It is estimated that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used annually, which calculates to over one million consumed every minute. To make matters worse, one measly plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to break down. Whats more, only around 1 to 3 percent of these bags are even recycled. Enter One Small Step, an online retailer that offers eco-friendly food containers, wraps, bags, napkins — basically everything the…

In a nationwide analysis measuring chemicals in U.S. tap water, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reported finding hexavalent chromium in 31 of 35 cities tested. Furthermore, 25 of the 31 confirmed cities contained levels which exceeded the limit proposed in California, a state actively fighting for more stringent regulations on water protection. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been debating as to whether a standard should be set for hexavalent chromium in…

Back in 2008, thanks to a pioneering law, it became illegal for stores in China to give out plastic bags for free. Retailers were then required to charge a fee for the bags, and were able to pocket any profits made through the tax. Remarkably, the law actually curbed plastic bag use by 50 percent after only two years – helping to prevent roughly 100 billion plastic bags from polluting…

Reusable shopping totes can be very affordable and make environmental sense, however a new report has revealed that the marketing behind this “green” alternative is extremely deceptive. Earlier this year, reusable bags sold at CVS pharmacies and Wegman’s grocery stores were found to contain alarming levels of lead, which can potentially leach into food products and endanger health. Not to mention, if the bags are tossed away into landfills or littered onto streets, they also run the risk of polluting local groundwater sources. Since the discovery…

The craze of natural and organic shopping is now becoming more about moral obligation, as consumers are realizing the potential health and environmental benefits of going green. Traditional wines, for example, use grapes that are heavily sprayed down with synthetic, chemical-based pesticides and are grown in such fertilizers as well. The effects of these pesticides are far reaching, negatively influencing the environment and human health alike. First off, scientific testing has shown that chemical pesticides…