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As more and more companies strive to create increasingly sustainable products with reduced environmental impacts, we see a lot more packaging promoting “carbon neutral,” or “carbon negative,” products. What does it mean for a product to be “carbon neutral,” and what steps do companies have to take to make those claims? 

There is no government standard in the United States to certify a company or a product as carbon neutral. For a company to claim carbon neutrality on its products, they typically go through a three-step process. First, companies have to evaluate the complete carbon lifecycle of the product. This means everything from the natural resources the product is derived from, to the end-waste product it will turn into. The carbon cost must be calculated for every stage of the lifecycle and added up to produce an estimated total carbon footprint for the product. 

Next, companies must find points in the manufacturing, design, or distribution process where they can cut emissions by improving efficiency or sustainability practices. This is typically done with the help of a sustainability consultant and can result in huge energy and waste savings. 

Finally, companies reevaluate their products’ total carbon footprint (after making improvements) and purchase carbon offsets for the remaining carbon of the product. Carbon offsets are projects, programs, or technological advancements that companies can invest in to reduce or remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Several major corporations that provide carbon offset investments to manufacturers also partner with international environmental certifications, such as 1% for the Planet and the Climate Neutral Project. 

Because there is no government standard, different companies can achieve “carbon neutrality” for a product in different ways. However, the US Federal Trade Commission can legally penalize companies that claim carbon neutrality without scientific proof. While greenwashing–the practice of claiming something to be environmentally friendly without evidence or truth–is still a common issue in today’s economic market, regulations and standard improvements allow consumers to feel more assured about common environmental claims such as “carbon neutral”. 

Claiming a product as “carbon neutral” rarely means it was produced or distributed with zero-carbon emissions. Purchasing carbon offsets is an easy way for companies to help reduce their environmental impact and implement positive change; however, the primary focus should always be shifting to more efficient and more sustainable manufacturing practices on the corporate end. On the consumer side, purchasing “carbon neutral” products over other products is a great way to make sure you are supporting businesses who prioritize sustainability; however, a reduction in the amount of consumables and waste you personally create is always the best way to make a difference. Next time you purchase a product that claims to be “carbon neutral,” visit the company’s website to find out more about the claim and their environmental practices.

By Mia Moore

Recycling is a pretty new process in the United States; televisions became mainstream in American households before recycling. For decades, cardboard, paper, metals, and glass were the only materials that could truly be recycled on a large scale. However, with the tsunami of plastics and mixed materials in recent years, industries have had to become more innovative to find solutions for new kinds of waste. 

Typically, mixed materials like Capri Sun pouches or potato chip bags that combine plastic with metal have been unrecyclable; the plastic and metal are too difficult to separate and are generally considered trash. Companies like Terracycle are changing this, though. Terracycle specializes in recycling mixed materials and hard-to-recycle products, making it possible for Recycle Utah to collect everything from toothbrushes to snack wrappers.

Certain companies, like Colgate or GoGosqueeZ, sponsor product recycling, allowing Terracycle to offer free send-back programs for select materials. But what really happens when these products get recycled? 

All items get sent directly to Terracycle recycling facilities. Contamination–material that is not accepted for recycling–is sorted out and removed from the material stream.  Material is then sorted manually or with a variety of processes, including fans, magnets, or infrared sensors, into different categories of waste based on composition. From here, metals get melted, glass gets crushed into cullet, and plastics get shredded and melted into pellets or flakes. These materials are then ready to be sold to manufacturing companies and turned into new products. The materials accepted through Terracycle can have a second life as park benches, bricks, watering cans, athletic fields, and so much more.

Terracycle recycles 98.3% of accepted material that enters their facility, and is regularly audited by third parties. They do not send any accepted material to incineration or waste-to-energy; all materials are recycled into new products. You can even buy new products from Terracycle-recycled material on their website. 

Recycle Utah now accepts razors, Swiffer brand products, GoGo squeeZ and other squeezable snack pouches, Capri Sun and other drink pouches, and air fresheners and pods through Terracycle. Learn more about Terracycle’s recycling programs at terracycle.com.

By Chelsea Hafer

Many people are concerned about the risks of wildfire this summer, given the lack of snow during our not-so-exciting winter. Although it is impossible to exactly predict what the upcoming fire season will bring, local fire officials have been working to reduce wildfire risks. Through various treatment methods, officials are reducing forest fuels and forest density to lower fire intensity and make potential fires more manageable. These treatments include thinning and piling, and prescribed burns.

That being said, there are many actions that residents can take to mitigate the risks of wildfire around their homes. For those with yards, creating a “defensive space” or tiered buffer zone around your home can slow or stop oncoming fire. It is recommended that the first five feet directly outside of your home is non-combustible, which includes replacing mulch with gravel or stone, and removing branches, dried leaves, and other fuels. The goal of the next 5-30 feet of yard space is to reduce flammable materials. This includes keeping lawn grass 4 inches tall, ensuring all grass and plants are watered regularly, and keeping tree limbs at least 6 feet from the ground. All other space should be kept clear of dried leaves and debris, and trees should be adequately spaced apart.

