Hey President Obama's Marketing Director

I know you are all about "Green Initiatives" and all of that.  So here's my question:  How does the purchase of more plastic water bottles serve that purpose?  I am all for capitalism and funding the "Change" we all wish to see, but I am at a loss for words when these gimmicks are thrown out to the masses.  A $15 water bottle to show support?  I have an idea, use one you already own and create your own "I love Obama" logo on it.  Honestly, get an aluminum bottle that costs less and is better for everyone.  

People:  support the cause by reducing your own impact by not purchasing silly gimmicks.

Obama Marketing:  You do great work!

Footprint Revisited

This is the last of my footprint blogs for the scholastic quarter.  I have been making serious efforts to reduce my impact on the environment over the past few months, but due to the simplistic nature of the questionnaire and the lack of serious detail that I could apply to my answers I ended up with almost the same score.

Let's Review

 Old Footprint

 = 3.6 Earths, 15.8 global acres

New Footprint Calculation 

= 3.5 Earths, 15.5 global acres

To be quite honest with you I am not terribly sure how exactly this all adds up.  In my opinion I feel that any improvement is a step in the right direction.  In our class we had discussions about the nature of the survey and how an individual's answers are weighted according to where in the world they are due to cultural societal norms and expectations.  For instance, a person answering all of the same questions in the same exact manner might end up with two less Earths simply because they are from a country that is believed to be less wasteful and more proactive in reducing global impacts.  Either way, my numbers have dropped and the exercise has led me to be more thoughtful in the ways in which I interact with my environment and the methods in which I make decisions on food, electricity, and transportation.  

In my first post I had to throw down a few things that I could do to reduce my footprint and be more mindful.  Of the things that I had listed most of them were pretty easy to handle, especially due to the changing of the seasons.  Reducing my energy use for heating?  Right.  As for the efforts that I have taken to unplug appliances and turn off my power strips I have been doing really good.  I have incorporated those actions into my pre-departure routine.  I also stopped purchasing sandwich meat.  I have really missed my peppered turkey and provolone sandwiches with lettuce, pickle, mayo, and garlic mustard.  Yum.  

Half-way through the quarter I reevaluated my methods and included reducing my water use.  My initial thoughts were that if I washed everything all at once it would be a better deal.  That worked out.  I have also been very careful to keep my dish washing water usage to a minimum.  I have actually taken a different stance on the water issue in a fashion.  I have decided that if I drink as much water as possible it will help me keep my system flushed and running smoothly.  I don't think this has very much to do with my footprint.  I mean, really, that's not included in a wasteful category.  

I guess I will leave this with one or two thoughts on my sustainability:  I feel that I will continue to take greater strides toward being completely mindful of the ways in which I interact with my environment and the methods I use to reduce my waste.  I strongly believe in the Food Plus Recycling program that we have in Bellingham and will continue to increase my knowledge of the composting and closed-loop processes that work for our environment, not against it!

Transworld Business Sustainability Series

I have been a board sport enthusiast for almost all of my years on the planet.  When I was a youngster my Dad got me my first Variflex skateboard that would always veer to the left due to shitty trucks.  As I grew older I would scrounge up my change and whatever money I could make selling baseball cards to purchase new decks, trucks, wheels, bearings, etc.  Every time I would snap a board or break a kingpin I would have to go to the local shop and spend my flow on new gear.  As years have gone by I have noticed that there is a lot of waste that happens on the user side of the industry, from broken boards to the desire to have the newest style clothes, shoes, or fashion accessories.

On the business side of the house there has been an emerging trend towards focusing on improving the existing model.  Transworld Business began a series of articles that highlight these improvements and what individual companies are doing to make their own impact.  This morning I awoke to the newest installment in my email,

"Volcom’s Sustainability Czars On Going Green V.Co-Logical Style"

I think that these are great strides that are being made by larger companies that have the presence in the industry to leverage the smaller, up-and-comers to look towards sustainable business models from their inception.  Check out the article linked above to see the Volcom Director of Sustainability and Social Responsibility's and Merchandise Manager's interview. 

Green Update

Things have been going pretty well.  I have managed to keep my meat consumption down, which is supposed to be better for the Earth.  Snow season is pretty much over, which means that my gas consumption is going to go down quite considerably.  I looked at fixing my bike and it seems like it might cost me a bit more money than I had intended.  So, while I figure out how I am going to take care of the bike thing I fixed my skateboard up so that it will be better for rolling around town and campus.

After doing the toxicity research on my shampoo and conditioner choices I tried using some all natural products.  I found that the Tea Tree Tingle hair care line from Trader Joe's didn't leave my hair as silky and smooth as the Aussie product.  This was concerning.  I am growing my locks out and need to be able to run my fingers through them, or even better my lady needs to be able to run her fingers through them without snag.  I don't know how to go about finding something that will work without spending a lot of money and wasting more resources finding an adequate replacement.  Dilemma?  I say so.

