things you THOUGHT were sustainable but actually are NOT pt. 3

[@rh7968]

I think you look good shelby! Dont let the haters ger you down, we need a variety of body types and cultures on this platform promoting sustainability and plant based eating.

[@nillasweety]

I agree wholeheartedly!

[@lisapoulsen5452]

Yes!! And plenty of “skinny” people have super unhealthy diets as well!! Skinny does not equal healthy🤬

[@claireemilycook]

You’re always radiant and you look like a goddess-especially in front of all those gorgeous plants! Always love 💚

[@LaloMacKenzie]

She adds sooo much! People seeing more than the super limited aesthetic of zero waste is SO important!

[@ivanastevens8056]

Fun fact: If you have a pet rabbit, their poop is safe for compost, because they are vegetarians. So they don't have the same harmful bacteria in their waste. Ppl actually sell rabbit poop, bc it's a really good fertilizer. Great video!

[@skyexraine]

I have guinea pigs and I use their poop in my compost! My soil has greatly improved once I started adding it. :D

[@Silverstreamhomecrafts]

My rabbit makes great compost, so much less nasty than chicken poop too

[@CosyPosy]

We have bunnies and their litter is wood pellets and paper litter. All of that, plus the hay and poop, goes right into the compost =)

[@ashleyjones1918]

So glad someone shared this!! People always think I’m nuts when I offer my rabbits poop for their garden. 😂

[@iliveformusic7543]

Yes!! My parents have been using my rabbit's poop and it works great

[@rachaelxss]

I’m sorry that people feel the need to comment on your body. Nobody should be commenting on others bodies. We do appreciate everything you put out for us and don’t deserve those uneducated and rude comments. Y

[@luxlatte4950]

Absolutely agree, people really need to think before they speakkkk

[@luxlatte4950]

@SpaceCadet Truee LOL

[@LaloMacKenzie]

I find Shelby to be sooo valuable in this space!

[@luxlatte4950]

@@LaloMacKenzie Yess, shes an absolute gem!

[@haileywatson5822]

You know what reallly grinds my gears. I used to work at Earth Fare, which is a grocery store that sells only Non-GMO and artificial flavor and color free foods. Sounds great and all. However, they’ve got a recycling bin at the front of the store…… recycling is not picked up from the location I worked at. It all goes into the trash compactor at the end of the day. It’s extremely frustrating because a good majority of their customers care about the environment and now instead of actually recycling their waste they got tricked into sending it to a landfill. Why would a company purchase a recycling bin with no intention of recycling? To make your customers feel good about shopping at a store that cares. It’s so sad.

[@xcristinat]

That's really messed up. Did the company ever get called out or exposed for it??

[@adelehare8495]

I know this isn’t your point, but “non-GMO” and “artificial-flavor-free” actually don’t sound great at all, especially in terms of sustainability lol. Modern GMO technologies are one of the greatest advancements in sustainable agriculture. It’s a shame that “sustainable” grocery stores aren’t leading the charge in breaking the stigma around it.

[@vivaelarte8786]

@@adelehare8495 where i come from, GMOs are forbidden in products produced for humans all together. I doubt that it is as risk-free as you claim it to be. Who told you that?

[@vivaelarte8786]

@TERFs don't deserve basic rights, and thanks for your answer. Of course i know that. You won't disagree that this is a different procedure though: these modifications take a long time, many generations of plants, untill they are stable. They also don't go from 0 to 100 in 10 sec. What I want to say is that plants dont get new properties over night by using breeding mechanisms. If you want bigger strawberries for example, each generation will be only slightly bigger than the one before and if something gets harmfull, it has a better chance to get noticed before it gets severely harmfull. Also breeding only works with properties that this plant already had by nature. You couldn't breed a green dog, for example, even if you wanted to. You could make a strawberry plant grow bigger strawberries, but only if there is enough variance in strawberry sizes that is determined by genes. Of course there are spontaneous mutations but that is still something different from humans messing around with DNA while they still haven't figured out everything there is to know about DNA. If you make a mistake, this way it is going to be a big one even in the first generation. We also know, that the bread versions of plants don't only have advantages: bread species of apples for example have a higher chance of activating allergies when eaten, than "old" breeds of apples. Dog breeds tend to have certain deseases, even brain tumors for some breeds, while mixed-breeds have lower risks for specific deseases. That's why, in my opinion, you can't compare artificial genetic manipulation to selection and breeding. Humans could always forget sth important that comes with that property that they want to change... Sorry for the long text!

