In the era of athleisurewear and comfort clothing, should you sweat buying organic cotton leggings? We take a look at MATE the Label and see if their sustainability claims hold up.

Sources

• The Good Trade: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/mate-the-label-activewear-review/ 
• Change Climate Project: https://www.changeclimate.org/standards and https://explore.changeclimate.org/brand/mate-the-label 
• MATE The Label’s website: https://matethelabel.com/pages/about and https://matethelabel.com/pages/2020-impact-report 
• Good On You review: https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/mate-the-label 
• Certified B Corp: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/mate-the-label/ 
• Jungmaven: https://jungmaven.com/collections/womens-activewear 
• Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ethicalfashion/comments/1e3ci80/avoid_mate_the_label_at_all_cost/ 
• Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/matethelabel.com 

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

It's our 100th episode! Most podcasts don't make it past three, so we're pretty proud of ourselves. Pop the bubbly and join us on a retrospective of all we've learned and what we're looking forward to. And THANK YOU for listening all this time!

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

We may be the only podcast currently in existence that isn't sponsored by Quince. They bill themselves as providing quality, sustainable items at an affordable price. Is that possible? Find out this week as we take a look at Quince and their sustainability claims (and likely lose out on any hope of ever being sponsored by them, ever). 

Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support! 

Sources

• Quince website: https://www.quince.com 
• The Business of Fashion Podcast: Can Fashion Still Meet Its Climate Promises?: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-fashion-still-meet-its-climate-promises/id1225204588?i=1000737458578 
• Good On You (brand rating): https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/quince 
• Commons: Instead of Quince, Try These 5 Sustainable Brands: https://www.thecommons.earth/blog/instead-of-quince-try-these-5-sustainable-brands 
• Toad&Co: https://www.toadandco.com/pages/sustainability
• Ecocult: https://ecocult.com/quince-ethical-sustainable-greenwashing/ 
• NYTimes Wirecutter:https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/my-month-testing-quince-products/

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

What if, instead of mindlessly buying another new outfit, you could just rent it? And what if you could stop the fashion industry from making up 10% of global emissions every year from manufacturing new clothing by stopping their need to make that new clothing? Take a look at Rent the Runway this week to find out if renting your clothes will solve all your green-living fashion problems, or just cause new ones.

Sources:
- Rent the Runway sustainability - https://www.renttherunway.com/impact
- Vogue UK – Is Renting Your Clothes Really More Sustainable? - https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/is-renting-your-clothes-really-more-sustainable
- MIT - https://sustainable.mit.edu/rentalclothing/
- Mother Jones - https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/07/renting-runway-clothes-environmental-problems-fast-fashion-study-climate-change/

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Kids grow up so fast, but you've gotta' keep 'em clothed. Can supposedly sustainable children's clothing brands like Hanna Andersson meet the needs of eco-minded parents? Find out what sustainability claims are legit and which ones are just green hooey in our first episode of season nine. 

Sources 

• The Good Trade: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/organic-baby-clothes/
• Journal of Textile Science and Fashion Technology “mini review”: https://irispublishers.com/jtsft/fulltext/a-review-sustainable-material-selection-for-childrens-wear.ID.000708.php 
• Wirecutter, NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/is-organic-cotton-better-for-the-environment/ 
• The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/mar/20/cost-cotton-water-challenged-india-world-water-day 
• Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.hannaandersson.com
• Hanna Anderson FAQ: https://www.hannaandersson.com/faqs.html?srsltid=AfmBOopAQKYHbtsIFFaAR03jx11CxJdcl9_wTxmQbE9j3eE5r9nZPdeS 
• Hanna Anderson sustainability page: https://www.hannaandersson.com/sustainability.html 
• Good On You: https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/hanna-andersson 
• NIH: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8755403/ 

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

**Ruby was Tiffany’s wonderful dog who went over the rainbow bridge this season. This Thanksgiving episode goes out to her. **

Want to have a less expensive and less wasteful Thanksgiving meal this year? Ok, we can’t promise it’ll be the best Thanksgiving ever, but we can give you tips to reduce how much food you waste and the overall cost of the meal. Plus, get some of our favorite recipes for day-of and leftovers in the last episode of this season. Bonus: ASMR pretzel eating!

Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!  

