Green Options

Sometimes we think we have to change governments and corporations in order to see environmental change, but change is just as powerful when it happens one person at a time. And sometimes it’s easier to do. 

About a month ago, I made two posts about the environmental efforts of SunChips, a snack food company. I had become excited when I discovered, quite by accident, that one of my favorite chips was packaged by a company with a deep environmental commitment. It’s always nice when you discover something that you love anyway has a secondary environmental benefit. Makes me feel better about eating junk food. 

Yesterday, I ran into a guy who was eating a bag of them. I joked, “Hey, did you know that SunChips’ packaging is one-third compostable?”

He immediately perked up. “Really? I didn’t know that. Cool!” 

Then he added thoughtfully. “I enjoy using the environment. But I don’t know much about saving it. I drive a diesel truck.” 

Starting with the release of Paul Blart: Mall Cop on May 19, Sony’s standard-def, single-disk DVD releases will be greener than ever before.

According to reports, the DVD cases will be made with 20% less plastic, and the paper will be 30% post-consumer recycled content. They’re also doing away with any cardboard outer sleeves. From Green Biz:

By switching to the lower-impact packaging, Sony Pictures expects to reduce its annual carbon emissions

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I am simply smitten with the cute organic cotton blouses from the Velvet Leaf ~ a sustainable clothing company.

Velvet Leaf defines sustainability as:

The ability to provide for the needs of the world’s current population without damaging the ability of future generations to provide for themselves. When a process is sustainable, it can be carried out over and over without negative environmental effects.