Slow Cooker Liner ~ I am speechless

The consumer goods industry never stops to amaze me. This time around, it is the slow cooker plastic liner. While WHO and other health and wellness agencies keep advocating use of metal and ceramic utensils and cooking medium, Companies such as Rubbermaid, Reynolds find time to introduce more senseless products into the market. This time its the PLASTIC LINER for your slow cooker.

So are we getting ready to simmer and slow cook our food in plastic and let all the plasticiky goodness sinnk deeper into our system...I am stumped. It doesnt matter if the plastic container leaches BPA into your food or not. Bottom line is - Using plastic for cooking or heating is a big NO-NO. Lab tests which speak about not finding BPA in name brand plastic products today, will surely trace something else which will be proven harmful in a few years from now. Why risk our family and ourselves with these mindless products. I am open to come across any positive point about using them. (excepting water wastage or effort cos they are pointless arguments when compared to the case of non-bio-degradablilty of these products (remember garbage patches and landfills- we dont need more of them)

When I see food bloggers recommend such products I am sure they have not thought this through. These liners are supposed to be made of  anti-heat nylon...hmm..more heat resistant plastic..yet to research on whats in it!...all yours thoughts are welcome

greendogwine.com

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Eco friendly wireless mouse

I have had this peeve about wireless mouse and keyboard.  All the battery it drains, made my green alarm go off on full blast! A few sniffs later, I came across Aramedia's cordless mouse which does not need battries...read more here

An Eco-Friendly BatteryFREE Wireless Mouse For Laptop for $39.95. I am still worried about the plastic which went into making it, but it is a decent trade off compared to all the battery drain from using regular cordless mouse and keyboard

And then Logitech has its Solar powered keyboard..cool isnt it!

Quoting the Logitech site"over 15 billion batteries dumped into landfills in the USA alone, each and every year. Let's face it, any number over zero is too many. All these batteries can potentially leak lead, cadmium, nickel hydride and other chemicals into our groundwater and contaminate our soil. This toxic brew not only renders the soil useless but will also foul our drinking supply. Part of the reason for so many batteries being discarded is that they simply cannot keep up with the demands of modern technology.

Logitech has introduced a new wireless solar powered keyboard that is designed to eliminate the need for batteries. It even works inside in a standard lighted room, so you don't have to work only near a window or outside on a sunny day. With convenience like this, battery hassles will soon be a thing of the past.

Keeping with the eco-friendly theme, Logitech has used completely PVC-free construction methods and the packaging is fully recyclable. The design is intended to create a minimal footprint."

I am very happy to see some progress! However, I do not recommend buying more plastic, it is always better to use anything until its lifetime. One of the sources for green hazard having ruled out, there are products which have been thought out a little further.

These are made of bamboo

source 

There is a downside to using renewable materials as well, as I always say, using any resource in excess and over consumption is never earth friendly..:)..Be wise choose well and be a minimalist!..Frugality is definitely eco-freindly

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Beyond Plastic Bags ~ a thought about our clothes

While the crusade is on about plastic bags and other non bio degradables around us, one most important thing we forget about is the footprint of our clothes. I had this post in mind for a really long time now. However, I could not sum up my thoughts to speak about our clothing choices.

Even the green crusade brigade gives very little thought to the earth friendly-ness of the clothes worn. Little do we realize that all the polymer based products - Rayon, Nylon, Terricot, chiffon, synthetic crape (crepe), spandex, Acrylic etc are all non bio-degradable.

source

I have seen women in my family and around me wear Nylon Sarees (Nylex) and it hit me a few years ago, that the whole wardrobe is an eventual toxic landfill. That is just a part of the whole deal. Clothes for men and children fall under this category as well. The issue includes every easy to maintain fabric we find on shelves.

I go blank as to how this silent, most ignored and most dangerous plastic contribution may be stopped...If we all were to shift to cotton, hemp, jute or wool, the demand for these natural fiber would explode and lead to issues associated with over consumption and over production, processing and what not...I would appreciate your thoughts.

Note:  And another point to note here is that routing non biodegradable junk/garbage to landfill is not a sensible solution. It is as bad as dumping our trash into the nearest water source (lakes, rivers, oceans). We need to understand the impact of leeching, plastic breakdown and the resulting impact on the fertility of the land (the landfill and a few kilometers around it), safety of water sources (running and ground), and the air near the landfill.

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Earthowl.net - Care a Hoot for the planet

I had been to Climate Change Lobby monthly meet up last Saturday. It has been a few months since I joined the group, however, I could join in the monthly national meet up only last weekend. It was a great experience interacting with fellow Green crusaders and lobbyists. More about the meet in a later post...

As of now, I thought I'd share something about a fellow CCL member's website which sells heavy duty Cotton Canvas bags.

They sells well made canvas bags with witty messages on them.

I appreciate their effort to make a difference.  I recommend a visit to the website and knowing a little more about their effort and maybe a purchase if you could spare $10 and make a commitment to carry your own bag to shop.


Pictures and Link source- EarthOwl.net

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Individually Packed Dry Fruit - Wasteful or otherwise?