[@verity1mckeon]

Thin doesn’t necessarily = healthy, it’s such a damaging idea we can’t let go of

[@bhsprinkle]

💯

[@sweet_creature7799]

As a recovering anorexic, I can confirm yikes

[@sammyruncorn4165]

Yes definitely. It might be an indicator in a hollistic sense, but definitely not an thin = healthy or sustainable diet.

[@phebeleeisme6449]

Yeah and sometimes someone who’s thin can be very unhealthy

[@mays_alpha]

@@sweet_creature7799 I’m so sorry, I hope you’re okay and that your recovery is as smooth and easy and relaxing as it can possibly be. All the best ❤️

[@HannahTheHorrible]

Shelby we NEED a video about your thoughts on TeamSeas. Or if not- just if you’re participating/recommend donating or not?

[@HannahTheHorrible]

@@niamhl6964 oh thank you!

[@kendrasullivan7407]

I'm not supporting the current Mr Beast Team Seas event because some of the hosts are just bad people. I've just been ignoring it online because I know from experience how little people care about that. It would be nice to have another reason that others would more easily understand and accept. Not all charity's are perfect and if one is being pushed by someone I don't trust then I lose trust in the charity.

[@ashleycorinne2207]

I’d love to see one on 4ocean too!

[@Eucis93]

If I were to donate, I think I’d donate straight to the charities themselves. I did that when TeamTrees was a thing, after I had formed my own opinion about their charity. There are also websites that give grades to charities depending on how trustworthy they are, how much per dollar goes to their actual mission etc. 😊

[@mays_alpha]

@@Eucis93 What is that website? I’d love to know!

[@eileennguyen842]

"Crude oil is natural" - OMG YES. It's also entirely, literally organic! But that doesn't mean it's a good thing to base your life on. We don't have our own recycling bins so we've always kept our recycling in a paper bag, since the bag is recyclable. But I should check!

[@xcristinat]

You could always just keep your recycling in cardboard boxes. Boxes from my Grove orders always work well for me because they're big and sturdy! Then whenever they get full, you just load it up in your car and take it to a recycling center, dump what's inside, and then bring the box back and reuse :)

[@luxlatte4950]

The biodegradable vs compostable part was a very good point to bring up! Didn’t know about it!

[@MS-df7wp]

I can’t wait for a “zero waste” cat video! I hope it comes out soon!

[@shaunaburton7136]

There was a company that was going to make cat food out of worms. I think it’s a great idea because it’s really high in protein and little waste

[@sidneybates37]

I wonder if this was an answer to one of my comments on one of her old vids where i asked for a cat sustainability video! Maybe... anyway, Yay!

[@AnyaAnti]

yes! or at least more eco friendly

[@oboebuddy15]

@@shaunaburton7136 But there are also lots of other nutrients that cats need that they can only get from eating meat/organs/bones etc. How would that work with a food made out of worms?

[@hosanabela6197]

agreed!

[@Riaguk]

upcycling idea: i had a mug with a broken handle so i just use it as a pot for one of my little plants. Thank you for talking about whats biodegradable! Didn't knew about this.

[@shaunaburton7136]

They should have a class in schools for kids to have fun up cycling stuff.

[@scubashar]

I do this too!

[@sweetyetunrefined9335]

They also make great storage! I use chipped mugs for my makeup, in the bathroom, for pencils, etc.

[@caitlin_menosky]

I used to work for a zoo and they utilized industrial composting so they were able to compost animal feces. It was super fascinating to learn the exent of what can be composted (bio-plastics, bones etc) when the compost is set up to allow it and will not be used on human food.

[@jamiehou9448]

I recently bought a paper from my zoo made from elephant... poop? I don't quite understand it but the explanation was the fibers in the... poop can be made into paper fibers. Really interesting to see how it reacts with my art supplies!

[@Liloldliz]

that's really cool, i'd love to see videos from zoos about this process.

[@ratmayo]

In my province you actually have to compost your pet waste you CANNOT put it in the landfill. The compost facility here in PEI is amazing and makes sure any animal waste is properly taken care up with the correct temperatures so it can be used by our farmers. It’s and awesome design, I highly recommend looking up the PEI compost plant.

[@myconfusedmerriment]

That’s very cool! It would be nice if services like that became more common because let’s be real, a lot of people have pets and they make a LOT of poop lol. I always feel kinda weird about throwing it in the trash because I know it’s not breaking down in landfill, even if that’s the safest place I can send it right now. 😕

[@daniheart4582]

I didn't know PEI did that. That's so cool

[@notbeingsarcastic5947]

3:56 My mom was eating super healthy and working out 6 days a week and still NOT skinny. She had multiple doctors confirm that she was extremely healthy. Size doesn't always = healthy or not. Also don't assume you know someone's diet based on body type/looks.

