Comments on: Question of the Week: What do “green” products mean to you?

By: Green Certification

Green Certification — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:35:29 +0000

This is a very informative article. I am glad to have discovered your blog. I will definitely promote this blog among my circle of friends

By: jordan

jordan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:58:41 +0000

good

By: Acai

Acai — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:45:31 +0000

If so, that follows the law of economics that prices will be set by “whatever the traffic will bear.” Over a number of years as most of the people able to pay have done so, and the cost of production comes down, the price falls to attract the lower levels of the mass market. The only way a green economy could be immediately available to everyone at affordable prices is with government subsidies, but as we see, it has its foreign entanglements to attend to first.

By: Sally Gellert

Sally Gellert — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:49:50 +0000

I read labels on everything (If it’s too daunting to do it all at once, read labels for sauces one week, pick a brand to stick with, and next week do laundry detergent. that way you only have to check your preferred brand’s label a few times a year to make sure nothing has changed dramatically). I buy virtually all my clothes at thrift shops, except shoes, something I REALLY need that I can’t find in my size (I really have to work on weight loss, but have always had a problem fitting pants), and “cause” T-shirts (I work in a commercial kitchen where a T-shirt is the most practical top, and then I look for organic cotton when it’s on sale or I am flush). I buy 100% recycled paper for my computer printer, and print two-sided. I buy refilled ink cartridges. Tissues, napkins, and TP are all 100% recycled. I air-dry clothes probably about 90% of the time (not as good on sheets and towels, as I generally don’t do them myself). My main vices when it comes to green products are music (I want to own the CD with liner notes); books (but they are bought used if possible, given to friends, rummage sales, or thrift shops, or kept in my personal [too large] library for rereading and lending); greeting cards (though I do look for recycled); and luxury food (alcohol, imports [but not out-of-season produce]).

By: Sally Gellert

Sally Gellert — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:36:49 +0000

The problem with bamboo is, where is it grown? What is the cost in freight to get it to market? I’d love to see some domestically-grown bamboo; is it out there?

By: Sally Gellert

Sally Gellert — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:34:43 +0000

I agree about the cost of organic mac & cheese compared to the “regular” version, but what about a simple box of macaroni and some milk and cheese soup for sauce, or even grating your own cheese? Much less packaging, fewer preservatives, you probably are buying the milk already, you’re probably young enough to be able to snack on the cheese without fear of cholesterol, gaining weight, or lactose intolerance—something to consider (particularly if your dorm has a kitchen or if you live in an apartment—difficult if all you have is a microwave).

By: Sally Gellert

Sally Gellert — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:27:59 +0000

There is some truth to “what the traffic will bear” in pricing of recycled products, but also the cost of collecting recycled materials, sorting “the wheat from the chaff”, so to speak, and processing the old products into useable materials, which without economies of scale, can cost more than using new materials. there is one particular New Jersey company that is dedicated to making products and packaging from garbage, and also to keeping their products affordable for all, selling in big-box stores. The founder had the courage to turned down a million-dollar grant in their start-up days because it would have meant selling out his concept, leaving it vulnerable to greenwashing. One particular outdoor-products company also provides amazing guarantees, which is probably a factor in their product prices, but theirs are designed to last many times longer than the cheap, “planned-obsolescence” version, so sometimes you do “get what you pay for”. Labor practices also sometimes affect the cost of green products, and those with disposable income can choose to support companies that treat their employees well.

By: Sally Gellert

Sally Gellert — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:15:46 +0000

I understand your perspective, but I remember reading in Michael Pollan’s “The Botany of Desire” about a potato farmer who decided to switch to organic methods when he became fed up with having to remove his protective garments and take a shower before being able to hug his young child. Also, I found “The Real Dirt on Farmer John” quite an interesting case study. If the FDA was doing a better job of inspection, new regulations wouldn’t be needed. If we still had thousands of slaughterhouses instead of less than 20, our meat supply would be safer, and we probably would have fewer E. coli meat recalls. If smaller, more local processing plants were used for vegetables, jobs would be more spread out and any salmonella outbreak would be more easily contained. do you save seeds, or know a seed cleaner? One particular seed company is doing everything possible to patent seeds and make saving illegal based on intellectual property laws. One executive from that company has a revolving door at the highest FDA level. These practices hurt American farmers other than the agribusiness corporations, and these are the practices I would like to see challenged and prevented.

By: Sally Gellert

Sally Gellert — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:05:57 +0000

Hear, hear! I have been getting my congregation to actually use the dishes we own, stainless flatware in the cabinet, and dishwasher that sits idle so much for coffee hour—and it’s working. Even when someone else is in charge, I no longer have to stop in at the kitchen to set up trays of cups—they’re all doing it as a routine. Still working on training others on how the dishwasher works (commercial, so not exactly like home, but very easy). I refuse to buy anything in individual-serving packages (with the rare exception of granola bars, as I don’t know of any that are not individually wrapped, and hot chocolate for Sunday coffee hour, as people are still afraid of the mess kids would make, but I’m thinking of experimenting even there. . . .)

By: Sally Gellert

Sally Gellert — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:48:54 +0000

i agree, and there are some “go-to” companies whose products I look for when they are on sale, particularly Seventh Generation and Burt’s Bees (though Burt’s has been out by a multinational [Unilever, I believe], so I’ll have to watch more carefully]). Tom’s of Maine used to be on this list, until they, too, were bought out. I notice that Seventh Generation products seem to be less expensive since Clorox’s GreenWorks line came out—competition does help! I also try to keep awarer of labor practices when I can.