NatureVolve: Animals and Biology (issue 15)

Issue 15

Read..

CALICO CATS A Mosaic of Colors and Genetic Wonders & much more

Like this image? Read more about calico cats in our Science section, plus other stories across biology, conservation and science communication.

Science © NatureVolve digital magazine. All rights reserved.

Conservation

Scicomm

Art

Written Word

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Features SCIENCE The Mystique of Calico Cats: A Mosaic of Colors and Genetic Wonders Spontaneous Calcium Oscillations & Their Role in Mechanical Communication Waves

conservation Aaron Haiman: From Birding Passion to YouTube Channel

scicomm Choosing words carefully Teaching evolution in classrooms

Art ENCHANTED Give plastic the chop! How beauty brands can improve sustainability efforts

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NatureVolve.com Communicating science Combining art

@naturevolve

Editorial note Welcome to NatureVolve Issue 15 At NatureVolve, we are an international community uniting to share our ideas in science and art with the world, through the common appreciation of nature’s wondrous workings.

While sharing diverse fields within science to conservation and art, we take a deep dive into biology and creative forms of science communication in this issue.

We begin the Science section by looking at calico cats, their aeclectic beauty and genetic make-up.

In Conservation, we explore YouTube as a format for conservation awareness, and similarly in the Scicomm section, a science journalist reflects on how important it is to use words carefully, implying the question of whether species receive fair representation in the media.

In the Art section we present some strriking art forms and aesthetics inspired by the natural world.

Our digital magazine continually shares the ideas of both scientists and creatives with worldwide communities as we all unite to celebrate nature. Being open and inclusive, contributions in many forms are welcome.

If interested to join us and contribute to an upcoming issue, please contact our editor: Clarissa@naturevolve. com In other news, we have a new, sleek website under development thanks to support from STEM Advocacy Institute and Aberdeenshire Council.

As always, thank you for your support and enjoy!

Copyright notice

© NatureVolve digital magazine - all original content providers retain the copyright to their work.

No materials may be reused without permission.

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Science

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SCIENCE

biology

The Mystique of Calico Cats: A Mosaic of Colors and Genetic Wonders Written by Precious Shynne L.

Step into the world of feline beauty, and you’ll likely come across

the captivating and mysterious calico cat. These stunning creatures are renowned for their unique coat patterns, which consist of a mesmerizing blend of orange, black, and white fur.

However, calico cats are more than just aesthetically pleasing companions; they hold a fascinating genetic background and boast a rarity that makes them truly remarkable.

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SCIENCE

biology

Calico cats are often regarded as a rarity in the feline world, adding to their allure. Their rarity stems from their genetic composition, which requires a specific combination of genes to produce their distinctive coat pattern. It’s estimated that only one in every 3,000 calico cats is male, making them an even more elusive sight.

To understand this, let’s take a peek into their genetic background.

Calico cats possess two X chromosomes, one from their mother and one from their father. These chromosomes carry the genes responsible for coat color. While the X chromosome from the mother may carry an orange coat color gene, the X chromosome from the father may carry a black coat color gene. The co-dominance phenomenon occurs when both genes are active, leading to patches of both colors in the cat’s coat.

But why are Calico cats so rare?

The answer lies in the intricate dance of genetics.

The gene for coat color is linked to the X chromosome, which means that it follows a pattern of inheritance called “sex-linked inheritance.”

Female cats have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y chromosome. Male calico cats possess an extra X chromosome, making them an anomaly. This extra X chromosome leads to sterility in most male calicos and renders them exceptionally rare.

Male calico cats, often referred to as “miracle cats,” are an extraordinary occurrence due to their genetic predisposition. However, their rarity comes with a price. The additional X chromosome disrupts normal reproductive development in males, leading to sterility. While male calicos may exhibit the same striking coat pattern as their female counterparts, their infertility makes them a fragile and unique presence in the feline world.

Researchers have found that male calico cats are typically born with a genetic abnormality known as Klinefelter syndrome.

This condition, caused by the presence of an extra X chromosome, affects the production of viable sperm. © NatureVolve digital magazine. All rights reserved.

Consequently, male calicos are unable to father offspring.

Despite this fragility, male calico cats can lead fulfilling lives as beloved companions, capturing the hearts of those fortunate enough to encounter them. Despite the hurdles faced by male Calico cats, the females of this enchanting breed continue to grace our lives with their presence and charm.

