Justmeans's blogshttp://www.justmeans.com/editorials/ethicalconsumption/6.htmlFri, 10 Feb 2012 20:26:07 GMThttp://www.justmeans.com en hourly 1http://www.justmeans.com/Calculating-the-Footprint-of-a-Wedding/48767.htmlFri, 29 Apr 2011 12:48:11 GMTAkhila Vijayaraghavan There have been many speculations about the carbon footprint of the royal wedding. Whilst it was considerably more low-key than Prince Charles' wedding, it did rake up quiet a high emissions number.According toThe Telegraph, the wedding is set to generate more than6,765 tonsof carbon dioxide equivalents. That is 10 times the amount of greenhouse gases the Buckingham Palace produces for in a whole year and 1,230 times the annual emissions of the average UK household.However with Prince Charles' k Read Full Article ]]> There have been many speculations about the carbon footprint of the royal wedding. Whilst it was considerably more low-key than Prince Charles' wedding, it did rake up quiet a high emissions number.According toThe Telegraph, the wedding is set to generate more than6,765 tonsof carbon dioxide equivalents. That is 10 times the amount of greenhouse gases the Buckingham Palace produces for in a whole year and 1,230 times the annual emissions of the average UK household.However with Prince Charles' known environmental credentials, every effort has been taken to lower the impact of the wedding. The menu is sourced from sustainable, local, organic food and ingredients. Even the cake features free-range eggs. The royal couple have also chosen seasonal flowers and asked guests to plant trees or make a donation to Earthwatch, one of the 26 charities benefiting from the royal wedding gift fund, that focuses on environmental issues. Although guests received paper instead of virtual invitations, Clarence House ensured all documents from the event will be printed on recycled paper while Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood will be used in the building of the media stands.Catherine Middleton's dress is made largely with British textiles, using traditional handicraft and her wedding band ismade out of Welsh gold instead of conflict ridden minerals which further symbolizes the thought put into thisoccasion. There are also plans to recycle materialsin the aftermath of the big day. Veolia Environmental Services, Westminster City Council's waste management contractor, have said they expect to collect approximately 140 tonnes of waste, much of which will be recycled.With the month of June coming up, traditionally the high point of the wedding calendar many happy couples are in the midst of wedding planning. There are many things you can keep in mind to reduce the environmental impact of your wedding including thinking about venue, invitations, number of guests, flowers, registering for presents, dresses, jewellery, food and drink served. There are several resources like the Green Bride Guide that recommends tips for making a wedding more eco-friendly. It also talks about offsetting emissions as well as recommending environmentally friendly honeymoon spots. Just like any other celebration, it is important to consider environmental impacts of your happy day. It is quite obvious that the bigger the wedding, the larger the impact but with a lot of careful thought, even large weddings can have a lower carbon footprint.Picture Credit: BBC News ]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Pantene-Releases-Shampoo-Bottles-Made-From-Sugar/48695.htmlTue, 26 Apr 2011 14:47:16 GMTSarena Ulibarri Shampoo bottles made from sugarcane are the newest development in sustainable packaging, and are slated to be released by Pantene in mid-2011. The technology to create plastic from plant material is fairly new, and its commercial use is even newer; it has been recently publicized by beverage companies such as PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, who have begun using plant-based plastic for their soda bottles. Pantene is the first major hair care brand to use this new type of sustainable packaging.Nature Fusio Read Full Article ]]> Shampoo bottles made from sugarcane are the newest development in sustainable packaging, and are slated to be released by Pantene in mid-2011. The technology to create plastic from plant material is fairly new, and its commercial use is even newer; it has been recently publicized by beverage companies such as PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, who have begun using plant-based plastic for their soda bottles. Pantene is the first major hair care brand to use this new type of sustainable packaging.Nature Fusion Shampoo BottlesPlant-based plastic can be made from many different plants (corn, wheat, switch grass, etc.), but Pantene bottles will be made from sugarcane. The sustainable shampoo bottles will be used for Pantene's "Nature Fusion," a line of shampoos and conditioners that boasts of using "naturally-derived ingredients" (a glance at a Nature Fusion bottle reveals ingredients such as citric acid and aloe juice amongst the usual shampoo ingredients). Switching to sustainable shampoo bottles for Nature Fusion is part of parent company Procter & Gamble's overall sustainability strategy, which includes a 25% switch from petroleum-derived packaging to sustainable packaging by 2020.European consumers should expect to see the new plant-based bottle on shelves in summer 2011. Unfortunately, P&G has not yet announced an expected release date for the sustainable shampoo bottles in the United States or other countries. P&G claims the sustainable shampoo bottles will look and function the same as their petroleum-derived predecessors, and consumers should not notice a difference in quality. The plant-based plastic shampoo bottles can be tossed in the recycling bin just like any other plastic bottle.The Benefits of Plant-Based PlasticThough they may not look or feel any different, plant-based plastic bottles have quite a different production process and create far less environmental impact. Not only is the plant-based bottle made from natural and renewable sugarcane instead of fossil fuels, but it also uses 70% less fossil fuel in its production. P&G reports that using plant-based material for plastic bottles decreases greenhouse gas output by 170%.According to the Global 1000 rankings, which ranks companies according to corporate responsibility, The Procter & Gamble Company secured a rank at number 45 on the list in 2009 and has been one of the top 50 companies in the Global 1000 since 2007. Pantene is only one of 44 "Beauty and Grooming" brands owned by Procter & Gamble; a few others include CoverGirl, Gillette, Head & Shoulders and Pert.Photo Credit: SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Earth-Day-Round-Up--A-Billion-Acts-of-Green/48598.htmlFri, 22 Apr 2011 08:23:40 GMTAkhila Vijayaraghavan Earth Day was introduced on this same day in 1970. It is estimated that around20 million Americans attended rallies around the country and helped clean up their local communities back then. The movement is now in its 41st year and has never been more important. Many of the issues that people were talking about back then are still pertinent now. This movement prompted the passage of groundbreaking laws such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. According to TheEarth Da Read Full Article ]]> Earth Day was introduced on this same day in 1970. It is estimated that around20 million Americans attended rallies around the country and helped clean up their local communities back then. The movement is now in its 41st year and has never been more important. Many of the issues that people were talking about back then are still pertinent now. This movement prompted the passage of groundbreaking laws such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. According to TheEarth Day Networkmore than 1 billion people participate annually in Earth Day activities, making it the largest civic observance in the world. The Earth Day Network works with over 22,000 partners in 192 countries to spread its green message.This year the theme is A Billion Acts of Green and the goal is to generate a billion acts of environmental service and advocacy before the global Earth Summit 2012 in Rio. You can submit your act of green atact.earthday.org. In the nineties, Earth Day was the forum used to launch recycling into the mainstream. Since then the focus has shifted to