Founded in 1970, the Ecology Center serves one purpose: protecting healthy people and a healthy planet. We believe that the central question of our time is how human beings are going to thrive in the world without destroying the earth's ability to sustain us. This can only be achieved with your support.
Clean energy groups say proposal would roll back economic, environmental, health benefits
LANSING – A diverse coalition of clean energy advocacy organizations is slamming a proposal from state Rep. Karl Bohnak, R-Deerton, to maintain the status quo for natural gas-fueled generators. The bill would prevent the Upper Peninsula from experiencing the full economic, environmental and health benefits of a transition to clean energy as required in the state’s 2023 Clean Energy & Jobs Act.
HB 4007 would keep 13 Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) generators operating without eliminating or significantly reducing emissions as required in the state’s clean energy laws.
“Rep. Karl Bohnak doesn’t care that the U.P. is sounding the alarm as its winter tourist industry suffers from the effects of climate change with less snow and ice,” said Dr. Denise Keele, executive director at Michigan Climate Action Network. “He’s out to protect dirty fossil fuel companies instead of working to protect the U.P.’s beautiful natural resources. We have a basic responsibility to leave a better world for future generations and protect their livelihoods, and that’s possible by increasing our use of clean energy through solar and wind.”
It’s premature to assume the U.P. cannot meet our state’s clean energy goals by the targets laid out in the law more than a decade away, according to the coalition. Advances in technology and renewable energy are rapidly reducing costs and creating new opportunities for good-paying jobs.
“Michiganders face the highest electricity rates and the poorest utility services in the Midwest — with many in the U.P. experiencing the highest rates in the state,” said Nick Occhipinti, state government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “Transitioning to 60% clean energy by 2035 is essential for reducing utility bills, local pollution and mitigating climate disruption on this beautiful peninsula.”
“The U.P. deserves equal opportunities to benefit from the shift to clean energy,” said Charles Griffith, climate and energy director at the Ecology Center. “Generating clean energy will create new, good-paying jobs and reduce pollution — protecting the air we breathe and the water we drink. We cannot afford to delay implementing the clean energy standard rate in the U.P., and Rep. Bohnak’s legislation would obstruct our progress.”
Other organizations that oppose Bohnak’s legislation include:
The Ecology Center Healthy Stuff Lab is helping get toxic chemicals out of our everyday environments because everyone deserves healthy stuff and a healthy environment.
The Ecology Center's Healthy Stuff Lab's stance is simple: Toxic chemicals have no place in our everyday products or our natural environment. To that aim, our science-based advocacy is having rippling effects on non-toxic policies across the country and in the marketplace.
Thanks to our Healthy Stuff Lab team, more brands are ditching PFAS in favor of non-toxic alternatives in pots, pans, and baking dishes. The Ecology Center's 2020 report "What's Cooking?" revealed undisclosed PFAS coatings in cookware. Nearly 80% of cookware and 20% of bakeware we tested had a PTFE coating, which is a type of PFAS. Moreover, our Ecology Center researchers found it was common to see PTFE-coated pans labeled PFOA-free. This labeling can be misleading because shoppers may assume 'PFOA-free' means 'PFAS-free.'
California legislators, after being made aware of the study findings, created a requirement for manufacturers to disclose the presence of PFAS in cookware. The resulting law helps prohibit misleading claims. Since the passage of California's Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act of 2021, several other states have enacted laws to restrict the use of PFAS in cookware and other consumer products.
This set in motion a response by American manufacturers and retailers to curtail PFAS use in cooking and baking items. Minnesota-based Nordic Ware, the company that gave us the bundt cake pan in 1950, introduced a line of non-coated cookware in 2022. Target has set a goal to "remove intentionally added per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) from owned brand products" by 2025, including cookware.
If it's not safe enough for the birds, it's not safe enough for you.
When used properly, a quality stainless steel pan has better non-stick performance than any disposable coated pan. I'm not an expert on whether or not coated cookware is safe for you, but I know there is zero reason to take the risk when there is a proven and safer alternative to do the same task without the risk. Don't believe me? Ask any bird owner why they don't use coated cookware in their home. Funny story: a few years ago, we discovered that one of our best-used search terms was from bird owners seeking "bird-safe cookware!" - Bryan Hurley, Founder CEO Americraft and 360 Cookware
These victories and our mission to phase out nonessential uses of PFAS are part of a more significant movement away from PFAS worldwide. For example, Swedish giant IKEA announced the launch of new cookware with a non-PTFE, silica-based non-stick coating. The introduction of these products is part of the company's larger goal to phase out PFAS chemicals by 2026 from all cook and bakeware.
The influence of the Ecology Center's PFAS in pans report shows how a little lab in the Midwest can inspire policy and industry change across the country– helping to keep hazardous chemicals out of the kitchen and off your plate.
