Earth Day has been an important marker of health for me since the very first celebration in 1970. This year’s Earth Day theme is ‘Planet vs Plastics’.
The people at EARTHDAY.ORG are unwavering in their commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040. The theme, Planet vs. Plastics, calls to advocate for widespread awareness of the health risks of plastics, rapidly phase out all single-use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion.
The simplest way to reduce plastic waste is to avoid unnecessary and single-use plastics, support businesses who are reducing plastic waste.
Join in as we build a plastic-free planet for generations to come!
One helpful move is to switch to Shaklee products for cleaning and laundry. Yes, the bottles are made of plastic, so it doesn’t get rid of all plastics. But the products are so concentrated, especially Basic H2, that each bottle lasts 3 – 4 times longer than the ready to use bottles you buy from the grocery store. Shaklee doesn’t send California’s water to you. You add your own when you use the Household Cleaner, the liquid hand wash, the fabric softener. Shaklee’s 14lb box of laundry soap is the bargain of the year. A good way to reduce plastic waste.
Shaklee has led the way to carbon footprint reduction. Read on to learn what the company has done.
Shaklee has been a leader in green house gas reduction since the very beginning. It makes a person proud to use this brand. Just take two minutes to read the actions taken by the company since Dr. Shaklee founded it.
1956—Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee founded a company based on Living in Harmony with Nature® that is committed to developing products to improve the health of people and the planet.
1960s—Shaklee introduces Basic-H® Concentrated Organic Cleaner, one of the first nontoxic, biodegradable cleaners.
1970s—Shaklee introduces one of the first biodegradable laundry detergents without phosphates, nitrates, or borates.
1985 Shaklee was selected by the Wild Dolphin Project to provide environmentally-friendly cleaning products for use onboard their research vessel, Stenella. The Wild Dolphin Project is dedicated to studying the habitat of dolphins and Shaklee’s relationship has continued for 21 years.
1986 Shaklee provided financial support and products for the first recorded, unsupported expedition by dog sled to the North Pole, led by National Geographic award-winning polar explorer, author, and educator Will Steger.
1987 Shaklee was selected by Jacques Cousteau and the Cousteau Society to provide environmentally friendly cleaning products for use onboard their research vessels, the Calypso and Alcyone.
1989 Shaklee helped build schools and health clinics and planted more than one million trees in Asia through a partnership with the American Himalayan Foundation, an organization chaired by Sir Edmund Hillary.
1989-90 Shaklee provided financial and product support for a trans-Antarctica expedition led by Will Steger, which was the first crossing of Antarctica on foot, covering 3,700 miles. Following this expedition, Steger testified before Congress on polar and environmental issues and co-founded the Center for Environmental Education.
1990 Shaklee’s nontoxic and biodegradable Basic-H® was chosen as one of the first official Earth Day products. This innovation did and does reduce plastic waste.
1991 Shaklee introduces Basic-D®, one of the first phosphate-free automatic dishwashing detergents.
1992 Shaklee Cares®, a nonprofit organization, was established and dedicated to providing relief from natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes, whose severity has been compounded by climate change.
1995 Shaklee provided financial and product support for the third International Arctic Project led by Will Steger. This was the first surface crossing of the 2,500-mile-wide Arctic Ocean. The expedition brought information about environmental issues and changes to the polar landscape to millions of schoolchildren worldwide.
1996 Shaklee environmentally-friendly cleaning products were selected by Ocean Alliance and the Whale Conservation Institute to be used onboard the Odyssey, a research vessel that gathers data on contaminants throughout the world’s oceans. This relationship continues today.
1998 Shaklee becomes a Charter Partner of the U.S. EPA’s Climate Wise Program, which set aggressive corporate-wide greenhouse gas reduction goals.
2000 Shaklee becomes the first company in the world to obtain Climate Neutral™ certification and totally offset its CO2 emissions.
2000 Shaklee opens its World Headquarters, one of the first green, energy-saving, award-winning buildings designed using sustainable materials, including certified sustainable wood, recycled carpets, and recycled plastics. In 2001, Shaklee received the Savings by Design Energy Efficiency Integration Award by the American Institute of Architects.2005 Shaklee becomes a major partner of the Green Belt Movement, founded by Dr. Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
2006 Dr. Wangari Maathai becomes the Global Ambassador for A Million Trees. A Million Dreams™, a Shaklee environmental campaign that raises awareness of global climate change and initiates efforts to plant trees in North America and Africa.
