| Going green doesn't necessarily require a radical makeover. A series of small steps--many of which don't cost a dime--can add up to a new way of doing business. DON'T GREENWASH!!! Be Real with integrity behind your "GREEN INITIATIVES
“The phenomena of socially and environmentally destructive corporations, attempting to preserve and expand their markets or power by posing as friends of the environment.”- Definition of Greenwashing according to CorpWatch. Perhaps a more consumer friendly definition is the one provided by the Stop Greenwash site, “Used to describe the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.” The site goes on to explain... “The average citizen is finding it more and more difficult to tell the difference between those companies genuinely dedicated to making a difference and those that are using a green curtain to conceal dark motives.”
Some prime examples of greenwashing which have been highlighted on the Greenpeace site in recent years are: GM’s Save Gas Ad Campaign and the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. Terrachoice has defined the Six Sins of Greenwashing- 1) Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off 2) Sin of No Proof 3) Sin of Vagueness 4) Sin of Irrelevance 5) Sin of Fibbing 6) Sin of the Lesser of Two Evils Go on over there and check out all the details, and if needed, download your Six Sins Wallet Cards to carry with you while out shopping (they are free). Once you’ve printed out your wallet cards (on recycled paper, of course), then read up on the New York Times 2007 report Home Depot’s Eco Options. You may be surprised how easy greenwashing sneaks into our lives every day. Be aware of generic earth friendly claims “earth friendly”, “eco friendly”, “environmentally friendly”, “chemical free”, and “all natural” are just some examples. If a product truly has environmental and/or health benefits, it will be clearly labeled in real language and should have certification to back up the claims. There are no true chemical free products, even water has a place on the periodic table. While out shopping we’ve come across bath and beauty products labeled with “Natural”, “Earth”, “Recyclable”, and packaged in attractive, natural looking containers (bags that look like feed sacks, boxes that are unbleached and look like recycled paper, etc…). The recycle symbol is popping up EVERYWHERE and in reality, many of these items may be recyclable, but there are not many collection centers readily available. "Edmonton, Alberta has one of the most advanced "GREEN" eco-recycling centers in the world and is seen as a point of reference and education for many around the world." Some companies/products/marketing we believe are guilty of greenwashing: Clorox (which unfortunately includes Burt’s Bees and now GreenWorks) Consumers are now seeing the light and many now are doing their part to help our world be cleaner and safer for all - Simply stated "GREEN WASHING" SUCKS, so be a true mentor towards your peers. 10 Easy office steps to "GREEN" your workspace 1) Stop throwing away money Go through your trash. You'll get a new sense of how much it costs to buy, store, and dispose of stuff. Eliminate unnecessary photocopying and reuse packaging for shipping. 2) Get an energy audit Most local utilities offer businesses free on-site consultations on how they can reduce usage and save money. Among the frequent suggestions: Improve insulation, and install timers to turn lights off automatically. 3) Go paperless Encourage e-mailing. When paper is necessary, photocopy on both sides and use old letterhead for scratch. 4) Consider the commute Provide preferred parking for carpoolers. Offer transit passes to employees who take the bus or subway and bike racks for cyclists. Let workers telecommute. 5) Curb business travel Teleconference instead of traveling. For must-go trips, keep track of the miles driven and flown and buy "carbon offsets" from a nonprofit like Carbonfund.org to make up for the greenhouse gas emissions. 6) Buy green Tell suppliers that you're interested in sustainable products and set specific goals for buying recycled, refurbished, or used. Make the environment, and not just price, a factor when purchasing. 7) Detox Many offices have toxic substances, such as used batteries and copier toner, on hand. Talk to suppliers about alternatives to toxics, and make sure you properly dispose of the ones you can't avoid using. 8) Rethink transportation Consider the petroleum it takes to ship and receive products. Evaluate the impact of products you buy or sell, and find ways to mitigate those impacts. 9) Get the employees involved Create a team to lead the company's eco-efforts and determine where you can have the biggest impact for the least amount of money. 10) Communicate Inform suppliers and customers about your efforts. And get in touch with local regulatory agencies, many of which offer financial incentives to businesses that clean up their acts.
Get Involved - Adopt "GREEN" Initiatives today. Show your community that you support wellness both at home and work. Start a community recycling program, plant a tree program, buy carbon offset certificates, community cleanup (waterways, parks & city dwelling greenspaces) etc. Indoor Workspace Air Quality
Newer homes and buildings, designed for energy efficiency, are often tightly sealed to avoid energy loss from heating and air conditioning systems. Moreover, synthetic building materials used in modern construction have been found to produce potential pollutants that remain trapped in these unventilated buildings. The trapped pollutants result in what is often called the Sick Building Syndrome. With our ultra modern homes and offices that are virtually sealed off from the outside environment, this study is just as important now as when it was first published. While it’s a well known fact that plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis, the NASA/ALCA study showed that many houseplants also remove harmful elements such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde from the air. The advantage that houseplants have over other plants is that they are adapted to tropical areas where they grow beneath dense tropical canopies and must survive in areas of low light. These plants are thus ultra-efficient at capturing light, which also means that they must be very efficient in processing the gasses necessary for photosynthesis. Because of this fact, they have greater potential to absorb other gases, including potentially harmful ones. In the study NASA and ALCA tested primarily for three chemicals: Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Trichloroethylene. Formaldehyde is used in many building materials including particle board and foam insulation. Additionally, many cleaning products contain this chemical. Benzene is a common solvent found in oils and paints. Trichloroethylene is used in paints, adhesives, inks, and varnishes. While NASA found that some of the plants were better than others for absorbing these common pollutants, all of the plants had properties that were useful in improving overall indoor air quality. NASA also noted that some plants are better than others in treating certain chemicals. For example, English ivy, gerbera daisies, pot mums, peace lily, bamboo palm, and Mother-in-law's Tongue were found to be the best plants for treating air contaminated with Benzene. The peace lily, gerbera daisy, and bamboo palm were very effective in treating Trichloroethylene. Additionally, NASA found that the bamboo palm, Mother-in-law's tongue, dracaena warneckei, peace lily, dracaena marginata, golden pathos, and green spider plant worked well for filtering Formaldehyde. After conducting the study, NASA and ALCA came up with a list of the most effective plants for treating indoor air pollution. The recommended plants can be found below. Note that all the plants in the list are easily available from your local nursery and are very easy to maintain. 1. Philodendron scandens `oxycardium', heartleaf philodendron For an average space of under 2,000 square feet, the study recommends using at least fifteen samples of a good variety of these common houseplants to help improve air quality. They also recommend that the plants be grown in six inch containers or larger. So, add some real "GREEN" and breathe safely within your workspace. Get the skinny on the NASA Report here |
In the late 1980s, a study by NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) resulted in excellent news for homeowners and office workers everywhere. The study concluded that common houseplants such as bamboo palms and spider plants not only make indoor spaces more attractive, they also help to purify the air! The study was conducted by Dr. B.C. Wolverton, Anne Johnson, and Keith Bounds in 1989. While it was originally intended to find ways to purify the air for extended stays in orbiting space stations, the study proved to have implications on Earth as well.
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