climate change and on the industrial side there has been tremendous progress made. In 2003, the number of companies voluntarily reporting their carbon footprint throughthe Carbon Disclosure Projectwas 235. In 2010, this number had risen to to 3,050 companies. This means that not only are consumers demanding changes but it also means that companies arerealizingthat is makes business sense to invest in carbon reduction .World over Earth Day is being celebrated by people talking about their 'acts of green'. "Millions of people doing small, individual acts can add up to real change," said Chad Chitwood, a spokesman for the umbrella group coordinating efforts. The Billion Acts of Green effort has already reached 100 million green pledges from people around the globe. The pledges are recorded on a message board and separated into categories from transportation to energy to advocacy. There are many things that can be done in view of Earth Day that you can add to the Acts of Green effort or not. The Nature Conservancy has been encouraging people to spend Earth Day outdoors which is great idea because it neatly coincides with spring time. The UK for example, has had a bumper crop of bluebells. Winter has finally lifted in many parts of the US so the weather is finally right to spend outside. Bonding with Nature automatically increases awareness and respect for the natural world. This makes it so easy to see what is out there to preserve, protect and worth fighting for. Happy Earth Day everybody!Photo Credit: Earth Day 2011 Google Doodle]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Popular-Online-Florists-Now-Offer-Fair-Trade-Flowers/48593.htmlThu, 21 Apr 2011 16:00:37 GMTSarena Ulibarri Two major online florists, FTD and 1-800-FLOWERS have announced a new selection of fair trade flowers. While there are many specialty florists that offer fair trade or eco-friendly flowers, this is a new step for these mainstream flower companies, and a victory for both labor rights' activists and ethical consumers.Cut Flowers: A Thorny IndustryThe cut flower industry has come under attack in recent years by activist groups such as Change.org, who have exposed the inhumane working conditions and Read Full Article ]]> Two major online florists, FTD and 1-800-FLOWERS have announced a new selection of fair trade flowers. While there are many specialty florists that offer fair trade or eco-friendly flowers, this is a new step for these mainstream flower companies, and a victory for both labor rights' activists and ethical consumers.Cut Flowers: A Thorny IndustryThe cut flower industry has come under attack in recent years by activist groups such as Change.org, who have exposed the inhumane working conditions and environmental hazards of flower farms. Most cut flowers are grown outside of the U.S. in countries such as Ecuador and Columbia, where severe violations of labor rights and human rights have been reported. Choosing Fair Trade flowers means your money goes to support flower farms that pay their workers a fair wage and provide safe working conditions.The New Fair Trade FlowersFTD has introduced five rose bouquets that are Fair Trade certified. The Fair Trade roses are slightly more expensive than non-Fair Trade bouquets, but not so much they should persuade consumers away from the ethical choice. There are certainly still far more non-Fair Trade bouquets available from FTD, but it's a start. FTD also offers eight other eco-friendly bouquets, some of which are certified by Rainforest Alliance or Veriflora, two eco-labeling organizations that evaluate environmental impact.Following in FTD's footsteps, 1-800-FLOWERS, currently the largest online florist, has recently announced they will introduce a line of Fair Trade flowers for Mother's Day 2011. In addition to the new Fair Trade bouquets, both FTD and 1-800-FLOWERS have agreed to be more transparent about their flower sources, and to develop standards for their suppliers that will reduce the labor abuses of the cut flower industry.This is not the first time 1-800-FLOWERS has offered Fair Trade flowers. Back in 2008, the company introduced a small line of Fair Trade flowers and organic gift baskets, calling them "Planet Friendly" selections, but the line was discontinued. Only 72 hours after Change.org launched their petition against 1-800-FLOWERS in 2011, the company responded and agreed to reintroduce Fair Trade flowers. Perhaps under the watchful eye of Change.org, 1-800-FLOWERS will not falter in their good intentions this time around.Photo Credit: Athena's Pix]]>http://www.justmeans.com/The-Lowdown-on-the-Brazilian-Blowout/48449.htmlFri, 15 Apr 2011 13:23:01 GMTAkhila Vijayaraghavan Reports of formaldehyde in the Brazilian Blowout finally reached the tipping point when theUS Department of Health and Laborissued a health alert to hair salon owners and employees who have been exposed to formaldehyde, even though the hair straightening product was marketed as formaldehyde-free. The alert was issued following investigations by theOccupational Safety and Health AdministrationinOregonandCaliforniaas well as Connecticut Department of Public Health.OSHA says their alert is merely a Read Full Article ]]> Reports of formaldehyde in the Brazilian Blowout finally reached the tipping point when theUS Department of Health and Laborissued a health alert to hair salon owners and employees who have been exposed to formaldehyde, even though the hair straightening product was marketed as formaldehyde-free. The alert was issued following investigations by theOccupational Safety and Health AdministrationinOregonandCaliforniaas well as Connecticut Department of Public Health.OSHA says their alert is merely a recommendation on how workers can protect themselves and will continue investigating the matter with the FDA and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.The Brazilian Blowout is a hair-straightening treatment that was first introduced in Brazil in 2005. It is a method of temporarily straightening hair using a mixture of keratin and other chemicals with a flat iron. In North America and Europe it is available in several brands and the process often contains varying levels of formaldehyde. The EPA classifies formaldehyde as a probable carcinogen. It is not only harmful to the customers who opt for the treatment but it also affects the stylists.Formaldehydeis easily absorbed by the body when inhaled, ingested, or comes into contact with the skin and eyes. Exposure to formaldehyde can lead to death, blindness, eye and skin irritation or burns, respiratory problems, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and cancer.It is also known to cause birth defects. When used in the Brazilian Blowout, where it getsaerosolized, it facilitates easy inhalation into the lungs and contact with skin.Canadian authorities issued a warning about possible health hazards of formaldehyde. France has pulled products with high levels of formaldehyde. In Oregon, the occupational health agency tested 100 samples and found many labeled "formaldehyde free" had more than the 0.1% of the chemical allowed in U.S. products.Brazilian Blowout continues to maintain that their products are 100% safe, contain no harsh chemicals, and are formaldehyde-free. They have released their ownMaterial Safety Data Sheet(MSDS) outlining the safety of the Brazilian Blowout Solution. Despite its safety claims, Brazilian Blowout refuses to release their product's ingredient list, as required by law, on the basis that a patent is pending on their formulation and their product's ingredients are privileged and confidential company information. Despite providing no evidence to support such claims, Brazilian Blowout continues to aggressively market their products as 100% safe and formaldehyde free.Many stylists report that regular use of formaldehyde treatments cause hair to fall out. The price of beauty is indeed steep but it need not be foolish.Photo Credit: Brazilian Blowout ]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Greenpeace-Names-Groceries-That-Sell-Sustainable-Seafood/48366.htmlTue, 12 Apr 2011 10:49:41 GMTSarena Ulibarri Greenpeace has released their 2011 Carting Away the Oceans report, which includes an updated Supermarket Score Card. This score card reveals which supermarkets are doing the most for the sustainable seafood market, and which ones are lagging behind.The