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On The Cover
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I was pregnant. Suddenly, everything that I put in and on my body seemed important. Words like “phthalates” and “endocrine disruptors” entered my lexicon. I researched non-toxic crib mattresses and registered for cloth diapers. I planned to feed my baby homemade organic everything. I was an eco-mama in the making.
That baby is a teenager now (and his brother is a tween), and there have been many starts and stops along our family’s green-living journey. Yes, I cloth-diapered — but used disposables for kid number two. I made my own baby food — but also bought pouches. Today, our family uses cloth napkins, but hasn’t quit paper towels. I’m testing out a fancy food recycling bin, but still pluck banana peels out of the trash.
Being a parent changes how many of us view the world — and that idea shaped the theme of SheKnows’s first-ever sustainability digital issue: How does parenthood change our relationship to the planet? And what action steps can we take when the climate change crisis is so daunting?
That’s why we’re bringing you stories on how to talk to kids about climate change, how to help kids with eco-anxiety, and how climate change is now affecting our kids’ health. We asked eight eco-moms to share the planet-friendly changes they’ve made with their families. And Entertainment Writer Giovana Gelhoren profiles supermodel Lais Ribeiro, who stepped up her own sustainable efforts by co-founding an eco-minded non-profit.
We hope these stories will inspire and inform the choices you make and the actions you take — today, this Earth Day, and every day.
My interest in living a more eco-friendly life had a selfish start:
erika janes, editor-in-chief
Sustainability
Lais Ribeiro Is
Leaving a Legacy
Brazilian supermodel Lais Ribeiro opens up about the challenges of motherhood, launching a non-profit, and staying true to her nature-loving roots.
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How to Talk to Kids About Climate Change — & Why You Have To
features
by rita templeton
features
by maggie ryan
Why Climate Change Is Making Kids Sick, How to Help Prevent It
features
by rita templeton
How to Talk to Kids About Climate Change — & Why You Have To
How to Talk to Kids About Climate Change — & Why You Have To
features
Climate Change Is Making Kids Sick — What Parents Need to Know
features
Celebrate Earth Day with These Easy & Engaging Activities for Kids
If Your Kids Are Struggling With Eco-Anxiety, Here’s How To Help
Features
Voices
voices
by Laura Fenton
Here’s Why I Bother Leading a Sustainable Lifestyle
By Alysia Reiner & Livia Basche
Sustainable Shopping
The Most Important Cleaning Product Swaps to Make for Baby & Kid Safety
The Best Natural Laundry Detergents
sustainable shopping
The Best Sustainable Clothing Brands for Kids
This Fancy Food-Recycling Bin Has Changed the Way I Think About Food Waste
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letter from our editor
EDITORIAL
Editor-In-Chief
Erika Janes
Design Director
danielle giarratano
Senior Food & Lifestyle Editor
Kenzie Mastroe
Parenting Editor
rita templeton
Entertainment Editor
Alice kelly
Health Editor
Maggie ryan
Social Media Editor
isabella ong
Trending News Editor
Delilah GraY
Commerce Editor
kristine fellizar
Commerce Writer
jacquelyn Greenfield
Entertainment Writer
giovanna GELHORen
Parenting Writer
Rebecca rakowitz
Lifestyle Writer
justina huddleston
MEDIA
Chief Content Officer
Cristina Velocci
VP, Video
Reshma Gopaldas
Commerce Director
Gina Vaynshteyn
Senior Video Editor
Allison O'connell
Video Editor
SARAH WALLACE
Credits
starring
Lais Ribeiro
The
Sustainability
Issue
The
issue
EcoSpeak
What one planet-friendly change did you make as a family that was easier than you thought?
back to the top
The Homestead Challenge
Brittany Gibson
black girls eat
LA Dunn
Author of
Living Small
Laura Fenton
EcoMadres
Isabel González Whitaker
the kateable
Kate Tekurio
model
Lais Ribeiro
Associate Vice President, Public Engagement, and Director, EcoMadres / Moms Clean Air Force
Isabel González Whitaker
“I’m taking steps to reduce plastic in our household: no new plastic bags from grocery stores and zero plastic for food leftovers and lunch. My go-to is stashing used bags in my purse for grocery runs or dog walks. For food storage, I'm big on glass containers from my local thrift store. All the plastic in our lives, homes and bodies can be dangerous and toxic as I've learned. In fact, the hundreds of facilities making plastic are sickening local neighborhoods and heating the planet with their emissions. Something so bad for people and our planet is no longer in our house.”
TikTok star
Abbie Herbert
Gimme The Good Stuff
Maia James
model
Lais Ribeiro
One easy planet-friendly change we made as a family was cutting down on single-use plastics. When I go grocery shopping, I always use reusable bags. We always make sure to have tons of reusable bags stashed around the house and in the car now.
The Homestead Challenge
Brittany Gibson
“Making your own bath and body products sounds super intimidating, but it is surprisingly easy! We make diaper cream, body oils, and even lip balm, all with earth-friendly ingredients and reusable packaging. It is fun to get the kids involved in making their own creations and getting to choose organic ingredients makes this a win-win.”
blackgirlseat.com
LA Dunn
“We stopped buying bottled water and invested in reusable water bottles that we really love. Our fridge has a filter so we all fill up just before heading out the door for school and work. It feels great to have extra room in the pantry now that it’s not stocked from floor to ceiling with water bottles! Our teen is down with the Stanley Tribe and I’m happy to share that you can grab one at the Black Girls Eat Shop on Amazon!”
gimme the good stuff
Maia James
Ditching plastic baggies entirely has been surprisingly simple for my family. We use a lot of Stasher reusable silicone bags, but if you want something disposable, that's now possible, too! For Good makes 100% compostable Ziploc-style bags in snack and sandwich sizes, plus parchment paper and Saran-like wrap. This feels like such a sacrifice-free way to reduce my family's environmental footprint while also reducing our exposure to plastic.
