By Kat Eftink
“Memphis air quality alert: Stay indoors due to poor conditions.” Another air quality alert for Memphis. It’s like every other day in the summer we get this notification. The emissions from industrial facilities and transportation mixed with the humidity makes for some bad air. In fact, Memphis has worse air quality than 74% of cities in Tennessee.
We can’t really control the emissions from industrial facilities, the emissions from cars on i240, or the train that passes through the city about 5 times a day. (Sigh, we’ve all gotten stuck behind the train at the worst possible time.)
But, the thing we can control is how we consume products. Luckily, Memphis has some impressive businesses that focus on being environmentally friendly. Let’s get into three of them.
- Two Chicks & A Broom is an eco-friendly cleaning company that cleans residential and commercial spaces. Founded in 2002, with the goal to provide home cleaning that is safe for families and pets, Two Chicks & A Broom has grown with the demand of environmentally conscious services.
“The professional products we use have the same environmental and health safety as homemade DIY products, but with the effectiveness of professionally researched and expertly developed products,” stated on Two Chicks & A Broom’s website.
Because of their efforts towards providing a safe, healthy, and effective cleaning, they’ve been recognized in HGTV Magazine, Real Simple, and are an A+ rated member of the Better Business Bureau.
- Project Green Fork is a mission that provides certifications and guidance to green restaurants in Memphis. The project began in 2008 when the founder, Margot McNeely, found that the average restaurant produces 50,000 pounds of garbage per year when 95% of it can be recycled or composted.
To become Project Green Fork certified, local restaurants must source products that are compostable, recyclable, biodegradable, or made from recycled content, take steps to reduce unused food inventory, reduce the use of toxic cleaners, reduce and conserve energy and water, donate leftover food, and properly maintain kitchen hoods and grease traps.
The organization provides a list of certified restaurants including the famous Charlie Vergos Rendezvous, The Beauty Shop Restaurant, and so many more, so you can support restaurants that are taking direct action to save the environment.
- Boshi Botanicals is Memphis’s first zero-waste refill store. A zero-waste shop enables customers to eliminate packaging by using containers from home to fill with bulk products. Boshi Botanicals sources laundry detergent, teas, dish soap, beeswax wraps, and so much more.
They also have bath bomb making classes for adults and kids. Boshi Botanical’s goal is to provide an elegant experience that meets practicality. They often have tea brewing so you can sip while you shop!
As we continue to grapple with air quality issues in Memphis, it’s important to remember that we can all make a difference by supporting businesses that prioritize sustainability. By choosing eco-friendly options like those offered by Two Chicks & A Broom, Project Green Fork, and Boshi Botanicals, we can contribute to a healthier environment for ourselves and future generations.
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