HOLIDAY SEASON
EarthFriendly Holiday Gift Ideas for Outdoor Enthusiasts (StatePoint) When holiday shopping for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, take the extra step of ensuring your loved ones only unwrap gifts that are earth-friendly. It all starts with reading the label on the goods you purchase. While they’ve been around for decades, more consumers are becoming aware of a toxic class of chemicals called perfluorinated chemicals, often referred to as PFAS or PFCs. Because PFCs are good at resisting oil, stains, grease and water, they’ve become a go-to treatment for many manufacturers. In fact, PFCs are so widely used, they’re found on everything from shoes and jackets to couches and food wrappers — including the many items designed for nature lovers! The issue is that these chemicals find ways to enter the environment, the food chain and our water supply, which is bad for wildlife, the planet and human health. Because PFCs have a very hard time breaking down, they’re infamously known as “forever chemicals.” Thanks to a heightened understanding of the health issues associated with PFCs, there has been a growing sense of urgency around removing them
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from consumer products. With a little care, you can holiday shop with brands that have taken earth-friendly steps, and in some cases, bounds, to try to avoid these so-called “forever chemicals.” Need some inspiration? The following gift guide includes some of the best outdoor gear designed to stand up to adventures of all kinds, and it’s all eco-friendly to boot!
Cozy Footwear Give the gift of indoor comfort outdoors with the warm, cozy Howser collection from KEEN Footwear. A hyggeworthy, “sleeping bag for feet,” their
fuzzy lining and PU cushioned insoles mean they’re as cozy as house slippers, and their grippy, sturdy rubber outsoles make them a solid choice for outdoor use. The collection includes slip-ons, ankle boots and high top choices for women, men and kids — all of which are a natural fit for chilly evenings by the fire or rolling out of the tent in the morning to get the coffee brewing. Not only is the entire collection PFC-free, options that contain leather are sourced from Leather Working Group-certified tanneries, which use processes to reduce chemical use and
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