Most of us know the tri-arrow symbol we associate with “recycling,” but the three arrows are actually meant to represent the concepts of “reduce, reuse, AND recycle.” So, the notion of pre-cycling captures the reduce and reuse steps of the cycle.
Reducing the waste we create is something that takes some forethought. A lot of us assume that we can “just” recycle some goods, and our job is done. But recycling really does use a lot of energy in and of itself. In some cases, objects that are represented as recyclable are actually limited in their ability to be recycled. Many communities have limitations on what they can accept for recycling, especially in the way of plastics. Glass, aluminum, tin, and steel are considered to be the most readily recyclable. Glass bottles are the easiest to recycle because they can just be washed, refilled, and recapped. If you live in a place that continues a bottle deposit program, you know that you can get money back on glass bottles. Also, aluminum is another recyclable that pays per pound in most communities. 
So, I’m just going to come right out and say it. I hate Tetra-Paks, juice boxes, drink pouches, chip bags, and plastic bottles of WATER. The plastic water bottles are an easy fix–don’t buy them, find a water fountain, buy a portable water bottle of your choosing, or if you are desperate, go ahead and buy the water and refill it for free! It’s water, people. If you don’t like the way it tastes from your tap, buy a filter. Yes, filters are meant to be disposable, but they last for about 2-3 months and is tiny by comparison to the hundreds of bottles you’d buy for “good-tasting” water. And we all know that much of the bottled waters we have spent extra money to buy is another city’s tap water, right? It’s time to get over this mindset that bottled water is a good idea. It’s not. Tetra-Paks and juice boxes (often one in the same) are convenient storage containers for liquids and come in variations on the theme of cardboard on the outside, aluminum and plastic on the inside. The plastic is supposed to bpa-free, which is better for the foods contained inside (at least it makes them healthier to eat). They are also exceptional at storing milk and other “spoilable” liquids for a very long time. Better storage does mean less waste of the product itself, but these packages are very difficult to recycle. Some Tetra-Paks exclude aluminum, which makes them somewhat easier to recycle, but not many municipalities even accept Tetra-Paks (at least in the U.S.). It is the complexity of the multilayer packaging that makes it difficult to separate and repurpose. Your best bet, if possible, is to avoid buying products in these packages. What’s worse, perhaps than the the Tetra-Paks, is the “drink pouch.” Those infamous Capri Sun silver packets of usually 10% juice + water + sugar came into existence about 25 years ago. That makes 25 years of kid-licious drinks packaged in this (from Kraft’s FAQ page): “CAPRI SUN pouches are polyester-reverse side printed to aluminum then laminated to polyethylene (a plastic polymer). Unfortunately, this packaging is not recyclable.” If you have been to a kid’s birthday party or soccer game or during lunchtime at a school cafeteria, you know the popularity of these never-gonna-be-recycled packages of drinks. The best thing for this? Do not purchase them, unless you absolutely must. I don’t want to say an aluminum can of anything is better, but at least you can recycle cans. So, now that you are thinking about it, you are probably thinking about the packaging for granola bars, candy, chips, heck, even the plastic netting that a 3-pound bag of onions comes in…what do we do with it? Obviously, you can stop buying pre-packaged foods and non-essential packaging. It takes some training, but start a hoard of paper bags and use them for whatever…paper is much more easily recycled, but a good paper bag will last at least 10 uses. Those plastic netting bags can be wadded up and used as a kitchen sink scrub, or taken back to the grocery store to be used for your next batch of fresh fruits and vegetables. I’ve been using one to collect the fallen pecans around the neighborhood. It’s healthier to avoid complex packaging, especially when it comes to food. I know you want to still live a “regular” life, though, and the idea that you are going to make all of your own stuff from “scratch” to save on packaging is probably not realistic. With a little planning on the weekends, though, you can create some healthier snacks that can be taken to school or work in reusable containers (optionally wrapped in paper or aluminum foil), or stored at home in a cookie jar or other reusable container. I know it sounds daunting for some parents, but when you think about what all goes into the landfill from just your house, and multiply that by all of the people in your town, and multiply that by all of the towns in your state, country, continent…we are a wasteful bunch of slugs that need to reconsider what we are doing to the planet just for the sake of sugar, water, and snacks. I ran across this quote recently and I think it is something to consider: “The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives.” ~ Native American Proverb, Sioux Sorry for being on the preachy side, but it’s time to consider the consequences of our actions. This is just one tiny aspect of the impact we have with our carelessness…think of what impact we can have if we try to change it for the better with intent!