CriteriaGreenpeace first released the Carting Away the Oceans report in 2008 to bring awareness to the issue of sustainable seafood, and to encourage retailers to use their purchasing power to support seafood that is not over-fished or fished in w Read Full Article ]]> Greenpeace has released their 2011 Carting Away the Oceans report, which includes an updated Supermarket Score Card. This score card reveals which supermarkets are doing the most for the sustainable seafood market, and which ones are lagging behind.The CriteriaGreenpeace first released the Carting Away the Oceans report in 2008 to bring awareness to the issue of sustainable seafood, and to encourage retailers to use their purchasing power to support seafood that is not over-fished or fished in ways that damage the environment. Greenpeace actively campaigned against supermarkets such as Trader Joe's and Costco, and succeeded in convincing these grocers to change their sustainable seafood policies.Some of the primary issues considered in evaluating each supermarket's seafood sources include the use of destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling, conservation status of fish species and transparency of supply chain. Greenpeace is especially concerned with the sale of fish such as orange roughy, shark and hoki, and all of the supermarkets that ranked highly on the 2011 Supermarket Score Card have eliminated the sale of these red-listed species.Who Makes the Cut?Greenpeace's Supermarket Score Card is ranked numerically and is also color-coded, with "red" as the worst, "orange" as better and "green" as best. Although many grocers have been moving up in Greenpeace's rating system over the last few years, not a single one yet achieves a "green" rating. According to the organization, there is still a long way to go to save our oceans.At the top of the list is Safeway, followed closely by Target and Wegmans. Whole Foods and Ahold round out the top five. The top five groceries for sustainable seafood are the same as the 2010 report, but Safeway climbed from number four in 2010 to number one in 2011. Other big-name groceries in the top fifteen include HEB, Price Chopper, Costco, and Kroger, all of which moved from a "red" rating in 2010 to an "orange" rating in 2011. Supermarkets still marked "red" include Giant Eagle, Supervalu and Winn-Dixie.As part of the Carting Away the Oceans report, Greenpeace offers a detailed profile of each supermarket, and outlines suggestions for what each grocery company must do in order to increase their rating on next year's Supermarket Score Card. For example, in order to achieve a "green" rating in 2012, Greenpeace encourages Safeway to revise their canned tuna policy, eliminate the sale of yellowfin tuna, and support fisheries that use clean aquaculture practices. Details about each supermarket are available on the report, and Greenpeace will keep working with supermarkets to improve sustainable seafood policies.Photo Credit: woody1778a]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Target-Signs-Agreement-For-Ethically-Sourced-Gold-Jewelry/48245.htmlWed, 06 Apr 2011 13:34:58 GMTSarena Ulibarri Target is the latest retailer to join the "No Dirty Gold" campaign by making a pledge to only source gold from mines that are socially and environmentally responsible. Target's commitment came after pressure from both "No Dirty Gold" and Change.org.Target Signs The Golden RulesTarget's commitment to ethically sourced gold will affect the supply chain for their gold jewelry, and possibly some electronics as well. The guidelines for ethical gold sourcing established by Earthwork's "No Dirty Gold" Read Full Article ]]> Target is the latest retailer to join the "No Dirty Gold" campaign by making a pledge to only source gold from mines that are socially and environmentally responsible. Target's commitment came after pressure from both "No Dirty Gold" and Change.org.Target Signs The Golden RulesTarget's commitment to ethically sourced gold will affect the supply chain for their gold jewelry, and possibly some electronics as well. The guidelines for ethical gold sourcing established by Earthwork's "No Dirty Gold" campaign, called the "Golden Rules," address issues in gold mining such as working conditions, military conflict, waste management, environmental impact and transparency of ethical information. The campaign hopes that pressure from big-name retailers such as Target will cause more gold mines to adopt better ethical standards.Gold is mined in diverse locations such as Alaska, Ghana, Peru and Romania. According to "No Dirty Gold," most raw material for gold jewelry is sourced from mining operations that violate human rights and pollute the environment. Target, and other companies who have signed the "Golden Rules," will only buy from gold sources that do not dump their mining wastes into local waterways, do not force local people off their native land and do not use forced labor. "No Dirty Gold" claims that the change in supply chain should not cause a change in consumer prices.Target's commitment to ethically sourced gold is part of Target's larger sustainability efforts, which also include stocking sustainable seafood and working toward more sustainable packaging. On their sustainability website "Here For Good," Target claims they are committed to ethical sourcing of all their products. Target will not buy from vendors that engage in child labor, and urges their sources to provide workers a fair wage. On the Global 1000 list, which ranks companies based on corporate responsibility, Target ranked number 519 in 2009."No Dirty Gold" Moves On To a New TargetThe "No Dirty Gold" campaign, run by the conservation group Earthworks, began championing ethical gold in 2004 and published the "Golden Rules Report" in 2007. More than 70 other retailers have signed the "No Dirty Gold" agreement, including Helzberg Diamonds, JC Penny, Tiffany and Co., and QVC. Now that Target has signed, Change.org has turned their attention on Costco. Change.org is a petitioning site that supports "No Dirty Gold," and at the time of this article, more than 25,000 people have signed the petition urging Costco to commit to ethically sourced gold.Photo Credit: Elsie esq.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Evian-s-New-Water-Bottle-Contains-Recycled-Plastic/48055.htmlFri, 01 Apr 2011 09:02:35 GMTSarena Ulibarri Evian recently announced a new design for their plastic water bottles that will help the company reduce their environmental impact. The new bottles are lighter weight and include recycled plastic. Evian is making an effort to join the sustainability movement, but will it be enough to convince bottled water critics?Evian's New DesignThe new Evian bottle design, which was announced in March 2011, contains 50% recycled PET and uses 11% less plastic than the previous bottle design. The bottle design Read Full Article ]]> Evian recently announced a new design for their plastic water bottles that will help the company reduce their environmental impact. The new bottles are lighter weight and include recycled plastic. Evian is making an effort to join the sustainability movement, but will it be enough to convince bottled water critics?Evian's New DesignThe new Evian bottle design, which was announced in March 2011, contains 50% recycled PET and uses 11% less plastic than the previous bottle design. The bottle design is part of Evian's larger sustainability strategy to reduce their carbon emissions 40% by the end of 2011. The new Evian bottles are still 100% recyclable, and Evian hopes that their lighter, more compact-able design will encourage consumers to recycle, since the bottles will take up less space in recycling bins.Evian's new bottles made from recycled plastic will help the company compete with other bottled water brands such as Aquafina, which will soon release bottles made completely from renewable plant-based plastic, and Dasani, which is currently using the PlantBottle design that includes 30% plant-based plastic.Criticism of Bottled WaterThe new bottle design will reduce the company's environmental impact, but critics of bottled water are unlikely to be swayed by Evian's new development. The bottled water industry has come under attack from both consumers and environmentalists who claim the product is unnecessary and wasteful. Although bottled water advertising tells consumers the water