ECOSiZE Me

Meatless Mondays: New to Ecosize Me

2011...a new year, new resolutions, new ways of treading lighter on planet Earth. We start with our new category, Meatless Mondays. No doubt you have seen such a feature on other blogs as well. We are not vegetarian and we have no plans of becoming such in the near future. However, as we increase our knowledge of food production, incorporating meatless Mondays into our weekly menu is one small step we are willing to take on the journey to becoming better stewards of our environment.

Drop us a line if you have a meatless Monday recipe that you'd like to share. And, stay tuned for some of our favorite recipes...

Defeating Greenwashers: ECA Software and Carbon Accounting

The following is a guest post from Hunter Richards, accounting market analyst with Software Advice. You can contact him at hunter@softwareadvice.com.

 

 

Greenwash (verb, \ˈgrēn-wȯsh\) - to market a product or service by promoting a deceptive or misleading perception of environmental responsibility.

Companies are increasingly launching ad campaigns for the latest green products. But many of their claims are misleading or downright false. So how can we know who’s telling the truth? “Greenwashing” is eroding the credibility of environmental marketing and turning would-be green consumers into skeptics.

The U.S. is a leader in financial accounting (with the help of sophisticated accounting software), but we need to develop similar infrastructure for new environmental accounting methods to prevent greenwashing. Enterprise Carbon Accounting (ECA) software is becoming the foundation of this infrastructure, enabling companies to track and report their carbon emissions. ECA software can also help identify opportunities for cost savings and waste reduction. Now greenwashers are running out of excuses to conceal their carbon footprint.

The ECA market is growing, but we need action in five main categories for environmental accounting adoption to finally defeat greenwashers:

Clear government regulations - like the EPA’s Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule, which requires companies that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of greenhouse gases annually to disclose their carbon emissions to the EPA;

Adoption of carbon accounting principles - more required disclosure of corporate emissions would provide a method for examining a company’s environmental record and disproving false ad campaigns;

Expansion of Scope 3 emissions accounting - mandatory inclusion of suppliers’ emissions (Scope 3) in environmental reports would prevent under-reporting of emissions and spread more adoption of carbon accounting throughout the supply chain.

Better green business incentives  - using ECA software to identify new eco-friendly savings opportunities can make it cheaper to go green, making it unneccessary for businesses to greenwash in the first place.

Demanding, informed consumers - consumers who demand the numbers from standardized carbon accounting reports and boycott the liars force businesses with green marketing campaigns to prove their sincerity - after all, fully informed consumers make deception by greenwashing impossible.

To learn more about ECA software and greenwashing prevention, check out Software to Hold "Greenwashers" Accountable.

Does Going Green Matter?

Our friends over at Software Advice dot com conducted a survey a few weeks back, asking consumers if it matters to them whether a company "greens" its supply chain. The results of the survey can be found here, along with the opportunity to contribute your thoughts and comments on the subject.

One key issue, in particular, resonated with me. That is the idea that "every dollar we spend is a vote". This concept is actually the basis for one of our middle-school environmental education programs. "It's All About You" explains and demonstrates to our youngest consumers that even though they aren't 18, they indeed can cast a silent, yet very powerful vote. This vote speaks louder than any words ever could to companies wanting market share. It's a concept, however, that each and every consumer should take to heart as we spend each and every hard-earned dollar.

The consumer survey on Software Advice dot com is a followup to a case-study about lessons from five eco-friendly supply chains and addresses the question: can large companies distributing products to consumers across the globe actually have a positive impact on the environment? IBM, whole Foods, Patagonia, Pepsi and Wal-Mart, identified three key factors necessary to green-up their company...sourcing, packaging and delivery.

This fist-in-a-series about businesses going green, is a thought-provoking, insightful piece from Software Advice. It's worth the time to read, ponder and comment and even learn a little about how large corporations are finding ways to go green.

