My Greenest Hour

The Greasy Growth of Greenwashing

No, not "green washing," which might involve using non-polluting detergents and minimal amounts of water and electricity. "Greenwashing" means using slimy marketing techniques to fool consumers into believing that a product or business is sustainable when it's not. Advertisers realize that more and more people want to shop green. They'd love to capitalize on our environmental awareness.

Futerra, an ad company in the UK, has compiled a list of warning signs that a company may be greenwashing buyers. For instance:

• They use language with no real substance. (What does "eco-friendly" really mean?)
• They load ads with scientific jargon that the layperson has no way to verify.
• They emphasize one green aspect of an otherwise unsustainable product. (A hybrid SUV is still an SUV!)
• They simply refuse to provide proof for their green claims.

For the rest of the list and more information, visit their Web site and download the Greenwash Guide.

For the green couch potatoes . . .

I'll admit that, on occasion, I indulge in some quality lounging action. If you do too, you'll be just as excited to find out about the Discovery's Planet Green channel, due to launch next month. Starting on June 4, millions of US homes will welcome over 250 hours of original green programming. Rumor has it that Bill Nye the Science Guy will make an appearance . . . oh, how I've missed that man and his lab coat!

In the meantime, if you cruise over to planetgreen.discovery.com, you can explore their  quickly growing community. Current discussions on the board include green gardening and tech suggestions. They've collected some helpful articles, too—if you still owe Mom a bouquet, here are four tips for buying organic, eco-friendly flowers.

Shame on the Post Office!

I purchased some really cool stamps at the post office that are part of the Nature of America series.  The stamps were imbedded into a beautiful Alpine Tundra scene and, without thinking, I purchased 8 sheets.

When I was done assembling my invitation mailing my husband said, "Look at how much paper this wastes," and he was right.  Take a look at what's left of the sheet of stamps!  Granted, on the back there's a whole discussion about the Alpine Tundra, but from a waste standpoint these are not the greatest step towards preserving our natural environment.

Today is one of those lovely, bright-and-sunny, absolute perfect temperature kind of Spring days here on the shores of the Hudson.  I decided to spend my lunchbreak sunbathing in a local park, praying that my winter pale would soak in a glint of sunkiss.  Apparently, 30 minutes in the early-April sun is not quite enough.  Nonetheless, it was an excellent way to spend a lunchbreak and reminds me of the lovely eco-friendly opportunities that Springtime presents us.  I hike all year round but these trips are especially memorable and soul-satisfying during the Spring.  It's warm enough to wear just a few light layers and not so hot that I break a sweat.  Here's my plan of ways to enjoy the outdoors this Spring:

- Gardening
- Walks with my dog
- Sunbathing
- Picnics
- Outdoor music festivals
- Strolls through the picturesque villages of Westchester
- Trips to the Farmers' Markets

Ways I tend to enjoy the Spring that aren't quite as eco-friendly:

- Weekend trips
- Rides in the convertible
- Washing the car

Reading through this second list my biggest green flaw is painfully obvious: MY CAR!  Weekend trips are taking me everywhere from Rhode Island to South Carolina this Spring, which means one thing: lots of gasoline consumption!  Spending time outdoors always reaffirms my desire to be "green."  Somewhat like a diet, I've vowed to allow myself my weekend trips if I am extra green-conscious during the week.  That means more homemade lunches and less printouts.  More open windows and less styrofoam coffee cups. 

Get out there and enjoy that weather!  And remember, that like everything in life, moderation is key!

Creativity

I read this at MorningNewsBeat and thought it was fitting for this blog, which celebrates ingenuity, daring and "thinking outside the bag."  These quotes are from Apple Computer ads from years ago. 

"Here’s to the Crazy Ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently."

"They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing that you can’t do, is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward."

"While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

1=1000

1 cloth ecobag will replace 1000 plastic bags over the course of a lifetime.

The average family of four collects about 1000 bags in a year

It takes up to 1000 years for plastic bags to break down. (They never fully decompose.)