[@emilybusby6922]

My boyfriend brings home dozens and dozens of bread bags from his restaurant job each month so that we can use them for dog poop. It hurts me to know we’re throwing them away, but technically he already saved them from the trash once so we can reuse them, so I suppose it’s better than letting them go to the landfill empty and then buying MORE plastic poop bags to send there too.

[@zoratamas4379]

At least they're not only single use anymore, you use them twice and replace something else. Plus you save money. :-)

[@retii5047]

I live in a major city and there's a line of stores that was created few years ago by a guy who wanted to make high quality food from local products. They have frozen food, prepared food that you should eat right away and a small ammount of ingredients and looking at quality and taste it's cheap. Just above regular stores. But one serving is usually enough for me for two times and they also make the area around the store better, there's new benches and trash bins, along with those boxes for giving your clothes to people in need and they even give free food sometimes when it's about to expire which on my experience almost never happens in my area. They are awesome

[@purplevolution]

Shelby, you keep it real 100% of the time and I am so grateful for your voice in this space. You have really made an impact on my life since I found your channel in August.

[@ava75]

I just wanted to say that horse poop is actually a great compost. You have to let it sit for a few months and then it's great to use for plants that need a lot of nutrients to grow, like potatoes. Here in Germany you can buy huge truckloads full of horse poop. Great video, Shelby. Thank you so much!

[@itcouldbeanyone]

The way you explain sustainability and look at the end to end lifecycle of products makes so much sense to me

[@sammyruncorn4165]

Yes

[@allisonsanteford829]

The biodegradable vs. compostable was a super good point! I was just doing research on it the other day because I found an “eco friendly” alternative for my husband and automatically thought biodegradable=compostable, then read the comments on the product and did my own research and decided the normal version is actually less harmful to the planet in the production phase and both the “eco friendly” one and the normal one would sit in a landfill for the same amount of time doing the same thing!

[@ginastewart1607]

In my city, you can put the cat litter in the municipal compost (the guidelines specifically say so) as long as you use a compostable litter. It's an industrial system designed to handle it, though, and not all cities have it. Before they built the new facility, we couldn't. So definitely check the guidelines wherever you live.

[@lexigonzalez3322]

What city is this?

[@jeannebergeron-lavoie3476]

So true! Cities have new technologies like biomethanation that produce renewable natural gas for example and litter, cat poop and even diapers can be safely put in a municpal compost bin.

[@wendy-zarate]

My city has started to put orange stickers on bins that are not recycling correctly. I walk my dog on trash days and see so many people recycling incorrectly. It gets me so frustrated but I am glad the stickers have been put on the bins.

[@tomjones2157]

In some districts it's a 3 strike rule for being stickered. 3 rejections in a row they take your bin off you. They take photos and everything.

[@maddiegangl6030]

As a medical aesthetician, I can tell you the natural ingredients or formulations in skincare aren’t always better. Natural does not equal better. A lot of what’s happening in skincare is people/companies greenwashing. Saying that chemicals are bad. This is also not true. (Water is a chemical!!!) Nowadays, not only are synthetic ingredients more technologically smart, but they’re more accurate. And a good portion of the time, they’ll give you better results. And here’s the kicker- they’re totally safe for you and your skin!!! You aren’t putting “harmful chemicals” on your skin or in your body. Your skin isn’t a sponge, it’s actually an incredibly intelligent, resilient barrier. It brings in the good, and kicks out the bad. So brands like Rodan & Fields and Beauty Counter are only scaring you into buying their products by telling you everything you use now is bad and will harm you. Why would a skincare brand try to hurt their clients? That’s not a very good business model. Actually listen to the licensed professionals. Don’t listen to your friends mom who’s selling skincare on Facebook or Instagram, they don’t know what they’re talking about and the science they speak of is completely false and meant to scare you into buying what they’re selling. Now packaging for skincare… that’s a different conversation.

[@the_Pons]

I agree with what you're saying, with synthetics being measured and tested and such to ensure they're not harmful, but isn't a large concern the potential cumalitive effect, like cancerous responses, as well as potentially harmfull/less safe reactions and interactions when synthetics are "mixed" (couldn't think of a better word) in your body? Like a certain product and its ingredients might be safe but we use a multitude of products from different manufacturers and there's little research into the "cocktail" effect of combining like that, right? Obviously, I'm not saying that the same can't be true for natural ingredients, it's not necessarily healthy just because it's natural, but we've had longer to explore those.