They showcase the wonders of genetic diversity, reminding us of the endless marvels hidden within the animal kingdom.

In fact, these felines have long held symbolic significance in various cultures worldwide. They are revered as bringers of good fortune, wealth, and prosperity. In Japan, the calico cat, or “Manekineko,” is considered a talisman for luck and is often depicted with a raised paw. This cultural reverence is a testament to the captivating beauty and enigmatic nature of calico cats.

Calico cats are undoubtedly a sight to behold, with their striking tri-color patterns and intriguing genetic background. Their rarity, attributed to their unique genetic makeup, adds to their allure and makes them an object of fascination for feline enthusiasts.

These enigmatic creatures have carved a place for themselves in our hearts, reminding us of the wonders and mysteries that nature holds.

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SCIENCE

snapshot

Spontaneous Calcium Oscillations & Their Role in Mechanical Communication Glioblastoma cells (U87 cell line, malignant brain tumour) fluorescing under a twophoton microscope. The cells are genetically encoded with a calcium indicator, GCaMP, to observe their electrical properties. (below) © Jade Roberts. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous calcium oscillations play important roles in modulating neuronal activity such as neurone development, release of hormones and cell communication.

This electrical activity further co-ordinates with mechanical cues to influence their microenvironment, in a process known as mechano-electrical coupling (MEC).

Mechanical motion such as stretching can impact neurons by changing their microstructure and downstream electrical signalling. However, the underlying mechanism behind this phenomenon remains elusive. In addition, the relevance of basal calcium oscillations and MEC is not fully understood. In my research project, we are trying to determine if basal oscillations are caused by environmental stress and can influence the occurrence of spontaneous calcium oscillations in cells.

About Jade Roberts has a background in Biomedical Sciences, where she studied an undergraduate course at the University of Reading (BSc) and a postgraduate course at Imperial College London (MRes).

Currently, her PhD research is a crosstranslational project between Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering!

Contact Instagram:

https://instagram.com/ yourscientistgal?igshid=NGExMmI2YTkyZg==

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SCIENCE

physics

Waves Written by Fahd A

“A wave is a disturbance in space that conveys the traversal of energy or information.”

This is the first definition we’re taught about waves in middle school science class, or at least, the one *I* was taught.

And whenever someone hears the word “wave”, they usually associate it with some sort of energy or movement, like the light waves from a light bulb, or the waves colliding with the seashore.

There is some tendency to look over the last word in that definition: information!”

What most people don’t realize is that waves rule the information exchange in our world, in the form of radio signals, cellular data, astronomical spectroscopy and even cameras and microphones!

However, one form of waves that nearly no one expected to hold valuable information is gravity waves (not to be confused with Einstein’s gravitational waves). Gravity waves, also known as gravity-driven waves or surface gravity waves, are a type of fluid wave that occurs at the interface between two media with different densities, such as air and water. These waves are the result of the restoring force of gravity trying to bring the disturbed fluid surface back to equilibrium. Think: water waves colliding into the seashore!

Atmospheric gravity waves are generated by weather events on Earth, including strong winds that shoot upward as they collide with large mountains, hurricanes that create gravity waves directly through high winds and indirectly by interacting with underlying topography, and seismic activities such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. © NatureVolve digital magazine. All rights reserved.

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cool, check out 14th issue of the NatureVolve magazine, where yo the AWE mission. physics SCIENCE

Above: Artist’s impression of AWE mapping the properties of global mesospheric gravity waves.

(Image credit: NASA Explorers Program) https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/iss-awe

age courtesy: https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/iss-awe These gravity waves are deeply connected with what is referred to as space weather. Space weather has an adverse effect on technologies - such as satellites - that provide a lot of services that humans now take for granted, like TV and GPS, as well as more critical applications, like space navigation!

The Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) is an attempt by NASA engineers to harness the information encoded in these gravity waves. This will help NASA scientists to “forecast the space weather” and perform the needed adjustments accordingly!

This will be accomplished by launching a satellite that, among other things, will possess a wide-field-of-view infrared imager, known as the Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (AMTM), on the International Space Station (ISS).

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Conservation

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conservation

interview

Aaron Haiman: From Birding Passion to YouTube Channel Written by Mariana C.

