The Importance of Sustainable Living & Your Family

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. You’ve probably heard this at least a time or two in your life. But why does it matter? And what does it have to do with our children?

By reducing our waste, reusing products we already own, and recycling new materials, we can help to protect our planet so that our families may enjoy a healthy, green Earth for generations to come. So how can you practice this at home without turning your life upside down?

Here are a few simple ways you can live sustainably and a sneak peek at our own green practices.

Reducing waste often gets overlooked, but in fact, it’s the most impactful of the three R’s. Plus, it’s actually pretty simple and almost guaranteed to save you money. One of the easiest ways to reduce waste is to eliminate single use items from your life. Skip the plastic water bottle, clean with cloth instead of paper (our cloth diapers are excellent for this one), opt for your bills to be paid electronically— you get the idea.

Do you have a pile of clothes or toys your kids have outgrown? Reusing can be as simple as donating those items to friends, family, community centers, churches, or nonprofits. It helps the environment and those in need. You may be surprised to learn that you can donate just about anything that’s lightly used including electronics, building materials, and unneeded furniture.

Did you know recycling not only saves energy and reduces landfill waste, but also stimulates our economy and creates jobs? If you’re not already recycling at home, check with your local recycling department to figure out what and where you can recycle. Set up some bins to separate paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum, and educate your family on your new practice.

How are we doing our part at Gerber Childrenswear?

We’ve reduced our carbon emissions by 6% and are on track to reduce them by 20% in the next five years. By using cotton with organic fibers as often as we can, we’ve reduced the amount of harmful pesticides and fertilizers that contribute to pollution.

We regularly donate our apparel and essentials to Delivering Good, a nonprofit organization and charity that supports families affected by poverty and tragedy.

But we’re not stopping there! Over 75% of our packaging is recyclable, and we’re striving for 100%. We’re proud to announce that we’ve partnered with Gerber Baby Foods in their comprehensive recycling program. Now, you can recycle Gerber baby food packaging and Gerber small and large hook clothing hangers with the opportunity to fundraise for charity with the national recycling program powered by TerraCycle® and Gerber®.  

For more ideas on how to teach your toddlers about the three R’s click here.