, but more and more people are starting to question if constantly maintaining these little green squares is worth it. Where did the American lawn come from, how did it become so ubiquitous in our culture, and can we replace the lawn with something better? EcoWarrior Robb joins us to write a guest post on the subject.
The Ultimate History of Single-Use Plastics: How did we become a disposable society?

Let's talk about one of my favorite topics - the history of plastics and how we became such a plastic society. How did a material that is literally designed to last forever end up surrounding us in the form of straws, bags, bottles, utensils, and packaging that’s intended to be used for just minutes? The answer, my friend, is...

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store Ocean Conservation Partner Vermilion Sea Institute Field Station
You already know at least 1% of our sales are donated to our ocean conservation partner, Vermilion Sea Institute. But have you ever wondered, “Why VSI? Who is Vermilion Sea Institute? Why did we choose them to be our ocean conservation partner??” I'm about to tell you all about it.
A Drop in the Ocean Shop What is Lights Out for Migratory Birds?

I first heard of the Lights Out for Migratory Birds program in 2017, and the more I learned about the program, the more interested I became. I discovered just how important programs such as these are for our wildlife - and for ourselves. So today I wanna share with you a bit about Lights Out, why it matters, and what we can all do to protect migratory birds from the comfort of our own homes.

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?

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.
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.
A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Sustainable Living Blog Ultimate Guide to Sustainable and Ethical Jewelry
Apparently there’s a lot happening in the jewelry space. I knew NONE of this before digging into the research and HOLY MOLY, friend. But knowing the problems with traditional jewelry options can help us all make better choices in the future.
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 #EcoWarriorChallenge - DAY 3 - Bottles
Seabirds are a keystone species in oceanic regions. Where there is ocean, there are islands.  And these islands can be lush, beautiful jungles teeming with life, singing beautiful melodies each and every day.  Without seabirds, these island ecosystems could collapse. Seabirds distribute seeds and nutrients from island to island.  They are responsible for these lush ecosystems.
A Drop in the Ocean Sustainable Living Zero Waste Plastic Free Blog #EcoWarriorChallenge - DAY 2 - Bags
While coral reefs are not often discussed in the context of ocean pollution, they are some of the most critical species that inhabit our planet.  Coral reefs are not only home to about a quarter of our planet’s fish species, but they also provide immense advantages to human beings.