Archive for the ‘Holiday’ Category

Fall in Love with Recycling This February – Five Benefits of Recycling

February may be the month dedicated to love, but it doesn’t have to be limited to your significant other. As a supporter of sustainability and an enhanced ecosystem, Carolina Fibre looks for ways in everyday life to show love to our earth and protect the environment. And one of our favorite ways is through recycling. 

According to a new report by the research firm Verisk Maplecroft, the average American produces 1,704 pounds of garbage per year, roughly three times the global average. These staggering number showcase that we need to fall in love with recycling. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, recycling has many benefits. Keep reading to find out about five more.

Increases property value.

Recycling promotes a healthy community and, in turn, can increase property value. 

Communities that recycle will reduce the need for local landfills. Landfills will lower property values because nobody wants to live near a garbage dump. The more you and your neighbors recycle, the fewer landfills your city will need. 

The little bit of effort it takes to separate and recycle your trash each week will eventually pay off big for everyone in the community.

Saves energy.

Tossing an aluminum can in the trash takes less than a second. Reusing a can takes the same amount of time and has more benefits. Did you know that it takes twice as much energy to burn plastic as it does to recycle it? It also takes 64% more energy to make paper than recycling and reusing it. 

Recycling saves energy by reducing or eliminating the need to make materials from scratch. Making products from scratch is labor-intensive and expensive. Using recycled materials instead of pulling new natural resources, manufacturers can make the same products with less energy and expense.

Recycling creates jobs.

Plants and industries are required for effective recycling. If we were to ramp up our efforts, we could create ten times more jobs than landfill management.

According to Eco-cycle, jobs are created in: 

  • Collecting, processing, and preparing materials. 
  • Making new products from recycled materials. Your recyclables then head to manufacturing facilities that use recycled feedstocks, such as paper mills and plastic manufacturing facilities. 
  • Reuse and remanufacturing. Some discards are sorted and fixed up to be used again through computer refurbishers, thrift stores, and auto salvage yards.

[Click here to learn how a recycling program can help your business and save you money!]

Ensures a sustainable future for all. 

There is only so much the environment can offer with its limited natural resources. Recycling ensures that we minimize the immediate effect on the environment and give it time to recover while creating sustainable habits.

Reduces air pollution. 

When companies choose to use recycled materials that come from paper products, plastics, and metals instead of using raw materials, they reduce the number of toxins released in the air. 

Many people think that one person can’t make a difference, but when it comes to recycling, one person can make a huge impact. Recycling is a simple way to preserve our natural resources and protect our clean air and water – and of course, show love to mother nature.

Five Tips to Make Your Holidays a Little Greener This Year

It’s getting colder (though not as cold as it should be here in Eastern North Carolina), the days are shorter, and nights longer. The holidays are here and with it an opportunity to have fun while creating an environmentally friendly celebration.

Make your holidays joyous in spirit and gentle on the environment with these five tips from Carolina Fibre!

Be conscious of gift wrapping.

When it comes to wrapping those gifts, consider natural, renewable materials over the shiny and metallic gift wrap. Newspaper, cotton, and woods are excellent options that add charming character and a personal touch to your gifts.

Sift through your Sunday paper and find stories that resonate with each gift recipient. For example, comics for the family clown, a sports story for the sports enthusiast in your friend group. Grab pages from old, worn-out, or damaged books for the co-worker who loves to read and write, or various advertisements from an old magazine for the marketer in your life. Old greeting cards are an innovative replacement for gift tags. According to a study at Stanford University, if every family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

Do holiday lights right.

Recent research shows that if everyone replaced their conventional holiday light strings with LEDs, at least two billion kilowatt-hours of electricity could be saved in a month. So, it goes without saying: at home, in the office, and around the tree, make it a point to use LED holiday lights.

They’re more energy-efficient and will save you money on your electricity bill this season!

Decorate with items found in nature.

