Paper or plastic? The famous grocery store question. I usually opt for canvas, but if you forgot your reusable bag at home, the answer is…well, I’ll let you decide.
Plastic Shopping Bags
Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic shopping bags are consumed worldwide.
Plastics do NOT biodegrade. Rather, they photodegrade, a process in which sunlight breaks down plastic into smaller and smaller pieces.
It can take up to 1,000 years for a high-density polyethylene plastic bag to break down in the environment.
Plastic bags are on the top 10 list of most common trash items along the American coastline
Paper Shopping Bags
Paper bags generate 70 percent more air pollutants and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.
2,000 plastic bags weigh 30 pounds, 2,000 paper bags weigh 280 pounds, making transportation of plastics cheaper & more eco-friendly.
It takes 91 percent less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper. It takes more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag as it does to manufacture a plastic bag.
Buying organic products from your local farmer’s market should be a no brainer. It helps both the environment and is better for your health all at the same time.
That’s because organic produce is farmed without pesticides or herbicides. So, there are no nasty chemicals or toxics on your yummy fruits & veggies. OSHA, or Occupational Safety & Health Administration, warns that “(pesticides) are an industry hazard because they can irritate the skin, affect the nervous and reproductive systems, and cause cancer.”
Plus buying from local farmers means your food travels less distance, using less gas, and in turn produces less carbon dioxide emissions.
Father’s day is right around the corner, and the big question is what to give the big guy that is impossible to shop for?
Don’t worry…The Go Green Blog has your back.
Here are the top 10 green gifts to give your papa this year and lessen your carbon footprint on the environment.
1- AHammock made from recycled plastics 2- Organic beer or whiskey 3- Organic cotton tee shirts 4- A hemp backpack 5- A bamboo robe 6-Solar powered charger for all his gadgets
7- Fair Trade treats like nuts or chocolates 8- Tickets to a sports event
9- Donation to a charity or an organization in your Father’s name
10-Fleece jacket made from recycled plastics
Are you shopping for a new washing machine? Consider buying the front-loading style. Front-loading washing machines use 40 percent less water, 50 percent less energy, and less detergent than the traditional top-loading washing machines. Plus they spin more water out of the laundry, which means drying time is cut and in turn even less energy is used. So, greenify your wash by buying and using a front-loading washing machine instead of the traditional top-loading machines.
Mother’s Day is right around the corner and will be here before you know it. Pamper your mom this year with lavish earth friendly gifts.
Here are the top 10 green gifts to give your mama this year and lessen your carbon footprint on the environment.
1- Organic flowers or live plants that can be planted in her back yard 2- Gift certificate to an eco-friendly spa 3- PJ’s made from sustainable bamboo or organic cotton 4- Candles made from soy wax or beeswax 5-Organic soaps & bath oils 6- Conflict free diamond jewelry 7- Fair Trade treats like chocolates, coffee, or fruit 8- Tickets to a concert, sports event, or a play at the theater
9- Donation to a charity or an organization in your Mother’s name
10- Reusable shopping bag (can also be used as the wrapping for another gift)
Effective October 1, 2008, Ikea is banning the plastic bag. That’s right, Ikea will no longer offer plastic bags in stores starting this October.
This all comes about with the great success of Ikea’s “bag the plastic bag” program, which asked for customers to either use their own reusable bag, purchase the Ikea blue bag for $.59, or purchase the regular plastic bags for $.05.
Ikea reported that 92 percent of its customers have stopped buying plastic bags since they started the program last year. With results like that, Ikea has decided to take another step forward, and as of October 1, 2008 Ikea will no longer offer plastic bags.
Having trouble trying to find that special someone the best Valentine’s Day gift ever? How about going green. Here are the top 10 eco-friendly gifts to give your sweetie this year and lessen your carbon footprint on the environment.
1- Organic flowers or live plants that can be planted in the spring 2- Fair Trade chocolates 3- Sustainable sexy under garments made from bamboo 4- Candles made from soy or beeswax 5-Organic soaps & bath oils 6- Conflict free diamond jewelry 7- Gift certificate to an eco-friendly spa 8- Homemade organic goodies like pies, cookies, cupcakes etc. 9- Tickets to a concert, sports event, or a play at the theater 10- Donation to a charity or an organization in your sweetheart’s name
Are you shopping for a new computer? Consider buying a laptop. Laptops use 50 percent of the energy used by a typical desktop computer when plugged in and just 1 percent of the energy when running on batteries.
TreeHuggerTV and nutrition expert Marion Nestle take us grocery shopping where they teach us the pros & cons of selecting organic fruit and vegetables in the supermarket.
Do you buy your food or cleaning supplies, or pet food in bulk? If so, thumbs up to you! If not, you should consider doing so, because buying in bulk is one of the easiest ways to go green & save money at the same time.
When you buy in bulk the manufacturers use less packaging materials and in turn you produce less waste. Plus, because you buy more product at once you then make less trips to the store in the future which can save you time, money and fuel.
Do you buy your food or cleaning supplies, or pet food in bulk? If so, thumbs up to you! If not, you should consider doing so, because 