Posts Tagged With: environment
Pre-Cycling: Reducing and Reusing
What Matters Most?
Since we are getting close to the new year, I’m planning my future research and product reviews and wanted to pose to the people: What matters most to you?
I’ve listed the top-ten most common things that crop up as questions regarding the healthful qualities of a better-for-you product.
Please let me know what matters to you and I’ll put those things highest on my list to delve into this coming year.
And thanks in advance for playing along!
The Southern Girl
Green ‘n Healthy Gift Baskets Ideas – Part 2 (Minty Spicy Delights!)
So, last time I wrote, I recommended a slew of “beach-themed” gift-basket fillers for the person on your gift list who yearns for summertime year round. For something more seasonally appropriate for winter and holidays and warm-feely-good feelings, you might be looking for gifts that have more some traditional fragrances like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mint, or pine. Try some of these green & healthy products for a wintery-basket for those who relish the season of snow!
For some sweet, Christmas-y perfumes, look no farther than Demeter. Demeter makes all kinds of crazy scents that are “at least 95% derived from natural and sustainable sources, and…use no artificial color or phthalates or parabens” (from their website). The best-reviewed holiday-themed fragrances are: Egg Nog, Christmas in New York, Cinnamon Toast, or Fraser Fir. They also came out with a Candy Cane Truffle this year. Sounds delish! This is a very affordable perfume line and the fragrances are great for layering. I recommend spraying this perfume on clothing, rather than skin, for a longer-lasting effect. Since Demeter doesn’t use the harmful phthalate-based chemicals, these fragrances do tend to volatilize faster than non-natural perfumes when sprayed directly on the skin.
For a good body wash, look for JASON Orange Clove, Cranberry, or Frosted Plum. I’ve seen some combo packs with a natural sponge included for about $6. JASON is a company created and committed to the purpose of providing healthy products based upon scientific knowledge and human-based testing, only. This product is terrifically moisturizing, too, which means it will not only smell great, but also chase away the itchiness of the dreaded winter skin. Hooray!
You might also want to try Nourish Organic’s Spiced Citrus body wash paired with the Spiced Orange Hydrating & Smoothing lotion…these products are certified organic and come highly recommended not only for the lasting and delicious fragrances, but also for the product effectiveness and extremely high standards of purity. Nourish Organic also promises the following: “No parabens. No phthalates. No sulfates, petrochemicals, synthetic dyes, or silicones. No propylene glycol, mineral oils, synthetic dyes, triclosan, EDTA, or aluminum. And absolutely no artificial fragrances or preservatives. Period” (from their website). They are also cruelty free, use recycled packaging, and most products are vegan (except those containing beeswax). They also have several products in Lavender Mint, which is seasonal, but also can be used year-round.
Everybody knows Aveda, right? They are preferentially featured in fancy hotels and chic hair salons and their Rosemary Mint is a great, greeny-wintery fragrance that works well for men and women. You might be a little reluctant to buy hair products for your giftee because everyone has hair product issues, but you should be fine getting the body lotion and maybe even a bar of soap in the Rosemary Mint. According to their website: “Aveda’s products are formulated without parabens, phthalates and sodium lauryl sulfate.” And their “definition of a green ingredient requires that it meet at least one of the following criteria: Be naturally derived, which we define to be those for which more than 50% of the molecule comes from a plant, non-petroleum mineral, water, or some other natural source; be certified organic; and/or be sourced from sustainable or renewable plant-based origins, and does not negatively impact the ecosystems from which they are sourced.” And because they do specialize in hair products, look for the travel-sized sampler—enough to try and still experience the splurge of a special product.
And you might like to try a few things from Love + Toast, which touts its products as having “No parabens, no phthalates, no mineral oil, no propylene glycol, no retinol, no synthetic color, never animal tested.” Sounds cool, right?
Wait. I just realized something.
