Going, Going, Green!
Words by Katelyn Chef
Photos provided by Avocado
We all want to live a green lifestyle, but we also know that going green takes a little more effort than watering your Fiddle-Leaf Fig tree. Living a more eco-friendly lifestyle is a continuous conscious effort. It doesn’t have to be difficult, though—using just a few sustainable items in your home can greatly benefit the planet…and you’ll feel pretty good about yourself too!
Whether you have a green thumb or not, there are plenty of ways to green-ify your home, starting in the bedroom.
Jessica Hann, the VP of brand marketing at Avocado, the organic, non-toxic mattress company, spoke with Good Grit about the importance of sleeping on a sustainable mattress. “Traditional mattresses rely on petroleum-based polyurethane foams that can emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)—a chemical odor, also known as off-gassing,' which can cause respiratory irritation, throat irritation, forgetfulness, dizziness, headaches, skin sensitization and allergic reactions.” She continues, “Many companies also use chemical adhesives and chemical flame retardants, and include phthalates, heavy metals, and formaldehyde in their product formula.”
Sleeping on a mattress that has so many potentially harmful elements is a true nightmare. Luckily, Avocado has a remedy. Hann says, “Instead, opt for a certified organic mattress and pillows (like Avocado's) from a brand you trust. Avocado mattresses are made with GOTS organic certified wool and cotton and GOLS organic certified latex that is sustainably sourced and manufactured in farms and factories we co-own in India.” She continues, “Our mattresses are entirely biodegradable, with the exception of the steel innerspring unit which can be recycled. Our mattresses are MADE SAFE and Greenguard Gold certified. Avocado is also a certified B-Corp and Climate Neutral certified ‘carbon negative’ meaning we offset more carbon emissions than we produce.”
Shop Avocado here.
Now that an eco-friendly mattress has found its way into your nest, it's time to get down to the basics—bedsheets. It shouldn’t be a struggle to find sustainable sheets that are good for Mother Earth and your skin too. The Aussie brand, I Love Linen, makes it easy.
I Love Linen has an amazing bundle, the luxurious organic bamboo sheet set, crafted from100% bamboo. These are the sheets for anyone with sensitive skin, because they’re hypoallergenic and antibacterial.
Shop I Love Linen here.
Let’s move on to window treatments. Doesn’t the saying go, “Good window treatments make for good neighbors?” Well it should! Valley Forge is a sustainable supplier of home décor textiles. As stated on their website’s mission statement, their decorative textiles are composed of fibers spun from botanicals like eucalyptus, as well as other recyclable materials.
No matter your window dressing preference, Valley Forge has something for you. There are three window finishing options; roller shades, Roman shades, and finished drapery.
Shop Valley Forge here.
After the shades are drawn, it’s time to draw a warm bath. Plush and cozy towels are a must, but what if they were crafted from organic cotton too? What a bonus! Under the Canopy’s organic cotton bath towels are just that—plush and GOTS Certified.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is the seal of approval proving that such labeled goods are free from harmful toxins, heavy metals, & other environmental hazards.
Shop Under the Canopy here.
Once you’re up and showered, coffee is always a good idea. Did you know you can keep your coffee portable and sustainable? Meet Welly, an environmental bottle company that donates 1% of each sale toward providing clean water to areas that need it the most.
Aside from the feel-good donations, Welly is good for the environment too! Made from bamboo as well as 18/8 stainless steel, it’s sustainability done beautifully.
Shop Welly here.
Now that we’ve all been at home more often, we have all likely been cleaning a little extra. It’s important to realize that a clean home is important, but it’s also important to clean your home with ‘clean’ products.
Honest has a slew of clean cleaning products that are plant-derived and free from ammonia, chlorine bleach, dyes, SLS/SLES, and other harmful elements, yet still hard-hitting on all the germs and grime.
Shop Honest here.
Perhaps, the key to a good night’s rest isn’t counting sheep, but resting our pretty little heads on a sustainable pillow.
Jessica Hann told us, “Start [going green] with the places where you will get the most impact, like your mattress and pillows. After all, you spend 1/3 of your life in bed.”
Avocado’s Green Pillow is stuffed with Mother Nature’s most loved 100% organic GOTS certified cotton as well as GOLS Organic Latex Foam Rubber Ribbons, and GOTS Organic Kapok Fibers from the Ceiba Tree.
Shop Avocado’s Green Pillows here.
Going completely green in a day isn’t expected, however making little changes, day-by-day, creates a big impact, inside your home and around the globe.