Have you ever really thought about the size of your carbon footprint? The amount of greenhouse gas emissions your lifestyle is responsible for? So many of our daily activities are needlessly inefficient, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere–and we may not even realize it!

If you’re curious, you can calculate your carbon footprint here. Or get the kids involved with this fun calculator! Bigger than you thought it would be? Or are your a green machine? No matter what, there’s always more we could be doing to make our lives more eco-friendly.

Here are 20 ways you can start reducing your carbon footprint right now:

1. Buy locally produced goods and services.

2. Make compost.

3. Say goodbye to bottled drinks. (And hello to SodaStream!)

4. Hang your wash on a clothesline when you can.

5. Plant a tree.

6. Use rechargeable batteries.

7. Bike to work. (Happy Bike to Work Day!)

8. Buy in-season produce.

9. Use public transportation whenever possible.

10. Don’t leave electronics on standby.

11. Use cloth bags for groceries.

12. Use fans or open windows instead of air conditioning whenever possible.

13. Keep your car’s tires inflated to ensure efficiency.

14. Stop the dishwasher before the dry cycle and dry dishes naturally.

15. Re-use ziplock bags.

16. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.

17. Carpool when you can.

18. Use fabric towels and napkins rather than paper ones.

19. Bring your own mug to the coffee shop.

20. Take advantage of natural daylight as much as possible.

SodaStreamers, what are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint?

Many of you aren’t just fizzers, you’re mothers too. But no matter who you are, you have a mom in your life. Someone who warms hearts, holds hands, packs lunches, dries tears, protects, defends, and loves unconditionally. And while we should show how grateful we are for them every day, it’s especially important on Mother’s Day.

Just in case you need a new way to say, “I love you,” here are ten ways to show appreciation for the mom in your life this Mother’s Day:

1. Write a note about your favorite memory of the two of you.
2. Plant her favorite flower in her garden.
3. Whip up her favorite food or drink.
4. Cook her breakfast in bed. (For added cuteness, try making these pancake pops.)
5. Write a poem for her. It doesn’t have to sound like Shakespeare, she’ll still think it’s great!
6. Take the load off in some way. Do her grocery shopping, mow the lawn, or clean her bathroom.
7. Make a photo album or collage of memorable moments you’ve shared.
8. Fix something in her house. You’ll be a total lifesaver.
9. Give her quiet time to do something for herself.
10. Just tell her you love her. It’s simple, but it always does the trick.

To all the fizzy mothers out there: Happy Mother’s Day!

Check your calendars–Mother’s Day is quickly approaching! This year it falls on Sunday, May 12th. You know what that means: it’s time to get on your gift game. To help you out a bit, I’ve put together a list of little somethings that are sure to make the mom in your life smile.

Because she’s bubbly.

Ooh-la-la, a French perfume AND bubbles to play with? Mom is going to adore these Maison Francis Kurkdjian perfume bubbles.

Because she brightens up the kitchen.

The Beater whisk is so simple, but so brilliant. This colorful whisk is contractible and has a handy hook for hanging. Not to mention, it comes in various fun color combos! (Which means you’ll be able to perfectly match it to her soda maker)

Because she gave you her good looks.

If you’re feeling crafty, try your hand at making this cross-stitch silhouette tote. Use her profile as a template to let her know she’s a work of art.

Because she needs to carry around that organic produce in style.

Help Mom ditch the plastic bags. The eco-friendly BAGGU tote is designed to create minimal waste (cut from one piece of fabric) and built to last so that you own less stuff. With so many styles, colors, and patterns, there’s surely a BAGGU to fit her personality!

Because she’s a classy lady.

These classic cotton PJs are sure to look darling on her. They’re so soft, you might consider keeping them for yourself. So add a monogram to the J. Crew vintage pajama set to let her know these comfies are all hers.

Because she’s a beautiful flower.

Give her a hand in the garden with this cute and handy gardening kit. It’s part folding seat, part storage tote, giving Mom a break when she’s tending to her roses.

No matter what you’re gifting this year, make sure to give the mom in your life the number one thing she really wants: a big hug….with a side of SodaStream.

Guess what, fizzers? The wait is over! You asked for ‘em, and here they are: Stevia SodaStream flavors! (HOORAY)

These better-for-you flavors are naturally sweetened to provide you with the very best delicious, healthy alternatives to bottled bubbly beverages.

Let me give you a peek at the very first flavors in our brand new Stevia line:

The incredibly light and refreshing Diet Wild Berry Lemon Grass.

The zesty Diet Grapefruit & Pomegranate.

The sweet and fruity Diet Cranberry & Raspberry.