If you have a product that does a good job of cleaning and keeping my dome silky smooth without the contents in my earlier blog, let me know!

I got the Toxicity on Me

The assignment was to choose something from my everyday routine that I use and check the ingredients against the CosmeticsDatabase for toxins.  As you may know, most of the time when a company posts the ingredients on the packaging it done from greatest to least.  Also

Aussie Moist Shampoo

Manufacturer: Proctor & Gamble (I didn't know that!)

Ingredients:

• Water
• Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
• Sodium Chloride
• Glycol Distearate
• Dimethicone
• Ammonium Xylenesulfonate
• Citric Acid
• Cetyl Alcohol
• Cocamide MEA
• Parfum (8)- BAD FOR YOU!
• Polyquaterium-10
• Sodium Citrate
• Hydrogenated Polydecene
• Sodium Benzonate
• Disodium EDTA - "One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at low dose", "Cancer"
• PEG-7M
• Trimethylloproanettricaprylate/ Tricaprate
• Ecklonia radiata extract - (Sea kelp)
• Aloe barbadensis leaf juice
• Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
• Methylchlorisothiazolinone  (6)
• Methylisothiazolinone (6)
• Yellow 5
• Red 4

The outcome:

Firstly, typing out that list of ingredients was insane.  I didn't know that there were that many letters in the alphabet.  Who does that?  Seriously, I dont think that I can pronounce two-thirds of the list.  Plus, it took me like 15 minutes to get through it and type it all out.

-  What is in "Fragrance" that can kill you?  I don't know either but I am going to avoid that.

- I don't know what Methylchlorisothaiazolinone does but it sounds painful.

I think I am going to have to get back to the hippy stuff.

Tea Tree Oil on my dome piece, fo sho!

CarrotMob Bellingham 2010

We just put up our Facebook Page.  

For the Sustainability Marketing 474 class we have been assigned a major project for the quarter based around sustainability and business.  Our group decided to do something that rewards a local business for their efforts towards becoming more sustainable.  Check out our page and the organization that started it all: CarrotMob.org

Our focus is on Renewable Energy and Efficiency.  I'll keep you posted on the progress as we move along in our journey!

"Going Green"

I don't usually watch a lot of television.  

Last week I was at my friend's place for dinner and we happened to have the TV on while we were eating.  Wheel of Fortune was on and they kept saying that they were "Going Green".  I love that Vanna White doesn't age.  Neither does Pat Sajack.  That dude looks the same as he did when I was a youngster watching the show from the kitchen table while Mom was cooking.  Something tells me that he has done a thing or two to reverse the effects of time on his carbon makeup.  

Anyway,  before and after every commercial break they would cut to footage of Vanna in a park or around some trees telling the world that they are "Going Green."  I find that it is interesting to note that they never mentioned how.  I thought about the principles of going green and could not reason how a show that is based on viewership and shiny lights, promoting products and services as prizes that contradict the notion of being better to the environment is truly achieving this result.  Are they using energy saving lighting and less electricity?

One of the prizes that was offered to the contestants was a trip for two to a vacation getaway with roundtrip airfare and and elaborate schedule of exotic adventures.  I personally find it hard to believe that a show that is supposedly "Going Green" overlooked the fact that sending people on airplanes doesn't reduce carbon emissions or plant trees.  How about donating the cost of that prize to the National Park Service or DNR to keep our trees and parks from being demolished.

As I watched the show I listened closely to see what they were doing to be more environmentally conscious.  There was mention that Vanna's dress was environmentally friendly.  That seemed pretty vague, but it was a really nice looking dress.  The show ended and I didn't see anything leading me to believe that they are doing anything more than someone else cashing in on the phrase "Going Green."  Ironic?  

I guess to Wheel giving away green with a greener colored stage set-up and Vanna in a green dress was enough to convince themselves it was a worthy effort and warranted such an expression of environmental concern.  To me it seems this is a prime example of the definition of greenwashing.

Sustainable Marketing Week 2.5

My weeks are all over the place with this late Winter/ early Spring storm cycle.  I am still working on getting into a rhythm with my school schedule and personal goals and interests.  Sadly, this means that my attention to maintaining a certain level of focus on my personal impact to the environment has taken a backseat to forward momentum.  I'll explain.

Generally I am really good about staying low on my personal fuel consumption.  Last week we got hit with another late storm and I had to drive up to the mountain before my 4 PM class.  I could have hitchhiked (illegal you say?) but that might have caused an issue getting to class on time.  Not only that but I really wanted to stay on the hill to the last minute that I could.  It was that good up there.  So, there's that and I also had to drive down to the closest Apple store to get a replacement phone.  Had there been anyone else that needed to go two hours south to the mall I would have carpooled.  Not really a feasible option.  That trip alone scored a hit on my technology recycling and fuel consumption scorecard.