is fresh and natural, according to the 2011 Bottled Water Scorecard released by the Environmental Working Group, many bottled water companies, including Evian, do not publicly release information about their purification and water treatment methods.Aside from carbon emissions created in the production of plastic bottles, much of the environmental impact of bottled water is in the hands of consumers who choose whether or not to recycle empty water bottles. After all, just because a plastic bottle is 100% recyclable doesn't mean 100% of consumers will recycle it. According to the EPA, the US recycling rate for PET bottles, such as those sold by Evian and other bottled water manufacturers, was 28% in 2009, meaning that only 28% of the PET plastic bottles produced were recovered for recycling.Despite criticism, bottled water companies such as Evian are holding strong and continuing to sell their bottles, although Worldwatch Institute claims the growth of the bottled water industry has been slowing in recent years. The recycled material used in the new Evian bottles makes them a little more eco-friendly. Whether or not that's enough is up for debate.Photo Credit: stevendepolo]]>http://www.justmeans.com/The-Modern-Pepsi-Vs-Coke-Debate--Which-Is-Greener/48022.htmlThu, 31 Mar 2011 14:27:35 GMTSarena Ulibarri Back in the 1980s and 90s, the cola wars between Pepsi and Coca-Cola were based on taste and style. Which cola tastes better? Which company is more in touch with pop culture? But 21st century consumers are asking different questions. Which company is doing more to reduce their environmental impact?The Battle of the Plant-based BottlesThe most recent development in the green cola wars is the creation of the plant-based plastic bottle. In 2009, Coca-Cola introduced the PlantBottle, a plastic bottl Read Full Article ]]> Back in the 1980s and 90s, the cola wars between Pepsi and Coca-Cola were based on taste and style. Which cola tastes better? Which company is more in touch with pop culture? But 21st century consumers are asking different questions. Which company is doing more to reduce their environmental impact?The Battle of the Plant-based BottlesThe most recent development in the green cola wars is the creation of the plant-based plastic bottle. In 2009, Coca-Cola introduced the PlantBottle, a plastic bottle containing 30% renewable plant-based material. That 30% is made from sugarcane grown in Brazil, while the other 70% of the material for Coca-Cola plastic bottles comes from fossil fuels, as does most of the plastic currently produced. In 2011, PepsiCo announced their competition to Coca-Cola's PlantBottle: a plastic bottle made from 100% renewable plant-based material that is identical to traditional plastic bottles in appearance and function. PepsiCo will release their renewable plastic bottles in 2012 and plans for full-scale production after a short pilot run. PepsiCo's plant-based bottles are made from corn husks, switch grass and pine bark, so they've also eliminated the need to import foreign materials like Coca-Cola's Brazilian sugarcane.The Cola Wars ContinueThe winner of this battle is clearly PepsiCo, but the war isn't over yet. The Coca Cola Company's plan for their PlantBottle was to incorporate plant-based material into all of their product packaging by 2020, but now that PepsiCo has harnessed the technology to create a 100% plant-based bottle, Coca-Cola may soon break onto the battlefield with new tactics.Keep in mind that both The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo are corporate giants with numerous brand labels under each of their umbrellas. Some of their sustainability policies are company wide, while others are limited to individual products. This article addresses one only aspect of their sustainability efforts, and a more detailed analysis of each company's carbon emissions, water usage, and other corporate responsibility factors may show one company to be greener than the other overall. Both PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company are highly ranked on the Global 1000 list, which rates companies based the sort of detailed analysis previously described. In 2009, Coca-Cola ranked number 113, beating out PepsiCo at 169. Consumers will need to check back with Justmeans for updated ratings to see if those numbers have shifted with recent developments.Photo Credit: gongus]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Sustainable-Packaging-Videos-Demand-Biodegradable-Lip-Balm-Tubes--Egg-Cartons-and-More/47940.htmlWed, 30 Mar 2011 14:27:11 GMTSarena Ulibarri The winners of the first pkg Sustainable Packaging Challenge were recently announced on Justmeans. Participants were invited to submit a one minute video about an unsustainable packaging design that could be replaced with sustainable packaging such as pkg Industries' PaperFoam. The winner received a $1,000 prize.The Winning VideosWinners for the Sustainable Packaging Challenge were chosen based on creativity, quality and the number of votes they received. The winning video was posted by Micaela Read Full Article ]]> The winners of the first pkg Sustainable Packaging Challenge were recently announced on Justmeans. Participants were invited to submit a one minute video about an unsustainable packaging design that could be replaced with sustainable packaging such as pkg Industries' PaperFoam. The winner received a $1,000 prize.The Winning VideosWinners for the Sustainable Packaging Challenge were chosen based on creativity, quality and the number of votes they received. The winning video was posted by Micaela Kennedy and called out Target for unsustainable tea kettle packaging. Francis T. Roughan, Sustainability & Social Enterprise Director for pkg Industries, told Justmeans that he plans to speak with Target about the issue raised in this video during an upcoming Sustainable Packaging Coalition meeting.A close runner up in the Sustainable Packaging Challenge was Leanne Do, who posted a creative video asking Ballard Organics Lip Balm to change their unsustainable plastic tube design to something more sustainable, such as biodegradable PaperFoam. Other notable videos from the contest included Sarah Gallagher's stop motion animation video about Nature's Yoke egg cartons, and Kathyrn Long's clay animation short about packaging waste from JC Penny's, which Francis T. Roughan said was his personal favorite from the contest.The Sustainable Packaging Challenge was the first of its kind, but pkg Industries plans to sponsor another contest this summer, so check back soon with Justmeans to learn about the new Sustainable Packaging Challenge.About PaperFoamMany of the videos in the Sustainable Packaging Challenge mention PaperFoam, a sustainable packaging solution created by pkg Industries. PaperFoam is made from natural, renewable resources such as natural fibre and starch, and is biodegradable, unlike the plastic packaging so often attacked in the Challenge videos. The carbon emissions created from the production of PaperFoam are up to 70% less than carbon emissions from the creation of plastic packaging, making it an excellent choice for eco-conscious companies. PaperFoam is lightweight and can be recycled with other paper products. The molding technology of PaperFoam is versatile enough to fit almost any product, including jewelry, compact discs, electronics and much more. Big-name companies such as Apple, Nike and Motorola are already using sustainable PaperFoam packaging from pkg Industries.Photo Credit: ds-foto :: bembelkandidat]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Earth-Hour---quot-60-Minutes-of-Darkness-to-See-the-Light-quot-/47729.htmlFri, 25 Mar 2011 14:27:19 GMTAkhila Vijayaraghavan A quick Google for Earth Hour produces nearly 7000 hits in the news section alone, so why am I adding to the deluge? Earth Hour is probably WWF's most successful campaign. Like most successful campaigns it has become a movement in its own right. Many businesses want to associate themselves with Earth Hour. City councils are eager 'to switch off' for an hour. It has garnered scores of celebrity support.It has even prompted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to say,"Let us join together to celebrate Read Full Article ]]> A quick Google for Earth Hour produces nearly 7000 hits in the news section alone, so why am I adding to the deluge? Earth Hour is