Sustainability is one of our key pillars at Kaia Earth. From the jump we have pinpointed ways to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our business to reduce our impact on the environment.

One way we do this is by creating clean, non-toxic, vegan products using the finest natural ingredients. Packaging is another facet of sustainability; we use minimal packaging and all materials are recyclable. We don’t use any plastic, and our products are packaged in glass jars.

Furthermore, we are committed to educating our customers on the importance of our global responsibility to maintaining a healthy and safe environment, and one way to contribute to sustainability is through composting.

Composting is recycling food and other organic waste and using it as fertilizer for plants. By composting at home, you are helping reduce landfill waste, while simultaneously creating healthy soil, increasing biodiversity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing air quality. 

Studies have shown that composting also conserves water. In the United States, irrigation systems for agriculture account for roughly 80% of the country’s water use. However, composting helps increase the water-retaining capacities of soil, so less water is needed for plants and food to grow.

To get started, an ideal bin would be 3 cubic feet, and it should be kept in a dry and shady spot. You can likely find an appropriate bin somewhere around the house, whether it’s an old wine crate, a plastic bin or a garbage can.

For the healthiest compost pile, it is best to alternate between “greens” and “browns.” The ideal carbon-to-nitrogen ratio for a home compost is two to four parts brown materials for every one part green materials.

Greens are for nitrogen, which is essential for plant growth and reproduction. Examples of household greens to add to your compost pile include fresh grass clippings, food scraps and coffee grounds.

Browns are for carbon, which acts as a food source for decomposers. Common browns that you can find around the house and yard include dead leaves, branches, twigs and paper. 

Oxygen and water are the final key elements to ensure a quick home composting process. To achieve optimal air flow, layer your compost materials. And the compost pile should be as wet as a wrung-out sponge, which will likely be taken care of if you include food in your compost pile.

Happy composting!

Note: Kaia Earth is excited to announce that our zero waste products are now available in Rochester at Impact Earth at Eastview Mall. The closest entrance to the shop is Entrance 2. 

Greenwashing may sound clean, but it’s actually a dirty marketing tool that many businesses use and something consumers must be aware of. 

The term greenwashing refers to when a company spends time and money to brand themselves as environmentally friendly, but they don’t take measures to minimize their environmental impact.

For example, a cosmetics or skincare brand might put 100% organic on their product label, without providing any evidence to support that claim. Companies use sneaky tactics like this to reel in consumers who are trying to be eco-friendly.

At Kaia Earth, we don’t just slap “Earth” in our name and claim to be committed to the environment--we ARE committed to the environment. One look at our products and our website is evidence alone. Our products are sustainably packaged in reusable glass jars, our ingredients are entirely plant-based, we are cruelty-free, and we are a member of 1% for the Planet, which means 1% of our sales goes directly to non-profit organizations (NPOs) whose mission is to protect the environment. 

Furthermore, part of our mission is to educate our customers on health and global responsibility through our platform. That being said, here are some tips for how to avoid choosing products that are greenwashed:

• Look for evidence that back-up empty claims. If a product says “all-natural” or “organic” on the cover, turn it over and check the list of ingredients to see if it aligns with that statement. Or visit the company’s website and see if it’s full of ambiguous claims. 
• Avoid products that say CFC-free or phosphate free because these agents have been banned for many years
• Pay attention to graphics and colors. One tactic used in greenwashing is literally using the color green and showing pictures of beautiful scenes in nature. This could be a distraction for consumers so they don’t delve deeper into the company’s practices, which may be anything but environmentally friendly.
• Is the product’s advertisement misleading? Is it tiptoeing around and saying nothing truly meaningful? Well, do your research because it sounds like they’re hiding something.
• Check for REAL certifications. Companies may say “organic” but without the certified organic symbol, there’s nothing to really back up the claim. 
• Watch out for companies who advertise as the lesser of two evils. Because in the end, both are evil, right?
• Pay attention to the company’s packaging. They may claim to be eco-friendly, but if they use a lot of material in their packaging, how can you trust that they are an eco-conscious business?

Greenwashing is a major issue, and the best way to deal with it as consumers is to be aware of it and have a set of strategies to avoid it. Trust your gut. If something doesn’t seem right, or if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.