It is also recommended to go through this yearly checklist to both reduce outdoor fuels and prevent embers from entering your home: 1) Regularly clear out dead leaves, pine needles and debris from gutters and rooftops 2) Replace missing or loose shingles from your roofs 3) Check for stability of all vents and screens 4) Cover attic vents with wire mesh no larger than ⅛ inch 5) Repair damaged screens and windows 5) Keep flammable materials away from exterior walls 6) Remove anything stored underneath decks and porches 7) Remove or thin any vegetation within 100 feet of your home or other structures.

By Jillian Perry

As Utah heads into another hot, dry summer, water conservation is no longer just a government issue or a farmer’s issue. It belongs to all of us. And while individual efforts may sometimes feel small, they add up surprisingly quickly when multiplied across thousands of households.

Much of our residential water use happens outside in the garden. The good news is that many plants are tougher than we think. A plant that looks stressed or dormant is not necessarily dead. Before watering everything daily, ask which plants truly need regular watering and which ones could survive with less. Some perennials and shrubs can tolerate surprisingly long dry periods once established.

When you do water, water deeply and less often. Deep watering encourages roots to grow downward where the soil stays cooler and retains moisture longer. Frequent shallow watering does the opposite, creating weak, surface-level roots and greater evaporation losses.

Mulch may be one of the most powerful water-saving tools available. Vegetable beds, flower beds, and shrubs all benefit from a protective layer of mulch such as straw, bark, leaves, or wood chips. Mulch cools the soil, reduces evaporation, and suppresses weeds that compete for water. If using a high-carbon mulch like straw, avoid digging it directly into the soil at season’s end. Instead, remove it and allow it to compost naturally over time.

Water during cooler hours whenever possible, ideally early morning or late evening, and consider shade cloths for vegetable beds to reduce heat stress and evaporation. Even allowing lawns to become a little less green this summer can save substantial amounts of water overall.

Inside the home, simple habits still matter. Run washing machines and dishwashers only when full. Turn off the tap while brushing teeth. Collect clean water while waiting for the shower to warm up or while rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it on outdoor plants. Modern dishwashers are also far more efficient than many people realize, so scraping dishes rather than fully rinsing them can save gallons of water over time. 

No single household will solve Utah’s water challenges alone. But communities rarely change through one giant action. They change through thousands of small decisions repeated every day!

By Lisa Joss-Moore

Physical junk mail may not be as common today as it was 10 years ago, but most of us still receive plenty of unwanted mail in the form of magazines, pamphlets, catalogs, and unnecessary letters. Stopping these communications from getting delivered is a great way to help reduce paper waste, lower emissions, and save natural resources. Here are some tips for how to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive:

Sign up for paperless options with your typical mailers. Banks, insurance companies, utility providers, and healthcare organizations are often required to send physical notices unless you opt out. Most of the time, the letters these companies send will include a website where you can sign up for paperless communications. If you don’t see a website listed, try making a quick search of the company name plus “go paperless” to find the right page. 

You can also register for a few different broader opt-out services for paper mailers. Optoutprescreen.com is a free, credit bureau-run site that allows you to remove your name from all lists used for credit and insurance offers. It requires you to verify your identity and mailing address before opting out. If you receive a lot of credit offers via mail, it can significantly reduce the amount you receive.

Another example of opt-out services is DMAchoice.org. DMA choice is an accredited company which, for a small fee, will remove you from many promotional mailing lists and keep you off them for a set period of time. The general fee for this service is $8 for 10 years, with other subscription options available. Alternatively, for catalogs and subscription mail you no longer want, look for a customer service number or website on the mailing label and request removal directly via email or phone. Companies are required by law to remove you from mailing lists if requests are legitimately submitted. 

Once you have signed up for these paperless options, don’t forget to recycle any unwanted mail you do receive! Most paper mailers, including magazines, envelopes, pamphlets, etc can be recycled curbside. For paper products that require shredding, stop by Recycle Utah to use our shredding service and recycle your shredded paper! 

By Mia Moore

Spring is here, and you are probably in the process of spring cleaning. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean that you send everything to the landfill. A lot of household or storage items can be recycled or reused.

Before you throw something out, ask the question: Can this be recycled, reused, repaired, or donated? You will quickly realize that most items can be donated or reused in some way. Just because you don’t need something, doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t.

Clothes, books, kitchenware, sports gear, furniture, and working electronics can often be donated. It is important to give back to your community when you have things that other people may not have easy access to.

Something else to think about is your “someday” items. If you have an item that you think may become useful someday in the future, ask if someone else could get use from it right now. Often, our “someday” items never actually end up being used because they sit around for years or end up in the trash when the item becomes outdated. Many people are constantly looking through peer-to-peer marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp for items they need today. 

One thing to keep in mind when donating clothes and household items is where they will actually end up. Often when things get donated, they eventually just end up being shipped overseas and put in landfills. The best way to ensure that your stuff will actually be used is to give it to someone personally. This could be a family friend, family member, or a local community drop-off, where the items are distributed locally.

By rethinking what we throw away, spring cleaning can become less about getting rid of stuff and more about putting useful items back into circulation. A little extra effort can reduce waste, help others, and keep more material out of the landfill.

By Sean McCarthy