However, there is still much to do to work towards healthy people and a healthy planet. Michigan has an opportunity to protect communities from harmful PFAS exposure by passing HB5657: The Hazardous Products Act. The Hazardous Products Act would go a long way toward turning off the tap on PFAS.
By Crystal Zanders, More Life, Less Stuff Freelance Writer
I remember the first time my mom took me and my brother “black Friday” shopping. I was about 8. We were the only folks in line at the Sears tire department. I guess my mom was giving us the gift of safe driving. Child-me was not impressed. Adult-me thinks that would be a wonderful gift (just in case anyone in my family is reading!)
Crystal Zanders writes for the More Life, Less Stuff Campaign. She is a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan.
I love the holidays. I love the fact that it is one of the few times in the year we actively encourage one another to be kind. That kindness is expressed in our seasons’ greetings, gifts and gatherings with friends and family.
Over the last few decades, gifting has changed. Sometimes it feels less about community and more about commerce. How do we move beyond buying stuff for stuff’s sake? Beyond making sure we have enough packages to fit the tree? Beyond buying things because “they are on sale”?
One option could be focusing on needs rather than wants. When I was a kid, our Christmas gifts every year contained all of the winter clothes my mother would have bought anyway. She still buys us socks! Kids grow so quickly, they need clothes each year. As an adult, my needs are different. This year, my dad has been paying for my dog’s arthritis shots.
Sidebar: If you are looking for some clothing for holiday gifts, check out the House By the Side of the Road that we interviewed for the Less clothes story. Kids need clothes that fit; they don’t have to be new.
So, as you are preparing presents for the folks on your list, it might be best to start with needs. Are there needs that they have that you could meet or help meet? The best way to find out what somebody needs is to ask them.
Another way to have a Less Stuff Holiday is to focus on experiences rather than items. A few years ago, for my birthday, I gave myself season tickets to the theater, so that I could see Hamilton and all the Broadway shows. Researchsuggests that people often get more happiness from experiences than from items.
You could take a loved one on a weekend trip. A few years ago, one of my friends took her kids skiing for the first time as their big Christmas gift. They loved it.
Another option would be to focus on service rather than stuff. Service can be directly for the loved one. Many folks would prefer to receive simple things like a house cleaning or a car detailing or a free night of babysitting to another unnecessary item.
You could also gift community service. Wouldn’t it be cool to volunteer or donate goods or cash to their favorite charities and/or community organizations?
We sat down with Robert Kellar, Ann Arbor City Communications Specialist and talked about a Less Stuff Holiday.
Robert Kellar, City of Ann Arbor Communications Specialist, shared his perspective as a foster parent on what matters most over the holiday season.
What does the holiday season mean for you, and how has its significance changed over time?
For many people, when you're younger, the holiday season means objects. It means things.
As I got older and started to understand the holidays, I never remembered the things I played with or got. Instead, I remembered what the holidays felt like and the experiences of having people visit, of Christmas lights, and of family gathering around food.
My family always had big Thanksgiving gatherings. So it was always just a lot of noise. And as nieces and nephews came along later, it was also about having kids run around. And so even now, to this day, the discussion we have in my house around Thanksgiving and then Christmas is, "Okay, how many people can we fit?" Last year, we had 14 people in our little itty bitty house that was not designed for that many people, but it was great. And now I'll remember it for the rest of my life.
I remember the most impactful Christmas, the year my step dad bought us ski equipment, and we learned how to ski. Granted, there's definitely stuff involved in that, but the experience is what I remember. So now, the holiday season for me means helping my kids make positive memories. I try to understand and approach the holidays from a child's perspective. Though my son's the same as other kids - focused on stuff - they're going to remember the people and the experiences, not the gifts.
How has being a foster parent altered the way you approach the holiday season?
My partner and I have had four foster kiddos, and we're adopting our son now and it feels like a double-edged sword. What you realize is that many foster kids don't grow up with a lot at all, but more importantly, they often grow up without having good experiences and without that constant love and feeling of family. Often, people automatically think of the holidays as a joyful time. Well, in some households, it's not. In fact, my house actually gets pretty dark between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
We lost my mother-in-law the first week of December, a few years ago, to ovarian cancer, and Christmas time is tough for our son, who went through a lot of trauma during his first 10 years of life. And so it's different. It's not always what you think it is. Again, it's about, you know, providing that experience of safety, love and care. Most kids aren't going to care that they got a brand-new pair of shoes. However, in some cases, this is important because some may not have shoes at all. It's important to remember while we fly to our friends and family with gifts they may or may not need or even want, there are a lot of kids out there who have nothing and are looking for that feeling like "I'm not going anywhere, I'm safe, I'm loved."