For all those dry fruit connoisseurs who love prunes (dried plums), here is some food for thought!

nutsonline-com

Bowel movement and overall health are a great argument when it comes to buying prunes in plastic bags. 

or grabbing a bottle or two of prune juice....

 (sunsweet website)

Manufacturers are already adding to the plastic clutter and the ocean patch, and have every reason to rethink their packing methods. And as if existing problems weren't enough, a genius marketing strategy session later, Sunsweet launched its individually wrapped prunes.


 Each prune individually wrapped in plastic...:-(

And then put them in another HDPE container..

Seriously!, did we need more plastic in the world? All in the name of a little of convenience!.. It is sadly amazing to see that consumers do not assess the impact of their choices on the planet? The nutritional information provided on their website, mentions eating "about 4 prunes" to equal one serving.

My question - why not package them in packs of four then? Back to the basic question - WHY the Wrapping in the first place. One logical explanation could be (probably) - that the company has to come up with new shenanigans to appeal to consumers and appear dynamic by showing that they are constantly reinventing themselves. Agreed. As much as that intention is appreciated, individual wrapping is a serious mistake and a definite waste of resources. On a lighter note! imagine having to eat more than one and all the packaging one has to peel..lol...hmm..seems like it is the company's trick for portion control!!! :-)

Given the fact that Sunsweet controls over 2/3rd of the prunes market in the US, higher sales figures for the single-wraps means an avoidable 3 sq inches of plastic wrap in the trash can (for every piece consumed). Isn't it time we as consumers took action and made informed choices?.

Any argument for and against this idea are pleasantly welcome.

(Sunsweet is a US based food and beverage manufacturer specializing in packed dry fruit and juice). 

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PLASTIC STATE OF MIND - Parody with Purpose

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Cling foil (Plastic) and the Food network

As much as I love the Food network and a few of their regular series, I am not really into the way they use disposable wrapping and cling foil and make it look acceptable and convenient. A simple marinating does not require a ziploc or any other plastic bag. Glass, ceramic or steel containers with a lid would work equally well or prove to be only better. Not sure if I am the only one with this peeve.

Pic source: food network

I get worked up when the cooks/chefs roll out ream after ream of cling foil and wrap up containers or dough. My question - Wont a glass / steel/ ceramic bowl with a lock lid or a simple plate work? (not that the glass bowl with plastic lids make any sense either. :(.. What pains me more is that viewers are pushed into believing that they need such products items and may not be able to work with out them. This translates to excessive consumption of plastics and more non biodegradable pollutants for the planet to suffocate on. Number of products (specially kitchen appliances and products) sold on the home shopping network are a testimony to my point.

Excessive use of styrofoam, plastic and other non bio degradable products should not be made to look good on TV.( Every time I mention : Media's responsibility, it sparks off an interesting debate.) Increased dependence on non renewable resources and non bio degradable elements is nothing but disaster for the planet and its life forms. Making mass production and obscene consumerism seem ok negates efforts put in by certain environmental interest groups

It is quite painful that my own kith and kin tend to ignore simple ways to avoid use of plastic in their lives. We may not be able to sacrifice everything, but a small beginning can make way to more sensible choices in future.

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China's Prosperity- at what cost?

I see people happy when Walmart and other retailers announce SALE on their stock. These retailers conveniently dump out of season good onto customers. It is quite true that some of the products on the shelves aren't worth the entire retail price. However, does it make sense or justify a buying, just because some product is on sale?

Marketing teams do a wonderful job by making most of the consumer goods look indispensable. Over 70% of the consumer base is led by this "Buy things off season, and during a Sale " mentality.  This group of customers think only about their money saving deals for now and care less about the impact of their incessant buying habits on the supply demand economics. Given this fact, it is impossible to expect them to think in terms of the torture our planet goes through to help them meet their NEEDS.

One look at the overstocked aisles in any store reminds one of the excessive consumerism patterns, such huge conglomerates promote. When companies like WalMart, Kroger, Publix and Whole foods talk about sustainability, it sounds like a joke and a mockery of the earth friendly effort ever proposed/ put in by a human on the face of the planet.

source: americajr.com

World's major economies survives on the health of their retail sector, no denying that. But doesn't that mean that they need to work towards being the most responsible as well. Every retail giant claims to be doing their bit for the planet. REALLY? One look at  these stores' slogans show how tangential their business policies are to their Green claims.

Let us take a look at their Punch/tag lines: Walmart - Save money . Live better; Publix- Where shopping is pleasure, Target - Expect more , Pay less, etc....Retailer talks about Saving green  and never encourage customers to go green with their shopping choices.

Why would they, wouldn't that affect their bottom lines and their sales figures? Hanging a reusable bag at the billing counter isn't helping folks!!

