Celebrate Earth Month With Our Guide to Supporting Sustainable Businesses
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Time to Read: 8 min
April is Earth Month, a time for us to think about our planet's health and the pivotal role we play in creating a more sustainable future. At the heart of Earth Month is a prompt, urging us to take action, and an easy first step is supporting businesses that operate with the planet's well-being in mind.
Sustainable businesses are champions for the environment and social good, crafting a future where economic success and ecological balance coexist. They embrace practices like ethical sourcing, champion eco-friendly products, minimize their environmental footprint, and uphold social responsibility. Through their efforts, these businesses foster conservation, cut down pollution, and strengthen communities, showing us that our choices have the power to create a more sustainable world.
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
Want to know more? Check out our story and our products.
Understanding Sustainable Businesses
What exactly makes a business sustainable? Well, it's all about embracing ethical practices that benefit not just the company but the environment and society as a whole. Sustainable businesses are the ones that source materials thoughtfully, create products that do the planet good, leave the lightest possible footprint on our world, and take their social responsibilities seriously.
Choosing to support these businesses means you're helping conserve precious resources, reduce harmful pollution, and build stronger, healthier communities. This can lead to a ripple effect, where every eco-conscious decision adds up, making a significant difference in the world we share. These businesses are the backbone of a movement towards a more sustainable future, where success and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
Spotting True Green Companies
In a world buzzing with the term "eco-friendly," how do we distinguish the genuinely sustainable businesses from those simply wearing a green mask? It's about looking beyond the surface, into the practices that make a company truly environmentally conscious and socially responsible.
Discovering authentic sustainable businesses requires a keen eye. This is especially true with the rise of greenwashing, or companies claiming to be green without the genuine practices to back it up. Yet, certain signs never lie when it comes to identifying true sustainability. Certifications such as B Corp or Fair Trade are strong indicators, showcasing a company's commitment to meeting rigorous environmental and social standards.
Transparency is another important marker. Businesses that are open about where and how their products are sourced and made are often those deeply invested in ethical practices. Look for companies that share detailed information about their supply chain, materials used, and the environmental impact of their products.
Another telltale sign of a sustainable business is having real commitment to waste reduction. This can be seen in efforts to minimize packaging, use recycled or biodegradable materials, and implement programs for product take-back or recycling.
Sustainable businesses often engage in initiatives beyond their direct impact, such as supporting local communities, investing in renewable energy, and actively working to conserve natural resources.
By focusing on these factors, you can pick out the genuine eco-warriors from the crowd, making sure that your support helps nurture our planet's health and future.
Sustainable Mealtime Essentials
Lending a Hand to Earth's Allies
After learning to recognize true sustainable businesses, the next step is taking action to support them. First and foremost, consider shopping locally. Local businesses often have smaller carbon footprints than their larger counterparts due to shorter transportation routes for goods. Plus, supporting local entrepreneurs fosters community resilience and economic stability.
Opting for products with eco-friendly packaging is another powerful way to make a difference. Packaging accounts for a significant portion of waste, so choosing items with minimal, recyclable, or biodegradable packaging can have an impact on reducing landfill waste.
Support doesn't stop with what you buy though. It extends to how you engage with companies. Follow and interact with your favorite sustainable brands on social media. Your encouragement can amplify their message and inspire more businesses to adopt green practices.
You should also consider the entire lifecycle of the products you purchase. Opt for items designed with durability and sustainability in mind, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing waste.
By thoughtfully choosing where and how we shop, we can collectively support sustainable businesses and contribute to a healthier planet.
Celebrating Leaders in Sustainability
In our journey toward a more sustainable world, certain brands have emerged as leaders, paving the way for a future where business and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
In fashion, Patagonia has long been celebrated for its commitment to environmental activism and sustainable manufacturing processes. By using recycled materials and promoting fair labor practices, Patagonia exemplifies how clothing can be both stylish and sustainably made.
The food industry boasts pioneers like Beyond Meat, which has revolutionized plant-based eating. By offering delicious, eco-friendly alternatives to meat, Beyond Meat reduces the environmental footprint associated with traditional livestock farming, significantly cutting down on water use and greenhouse gas emissions.
For household goods, Ahimsa stands out with its innovative approach to mealtime. By crafting cutlery and dishes from stainless steel, Ahimsa offers families a durable, non-toxic alternative to plastic, embracing sustainability without compromising on quality or safety.
These companies, among others, demonstrate the vast potential for businesses to positively impact the planet. By supporting such brands, consumers play an important role in fostering a market where sustainability is not just a buzzword but a foundational principle.
Beyond Buying: Broadening Our Impact
Embracing sustainable businesses is a vital step toward a healthier planet, but our journey doesn't end at the point of purchase. Our actions go beyond buying and play a significant role in amplifying the positive impact that we have on the environment.
If you want to take steps beyond shopping, you should consider advocating for environmental policies that support sustainability at local, national, and global levels. Engaging in dialogues with policymakers and participating in environmental advocacy can drive systemic change, creating a more sustainable framework for all sectors of society.
You can also join or organize community clean-ups. These initiatives not only help beautify our neighborhoods but also raise awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship among community members.
Educating others about the importance of sustainability and how to make eco-friendly choices is equally important. Sharing your knowledge with friends, family, and social networks can inspire collective action and foster a broader cultural shift toward environmental responsibility.
By extending our commitment to sustainability beyond our shopping habits, we can contribute to a larger movement that champions the health of our planet. Each action, no matter how small, adds to the collective effort needed to ensure a thriving, sustainable world for generations to come.
Our Role in a Greener Future
Earth Month is a reminder of our shared responsibility to the planet, and supporting sustainable businesses is a powerful way to contribute. But our role in creating a healthier environment and a sustainable future extends far beyond this. Each choice we make, from the products we buy to the practices we endorse, can lead to significant positive change.
This month, let's renew our commitment to making choices that benefit our planet. By choosing to support businesses that prioritize sustainability, advocating for policies that protect our environment, and educating ourselves and others about eco-friendly practices, we have the power to make a real difference.
Remember, the journey to a sustainable future is a collective one, where every action counts. Let's embrace this opportunity to contribute to a world where both people and the planet can thrive. Together, we can create a legacy of stewardship that will be felt for generations to come.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Mealtime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
