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.

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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?

5 Reasons to Switch to Zero Waste Period Products

Every month, menstruating humans shell out buku bucks for period essentials that we’re just going to throw away three hours later. And those period products are simply not good for our bodies or for the planet. There's a better way to have a period. Zero waste period products - from period underwear to menstrual cups - are the solution. But what exactly is the problem?

A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Sustainable Living Blog Should you use the heated dry setting on your dishwasher
By now we know that it's more sustainable to use the dishwasher than to wash by hand, but let's take it a step further. How necessary is it to use the heated dry setting on your dishwasher, and is it actually costing you extra time, money, and energy?
3 Ways to Spot Greenwashing
Greenwashing is rampant in marketing campaigns, and sometimes it's really hard to tell what's actually sustainable. So what exactly is greenwashing, and how can we spot it? Here are three of my go-to ways to spot greenwashing in the wild, plus how to hone your greenwashing-spotting skills.
A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Sustainable Living Blog How and Why to Break Up with Amazon plus Amazon alternatives
It's time to do the thing. We’re gonna dive deep into the problems with Amazon, and you can be certain that once we’re through that, there’s gonna be a ton of resources and tips (plus 13 alternatives!) to help you finally break up with Amazon once and for all.
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.
3 Zero Waste Reasons to Use Your Dishwasher
Dishes are one of those household chores that are never done, and require quite a bit of time, water, and energy. When we're trying to live lighter on the planet, then, what’s the most sustainable and zero waste way to wash our dishes?
Keeping Local Delivery Sustainable
From the time I started A Drop in the Ocean, I wanted zero waste and sustainable living to be easy, affordable, and accessible. And one of the ways I wanted to make that happen was with a free local delivery service. But as current delivery system is becoming unsustainable, it's time for a delivery facelift.
A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Sustainable Living Blog What is Reef Safe Sunscreen and Why Does It Matter?
Summer is coming and that means vacation, beaches, and sunscreen - so let's make it sustainable! But what exactly is reef-safe sunscreen, how can you be sure a sunscreen is actually ocean-safe, and why does it matter, anyway?
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 The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Spring Cleaning

It’s that time of the year! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, it’s like straight out of Snow White. Time to clean! So this week, I wanted to share some of my favorite spring cleaning tips and tools to keep our homes, our bodies, and our planet clean.

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 5 Reasons to Hang Dry Laundry
Hang drying your laundry isn't just great for the planet, but it's great for you, too. Here are the five reasons I choose to hang-dry nearly all of my laundry.
A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Sustainable Living Blog 3 Reasons to Wash Your Laundry on Cold
Many of us, myself included, choose the hot setting for some loads because we believe the hot setting will sanitize our laundry. But apparently that's not the case. Washing your laundry on cold benefits the planet, but maybe it benefits you too.
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.