When it comes to the products we use on a day-to-day basis, there’s often a conflict between convenience and sustainability. Between 2011 and 2013, sales of single-serve coffee pods more than tripled. But these pods are made of unsustainable plastic and foil and have come to represent a form of careless consumerism. Over the past four years, a consumer backlash has contributed to a huge sales decline of the pods. Now, environmentalists are focusing their attention on a new unsustainable product: baby food pouches.
Traditionally, baby food came in glass containers that were either reusable or could be thrown into a recycling bin. But now, on-the-go parents are choosing convenient, plastic pouches filled with anything from vegetable-beef medley to organic bananas. The pouches, known as doypacks in the industry, come with a plastic snap-off top with a straw-like opening that allows babies and toddlers to easily suck the food out.
“The problem with the disposable pouches is that they’re made from multiple layers of materials and the recyclable components can’t be separated out,” Brent Bell, vice president of recycling at Waste Management, toldHuffPost. So these pouches soon pile up in landfills, where they will take thousands of years to biodegrade. By 2018, Americans will throw out an estimated 80 billion of these packs a year.
For those who want to continue to enjoy baby food pouches without the guilt, there’s a company in New Jersey that’s making strides to decrease their environmental impact. TerraCycle accepts used baby food pouch donations and then cleans and extrudes them into new polymers that are remodeled to make recycled products. It has also developed a recycling program where donors can earn money for their favorite nonprofit.
Say goodbye or make amends.Image via Canva - Photo by Inna Postnikova
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Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.