Reusable Bags NewsReuse & Recycle Eco Community

The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a huge wake-up call for all of us.  We all must carefully consider the devastating impact that the actions of corporations and individuals are having on our world’s eco-system. Much has been written and will continue to be written about BP and the public relations nightmare it caused itself through the epic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  But you may not know that there’s another ongoing environmental controversy centered around the issue of deforestation and a company called Asia Pulp and Paper (APP).   Businesses and organizations everywhere can learn a great lesson from the situation APP finds itself in. APP is a division of the mega corporation, Sinar Mas, and calls itself one of the world’s leading pulp and paper companies.

APP has recently been linked to being a major contributor to deforestation. Deforestation, the human-caused disappearance of naturally occurring forests by logging or burning, is a huge problem in today’s world.   It is estimated that around 50% or more of the world’s plants and animal species live in the 7% of the world where rainforests currently exist.  For example, the most famous of rainforests, the Amazon, a majestic 1.4 billion acre (5.5 million square kilometers) rainforest located in South America covering sections of 9 different countries, has only 82.3% of the moist broadleaf forest cover it had in 1970.   It is also estimated that between 1991 and 2000, the total loss of Amazon rainforest increased from 415,000 square kilometers to almost 600,000.  The data above is according to Wikipedia.com.

Another lesser known but equally struggling rain forest, the Indonesian rainforest, has made recent headlines after a report from Greenpeace.  In the report, Greenpeace accuses Asia Paper and Pulp of “relentlessly trashing rainforests, driving species extinction and, if left unchecked, will threaten Indonesia’s efforts to address climate change.”  APP is a division of the mega conglomerate, Sinar Mas, and calls itself one of the world’s leading pulp and paper companies.  According to CNN.com, Indonesia is one of the world’s biggest culprits of emitting greenhouse emissions largely because of the clear-cutting and burning of rainforests for logging and other purposes.   Indonesia has long been a recipient of criticism for its environmental practices mainly because of disregard for international and even their own laws. APP is currently going through a public relations nightmare due to the Greenpeace report, and of course is claiming Greenpeace’s claims are exaggerated.  Yet things recently took a turn for the worse for Sinar Mas when in July, 2010 Wal-Mart, already becoming a major advocate for transitioning its customer base to the use of sustainable green bags)announced it has “taken steps to stop” buying their paper, as a result of this and other controversies surrounding APP.  Sounds like APP’s denial of the problem is making things worse and now costing them major business.  The loss of Wal-Mart’s business over the next year will significantly impact their bottom line.

This brings us to a great question: In today’s difficult world-wide economy, how can business’s ensure they are adopting environmentally-friendly and energy efficient business practices and not on the wrong side of a PR controversy?   Business.Gov, the official business link to the US Government, has an 11-step guide to help companies ensure they are energy efficient, compliant with environmental regulations, and recognized as a “green business”.

Here are the steps (Click here to visit their site):

1 – Comply with Environmental Regulations

2 – Develop an Environmental Management Plan

3 – Build Green

4 – Buy Green Products

5 – Adopt Energy Efficient Practices

6 – Reduce, Reuse

7 – Recycle Wastes

8 – Conserve Water

9 – Prevent Pollution

10 – Create a Green Marketing Strategy

11 – Join Industry Partnership and Stewardship Programs.

Step 4 “Buy Green Products”, is a great suggestion that many companies fail to consider.   A unique way to raise awareness about deforestation while promoting your brand is through eco friendly promotional products like seed paper, which is made of actual seeds and can still germinate and sprout into a flower when planted.  Something as simple as seed cards such as a seed business card or a seeded thank you card can create a truly memorable interaction with a client or industry colleague.  You could also include a statement about deforestation on the stationary, making it absolutely clear about where your company stands on environmental issues.  Another one that stands out on this list is step 6, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes”. Remembering to reduce and reuse is the best way to eliminate the need to recycle in the first place.

Now is the time to take action to stop deforestation as well as ensuring your company is recognized as a “green business”, thus solidifying your green reputation.  The 11 steps above are a great guide for any business owner or CEO to implement green practices in your business.   Embrace the challenge of perpetually improving your organization’s environmental footprint.  Your company’s leadership and example will help stop the devastating effects of deforestation and the investment will be well worth it.