Today we are undergoing what has been called “The Sixth Extinction” due

to the huge number of species that are disappearing from our planet. There are about 8 million species of plants and animals on Earth. It is estimated that currently one million of those species are threatened with extinction.

Added to this, we are running out of time to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. According to the UNEP, we only have until 2030 before it’s too late.

But what can be done? Environmental issues often seem too large for a citizen to participate in the solution, yet it turns out that volunteering and community science can be two powerful tools to fight biodiversity loss.

Aaron N.K. Haiman is an environmental scientist with a passion for birding.

He has been involved in habitat restoration and cleanup projects, invasive species control and monitoring, banding and migration count efforts, and constantly volunteers with bird-focused organizations. He has a project called “A Birding Naturalist” which now includes a blog and a YouTube channel. In this feature, Aaron tells us about his project, his work on conservation, and how we too can get involved.

A picture of Aaron leaning to the side and smiling beside a plant with yellow flowers and long green leaves.. Copyright statement, leave blank if uncertain. All rights reserved.

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conservation

interview

Q & A - Aaron Haiman (of A Birding Naturalist) Please tell us about your background and why you started your blog “A Birding Naturalist” in 2012.

I have been interested in animals and nature from a young age. When I was six years old, I attended a class on raptors led by an amazing naturalist named Allen Fish, the Director of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO). Allen has inspired me on many levels. He is a passionate naturalist, has a wealth of knowledge about birds and ecosystems, and is a gifted orator. I began going to any event that he was leading, and a few years later started volunteering for the GGRO. This cemented my passion for birds, nature, community science, and science communication.

Those passions have continued to drive me, and have carried me through undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, bird research internships, graduate school at the

Left: A picture of Aaron standing on a beach holding a camera in one hand and binoculars in the other.

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University of California, Davis, and my current career.

Early in graduate school, I often discussed topics with my friends and family that I thought more people should be aware of, such as avian science, climate change, and environmental policy and law. After hearing me talk about these things, both my wife and brother suggested that I start a blog to make such topics more widely accessible. When these two people both tell me something, I am smart enough to listen, and so the “A Birding Naturalist” blog was born.

In 2020, you created a YouTube channel with the same name as your blog. In which ways did this allow you to expand your project, and which of your wildlife interests do you explore through it?

For several years, I wrote a monthly column for a set of small community magazines in the east bay. However, the publishing company overseeing these magazines and I had a falling out over issues of racial and gender equity and representation. After ending my association with that publishing company, I found that I had some creative energy that was going unused. I thought about several different directions I could go in, but being in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided that a YouTube channel would likely be a good expansion.

My hope is to bring information on the same types of subjects that I wrote about on my blog to people who are more interested in watching visual content rather than reading it. With the help of my wife as video editor, I began creating content for a YouTube channel focused on birds, nature, and ecology. I have discussed many aspects of ecology and evolution, habitat restoration, biodiversity, birds and bird behavior, natural history, and my work as an environmental scientist. I have really enjoyed working on my channel, and its subscriber count has been growing slowly but steadily.

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conservation

interview

As an environmental scientist, you are aware of current conservation issues and have worked on several conservation projects.

Could you describe the one that you consider the most relevant and why that is?

The most pressing issue facing conservation is the loss of biodiversity. All around the world, species are going extinct every day. Each one is a piece of the puzzle that is the ecosystem we live in and rely on, and represents a path of evolution that stretches back billions of years and will never be repeated.

Everytime a piece goes missing, it is not only a tragic loss which damages the whole picture, but it weakens the connections of the pieces that remain, making them more vulnerable in the process. If enough pieces disappear, the puzzle falls apart.

Climate change, habitat destruction, and invasive species all contribute to the loss of biodiversity.

Most of the projects I have worked on have been efforts to guard against biodiversity loss. My current work focuses on protecting streams and rivers of California and thus provide homes for the plants and

animals that rely on them. By ensuring that these watery habitats are healthy and stable enough to last into the future, my hope is that all the species that live in them will also be healthy and stable.

You have enjoyed birding from a young age, and have volunteered in bird-focused organizations throughout your life. Why do you find it important to engage in these activities? Also, what would be a good way for people who are interested in birding to have an initial approach?