Other than encouraging excessive consumerism, these retailer are doing nothing for the community. A classic example would be Kroger's 10 for $10 sale. Their ads make Stocking your pantry for less seem like saving millions. As part of its green efforts, Kroger conducts a design a reusable bag contest every year. But never bothers to encourage its customers to bring in their own bags.  My question - why not suggest people to get their bags rather than make it look like they want the customers to BUY a bag at the counter. This strategy makes the plastic /paper bag seem like a MONEY saving option for any average consumer.And the entire Green drama put up by the conglomerate moves backstage.

Time and again, I have been putting up with arguments from people about why they should buy a reusable bag when a plastic bag is free? Right, can't they see that they could take their own bag to the store. No one forces them to buy a reusable bag. Where do these people leave their common sense? Is it justified when educated people argue that they cant make simple choices for the better?

One need not be an economist to put one  plus one. It is known that every product sold across the Atlantic and this side of the Pacific comes from the Land of the Forbidden City. Every product ever manufactured may be contributing to this said country's apparent growth and prosperity. But all this at what cost? Is it ok to ignore impact of our mindless living? These impacts are no longer a distant occurrence. We can see the aftermath of excessive exploitation of our natural resources and can no longer ignore the way our life (read health) is being changed for the worse. What would take the majority of the population to wake up?...I am yet to figure that out.

Apart from doing their bit in destroying the planet and adding to the resource crunch. These retail giants kill local, small time grocery stores who could have been greener with their functioning. Not only do these small time stores go out of business, but these giant's monopoly impacts local economic as well. All said and done, do we really need a WALMART in India? No, definitely not!!!

How could I miss sharing this cartoon??

 source: courtneyelizabeth.com

My next article is about the KING? of the retail sector who thinks that projecting a We sell cheap imagine translates to more business and money in his pocket. To hell with the environment and the drastic impact his money making conglomerate would have on the planet!!!

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Earth Day turns 40

Like any other DAY celebrations, Earth day was born in the USofA. It was the brainchild of a United States Senator, Gaylord Nelson. He proposed a day dedicated to create awareness towards aspects of the Earth's environment. Although, the day was started to inspire people to appreciate the planet, we need to do a lot more than just that given the current scenario.

source: traveladventures.com

Eco and green groups are known to dedicate an entire week to environment related projects and activities starting on 16th of April each year and culminating into a grand finale on 22nd April. This kind of event was first celebrated in Philadelphia in 1970. Hence, the 40th Birthday of "Earth Day".

There is another day dedicated to the planet, and that is an initiation by the United Nations. It is the World Environment day celebrated on June 5th each year. As a rule, UN tries to observe this day in a different country each year.

As any skeptic would argue, I do not believe that doing our bit on one particular day relieves us of our 24x7 responsibility towards the planet, towards ourselves and our future generations. Being gentler on the planet, doesn't end with banning use of polythene bags or plastics. It goes a lot beyond that, it is more about making the right choices in order to keep our land, water and air fit for life to prevail.

Wishing everyone a very happy Earth Day! Let us put our heads and hearts together and realize our potential in letting this planet remain habitable. Our planet is going through a lot of troubles already, and that includes natural calamities. Let us not add to its woes with our thoughtless actions and mindless choices. All those who are too busy with their lives and don't have energy and time to think and live Green, do spare this day and maybe, it could be your first step towards contributing to a clean and green future.

Here is a brilliant video from the Greenpeace archives shared by a fellow Greenpeace activist.

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A school girl at the UN Environment summit - Rio

I had this video link in my bookmark archives....a very simple and straight forward speech by a school girl from Canada....echoes every environmental concern - relevant more than ever today. This undated video should, among many others, actually help us wake up...its high time...its not about money, career or expensive living. It is all about sensible minimal living which will allow existence of life on the planet.

Does it matter?
Thinking about every thing we do and not hiding behind the very oft used phrases/words - "cant help it" or "convenience" is the need of the hour. If one really wanted to make a sensible choice, they could do it. Ignorance, or lack of common sense is what makes involuntarily-earth-hating crowd, the people they are.

Being eco friendly is lot more than not using plastic bags. I am tired of being called as someone who advocates against  plastic bags.Yes, that I am, but there is more to living a green life than just that. The whole terminology kicks my soul. It is sad that we humans first take the fast lane, do some considerable damage and then trace back our steps to go back to where we were. Given this fact, all the jargonology- Green, eco-friendly all make no sense. It seems like a mockery on groups which work in favor of the planet, in favor of LIFE.

Jargons don't matter. Actions make a difference. People need to understand that the choices associated with food, clothes and shelter (our house, furniture, furnishings etc) are all what influence our earth friendly living, or the lack of it. Fancy terms like recycling, composting don't matter if you buy your grocery and supplies in a plastic bag and use it for throwing your trash. Think about the landfill you will contribute to or the nearest water source you will pollute by using and dumping the plastic bag. Chiffon, nylon, acrylic and polyester clothes you buy, will never bio-degrade. (Let us keep in mind that we have not considered the entire value chain footprint yet.) Give a thought to before you purchase - synthetic furnishings (curtains, upholstery etc), your kitchen chopping board or the throw away plastic spoons and forks, paper plates, tissue paper/towel, hawaii slippers/flip flops, beverage bottle, yogurt container buy etc... Everything we choose to use, has an impact and it does matter. 