probably WWF's most successful campaign. Like most successful campaigns it has become a movement in its own right. Many businesses want to associate themselves with Earth Hour. City councils are eager 'to switch off' for an hour. It has garnered scores of celebrity support.It has even prompted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to say,"Let us join together to celebrate this shared quest to protect the planet and ensure human well-being. Let us use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light." It has gather political support from UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Hundreds of millions of people in 133 countries and territories across the globe are expected to switch off their lights at 8:30pm local time tomorrow, Saturday 26 March. In a series of video messages posted to YouTube, world leaders have pledged their support for the world's largest voluntary environmental action. People will be holding al fresco gigs in candle-light. Every guy with a guitar will be singing 'Heal the World' for that one hour of glorious darkness. Then we all go home... There will still be places in the world plunged in darkness because there simply isn't enoughresourcesto generate electricity whilst in another part of it, there will still be an obscene waste of it. Regular 'load-shedding' in India means power outages that last up to three hours a day that not only affect business productivity but also affect the study timetables of millions of children. The country is in the midst of final examinations for school leaving and summer is fast approaching - lack of electricity means lack of sleep or not enough revision time.Whilst in Las Vegas both Lady Gaga and Britney Spears are said to light up the already lit up Strip.Earth Hour is great as it affirms that people can come together for the common good. It makes you feel like you're doing something worthwhile with your time. But seriously, an hour? The Earth needs more than hour of serious, consolidated effort to mitigate current levels of damage and even then, we don't know. Not to be a total party-pooper, but Earth Hour on some level encourages mass hypocrisy. It makes people believe that environmental consciousness is something you can pen into your social calendar. The time for raising awareness is well past us. It is time now, for action. It is time for the greatest kind of courage to fight what is possibly a losing battle.So today I wish for every hour to be Earth Hour, every day to be Earth Day. Find me a campaign that encourages that. Because really, it shouldn't be any other way.Photo Credit: Earth Hour Poster. WWF ]]>http://www.justmeans.com/A-Smartphone-App-To-Help-End-Child-Labor/47622.htmlFri, 25 Mar 2011 09:00:02 GMTSarena Ulibarri Do you know where your jeans or your child's favorite toy came from, before they landed on that shelf in your neighborhood store? Would it make a difference in your shopping habits if you could tell, with just a quick check on your smartphone, that the dress you're about to buy was made with slave labor? Free2Work thinks so.A Digital Abolition MovementFree2Work is a new smartphone application sponsored by the International Labor Rights Forum, and it allows consumers easy access to information ab Read Full Article ]]> Do you know where your jeans or your child's favorite toy came from, before they landed on that shelf in your neighborhood store? Would it make a difference in your shopping habits if you could tell, with just a quick check on your smartphone, that the dress you're about to buy was made with slave labor? Free2Work thinks so.A Digital Abolition MovementFree2Work is a new smartphone application sponsored by the International Labor Rights Forum, and it allows consumers easy access to information about the quality of labor used to create the products on store shelves. Specifically, Free2Work wants consumers to support companies who do not use child labor or forced labor in their supply chains, and to avoid companies that do. By using the Free2Work smartphone app, consumers can make informed choices about ethical shopping.Free2Work assigns grades to companies on an A to F scale, based on each company's policy and record regarding child labor or forced labor. Companies that receive an A are actively working to prevent slave labor practices and have a strong record with workers' rights. Companies that receive an F are not actively working to protect the workers in their supply chain, and products from F companies have a high chance of having been made with forced labor. The B, C and D grades are appropriately tiered between these two extremes.The Free2Work app for iPhone was introduced in December 2010. At the time of this article, the Android version has not yet been released, but is in development and may be available in the near future. Consumers without an iPhone can access company grades through the Free2Work website.Who Makes The Grade?Free2Work users can find products by searching company names or browsing categories. Products indexed by Free2Work are divided into 20 categories, some of which include accessories, digital cameras, kids & babies, outerwear, toys, and TV & video. The Free2Work app currently tracks more than 40 companies, including big names such as Apple, Adidas, Levi-Strauss, Sketchers and Wal-Mart.So who makes the grade in Free2Work's rating system? There are very few A's in the list. Adidas receives an A-, while Levi-Strauss, Nike and Gap are rated B. Companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Apple receive C's, while Amazon, ProFlowers and Sunkist each get a D-. Free2Work expects to update the smartphone app as new companies are graded, and as companies change their forced labor policies.The Free2Work ratings are based on information made public by corporate responsibility reports and the International Labor Rights Forum. Supply chains are complicated, and the information used to create the Free2Work ratings may be incomplete. But even as an imperfect tool, the Free2Work smartphone app is a valuable resource for ethical consumers.Photo Credit: liewcf]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Seafood-Watch-Launches-Android-App-to-Boost-Sustainable-Seafood-Consumption/47608.htmlThu, 24 Mar 2011 14:47:00 GMTAkhila Vijayaraghavan The Monterey Bay guide to sustainable seafood is a great resource to figure out the most sustainable seafood species to eat. However it is still a pocket-guide and like most things, you tend not to have it on you when you most need it. No worries anymore because in addition to an iPhone app that was launched last year, the Seafood Watch guide is now available for Android users.So imagine you are eating out and are unsure whether menu choices are sustainable or not. Or you are at the supermarket Read Full Article ]]> The Monterey Bay guide to sustainable seafood is a great resource to figure out the most sustainable seafood species to eat. However it is still a pocket-guide and like most things, you tend not to have it on you when you most need it. No worries anymore because in addition to an iPhone app that was launched last year, the Seafood Watch guide is now available for Android users.So imagine you are eating out and are unsure whether menu choices are sustainable or not. Or you are at the supermarket and you don't know what to buy. Using this application on your phone, you can have all the information about sustainable seafood right with you.The application allows users to search by fish or seafood name to see whether it is ranked as a "best choice," "good alternative," or "avoid" depending on how sustainably caught or farmed it is. It even contains different names for the fish. If you are eating sushi, you can also put in the Japanese names for what you fancy to get information on where it comes from and how it is farmed or fished. This list also includes includes information for the various kinds of tuna and what to avoid.The latest addition to the app is Project FishMap which is a "crowdsourced effort to help people find ocean-friendly seafood, no matter where they live." People can tag restaurants and markets across the United States when they find ocean-friendly seafood. This is an easy way to search for sustainable sushi bars or seafood restaurants near you. You can also share your knowledge of sustainable seafood restaurants and markets to increase the database. "With Project