What does a less-stuff holiday look like to you, and why might it be worth embracing?
I embrace a 'less-stuff' holiday because my partner and I are very fortunate to be in a position that our child doesn't need for things. So the idea of getting him stuff that he's already got and will somehow be superfluous strikes us as wrong. Instead, every year, we adopt a family or multiple families. And embracing a 'less-stuff' holiday is not about guilt or anything. It's not about necessarily not getting anything. Instead of buying stuff for the people who already have so much, we can use that to give the people with little.
Doing so gives us experiences and something that we'll remember for the rest of our lives, like" Oh, remember that holiday where we helped give that family what they needed?" The feeling in our house has been over the years is that the stuff, and I can't speak to everyone, but it never fills the hole and is just a reminder that it never will. Buying things and having them lying around might create dopamine for about five minutes. And then, especially kids from traumatic backgrounds, foster kids are just left with this feeling like "it's not enough" because it never will be.
That's why building experiences and memories is meaningful; they will hold on to them. You know, memories can't break. They can't run out of batteries. They're always there, and they can always give you strength or something you can draw.
Do you want to share any service opportunities that you know of?
There are foster families who need time, which could mean volunteering to babysit. For foster families that are under a lot of stress, two hours of relief from caregiving is so important. To give this gift is more complicated than it sounds. You must go through a process to get cleared to be an alternate caregiver. However, it's a huge help to foster families. Fortunately, most of us have friends who can become an alternative caregiver.
You should find those people in your life who may be struggling and give them some of the time they need for themselves. We've heard it said so many times from foster families that time to themselves is an immense gift - for a mom to say, "I had an hour to myself and so I took a bath and relaxed," or for foster dads to be able to say, "I was able to go fishing by myself and get my mind off of things for a bit."
There are tons of opportunities for you to open your wallet and give in that way. That's fine, and that can be very, very helpful. But there are many opportunities to explore giving of your time, especially for younger people who may not have families yet. Like, think about it. Think about your free time and what it would mean to treat that as a gift to somebody else. You couldn't even put a price on it. When my partner and I were at the worst times, if someone could have come in and said, "Hey, I'll be here for two hours to help," we would've been so relieved. That time would've been worth more than a pound of gold.
Gift-Giving Ideas for a Less Stuff Holiday:
Volunteer your time at a food pantry or go through the process to become an alternative caregiver for foster parents like Robert.
Cookies! Trust me, I have done this before. Bring cookies for the folks you work with and you become a (temporary) hero.
Pay a bill, any bill. I would much rather someone pay my electricity bill than buy me yet another sweater.
Tickets (or season tickets) to a sporting event, perhaps at the University of Michigan. Go Blue!
Memberships at a zoo or museum or aquarium. I love these because they allow you to gift to the person but also to support the zoo, museum, or aquarium.
Tickets to a play or comedy show or speaker event.
Subscriptions. A few years ago, I received a subscription to OnStar, to help keep me safe while driving. Perhaps a music service for the audiophiles in your life, maybe a streaming service for the movie buffs.
Gift cards to grocery stores. We all eat, and eating is not free.
For kids, tickets to a park: a water park, a trampoline park, a theme park, an adventure park. A few years ago, my mom got an autistic toddler in our family a membership to a sensory friendly, inclusive play space.
At the end of the day, the holidays are about showing the folks in our lives that we appreciate them. About kindness and love. About families– bio and chosen, traditions, and memories. About celebrating ourselves and each other. That is what matters, not the stack of stuff.
We wish you and yours a very happy holiday season!
Modernizing Michigan’s mobility would make lasting impact for years to come in transit, rail, other mobility projects
LANSING – A diverse group of environmental advocacy and community organizations is urging the Michigan Legislature to modernize Michigan’s mobility and fund the state’s full transportation system, including strengthening bus systems, enhancing mobility options and expanding train services to better connect more Michigan communities.
The group is also calling on the Legislature to pass a package of bills aimed at reforming the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund to ensure it funds transformational transit options for Michiganders.
The current SOAR Fund does not have any revenue sources beyond 2025. The proposed package of legislation would provide an annual $600 million appropriation for the fund through the 2034-35 fiscal years, including $200 million annually to fund public transit and public development projects through the Michigan Mobility Trust Fund.
This push for prioritizing full public transit funding comes days after Michigan Republicans proposed a $2.7 billion road funding plan and Michigan Democrats introduced House Bill 6213, which would designate revenue generated by the Corporate Income Tax to the Michigan Transportation Fund.
However, the coalition emphasizes that any legislation passed to support road infrastructure must continue the longstanding practice of including funding for full public transportation.
