In an era where planet Earth could use a little extra TLC, many parents are setting out to raise their little ones with a side of sustainability. The good news? You don't have to be an eco-warrior to make a difference. This week, Jen Panaro, the founder and editor-in-chief of Honestly Modern, shares small changes in your daily routine that can wield a super-sized impact on shrinking your family's carbon footprint. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/sustainable-parenting-habits.

Current economic circumstances are putting a lot of pressure on everyone right now. As we enter 2025, our mission is to equip you with all the tools you'll need to balance your sustainability goals with financial realities—from cost-cutting grocery shopping tips to ways to utilize your community before buying new. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/sustainability-goals-vs-financial-realities.

We talk a lot about greenhouse gas emissions and what they’re doing to our atmosphere. But what about our oceans? That’s a question best posed to Dr. Jessica Cross, a research oceanographer with the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Seattle, WA. This week, we’re resharing an important past episode where you’ll learn everything there is to know about ocean acidification and the effect it has on the planet. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/ocean-acidification.

The notion of wrapping up a pre-owned item as a gift was traditionally met with raised eyebrows. However, in recent times, the narrative surrounding secondhand gifting has undergone a notable transformation as more and more people embrace the idea of sustainable and eco-friendly gift-giving. This week, Bre Eggert, the founder of Average But Inspired, is sharing all the tips and tricks you need to ensure your thrifting endeavors result in thoughtful and memorable presents. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/secondhand-gifting-tips.

Between the gift shopping, endless rolls of wrapping paper, and glittery decor, staying sustainable over the holidays can be a challenge. This week, Sarah Robertson-Barnes, a low-waste living expert and the founder of Sustainable in the Suburbs, is back to discuss everything you need to know to make your holiday season more eco-friendly, no matter how you’re celebrating. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/how-to-have-an-eco-friendly-christmas.

With everything we want just a click away, we bring new things into our homes every day… just to toss them out. This excessive consumption has led to an alarming statistic: The average American produces 4.5 pounds of trash each day. For a family of four, that’s 6,570 pounds of trash generated per year. As we approach some of the biggest shopping holidays of the year, we're resharing an important past episode where we dive into our major “stuff” problem with Nick Huzar, the co-founder and board director at OfferUp and the founder of StuffTV. For more information, visit https://brightly.eco/americas-stuff-problem.

If you think finding new, delicious, and planet-friendly recipes is hard, you're not alone. This week, Laura is joined by Grace Elkus, a food writer and editor, recipe developer, and content creator, to chat about which meals have been on repeat in her home and ways to cut down on waste.

Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to celebrate everything we're thankful for. What you may not realize, though, is between the food waste and holiday travel emissions, it's one of the least sustainable holidays. The good news is you don't have to sacrifice your holiday fun. This week, Sarah Robertson-Barnes, a low-waste living expert and the founder of Sustainable in the Suburbs, is here to help make your Thanksgiving more eco-friendly. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/eco-friendly-thanksgiving.

We get energy from wind and the sun, but have you ever looked toward the vast, untapped energy potential of our oceans? Yep, that's right—with more than 70% of the earth's surface covered by water, wave energy has the potential to become a key contributor to our global energy needs. The topic is something this week’s guest, Jan Skjoldhammer, the founder and CEO of the wave energy developer Novige AB, definitely knows a thing or two about. So could wave energy be the next big thing in sustainable energy? For more information, visit https://brightly.eco/wave-energy.

Crafting is fun—there's no doubt about that. Unfortunately, it isn't always the most sustainable hobby. One quick walk through any craft store will leave you looking at shelves brimming with an endless array of glittering possibilities, but it's hard to ignore the environmental impact that often lurks behind the sparkle. This week, Tiffanie Anne Westgor, a sustainable crafting expert, is sharing how making small changes during our crafting and DIY adventures can make a big impact on the world around us. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/sustainable-crafting.