This is what 1000 bags looks like.

Think Twice.

Bulk Buying

I like Costco - a lot - for many reasons. For starters, it's hysterical to me to see things in giant sizes. (In contrast, I'm tickled to see everyday products in really teeny tiny sizes as well.) I can always find a stellar deal. The meats are fresh. Finally, buying bulk for many household items cuts down on alot of waste.

For those who don't have a fancy handsoap holder, but instead go out and buy a $4+ plastic bottle every time they run out, consider buying a plus-sized container of DIAL and refilling that plastic bottle. OR invest in a fancy handsoap holder that matches your birthday and just refill the liquid soap. Either way, you are reducing your plastic usage. Same goes for detergent. It's hard to work with a big 30lb jug of TIDE, but save your old, smaller container and fill it up so you can wash with ease.

The other wonderful thing about shopping at at a Costco (BJ's or Sam's Club) is that there aren't any paper or plastic bags. I'm gonna come clean here and admit that I do use plastic bags. I have two adorable dogs who get walked three times a day, and I need to dispose of their waste or my neighbors will be mighty upset. While this may be a sin (please make some room for me in the Un-Green Confessional), I reuse...and I reuse sooo much...from the bags my newspapers come in those that hold my produce...even the empty bag that holds my Thomas' English Muffins. Anyway, at Costco, I feel little guilt (except for the cherry pie i must have). I'm fortunate enought to toss all of my bulk buys in the car and then stuff my reusable bags with my purchases when I'm ready to transport into the home. I take no extra boxes from the store and recycle every box my goods are packaged in.

I'm curious as to how people shop for groceries these days. I've gone from suburan to rural to urban in the last years and my shopping habits have changed dramatically. For the first time ever, I'm doing less grocery store shopping and sticking with Costco-types and local proprietors for produce, baked goods and seafood. Again, I'm fortunate enough that I live in urban and super-ethnic community where fish markets, butchers and bakeries abound. While my plastic bag consumption is down these days as is car usage, my takeout consumption is up. I am living with styrofoam container sin as My Greenest Hour brethren recently blogged.

How do other shop? What grocery store sins will you confess?

Green Sins

I love my sleep.  That in and of itself is not necessarily a sin, but the actions that arise from my love of sleep may be considered to be such.  For instance, though my alarm clock goes off at 8:30, I'm sound asleep until 8:50 and bounding out the door by 9:00.  This leaves very little time for lunch preparation.  Which leads me to my green sin of the day...TAKEOUT FOOD.  The food itself isn't harmful to the environment (just my sodium levels), it's the packaging that's the real culprit!  From plastics printed with numbers beyond my recyclable "1" & "2" friends, to excessive paper, styrofoam or aluminum, our office kitchen garbage can is often overflowing with the ugly stuff. 

How do I solve this problem?  Aside from preparing my lunch the night before and packing in reusable containers, this is honestly something I don't have figured out just yet.  So for now, here is my confession. I'll keep you updated on my attempts at reconciliation.

Eco-Friendly on Campus

A short article written by Natalie Ermann Russell in this week's USA Weekend magazine discusses those higher institutions that are adopting green policies. The greenest are:

At Middlebury College in Vermont. The school plans to be carbon neutral by 2016. How will it achieve this? With a proposed biomass plant (to be powered by wood chips) and energy efficient lighting.

At Oberlin College in Ohio. Students get real-time information about their energy usage through a Web-based system in the dorms. Stuents also worked to get a car-share program on campus to reduce pollution.

At University of Maryland at College Park. 91% of undergrads voted in favor of implementing a small anual fee (atarting at $4) that would fund the purchase of "clean" electricity.

Green Sins

I can not stand still while I'm brushing my teeth.

I'm a born multi-tasker. PDA in one hand, Sonicare in the other, and the newspaper resting on the bathroom counter to read. I will get bored almost immediately and walk away to go load the dishwasher or something (still brushing teeth). OK - so what's my sin? When I walk away, I tend to leave the water running.

(I just slapped myself on the hand.)