Revisiting Paper vs. Plastic

Posted on March 12, 2010 by itees

I remember many years ago it was heard in every supermarket and gourmet store, “paper or plastic?” But over time this doesn’t come up anymore, stores have made their choice.

Last week while shopping in Hoboken’s branch of Garden of Eden, a gourmet food market, and selecting some items from the salad bar, I was struck by the plastic containers and how wasteful this can be. Like most I don’t want to mix my soggy cole slaw with my cous cous, which means I must use a second container… and what if I want some fruit as well, that would make a third container. Now of course once I get this food home, I can recycle these containers if I choose to, but most people won’t. They also only have plastic shopping bags, not paper.

A few days ago I was in Whole Foods and once again at the salad bar, but this time I noticed lightweight cardboard containers with a glossy coating (for leakage). They are reusable and biodegradable. That along with the fact that they only have paper shopping bags has made Whole Foods a winner.

As Earth Day (4oth Anniversary) approaches on April 22, I thought I’d remind everyone to be aware of how much plastic or paper they’re using and to try not to be so wasteful. I know that I’m going to use less and if the foods mix a bit in the container, who cares?

whole-foods-salad-bar2

Many stores have designed reusable shopping bags but the problem with many of these bags are that when you’re out shopping, you remember you left it back home. This is not going to help if you cannot remember to have it with you. I found an adorable “eco-friendly” green nylon bag that folds up into a little case and it’s no bigger than a tissue package. I carry it with me in my pocket book, so it’s ready whenever I need it. I bought it at the American Folk Art Museum and I know that Save The Frogs has one also. At Frogs Are Green (my green company with Mary Jo Rhodes) we’re currently discussing one like this.

Earth Hour 2010 – WWF’s Action for Climate Change

Posted on March 8, 2010 by itees

World Wildlife Fund‘s “Earth Hour” is coming on March 27th, at 8:30 pm, local time. What a wonderful idea that’s so simple. We’re always thinking about what we as individuals can do to make a difference, and this is something we can do without leaving the house! Join the movement, set your clock and help spread the word.

Mission from Earth Hour:

“On Earth Hour hundreds of millions of people, organizations, corporations and governments around the world will come together to make a bold statement about their concern for climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour. In the U.S. where we are already feeling the impacts of climate change, Earth Hour sends a clear message that Americans care about this issue and want to turn the lights out on dirty air, dangerous dependency on foreign oil and costly climate change impacts, and make the switch to cleaner air, a strong economic future and a more secure nation.

Participation is easy. By flipping off your lights on March 27th at 8:30 p.m. local time you will be making the switch to a cleaner, more secure nation and prosperous America. View the toolkits, to find out what else you can do to get involved including leading the Earth Hour movement in your community.

Earth Hour has captured the world’s imagination for the past three years, and in 2009 nearly one billion people turned out their lights from 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents.

Check out this wonderful Video:

Dear President Obama, Are You Listening to Small Business Owners?

Posted on March 1, 2010 by itees

Today I’m feeling very discouraged about the economy, so I’ve decided to write a letter to our President.

Dear President Barack Obama,

When I first followed you, the Illinois State Senator, you were about to give a speech at the 2004 democratic convention. I listened to your hopeful, inspiring message and knew then, you’d aspire to great things. I had a feeling then that if anyone could sail this ship through tough waters it would be you.

Now you’re the President of the United States. I’m proud to say that I voted for you, and I couldn’t be prouder of my fellow citizens for changing the course of history. But the people our country are suffering now, and you need to listen closely to small business owners like myself.

2009 was the worst year I’ve had so far since establishing my business 16 years ago and it’s now March of 2010 and it is starting to look even worse than 2009. I suffered but managed to climb back even after September 11th, and this is worse than the months that followed that attack to our nation and my neighborhood. I wasn’t sure that I would survive then, and I’m not sure I can survive now.

The banks are tight with lending, the credit lines are running slim, and the job prospects are few and far between.

If I’m just one, in many small businesses, how are we going to survive? What can you do to help me?

I hope that you will do all that I hoped for when I voted for you, which is CHANGE Washington D.C! If you cannot get the republicans to agree, then you have the majority, so just get us what we need. Pass health care reform, help small businesses all that you can. Get the banks to open the channels of lending till we get this economy moving again. We’re waiting and hoping…

Susan