“Public transit is essential to Michigan residents including working families, seniors, students and others who depend on public transportation to get where they need to go,” said Ross Gavin, policy director of urban land use, water infrastructure, and transportation for the Michigan Environmental Council. “In the waning days of the legislative session, our lawmakers must ensure that public transit is funded to help Michiganders get to where they need to go now and long into the future.”
“Driving shouldn’t determine destiny, even here in the Motor City,” said Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United (TRU). “As we give thanks for the opportunities and independence Michigan’s public transit provides, we implore our legislators to invest in the transit so many of us depend on.”
“After decades of disinvestment in public transit, this legislation is Michigan’s best and biggest opportunity to turn things around and transform our communities,” said Alexis Blizman, legislative and policy director for the Ecology Center. “This bill package would create jobs, increase access to the places that make Michigan great and help Michiganders reach the services they need in their everyday lives. We urge the Michigan Legislature to pass this important piece of legislation.”
“Investing in public transportation would spur Michigan’s economic growth and retain our state’s talented workers,” said Dr. Denise Keele, executive director of the Michigan Climate Action Network. “It would also cut down on tailpipe emissions, keeping our air cleaner to breathe and helping us meet our climate goals. It is essential that the Michigan Legislature makes public transit a priority. The time is now.”
“Investing in modern trains and bus service is not just about moving people; it’s about moving Michigan forward. Transit attracts businesses, retains talent and revitalizes communities, making our state a destination for opportunity and innovation,” said Carolyn Ulstad, transportation program manager at Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities.
The following groups also expressed support for modernizing Michigan’s mobility:
Environmental groups push for enforceable protections for ratepayers, climate progress and freshwater resources
LANSING – A diverse group of environmental advocacy organizations is urging the Michigan Senate to add enforceable protections to House Bill 4906, the legislation that would provide tax breaks for data centers. The Michigan House passed the bill on Nov. 13, and it is now under review by the Senate.
Advocates are concerned power-hungry data centers will undermine Michigan’s climate plan to achieve 100% clean energy by 2040, aiming to protect Michigan’s air, land and water for future generations.
In addition, without specific protections for ratepayers included in the legislation, rates could possibly spike due to an increased demand for electricity or water.
“Without guardrails, data centers are a threat to climate progress. With guardrails, data centers can drive climate progress,” said Tim Minotas, deputy legislative and political director at Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “Data centers can have significant impacts on our environment and public health – including water use, energy use, land use and noise – especially if back-up diesel generators are employed. We must prioritize protecting our water, air, and ratepayers while encouraging economic development in our state.”
“We cannot allow out-of-state corporations to write their own tax break legislation full of loopholes that allow them to exploit our resources and push their costs off onto the public in the form of higher water and electric rates,” said Dr. Denise Keele,executive director of the Michigan Climate Action Network. “These companies want Michiganders to pay for their enormous water and energy use and infrastructure, and the Legislature must require these rich corporations to pay their own costs, rather than pass them off onto everyday Michiganders.”
“We must not take corporate promises on faith. The Michigan Senate must require that these big companies deliver value to people in our state,” said Abby Clark,Midwest campaign managerat NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Failure to set enforceable, high standards now will inevitably lead to long-term data center issues in Michigan. Now is our opportunity to lead once again on strong clean energy, freshwater and climate policy while investing in Michigan’s future, and we must use it.”
“While providing tax incentives to build out data centers in Michigan may provide good paying jobs, data centers also use tremendously large amounts of energy and water," said Dr. Lisa DelBuono, MD, board chair and founder of Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action. “If we wish to protect the health of Michigan residents, it is essential to link any incentives to build out data centers with appropriate guardrails that ensures healthy, breathable air, affordable clean energy and clean water, and a livable planet.”
“Michigan’s future demands that we balance economic development with environmental responsibility," said Ashley Rudzinski, climate and environment program director for the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities. "Data centers have the potential to contribute to local economies, but only if we proactively implement strong standards to protect our water, air and energy resources. Without these safeguards, we risk burdening communities with higher costs and environmental degradation while these megacorporations reap the rewards.”
“We know that data centers use enormous amounts of water and electricity, which can create new challenges for our utilities as well as impacts on air, water and land. Michiganders need the forward-thinking of our legislators to ensure that the big tech corporations who profit the most from these centers are held accountable," said Charles Griffith, climate & energy director for the Ecology Center. “Any new incentives must include, at a minimum, a requirement to power the data centers with 100% clean energy, consistent with Michigan’s new Clean Energy legislation, along with provisions to prevent these data companies from passing the costs of this new energy on to ratepayers."