Have you remembered to BYOB in 2010?  This is a question everyone must ask themselves. We are halfway through 2010 and there has never been a more crucial time to bring your own reusable green bags. When you BYOB, rather than using single-use plastic or paper disposable bags, you immediately become a part of the solution to the massive urban litter problem associated with disposable shopping bag waste.  As of June 23rd 2010, it is estimated that nearly 238 billion plastic bags have been consumed in 2010 alone.  What’s even more alarming is the impact that plastic and paper disposable bags are continuing to have on the environment.   As we continue to follow the progress of large-scale efforts to reduce the use of plastic and paper disposable bags and the associated waste, we’ll find that many options are available to all of us individual consumers in order to make sure we are a part of the solution to this problem.

The good news is that BYOB momentum is growing rapidly in 2010.  If you haven’t heard yet, the California legislature has proposed a bill; AB 1998 (to be voted on by the Senate in August), which would ban single-use bags sold in supermarkets, drugstores, convenience, and liquor stores and take full effect by 2013.  Even “The Governator”, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said that he would sign the bill if it makes it to his desk.   This would be a gigantic victory for all friends of the environment to have the most populated state, in the 3rd largest country in the world, to put a ban on single-use plastic bags. Considering that China first cracked down on plastic bags in 2008 and Ireland legislative efforts to reduce plastic bag usage began in 2002, it is so wonderful to hear that California lawmakers have brought this bill to the table.

In the USA, cities from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Washington DC have passed or enacted laws that either tax consumers for the use of plastic bags or ban them altogether, but California would be the first US state to take action if this bill were to pass.  Believe it or not, even legislators from the state of Texas have proposed legislation that would add a 7-cent tax per single-use bag.   It’s so exciting that there’s a possibility that both Texas and California could soon have laws in place to fight the plastic bag epidemic.  Efforts by individuals and governments to reduce large-scale use of disposable shopping bags is a great way to motivate people and spread the word about the positive benefits of eco friendly reusable bags.

Plastic bags can take up to 1000 years to biodegrade completely, and before that it just breaks down in to smaller and smaller toxic pieces that end up in our food, water, and soil. Biodegradable bags are a great alternative, once discarded in landfill sites, the exposure to sunlight, oxygen and heat will convert these bags into water, carbon dioxide, mineral salt and biomass. Like a fallen leaf, it will disappear over time and leave NO HARMFUL RESIDUE in the soil.  Plastic bags end up in our landfills and often get tangled and cause permanent damage in waste management machinery. Millions if not billions of other bags end up as urban litter and usually find their way in to rivers, lakes, streams, and the ocean.  Animals, especially marine animals, get entangled in plastic bags, and/or ingest them and often suffocate or starve to death.

So the solution brings us back to BYOB, which is incredibly easy. Just remember to use eco friendly reusable shopping bags or wholesale recycled bags, or reuse an old bag, period. Be sure to keep extra reusable bags in the trunk of your car or in your backpack, because you’ll want to make sure they are accessible when you need them.  You can also give them to your friends as a reminder to BYOB.  Of course, always remember to recycle whenever the opportunity presents itself, recycling is always a victory for the environment.  Adopting a BYOB habit in our individual lives and businesses is really the best way to ensure we are truly part of the solution rather than the problem.  Now is the time to go out and lead by example.

Each American household typically spends $1,900 each year on power. Unfortunately, most of this money gets wasted on electronics that are plugged in long after use, thermostats that remain too high, power-hogging appliances, cracks under the door and conventional light bulbs. Not surprisingly, the amount of fossil fuels emitted by a house is comparable to having two cars on the road. Experts say that making small changes to save energy in your home today can help you find better savings tomorrow.

There are many easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy at home. Installing a programmable thermostat will give you better control over your home’s temperature, without needing to remember to adjust the thermostat when you leave the house or go to sleep each night. You can change all your lights to Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use less power and last longer than conventional bulbs. You can air dry dishes or hang laundry outside, instead of using the dry cycle on your appliances. When you’re not using your lights, computer, monitor, TV, DVD player or power strip, turn off the devices for better savings. Lower your water heater thermostat down to 120°F and try taking shorter showers, rather than baths.

