OUR PART IN BEING ETHICALLY AND SUSTAINABLY CONSCIOUS AND TAKING ACTION!!
Yes, Earth Day was a month ago, but it seems like the planet deserves more than a day, right? So we are still talking about the planet, steps everyone can be taking to better Earth's lifespan, and how we at Mango Ink (in and outside the company) do our part to be more eco friendly!
So you may be wondering,
“How can a company that bases their entire business on paper products do anything good for the environment?”
We're trying our best! For starters, we've made so many changes to reduce waste and the use of plastics. We have converted all our plastic packaging to eco friendly, sustainably sourced tissue paper. (it’s Compostable and Recycled, 30% Recycled material and 70% new acid-free virgin pulp, FSC certified, soy-based ink) and we use recycled packaging whenever possible. (we just save that packing paper from all our other shipments and reuse it.)
As for paper, we use matte green, 100% recycled paper and have started exploring the world of hemp paper, recycled cotton, renewal straw that is energy aware / uses wind power, and chlorine free. We LOVE all the papers that are certified rain forest alliance, FSC certified, green seal certified. The paper world is RAD and we are so excited to have these options. AND our wedding suite TWO-GETHER is printed on bamboo cardstock. (Bamboo cardstock: The natural white, warm-toned bamboo paper does not contain optical brighteners, and stands out thanks to its soft, lightly textured felt structure and sensual feel. Bamboo is acid- and lignin-free. The unique combination of sustainable bamboo fibres, soft surface texture and impressive print quality gives this suite a luxurious feel. it’s amazing.)
Separate from the business, the lovely individuals that make up the Mango Ink team each have various passions surrounding caring for our lovely home!
We have rounded up the team to each share how they feel drawn to take care of this beautiful planet.
Keep scrolling if you would like to learn more eco friendly ways you could start including in your daily lifestyle.
Heidi
Designer, Co-Owner
i birthed a daughter (now 17) who has been listening to the earth and its pains since she was in elementary school. i remember when she came home after learning about greenhouse gasses and fossil fuels and that cows were largely responsible. (honestly she was beside herself and she shocked me with how much she listened to her teachers.) so this was the beginning of our journey. asking the hard questions. how can we be better in all things? personal AND our business. we are leaving this planet to the generations behind us, so what can we do to help? anna has been my best teacher and curious learner in this area. she is the cheerleader for our family and all those around her. she has been begging for years to be plant based… and me being a cook and a lover of food had me really dragging my feet. i was so scared. food is everything to me! i think about it WAY too much. but back in december i had a moment as a mama. am i going to send our baby to college with the disappointment that nobody in her family listened to her deep convictions? that her own parents are apathetic and not listening? i had this realization that it was so important to listen to anna. i wanted to be a part of learning to cook plant based AND kick ass at it. if we are going to eat, it has to be amazing! AND i wanted to set her up for success heading out on her own. that she has all the tools she needs to cook plant based and with whole foods. real food. and for me, since i love food, there is freedom in this “plant based” statement. freedom to have that lasagna my mom made, buy a cow from the farm 10 minutes away and reduce our carbon footprint and also not support factory farms. it feels good to be trying and honestly eating really really good too. (and having fun learning new methods of cooking.) xx, heidi
P.S. this is the best naan i have ever made! https://www.noracooks.com/vegan-naan/
Ryan
Designer, Co-Owner
Since it's my latest foray into a more sustainable way of life, I'll stick with food for this one. (But I do use vinegar for weed killer. : )
As of last December I upped my plant-based goals from 50% to 90%. Here are my top 5 reasons for trying to eat 90% plants (ranked in order of personal importance).
Sustainability. It’s been said many times and will be said many more times, if everyone eats meat 3 times a day, the earth simply can’t support it. The resources required to produce enough cows, chickens, pigs, goats, etc… for every human to eat meat (and dairy plays a huge part as well) just don’t work. Every pound of cow requires 1,875 gallons of water alone, not to mention land use (that can't be used for other foods), methane, pollution, etc… it goes on and on. But on the good side, if everyone just pulled back to eating meat a few times a week - big things would happen!
Climate Change. IF the above could work, and humans are trying our best to make sure it works, it absolutely wrecks the environment in the process. Research has shown that going vegan reduces greenhouse emissions by 60%. A study from Oxford said going vegan was the “single biggest way” to reduce our carbon footprint. Facts are abundant but here's a fun one: the typical slaughterhouse discharges 331 pounds of nitrogen a day - the equivalent of untreated sewage for a town of 14,000 people.
Human ethics. I’ve read a few books on the human beings (mainly immigrant minorities) who work in meat processing facilities , and, honestly, the ways they are treated - and their health problems - alone, are enough to make me not buy meat unless I’m 100% positive where it came from and how it was sourced (like our rancher friends who live a few miles away from us). It's a crime in many states to film inside slaughterhouses. Huh? Poultry workers are usually forced to process 35-45 birds per minute… and most industrial meat facilities have 100% turnover rates year to year.
Animal Ethics. What can I say, I love animals. I love them so much I barely like to own them because I feel like they should be natural, free, and not fed pellets by me. I also hate seeing them in pain and/or sick and… whoa… the stuff done to animals in factory farming is… yikes. Just spend a few moments on YouTube for hidden cameras in pork factories. I mean only do that if you never want to eat pork again - that's what happened to me a few years ago. And that was it for me.
Physical Benefit. Lots of studies have been done but Michael Pollan summed it up years ago: (and this was recently confirmed by A.J. Jacobs (after trying EVERY diet out there - or at least the vast majority) “eat real food, mostly plants, and not too much". It's good for your heart, your weight, your cholesterol, your muscles, and your mind.
And all of that said, I also value community, friendship, and generosity a ton so if you have me over for an unethically sourced steak, I'll be there eating it with you and talking about the world together. :) - Ryan
Jacquie
Designer
I have always had a big love for thrifting and repurposing furniture, clothing and textiles. That hobby soon flipped to a personal pledge to purposefully buy second hand after doing a research project on fast fashion during my time in college. Educating myself on green washing, the effects landfills and unethical factories have on our land along with the workers behind the material, changed my outlook. Taking that extra five minutes to do research on a brand, and learning their missions have helped me reshape how I am as a consumer. I understand not everything can be bought second hand, however, veering towards higher quality companies to ensure longevity is a great alternative.
FACT:
2,000 gallons of water are used to make one pair of jeans. That's as much water as the average person drinks in 7 years.
meet ALINA! our newest, most fabulous production assistant ever. we can't wait to formally introduce you to her! for now, you can meet here starting this way.
Alina
Assembly Team
When it comes to sustainability I choose to take action by being vegetarian and as vegan as possible. I haven’t eaten meat in 8 years! Being a vegetarian helps reduce pollution of our streams, rivers, and oceans. Pollution from livestock production largely comes from animal waste. It also has the benefit of reducing carbon emissions and using less water. Another way I take action with sustainability is by sewing. I go to thrift stores and buy used clothing, blankets, and fabric to transform into other things so it does not end up in a landfill but rather it can be something new to be loved again!
xo,
crafted by designer:
Jacquie Estrada