Author of Living Small
Laura Fenton
One planet-friendly change my family made was to (mostly) give up paper towels. I decided we needed to kick the habit when I learned that paper towel production causes the destruction of boreal forests that we so desperately need to preserve. We now use microfiber cloths and rags to clean. I keep one roll under the sink for really icky messes that I want to send directly to the trash. Another change was that we went meat-free six years ago. It was definitely a learning curve at first figuring out a whole host of family-friendly plant-based meals, but now I find it easier than cooking meat-centered meals--much easier to clean up in particular, and plants don't need to be cooked right away, so less stress about food waste.
the kateable
Kate Tekurio
“We recently switched to ‘unpaper towels’ instead of paper towels, which was a lot easier than I thought! Unpaper towels are easy to grab, wash, and use again, even with two messy toddlers. We have a drawer full of unpaper towels, so we can quickly grab them whenever we have a spill. It turns out that they are just as easy to use as regular paper towels, but they are so much better for the environment. It has helped us reduce our waste and help our planet!”
tiktok star
Abbie Herbert
Since my husband and I, along with my kids, love using fashion as a form of creativity and self-expression, incorporating more sustainable brands, and shopping second hand where we can, it felt like an authentic change we could make as a family. After doing some research, I’ve found so many incredible options, like Young Days, that are eco-friendly, affordable, and still allow each of us to show off our personal style and individuality.
sustainable shopping
Must-Have Refillable Beauty Products
sustainable shopping
features
features
Ask an Eco-Mom Detective
Photographs
JEROME DURAN
Styling
KELLY BROWN
Hair
HUMBERTO romero
Makeup
DANIELa gozlan
Video
LARA FOX
Creative Director
Danielle giarratano
VP, Video
Reshma Gopaldas
Video Assistant
TK
Photo Assistant
TK
Video Editors
SARAH WALLACE,
ALLIE OCONNELL
SheKnows Staff
cover shoot
sustainable shopping
20 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Product Swaps
voices
By Alysia Reiner & Livia Basche
A Mother-Daughter Guide to Thrifting
Ask an Eco-Mom Detective
The Most Important Cleaning Product Swaps to Make for Baby & Kid Safety
By Giovana Gelhoren
voices
A Mother-Daughter Guide to Thrifting
by erika janes
By Giovana Gelhoren
by erika janes
model
Lais Ribeiro
One easy planet-friendly change we made as a family was cutting down on single-use plastics. When I go grocery shopping, I always use reusable bags. We always make sure to have tons of reusable bags stashed around the house and in the car now.
blackgirlseat.com
LA Dunn
“We stopped buying bottled water and invested in reusable water bottles that we really love. Our fridge has a filter so we all fill up just before heading out the door for school and work. It feels great to have extra room in the pantry now that it’s not stocked from floor to ceiling with water bottles! Our teen is down with the Stanley Tribe and I’m happy to share that you can grab one at the Black Girls Eat Shop on Amazon!”
author of living small
Laura Fenton
One planet-friendly change my family made was to (mostly) give up paper towels. I decided we needed to kick the habit when I learned that paper towel production causes the destruction of boreal forests that we so desperately need to preserve. We now use microfiber cloths and rags to clean. I keep one roll under the sink for really icky messes that I want to send directly to the trash.
Another change was that we went meat-free six years ago. It was definitely a learning curve at first figuring out a whole host of family-friendly plant-based meals, but now I find it easier than cooking meat-centered meals--much easier to clean up in particular, and plants don't need to be cooked right away, so less stress about food waste.
tiktok star
Abbie Herbert
Since my husband and I, along with my kids, love using fashion as a form of creativity and self-expression, incorporating more sustainable brands, and shopping second hand where we can, it felt like an authentic change we could make as a family. After doing some research, I’ve found so many incredible options, like Young Days, that are eco-friendly, affordable, and still allow each of us to show off our personal style and individuality.
the kateable
Kate Tekurio
“We recently switched to ‘unpaper towels’ instead of paper towels, which was a lot easier than I thought! Unpaper towels are easy to grab, wash, and use again, even with two messy toddlers. We have a drawer full of unpaper towels, so we can quickly grab them whenever we have a spill. It turns out that they are just as easy to use as regular paper towels, but they are so much better for the environment. It has helped us reduce our waste and help our planet!”
the homestead challenge
Brittany Gibson
“Making your own bath and body products sounds super intimidating, but it is surprisingly easy! We make diaper cream, body oils, and even lip balm, all with earth-friendly ingredients and reusable packaging. It is fun to get the kids involved in making their own creations and getting to choose organic ingredients makes this a win-win.”
Associate Vice President, Public Engagement, and Director, EcoMadres / Moms Clean Air Force
Isabel González Whitaker
“I’m taking steps to reduce plastic in our household: no new plastic bags from grocery stores and zero plastic for food leftovers and lunch. My go-to is stashing used bags in my purse for grocery runs or dog walks. For food storage, I'm big on glass containers from my local thrift store. All the plastic in our lives, homes and bodies can be dangerous and toxic as I've learned. In fact, the hundreds of facilities making plastic are sickening local neighborhoods and heating the planet with their emissions. Something so bad for people and our planet is no longer in our house.”