Naturally, you’ll want to save energy in your home all year round, but some seasons are harder to get through than others. If you live in a climate with cold winters, the idea of turning the heat way down low may not appeal to you. Instead, you can open the windows on a sunny day to allow more solar energy in or, if you have leaky windows, you might want to trap heat inside by putting up heavy drapes. During the summer, the most energy efficient homes keep the lights turned off, using ceiling fans for air circulation or placing a bowl of ice next to a desktop fan.

It doesn’t have to be difficult trying to save energy in your home. The first step for many Americans is to get a better idea of how much energy can actually be saved. For $30, you can buy an energy monitor that will tell you how much power your electronics are consuming simply by plugging each appliance or device into the meter. This eye-opener will help you prioritize where changes need to be made. If you don’t have one already, the U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy agency recommends getting a programmable thermostat, which will automatically set your home to whatever temperature you choose at various times of the day.

Matthew McMillan is a leading expert in the genital wart treatments. His works are regularly featured in online health publications on matters relating genital warts medication. For more information, visit TreatmentForGenitalWarts.com.

Today more and more homeowners are looking for ways to add some sort of green energy source to their homes. A green energy source is a form of power that comes from renewable resources. The most common sources of green energy are water, wind and sun. One of the biggest benefits of renewable green energy is that it does not add to the global warming or pollution problems.

Solar Energy Source

Probably the most well know green energy source is our sun. Most everyone has heard of solar energy which is the energy that is collected from the sun. Solar energy is becoming more popular everyday because of the various and multiple uses that it provides. You can put solar energy to work by collecting sunshine with solar panels and photovoltaic cells that convert the sun to electricity. Another use for solar energy is a hot water heater that collects the sun rays to heat the water. These homemade solar energy panels and sources are available to everyone. You can mount solar panels or hot water collectors on the roof of your home or garage and reduce your utility expenses.

Wind Energy Source

When you talk about an efficient green energy source wind is the winner. You can go back in history for thousands of years and see examples of wind as an energy source. Wind power has been harnessed to turn windmills for many years before anyone ever thought about the environment. Our ancestors used wind to power water pumps for irrigation and mills to grind grain. Wind is the safest and cleanest of all the green energy sources because it doesn’t contribute to pollution or global warming. Today you can harness the power of the wind by setting up a turbine that turns a generator when the wind blows. There are some areas of the planet that are better than others for harnessing wind energy. Having a regular source of wind is the key to producing a dependable source of energy.

Water Energy Source

One of the greatest green energy sources is water. The only problem with using water energy is that you need to be closer to a river or stream. Harnessing a moving water source is great way to create electricity with a generator. Years ago they built mills on streams and rivers to use the water energy to grind grain. Sometimes they even used a series of belts and pulleys to transfer the energy where it was need in the mill. Water is a great green energy source because it is natural, renewable and does not add to global warming or pollution.

You can take advantage of the green energy sources for your home in several different ways. You can make homemade solar panels, erect a wind turbine and take advantage of water energy if you live near a stream. When you select green energy solutions you will help reduce our use of foreign energy sources and fuels. Don’t forget the benefit of reducing your utility bills when you make homemade solar panel and you can help make the earth safer for future generations. A much safer and cleaner atmosphere is a real benefit powering your home with green energy power sources.

Deep into the periodic table, where the elements take on unfamiliar names like neodymium, erbium, terbium and ytterbium, lies a row of metals that are crucial to building wind turbines and electric cars. A new group wants to make sure that the United States has enough of these so-called rare earth elements to carry out its clean energy plans.

The metals already show up in many parts of daily life, such as a computer’s hard drive or the earbud headphones of an iPod. But their mass production carries a secret: Virtually all rare earth materials get mined and processed in China.

The Rare Earth Industry and Technology Association (REITA), which is less than a year old, wants to make companies and the government aware of the issue — before a clean-energy scale-up leaves the United States dependent upon a near-monopoly.

Keith Delaney, REITA’S director, managed to get onto a panel at an electric-car conference in Washington this week. He delivered a stark message to the enthusiasts whose usual focus is rushing the pricey cars into the mainstream.

The current Toyota Prius, a hybrid, uses about 4 pounds of rare earth materials, he said. A car with a heftier battery, such as the Chevy Volt, needs more. And a single wind turbine uses about 500 pounds.

Engineers have no way around this, he said: To keep these machines light and efficient, the metals are irreplaceable. Specifically, their magnetic properties are needed for the best-known technologies for electric motors and wind turbines.

