Sustainability & Environment

Circular economy in foodservice means more than ‘compostable everything.’ Here’s what it actually looks like operationally — and where it works.

Composting when you live alone produces about 1-2 pounds of scraps a week. Here’s how to make it work without smell, fruit flies, or a full bin sitting around.

Bamboo floss and silk floss both claim compostability. The compost behavior is actually quite different — here’s what to know.

Six ways to use bread heels before composting them — from croutons and breadcrumbs to bread pudding and French toast — plus when composting is the right call.

Worm castings and finished compost are both soil amendments, but they aren’t the same thing. Here’s when each one wins.

Reusable cotton rounds replace single-use cotton balls and rounds in skincare routines. The break-even versus disposable is somewhere between 50 and 200 uses depending on the brand. Here’s how many you actually need for a typical routine — and how to wash them so they last.

A hole in your jeans doesn’t mean the end of the jeans. Hand-patching with iron-on patches or visible-mending techniques takes about 10 minutes and extends a pair of jeans by years. Here’s the practical method that actually works — no sewing machine required.

Seven mistakes that derail commercial composting programs before they get traction — and what actually works instead.

The triangle of chasing arrows is the most recognized recycling symbol in the US — and one of the most misunderstood. The number inside doesn’t mean what most people think. The symbol doesn’t guarantee recyclability. Here’s the actual story behind the symbol and what the numbers really tell you.

A product certified compostable can still take years to actually compost in a home pile. The certification is for commercial facilities running at 140-160°F. A backyard pile at 90-130°F is a different environment. Here’s why the timelines diverge, what to expect, and when commercial composting is the only realistic path.

Composting at the base of mature trees is generally fine and often beneficial — but a few specific situations cause problems. Smothering the trunk flare, burying surface roots, or creating soil-moisture imbalances can damage even established trees. The practical guidelines for working around trees with compost.

Baby showers produce surprising amounts of single-use waste — plates, cups, napkins, decorations, gift wrap. Switching to compostable versions is straightforward, looks better than expected, and aligns with the broader message of welcoming a new generation. Here’s the practical setup.