[@littlewingedzebra]

@@the_Pons I've had similar thoughts. We just don't know the effects of synthetics yet as they haven't been around long enough, plus all the other factors that go into that cocktail. What irks me about people solely on "team science" is that they rarely admit that they just do not know.

[@BarbiQued]

When people want to avoid “chemicals” usually it’s that they want avoid (scientifically) known endocrine disrupters, due to hormonal and fertility issues, which are valid concerns.

[@maddiegangl6030]

@@BarbiQued sure! Very valid concerns. But it’s very uncommon for skincare brands to put ingredients and chemicals such as these in their skincare. Even though the United States has an albeit short list of illegal ingredients (which as a country really needs to updated), it’s not common for brands to use these harmful chemicals. And it’s been that way for a long time. Which further proves the point of buying skincare from reputable brands, not your friend who’s selling BeautyCounter out of her garage.

[@MissScarletTanager]

On the pet thing, it *can* depend. I have rabbits and chinchillas, and their litter is perfectly compostable at curbside compost bins in my city. I made sure by calling to check before I even got them.

[@ivanastevens8056]

I did the same thing!!! Vegetarian (herbivore) pets have cleaner poop! (Of course this doesn't mean one should feed their cats/dogs vegetarian options!)

[@sandrasaunders8777]

On the biodegradable pet bags thing- I know for a fact many don't know this. Recently, our province jumped on the plastic grocery bag ban bandwagon, and there were a lot of questions from those of us who used the grocery bags for putting our cat/dog waste in, what we could use. These questions were of course, posted on social media, so you can guess how the responses went. I tell ya, the number of people that virtually screamed at us that we should be using biodegradable pet bags was astounding. And, I knew before the ban came in that these bags do not break down in landfills. I even contacted our waste facility to confirm that. I've always preferred re-using plastic bags for waste rather than buying special, which unfortunately is now what I have to do.

[@jen4696]

What about re-using paper bags? Does that work?

[@sandrasaunders8777]

@@jen4696 I don't buy anything that would supply paper bags. The way I used to do this was I'd buy my groceries with reusable bags most of the time, but then every so often, I'd do a grocery run and get my purchases put in plastic bags. That would give me enough to use for a while for the pet waste. I think paper bags would be too bulky and also get too wet. Wouldn't want an accidental spill on the floor- LOL

[@ColleenJoudrey]

My husband used to work at our local recycling centre. All waste has to be self sorted and bagged appropriately. It then goes the centre and divided up to different areas. All bags will then be opened, dumped into a hopper to go through the magnets and scanners and then sorted by a crew of employees and bailed according to material. My husband actually started there sorting raw compost (dishes, diapers, cat litter, plastics etc) by hand so the food waste could be broken down and sold as fertilizer. Also, all the "Compostable" plastics were removed from the wet compost and landfilled because they didn't break down fast enough and degraded the quality of the compost.

[@Ashsarwono]

Thank you for this! There are so many things that are “green washed” for the sake of advertising or people’s egos. All the time I see people proud of using essential oils, but don’t realize that it is INCREDIBLY harmful to the environment.

[@rosieHolliday5887]

This has been my biggest shift in recent years. I'm no longer "everything natural" when it comes to skincare. I'm now completely chemical lol. It's actually better for your skin anyway. This needed to be talked about. Thank you for making this video x

[@blackstarninja6785]

Thank you for the essential oils rant, they aren’t great for us and soooo wasteful, especially considering they are often just in there to make something smell better!

[@sandyrichrath1496]

Wow, I had no idea about the pet waste issue. I currently just put mine into a trash bag but had no idea people were flushing the waste and how badly it can effect the environment. Thanks for sharing that Shelby! Big fan of your channel and thank you for all that you are doing. Keep on keeping on girl!! 🙌🏻

[@MissNoechen]

On the natural vs. lab-made front: Lemon juice! Get those plastic lemons with lab-made juice in them, it's so much more resource intensive to grow the lemons for the same amount of juice, acidity etc!

[@cassienester1187]

I currently know very little about what happens to trash after it leaves my house but is it not true that a lot of trash gets burned at the waste facility? I'm curious if compostable waste that's being burned is better than plastic sitting in landfill? Or even plastic being burned. Do they burn plastic? I'm curious now and think I may look more into that. Thanks for another great video. I really like these videos where we get to learn new things and make us ask questions and think more.

[@hanneymee9963]

depends on where you live... in the US most trash sadly still goes to landfills. I come from germany and over here landfills are only for minerals/anorganic waste. so no plastic, food waste, wood etc.. Those things are mostly being burned or fermented, so the energy can be used for heating or electricity. it's still not good of course, but waaay better than landfills. So it depends on where you're from. Just look into your cities waste management. They usually have a chart on where how much of the waste is going :)

[@kathryncryts5537]

I’m glad to hear you approve of the grove bags, that’s the company I was planning on switching to once I run through the ones I currently have. Also, I really appreciate these videos, I feel like you’re always pushing me to kind of assess how sustainable what I’m doing is.