You would keep your house clean by dumping out the trash..but all the junk never leaves the planet right...Look at a municipal worker paddle his way through a garbage dump (in a local city water source)

Image source: JAY DIRECTO/AFP/Getty Images

A scavenger in a dugout canoe paddles through a sea of garbage along a Manila waterway

All this is to make your surroundings look like this.

 Birds and marine life mistake our plastic garbage and debris for food and ingest them only to die. We are responsible for this. This is neither a regular cyclic change our earth goes through nor is it a natural occurrence. We should be ashamed to see such impact of our mindless actions. We have no right to disturb the eco-system.

source: thechicecologist.com

If you think it doesn't affect your life or health. Think again, look at this cow munching a plastic bag (in india).

source: http://wanderlustandlipstick.com

Cows are revered in my country. And this is what an average cow eats - both rural and urban cows tend to eat everything and anything they lay their eyes on. Thanks to the plastic menace, Cows dying due to ingestion of plastic bags is a common thing as of today. Let us not forget that the same cows and buffaloes are milked to provide us with our daily supply of milk /dairy products. And can we ignore the beef consuming population? So, technically, we end up eating these plastic bags ourselves (remember the "FOOD CHAIN" fundamentals)


Is it too late for a wake up call?
Just like that of other green-crusaders, my quest for minimal footprint lifestyle is a stressful journey too. What I dint know yesterday, I learn today. And what I learn and imbibe, I implement in my life right away. We need the will to open up to ideas and think beyond our comfort zone. This a never ending process and needs time and effort. It is worth the effort and is all for our own good!

I am so tired of people arguing with me or anyone else who speaks about going gentle on the planet. It is just their way to cover up their useless ego and be the escapists they are. It makes the job for a green crusader much more difficult because we not only need to clean up the mess these escapists leave behind but also take things forward with such skeptics in tow. It is tiring but we don't have time to complain, how wonderful would it be if our fellow earthlings, who refuse to do their bit, at least start thinking (for now).

Time and again, I have maintained that, we as a civilized society have gotten used to a certain lifestyle and feel that shifting from usual is difficult. Come to think of it, let us consider a simple things like grocery plastic bags. There was a generation which survived without ready to eat food packs, plastic beverage bottles, and disposable cutlery. It is therefore not unimaginable to survive with out them. Let us make an effort, start with small changes and leave this planet habitable for our children. They deserve that much and more.

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Fake Plastic Fish

Green Blog : Fake Plastic Fish
Blogger : Beth Terry

This time around, my post is dedicated to a Co-Green blog called Fake Plastic Fish...not that this wonderful blog needs any more publicity.  This post is to show my admiration for a co-green-bloggers who is committed to the cause and has made a significant difference around her.

Her posts are very informative and it was a deja-vu when I saw someone who did things I was doing in my daily life....and was definitely striving to do more....Such wonderful people and their lifestyles are real eye openers and examples for people who argue that it is tough to live green anymore, in this part of the planet in particular (read in the USA).

Here is a link to one of her very inspiring posts. - HERE

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New way to eat fruit??!!!! REALLY

I was forced to take a hiatus from the blogarena, I was busy making my doctors richer! :). I am back with my take on the processed food industry (not again!!). The number of products on the super market shelves and the never ending series of new product launches will keep green crusaders busy for a long time. This post is going to be all about fruits in a plastic container.

The product: Fruit (with or with out a syrup base) packaged in plastic containers.  (I restricted the scope of my product choice to explain the associated issues better).

It may seem very normal and innocuous on the surface. All the talk about  pre-cut, packaged fruit being a matter of convenience and a time saving option tempts normal mortals into buying them. Exemplary advertising techniques make these products look oh-so-appealing. An average city bred consumer would not bother about amount of processing and packaging which translates into this "convenience" for them. It is really painful to see the number of people missing out on the energy and resources being drained out on an industry which need not exist. Producing some thing for the sake of creating jobs may seem like a stroke of economic genius, but long term costs on the environment weigh too much compared to the short term economic growth.


Corporates focus on production, new product lines, sales figures and "creating wealth for the share holders" ...REALLY?!!!..It is short term gains and losses which matters most to them. The management and business development teams love to speak numbers and sales graphs and their sense of corporate responsibility ends there. They are too happy incorporating "Environmental Accounting" in their Financial Accounting/System and ERPs. But why do they and we as consumers miss out on considering the bigger picture?

Corporate responsibility
All these product processing ,manufacturing ans retailing companies have considerable clout in the market, and can influence consumer behavior. If they think beyond filling their coffers, they can surely make a difference.

Each day, millions of these plastic containers are bought, used and trashed. Every single cup ends up in the landfill or chokes drains and water sources (especially in India). This is because either they are not recyclable in the municipality or people don't care about their trash.

A long term solution (s)...
There should be a compulsory Trash Lifecycle Management should be made a mandatory subject in Schools and Colleges. A heavy penalty must be imposed on those who do not apply the fundamentals learnt in this class. I don't see any other workable rational approach to the whole issue.

