EMA December Newsletter
From robots that save millions of gallons of water to healthy candies that reduce food waste, we've seen some incredible ideas at our Innovator Challenge. We are thrilled to announce that the fourth annual EMA Innovator of the Year Challenge will be open for submissions on January 6th! Please help us find important innovations by spreading the word and sharing our submissions page.
The 2020 EMA IMPACT Summit takes place on May 12-13th.
The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without the traditions of gifting, decorating, and much more. However, a large amount of waste can be created from the production and consumption of wrapping paper, gifts, décor, and other limited-time goods. It is essential to think circular during the holidays. Try to keep resources in use for as long as possible to maximize their value. We asked EMA Board Member Constance Zimmer on how she thinks circular during the holidays.
How do you make gift-giving more circular and less wasteful?
I recycle and reuse all my ribbons, boxes, bags, and most wrapping paper every year. I also use handkerchiefs, scarfs, or fabric to wrap presents, so the wrapping is another gift. You can cut cool fabric that you love, but maybe it shrunk or has a stain and use them as ribbon.
What are some simple DIY holiday gifts?
We like to try and make as many gifts as possible, like this year we are making dreamcatchers by cutting recycled fabric, from pillowcases and clothes, into strips and reusing ribbons with beads or seashells we’ve collected. I’ve been collecting glass jars year-round to make snow globes with little toys that don’t get played with anymore, but we don’t want to throw away. Making magnets are an easy gift because you can glue a magnet on to pretty much anything, this year we are making felt characters.
How else do you incorporate environmental stewardship into your holidays?
Putting more than one gift in a box or bag is a good start. It’s not about the number of gifts to unwrap; it’s about the gift-giving itself. There’s nothing wrong with putting a bunch of gifts into one bag or box and letting them close their eyes and take one thing out at a time, saves a lot of paper and teaches patience! Honestly, you’d be surprised how much wrapping you can reuse year-round if you just kept it instead of throwing it away. I also like to check eBay for a toy or item that someone wants to avoid all of that plastic packaging. You’d be surprised how well people take care of things they sell on eBay, and for kids, especially, it doesn’t have to be brand new!
What's your favorite holiday movie?
ELF is one of my favorites for sure, but SCROOGED is up there too.
EMA Plant-Based Recipes for the Holidays
Inspired by our work with We Are the Weather, we like to share plant-based recipes from our Board Members to highlight the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet. This month we are sharing EMA Board Member Katie Aselton's Very Green Lentil Soup recipe.
Katie's Very Green Lentil Soup
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish
2 large yellow onions, chopped
1¼ teaspoons salt, divided
2 tablespoons plus 4 cups water, divided
1 cup French green (Le Puy) or brown lentils
8 large green chard leaves
1 medium Yukon Gold potato, scrubbed
12 cups gently packed spinach (about 10 ounces), any tough stems trimmed
4 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces
5 cups vegetable broth, store-bought or homemade
2 cups chopped broccoli
1 tablespoon cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground (see Tip)
½ teaspoon ground coriander
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
½ jalapeño pepper, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
Crumbled feta cheese for garnish
Directions:
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onions and ¼ teaspoon salt; cook, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, add 2 tablespoons water and cover. Cook, stirring frequently until the pan cools down, and then occasionally, always covering the pan again, until the onions are greatly reduced and have a deep caramel color, 25 to 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, rinse lentils and pick out any small stones; combine the lentils with the remaining 4 cups water in a soup pot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Trim the white ribs out of the chard; chop the greens and slice the ribs (keep in separate piles). Cut potato into ½ -inch dice. Chop spinach; set aside.
When the lentils have cooked for 20 minutes, stir in the chard ribs, potato, scallions, broth and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt; return to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
Stir in the chard leaves, broccoli, cumin and coriander. When the onions are caramelized, stir a little of the simmering liquid into them; add them to the soup. Return to a simmer, cover and cook 5 minutes more. Stir in the reserved spinach, cilantro, mint, jalapeno and pepper; return to a simmer, cover and cook until the spinach is tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes more. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice and/or pepper, if desired. Garnish each bowl of soup with a drizzle of olive oil and crumbled feta cheese.
Tips:
Toast cumin seeds in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Cool slightly. Grind to a fine powder in a spice mill, blender or clean coffee grinder.
To make ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Enjoy!
Social Sunday Highlights
Each Sunday, the EMA community shares an optimistic story on social media. From a new plastic ban to a conservation win, these stories are meant to give people hope among a news cycle that's too often doom and gloom. Click the images below to share!
Our mission is to provide a unified voice for our planet through
entertainment, storytelling, and education.
Go Plastic-Free With an EMA x Pela Phone Case!
Get Your Limited-Edition EMA x Pela Phone Case
One area we are happy to help reduce waste is with how you protect your phone. Our friends at Pela have designed a limited-edition EMA phone case that features our Waste Less philosophy. The EMA x Pela Phone case is made from plants, not plastic, and is 100% compostable.
Go plastic-free and give yourself a daily reminder to "waste less" with our EMA x Pela phone case. Click the link below to purchase your case (a portion of the profits go to supporting our programs).
Click here for AmazonSmile and then search Environmental Media Association from its list of organizations. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate to EMA, which will help fund our ongoing programs.