Avoid buying cheap plastic items that fall apart easily, cannot be recycled, and take up space in landfills. Using green plants and fresh flowers, fruits, pinecones, and evergreens for home decorating are creative and stylish ways to protect the environment.

Natural holiday decor saves money and provides organic beauty. Green holiday decorating ideas are simple and classic, plus they create more time to enjoy the festive season and relax with family and friends.

Compost when the celebrations are over.

When the holiday season is over, try composting your pine garlands, dried up wreaths, and other flower arrangements.

Unlike fake Christmas trees, real trees are recyclable or compostable – so go real this year. If you already have a compost heap, your tree will have a happy home. Tree branches provide a generous base layer for composting. In both cases, chop the tree into smaller, more manageable sections, and add to your compost bin. If you don’t have a compost pile, some cities will convert your tree to mulch for free, which is fabulous for your garden later in the year.

[Click here for more Christmas tree recycling ideas!]

Set an earth-friendly table this year.

The leading cause of deforestation, and another massive source of greenhouse gas emission, is agriculture. The choices you make when you’re at the grocery store can help you reduce your agricultural carbon footprint.

Meat intake is an excellent place to start; just by slightly reducing your meat consumption, you can help reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions. You can also be environmentally conscience when the meal is over by:

  • Saving scraps.
  • Distributing leftovers.
  • Utilizing your freezer.

Make this holiday season one to remember by creating new traditions with your loved ones, saving the planet, and having a blast by bringing these earth savvy and festive projects to life!

What steps has your family or workplace taken to green the holiday season? We’d love to hear; let us know on our Facebook page.

Straight from the Heart

Around this time of year, we hear a lot about the newest trends in gift-giving, the latest thing you must give your sweetheart to show your appreciation come February 14. In 2018, instead of breaking the bank and possibly giving your valentine something that’s less than kind to the environment at large, consider a homemade offering that’s personal and takes it easy on our planet. The staff here at Carolina Fibre found a few that are simple enough to do in a pinch, but easily customized to fit your special someone, whoever he or she may be.
Appeal to the Sweet Tooth
Whether it’s chocolate, butterscotch, or something with a little saltiness to the sweet, everyone has a favorite candy. Thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to become a master chocolatier… or to at least borrow a secret or two. And by making your own sweet treats, you can be sure of exactly where the ingredients came from and how they were sourced.
Dinner for Two
When you shop local, you help reduce the carbon footprint left by shipping and transporting the items that make up a delicious meal. Treat your valentine to a home-cooked meal in your very own kitchen, and the environment will get to enjoy the night in, too! 
Custom Arrangement
Flowers never go out of style, and they’re easy on the atmosphere, too! Find a locally operated flower shop and have all your sweetheart’s favorites put together, or go on a scouting mission and arrange them all yourself. Either way, both your significant other and the ozone layer thank you.
Preserving the Memories
In the digital age, picture frames may not be the first gift idea to come to mind. But, with a little creativity and a great snapshot, you can reminisce over first dates, weddings, or any other memorable occasion. Your local craft supply store will have plenty of environmentally friendly pieces to add to a basic wood or plastic frame, and your present this year can truly be one-of-a-kind!
Creating Ambience 
Sometimes, all a nice dinner needs is a touch of candlelight. Luckily, you can make your own in a few easy steps, and with ingredients that don’t take a toll on the planet to obtain or use. Do a little digging to find out your valentine’s favorite scents, and add some mood lighting to your evenings in!
Roses are Red…
When all else fails, you can never go wrong with a homemade card. Possible materials range from recycled cardstock and eco-friendly markers to something with a bit more pizzazz. The main thing to remember is to make it personal, and your date is bound to appreciate it – almost as much as the planet will!
These are just a few environmentally friendly ideas we’ve come up with for the upcoming holiday, but you can show your appreciation for a loved one or for the earth all year long! Stay tuned to our blog for tips and updates to come, or contact us to get a greener program started at your place of business.