By Pamela McLeod •
February 3, 2009
It’s been a bad couple of weeks for processed foods. On the heels of the peanut butter recall came the newsmercury-tainted high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). And this, of course, has reopened the debate over HFCS.
Is it the cause of obesity in America? Is it really the same as table sugar? Is it an evil, liquidy villain complete with horns and a tail? Regardless of how you answer those three questions, from a sustainability perspective alone, we should stop consuming so much HFCS. Here’s why, and how you can cut down.
By Pamela McLeod •
January 27, 2009
Next time you pop open a coke or drink a VitaminWater, sip on this. The 2009 World Environment Center’s (WEC) Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development will be awarded to the Coca-Cola Company. The award recognizes the beverage giant for achievements in water stewardship, packaging, climate change, and energy management.
Watching out for Water
Coca-Cola’s Signature Contribution is in the area of water stewardship. The company’s goal is to restore to the environment all water that is used to produce of its products. It aims to achieve this through reducing the amount of water in the manufacturing process, recycling water back into natural systems, and locally relevant conservation projects. With a new report predicting global water shortages by 2020, increased attention to water and natural systems seems increasingly imperative. (Hopefully Coca-Cola includes the water needed to grow and process the sugar in its calculations - approximately 200 L of water per can in Europe.)
By Pamela McLeod •
January 22, 2009
Curious about new ways to save water and money? EPA’s WaterSense Program recently unveiled a WaterSense widget that brings monthly water-saving facts and tips directly to your website or social network. Each month, new seasonally-relevant content will be added to help you increase your water efficiency and keep more cash in your wallet.
Why Conserve Water?
With drought conditions throughout many western and southern states in the U.S., the time is ripe for increasing water-saving efforts. More pragmatic than the infamous “Save water - Shower with a friend” campaign of the 1970s, EarthSense focuses on actionable items and tidbits.
By Pamela McLeod •
January 20, 2009
This morning I watched Obama’s inauguration in a high school theater with several hundred young men. Everyone was captivated. As our 44th president delivered his speech, I kept thinking about the applicability of many of his words to the world and sustainability in its broadest sense. Here, how President Obama’s speech - originally written to encourage and inspire America in the face of crisis - can be expanded and applied to sustainability. Today, instead of tips, a call to action and pull of spirit.
A World in Crisis
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. . . Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
Environmental groups are criticized for their “doomsday” scenarios. Rainforests are dwindling, corals are dying, population is exploding, and global warming is ominously threatening.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Beyond America, there is a nagging fear that the earth’s decline is inevitable. Will fewer children have access to clean water? Will they starve? Will they know that polar bears and tigers once lived outside of zoos?
By Pamela McLeod •
January 15, 2009
New Belgium Brewing Company already topped lists of sustainable beers. Its reputation and practices earned Chief Branding Officer Greg Owsley a talk at last June’s Sustainable Brands Conference. And now, the Colorado-based company has released its first sustainability report, which includes a life cycle analysis of a Fat Tire six-pack.
Triple Bottom Line
New Belgium’s sustainability report highlights what sustainable businesses call their “triple bottom line” - people, planets, and profits. With companies from different sectors starting to embrace sustainability (e.g., Toyota and GE), New Belgium’s market share success provides more evidence for green business as good business. The new report describes New Belgium’s ongoing and planned environmental and social initiatives, including renewable energy use, green building design, increased brewing efficiency, and a philanthropic bike festival (Tour de Fat).
By Pamela McLeod •
January 14, 2009
This morning I stopped at Starbucks for a treat - a soy gingerbread latte. As I walked through the door berating myself for not bringing my travel mug, I noticed again all of the disposable cups and associated waste we now accept as part of our morning coffee ritual.
Over 50% of adult Americans, more than 150 million people, consume coffee daily. That’s a lot of joe, and a huge opportunity to caffeinate more sustainably. Here are a few tips to green your morning coffee.
1. Brew Your Coffee at Home
Or, in the words of Bon Appetit, become your own barista. In addition to reducing landfill waste, you’ll save money and have more control over the beans you brew, not to mention any sweetener or milk you add. I’m currently in love with coffee made with a French press, and ask for a medium grind when I buy beans at my local specialty roaster.
