Evolved By Nature Newsletter

We grieve the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many others; and also gather to express or bear witness to anguish, and in the spirit of justice, to heal and create systemic change. We stand with the Black community, acknowledge the violence and trauma inflicted by generations of white supremacy and institutionalized racism, and look both within and without for how we can work toward justice.

Evolved By Nature was founded to advance the human and environmental compatibility of everyday products, the production of which have long contributed to the burden of pollution and climate impacts borne disproportionately by communities of color. We endeavor to develop healthier products and processes for people and the planet. But we now know we must extend our purpose and commitment, especially with the knowledge that the Black community also faces disparate rates of Covid-19.

As a result, we have donated, and we will continue to donate, hand sanitizer to organizations working for racial justice to help reduce the risk of Coronavirus transmission during this extraordinary time. If your organization, or an organization you know, needs hand sanitizer, please reach out.

Black lives matter.

Environmental justice is racial justice. Although the environmental movement, at best, has been implicit in its efforts to address social inequality, the field as a whole has not fully mobilized their solidarity into dialogue and action until most recently. The concept of equating the environmental movement with racial justice has been historically on the fringe, fighting for normalized and explicit recognition. In light of the unacceptable murders of Black Americans, the environmental movement, like many, has expressed unprecedented grief and a commitment to hold themselves to a higher standard in the fight for equality.

Anyone who has studied or worked in the environmental space, probably knows that environmental benefits are usually reserved for those who can afford it. In contrast, environmental externalities are placed on the most vulnerable populations (ex. water insecurity, air pollution, and more). That is one of the reasons why COVID-19 is impacting more Black and Brown communities. That is why fossil-fuel power plants, among other hazardous facilities, are more often located in Black and Brown neighborhoods. That is why Black Americans are disproportionately more concerned about the climate crisis. These are all patterns of pervasive inequality. It does not just apply to the criminal justice system; it applies to our very own field of work. Racism is a global issue. The environmental movement cannot stand in silence.

• Vogue: Racism is a Global Issue
• Heated: The Climate Movement’s Silence
• EcoWatch: 15 EcoWatch Stories on Environmental and Racial Injustice
• Nature: How Environmental Racism is Fuelling the Coronavirus Pandemic
• The New York Times: Black Environmentalists Talk About Climate & Anti-Racism
• The Good Trade: Why Environmental Justice is Essential for a Sustainable Future
• The New Yorker: Racism, Police Violence, and the Climate Are Not Separate Issues
• The Washington Post: I’m a Black Climate Expert. Racism Derails Our Efforts to Save the Planet.

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