[@Azarko212]

The audacity of some people, “this one thing that you literally went to school for and educate all of us on is unsustainable dIdNt yOu kNoW” like jfc look at all the good you’re doing and they’re just like oh that one little bottle defeats your purpose. Hate to see it happen. I use whatever plastic bag I can find for dog poop, only just recently bought a waste bag holder with waste bags that came with it because I was going on vacation so now I’m either going to stash it away for the next vacation or see if anyone close needs one

[@marynelson2875]

I had no idea flushing or composting animal waste was bad! Just got a cat and definitely grateful to know this.

[@VertigoVirgo94]

11:27 in my county you get a fine for not having your trash bagged…so I’ve always bagged it…I’ve been using the trash bags from Cleanomics for about a year now and they seem to work pretty good.

[@nidhimundra7285]

You literally teach us so much.. thank you for making us so much more "sustainable" and environmental friendly..

[@almavogler]

Really great series. It really captures the nuances of sustainability. You're a great communicator.

[@d.k.williams2546]

Shelby, you and Madison are beautiful inside and out. Don't let anyone steal y'all's sunshine ladies. You both also don't owe any of us any explanation about anything in y'all's lives. Y'all are amazing and the ones who care will always show and listen to your awesome advice. God bless you both.🙏😘💕

[@MiraRose0267]

I hate that people think they have any right to make comments like that, I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I am super jealous of your hair and smile, and your videos are always really helpful for me when I'm struggling with anxiety/panic attack. love your vibe! 💗

[@dannalorahdnaturopathy]

I’m trying to educate myself on sustainability and making eco friendly consumer choices, but man it’s so overwhelming! You never really know where something is coming from I guess and it is making me feel like companies and the rest of the population are against us trying to make a difference in preserving the future of the earth.😢 aghhh I’m doing my best but it’s hard to feel like it’s making a difference

[@riles3045]

shel!! you’re amazing!! i’ve been watching you very occasionally when i’m looking for more sustainable alternatives to my habits but the more i binge ur channel the more i hope to see you become a huge creator. people, thin or not, that have experienced a lack of control with their body understand that sometimes, it’s not your decision, and regardless of your size/appearance/etc you are a well spoken, intelligent, beautiful and inspiring woman who has taught me more about our mutual mother 🌎 than most of my teachers. stay well !

[@paalimartinez]

I love how knowledgeable you are and how you understand everything so deeply and connecting all the dots. You put out such valuable resources on youtube! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@acataca]

In NYC, you have to bag your recyclables. The fact that we do not containerize our trash and recycling (that is to say that we put it on the street in bags to be picked up instead of having trash cans out), means that bags must be used for all trash and recyclables. It is a real bummer!

[@maryannez5264]

Oh my gosh I'm applauding loudly when you talked about the food and told people to mind their own business, well done Shelbi I totally agree with you darling

[@theunicornrainbow363]

Where I live you can get a service for picking up, sorting and returning your recyclables. It's a lifesaver and they even give you feedback whenever you 'wishcycle'. Great service and an amazing idea.

[@elizabethchurchill2933]

When I moved into my little cabin in the forest 14 years ago, I had some dog poop bags that claimed to be "biodegradable." Out of curiosity I tucked a bag of dog poop way back in some underbrush where it doesn't show from the path, but I can check on it periodically. 14 years later, it's still there, bright green, completely unchanged.

[@flavialm1]

The pet waste thing, in my city we treat 100% of the sewers water before returning to nature, is a close system from the houses to the facility, in this case I believe duping in the toilet is the best option.

[@bhsprinkle]

Thank you for once again bringing us up to speed with what is truly important when making decisions as consumers. Also, those who ate trying to body shame you have no idea what they're talking about. Thin isn't always healthy. People could be bigger for other reasons than diet. My family has thyroid issues and are large despite eating healthy.