The Shelf Life of Fast Food

As I watched one of my favorite shows last night, The Biggest Loser, one phrase stuck with me. It was Bob telling some contestants that the food he keeps in his fridge has a shelf life of no more than 2 weeks. This food, then, is healthy, fresh and natural.

Ironically today, I came across an article online that talks about the "shelf-life" of a McDonald's happy meal. You can read the article here for yourself.

It was a very unscientific study that started out as a bet to see how long the happy meal would last. Scientific or not, after 6 months of the burger and fries sitting on a plate, untouched, there was NOT much change in its appearance. What is more disgusting, and signficant, is the lack of mold growth on the "food" after 180 days.

Think about the fresh, natural food that you have in your home for comparison. How long do these items last before they become unedible?

What would be the result if we conducted this experiment with the school cafeteria "food" that is served to our children? And, similarly, what would the result be with much of the "food" found in a grocery store? Maybe we need to find out.

 

Whole Foods Making A Whole World of Difference

Have you heard about this? Whole Foods is taking charge and leading the way in greener packaging. Starting with their nutritional supplements and personal care products, Whole Foods store-brand items will be packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled content bottles. They are also requiring new suppliers to meet the greener packaging guidelines before the items will be sold in Whole Food stores.

More information can be found here at the Whole Foods' blog: http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2010/09/leading-the-green-packaging-charge/

Littered with Indifference

At a local Sears store, my daughter and I shopped for school shoes. While we were successful and had a good experience inside, things changed dramatically in the parking lot.

It was closing time and while we approached our car, there was a young employee a distance away gathering shopping carts. It caught my attention because I heard the sound of plastic bottles hitting the ground. When I looked over, the employee was removing pieces of trash that were left behind in the carts. Removing them from the carts and throwing them onto the ground in the parking lot, of the company he worked for.

It was infuriating! But since he was still some distance away, I felt a bit awkward walking across the parking lot to express my disapproval. At the same time, I was conflicted because I wanted to say something and stand up for the environment that I value and that I teach my children to value.

I resorted to getting in the car, keeping my mouth shut and using it as an example of what not to do for my daughter. When we circled around the aisle, the employee, with the carts he had gathered, was now only about 12 feet away. Still infuriated and conflicted, I stopped the car and glanced over at him, pondering my last chance to speak up.

Then it happened...he did it AGAIN! He grabbed another cart and threw whatever piece of trash was left behind onto the ground. This time I did not think twice...I instinctively opened the car window and said to him that he could have just as easily taken the trash to the garbage bins in the store and properly disposed of it instead of throwing it on the ground and littering. Not surprisingly, he looked at me and snottily said "yeah" as if he could not be bothered.

I let the disrespectful, indifferent employee know that I planned on contacting the store manager. Not so much as a threat but really moreso to follow up on inappropriate behavior of the people they employ. Although I am not expecting great outcomes, I am anxious to hear the response of the store manager.

When did our society become so indifferent, so careless, so callous to each other and to our environment? Just like I mentioned in the post Gum on the Bottom of My Shoe, littering is a disgraceful, disrespectful act that reflects in the same manner on the people that do it and results in a reputation that is not so easily reversed.

Ecosize Me wants to know...what do you do when you see someone littering? And, what would you have done in this situation?

And the winner is

The winner of our Terracycle Back2School giveaway is Sarah who said:

 

Last year my daughter and I got reusable bags for sandwiches and side items. We already had juice boxes that we refill from a large bottle for her lunch. I also gave her my backpack from when I was in college. It is a really nice, sturdy one with a leather bottom, so even though she is going into 10th grade, it is still in gorgeous condition. This year, we bought pencils and colored pencils made from recycled newspaper and notebooks made from banana leaves with recycled paper covers. We also got a journal/agenda book made totally from recycled paper. Looking forward to school's start!

 

Thanks to everyone who shared a fun, green comment.