The following group also expressed support for updating the legislation:
The Ecology Center's community-based PFAS research has found “forever chemicals” in the fish in our SE MI rivers, the foam on our Great Lakes, and even the blood running through our veins. The Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) PFAS biomonitoring studies have found that over 97% of people in the U.S. have PFAS in their blood. Though this is an alarming percentage, certain PFAS, such as PFOS and PFOA, have declined in blood since 2002 thanks to the voluntary U.S. phaseout orchestrated by the EPA and nonprofit advocates. This being said, thousands of types of PFAS chemicals exist and the vast majority of these are not monitored for in blood.
“Evidence shows that reducing PFAS throughout our economy and consumer goods can lower the amount of PFAS in our bodies over time,” Erica Bloom, Toxics Campaign director, says. “Policies that ban PFAS in products and encourage safer chemistries lead to healthier people and wildlife.”
PFAS exposure is linked to numerous adverse health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, children, and individuals with pre-existing conditions. These include reproductive effects such as decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, increased risk of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers, and increased cholesterol levels and risk of obesity. Some PFAS chemicals also interfere with the body's natural hormones and weaken immune systems.
While reducing PFAS in our bodies is essential, avoiding exposure is increasingly difficult in our modern built environments. These synthetic “forever” chemicals, so called because they do not break down easily and accumulate in the environment and food chain, are used widely for their resistance to heat, oil, and water. Certain professions, including construction, manufacturing, and firefighting, are particularly vulnerable to PFAS exposure. However, PFAS blood tests are expensive and only measure a minimal number of PFAS chemicals. For example, a worker exposed to fluorotelomers used in metal plating and firefighting foam would not learn about that exposure from current blood tests.
After Ecology Center staff tested their blood for PFAS, utilizing home testing kits and local lab services, they distributed test kits by EmpowerDX to six community members across Michigan. Among these were a mother and her adult daughter - Denise Trabbic-Pointer and her daughter Jennifer Snyder. Study participants also include a Detroit firefighter, a former firefighter diagnosed with cancer, a woman exposed to PFAS in her drinking water in Northern Michigan, and an environmental activist who has been a vegetarian for decades.
The chart below details their test results.
Denise & Jennifer's Story
Denise's workplace in the late 1970s utilized PFAS, and she calculated her blood levels during that time using published half-lives for PFOA and PFOS. Even the most conservative estimates revealed that her combined levels would have been above 20 ppb, a level associated with a higher risk for adverse health effects*. Had she known them, her levels would've been especially alarming since she was pregnant with Jennifer then.
“I was exposed in the workplace primarily to PFOA while pregnant and working in the Teflon area of the Toledo DuPont site. We wanted to know the PFAS levels in our blood these many years later. Thanks to the Ecology Center, we were able to test our blood. Both of my daughters and I have chronic health issues now that are known health risks associated with exposure to PFAS. My anger has led me to use my career-long knowledge of chemicals and health impacts to do what I can to tell my story, and to help workers and communities assess their exposures.” - Denise Trabbic-Pointer
Denise Trabbic-Pointer and her daughter, Jennifer Synder
The Ecology Center collaborates with impacted communities, health professionals, scientists, legislators, and environmental advocates to protect individuals like Denise and Jennifer from further PFAS exposure. Through our leadership within the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network (GLPAN), we've successfully worked alongside impacted community members, like Denise, to implement stronger federal drinking water standards, push for sustainable government purchasing practices, and advocate for more robust regulations to keep PFAS out of everyday consumer goods.
The Ecology Center supports enacting legislation to ensure that insurance covers PFAS testing costs, which cost anywhere from $400-$800, making it unaffordable for most Michiganders. Individuals like Denise and Jennifer deserve to know their PFAS levels. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, Medicine via the Committee on the Guidance on PFAS Testing and Health Outcomes has indicated a widespread desire for accessible testing, particularly in communities impacted by PFAS pollution. In addition to the need for accessible testing, the current PFAS testing kits need to test for more PFAS compounds. Current tests only measure 8 PFAS compounds out of thousands. Given these limitations, a blood test could provide false reassurance to individuals exposed to forms of PFAS that are not currently monitored in blood tests.
Get Involved
Contact your state representatives and let them know that Michiganders need protective actions taken immediately to prevent further PFAS contamination.
PFAS should be banned in everyday products whenever possible. Michigan legislators can take real action to protect communities from PFAS exposure by adopting the recently introduced Hazardous Products Act HB 5657. The Hazardous Products Act would ban PFAS in apparel, carpets, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, dental floss, fabric repellent, children's products, menstrual products, home textiles, ski wax, and upholstered furniture. Non-PFAS alternatives are available and worthwhile, given the enduring health and environmental costs of PFAS. Join us in calling on legislators to protect our communities from PFAS.
