6 Simple Things You Can Do on Earth Day and Every Day to be More Sustainable!

At Sword & Plough, every day is Earth Day! We are a socially and environmentally conscious brand that works hard to bring you a high quality, stylish product that gives back to the veteran community with minimal effect on the environment.

We do this by...

Manufacturing 100% in the United States: Supporting local economies and American jobs is an important part of our mission and we have no intention of moving production overseas. By manufacturing 100% in the United States, Sword & Plough is able to significantly reduce our carbon emissions.

Incorporating repurposed military surplus material into almost every one of our products: By repurposing textiles, we do our part to reduce the huge quantities of water, energy, fertilizers, pesticides and emissions involved in manufacturing new textiles. Did you know that manufacturing with recycled goods allows for the consumption of up to 95% less energy than manufacturing exclusively with new raw materials?

In addition to up-cycling surplus fabrics into our products, we also employ environmental manufacturing processes such as 100% domestic sourcing of all fabrics. The majority of our leather is also produced in the United States! Domestic sourcing helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions during transport.

Incorporating recycled materials within our packaging: Did you know that recycling one ton of cardboard saves over 9 cubic yards of landfill space? Recycling cardboard cuts the pollution caused by making new cardboard in half!

Here are six easy ways you can be more environmentally sustainable every day.

1. Reuse! - Whenever possible, try to reuse things to cut down on unnecessary waste. Perfect opportunities to reuse products include grocery shopping with a reusable tote bag (such as our Sword & Plough Screen Printed Tote), using your own reusable thermos and water bottle (instead of disposable items from restaurants and coffeeshops), and purchasing capsule wardrobe items that you will enjoy wearing over and over vs. buying into the fast fashion industry. Rent the Runway recently stated that “In one year, the average American buys 64 clothing items, throws away 82 pounds of clothing and wears only 20% of their wardrobe.”

2. Buy American Made - By purchasing products that are made in the United States, you not only support American jobs but also cut down the increased fuel consumption and carbon emissions involved in overseas transport.

3. Plant something - Plant a tree! Did you know that trees help purify the air we breathe by removing carbon from the atmosphere? Don’t have a backyard? Consider donating to an organization that will plant a tree for you. Here are a few organizations that will help you plant a tree: Retree, A Living Tribute, and One Tree Planted.

4. Turn off the lights - Remember to turn off lights when you don’t need them. Using LED lights is the most energy efficient light bulb choice.

5. Limit food waste - Did you know that the majority of food waste happens in homes? Limit the amount of food you throw away by only purchasing what you need, planning meals in advance, and finding creative ways to preserve foods. Our friends at Rubies in the Rubble suggest freezing herbs in butter for cooking, freezing ripened bananas and using them in “banana ice cream,” and preserving fruits and vegetables for a fun at-home activity.

6. Bike or walk to work - By biking, running, or walking to work, we can significantly reduce air pollution while also getting a great workout and vitamin c. According to a shocking stat from a recent World Market blog post, “If you can stay off the road just one day a week, you’ll reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 795 pounds per year.”