Such sparkling creations! Find the new flavors online and start fizzing with Stevia.

Which Stevia flavor are you going to try first? (I just can’t decide!)

Happy Earth Week, SodaStreamers! That’s right, we don’t get just one day to celebrate being green and friendly to our planet, we get a whole week. And what better way to enjoy it this year than by entering to win some eco-friendly prizes?

From April 17 through April 24, go green with SodaStream by popping some bubbles in our Earth Day-ly Giveaway!

Here’s how it works: 

• Each day between 4/17 and 4/24, visit the giveaway tab on our Facebook page.

• Roll your cursor over that day’s bubble.

• POP! Discover a brand new prize (AND learn a fun eco fact).

• Submit the sweepstakes form to enter for your chance to win!

What goodies do we have in store for you? Oh, a bit of sodamix, maybe a few soda makers… What’s hiding behind today’s bubble? Go find out! 

Wishing all of you a super green Earth Week, filled with many eco-friendly prizes to help you celebrate in the fizziest way possible.

Besides having some bubbly fun with our giveaway, how are you planning on celebrating Earth Week this year?

It’s finally that time of year again–the sun is out, birds are chirping, and flowers are poking their heads out of the ground. Spring has arrived! Which means getting outside to enjoy the nice weather and fresh air. Hooray!

This is also a time for spring cleaning. I know it can sometimes seem like a real drag, but it also provides the perfect opportunity to refresh your life. Let’s start cleaning out bad habits and look for ways to improve. Here are some green spring cleaning ideas to get you started:

1. Use eco-friendly cleaning products — or make your own.

When you’re giving your home a good scrub, you’re probably looking for a powerful chemical cleaner at the store. Fun fact: homemade products (with ingredients like plain soap, water, vinegar, baking soda, salt, and lemon juice) happen to be just as effective–with the added benefit of being safer for you and the environment! You’ll be able to avoid using all those resources that go into the production and shipping of retail products and save yourself some money. Of course, if you’re not able to mix up your own supplies, you can simply make the switch to buying eco-friendly cleaners as a green alternative.

2. Clean out your closet — and recycle.

Take a peek into your closet and drawers for items you no longer use or need. Then give your gently used clothes, books, and gadgets a new home by either donating them to charity or offering them on Craigslist or Freecycle. Your recycling will save both your house and landfills from clutter and allow someone else to discover something they need. It’s a win-win-win.

3. Replace appliances.

Even seemingly small changes like upgrading to a programmable thermostat or energy efficient light bulbs will go a long way toward saving money and energy this year. And while you’re reevaluating your home appliances, consider swapping out your bottled water or soda habit and reducing your carbon footprint with SodaStream soda makers.

4. Go paperless.

Want to save trees, money, and waste? Ditch the paper towels during your spring cleaning this year and swam ‘em for cleaning rags–you can buy specially-made, washable cloths or just use what you already have and recycle an old t-shirt or towel by cutting it into small squares. Also, consider cutting down on junk mail to make a dent in the 2,500 pounds of paper American families are throwing out each year. Put an end to those unwanted catalogs and opt for paperless, electronic billing.

5. Add house plants.

Plants are natural air-filters. How cool is that? Some super efficient air-cleaning plants are: Aloe Vera, Bamboo, Boston Fern, English Ivy, Gerbera Daisy, Lady Palm, Moth Orchid, Mums, and Peace Lily.  Scatter them throughout your home or place them in the room where your family spends the most time. For optimal air purification, choose one 10-12 inch plant for every 100 sq. feet.

Fizzers, what green plans to you have for spring cleaning this year?

Our SodaStream community is filled with superstars. You guys really are something special. It’s only natural for us to want to show you off a little! That’s why we recently started our very own Fizzy Fan Club.

Each month, we’ll be choosing one of you to induct into the club and showcase as our Fizzy Fan of the Month. Want in? Check out the “Fan of the Month” tab on our Facebook page and upload one very awesome photo of yourself at your fizziest.

When chosen as our Fizzy Fan of the Month, you’ll receive a bunch of cool prizes, including:

• A super official membership card of your very own.
• Fame and glory! On our Facebook page, anyway. We’ll feature a cover photo with your lovely face on it.
• One 60L carbonator and two full liter carbonating bottles.
• Five sodamix bottles of your choosing.

Today I’m excited to announce our very first Fizzy Fan of the Month and Member #1 of our Fizzy Fan Club: JaKell! This Princess of Pop will soon be sipping on her five favorite soda flavors: Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonade, Crystal Light Wild Strawberry, Kool-Aid Tropical Punch, Fountain Mist, and Dr. Pete.