FishMap, anyone who buys sustainable seafood can now share their discoveries via the Android app," says Sheila Bowman, senior outreach manager for the Seafood Watch program.The Seafood Watch guide has changed the way that people think about sustainable seafood. It has become a very useful tool in making the right choice. Like other mobile phone apps aimed towards ethical consumption, this app also can make waves with many people.Since Project FishMap was added to the popular iPhone app in December 2010, more than 1,200 individuals have logged over 2,100 seafood recommendations from over 400 cities. The Seafood Watch app is also available free for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and has been downloaded over 585,000 times since its debut in 2009. So here's to hoping for the same kind of success for their Android app as well. Photo:Project FishMap iPhone App]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Adidas-Aims-for-Sustainable-Cotton/47604.htmlThu, 24 Mar 2011 13:54:40 GMTSarena Ulibarri Cotton is one of the world's most widely used crops, and the apparel company Adidas wants to make sure the cotton in their products comes from cotton farms that don't harm the environment or the people who harvest the cotton. In March 2011, Adidas announced their strategy to switch to sustainable cotton.Cotton From Sustainable SourcesAdidas is switching to sustainable cotton over a seven-year time-line. By 2015, 40% of the cotton used in Adidas products will come from a sustainable source. By 20 Read Full Article ]]> Cotton is one of the world's most widely used crops, and the apparel company Adidas wants to make sure the cotton in their products comes from cotton farms that don't harm the environment or the people who harvest the cotton. In March 2011, Adidas announced their strategy to switch to sustainable cotton.Cotton From Sustainable SourcesAdidas is switching to sustainable cotton over a seven-year time-line. By 2015, 40% of the cotton used in Adidas products will come from a sustainable source. By 2018, the company expects 100% of their cotton to be sustainable. Adidas will not produce specialized products that contain only sustainable cotton, but by 2018, sustainable cotton will be the standard for all apparel manufactured by Adidas.Much of the world's cotton is farmed by workers who do not receive fair wages or fair treatment, and may even be a result of child and/or slave labor. Irrigation and pesticide practices in cotton farming can compromise the viability of the soil and local water systems. In an effort to use cotton that does not promote these non-sustainable practices, Adidas plans to source their cotton through the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI).The Better Cotton Initiative aims to decrease the health and environmental impact of water and pesticide use in cotton farming, improve conditions for cotton workers, and help the supply chain for cotton be more transparent so companies know where their cotton is coming from. The BCI is currently making a difference in cotton farms in Brazil, India, Pakistan and West Africa, and hopes to move into China by 2012. The BCI receives their funding from a variety of sources, including conservation groups such as World Wildlife Fund, labor rights organizations such as Farmers Associates Pakistan, and apparel manufacturers such as Adidas, Levi-Stauss and Nike.Adidas' Larger Sustainability EffortsAdidas AG, based out of Germany, ranked number 423 on the 2009 Global 1000 list, which evaluates companies based on corporate responsibility. Adidas AG products, including apparel, footwear and sports equipment are marketed under the brands adidas, Reebok, Rockport and TaylorMade-adidas Golf.Cotton is not the only aspect of their supply chain that Adidas is interested in making more sustainable. Adidas is working to source their leather from more sustainable sources, also with a 2015 target, and is looking to reduce their power and water usage. Adidas is a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, an organization comprised of both apparel corporations and non-profit conservation groups that are attempting to reduce the environmental impact of the apparel industry's supply chain.Photo Credit: Blundstoneboy]]>http://www.justmeans.com/A-Look-Around-on-World-Water-Day/47450.htmlTue, 22 Mar 2011 11:27:45 GMTAkhila Vijayaraghavan Today is World Water Day and this precious resource that pretty much everybody takes for granted, is in serious peril. Water is a non-renewable resource and yet we treat it like its never going to run out. In spite of the fact that 70% of the Earth is covered in water, only a minor fraction of that is potable. Every part of the world is showing signs of major water stress and it is about time that we all pitch in to make an effort to conserve this precious resource.The situation is especially di Read Full Article ]]> Today is World Water Day and this precious resource that pretty much everybody takes for granted, is in serious peril. Water is a non-renewable resource and yet we treat it like its never going to run out. In spite of the fact that 70% of the Earth is covered in water, only a minor fraction of that is potable. Every part of the world is showing signs of major water stress and it is about time that we all pitch in to make an effort to conserve this precious resource.The situation is especially dire in Asian and African countries. In addition to pollution, inadequate rainfall and lack of proper infrastructure means that people do not have access to drinking water.16 million Filipinos have no access to safe drinking water. According to the World Bank,Pakistan is on the list of countries of the world that are facing the red zone of water scarcity. People in Nairobi do not have regular access to water, sometimes for more than a week. Even bigger cities in India like Bangalore and Hyderabad show severe water stress. The government is even considering cloud seeing to alleviate some of the water woes in Bangalore. With summer fast approaching, residents are beginning to wonder where the water will come from in Agra. The water scarcity in Nepal has been described as "horrifying." Parts of PeruespeciallyLima are in danger of running dry. Many parts of China along theYangtze show advanced levels of water pollution.Even Southern California is not immune to water crisis.California's water system, designed to supply water to 16 million people, struggles to serve nearly 40 million residents. The state loses 10% of its water every year due to aging infrastructure. The federal government estimates water lost just from water main breaks is worth about $2.6 billion annually.Wasted water not only results in economic losses but in times of water shortage we must treat every drop as a precious commodity. Many cities are pushing forward towards more positive changes in water infrastructure and are learning from the Dutch.With 26% of the country below sea level, several Dutch companies are focusing efforts on projects on delta areas in five countries:Mozambique,Egypt,Indonesia,BangladeshandVietnam.Out of a population of 16.5 million, the Netherlands boasts some 2,000 companies in the field of water, employing about 80,000 people.The World Bank estimates that $180bn ofwaterinfrastructure investment is needed each year until 2030 to meet fresh-water demand.Water needs a revolution much like renewable energy. And several companies are stepping forward with innovative technologies.Norwegian-based Zeropex, has developed a hydro micro gen technology which harvests the energy produced from a controlled reduction in water pressure and converts it to electricity, which can then be used by the utility or exported to the grid. Icos Capital has invested in Dutch Rainmaker, a company combining windmill and cooling technologies to produce water from air. UK-based Algaecytes, uses algae to produce clean water from waste water.At the end of the day it is a collective effort that is going to safeguard our water resources. Careful use of current supplies as well as prudent plans for possible future supplies.Regardlessof whether you have experienced it or not, water stress is real and here to stay.Photo Credit: Poster for World Water Day 2011]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Sustainable-Seafood-App-Now-Available-For-Android/47456.htmlTue, 22 Mar 2011 09:33:55 GMTSarena Ulibarri