The dirty word; "disposable"

Facts are in; we are living in a disposable society. Disposable items make our lives easier and in return, are choking the limitations of our landfills and polluting our environment. Some consider most everyday electronics like computers and phones disposable products-even some people think of cars as disposable.

Items such as razors, toothbrushes, paper, grocery bags, toys, electronics and even discarded food are among the most listed items with disposable packaging. One common factor among all these products is that most if not all, are made from plastic.

Think about all the items that you physically handle on a daily basis. Plastic grocery bags are one of the most rapidly growing disposables to fill U.S landfills. Light, cheaply made, strong, weather-proof and durable, the world is estimated to use over 1 trillion bags a year. Only a fraction of 3.2% is being recycled from the 80% of just what the U.S consumes alone.

Another such item you would most likely handle on a daily basis is the disposable cup. The average American office worker uses about 500 disposable cups a year. We are all guilty of visiting our local eatery and ordering off the menu with little or no concern about the packaging our food comes in.

The mentality with most businesses is why pay the price for more costly packaging material if the consumer isn't asking for it? Prices are already costly enough to compete effectively in today's market, why go green? The answer is, because a growing consumer base will demand it. The cost of virgin materials and the energy to produce these products will be reevaluated when growing customer demand is met by green innovation and design. The consumer is the driving force to today's growing green market.

The next time you are eating lunch at your favorite restaurant or grocery store, or have a few minutes after super at your local dinner or shopping experience, to find out if the business that you are patronizing, has a sustainable practice when it comes to purchasing or selling products with the minimal amount of packaging material.

You will be pleasantly surprised with the many businesses that employ sound and safe recyclable and disposable practices.

Go Green!

Turn that morning coffee into a greener cup of Joe

If your like almost everyone in America, you can not start your morning without a cup of coffee. And for most of us in our busy lives, the quick stop to your local coffee house before you start your day is the first thing on your morning to do list.

Today, most of your favorite local java shops offer paper cups made with a portion of recycled materials that are biodegradable. If not, talk to the owner ask ask him or her to switch to paper based cups or ask them if it would be alright if you would be able to bring your own cup from home with every stop. Some retailers in the coffee business offer incentives to customers who provide their own cups.

Stop by your local resale shop to purchase a good ole fashion ceramic mug to take with you when you buy your favorite cup of coffee. Make sure to leave it in your car or bag so that you do not forget it for every purchase of coffee. Take an additional mug with you to work to leave at your desk. When that morning break comes, and you want that cup of Joe from the cafeteria, you can set an example of  good green company policy buy supplying your own cup.

Absolutely, do not accept any hot beverages in a styrofoam cup. Styrofoam is one of the leading products that are clogging landfills in the Unites States, rivaling plastic water bottles. The chemicals used to create styrene used in styrofoam cups, is said to cause extreme respiratory problems with people with weak or compromised immune systems.

Simple and green conscious steps towards a greener environment are easy and cost effective.

Green Jobs

In the next several years, the potential for “green” collar jobs from firms and organizations to create a new job sector with the sole purpose to improve environmental quality through products and services will be considered the norm. The new industries that small businesses will embark on will consist of zero waste, energy conservation, solar power, green construction and an assortment of other green expansion programs that will increase rapidly. Experts say that the “green” market for everything from organic cleaning products to green landscaping, hybrid cars and eco-tourism will grow at least by 10% annually. It is projected that the consumer will pay up to 15% for new and innovative green products and services.

The challenge of building a “green” economy that shifts towards sustainability will be the biggest project that allows opportunities for urban America and the planet to restart a new wave of economic activity. If the global market allows expansion of local “green” collar jobs for environmental quality in their area, a significant growth could begin to turn the global economic situation around. This is the challenge of building a “green” economy.

This is a clear understanding that “green” collar jobs will be made available to workers with limited education and skills that will provide stable living wages and benefits to workers and families-with the opportunity for growth. “Green” collar jobs will offer workers a supportive network and experience that will contribute to eco-improvements on our planet. This emerging “green” economy will start with everyday citizens who will commit to pioneering in the “green” movement and support policies designed to improve environmental restoration and quality. 

Here are a few examples of green collar jobs:

·         Energy retrofits for local businesses.

·         Green manufacturing jobs.

·         Bicycle repair.

·         Maintaining park services.

·         Public transit.

·         Bicycle repair.

·         Products produced from recycled products.

·         Wind and Solar installations.

·         Green Building.

·         Urban Agriculture.

·         Weatherization.

Thinking Green

Some believe the planetary crisis that we face could have potentially civilization-altering consequences.  Most Scientists around the globe warn that the world has a decade at most to reverse the growth in greenhouse gas emissions, or risk catastrophic climate change. Some scientists, though not all believe, feel that the future of human civilization is at stake. Few even think that maybe we've already run out of time and we just don't know it yet.

Personal solutions to global warming like changing a light bulb, driving a hybrid, better insulation and even recycling are not enough to put even a dent into the reduction of green house gasses needed to solve this crisis. There is an estimated rate of about 70 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions released a day. Personal commitment helps, but industrialized nations need to act quickly to steer the world towards a cleaner, cleverer and more competitive energy conscious tomorrow. Global policies have to change.

Investment in solar, wind, nuclear as well as maximizing energy efficiency would slow gas emissions as well as increase economic growth. Implanting carbon capture and storage for existing fossil fuels, retrofitting buildings to be more green, expanding mass transit, freight rail, green construction, a smarter electrical grid, advanced biofuels, electric cars and carbon-free renewables like geothermal are just a few markets that could help revive the U.S. and Global economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs while saving the environment. We must require innovation, funding and sacrifice at every level of society to achieve green success.

In the next several years, the potential for “green” collar jobs from firms and organizations to create a new job sector with the sole purpose to improve environmental quality through products and services will be the largest movement of its kind. The new industries that small businesses will embark on will consist of zero waste, energy conservation, solar power, green construction and an assortment of other green expansion programs that will increase rapidly. Experts say that the “green” market for everything from organic cleaning products to green landscaping, hybrid cars and eco-tourism will grow at least by 10% annually. It is projected that the consumer will pay up to 15% for new and innovative green products and services.

Remember, the green recovery begins with you. Support businesses that that provide eco-friendly products and services that better the environment. Contact your elected officials and voice your concern for more eco-friendlier practices. Together everyone must do their part and continue to reduce, reuse, and recycle in our daily lives.  This emerging “green” economy will start with everyday citizens who will commit to pioneering in the “green” movement and support policies designed to improve environmental restoration and quality.