Up for a Challenge: Weekend Without Oil

Feeling competitive this weekend? Try this challenge on for size...a weekend without oil. On August 21st and 22nd, can you, will you commit to 11 actions that reduce U.S. oil consumption? According to weekendwithoutoil.org, even though the U.S. is the largest consumer of oil, few of us really realize just how much oil the activities we engage in and the products we buy and use require.

Here is what we can do to make a difference this weekend or on any given day:

• Walk or ride your bike
• Enjoy the outdoors
• Use reusable bags (avoid plastic)
• Be conscious about your diet
• Avoid buying new make-up (that is petroleum-based) and do research on the brands
• Get back to the tap
• Make your electronics last
• Avoid buying new dvd's
• Skip the new clothes (borrow or shop vintage)
• Visit the library and read online
• Talk to your friends. Share your knowledge. Spread the word.

For more information and to take the pledge, visit www.weekendwithoutoil.org.

Terracycle Back2School Giveaway

There are lots of easy ways to get your green on this back-to-school season.

Reuse what's leftover from last school year first. Check out resale shops and yard sales. Do a clothing and school supply swap with friends, neighbors and relatives. Refurbish used backpacks and personalize them with patches and fabric markers for a creative, unique style. Look for and purchase recycled content school supplies. Look for and purchase upcycled school supplies (such as those supplied by Terracycle for our giveaway). Plan on and pack waste-free lunches. Avoid overpackaged products.

What are you going to do to get your green on? Leave a comment below telling us how you and your kids are going green this back to school season for a chance to win a Terracycle back2school kit that includes the following: 

An Honest Kids Messenger Bag 
A Capri Sun Lunch Box
3 - 2-pocket folders
2 - Capri Sun pencil cases

(*disclaimer: the picture shows a pack of paper pens. These are no longer avaiable and are not included in the giveaway pack).

One winner will be chosen at random on Wed. August 25th

Terracycle DIY: Refreshingly Fun Colgate Toothbrush Holder

Here is a fun DIY craft, written by Terracycle's Top Designer, Tiffany Threadgould, to upcycle your toothpaste tubes into a creative and unique bathroom caddy.

Gather these supplies:

5 empty toothpaste tubes 
scissors
ruler
clear tape
hole punch
ribbon or plastic lanyard
binder clips

Follow these instructions:

1. Collect five Colgate® toothpaste tubes. Clean them by cutting off the bottom and slipping your scissors into the side seam. Flatten them out and clean with soap and water.

2. Cut four tubes to 3 ½” x 4 ½” and one tube into a 3 ½” x 3 ½” square. Fold down the top ½” of the four rectangular tubes and tape.

3. Take one of the four rectangles and punch holes every ½” along the two tall sides and along the short bottom side that is not folded. Use this punched piece as a template and punch holes in the exact same spots on the other three rectangular pieces.

4. To punch the small square piece, line up the short punched side of the rectangle piece with any side of the short piece. Repeat punching holes for the other three sides of the square using the short side of the rectangular piece as a template.

5. Then punch two holes near the center of the square. This will be the bottom of the container and the holes will be for drainage.

6. Match up two large pieces and lace up one side tying it off at the top and bottom. Open it up. On one of the non-laced ends, attach to the next rectangular piece in the same way with the printed sides facing out. Repeat for each additional rectangular piece. When you’ve laced all four pieces, connect the two end pieces together and lace creating a cube with your pieces.

7. Match up the square piece with the bottom of the container. Use binder clips to hold it in place. Lace around the bottom of the container and tie it off. You’re ready to put your upcycled toothbrush holder into action.

Tip: This toothbrush holder can also double as a pencil holder! Have fun and feel good that you are doing something to reduce your garbage footprint :)

If you have completed this project and still have more toothpaste tubes and other oral care products to upcycle, be sure to sign up for the TerraCycle (www.terracycle.net) oral care brigade and send them in. These items will be transformed into new products, and better yet, your collection will earn money for your favorite charity!