Let your representatives know that Michiganders shouldn't bear the cost of PFAS exposure testing, especially those at greater risk. Consider testing yourself if the following applies to you:
You are an active or retired firefighter
You work or worked at a chemical manufacturing facility
You live or lived near a military installation
You work or worked in the carpeting or cleaning industry
You eat carry-out or fast food often
You use or used nonstick cookware
You wear water or stain-resistant clothing, uniforms, or shoes
You work or worked in construction or food packaging
You live in a community at risk for PFAS contamination
Or
You wax or have waxed ski and sporting equipment
If you take a PFAS blood test, the PFAS Exchange “What's My Exposure” can help you interpret your results and what you can do next.
With community support and advocacy pushing for policy change, we can help end the problem of PFAS and protect Michigander's health for future generations.
We will fight on, because we all know what’s coming next.
We saw what the first Trump Administration meant for environmental health and justice. It took hundreds of actions that threatened vulnerable communities, worsened the climate crisis, and, had they not been blocked, would have undone many of the country’s most important protections for clean air, safe water, and environmental justice.
But please remember the response to the challenge then, and please remember the role the Ecology Center played.
We joined with progressive advocates in Michigan and across the country, and our collective efforts helped blunt most of the rollbacks and attacks of the first Trump Presidency. It’s widely believed that Trump 2.0 will be better organized than the last version, but so will we.
The next Administration will have fewer federal guardrails to constrain the MAGA anti-environment, anti-health, anti-justice agenda. Still, there are powerful countervailing forces that will rise again to challenge it. The Ecology Center plays a critical role – in Michigan and beyond – in several of them.
One countervailing force is the power of state and local governments, where much of the United States’ regulatory authority resides, and where the country’s most progressive laws were first adopted. The Ecology Center is a leader in the work for strong environmental health and justice protections at the state and local level. In 2025, we’ll be working to see, among other priorities, that Michigan’s ambitious new climate and lead poisoning prevention laws get rolled out equitably, unimpeded by federal intervention.
Second is the power of consumers and market forces, which are moving the private sector toward sustainability, whether or not the federal government requires it. The Ecology Center has been a long-time leader in campaigns to push companies and industries to make cleaner products in safer ways; in recent years, nowhere more notably than in the transportation sector, where the industry’s biggest players have invested heavily in moving away from fossil fuels.
Finally, we collaborate with dozens of nonprofit advocates, whistleblowers, and community activists, using science and people power to block threats to already overburdened communities – whether they’re dealing with air pollution, PFAS contamination, lead poisoning, or other issues. During the past four years, some meaningful steps have been taken at the federal level – like the Justice40 initiative – to address the disproportionate burdens on these communities. The new Administration will likely move to walk back these steps, but we will fight with Michigan’s frontline communities to build power and work for lasting environmental justice.
Right now, many of us are reeling, angry, despondent, and disturbed about the election. Many of you are probably struggling just to make sense of it all. We know that some of our colleagues and communities face much more risk and uncertainty in the coming months. It’s important to reach out in your community, to grieve and process it with others. Please know that you’re not alone. We need to come together, and when we do, we will rise together. And that’s how we will eventually build a just and healthy world.
I do not underestimate the threats and challenges we’ll be facing over the next four years, but at this moment, I want to be clear with you about our commitment. As we have for over 54 years, the Ecology Center will be there. We will never stop fighting for healthy people, healthy communities, and a healthy planet, in Michigan and beyond.
Over 70,000 of our community members work or attend school at the University of Michigan.So, it is important to include them in conversations about reducing waste and focusing on connecting with each other rather than stuff, especially since the University of Michigan won first place in the zero waste category of the 2024 Campus Race to Zero Waste, a competition involving over 150 colleges and universities in the US and Canada.We sat down with Alison Richardson from the U-M Office of Campus Sustainability to learn more about the work they are doing to reduce waste and connect communities.
One of the first things that we discussed was the Move-In and Move-Out Donation Program that the University of Michigan has been running for 25 years. According to Alison Richardson, in 2024 U-M Sustainability collected 10.7 tons of donations including 4.7 tons of clothing to be sorted and redistributed.
U-M Sustainability delivers these items to several organizations. House N2 Home, an organization that collects furniture and household goods that they use to furnish houses and apartments for our neighbors who are transitioning from homelessness. The Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop resells donated items to support Ann Arbor Public Schools. The proceeds also go to grants for community organizations that provide emergency assistance to our neighbors. Food donations go to the Maize and Blue Food Pantry, the food pantry that serves the campus community.
When asked what students can do to reduce their environmental and social footprint, Alison Richardson advised, “Be mindful of your purchasing, before you even come to campus. Coordinate with your roommate to see if some items can be shared. Think about what you would actually need throughout the year – it's not as much as maybe students think that they need.” She also encourages students to look into renting mini-fridges and microwaves as well as other reuse options like the thrift stores listed above. Interested students can also take the Planet Blue Ambassador training which gives student information on the sustainability efforts on campus and some resources to become more involved.