I have volunteered for a couple of dozen groups over the years. Most of them have been focused on birds, science, and/or education. I have gained so much from these volunteer experiences learning about nature and about myself as well. This multifaceted learning is one of the reasons I think volunteering is so important and valuable. Volunteering is also a way to contribute to the societies we all live in. Each of us can take actions that make the world a better place, and donating our time, energy, and skills is one way of making that happen.

Below: A picture of Aaron looking through binoculars across a fast flowing river.

All rights reserved.

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conservation

interview

Above: A picture a Western Meadowlark standing on the post of a barbed wire fence with its bill open as it sings. All rights reserved.

Regarding the second part of the question, getting in touch with a local birding group is a tremendous way to learn more about birding. Doing this allows each of us to meet people who are also interested in birding, be introduced to amazing locations where birds can be found, see beautiful bird species, and learn from others in the community who have accumulated huge amounts of information that they are usually eager to share.

© NatureVolve digital magazine. All rights reserved.

Final thoughts We are at a turning point where our actions will determine whether or not we manage to curb biodiversity loss. In the midst of this crisis, it is not only important to work on conservation efforts, but to communicate the issues to the public, so that more people become aware and interested in the matter.

Aaron Haiman has combined his passion for birds, nature, and science communication to create his project: “A Birding Naturalist”. Through his blog and YouTube channel, he hopes to make those topics accessible to a broader audience.

Aaron encourages volunteering because he believes that this experience allows people to learn both about nature and about themselves, as well as contribute to building a better world.

What do you think you can do to join conservation efforts?

From volunteering on a project to getting informed and spreading the word, we can all participate somehow.

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conservation

interview

Bio Aaron has been a student of nature all his life. This has included volunteering as a hawk counter, studying timber harvest impacts on songbirds, working on habitat restoration, and more. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Berkeley (Environmental Science) and two Master’s Degrees from the University of California, Davis (Avian Science and Animal Behavior). He is currently a Senior Environmental Scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Board.

Links YouTube: https:// youtube.com/@ ABirdingNaturalist Blog: https:// abirdingnaturalist. wordpress.com/ Instagram: @abirdingnaturalist Infographic by Mariana C. All rights reserved. © NatureVolve digital magazine. All rights reserved.

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Scicomm (Science communication)

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scicomm

journalism

Choosing words carefully Written by Ella J Davies When you’re writing about wildlife during a biodiversity crisis, you need to choose your words carefully. In pursuit of maximum impact, editors often favour attention grabbing headlines.

This emotive clickbait language is designed to trigger visceral reactions: disgust, outrage, horror. The reasoning goes that such provocation will encourage the audience to read on.

But as we sit perilously close to the edge of ecological collapse, it seems irresponsible to bad mouth those struggling to survive. As a writer I feel compelled to give all species fair representation in my work, rejecting the labels ‘good’ and ‘bad’ and identifying more nuance. It’s not only lazy to describe wasps as annoying, or grey squirrels as pests, it reinforces the disregard for wildlife that has resulted in catastrophic population declines, ecological imbalance and even extinction.

For every familiar fluffy mammal, there are thousands of overlooked insects whose profiles desperately need a boost. Pitching a story about pond life might not get many excited, but when you frame it around the record-breaking sonic abilities of a water boatman’s penis, interest is piqued.

I get a kick out of finding such gems hidden away in the scientific literature, or an offhand remark from someone working so closely with their subject that they forget they have a unique perspective. For instance, do you know which domestic appliance spider surveyors often carry?

Reaching out to audiences through shared experience, then subverting expectations, is one of my favourite techniques. Just like the spider surveyors, rather than using a vacuum to suck readers in, I prefer to tickle their curiosity with an electric toothbrush. © NatureVolve digital magazine. All rights reserved.

About I’m Ella J Davies, a writer specialising in natural history.

With a journalism degree from Cardiff University, I started out creating online content for Channel 4 and the BBC. I worked alongside the latter’s renowned Natural History Unit, writing wildlife news articles and supporting beloved series including Springwatch.

Next year, I’ll be celebrating 10 years working freelance.

Contact Twitter: @jaylikethebird Website: https://ellajdavies. com/ p16

scicomm

journalism

Still, to attract eyeballs, a lot of my writing guides fear towards fascination.

Unfortunately, myth-busting requires some initial repetition of unhelpful stereotypes, for example, the man-eating shark. But when this is kept to a minimum, there’s so much more to write about the amazing adaptations of these creatures. Solid statistics on fatal shark attacks, balanced with research to explain their behaviour can allay fears and free up space to include many more intriguing facts about the sensitive, vulnerable animals.