Maybe you’ve noticed a plethora of citrus-y things on this list…It just now occurred to me that “citrus” might not seem Christmas-y to many people. Well, before I recommend yet more citrus for this list, let me explain. When I was a kid, on Christmas Eve, there was always a big church pageant with the kids and a candlelit “Silent Night,” and when we left church all sleepily excited for Santa (yes, the cultural amalgam of religious/secular Christmas was completely, overwhelmingly, and magically confusing), some dear soul at our church passed out mesh stockings full of oranges, grapefruits, apples, uncracked nuts, and hard candy. The smell of those ripe oranges and grapefruits in the midst of the cold, quiet hush before bed has been burned into my olfactory memory forever. Put my grandmother’s orange-spiced tea recipe with that and I’m in Christmas heaven. That’s why oranges and grapefruits equal Christmas. Sorry if it doesn’t for you (but get these things anyway, because hello, they smell delicious!)…
ANYWAY, Love + Toast has a “classic” collection called Mandarin Tea that features a blend of these fragrances: African rooibos, Pomegranate, Neroli, and Orange blossom. YUM. The collection includes one of each: Handcreme, Eau de Parfum, Little Luxe Eau de Parfum, and Vanilla Chai Lip Balm. They also have a classic scent called “Sugar Grapefruit” that just sounds good enough to eat! One of their newer fragrances is Persimmon Plum, a wonderful blend of fruity + woodsy that will be sure to remind your giftee of a delicious, juicy winter punch. They have body butter and sugar scrubs among other body care items to choose from. Sounds marvelous!
And again, fill your basket or stocking with some all-natural extras like a pumice stone or natural-fiber wash cloths, a loofah or a natural-bristle nail brush to round out the gift set.
Next up: MAKE IT YOURSELF! (I promise it’s easy and people will be so impressed)
The Halloween Aftermath!
Here we are, again…Holiday Season!
Happy All Saints Day, everybody! Or Dia de los Muertos for my Mexican friends.
Since it is already the day after Halloween, I’ll forgo the helpful non-plastic, non-toxic recommendations for décor and makeup and head straight for the aftermath most of you will find yourself facing from behind a pile of candy wrappers and discarded costumes…
The best way to be green NOW is to reuse any decorations that can be safely stored away for next year…might as well save the money by recycling those plastic spiders and disembodied hands and orange/black/glow-in-the-dark “garland” strands, too. If you had a jack-o-lantern, go ahead and keep it on display as “harvest art” until it gets too gross to leave on your porch or starts attracting flies. Here in Texas, jack-o-lanterns don’t have very long shelf lives since it’s pretty warm, still, but northern states… what with your seasonally cooler weather (I’m only a wee bit jealous)… can have a cut pumpkin that stays pretty “fresh” for a few weeks. Whenever you are ready to say goodbye to Mr. Jack, go ahead and send him to your compost pile so he can return from whence he came and become fertilizer for your spring garden.
If you didn’t do it this year, save those pumpkin seeds when you carve your pumpkins and roast them in the oven for some tasty, healthy snacks.
Also, something to consider next year is choosing as many “harvest-themed” Halloween decorations so they can last longer and be on display right up until Thanksgiving. It’s easy, right? Think gourds, pumpkins, corn stalks, hay bales, etc. You can still go down a fright-themed path by making a scarecrow, other “people” made from clothes stuffed with hay, ghosts from fabric which can be washed and saved again for next year (or even sheets/tablecloths/towels that go back to being sheets/tablecloths/towels), and creatively painted/stacked haybales to make giant spiders, tunnels, or mazes.
When these things are ready to be replaced by Christmas decorations, they can all be composted or otherwise used without finding their way into a landfill or negatively impacting the environment at large.
Many gourds and dried corn can last in storage for years, as long as they are fully dried and kept dry when they are stored. It is probably best to use a plastic storage bin for such things, to avoid attracting mice that might sniff out a delicious harvest treat if they are stored in a cardboard box. I know, I know, I normally don’t recommend plastic, but storage bins are something that can last for a very, very long time—I have some that must be over 15 years old and won’t have to be replaced any time soon as far as I can tell. I also have a wreath with multi-colored dried corn on it that has stayed presentable for about 10 years…not a single mouse nibble!
Depending on your hay source and your yard or garden conditions, some people use hay as a way to protect bare spots from the erosion of winter rains, to act as an insulator/water gatherer for fallow garden plots (much in the way of mulch), or even as a means to get grass growing instead of just sowing grass seed. In the case of growing grass, you will end up growing whatever kind of grass the hay was before it was cut (obvious, right?) so…if you don’t know what kind of hay you have or where it came from, you might want to forgo this usage if you care about having a nice, weed-free lawn. I don’t, personally, but some people do…just be warned.