Want to know where I did a good job last week?

• didn't buy sandwich meat.  Got almond butter and jelly stuffs instead.
• turned off my powerstrips when I left my pad.
• closed my brother's window when he left it open and it was hella cold outside.  He tends to do stuff like that.  

There is something that I noticed about my house just now.  Actually, I noticed that the downstairs bathroom toilet need new hardware.  The float seems to have trouble going all the way back down and if not paid special attention it will run all day.  That could be as simple as a 20 minute fix, plus a walk over to the Hardware Sales.  I love that place.  So much stuff to look at and touch.  It's really fun to go in there with a friend and see how much fun stuff you can come up with to build, repair, create, destroy.  They have a tool for everything!

On another sad note, I am finally going to do the deed and give my bike a bit of an overhaul.  For a transportation device it is really efficient.  I think I spend between $100 to $150 a year in maintenance and repairs.  Probably less than that but I keep buying upgrades and accessories.  This time around I think I am going to have to get a new wheel and two new tires.  The guys at the shop take the old tires and recycle them.  I'm not exactly sure how that process works, but it sounds good.  

This week I am going to have to be a little bit more diligent in my approach to being conscious about my behaviors.  I guess you could say that I have been mindful of my operation, but not over the top in regard to being a posterboy for the "Green" movement.  If the goal is awareness I have definitely noticed a change in my consumption thought process.

Patagonia's Sustainable Initiatives

This morning I to opened my email to find that the Transworld Business Daily Update focused on Sustainability.  Transworld Business is a magazine publication dedicated to board and action sports and what goes on behind the scenes on the business side of the house.  

Earlier this week in class we had discussed the efforts of Patagonia to remove some of the informational barriers and opening their operations to the public in order to show that they are not perfect, but at least they are trying really hard and not lying about it.  I found that this interview with Jen Rapp really solidified that stance on being "Green" and taking active steps toward reducing the organizations impact on the Earth.  Something that was mentioned in the interview that really held some weight with me is the statement:

"Patagonia really believes there’s no steps that are too small."


I have noticed that in the action sports world there really aren't a whole lot of ways to reduce the damaging practices while continuing to provide the consumer/ athlete with the highest quality of performance good.  Certainly there are some practices that are completely unable to be "Green".  For example, Rapp states "There’s no such things as green neoprene."  But they will still continue to make their wet-suits.  I like that.  


The payoff of taking an honest approach to the question of how sustainable a business operation versus "greenwashing" results in greater consumer attitude toward the company as a whole. Patagonia has done an excellent job of sharing their hopes of reducing their impact and refining their practices to provide a product that is less harmful to the environment while still great for the end user.  Any step truly is a good step toward the end goal of being more responsible, even if it means taking a cut at the margin  during the time that it takes for the dynamic to shift.  For now being green may be more expensive, but once we all get on "board" we can bring down the cost of responsible and environmental manufacturing.

Full Article:  "Catching Up With: Patagonia’s Jenn Rapp On Environmental Intiatives | TransWorld Business "Patagonia really believes there’s no steps that are too small." http://bit.ly/aEGLjg

Footprint

Ecological Fooprint is as follows as per FootprintNetwork:

Website Critical Assesment:

I wish I could turn the music off!  

          It is very hard to try and focus on this when I am trying to listen to the music of my choice while trying to figure out how horrible I am to my Planet and the other inhabitants of said Earth.

I tried out the options at the end of the test concerning changing a few of my lifestyle traits and the results were pretty entertaining.  If I eat less animal based foods I could reduce my impact by .1 Earths.  Seriously, I could go into detail about how off this test is.  For one, I am not a serious driver most of the year and when I do drive there is almost always another person in the car.  I choose to ride my bicycle.  Before the bike there was a skateboard for transportation.  I do own a car, but mostly for convenience and to get to and from the mountains that I hold so dear to my heart.  However, I must say that the web developers are most likely to err on the side of awareness and for the non-critical thinker this is a good start.  Sure, I eat some things that I have not grown and come from another living creature that had to eat and utilize the Earth.  There is a bit of a return that we are not able to offer our Mother planet and keeping that in mind is the key to ensuring that we live a lifestyle guided by moderation.  If I could be a completely self-sufficient human I would, but that is not exactly a possibility in today's world.  Here is a start to what I could do to reducing my footprint:

1) Turning off all appliances when I leave the house.  (My roommates won't mind, or follow suit.)

2) Eat less meat/pork/poultry.  At least not at every meal.

3) Pay more attention to origination of my food purchases

4) Try to use less heating energy. (This one I know will work out this quarter!)

I'll keep you posted.