We as consumers can make a difference, we can follow Gandhiji's Satya Graha principles and silently stick to natural fruit (locally available and seasonal) and ban pre-cut packaged fruit/food out of our lives. This shift will force these companies to rethink their business strategy and make eco-friendly choices in their supply chain management. They will at least start by diverting resources to business ideas which translate into growth in real terms and not the "apparent" growth they are used to as of now. I have been strong with my  argument that over production and excessive consumption does not mean growth. And if some one says so, then they need a crash course on sustainability management and economics as a whole. People who talk about "systems approach" at work have no clue that it extends to their regular living too!

Apart from damage caused by the non-biodegradability of these styorfoam and plastic material, BPA in the plastic packaging leaches toxins (mainly dioxins) into the pre-cut food and makes them hazardous. This happens because fruits and vegetables release juices which are acidic and BisphenolA (BPA) can turn an innocent fruit or a vegetable into a pure Carcinogenic bomb!

How does that happen?
Dioxins, for example, cause a long list of health problems. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, exposure to Dioxins leads to reproductive and developmental problems.

Lets help ourselves...
In the kind of environment we live in today, exposure to hazardous substances is unavoidable. The least we could do is to work our way through small changes to make a big difference. We could minimize occurrence of cancer, fertility issues and other lethal and chronic ailments in our kith and kin. All we have to do is to make very simple and wise choices and there by will spare the planet of all the unnecessary trouble it is going through. The N number of preservatives, additives and colour management ingredients which go into extending shelf life of these packaged goods are no good either...adding sugar and syrups to fruits is like insulting God's creation - Naturally sweet and yummy fruits!

Another simple way to go about making a difference is to buy local and eat only seasonal vegetables to avoid all the energy and resources spent on a product/vegetable/fruit being shipped all the way across the globe. We dont live in a perfect world...Agreed! Look at the issue in terms of statistics...Let us take the case of United States as this country represents the maximum number of consumers seeking convenience per se. Time and again it has been reported that this country alone generates over 28% of waste generated on the planet. (Phew!)

Researchers have found that the rise in various cancers in humans in the United States can be linked to the Industry's use of plastic to package food since the 1960s. TV dinners, microwaveable food packets, pastas in a plastic container, and the list is endless.We could take care of ourselves and the planet (in turn ourselves) by making very simple choices such as 

• Not drinking hot and cold fluids out of plastic/wax paper/styrofoam cups
• Not using plastic containers to cook or reheat food

Please wake up, people! Plastics are killing us and destroying the environment! We do not have the time and resources to hide behind the shield of "CONVENIENCE"...it is nothing but ignorance at work. As much as i would like to stop and make these people see sense, I am still looking for ways and means to make a constructive difference.

Stop buying in bulks, do not buy fresh fruit being suffocated like this either. Fruits release Ethylene and when placed in plastic, can ripen and rot faster too...its nothing but money down the drain!! (this arguments works for people who cannot think beyond money and do not care a damn about their impact on the environment)

Lets see sense and make our lives on the planet better!


Images courtesy: Internet and company websites

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Organic food in plastic packaging?!!

Organic produce and food products are a nice buy..keeps one thing off your mind - all the pesticide residue. But is it not an oxymoronistic approach to sell organic and other "green" products in a non bio degradable plastic package?

What is the idea behind all the reams of plastic which went into packaging them? I have no clue...I don't expect things to be clear cut black and white but this packaging issue is stretching things too far!!!!! (Not that its ok for other products to be stuffed in plastic bag/wraps to be shelved in a retail store.)

 Image source: treehugger.com

We cannot justify these pre cut organic fruits being sold in ridiculous individual packs. Even the most popular organic food stores indulge in this kind of mockery of green issues. Are they ignorant or do they just don't care?...It must be fun to meet all those who are into planning and execution of product packaging decisions in these organic and eco friendly companies. I really need to ask them one thing... how do these aisles in organic food store qualify as eco-friendly?

Most argue about the strain green packaging would put on the environment...but is it necessary to add more indigestible plastic junk for the planet to bear? Another arguement is of the corn plastic - the amount of money, effort and the resources which go into producing a single corn plastic container is not worth the effort.

  Image source:myzerowaste.com

 I don't know if it is just me or if there are others out there who are bogged down by guilt while buying groceries and other processed food. Its like an anti-thesis when companies which claim to sell organic produce and products, say even cosmetics, don't think twice before investing in plastic and other non-eco-friendly packaging material. I know I have cribbed and whined about this earlier.

Enormous demand for products and produce results in a significant strain on the environment, and then,  choosing paper or other eco friendly packaging material only adds to the planet's travails. However, when we weigh the pros and cons of going green and remaining economical, green idea wins- always. It is necessary to understand one base rule - any polymer based synthetic good produced is never going to decompose or biodegrade. However expensive it may be, earth friendly is the way to go (with the packaging as well). Smallest things like the plastic lid cap on glass bottles and jars matter to me. If an item on my grocery list is unavoidable, then I ensure that the jar I buy has a metal cap and not a plastic one....How many of you freak out like I do?