Sources:

• University of Minnesota: https://sustainable.umn.edu/thanksgiving 
• NRDC Guestimator tool: https://savethefood.com/guestimator 
• Hungry Harvest: https://hungryharvest.net/blog/2017/11/9/the-makings-of-a-zero-waste-holiday
• Move for Hunger: https://moveforhunger.org/blog/mindful-meals-cultivating-low-waste-thanksgiving-meal 
• Going Zero Waste: https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/ways-to-use-your-thanksgiving-leftovers/ 
• Sugar Spun Run (recipe): https://sugarspunrun.com/homemade-cranberry-sauce/#recipe
• Add a Pinch (recipe): https://addapinch.com/turkey-salad-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-31953 
• NPR https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-11-15/is-it-ok-to-keep-reheating-leftovers-honest-questions-about-food-safety-illustrated
• Ohio State https://health.osu.edu/wellness/exercise-and-nutrition/cooling-pasta-changes-starch

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

PFAS and other "forever chemicals" have been around a long time, but in recent years, they've been getting a lot of news. What are they? Why are they scary? And can you avoid getting them in your food? Get the scoop with a dash of measured hope in this week's episode of your favorite sustainability podcast.

Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!  

Sources

• NIH - Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc
• EPA - Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS - https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas
• EPA - Meaningful and Achievable Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your RIsk - https://www.epa.gov/pfas/meaningful-and-achievable-steps-you-can-take-reduce-your-risk
• BBC Science Focus - Forever Chemicals Are Now in Half of Your Fruits and Vegetables - https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/forever-chemicals-food-risks
• The Guardian - It’s Almost Impossible to Eliminate Toxic PFAS From Your Diet - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/22/pfas-forever-chemicals-diet
• FDA - Questions and Answers on PFAS in Food - https://www.fda.gov/food/process-contaminants-food/questions-and-answers-pfas-food
• ITRC - History and Use of PFAS Found in the Environment - https://pfas-1.itrcweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/history_and_use_508_2020Aug_Final.pdf
• NIH - The Devil They Knew - Chemical Documents Analysis of Industry Influence on PFAS Science - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10237242/
• ELG Law - https://www.elglaw.com/faq/most-pfas-contaminated-states/
• Consumer Reports - https://www.consumerreports.org/water-contamination/how-to-get-pfas-out-of-your-drinking-water-a7303943293/

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

“What do you want for dinner?” is the worst question ever. Meal planning to the rescue! We know, we know — it's one of those things everyone tells you you should do. But find out why this little tweak is actually worth it, and how it will save you money, time, and sanity. Get tips on how to do it right, plus a free downloadable planner that Tiffany actively uses and swears by.

Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!  

Sources

• Rutgers: https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/sustainability/fs1332_-reducing-food-waste-at-home_-easy-every-day-tips-rutgers-njaes.pdf 
• EPA: https://www.epa.gov/land-research/estimating-cost-food-waste-american-consumers 
• Our downloadable meal planner: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19SKpXixbXJOdD1VvZPRpCpb5gEgvenRs/view?usp=sharing 

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

If you run in certain circles, you may have heard about mushroom coffee. It's purportedly better for the environment and better for you than regular coffee. But will it scratch that morning coffee itch? And how true are those environmental or health claims? Explore this earthy trend with Tiff and Kat in your favorite sustainability podcast.

Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!  

Sources

• Harvard Health Publishing - https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/mushroom-coffee-worth-a-taste
• Healthline - https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mushroom-coffee#lower-in-caffeine
• Earthrise - https://www.earthrise.au/blogs/stories/mushroom-coffee-a-safer-sustainable-alternative
• MedicineNet - https://www.medicinenet.com/drinking_mushroom_coffee_good_benefits_side_effect/article.htm
• Cleveland Clinic - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/22361-adaptogens
• Wired - https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-mushroom-coffee/
• PennState Extention - https://extension.psu.edu/impact-of-the-mushroom-industry-on-the-environment
• Food52 - https://food52.com/story/18958-the-hidden-wartime-origins-of-mushroom-coffee

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Some people say we eat a credit card's worth of plastic every week — which is not true. But it still ain't great. In this episode, you'll learn the basics of where microplastics come from, how they may be impacting the environment and ourselves, along with steps to help limit your microplastic exposure. Let's all try not to panic together.

For more on plastic recycling, check out our episodes (16 & 17) here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1849707/episodes/13220903

Sources

• CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/31/us/microplastic-credit-card-per-week 
• Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, Ingested microplastics: Do humans eat one credit card per week?: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666911022000247 
• UCSF: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/02/427161/how-to-limit-microplastics-dangers 
• A Poison Like No Other
• The Revelator: https://therevelator.org/plastic-pollution-warnings/ 
• AdvanTech Plastics: https://advantechplastics.com/bio-assimilation/
• Environmental Chemistry Letters: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9907217/
• Science Alert: https://www.sciencealert.com/theres-a-surprisingly-simple-way-to-remove-microplastics-from-drinking-water 

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: [email protected]
YouTube: Greening Up My Act