Community Swap Days
The City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovation also hosts Community Swap Days. A community swap day is like a garage sale, but everything is free. You can bring the items that you no longer want or need and give them to your neighbors who can still use them. You can also “shop” for new-to-you items.
We attended a recent community swap day. Check it out here:
When asked “what does more life, less stuff mean to you?” Alison explained, “I think that you can have lots of experiences and fun things in your life without the stuff that doesn't necessarily add to that. You don't need to accumulate items to have enriching and fulfilling experiences … and a lot of fun.” I think we could also use enriching and fulfilling experiences, and a bit more fun.
By Crystal Zanders, More Life, Less Stuff Freelance Writer
Over the summer, I moved into a smaller apartment. My senior pug had been having difficulty with the stairs in my townhouse. So, I downsized. My new apartment is half the size of the old one, so decluttering was a priority.
You don’t realize how much stuff you have until it is time to pack it all up and move it. Some items were obviously not going to make the move. I loved my 11 ft blue sofa, but it was too big for my new place. Other things weren’t as simple. I don’t grate cheese. But some part of me knows that the minute I get rid of this cheese grater, some cheese will need grating. Guaranteed.
And there are some things that I held an emotional attachment to. I love my plants. They are part of my household, creating oxygen and promoting peace in my home. I didn’t have space for one of my bigger plants. How could I abandon a member of my plant family?
Share Economy
Crystal Zander, More Life, Less Stuff Freelance Writer. And, the plant that went to a new home to continue to grow and bring joy.
Around this time, I began doing research on the share economy and the Buy Nothing Project. The idea is that instead of putting items in a landfill, you offer those items to your neighbors who may need them. When they need something, they don’t have to shop for new stuff—stuff that carries an environmental cost to produce, distribute and sell. In the share economy, items move from home to home when needed, saving money, reducing waste, and connecting neighborhoods with each other. These communities tend to be hyper-local, encouraging connection and minimizing transportation costs.
So, I decided to try it out. I joined my local Buy Nothing group and began posting photos and descriptions of items I no longer needed. Remember my big blue sofa? I gave it to a college student who was moving into an apartment with several roommates, the perfect place for a big couch. Her family came and picked it up. They were super nice.
I kept the cheese grater, but the plant went to a new home where it joined a new family. I imagine it is happier with more sunshine and space to grow.
Buy No Things Ann Arbor
Daniel Grenzicki, moderator of the Ann Arbor Buy No Things facebook group
To learn more about Buy Nothing groups, I interviewed Daniel Grenzicki, moderator of the Ann Arbor Buy No Things group. He explained the basic concept behind Buy Nothing, “Essentially, it's just a community of people, that, share items. It is a way to kind of connect people with each other through stuff.” He told me that one of the biggest benefits of Buy No Things is the sense of community it provides, “It's really easy to just not know your neighbors at all and live here forever. This group gives you another to way get out in your community and connect with people who live near you.”
Daniel Grenzicki explained that the Buy No Things group is not limited to items. “There are all kinds of little things that people want to donate their time and efforts to. They've had clothing swaps. There's somebody doing a sourdough class; people offer free photography stuff. There's a Pullover Prevention group in Ypsi. They do events in the community where they'll help fix your car up, so you don't get pulled over.”
To join a Buy Nothing group or the Ann Arbor Buy No Things Group, Daniel recommends searching for your local group through Facebook, although they can also be found on some other social media platforms. He also encourages people who are interested in participating in a group but don’t have a local group to start their own. He explained, “It’s low effort, high impact. You can connect somebody with something that's just perfect. It's like lock and key sometimes. It's cool the way it works.”
Ultimately, participating in Buy Nothing groups empowers folks to focus less on stuff and more on community, while minimizing their environmental impact. When asked what more life less, stuff means to him, Daniel replied, “ I'm always trying to declutter and minimize the amount of things I have, because you either own your stuff, or it starts owning you. It's very easy to get over encumbered and forget the things that actually bring you joy-- you don't need anything for them.”
Buy Nothing Year
Kathryn Savoie, Ecology Center Director of Equity and Environmental Justice
After my move, I committed that I would spend the next year making a conscious effort not to accumulate as much stuff. I don’t want to purchase things that I don’t need or hold on to things I don’t use. For inspiration, I spoke with Dr. Kathryn Savoie, Director of Equity and Environmental Justice at The Ecology Center, to learn about her journey undertaking a 'Buy Nothing' year.
