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With food waste at an all time high in the US, we are constantly looking for creative ways to preserve the shelf life of our perishables. And since we are in the thick of summer, we have a lot of produce to protect! Thankfully there is no shortage of ideas and we tracked down some of the easiest and most practical tips to share.

In honor of Earth Day this year, we’ve dug a little deeper into its meaning and origin. Turns out that its birth on April 22, 1970 marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Demonstrations in support of environmental awareness erupted nationally and by the end of that year marked the US government’s formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By 2009, the United Nations validated “International Mother Earth Day,” and now today, 193 countries celebrate Earth Day worldwide

We decided to do a little research on where to find the best gift chocolates and discovered that when it comes to sustainability and impact on the environment, not all chocolates are created equal. Fortunately, there are a good amount of chocolatiers out there, but here are our Top Five (in no particular order)!

We are seeking sustainable, unique and chic this year so we’ve gathered some luxe gift ideas that are sure to delight! And for added efficiency while reducing wasteful packaging, gather a group together to go in on one special thing and wrap it in a UMB! 🧡

As we head deeper into Summer 2022, travel seems to be the talk-track trend! And we at Urban Market Bags are hearing a whole lot of talk about camping travel. In honor of getting away and outdoors, we put together this Eco-Friendly Camping Guide so that you can enjoy the beautiful outdoors — without hurting them!

Spring is a time of renewal, a time when we have the opportunity to look forward to the year ahead and plan, set goals and even dreams! Practicing mindfulness is a great way to stay calm and connected with yourself, which helps to keep you on your path. And here’s the thing, mindfulness can be practiced anywhere, while doing anything, and you don’t have to know how to meditate! Here are some tips for bringing mindfulness into your day while doing ordinary things.

We know that lifestyle changes, even small ones, can make a big difference for the environment — and we do our part by shopping local, using nontoxic and sustainable products, conserving water, driving less, using reusables (our Urban Market Bags of course!), the list goes on … But this year when thinking “what else can we do,” we remembered that there are teams of dedicated organizations and people working tirelessly to move the needle with climate change and the environment, and they can use our support! So we turned to Charity Navigator to help us and thought we’d highlight our top six favorites for you. 🌎🧡

Outdoor gatherings have been the trend of 2021, but as the air cools and the fall season settles in, we begin to move our gatherings indoors. In the spirit of keeping the trend alive, we are looking for ways to bring the outdoors in! Utilizing elements from nature for table centerpieces and festive décor is not only refreshing and eco friendly (by eliminating the drive to a store and added packaging), but also free! How to get started? Head outdoors for inspiration. Or take a look at these natural fall decorating ideas to set you on your way.

As life outside of our home resumes, we have a much greater appreciation for all of the “little” things that we used to be able to do. Now that we are starting to be able to do them again, we are thinking about how to reincorporate sustainability into our mindset and actions.

Whether you have excess produce, extra time or you are just interested in preserving spring fruits and vegetables at their finest, here are four preserving techniques that will keep your shelves stocked with goodness!

While sheltering in place, we at Urban Market Bags have found some amazing online resources to help inspire and facilitate countless activities at home. From interests that you already may have to a host of new opportunities to explore, these websites have something for everyone.

Whether you are stocking up to hunker down or keeping things business as usual, here are five easy steps to staying germ-free while shopping.

We love to celebrate the 4th of July! From fireworks, parades and bonfires to swim parties and barbecues, there are activities galore, and while festive, these activities can take a toll on the environment. Fortunately, there are ways to host a celebration and reduce the footprint without reducing the fun!