Image source: goldencarla.typepad.com

Any inputs - welcome!!!!

I do not buy these plastic wrapped fruits and vegetables and feel good about not adding some more plastic to the environment.

We need to remember that each product we try, buy and consume is a vote of approval for the company to mark that product as a "success". So think before you try out a new product, be it consumable or other wise...your vote makes a difference. Simple things like making a choice between -

this jar 

and this

Image source:tradeindia.com

 When the sales go down, these companies are forced to change their strategy and cater to what we consumers demand...Time and again I have been mentioning this - we are at a stage where we are only making trade offs. Living green is a long winding road for the civilized world..the least we could do is to start making a difference...(I make a special mention of this thanks to all the flaky criticism  I put up with due to my green advocacy).

So the next time you are in a super market aisle, make an intelligent choice and Keep the planet happy!

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My Bag Arrived! - Gift from the Green Bag Lady

It is great to see one lady make such a huge difference around her. Yes, I am talking about the Green Bag Lady - Ms Teresa. :). The Bag she sent me has arrived...It is a beautiful cotton bag. I ll update this post with my picture of the bag....when I am out shopping for grocery this weekend.

Thank you once again Teresa...


As promised...here is the update for this post....My Green Lady Bag in use along with my other regular bags!

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Say no to plastic and paper shopping bags

Once upon a time people carried their satchels and bags on their shopping trips.  Then plastic was invented and we were pushed into thinking that grocer supplied bags meant convenience. It is really unfortunate that we have come a long way with this "convenience".

Having realized its impact on our lives, a select few started looking for solutions and are trying to spread awareness. I came across this petition and wanted to show the lack of interest for such serious issues among general population.

The Petition: Ask retailers to stop-using-plastic-bags

There have been many such requests, crusades and petitions which have gone unheard. I agree that this is not the only problem plaguing us today. We need to start somewhere and this is the easiest change we could make and make a huge difference in the way we treat our planet.

Video source: youtube

We don't have a choice anymore. Being conscious and making sensible decisions is the only way out.

You make a difference too
Make sure you carry a decent sized bag with you and refuse a plastic bag at the billing counter. A small effort and  may be one bag at a time, and you will walk out of the store with a feeling of having done something right. Eventually, this will grow on you and you would have gone "green". Also, please stop asking for extra bags and don't justify that you use it to throw garbage out. Garbage doesn't decompose when enclosed in plastic bags. It only adds to toxic gas emissions.

Retailing giants are trying to do their bit by asking you to pay for the bag, it is not to see if you can "afford" it, but to cure consumers of their plastic bag addiction.

Giving this point a thought means a lot to our planet. Come to think of it, the planet doesn't need us to save it. By doing our bit, we are keeping our hopes alive to see another generation survive on this green planet.

Video source : youtube

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Bean Bags Seating

I am guilty of making a non-green purchase for our house. Ever since I realized my folly, I have been looking for ways and means to rectify my mistake! I bought three large bean bags five years ago. I had not realized its impact on the environment back then. Everyday is a new day to learn, experience, imbibe, make a change and take another step towards making environmentally friendly decisions.

"Cost"  of a Bean bag...
Vinyl/faux leather/leather used in making the bag, the bean itself are both very environment - unfriendly. Consistent use leads to repetitive buying of "beans" which only adds to the environmental impact of these bean bag chairs.

Beans are nothing but thermocol bits, also called expandable polystyrene (EPS) - a petro product. These tiny beans are not bio-degradable just like our other petroleum products and by-products (styrofoam, paraffin, furnitue foam etc).

Image source: beanproducts.com

Recycling - Is non existent
Even the recycling facilities here in the US are not equipped to recycle this "category 6" -styrofoam/polystyrene or number 6 recyclables. They end up in the garbage dumps and landfills; there by adding to poisonous gas emissions, seepage of toxins into the soil and water in the surrounding areas.

Why worry?
We cannot escape the consequences. Increased cases of cancers is just one of the immediate impacts. I am worried for our future generations when most of them would have chronic health and fertility issues as a norm.

Better late than never! I realised the bean issue three years ago. As the first thing, I decided not to buy any more beans to fill these bags and also request friends and family not to invest in one. I am on the lookout for viable bio-friendly solutions to use this piece of furniture and extend its life. I am not justifying my mistake, as this journey towards going green has been a constant process and I learn new things with each passing day. I admit I am a work in process and I am scouting for ways and means to implement these green ideas in my life. I am glad I have this green bug in me.

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Say No to PVC Yoga mats, Choose a straw or grass mat instead

Life is all about making right choices. One as simple as buying your yoga mat can make a difference on your carbon footprint. Do you know that a standard mat sold as being suitable for yoga is made of soft PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) a non earth friendly non bio degradable material. You must have noticed a strange stinky odour emanating out of a plastic mat, slipper or a bag for that matter. Imagine all the fumes this mat may be releasing into the air and its impact on air quality with in your house.Why force yourself to live that way when you can make smart eco-friendly choices?