If you have an Android smartphone, you now have access to a free app that can help save the world's oceans. The Seafood Watch app, now available for Android, provides an easy-to-navigate guide for which fish species to avoid and which restaurants source their seafood from sustainable sources.About the Sustainable Seafood Smartphone App Seafood Watch's sustainable seafood application has previously been available for iPhone, but the Android version was launched in late March 2011. The app may be Read Full Article ]]> If you have an Android smartphone, you now have access to a free app that can help save the world's oceans. The Seafood Watch app, now available for Android, provides an easy-to-navigate guide for which fish species to avoid and which restaurants source their seafood from sustainable sources.About the Sustainable Seafood Smartphone App Seafood Watch's sustainable seafood application has previously been available for iPhone, but the Android version was launched in late March 2011. The app may be downloaded onto Android smartphones that are version 1.6 or later (if you don't know your version, check your phone's settings).Seafood Watch is a conservation project run by Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. Seafood Watch publishes seafood lists sorted into the categories "Best Choices," "Good Alternatives" and "Avoid" to helps consumers make smart choices with their seafood purchases. Categorization is determined by the conservation status of each fish species, as well as the environmental impact of the fishing or farming techniques used to harvest them. Factors such as mercury exposure are also considered.By using the Seafood Watch app for Android, you will be able to access those seafood lists so you can make the environmentally-friendly choice when purchasing seafood at the grocery or ordering in a restaurant. The lists will be updated whenever Seafood Watch adds new information.But the best part of the Seafood Watch app for Android is the interactive Project Fishmap, a feature that uses GPS technology to find which restaurants in your area source their seafood from sustainable fisheries. Project Fishmap allows users to add or update information about local restaurants, so if you know of a restaurant that serves sustainable seafood but is not included in Project Fishmap, you can add it to the list. In addition to downloading the Android app, you will need to create a free account with Project Fishmap to contribute information.Not The Only Seafood App, But The BestThe Seafood Watch app for Android is not the only one of its kind. Other sustainable seafood resources for Android users include "The Green Seafood Guide," which uses information from the Monterey Bay Aquarium (but is not officially sanctioned by the aquarium or the Seafood Watch program) and "Mercury in Seafood," which informs consumers about seafood products containing high mercury levels that could be dangerous to health. These sustainable seafood apps, and others, were created before the Seafood Watch app was available for Android. The Seafood Watch app has been quite popular on the iPhone, and should see similar success on Android.Photo Credit: Augapfel]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Green-Living--The-Quest-for-a-Balanced-Energy-Portfolio/47283.htmlSat, 19 Mar 2011 12:39:23 GMTAkhila Vijayaraghavan Since the earthquake a week ago affected the nuclear reactor in Fukushima, government officials have been doing everything they can to contain the damage.Just earlier todayJapan raised severity of nuclear accident to INES level 5(out of 7), like 1979's Three Mile Island. By comparison, the Chernobyl accident was a level 7 event. The scale classifies a level 5 event as an "accident with wider consequences". In addition to this,Gregory Jaczko, the chairman of the United States Nuclear Regulatory C Read Full Article ]]> Since the earthquake a week ago affected the nuclear reactor in Fukushima, government officials have been doing everything they can to contain the damage.Just earlier todayJapan raised severity of nuclear accident to INES level 5(out of 7), like 1979's Three Mile Island. By comparison, the Chernobyl accident was a level 7 event. The scale classifies a level 5 event as an "accident with wider consequences". In addition to this,Gregory Jaczko, the chairman of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said thatthe problems at Fukushima I could take "weeks" to work through. All this has brought the debate of nuclear power to the fore-front once again.The debate has firmly put nuclear vs coal vs renewable energy in discussions. George Monbiot weighs in by saying, "Even whennuclear powerplants go horribly wrong, they do less damage to the planet and its people than coal-burning stations operating normally." He goes on to state an article in Scientific American that, "points out that the fly ash produced by a coal-burning power plant "carries into the surrounding environment 100 times more radiation than a nuclear power plant producing the same amount of energy". A recent article in The Economist points out that in spite of the dangers of nuclear power, "nuclear power plants are a lot safer than they used to be, and they don't emit any CO2; countries that rely heavily on nuclear power, like France and Japan, are vastly lower per capita emitters of carbon than countries like the United States and Canada."Many countries pushing for nuclear, like India for example have used Japan as a reason for extended debates on the subject. India's Environmental Minister recently said that India should not abandon its plan to invest in nuclear power. He pointed out that nuclear energy already contributes 3% of the country's power supply the objective is to double this to 6% by 2020 and 13% by 2030. Environmental groups including Greenpeace have been opposing this move. They have pointed out that renewable energy offers the chance to reach the masses through decentralized power generation schemes. The fact remains that developing countries are in severe need of power and governments are struggling to meet this demand. The conundrum of meeting growingelectricityneeds as well as emission targets is one that does not have an easy answer.It is not wise to swing one way or the other. The aim of every country in need of new power should be a balanced energy portfolio. Not one that sways too much in the favour of either renewables, coal or nuclear. It should keep everyone happy, but how long is this going to take? And who's going to do it?]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Green-Living--Vegan-Goes-Mainstream/47237.htmlFri, 18 Mar 2011 15:47:06 GMTAkhila Vijayaraghavan A couple of days ago, the Arizona Daily Star declared that "Vegan Goes Mainstream". Pretty much every other environmental website talks about veganism on a daily basis. Many people have embraced the vegan lifestyle extending it to even include the clothes they wear. It has become less hippy and more mainstream.The vegan cookbook "Skinny B****" was on the New York Times best-seller list and it launched vegan cooking into the mainstream. Vegan staples like brown rice, tempeh and tofu are no longer Read Full Article ]]> A couple of days ago, the Arizona Daily Star declared that "Vegan Goes Mainstream". Pretty much every other environmental website talks about veganism on a daily basis. Many people have embraced the vegan lifestyle extending it to even include the clothes they wear. It has become less hippy and more mainstream.The vegan cookbook "Skinny B****" was on the New York Times best-seller list and it launched vegan cooking into the mainstream. Vegan staples like brown rice, tempeh and tofu are no longer available only inspecialtystores. Many restaurants offer and promote vegan dishes on their menus. Veganism has been further advocated by celebrities like Natalie Portman, Alicia Silverstone, Emily Deschanel etc.In a 2009 survey, advocates at the not-for-profit Vegetarian Resource Group reported about 1% of Americans are vegan, roughly a third of the people who reported being vegetarians. A separate survey released last year by the same group found a similar breakdown for Americans from 8 to 18.Veganism definitely offers many benefits. Not only is it environmentally more attractive, it is also lower in fat, making it ideal for the weight-conscious. Many cultural sects do extol the benefits