I freely admit I’m an anxious sort, so predatory chases and struggles to survive have always left me cold. In these turbulent times though, I doubt I’m the only one. Humour, affection and amazement can be equally powerful motivators. I often ask contributors, what would you tell your mates at the pub about your work? Or, what do you tell your mum you do? The answers can be hilarious and heartfelt, both of which humans find irresistible.

If you really can attract more flies with honey than vinegar, I’m hoping the same is true of readers. Once I’ve hooked their attention and perhaps changed their minds, I’ll sneak in an appeal for compassion. It’s far easier to care about something when you’ve been properly introduced. Without a voice of its own, the natural world needs advocates now more than ever.

Below: a photo of a thoughtful Eurasian jay

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scicomm

gallery

Teaching evolution in classrooms Chalkboard illustration (below) © Sonhita Chakraborty . All rights reserved.

As a person of Indian ancestry, I was horrified to learn that certain school boards in India had dropped evolution from their curriculum. With this art piece, which shows endosymbiotic theory and natural selection being taught on a chalkboard, I hope to bring awareness to this issue.

About

Contact

Sonhita Chakraborty is a scientific editor who is fascinated by living cells and how they function. While completing her PhD in plant molecular biology, Sonhita took to making whimsical watercolour and digital paintings of cells. Her work has been featured in science journals, biology laboratory manuals, international conferences and plant guides.

Website:

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https://linktr.ee/cyberabbit

Instagram:

@cyberabbit

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Art

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Art

mixed media

ENCHANTED The Palo Alto City Library

A solo exhibition of living art

inspired by A gilled mushroom found underwater

The purchase of these paintings has carbon negative credits of 15% approximately the same amount as having a plant in your home. These paintings clean the air similar to a plant. The purchase of a painting comes with a $25 donation in the patron’s name to the Puget Sound Mycological Society. Purchasing a painting lowers your carbon footprint and supports an environmental organization and a bio artist. $325.00.

The purchase of this paintings has carbon negative credits of 15% approximately the same amount as having a plant in© NatureVolve yourdigitalhome.

These paintings clean the air similar to a plant. The purchase of this painting comes with a $25p20 magazine. All rights reserved. donation in the patron’s name to the Puget Sound Mycological Society. Purchasing this painting lowers your carbon footprint and supports an environmental organization and a bio artist. $325.00.

Art

mixed media and at 22 was nominated for a MacArthur. Maria attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA for her bachelor’s of fine art in design. She initiated graduate work with New York University and completed her masters in international business with a published thesis on cause related marketing from Schiller International University in Heidelberg, Germany.

Bio artist Maria Medina-Schechter invites you to an exhibition of mycelium as a medium. Her artistic mission is to use healthier materials for a healthier world.

Experiencing eco-grief, a term coined by Jane Goodall in her book Hope? A purchase of one of MedinaSchechter’s “dimensional paintings,” works on paper, is a fair market price and helps you offset your carbon footprint. It’s calculated for you. To kick off her new body of work, showing in her childhood neighborhood, she is making a donation in the patron’s name to an environmental organization affiliated with the mission of the painting. This is conscious painting and purchase with integrity. As Goodall says “every bit counts.”

She has traveled to 17 countries and lived in Germany and Thailand. She found both countries relatable and inspiring. In Thailand, she lived with Thai forest monks and nuns to learn about sustainability, food, and herbs as medicine for the body. In return, she trained monks and nuns on social media to help develop an online presence so that families in remote villages would have quick access to medical services. This travel came when she took a break from her former life in a leadership role with the innovation division of The Clorox Company to volunteer in a remote village in Thailand. In 2019, the film Fantastic Fungi came out and Medina-Schechter began her journey into mycelium research. In 2021, she became a recipient of the Fantastic Fungi Global Summit Scholarship. For the next three years, she immersed herself in the grand world of mycology.

Enchanted is an exhibition that brings together art and science with the goal of inspiring others to use healthier materials for a healthier world.

