Palm | Kelapa Sawit

The Dell computer company has started packing their notebook computers with bamboo. Sounds a bit strange at first, I must admit. Are they shipping these computers to panda bears who will then have internet and a snack? The answer is obviously no. Have you seen a bears paw? I doubt it could fit on the keyboard...

I thought I would share the information I currently aquired during my "greenwashing" research. On National Geographic site http://www.thegreenguide.com/products/; they have a Green Guide. In the guide they address different categories on how to do and choose things 'green'. The categories are as listed:

Accessories | Apparel | Appliances | Bath | Bedding | Cosmetics | Electronics | Food & Drink | Home Furnishing | Home Improvement | Housekeeping | Kids & Babies | Kitchen | Lawn & Garden | Personal Care | Pest Control | Pet Supplies | School & Office Supplies |

In each category they offer tips, best advice, problems, solutions, products and related articles. I wandered around the site for awhile and found it very educational and helped me understand why some products are not safe for the environment. Take some time and check out the site too! I think you might find it very benefical!

Looking to becoming 'green',
Cynthia Pestner

Visit our website:

http://sites.google.com/site/ecomerge2008/

“Down the drain”

I found this article in the May/June 2006 issue of Waste Management World. Pat Franklin nailed the hype, myths, and ramifications of the global phenomenon of bottled water. The US consumes the most closely followed by Mexico, China, Brazil, Italy and Germany. In the US, we drink 70 million bottles of water/day, throw 60 million empties/day into landfills or incinerators, recycle a few then most of the rest end up clogging our streams, winding their way down rivers and ultimately finding rest floating somewhere in the ocean or on some distant shore. It’s a national disgrace and a perfect example of profit making, consumer gullability and apathy towards the environmental costs of the “new age” twist on the age-old water of life.

A few points … In many places, including the US and Europe there are more regulations for tap than bottled water. Dasani which IS filtered tap water costs up to 4000 times more than home filtered water … and up to 10,000 times more than regular tap water!!! The individual bears the initial financial costs but the environmental pays a far higher price. The costs come mainly from manufacturing, transportation and disposal of the bottles but the water extraction process in the manufacturing communities puts severe strains on the ecosystem.

Some ways to stem this tide … educate consumers that tap water is safe or even safer than the bottled version, that there is a terrible environmental impact and then give financial incentives to dispose of the empties responsibly. Statistics both in the US and Sweden show that refundable deposits work. US States with Soda Bottle and Can Deposit Laws recycle 75% of those bottles and cans. Sweden recycles 80% of all aluminum cans and plastic bottles.

This is one of the many examples where manufacturers, retailers, advertisers, consumers, politicians, and lobbyists must come together before the price bankrupts both our bank accounts and our environment

To read more click here!
http://www.container-recycling.org/mediafold/newsarticles/plastic/2006/5-WMW-DownDrain.htm

~LA Blair

Visit our site:

http://sites.google.com/site/ecomerge2008/

I have always bought a real Christmas tree. I love them. I love the way they smell and look. However I always feel bad in January when you see the dried up trees next to the trash cans. So I was at Target looking at these big expensive artificial trees (and they are pricey if you want one that actually resembles a tree) and thought, "These can't be any better for the environment than cutting down the real thing, they are all plastic." And indeed they are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which turns out is horrible for the environment and for our health! So if you need a Christmas tree (like me, I LOVE Christmas) then please look to buy one from a local farmer. You can also rent a living one for a little bit more money.
http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2004/12/08/umbra-tree/
http://www.livingchristmastrees.org/rentatree.html
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/polyvinyl-chloride
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/pvc/index.htm

Visit our website:

http://sites.google.com/site/ecomerge2008/

Most of us realize how businesses and corporations are wasting precious resources. I recently came across an excellent document produced by the UNEP Working Group for Cleaner Production that details different ways businesses can save money while reducing waste. Imagine that! These are win-win solutions that are so easy it makes one wonder why these practices are not required. While this particular article is directed at food service industries, some of these tips can be utilized by virtually any business and/or home. At the end of the document there are case studies of different business that outline their eco-friendly practices including an estimate of the money saved in a one year period. After the testimonials there is a list of "usefull resources and contacts." Check it out!! http://www.p2pays.org/ref/40/39472.pdf

Visit our website:

http://sites.google.com/site/ecomerge2008/