As a brand, we’ll only add goodness to this world - now and in the future. In the now, it means choosing ethically sourced ingredients and never using animal products. For the future, it means limiting our impact on coming generations by creating 100% recyclable, zero-waste packaging. It also means looking at the entire impact of our products – including their delivery to you.
This is where our new carbon-neutral shipping option comes in! In today’s blog, we’ll chat about:
- What is carbon-neutral shipping?
- How carbon-neutral shipping works and why it matters
- Shopping online vs shopping in-store
- Your carbon footprint
- How to calculate your carbon footprint + how to shrink it
WHAT IS CARBON-NEUTRAL SHIPPING?
Who doesn’t love shopping online? Perusing sites in our pajamas and waking up to brand new goodies on our doorstep – it’s a beautiful thing. The downside to all this instant joy is the impact it has on the environment. Every product we purchase travels on a plane or a truck (usually both), which releases large amounts of damaging CO2 into the atmosphere.
To help reduce these extra emissions, we’ve partnered with Cloverly to offer you a carbon-neutral shipping option. That means you can still shop online, except minus the added carbon.
HOW DOES CLOVERLY ACTUALLY WORK?
When you checkout on the ĀTHR Beauty site, you can choose carbon-neutral shipping for about $0.28 (depending on weight). To add this option, just click the small checkbox that pops up at checkout.
This extra fee goes towards offsetting the carbon emissions from shipping that item. Cloverly calculates the carbon impact of that order and offsets exactly that amount with green energy credit purchases.
How does that make sense? It works like an equation. Think of activities like transportation to be a negative number, let’s say -5. To balance out the negative environmental impact, Cloverly invests in a positive (+) activity like renewable energy. So, they balance the -5 with a +5, bringing it back a zero-impact level.
SHOPPING ONLINE VS IN-STORE
Surprisingly, studies have found that online shopping is actually more efficient than shopping in-store (excluding customers who are biking, walking, or taking public transit to the store). Why? Most mail delivery companies have optimized their processes with fuel-efficient vehicles and super-efficient truck-packing methods.
The one exception: expedited shipping. One or two-day shipping means trucks are often leaving with sparsely filled loads and are making many more trips.
What this means for you: Though online shopping is slightly less damaging than a visit to the mall, it still creates significant carbon emissions. To limit your impact, choose regular shipping if you don't need your items immediately, consolidate multiple purchases into one, and opt-in to carbon-offset programs whenever you can.
YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Shopping is just one thing we all do that impacts the environment. Other activities like driving our car, heating our house, and eating meat all create greenhouse gasses (carbon). The total amount of carbon we create from our daily activities makes up our carbon footprint.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Carbon emissions are the main cause of climate change. If we all worked to limit our carbon footprint, collectively we could have a major impact on the climate crisis.
HOW CAN YOU REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT?
To start, it helps knowing what your footprint is now. Find out using this carbon calculator, and then look through these tips for reducing your personal impact:
Eat less animal products
This is the single most effective way to slow down climate change, according to the UN.
"Research consistently shows that drastically reducing animal food intake and mostly eating plant foods is one of the most powerful things you can do to reduce your impact on the planet over your lifetime, in terms of energy required, land used, greenhouse gas emissions, water used and pollutants produced."
Buy less products
Focus on holy-grail, quality items that you LOVE – items that last and multitask. Less unnecessary items shipped = lower emissions.
Drive less
Walking, biking, or taking the bus are great ways to lower your daily carbon footprint. Even if it’s just replacing one short drive down the street with a walk instead, it’s an improvement!
Unplug what you’re not using
Every cord that’s plugged in is draining power – even if it’s not being used or the device isn’t turned on.
Plant your own garden
Plants directly absorb CO2 from the air – making this the most direct way to reduce carbon in the atmosphere. Try growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs if you can - it’s convenient and delicious for you, and you avoid carbon-heavy products at the grocery store. If you don’t have room or time for a full-on garden, even a windowsill herb garden is great!
Eat local
Whatever you can’t grow in your fabulous new garden, try finding a locally produced version of that item. This avoids not just the cross-country (and sometimes worldwide) transport, but also the cooling required to keep the produce fresh on those long journeys.
Avoid beauty and fashion made overseas
The emissions from shipping products over this distance are substantial. Not to mention the rampant human rights violations and toxic production methods in many of these regions.
Hang your clothes to dry
You will save so much energy and money, and your clothes will thank you. Dryers deteriorate fabrics quickly – causing stretching, shrinking, and pilling. Air drying will make all your clothes last longer, and that means you won’t be replacing them as often – hello, sustainable living!
Learn the ins and outs of recycling
Recycling rates are still extremely low, and the rules for recycling have changed. Read our blog “Plastic Free July & Beyond” for everything you need to know!
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We hope this post was helpful in your journey to #ChooseBetter beauty and lessen your impact on our Earth. Thanks for supporting sustainable #goodvibesbeauty ♥
-ĀTHR Beauty xo