Although I had seen folks talk about taking a 'Buy Nothing' year on social media, it means different things to different people. Dr. Savoie explained how she tailored the idea to her life, “I'm not an absolutist about it. To me, it's a way of being more intentional. It makes me stop and really think 'do I need this?' So, there are exceptions. I bought socks and underwear. I buy food, toilet paper, and things for the household. But do I need a new set of sheets right now? No, I probably don't.” She told me that the biggest challenge was mental, “Most of the adjustment has been a change in my attitude towards things. I'm not spending money on things that I don't need. I'm not cluttering up my house with things. And I have more time to do the things I enjoy.”
One of the things that I was most curious about was gifts. I love to buy Christmas presents for my niece and nephew who are young enough to see Christmas as magical, to listen for reindeer on the rooftop. Would doing a 'Buy Nothing' year mean that I couldn’t buy them gifts? According to Dr. Savoie, canceling Christmas, as far as gifts are concerned, is not necessary. For her the goal of a 'Buy Nothing' year is to slow down and think before making purchases. She explained, “I do gifts. I am just more thoughtful about what kind of gifts I give people so that I'm not adding to their clutter. I've been much more intentional about buying gifts that are experiences: a gift card for a massage or tickets to a movie, show, play or concert. Sometimes I make canned fruit from my garden and give people homemade jam.”
When asked about what more life, less stuff means to her, Dr. Savoie gave this sincere response, “I think it just means that we try to focus on what's important in life and enjoy this beautiful planet, the people that we love, and the things we love and without getting caught up in all the stuff.” Ultimately, Dr. Savoie explained, “We can live with so much less and be so much better off.”
I felt inspired by the words of Daniel and Dr. Savoie. It is important to prioritize each other and our experiences and be mindful of the constant pressure to consume. At the end of the day, more life is about connection. Limiting the things that we buy allows us the space to connect to ourselves. Participating in the share economy encourages us to connect with our neighbors.
So, I am encouraging members of this community to join me in participating in the 90 Day No New Clothes Challenge. To do that, I will agree not to purchase any new clothing items for three months. Because I can’t shop at thrift stores, that means I will be committing to wearing past year’s winter clothes. I looked pretty fabulous the last few winters; that shouldn’t be much of a sacrifice.
You've probably heard one or two myths about EVs. Here are some facts about EVs:
Investing in electric vehicle manufacturing will energize Michigan's economy.
Michigan’s growing EV manufacturing industry is boosting economic growth in communities and local economies throughout the state, while strengthening the state’s automotive workforce. Michigan was named the national leader in the EV battery and clean energy race, fostering $21.3 billion in new projects with 16,600+ jobs created, and 167,000 jobs projected.
With federal tax rebates, EVs are becoming more affordable.
The expanded EV tax credit in the IRA allows car buyers at all income levels to claim up to $7,500 in tax credits for purchasing a new electric vehicle. There are new EVs on the market starting at $28,000, and as EV manufacturing and battery production increases in the United States, EVs will become even more affordable.
EVs put Michigan in a prime position to continue to lead in global automotive manufacturing.
Michigan workers make great cars, electric and otherwise, and they know Michigan needs to stay competitive in the global race for quality electric vehicles. While we already produce several industry-leading EVs in the auto state, much more is coming, thanks to recent announcements making Michigan the leading state for bringing home federal IRA investments for EV and battery manufacturing.
EVs are NOT mandated.
While there have been some misleading claims in the popular media on this point, the federal government does not mandate the use of EVs. EVs are one of the options that automakers have to help them meet vehicle fuel economy standards, and there are several incentives and other programs available that help make the technology more accessible to American drivers. Federal tax incentives also encourage the purchase of electric vehicles and batteries that are made in the United States.
EVs are GOOD for the environment.
EVs are a lower-emissions option than cars with internal combustion engines. A recent Bloomberg report confirms that EV lifecycle emissions can be over 70% lower than gasoline and diesel vehicles. EVs create 3,932 lbs. of CO2 equivalent per year, compared to 11,435 lbs. for gasoline vehicles. Said simply, EVs produce way less pollution. A safer, smoother ride with less maintenance and cleaner air!
EVs are GOOD for consumers, too.
EVs are significantly cheaper to fuel and maintain than their gasoline counterparts. The cost of electricity, for example, is much less volatile and at least half the price of gas. With fewer moving parts, they are also cheaper to maintain. With federal incentives and rebates backed by the Biden-Harris administration, EVs are becoming increasingly more affordable.
The bottom line:
There's a lot of damaging misinformation about EVs being spread by the naysayers right now. We hope you consider the source of that information and know that EVs are critical to ending our dependence on fossil fuels, reducing pollution, and improving our health. Investing in a cleaner, more sustainable auto industry now ensures that Michigan is prepared to lead the auto industry in the future.