When Maria first read about the finding in the book Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets, she became enchanted and wondered what types of medicinal properties would be able to serve the world through aquatic fungi. Maria Medina-Schechter is a California native, born in Pasadena and raised in the Bay Area. In high school, she co-founded the Earth Savers Club

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Art

mixed media Today, Maria creates botanical palettes using medieval recipes turning fruits, flowers, vegetables, and mushrooms into painting palettes that are non-toxic and archival. Main staples in each of her works are the colorful engagements of botanical materials and use of mycelium as a medium. The substrate typically fruits mushrooms. The mycelium she works with is unseeded and developed by Evocative Technology. The organization is making major changes in all consumer sectors.

Maria absolutely loves their substrate which can be purchased by grow.bio and used as an alternative to resin and other toxic materials.

Maria creates dimensional works on paper inspired by natural wonders, Buddhism, and ikebana. She celebrates nature by creating works informed by ikebana principles, color palettes found in nature and mycelium as a medium. Her exhibit is the first of its kind in our state. She hopes that everyone will enjoy the work she has developed over the past three years. This body of work is inspired by a gilled mushroom found in Crator Lake, Oregon. The fungi Psytherella Aquatica is the only species of true, gilled mushroom living in water.

Links Email: Maria@t6dh.com

Thanks to: Palo Alto City Library 1213 Newell Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303

The painting recipe:

Applied materials:

The color was achieved using organic purple carrot, blueberries, and mica mineral. The process of using organic materials to create lightfast and archival paintings is through the use of tannins, mordents, and an antibacterial such as an essential oil, wintergreen.

grown oyster mushroom, mycelium, seashell, moss, and water jewels.

© NatureVolve digital magazine. All rights reserved.

Purchase inquiry: maria@T6DH.com (408) 642-4958

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Art

brands

Give plastic the chop!

How beauty brands can improve sustainability efforts

It’s no secret that humans’ failure to recycle plastic correctly is

destroying our oceans and killing our sealife – with a report revealing that the global beauty industry alone produce 120 billion units of plastic waste each year.

But what can beauty brands do to help consumers clean up their haircare routine?

Ahead of Plastic Free Beauty Day (June 17th), Alice Dawkins of leading hair extensions brand Milk + Blush shares tips for brands looking to improve their sustainability efforts.

© NatureVolve digital magazine. All rights reserved.

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Art

brands Review packaging materials One of the first things customers will notice when choosing a product is its packaging, so where possible, brands must commit to choosing recycled and recyclable materials to package items in.

Sustainable materials like paper, bamboo or aluminium are easy to recycle, can be reused and require less energy to produce.

Meanwhile, PCR materials (postconsumer recycled material) are a good choice for packaging hair and beauty products, as they have the same appearance of a luxury product but it can be infinitely recycled.

And remember…. The sole issue isn’t brands producing plastic, it’s more how they reuse and recycle it to limit their environmental impact. So, ensure it’s also important to ensure the packaging contains clear instructions for customers on how to discard it safely to help them, and you, reduce your carbon footprint.

Give back Each year millions of people worldwide seek to enhance their locks by investing in hair extensions, but when they’re no longer in use - the hair is just chucked away.

From then, the hair usually ends up in landfills, which produce high levels of greenhouse gasses, toxins and leachate that contribute to the process of global warming.

Beauty brands should consider recycling schemes that encourage customers to return their unwanted products so they can be used to protect our oceans, not pollute them.

Our Hair Recycling Programme allows customers to return their old extensions, © NatureVolve digital magazine. All rights reserved.

we then ship them to eco-charity Matter of Trust in the USA for its Clean Wave Programme.

As human hair is known for its quality to absorb oil, when turned into hair mats, it’s used in storm drains to soak up oil spills and trap debris, which helps clean up the water.

Go the extra mile While it’s important that brands continue to improve their products and services to meet eco-objectives, the effort shouldn’t end there.

According to a recent report, customers are becoming more and more likely to buy from brands that have environmentally sustainable practices and values.

Try to reduce the carbon footprint of your workforce as much as possible by using green-only energy sources and encouraging employees to work paperfree.

Other ways that brands can clean up their act is by ensuring that their suppliers share the same views when it comes to sustainability, seeking to reduce unnecessary waste and committing to reduce their carbon footprint.

Remain transparent Don’t forget to be open and honest with your customers about your eco-efforts and encourage regular feedback from them on ways to improve.

Just like consumers are more likely to buy from brands that have good environmental practices, transparency is another valued ethos which will likely set you apart from the competition.

You can view Milk + Blush’s stance on ethical sourcing and environmental impact here.

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