of a meat-free diet. However, animals products and meat has historically been part of human diet.It is true that we are eating a lot more meat than we used to across the board. This phenomenon is on the rise not just in America but also in countries like China and Brazil. This has invariably put a lot of environmental stress. It can be argued that eating meat alone is not responsible for this but how livestock is raised. On the flip side, it has been found that a vegan diet can come its own set of environmental issues.Recently,Cranfield University in the UK released a study that found that, "switching from British-bred beef and lamb to meat substitutes imported from abroad such as tofu and Quorn would increase the amount of land cultivated, raising the risk of forests being destroyed." According to the WWF, production of meatsubstitutescan be energy intensive. They also concluded that, "a switch from beef and milk to highly refined livestock product analogues such as tofu could actually increase the quantity of arable land needed to supply the UK."There are also health concerns about soy and soy-based products which are the most common vegan protein-substitute. Naturallyoccurringphytoestrogens in soy are said to be harmful and excessive consumption can lead to hormonal imbalance and certain cancers. The other issue is that a vegan diet lacks in many essential nutrients if it is not properly balanced. The health concerns surrounding a diet high in meat has an obviously bigger rap sheet which is why many Governments are taking a proactive stance to introduce a more 'meat-easy' diet.Through initiatives like Meatless Mondays and even proposals for introducing a 'meat-tax', vegetarianism and veganism are rapidly becoming attractive options.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Woolworths-Launches-Sustainable-Seafood-Plan/47238.htmlFri, 18 Mar 2011 14:19:20 GMTSarena Ulibarri Major Australian supermarket Woolworths is committing to sustainable seafood with their new sustainable fish sourcing strategy, announced in March 2011. This strategy includes the removal of overfished species and an assessment of current seafood sources.Woolworths' Three-Part Seafood StrategyThe first part of Woolworths' sustainable seafood plan is stocking MSC-certified seafood products. Beginning in April 2011, consumers will be able to purchase both canned salmon and canned Albacore tuna tha Read Full Article ]]> Major Australian supermarket Woolworths is committing to sustainable seafood with their new sustainable fish sourcing strategy, announced in March 2011. This strategy includes the removal of overfished species and an assessment of current seafood sources.Woolworths' Three-Part Seafood StrategyThe first part of Woolworths' sustainable seafood plan is stocking MSC-certified seafood products. Beginning in April 2011, consumers will be able to purchase both canned salmon and canned Albacore tuna that has been certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). MSC is an eco-labeling organization that certifies fisheries after evaluating their environmental impact. Fisheries that receive MSC certification are those whose fishing practices do not damage the eco-system or compromise the population of the fish they catch. Woolworths' shoppers should expect to find MSC-certified salmon and tuna at a reasonable price.The second part of Woolworths' sustainable seafood plan is to stop the sale of red-listed species. Non-sustainable fish species such as orange roughy and yellowfin tuna will no longer be available in Woolworths stores. Yellowfin tuna, also called ahi, is common in raw dishes such as sashimi. Though it was once touted as the better alternative to the overfished bluefin tuna, conservation groups such as Greenpeace and Monterey Bay Aquarium have recently red-listed yellowfin tuna. The Marine Stewardship Council is currently evaluating several yellowfin tuna fisheries, and if a MSC-certified source of this fish becomes available, it may reappear in Woolworths' stores.The third part of Woolworths' sustainable seafood plan is to asses seafood sources and create a sustainable supply chain. But Woolworths hopes to retain many of their current sources rather than switch to new sustainable seafood fisheries. In an effort to help their current sources become more sustainable, Woolworths will offer funding incentives to fisheries that are willing to improve their practices. The intention behind the funding incentives is to encourage fisheries to meet MSC standards and reduce their environmental impact.Welcome Woolworths to the Sustainable Seafood ClubBy announcing their new sustainable seafood strategy, Woolworths is joining other corporations such as Costco and Marriott in the effort to protect the world's oceans. Based on their other environmental policies, such as reducing carbon emissions, in 2009 Woolworths Limited ranked number 364 on the Global 1000 list. Woolworths operates more than 3,000 stores in Australia and New Zealand, making them the largest supermarket chain down under, and a potential leader in the sustainable seafood movement.Photo Credit: Michael Malz]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Plastic-Made-From-Plants--PepsiCo-Announces-New-Green-Bottle/47159.htmlWed, 16 Mar 2011 16:04:17 GMTSarena Ulibarri After years of research and development, PepsiCo says they've mastered the petroleum-free plastic bottle, and plans to put bottles made from 100% renewable plant material in the hands of consumers in the near future. PepsiCo's announcement is a great victory in the movement toward sustainable packaging.New Plastic Bottles Made From...Potato Peels?Remember the scene in Back to the Future when Doc fuels the time machine by stuffing trash into the fuel tank? The future of PepsiCo's plant-based plas Read Full Article ]]> After years of research and development, PepsiCo says they've mastered the petroleum-free plastic bottle, and plans to put bottles made from 100% renewable plant material in the hands of consumers in the near future. PepsiCo's announcement is a great victory in the movement toward sustainable packaging.New Plastic Bottles Made From...Potato Peels?Remember the scene in Back to the Future when Doc fuels the time machine by stuffing trash into the fuel tank? The future of PepsiCo's plant-based plastic production will be something like that. PepsiCo plans to use the "agricultural by-products" from their other products as the plant source for their plastic. Since PepsiCo is the parent company of brands such as Tropicana and Frito Lay, the by-products will include things like orange rinds and potato peels, reducing waste from production and creating plastic bottles without the need for petroleum.But the system isn't quite so streamlined yet. The plant-based plastic bottles that PepsiCo is currently bragging about were created from renewable sources such as corn husks, pine bark and switch grass. The plan to use waste from other PepsiCo products to create Pepsi bottles is still set in the unspecified future, so there's still a bit of science fiction to it.PepsiCo will begin test-driving the renewable plastic bottles in 2012, and plans to launch full-scale production for all their beverage containers soon after that. Plant-based plastic bottles are identical to petroleum-based plastic bottles in terms of texture and strength, and are 100% recyclable.Is Plant-Based Plastic Actually Greener?According to a 2010 study conducted at the University of Pittsburg, the answer to that question is...maybe. The study compared a number of petroleum-based plastics with plant-based plastics and found that plant-based plastics were in fact more biodegradable and less toxic than petroleum-based plastic. However, the Pittsburg scientists argue that plant-based plastic take more energy to produce and the environmental effects of pesticides and agricultural waste should also be taken into account before calling this a green alternative.If PepsiCo is able to implement its plan of using agricultural by-products as the primary source for their plant-based plastic, they will be successfully changing Pittsburg's "maybe" to a "yes." After all, if a field of potatoes is already being grown to make potato chips for Frito Lay, then few additional agricultural resources are needed to take the peels of those potatoes and send them to the plastic factory.Photo Credit: Keo 101]]>