Earth Day California!!

Hello! My name is Gwendolyn Garcia, also known as seller GwendolynForever on etsy. Since 1970, April 22 has become the internationally recognized day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of a clean, healthy environment. It was founded by a senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, who witnessed the devastating effects of an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. He became deeply angered when he came upon an overall lack of action towards awareness and change by politicians in Washington. He decided that if changes were going to be made in favor of preserving the environment for ourselves and posterity, it was going to happen by educating people. Earth Day is a day dedicated to awareness and education for people of all walks of life and all manner of lifestyle. Earth Day is an opportunity to stop and consider the impact of our actions and to make small changes that can have meaningful effects in the long run. Earth Day is about common sense. I used the tags "cccoe team" and "eco friendly" to find the sellers being featured in today's blog post... Click on the images to visit each shop, and Enjoy! Did you know that somewhere between 5 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed each year, that 60-100 million barrels of oil are needed to produce the world's plastic bags each year, and that most plastic bags take up to 400 years to biodegrade? (Facts gathered from Natural Environment. Com) Not only is this large tote from merahmuda aesthetically pleasing, but it is sturdily designed using interfacing and denim lining, and it is made from recycled t-shirts, knits and knit remnants. Support local economy, creativity, and the environment all at the same time! Did you know that plastic bottles take hundreds of years to fully biodegrade, and that when they do biodegrade they leech toxic particles into the environment? Did you know that plastic takes up about 11% of landfill space, that people in the U.S. throw away about 2.5 million plastic containers per hour, and that our country's landfills are closing at a rate of about 2 per day? (Information gathered from Professor's House.) This clever pillow from pillowfarm is made from eco felt, a felt made of plastic bottles! What a great way to take plastic bottles out of our oceans and landfills and turn them into a beautiful work of art! Did you know that hardrock mining, which includes the extraction of metals like gold, silver and copper "can cause significant impacts on the environment, potentially affecting ground and surface waters, aquatic life, vegetation, soils, air, wildlife, and human health"? (Information gathered from Earthworks) We all enjoy the beauty of precious metals which makes this bracelet, made from recycled silver, by Raminta, so special. The fluidity of the design was made for comfort while the olive branch and the engraving within the bracelet are a gentle reminder to be peaceful. Simply gorgeous! Glass is usually considered environmentally friendly, but did you know that the production of glass can be very hazardous to both the factory workers and the environment? Such problems as noise pollution, water pollution, dust pollution, and air pollution (due to the fine dust of the raw materials used to make glass) are some the problems glass factory workers and their neighboring communities have to deal with. Did you know that glass will not naturally biodegrade if kept in ideal environment? Did you know that many examples of ancient glass artifacts, such as bottles, vessels, and beads exist fully in tact to this day? (Information gathered from Wikipedia/See photos of ancient glass at Ancient Resource) No one can deny the beauty and versatility of glass which is what makes these recycled Coca Cola bottle glasses so amazing! Created by bottlehead, these glasses are a beautiful, ingenious way to keep glass out of landfills, and will make great conversation pieces as well! Did you know that 14% of landfill space is taken up by newspaper and that decomposing paper produces methane gas, a potential greenhouse gas that is 20 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide? Recycling paper helps to keep it out of landfills, helping to slow the rate at which landfills fill up. (Information gathered from Love To Know) These paper creations from paperNplastic are an artful way to reuse and recycle paper, keeping it out of our landfills! This shop carries a fascinating array of products including beautiful paper flower bouquets, banners, boxes and more- all made from paper! These Romanesque Hand Hammered Brass Earrings by arcoirishandcrafted are a stylish way to make the most of what we have. Made from the leftover scraps of metal from jewelry making, they were saved from the scrap pile by being transformed into this versatile and gorgeous pair of earrings! Did you know that wool has been used by humanity for 12, 000 years? It is renewable, sustainable, long-lasting, versatile, and biodegradable. A simple, beautiful fiber that can be used in a myriad of ways. (Information gathered from Helios Carpets) Take these Slice of Log Woodsy Wool coasters by JeanineDesigns. They are a perfect combination of fun artisan craftsmanship and practicality. Wool is naturally water-repellent due to a naturally occurring presence of an oil, Lanolin, but it is also super-absorbent. These wool coasters are a perfect way to protect your furniture! Did you know that most plastics contain harmful additives to increase their softness and flexibility while also helping them to be shatter proof? These additives are Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). Phthalates are used in the manufacture of many baby and children's products, and BPA's have been linked to a variety of scary health problems via scientific studies involving lab rats. (Information gathered from About.Com) These precious stuffed dolls, made by zfla, are made from recycled materials. Cashmere and wool sweaters were repurposed into these adorable toys, which are then stuffed with organic cotton fill. So nice! Not only is this Chandelier Glass and Pearl Brass Necklace, by Nansglam, elegant and classy, it is made from natural and repurposed components! Items that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill, like the repurposed chandelier crystal or the vintage brass chain, have been expertly put together to create a versatile necklace of timeless grace and simple beauty. This is a necklace sure to be admired almost any woman. Well done! Enjoy this edgy Grommet Tote in Black Gator embossed leather by salvageshop. Another creative seller rescuing perfectly functional yet unwanted materials from ending up in the trash. What a unique tote! Beeswax is the ideal material for candlemaking for a great many reasons! Did you know that beeswax particles released into the air adhere to dust and dirt, actually cleaning the air? Candles made from beeswax burn longer than candles made from other materials, don't release toxins like benzene, acrolyn, lead stearic acid into the air, burn brighter, and produce a naturally pleasant aroma? (Information gathered from Arbour Environment Shoppe) These beautiful Honey Amber Rose tapers from ForestCandleStudio not only promise a most delicious scent, but are artfully and beautifully crafted. There were so many great eco-friendly products, and I wish I could have listed them all! I hope you all have enjoyed reading this post and learning about these sellers... Until next month!!