Are you eager to join JaKell in the club? Do you have a thirst for SodaStream that can’t be quenched? Are you the fizziest kid on the block?

Don’t just sit there! Show us what you’ve got. Hope to see you at the next Fizzy Fan Club meeting–FYI: it’s B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Bubbles).

Stay fizzy, friends!

Hope all of you SodaStreamers had a great weekend. Boy, have I got some super exciting news to brighten your Monday morning!

Over the past few months, we’ve been receiving a bunch of feedback about our soda flavors. Apparently, a lot of you are unhappy with the selection we offer. We heard you, loud and clear: they’re too fruity and deliciously refreshing. You want a soda option that’s heartier, that’s richer, that reminds you more of your mom’s homemade dinners. Less sweet….more meat.

So we had our SodaStream scientists and flavor fizz-icists get to work on a new, radical flavor. They worked tirelessly to create a tasty concoction that could satisfy those of you who are getting a bit sick of those fruity flavors we keep adding.

So, ladies and gentleman, I’m quite thrilled to introduce you to the newest member of our SodaStream flavor family — it’s MEATLOAF!

You read that correctly. We’re launching a savory new soda that has all the fizz of the flavors you currently love, along with that special straight-from-the-oven taste. Mmmmmmm. Trust me, if you close your eyes, you won’t even be able to tell the difference! (And who knows, we might be whipping up some Mashed Potato and Green Bean SodaStream flavors soon too)

So what do you think, fizzers? Are you as excited as I am to give our new Meatloaf soda a try?

P.S. Oh right, I almost forgot — APRIL FOOLS!

Whatever you’re celebrating this spring, happy holidays from SodaStream!

Enjoy the family and fizz time!

It’s my favorite day of the whole year! Today is World Water Day, our annual holiday where we get to focus on the importance of freshwater in our lives.

The theme of this year’s World Water Day is water cooperation. Everything involving water management around the globe requires cooperation between multiple people, both locally and internationally. Whether we’re building a water pump in an African village or irrigating a farm, we need to work together in order to succeed. When we share our resources and manage them with social responsibility, greater sustainability and peace will be achieved throughout the world!

Just take a look at these eye-opening stats.*

• 783 million people in the world do not have access to safe water. This is roughly 11% of the world’s population. (WHO/UNICEF)

• Around 700,000 children die every year from illness caused by ingesting unsafe water and poor sanitation – that’s almost 2,000 children a day. (WaterAid 2012/WHO 2008/The Lancet 2012)

• 97.5% of the earth’s water is saltwater. If the world’s water fitted into a bucket, only one teaspoonful would be drinkable.

• The average North American uses 400 liters of water every day.

• The average person in the developing world uses 10 liters of water every day for their drinking, washing and cooking. (Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council)

• Every year, around 60 million children in the developing world are born into households without access to sanitation. (UN Water)

• In the developing world as a whole, around 90% of sewage is discharged untreated into rivers, polluting them and affecting plant and aquatic life. (UN)

• 443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related diseases.

What can you do this year to be a part of water cooperation and help share our water resources? Here are 4 organizations doing awesome work:

1. Water.org works with local partners to deliver innovative solutions to the world water sanitation problem. The organization is driven by the vision: safe water and dignity for all, in our lifetime. Celebrate World Water Day with Water.org by making a donation, spreading the word online with #waterday, getting involved with campaigns like cofounder Matt Damon’s strike, purchasing an ecofriendly CamelBak Groove bottle, or joining Team.Water.org.

2. charity: water is a nonprofit organization bringing clean drinking water to developing nations. The organization makes a bold promise to always use 100% of public donations to fund water projects. Pitch in by making a donation or giving the gift of water, volunteering, sharing their story, pledging your next birthday, or fundraising for clean water.

3. Waves For Water implements projects that provide access to clean water for those in need, including the Hurricane Sandy Relief Initiative and the Wellness for Haiti project. Clean Water Couriers (CWCs) who are inspired by the organization travel the world on missions, distributing filters along their way. So far, the organization has distributed over 100,000 filters and provides access to clean water to over 7,500,000 people around the globe. Join Waves For Water and do your part: become a CWC, start a fundraising campaign, make a donation, or purchase filters to provide potable water to communities in need.

4. The Water Project is building clean, safe water projects in the developing world. You can help bring relief to communities around the world that are suffering needlessly from a lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation! Donate to help unlock potential, create a fundraising campaign, or launch your own Water Challenge.

On Team SodaStream, we know what a major role water plays in our lives. So fizzers, let’s be team players and do our part in solving the world water crisis — today, and every day.

*Source: Water Aid