Yogis and Sages in India were known to have used straw mats for meditation. In fact, using a Dharba grass mat is considered auspicious in hindu homes. With major changes in lifestyle and the increased need for a cushy support for our bottoms, yoga mats have become a must have. Off late, people seem to "need"  Yoga pants and  yoga mat for their sessions. Kudos to all the ad gurus!

Keeping in tune with the current trend, the best we could do is to make earth friendly choices. Opt for a grass, straw, Palmyra leaf, cane, sea grass or a banana fiber mat. Buying these you would not only make a green choice, you would also be promoting local handicrafts depending on where you live. I say this because, every culture has something to which is local to that region. For example, we have at least 20 different grass or straw mat varieties available in India alone:


The Pattamadai mats of thirnalveli in Tamil Naadu, India

beautiful Sitalpati (sheetal-cold) mats from Assam, India.

Image courtesy: craftsrevival.org

Madur mats from West Bengal

Courtesy: Flickr.com

Wagoo mats from Kashmir:

Image courtesy: kashmirphoto.com

and the coir mats from Kerala to name a few from with in india.

Image courtesy: Sapnainkerala's blog.

If you were go International, Japanese Tatami mats need a special mention.

Image courtesy: japan-i.jp

Did you know that Japanese home design techniques make use of a tatami mat (ideally 6ft x 3ft- ideal human scale) mat to design their homes. This is measure between columns in a house.

  Image courtesy: abidini.com

Straw mats from korea are called whamunseok, deungmae, dotjari. The most popular mats in Korea are woven of split stalks of sedge or any other straw.

 Image courtesy: designboom.com

Banig sleeping mats from the Philippines, are made from locally abundant palm leaves, sear grass or pandan depending on the region of Philippines a mat comes from.

Image courtesy: tribo.org

 Across the oceans in the Americas, we have traditional handicraft options from say Ecuador,

Image courtesy: lextoland blog

 

We also have handicrafts from Peru, Cuba, Chile, Brazil, Mexico and not to miss hand woven mats/rug original to each of the 300+ native American tribes. Cattail mat being one of them. I am not quite sure if more than one tribe made these mats. You may click on cattail for more about it on wiki.

Image courtesy:  stoningtongallery.com

As I mentioned earlier, straw and plant handicrafts have had an intrinsic and important cultural meaning for every civilization across the world. Traditionally crafted  products are always eco-freindly. Why so? beause people dint have access to plastic back then!..lol.

Once you have made your choice of straw mat, just could walk into any local handicraft store to pick one for yourself. If these seem out of your budget, a simple cotton / jute durry will work well too.

Though not made of straw, this beautiful and authentic Navajo rug (Arizonian) could be a good choice for a yoga mat.

Image courtesy: endoftrailhomedecor.com

 A few other reliable options: Warangal durry, Andhra Pradesh India.

image courtesy: lepakshihandlooms.gov.in

 

Jamakalam from Tamil naadu

Image courtesy: izhai.tn.gov.in

Why buy a stinky plastic or a PVC mat,  when you have such wonderful options to choose from,. Make a wise choice, live well and take care...See you soon.

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Plastics in your face scrub and body wash

The topic sounds nothing off beat considering the purpose of this blog...But this is a must read for every Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) user.

Picture this-

You are watching your favourite TV show and during the commercial break you see a young woman bathing herself under a gushing water fall, or in a river/ocean setting. The music, screenplay, the beautiful model and the claims made in this 30 seconds ad and you are impressed! The next time you are in a super market, you reach out to buy the very same body wash/scrub/face wash.

The ad agency has done its job right, makes money gets out of the picture. The cosmetics company manufactured the product, stocks it in the super market shelf and you buy it and they get their money worth or more in some cases and they move on.  And what do you end up with? a detergent based liquid full of sulfur compounds and artificial colours and flavours all in a glossy plastic bottle. You like it, you continue buying it; You hate it, you shift your choice. Sounds familiar? If yes, it is not just you but 9 out of 10 consumers fall under this category. Having heard this, are you shooing away the very idea of giving this whole thing a thought?

The next time you look at a face wash/scrub commercial and it claims to have micro granules that leave your face extra shiny, think again. There is nothing "micro granular" hidden in it. I was shocked as you are right now. Call me boring but I never dared to buy anything with micro things in anything, this one took me by surprise. Exfoliating ingredients in every brand name face wash or a body wash, is nothing but tiny particles of polyethylene which act as the "scrubbing particles" and wash down the drain and eventually into nearest water sources. Here is an image of all the micro beads in the wash (magnified)

image courtesy: link

  
These granules are very tiny so cannot be trapped or treated by a water treatment system. Hence, end up in our water sources - rivers, streams, oceans.


Stop and think about the impact that very consumer good had on your health or the environment?

It is really hard to ignore that every product we come across in the super market aisle has a drastic impact on the ecology. Before we take this issue with a pinch of salt, let us understand that these tiny particles do not bio-degrade, i.e., they cannot break down into their inital compounds and there by do not blend into our eco system. They get into the food chain and eventually onto our food plates. This includes the vegetarians.