“We’re stuck with rare earth technology for the foreseeable future,” he said. “The green energy goals of the nation really can’t be met without rare earth. They’re indispensable in so many applications.”

“Rare” earth metals are no rarer than many other metals in the Earth’s crust, such as copper and tin. What’s rare about these metals is that they don’t often cluster in rich lodes that are easy to mine.

Not in your backyard, in quantity

As Delaney put it, rare earth metals would likely turn up in any backyard — though not in any concentration worth digging up.

Through sheer geological fortune, China has the densest veins of rare earth in the world — a resource that has made it not only a major exporter, but also a major supplier of the second- and third-place exporters.

In 2007, 90 percent of the United States’ imports, measured by weight, came from China. Only one company has any production in the United States, and in 2008, it didn’t produce any.

That could spell a dangerous trend, Delaney said. By his estimates, world demand for rare earth metals is growing 10 to 15 percent each year, thanks largely to a growing appetite for electronics.

But as the world shifts to low-carbon technology, he said, China’s rare earth reserves will gain importance — not least to the Middle Kingdom itself.

Wind is the wild card

“The wild card is wind,” Delaney said. Two companies — one American and one Australian — are poised to open new mines in the next few years, but he said the accelerating Chinese renewables sector could sweep up the supply: “If demand for wind turbines goes through the roof, all bets are off.”

Delaney doesn’t just want to raise awareness: He hopes companies and governments will begin the search for more reserves.

Automakers have tended to consider rare earth a distant part of their supply chain, he said — one that they aren’t in a rush to scrutinize and protect.

But REITA has gained the attention of General Electric, a leader in wind turbines and a company that will be counted on for much of the clean technology built by the United States. Other members include Molycorp and the Colorado School of Mines.

Arctic veins, but investors seem chilled

Delaney wants to spur research that can locate more mines, as well as infrastructure spending. He said a ribbon in the northern reaches of Canada, near the Arctic Circle, holds promise. But the site is so remote that miners would need roads and water pipes before a single pound of metal was reaped.

Observers say dozens of exploration companies have pitched sites to investors, but they’ve found it difficult to prove their worthiness. Any potential mine demands a thorough feasibility study. The absence of nearby infrastructure means additional costs. And rare earth mines tend to be smaller than those for other metals, meaning they yield less cash for every infrastructure dollar invested.

The entire process can take up to 12 years, said Dan Cordier, a rare earth specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey.

But given the sudden burst of interest, he said, it wouldn’t be surprising if current evaluations went faster than usual.

“It’s happening so fast, I think it would be a matter of time before you could get a full understanding of whether those could compete against the larger deposits,” he said.

www.molycorp.com

I just read a couple great articles (as usual) on Earth911.com and just continue to find more evidence regarding the vital importance for all companies to go green.  The first was Lori Brown’s article: Consumers Rank Greenest Brands in the US.  It talks about the 2010 ImagePower Green Brands Survey which analyzed the opinions and perceptions of over 9000 people in 8 countries.  Burt’s Bee’s, Whole Foods, and Tom’s of Maine were rated the greenest  in the USA by consumers.  The survey says more than 60% of consumers want to buy from environmentally responsible companies “expecting green companies to engage in a broad set of actions including toxic reduction, recycling and managing water”.

Another related article by Amanda Wills talks about how consumers want “Less Talk,  More Action” from companies because of false green claims and lack of action by governments and industries.   This article focuses on the Greendex 2010 survey and how it is not money, lack of choice or access to information that is keeping people from going green.   The study says the 2nd major obstacle is that people feel that individual efforts are not worth it if industries and governments are not doing their part.

This really makes sense for what is going on in the Gulf right now, companies and governments have to step up to the plate and clean this planet up through current and future behaviors.  But it’s too bad to hear that people are losing faith in their individual efforts, we must never underestimate our individual impacts.

Thanks to the great reporting by Amanda and Lori.