2006 Shaklee holds a first-ever carbon neutral conference in San Francisco by offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions from the Company’s 50th Anniversary Conference, attended by some 10,000 participants.
2006 Shaklee is selected as a U.S. EPA Climate Leader, pledging to maintain a net zero impact on climate change and offset 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions through 2009.
2006 Shaklee is commended by President Bill Clinton for leadership in offsetting carbon emissions by creating renewable energy in Africa and is recognized at the Clinton Global Initiative.
2007 Shaklee becomes a founding member of the Business Council on Climate Change, an organization of businesses that serves as an inspiration and model of global climate stewardship by implementing effective and economically sound solutions to climate change.
2007 Shaklee provides financial and product support for polar explorer Will Steger and his GlobalWarming101.com expedition. This brand-new expedition includes an extensive educational outreach campaign to students throughout America to raise awareness of the impact of global climate change on five Inuit communities in the Arctic.
2007 Shaklee is the first consumer products company to offset 100% of CO2 emissions through the EPA Climate Leader’s program and use 100% green power.
2007 Shaklee is selected by the nation’s leading child advocacy group, Healthy Child Healthy World, to be the exclusive partner for a new video titled, “Creating Healthy Environments for Children.”
2007 Shaklee is selected by the producers of THE 11th HOUR, a feature length documentary narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, as a partner due to its exemplary track record for environmental leadership.
2007 Shaklee partnered with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs and The Earth Institute at Columbia University to facilitate direct emissions reductions through the installation of solar-powered LED lanterns in Malawi. This installation project replaces inefficient and unhealthy kerosene wick lamps and provides an improved and sustainable source of reading and task lighting for villagers in Malawi.
2008 Shaklee named to the Top 20 Retail Partner list by the EPA Green Power Partnership in recognition of being a top purchaser of green power.
2009 Shaklee is 100% carbon neutral. The greenhouse gas inventories for 2008 covering all Shaklee operations worldwide include US, Canada, Japan, China, Mexico and Taiwan, were reviewed by a third party, Econergy International, in accordance with the World Resources Institute protocol for all six Kyoto-defined greenhouse gases.
2009 Shaklee is honored with a Clean Air Award by Breathe California in recognition of Shaklee’s leadership in reducing global warming and improving air quality.
2009 Shaklee is honored with the Business Environmental Award for Sustainability from Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet for environmental stewardship, climate action leadership and social equality.
2010 –2014 Each year, Shaklee is 100% carbon neutral. The greenhouse gas inventory for 2010 covering all Shaklee operations worldwide including the US, Canada, Japan, China, Mexico, Malaysia and Taiwan, was reviewed by a third party, WSP Environment & Energy, in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for all six Kyoto-defined greenhouse gases.
2015 Shaklee once again achieves 100% net carbon neutral status. The greenhouse gas inventory for 2015 covering all Shaklee operations worldwide, including the US, Canada, Japan, China, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan, was reviewed by third-party WSP Global, in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for all six Kyoto-defined greenhouse gases. In addition, Shaklee purchased additional offsets in order to voluntarily comply with the new Scope Two guidelines.
2016 Shaklee is again 100% net carbon neutral. To comply with the new Scope Two guidelines, Shaklee purchased additional carbon offsets. 2018 – 2021 Shaklee continued to achieve 100% net carbon neutrality and purchased additional carbon offsets to mediate countries’ output that could not be verified on computed.
- Windows, mirrors, and other glass surfaces: Mix 1–2 drops of Basic H2 with 16 oz. of water in a spray bottle.
- Sealed countertops, tiles, sealed woodwork, furniture, and other general-purpose uses: Mix ¼ teaspoon of Basic H2 with 16 oz. of water in a spray bottle.
- Nonporous floors: Mix 1 tablespoon of Basic H2 with 1 gallon of water.
- Ovens, microwaves, stovetops, cooking surfaces, kitchen appliances: 1½ teaspoons of Basic H2 combined with 16 oz. of water in a spray bottle.
- Pots, pans, grills, barbeques, driveways, and engine grease: 2 oz. of Basic H2 combined with 1 gallon of water.
Different cleaners have different applications! Learn how to use always-green Get Clean cleaners that won’t emit harmful fumes and chemicals.
Then sit back, relax, and enjoy your fresh, clean home!
Let’s all share what we are doing to reduce plastics. Please comment above. Sign up for my monthly health tips newsletter.
Above all, Be Well, Do Well, and Keep Moving! Betsy
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