I could tell you all about the artificial colors and preservatives in your Halloween candy and how awful they are for you and your kids, but…I bet you kind of already know candy’s not the best thing to eat, and I bet you also know that a short-term intake of such things probably won’t do a lot of damage in the long run.
So. No Halloween Scrooge today. Maybe in a few days after that picked-over bowl of candy’s not looking so tempting anymore. Until then…I will be noshing on a few Reese’s cups, myself. YUM!
Plastic-Bag Free?! Can it Be?
I have a personal vendetta against plastic bags. Mainly because of their overuse. I am flabbergasted when I go…say…to a convenience store and I buy…something like…a pack of gum, and the sales clerk automatically offers me a bag. “For a pack of gum?” I will say, all incredulous-like. And sometimes they laugh and say “oh, I just ask everyone that,” but sometimes they are dead tired of jerky people, and they just look past me to the next person in line. This isn’t super-common in Austin, TX, but it is still possible.
I am even more flabbergasted when I go to a grocery store and buy approximately 50 items. I will get home with anywhere from 8 to 20 (yes! 20! I have counted!) plastic grocery bags. That’s anywhere from 2.5 – 6.25 items per bag. I have tried to give instructions to the baggers like, “Please fill the bags up as full as they will go” in an effort to up the number of items per bag…I’m thinking it should be more like 12 to 15. Then guess what they do when I’m not looking? DOUBLE BAG THE BAGS! WHAAAAAT?! And then I have to stomp over to the recyling bin out front and un-double bag my groceries and place the superfluous bags directly into the recycling bin. Okay, maybe I’m not really that dramatic about it, but I do get pretty miffed.
But what probably makes me more angry than double bagging the bags is when they put my milk jugs or laudry detergent into a plastic bag. All by itself. “IT HAS A HANDLE! IT DOESN’T NEED A BAG!” I want to scream.
But I don’t. I DO sometimes try to bag my own groceries to prevent all this mess, so that works out pretty well.
And, yes, I know what you are thinking. OF COURSE I should have been using reusable bags all along. I mean, here I am purporting to be the Southern Girl who has Gone Green, right? Well, I am no queen of green yet. I am often harried like a lot of other people, leaving the reusable bags I have purchased en masse either at home or in the car. I have thought about sprinting back to the car to get the bags, but I just don’t think that’s right when there are people waiting in line behind me. I have bought new reusables when paper was not available, or opted for paper when the reusable display is too far from the cashier. I have also, taken my groceries to the car without any bags and loaded them into the trunk all loose and naked. What? There’s nothing wrong with naked groceries!
BUT. I am getting better because my dear city, Austin, TX, has declared that stores must no longer offer single-use plastic bags. This local ruling of plastic bag limitation has caused a vast number of people to now bring bags with them. Paper bags are largely available, as well, which were the ONLY grocery bags available when I was a kid. Of course there is something of a learning curve for the baggers to achieve the paper bag packing method that will get the most groceries in the bag, yet stacked in such a way that the bag can be easily carried in your arms.
The fact is though, that there are still plastic bags, they are just supposed to be for “multiple” uses. Also, restaurants may still offer them for take out, ice is still sold in plastic, and I’ve noticed that certain non-grocery retail stores are still offering them (I’m looking at you, Michaels).
I will confess that I am still using plastic bags myself. I had a mountain of a recycling stash when the ban went into effect. I had every intention of just stuffing them all in one of those store-front recycling bins, but I thought it would be a better conservation practice to use these bags as many times as I could before ridding myself of them. So, I now permanently store portions of the stash in my trunk. I grab about 10 on the way into the store, I try to make sure what I buy will fit in 10 bags, and I certainly make sure they are stuffed to the gills before they are considered “full” by the bagger.
Austin is not alone in this bag ban trend–several cities across the country–nay! across the world!–have banned the blight of plastic bags. Several cities have tried to pass the ban, but they have been voted down, for whatever reason–mainly because businesses claim it is “bad for business.” But this just cannot be true. Get paper. Sell re-usables. How hard is that? And how is that detrimental to business? The only business it might be bad for is the plastic-bag makers. They could easily transition to making something more durable and reusable, but honestly–the amount of petroleum that goes into something meant to be disposable is just criminal.
So, whether you live in a city with a ban or not, make the change in your shopping habits by adding reusables to your routine. Or ask for paper. Or hell, let your groceries run wild and free and naked in your trunk! Do it.