Check out this video, The Story of Bottled Water, about our pathological addiction to bottled water from The Story of Stuff Project.  This wonderful video tells the story of the beginnings of the bottled water industry.  It points out that bottled water, on average, costs two thousand times more than tap water and is dominated by the traditional soft drink companies like Pepsi and Coke. I loved the story of how Cleveland took offense to FIJI bottled water’s ad campaign and tested the quality of its city tap water vs FIJI’s.  The surprising results actually showed that lab tests consistently showed Cleveland’s tap water to be higher quality and also was preferred in taste tests.   OK, I’ve already gone on for too long, the video speaks for itself and there are many more where that came from. What a great site: StoryofStuff.org

Care about our world’s oceans, plants and animals?  Of course you do, and you’re not alone. Concerned people everywhere agree we have an environmental disaster of historic proportions on our hands in the Gulf of Mexico. You may have heard that the oil spill appears to be larger than previously thought.  Purdue University engineering professor Steve Wereley, after analyzing BP’s congressionally mandated live video feed of the spill, estimates that up to 100,000 barrels of oil are leaking from the bottom of the ocean every day.  This news adds to a laundry list of bad news on the worldwide environmental and economic front in recent years and it can be overwhelming and flat out depressing to think about.

But what can we do to help?  Most of us have jobs and families we must attend to. It’s not like we can just drop everything and head down the gulf to help with cleanup.  Furthermore, many of us wouldn’t have the slightest idea of how to help with an oil spill clean up or have the resources to make a significant difference.   So how can we be a part of the solution?

We have to stop thinking so big, and begin small.  It is little decisions like riding our bike to work and recycling our aluminum cans that is what we must do to help.   For far too long our culture has treated issues such as recycling as “optional” and with complete ignorance.  We have an extremely short memory as a society.  As an example, check out Anne Casselman’s article about the Top 10 Biggest Oil Spills in History at PopularMechanics.com. The shocker is that the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 doesn’t even make the list.  Oil spills keep happening throughout the world repeatedly and we all act like this is a once in a decade thing or something.

The truth is that oil will continue to be drilled as long as there is demand for it.  Our culture’s attitude about clean energy and the green movement needs an immediate shift.  But like I said, we must start small and simple!  For example, another huge environmental issue is the amount of plastic that is being used in this world, and this plastic is ending up in our oceans just like the oil.   You’ll be shocked if this is your first time hearing about The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and as Oprah Winfrey reported last year “ is estimated to be twice the size of Texas”.   Although this giant garbage dump is composed of all kinds of floating trash and debris, plastic is the biggest problem because it never really decays completely.  So not only do we have oil spills in to our oceans, we also have plastic and trash spills.  According to the Container Recycling Institute, 51.9 billion beverage containers have been consumed so far this year, as of late May.  Reusable water bottles are a perfect example of the kind of simple changes we can make in our individual habits and lifestyles. Imagine the difference that can be made if the average person chooses to use stainless steel water bottles instead of plastic bottles.  In the same way, we can prevent environmental catastrophes by not driving gas guzzling inefficient cars and walking or using public transportation instead.

We all care deeply about the health of our planet, and now we need to turn our disgust for the disaster in the Gulf into simple action and minor adjustments in our lifestyle.  Don’t let the latest news get you down, develop a vision for a healthy planet and do the right thing: Go Green.

I’d like to introduce California Organic Flowers to our eco friendly community.   Here is an excerpt from their front page at https://californiaorganicflowers.com/:

We are flower growers and we are passionate about our products. Browse our site and you will find a rainbow of fresh flowers from our own flower farm in Chico, California. Many of the varieties will be new to you because we don’t believe in limiting your floral joy to just roses and carnations. And just like the seasons, our organic flower selections change regularly, so visit our website often to see what is in bloom!

Each morning we rise early to pick your flowers, ensuring that they are fresh, vibrant, fragrant and grown and harvested with the greatest care. We carefully pack our  Certified Organic Flowers into our beautiful gift box and deliver next day anywhere in the continental U.S.A. We also offer, organic gifts and organic chocolate. Satisfaction is guaranteed. Choose California Organic Flowers as your fresh flower delivery expert today!

I’d like to introduce www.BitsyBirdie.com to our eco friendly community:

Bitsy Birdie focuses on bringing you the best eco-conscious toys, books, and apparel. Bitsy Birdie was founded to provide an alternative to big chain toy stores. We provide innovative, fun, well-made toys emphasizing safety and quality. Toy and apparel makers’ dedication to children and the environment are important to us. Our mission is to provide safe, high quality, eco-conscious toys along with relevant information to help customers make informed purchases.