Greetings All!
Happy Earth Day!! I know you probably already have this edition in your email, but I thought I would put it on the blog as well.
Laurie
EDN 07
Earth Day Newsletter April 2007
tips
1 ∙ Use fewer plastic bags ∙ Most curbside recycling programs don’t take plastic bags and some plastic bags can’t be recycled at all. They could possibly ruin a whole batch of recycling if they slip in. If the bag can be recycled, it only has one life left: as carpet or decking. It is not a closed loop material and it does not biodegrade. On another point, plastic bags are made from petroleum. If we want to wean ourselves from fossil fuel and foreign oil, we should consider using fewer petroleum products. Bartell Drugs in Seattle WA uses plastic bags that are 100% degradable (which means it degrades in landfill within 12 to 24 months, but can be recycled prior to degradation.) You can get great reusable bags from Greenfeet.com.
2 ∙ Buy locally ∙ Since when did agriculture become agribusiness? Not only will buying and eating local foods save on fossil fuels for you and shipping companies, but you can support local businesses, your community, and get to know your neighborhood and food. Now that’s culture! Besides, farmer’s market produce and baked goods blow away the mega-marts for taste! Check out Chicago’s numerous Farmers’ Markets this summer.
3 ∙ Eat less meat ∙ especially beef and pork. Industrial meat factories can’t produce meat cheaper than small farms without breaking the law. Meat Barons build complexes to house feed-animals in cramped, miserable conditions. Waste from these warehouses is filled with dozens of toxic chemicals and antibiotics, fed to the animals to stimulate growth and prevent death from stress. Hauling and treating this waste would be financially crippling for the mass-meat industry, so they just ignore permit requirements and hope they don’t get fined.
4 ∙ Support green companies ∙ It’s simple supply and demand. If we, the consumers, demand more sustainable and eco-friendly products and practices, pressure for market change increases. Plus it’s a good way of thanking those businesses for making an effort. Some places we like to frequent are Food Dance Café in Kalamazoo MI; the Greener Cleaner in Chicago IL; and most recently, The Schlafly Tap Room in St. Louis MO. Check out these places for a taste of progress!
5 ∙ Buy recycled products ∙ Again, does it really matter how many recyclable products there are out there if no one is buying the products they are being recycled into? Buy used when it’s reasonable to do so. A little ‘vintage’ anyone?
6 ∙ Use natural or organic cleaning products ∙ Not only will they pollute less groundwater, they are usually housed in recycled and recyclable containers. They are also safer for kids and pets, and smell like herbs, flowers and fruit – not chemicals. We like Mrs. Murphy’s, Caldrea, and Seventh Generation.
7 ∙ Spring clean ∙ Go through the cupboards and closets! Donate before items become obsolete or out of style, re-appropriate or recycle. Try FreeCycle to find new homes for your items. Remember to treat electronics properly. Contact United Recycling Industries for e-waste recycling.
8 ∙ Turn out the lights ∙ As we all saw on Mythbusters and heard from our moms, you use less energy when you “pull the plug” on electronics and lights you are not using. Not only do you save money, you save the habitat of a plethora of creatures that live in mined areas. You are also helping to prevent Black Lung disease. Black Lung disease is a man-made disease that decreases the quality of life of miners and makes their lungs look worse than smokers’ lungs. If you have visited the Body Worlds exhibit, you’ve seen how disturbing this condition can be.
climate change
Al Gore offered a compelling argument with his book and movie An Inconvenient Truth. While solidifying what the scientific community has been warning for years, Gore has made an important step in bringing this crisis to the social and political sectors.
By burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere, and temperatures are rising. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing. The Earth may soon experience extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves beyond anything we have ever imagined.
Time and National Geographic are just two snowflakes in the avalanche of media spouts now offering disturbing factual information about climate change, but they are a good place to start. Also visit ClimateCrisis.net. Gather information, understand the situation, and come to your own conclusions. Make some emergency kits for your home, work and vehicle, and prepare for some wild weather. This, of course in addition to being eco-sensible and sensitive, will help us all in the future.
here in chicago
The city of Chicago is proud to co-host the first Midwest Green Festival and Green Business Conference.
Green Festival is an opportunity for Chicago to highlight the important work towards making it the nation’s greenest city. Green roofs, alternatively-fueled buses, use of solar thermal panels and wind energy are ways the city is changing how it operates. Find out more at the City of Chicago website. Mayor Richard M. Daley is committed to building a sustainable city and hopes to make Chicago the most environmentally-friendly city in the world! We’ll see what he has to say on Saturday.
This year’s festival will have 350 exhibits and 150 speakers. It will focus on sustainable economy, ecological balance, and social justice. Features include green shopping, organic food, beer and wine, community networking, live music, green investing, fair trade, and a green kid’s zone.
April 21 + 22
McCormick Place and Lakeside 2301 S Lake Shore Dr
Saturday 10 AM ∙ 8 PM
Sunday 11 AM ∙ 6 PM
Tickets $5 to $19
global green
Australia to Phase out incandescent light bulbs
Australia is set to become the first country to phase out inefficient incandescent light bulbs in favor of more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs as part of its drive to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
The government is mandating a nationwide phase out of incandescent bulbs by 2010. The new policy, announced by Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull should reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and household lighting costs could be reduced by up to 66 %. Exceptions will be made for special needs such as medical lighting and oven lights.
A compact fluorescent light bulb can last between 4 and 10 times longer than the average incandescent light bulb. They may be more expensive to buy, but pay for themselves in lower electric bills. They use 20% or less of the energy to produce the same amount of light. In Australia, lighting currently represents around 12% of greenhouse gas emissions from households, and around 25% of emissions from the commercial sector.
Australia already has minimum energy performance standards that apply to electrical appliances, and a similar system will be applied to light bulbs. Australia will be the first country to implement such a plan.
progressive products
World’s Best Cat Litter
Scientists at GPC have made a discovery: the highly absorbent proteins and fibers found naturally in corn actually bind cat urine and odor molecules in the litter. So they developed a patented process that turns corn into a natural litter. It clumps better, and controls odors without the need for perfumes and scents. It’s flushable, more sanitary and weighs less than clay litter. And it’s virtually dust-free, which helps eliminate tracking. If you have a cat, you’ll appreciate all these things.
Get this at Petsmart or For Dog’s Sake.
Preserve Toothbrushes
The Preserve Toothbrush was developed with dental and represents the latest in toothbrush design and function. It is constructed with environmentally friendly materials to let you replace without the waste. The Preserve is available at natural food supermarkets such as Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Trader Joe's.
The Preserve's handle is made of polypropylene. This plastic material was chosen for its strength and flexibility. It is an efficiently recycled material since its strength does not break down in the recycling process. Polypropylene is also available in many sources of post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled plastics, labeled #5. Presently the main source is from recycled Stonyfield Farm® yogurt cups. After reprocessing, the post-consumer plastics are tested to confirm their cleanliness - this test is called a "foreign elements reading" which shows that the cleansed and reprocessed plastics have the same infinitesimal readings of foreign elements as virgin plastics.
The Preserve's materials are also completely recyclable. The handle and bristles are effectively recycled together--the polypropylene and nylon actually strengthen as they combine in the recycling process. Return the Preserve toothbrush to Recycline, and they will use it to make material for recycled plastic lumber.
Efficient packaging also eliminates unnecessary waste. All of the packaging is made from recyclable materials, and the reusable brush canister provides a sanitary holder to keep your brush clean and portable.
