Eco Green Tips

Thanks to this video you will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of using biodiesel fuel, which are many on both sides. Perhaps it will make it clearer in case you would like to use biodiesel but are not too sure about its benefits or dangers to the environment. So see for youself…

Technorati Tags: biodiesel, diesel, bio fuel

An interesting video of Shiho working some Christmas magic on a plain brown bag, using a recycled Christmas card and raffia.

photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar

I was surfing the internet a while ago and came across a link that was advertising natural chocolate so (the chocoholic that I am) I clicked on it and it took me to this wonderful website (Endangered Species Chocolate) where not only can you buy natural and sustainable chocolate and cocoa but you can also adopt an endangered species animal.

Looking at the pictures of these magnificent creatures I simply could not resist and thus without further ado I adopted a lioness and her two cubs (I am quite partial to lions) . They are the only members of the pride left after the African farmers put poison on the wild buffalo the pride killed. The devastating practice of poisoning the carcasses led to annihilating many prides of these beautiful animals.  

So if I can help save one endangered animal, the little amount of money is absolutely worth it. And it made me feel like I did something a lot bigger than changing bulb and recycling to preserve this wonderful planet we live on…

Since the plastic production is becoming an issue for the future of our planet, many people turned to recycling. However, there is still too much plastic that either cannot be recycled or carelessly ends up in a regular household trash and eventually in landfills. There, as many already know, it takes up to a thousand years to degrade. And if you think about millions of tons of plastic produced every year around the world, the amounts are staggering.

Thus, many European supermarkets turned to bioplastic packaging to replace the conventional petroleum-based plastics. Bioplastic is derived from plant starch such as corn or peas or vegetable oils. Moreover, they degrade fairly quickly in both landfills or your own compost. A perfect solution to all our problems, it seems. However, bioplastics come with a variety of issues.

First of all, it’s not too environmentally sound to create bioplastic on a large scale since it’s derived from plants. Crops must be grown to provide material for the production of bioplastics thus contributing to deforestation and food shortages. Secondly, the bioplastic packaging is virtually identical to regular plastic packaging and therefore creates a fair amount of confusion for the customers who end up not knowing whether it’s safe to recycle or to throw away. Moreover, if bioplastic product is put in the plastic recycle container it contaminates the contents, making the plastic, which would otherwise be perfectly recyclable, non-recyclable. And thirdly, the production of bioplastic increases the amount of fossil fuels burnt, which simply defeats the purpose.

Therefore, it’s a simple conclusion that companies would be better off investing in educating the public about recycling the existing plastic instead of wasting precious resources on creating even more disposable plastic, even a kind that would biodegrade fairly quickly.

photo credit: Roebot

There has been much talk of organic products lately and there seem to be as many opinions as there are participants in the discussion. Thus, there is truly no easy way to judge whether organic is really the best way to go. However, the more information one possesses, the easier it is to make a decision for oneself.

Here are some issues surrounding the organic vs. conventional battle:

• Organic products are better for the Earth—this is one of the most important reasons to go organic since the certification criteria demand organic products to be grown promoting biodiversity, minimizing pollution and using agricultural methods promoting cultural, biological and mechanical means instead of synthetic materials. This means eliminating all chemical pesticides and fertilizers (that are harmful not only to humans but the animals and the environment in general) as well as incorporating methods improving the soil, e.g. using cover crops, manure and crop rotation, conserving water and energy, grazing animals on mixed pastures etc. However, transporting organically grown products emits nearly the same amount of greenhouse gasses as transporting conventionally grown food, which nearly defeats the purpose. Hence, the best way out is to find a local farmer’s market and find out what methods the farmers use to grow their produce. Chances are, most small farmers are responsible enough to use environmentally friendly methods.

• Organic food is better for the consumer—this is not quite so clear. While some organic products may contain more nutrients (e.g. organically grown kiwis have more disease-fighting polyphenols than their conventionally grown counterparts), others actually suffer a decreased amount, e.g. organic tomatoes may have less antioxidants. Thus, the jury is still out on that one.

• Organic packaged food is not better for the consumer—this is true in case of any processed, packaged food, be it organic or conventional. Usually processed food items are full of trans fats (to prolong their shelf life) and sugar, which is metabolized exactly the same way, regardless of its origins. Unfortunately, some companies use “organic” as a marketing device packing their products with organic high fructose corn syrup, which clogs the arteries the same way conventional HFCS does. And believe or not, HFCS made form organic corn falls under the FDA’s guidelines for organic!

• Organic produce taste better—again quite difficult to judge since so much depends on when the fruit or vegetable was picked. If it was picked in the height of the season after it had a chance to grow and ripen in the sun, then it will definitely taste good (whether organic or not). If, however, it was picked before it ripened and then traveled for miles to find its way to the supermarket, the taste may have a lot to be desired, even if we’re talking about organic products. Here, again, the best way to go seems to be finding a farmer’s market and purchasing your produce locally.