Why go reusable? 

Approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide each year.

Americans generated 258 million tons of waste in 2014. Only about a third of this—34.6%—was recycled or composted.

“By refusing to use plastic bags, you can make a huge difference to the pollution problem. Remember that each person uses about 83 bags a year. If there are four people in your family, that's 332 plastic bags less every year. That's 332 bags less that will:

• Release toxins into the groundwater from landfill sites
• Stay in the environment for hundreds of years while they break down
• Get into the food chain through animals that ingest small particles of plastic
• Waste energy during the manufacturing process
• Kill any of the estimated 100,000 marine animals that die each year of plastic pollution”

- Sharon Jacobsen, LA County Department of Public Works

“Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBTs) chemicals or substances pose a risk to the marine environment because they resist degradation, persisting for years or even decades. PBTs are toxic to humans and marine organisms and have been shown to accumulate at various trophic levels through the food chain. Even at low concentrations, PBTs can be insidious in the environment due to their ability to biomagnify up the food web, leading to toxic effects at higher trophic levels even though ambient concentrations are well below toxic thresholds.” 

 - the Environmental Protection Agency

How HWI gives back

• A portion of our bag profits will be used to provide assistance to those in need to promote a holistic approach to health and well-being
• Part of the postcard sales revenue will support community cleaning, recycling, planting, gardening, and beautification projects
• Our drawstring and classic tote bags are made of 100% natural, biodegradable materials
• We source products locally when possible