Marine biologists have seen a major change in genetic patterns among sea creatures and the human population living near by. This could ony be th tip of an ice berg. I am not trying to get frantic about these scrubs or the micro beads they claim to carry, but what worries me is that we humans do not take the impact we cause on the environment.

What is alarming is the total annual sales quoted by these brand name products across the world. The statistics just don't add up as these companies deny any :major" impact these products cause on the environment. They are busy filling their coffers. So let's do our part and be aware as a consumer and think twice before we see ourselves experimenting with these products. Remember, every product you are trying is a statistic for the company and it is your approval/ vote as a consumer for the manufacturer to continuing production, supply, distribution and stocking. For them you are just a statistic. I am yet to find just one company which, might as well be a tiny part of the corporate world, but works and operates keeping every aspect of its social responsibility in mind. Are there any genuine corporate citizens out there?

A further research landed me with a set of brand name products who have been tested to use earth friendly ingredients. These products are expensive but are worth the money spent. I am not here to promote any particular brand or de-fame the "plastic" ones. It is just a small information I thought would be great to share. And i hope you, as a conscious consumer knows what you are doing. The research done in this area is taken seriously by the health and environment certifying agencies as the vested interests have made sure of staying clear of controversy. It is sad that there is very little acknowledgment about existing of this issue. But that is no reason for us to ignore what has come to our attention. Major cosmetic companies including Procter and Gamble, Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Clearasil, Neutrogena, L’Oréal and Dove produce facial scrubs that contain polyethylene plastic. And come to think of it they are the face of the cosmetic industry. If the list includes all of them, then it is for us to do our part.

This takes me back to the marketing basics learnt in Business School - Caveat emptor - BUYER BEWARE!

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Green issues with Grocery Packaging

Monthly trip to the grocery store has become a huge guilt trip for me. All the plastic packets and sachets used for packing dal, rice, spices etc, have had me thinking and am desperately looking for solutions. I had worked a way out when I used to shop in India. I shopped whole sale, which meant that anything for my kitchen would come in jute bags or a bag i carried from home. If I bought it from a local General store, I used home made Newspaper bags.

I never buy ready to eat food and all my meals are made from scratch. This means less plastic/other packaging material to throw away, lesser waste and a guilt free shopping trip. Living in a Super Market driven environment is making green living more and more difficult. Customer centric grocery chains have increased general use of in-ending reams of plastic sheets.

I am still staunch about not buying bread, processed food in any form (raw or other wise). I bake my bread at home. However, shopping for other kitchen necessities is driving me to the wall. Less said about the milk cans, the better. I dont eat out much so I consciously avoid Styrofoam or even paper products. I buy fresh juice t an outlet once in a while and use my 24 oz water bottle instead of their Styrofoam cups/tumblers. My husband buys his occasional coffee in a steel coffee mug (thermos cup). I would love to leave as little carbon footprint as possible. My efforts are very conscious and the need to make green choices are next only to breathing for me. My self critical efforts continue and I am driven to find solutions to most of the day to day non-green choices I am forced to make.I am not here to whine or complain but I am looking at feasible solutions to reduce the non-biodegradable waste being thrown out by a typical family anywhere in the world.

The last few years have seen an increase in "super market" syndrome in India. Though I have nothing against the so called urbanization, I would definitely want people to look into associated "increased" waste generation. The tons and tons of plastic bags and even unneccesary bio-degradable garbage generated has taken over every nation in the last decade. What depresses me is that the amount of penetration such things have in our lives. It is going to take ages to wane out this trend. In the meanwhile, all the damage such choices cause is already at an unimaginable proportion and the impact is alarming. No offense meant but I still see 98% of the world population turning their backs against these on-the-face issues. My puny voice goes unheard even with my siblings. I don't see this as a battle I want to WIN or LOOSE, but would want more number of people to believe in making green choices.

I wanted to put in a picture of my own for this post. In the mean while, I would love to share this wonderful cartoon I found online.

image courtesy: http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/cgo/lowres/cgon538l.jpg

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New Ziploc Evolve - Claims to be Eco-friendly - OXYMORON!!

Whenever the new ziploc evolve ad comes up on TV, I get agitated. Calling a non-biodegradable product eco friendly makes no sense. The ad claims that the product is being manufactured using 25% less plastic (ah!), and mentions that it manufacturing process makes use of wind energy (sic). Really? How can a plastic product, which will eventually be landfill, be eco-friendly by any means? I am sick and tired of living among ostriches. I remember, once when I forwarded an article about quilted toilet paper, one of the educated members of the family lashed back saying - "it was for people to decide as to what they do with their ass!". Great. Green choices are a necessity now and no longer a matter of choice. Huh! no point trying to make people see sense. Conglomerates will keep filling their coffers at the cost of the general population getting sold by the idea of what they say is right. Parallely, activists will be on their quest for a greener earth. All will co-exist in a weird harmony.

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