[@lisanoble6880]

I appreciate all your videos. It seems like you do a lot of research on this stuff and I love to hear the information you provide in terms of sustainability and fair trade fair labor stuff. I love watching your contributions ongoing and you have been a good resource for me. Thanks for the time and effort you give to get the info out there!✌️🌈

[@lucidity_world]

You are real zesty. Everytime I watch one of your videos in like "Yee haa, here I come!" Your content delivery is spot on and dense, need to rewatch them. But I just love what I learn from you zesty gal. Xx

[@ccooper6432]

Not going to lie, I hate that people are straight up ignorant and rude, but I love the fire it ignites in you! Thank you for breaking stuff down in a simple way to understand. You really are helping one video at a time. ❤️

[@maddiedixon2826]

I love these types of videos where we start having these more gray area conversations (not literal conversation cause it’s a KZbin video. but you know what I mean). Some of these points I’ve never thought about and I’m so glad you bring them to my attention. Videos like these help me learn and be able to change and be better.

[@vickiegeiger3381]

So Shelbie I have started composting & am using it in my small garden. My question is: the brown paper in packaging & things like bamboo handles, sponges from Grove; can I put my those in my little composter? We do not have community composting, so it’s mine or the landfill. Like you said if I just throw it away it goes in the landfill & does not compost.

[@christineT1987]

You talk about things I've been thinking for years!!! I have learnt a lot from your videos and I love your attitude! Thank you for sharing all these things!

[@natnuss98]

So true what you said about 'Natural' synthetic isn't always worse. Like I wouldn't mind eating a unnatural lab-grown meat xD I love meat but I'm trying to make it less because of all the environmental effects of it. But if we would find a version that enables me to still eat meat while not polluting the world. .... That would be awesome.

[@xcristinat]

There are definitely companies working on lab-grown meat currently! I'm not sure if any of them are on the market yet, but I think we'll see them within the next 5 years. Hopefully that will help more people switch to a diet with less cruelty and harm to the planet.

[@thisisme2681]

Yes, I'm a soap maker and only use lab made micas when a client wants colors I can't get through clays or plant based powders. It may be lab made, but it doesn't use child labor or mine the Earth. I only purchase from a well established and trusted company.

[@elisabethgregoire3735]

Not the same but my engagement ring have lab made saphires. If you look at it under a microscope, it's a saphire. It has all the qualities of saphires. But it was wayyyy cheaper and I know there wasn't any exploitation involved.

[@rebeccamtb]

Re bagging recycling - we don’t bag ours but when I moved in our local council provided some recycling specific bags (along with composting bags). So it seems like some recycling facilities are equipped to deal with bagged stuff, in the U.K. at least as that’s where I am.

[@sentientbeingslove]

Ok this was great timing and brought up 3 questions that have been on my mind recently. I am trying to begin my vanlife journey, and these things have come up: (1) How do I know if a soap is biodegradable if the word is useless? I want to make sure my shampoo and conditioner bars are able to be used on the road while boondocking. (2) Do you have any ideas about composting on the road? I won't have a freezer to keep it in until I get to a good place to bury it, like I do now. And (3) my special-needs cat will be on the road with me. She sometimes requires baths, which I figured would be no problem in the sink. But if washing her puts fecal particles into the water supply, is it no longer grey water??

[@alicezanini6123]

She previously made at least two videos talking about eco-friendly shampoo brands and she also tried them out, so you might find something that works for you there :) For the composting thing, if it's done well, technically it shouldn't smell, so I don't think it's going to be a big issue.

[@DogtorDkh]

There's also the Bokashi composting option for pet waste! You can then use the compost on flowers.

[@highschool4396]

I live in Wisconsin and my town recently changed our recycling system from needing to have the recyclable in a bag to putting all the recyclables in a big bin that can be taken to the curb.

[@PumpkinMozie]

I think the key here is better waste management. A start would be holding companies responsible for their packaging by making them pay for the recycling costs. That’s what we do in South Korea but not in most of the US. It doesn’t fully fix the problem but it helps.

[@wiiza4ever]

In a lot of cities, dog poop does go into the curbsite compost. It depends on the composting method. Same as the question of bagging or not bagging recycling. It's always best to ask your city and not just take general advice for this stuff.

[@Kat22Kit]

Some municipalities require you to bag your recycling or they won’t pick it up. They sell see through blue bags that are specially designed for that purpose. Hopefully some is opening these bags at the recycling center?? I know San Antonio just got the large brown/green/blue can system not that many years ago, a lot of other cities don’t. Currently our pick up is curbside, no cans allowed only bags with recycling in blue bags on certain days.

[@gabrielaguerrero8900]

Hey Shelby! Thanks so much for sharing your amazing knowledge! I have a question in regards to the cat's poop: wouldn’t the chlorination at the wastewater treatment plant help to kill the bacteria from the cat’s poop before it’s discharged into the environment? Thanks!

[@SteampunkPrincess]

Thank you! It frustrates me every time I go somewhere with compostable cups for instance and then no compost bins because I don't think they can go in recycling and it defeats the purpose to throw them in the trash.

[@augustineschaefer5522]

This healthy versus sustainable versus ethics versus…is a great topic!

[@pnwalternativebeauty8001]

I have always followed you because your not that average stuck up super thin extremist. Your realistic and help people understand things instead of making us feel bad about ourselves thus discouraging people from even trying. Your absolutely beautiful inside and out and I appreciate you. I learn a lot from you ❤️

[@inflictedbypandorum]

On the topic of animal waste! There are companies out there that offer pet waste composting (like Green Pet, which is available in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR)

[@mephitismephitis4045]

There is Green Scoop in Columbus OH, but I am just outside their service area :(

[@elyzaveth]

Of course not even here we're save from fatfobia. Maybe people who relate health to clothes size could think about how animals (humans included) get skinny when they're sick (or maybe just stop reducing health to one thing. Why do we need doctors if health is so simple?). Anyway, I think everyone would be happier if we stop commenting about people's life. I also think you're gorgeous and super cool Shelby, I dream of being like you 😍

[@josiimacias2119]

I'm so glad i found you!! I have been trying to become more sustainable and it is stressful cause I want to go full on but like you said before our world isn't set up for that yet but I have learned so much from you I have been binge watching all your videos I am addicted lol 💚💚💚

[@ohheyLeighannn]

Your comments on the sustainability of a whole-foods, plant-based diet were so interesting. I didn't know that!

[@whimsicaldaffodil3752]

I agree! However, now I have so many questions, like wouldn't the only way for potato chips to be more sustainable than whole potatoes be if the oils in the potato chips were more sustainable than potatoes? And aren't oils generally not as sustainable, like what Shelbi mentioned with essential oils? I guess I've assumed that the more unnecessarily processed any given food is, the least sustainable it is, because of the energy and resources it takes to process it. Of course I wouldn't make assumptions about what kinds of foods Shelbi is eating based on how she looks, so I understand her main point

[@BronsteinEmily]

@@whimsicaldaffodil3752 The potato chips came from whole potatoes. How can the potato chips be more sustainable than just buying whole potatoes when they go through extra processing?? That argument made no sense to me.

[@Smilesallday2]

About the businesses giving the consumers compostable containers, I have seen some restaurants in New York take part in a program where the customers can send back the take out containers with added rewards for the next buy. I’ve also seen online grocery food delivery companies that sends you containers with the food and you can send them back to get them refilled (I think the one I’ve seen was the Wally shop).

[@jackiecox7691]

I feel like all companies should watch your videos. I'm so glad I came across your channel! Thank you for educating all of us on what we can do on our part!

[@mollya2929]

I was JUST ABOUT to ask about the advantage of plant based pet waste bags vs having ones made from petroleum products, and you went ahead and read my mind and answered my question anyway! Seriously, thank you for being so very thorough. You are such an incredible resource. I'm so grateful you share your knowledge.

[@jessicasantos6690]

I like these type of videos, I already knew most of it (because I'm a long time follower now), but it's still nice to have a refresher. Always appreciate them. I can't wait for a video about sustainability with cats! I wish I could bury our cats urine/feces but we have nowhere we could do that.

[@TrishasCrazyLife]

I absolutely love all of your videos. And I ALWAYS learn something everytime I watch

[@nicolelee3913]

thank you for all the work you do! you're making a difference in people's lives and the planet!!

[@danalou7484]

I had no idea about the pet waste, I had been considering switching to pine litter because it is flushable. Now I have no clue what would be the best.

[@PlantsNotPlastic]

Hey Shelby, love your videos! I'm always so impressed by how knowledgeable and organized you are, and I aspire to make content as great as you! ❤ I was hoping at some point you could give more clarification on the whole foods point you brought up? You said that the packaging for a bag of chips is miniscule compared to the amount of resources required to produce the same number of calories in whole foods, but it seems like that doesn't account for the resources to make what's in the bag of chips (i.e. the food itself). With the oil and potatoes to make potato chips, for example, wouldn't there have to be a consideration for those resources (i.e. processing the oil and growing the potatoes) along with the packaging, plus the transportation required to take the farmed potatoes to a plant to be processed and bagged before going to the store? And I know this makes it even more complicated, but wouldn't a calorie to calorie comparison for different types of food in terms of sustainability not be the best way to compare? Since volume & fiber are what determine feeling "full," unless someone is calorie counting and only consumes the same number of calories of potato chips as they would whole potatoes, the likelihood of consuming more calories goes up, making the processed food ultimately less sustainable. I would just love more detail to show that this was actually the case. Thank you so much for all you do!

[@kalliemotola2371]

About the recycling in bags- my city actually requires that we use clear "recycling" bags for our recycling or they won't pick it up. Has anyone else lived somewhere with a similar rule? I can either bag it so it gets collected- or bring it myself to a recycling center (which isn't something that is practical or close to me at all)

[@that_weird_mer]

Tbh, I'm actually suprised that Shelby said that, bc where I live unless you have an open container for plastic/paper etc., that stuff is always collected in plastic bags. We even get plastic bags specifically for recycling that we're supposed to use (and everyone does)

[@michelleblasky2014]

Shelby!! :) THANK YOU for your videos. Your a great and beautiful soul. Your are changing people's way of thinking to make this a better world for our future children.

[@sunflowercynthia9519]

This is so interesting! I appreciate how you inform/educate us with the different facets on sustainability: production, resources, transportation, labour, etc. Essential oils for example, do require many parts of the herb/flower/resin to produce a bottle of oil. However, they can be used in so many ways and are a lot healthier to use in DIYs than a lot of conventional productions (and without plastic packaging). Depending on who you get your oils from, they work and collaborate with farmers to ensure they are sustainably sourced and help create jobs in those communities and help them get out of the cycle of poverty 😊 And the glass bottles? So many ways they can be repurposed!

[@lavenderlady9886]

I love this series!!

[@Ally-ug3nq]

Great video. Can you do more videos on a plant based diet and would like to know more about unpackaged verse packaged with regards to resources used. I live in the UK and mostly eat wholefood plant based diet. I do have a few meals that are more ready meal like or halfway to that title.

[@JaneWeeks]

In my jurisdiction in Canada, soft plastic (usually bags) are put into one see-through bag. Hard plastic is not bagged, just goes in the blue box loose. There's a gray box for paper and and boxes.

[@rachelpushie9713]

Hey there, in Nova Scotia Canada we put our recycling in bags that are picked up by the recycling trucks. Do you guys put yours in bins that get dumped into trucks? Thanks for sharing about beauty products , can you share a video that tells us what beauty products you use? Thanks so much for all your videos!!

[@HermioneOnABike]

I'm quite ignorant on how recycling facilities work, but here in Italy, at least in the city where I live, we must put our recyclables in bags. We put paper in paper bags, plastic in plastic bags and organic waste in compostable bags. Otherwise the trash doesn't get picked up by the garbage collectors.

[@cetriyasArtnComicsChannel]

would like more on your thoughts with farming and food for sustainability. I"m actually learning just how far we're shipping things or buying things out of season.

[@citlaligonzalezgodinez4359]

could you do a video about non-sustainable things/actions you still do/purchase? because i feel like you guys dont produce any waste but i still do, so i dont know if the amount i produce is too much or its normal, and its starting to bring me anxiety for not doing enough. Thanks :)

[@planetfriendlyfairy]

I'd LOVE to see a video about how to eat a Whole Foods, Plant Based diet as sustainably as possible, if that was something you felt like making? I always adore your content and enjoy hearing what you have to say :)

[@pingwingtv]

Hi. I did not understand acoustically what Shelbi is saying from 12:14 to 12:20. Can someone please help me out?

[@huuuuuugu]

Also, I love these videos because they answer all of the minute questions I have around sustainability, and then some that I haven't even thought of!

[@lenroz]

Great series, love to see this new part. Always important to hear new information and open discussions.

[@lizziepine4164]

Thank you for always educating me Shelbi

[@sarahnuovo2389]

Thank you for standing up for yourself regarding your body. It is yours and people can eff off with their comments.

[@KateHodges]

I live in a city where the trash pick up wants recycleables (mixed containers) in bags and paper products broken down and in one box in order to pick up. I don’t live on a pick up route so I go to a drop off location, which I empty my bins (mixed containers and paper products) without bags.

[@phoebelee3527]

Thank you for all the information! Does anyone know which is more eco friendly hand wash dishes or dish washer? I always hand wash my dishes but I heard some people say dishwasher actually save more water. Very confused 🤔

[@Princessponder]

Compostable disposables from restaurants is a great concept if the consumer is taking the disposables home and composting them, like we do (providing they are home compostable). It still brings awareness and attention to environmental issues and is a step in the right direction, as you said.

[@kalliemj]

I purchased a compost for in the home that actually composts animal poop. It specifically composts cat poop covered in itter. I use this compost just to limit the amount of trash I throw out since it takes up less space in the bag. I do not use it for growing food.

[@lilichong7941]

I never thought I would need Shelby saying “mind your business” so much in my life. 🔥🔥

[@sustainlifejournalyoga]

Thanks for talking about the grey area and nuances! Much needed convo