Working With Pesticides Harms Fertility in WomenJanuary 27th, 2011 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
Women exposed to pesticides and plasticizers are more likely to have fertility problems and lower birth-weight babies, says a new study. Plasticizers (or phthalates) are chemical additives used to increase plasticity and softness of materials like plastic, clay, cement, and concrete. Bisphenol A – notoriously known as BPA – is found in some plasticizers. Read More:Working With Pesticides Harms Fertility in WomenSupermarket in DC Bans Water BottlesJune 22nd, 2010 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
You can find a lot of nasty stuff in plastics used to package our foods, such as water bottles. The most notorious is BPA – short for Bisphenol A – a compound used to make plastic, which has been linked to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and neurological disorders in fetuses, infants, and young children. Not to mention all this plastic is polluting our planet by clogging up landfills and floating around our ocean, like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch; a giant island of trash and plastic roughly the size of Texas in the North Pacific Ocean. But one Washington, DC supermarket is doing its part to cut out plastic, banning water bottles from sale in its six regional supermarkets. MOM’s Organic Market has launched its “Battle the Bottle” campaign, kicking plastic water bottles out of stores. And instead MOM’s will be installing water filtration machines in stores, allowing shoppers to refill their own bottles for free, but only up to one gallon. The filters will be up and running in a few weeks. A spokesperson for MOM’s said, “Societies are truly addicted to plastic, much in the way we are addicted to oil. MOM’s campaign is in support of DC’s anti-plastic push. The city already adds a 5-cent tax on plastic bags, which has slashed their use dramatically. I shop with the reusable bags and when I moved I used any plastic bags I did have for box stuffing. I’m a genius! Image credit: Ozville Read More:Supermarket in DC Bans Water BottlesDon’t Trash Our Oceans; It’s World Water DayMarch 22nd, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Today is World Water Day, and if you live along one of the nation’s coastlines, you’ve probably noticed that you’re not alone when going for a swim. Ocean pollution is a major problem, and litter is a primary culprit. While laws have been designed to prevent people from dumping their trash into the sea, they haven’t eradicated the problem. Garbage still finds its way into our oceans and threatens marine life. After last year’s annual Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers in more than 100 countries and 42 U.S. states had removed more than 6.8 million pounds of trash. As Greenpeace notes, only a fraction of the 300 billion pounds of plastic produced globally is recycled, with massive quantities dumped in landfills or oceans. When exposed to the sun, wind and ocean currents, plastic degrades and is often mistaken for food. Dolphins, sharks, whales and other marine animals die painful suffocation deaths when carelessly discarded plastics become lodged in their throats or digestive systems. Seemingly innocuous pop tabs from aluminum cans and plastic six-pack wrappers are common killers. Simply cutting up your six-pack wrappers before discarding them is one small step toward protecting sea life. You’re not off the hook if you live in a landlocked state, as litter along streets often ends up in storm drains and rivers, eventually navigating its way into the ocean. Once there, it can survive for decades. Reducing litter and volunteering for cleanup programs are highly effective ways to safeguard our oceans. Click here to volunteer for a coastal cleanup program. Free Online Resource: Guide to Marine Debris For Your Organic Bookshelf: Seasick: Ocean Change and the Extinction of Life on Earth Photo: Hans Sautter/Aurora Photos, courtesy of Ocean Conservancy Read More:Don’t Trash Our Oceans; It’s World Water DayU.K. Supermarkets Use Too Much PackagingJuly 7th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
Luckily, more and more people are using those reusable shopping bags, but according to a new survey, in the U.K. excess packaging at the supermarket is a still a major problem. Roughly 94% of respondents said they thought there was too much packaging and one-third of people to refused to buy a product because of all the packaging. The study compared 27 everyday items, like bacon and ice cream, from six major supermarkets in the United Kingdom. The average weight of packaging—plastic or carton—came out to 392 grams, or 13.8 ounces. Now, I’m not sure what those numbers mean, but the point the report makes is even though many U.K. supermarkets have attempted to reduce packaging and incorporate more recycled materials, experts say they can do more. It’s simple. Improving packaging lowers cost to the consumer and helps the environment. Via Food Navigator. Read More:U.K. Supermarkets Use Too Much PackagingNew York Establishes Statewide Recycling Program for Plastic BagsJanuary 5th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
New York City has already passed similar legislation. Statistics show nationwide plastic bag recycling has increased 24% since 2006. New York’s new law, along with legislation passed in California, is expected to significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste headed to landfills. Recycled plastic bags can be used to make consumer products, like shopping carts and new bags. So retailers across the nation have stepped up efforts to educate consumers and promote in-store recycling programs. Now, to see how recycling works. RecycleBank breaks down the process step by step, from paper and metal to plastic and glass. It’s actually pretty cool! Via ENN. Read More:New York Establishes Statewide Recycling Program for Plastic BagsPowering Cars with Human Fat!January 2nd, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
That’s exactly what one Beverly Hills liposurgeon did. And, he says most of his patients actually requested he use their sucked out fat for fuel, or as he calls it, lipodiesel. Yes, its very disgusting, but apparently animal fat, like pig lard and human lard, is just as good as vegetable fat for making fuel. The only difference being animal fat requires one extra processing step to remove certain fatty acids. But unfortunately for this would-be fuel mogul, using human medical waste as fuel is illegal in California. Even still, his operation was running smoothly until several patients sued him for allowing his unlicensed girl friend and assistant to perform liposuctions, in which patients claim to much fat was removed, leaving them permanently disfigured. He’s since closed his practice and now volunteers in South America. Maybe that’s where the real fat gold lies—chubbling crude! Via DiscoBlog. Read More:Powering Cars with Human Fat!One More Reason to Bite the Burrito at Chipotle!December 29th, 2008 - Leslie Billera
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Chipotle has long been a fan of antiobiotic-free fare with a focus on sustainably-raised meat which they call F.W.I. - or Food with Integrity. Now the utensils that you use to dig in to this green-centric fast food catches up to the rest of the menu. Chipotle has signed an agreement with supply-chain company HAVI/Perseco, which will use sustainable plastics from bio-based manufacturer Cereplast to supply the chain with green cutlery. Chipotle will initially use the cutlery in its Millbrae, Calif. restaurant, with a system-wide rollout in Chipotle’s 800 locations expected in the near future. Discover more organic food insights as they relate to latin-influenced food in our interview with Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill and Susan Feniger of Ciudad. Via LOHAS Read More:One More Reason to Bite the Burrito at Chipotle!Bioplastic, Liquid WoodDecember 29th, 2008 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
It’s made using waste material from the paper-making process and includes taking wood pulp, mixing it with hemp, flax or wood fibers and other additives to make a nontoxic wax that can be used to create a material similar to petroleum-based plastics. A German company named Tecnaro invented liquid wood, or Arboform as it’s officially known, and they’re currently working on perfecting the technique. But, it’s already being used to make things like car parts, golf tees and ballpoint pens. And, as MSNBC reports, they recently used liquid wood to make intricate figurines for a holiday Nativity scene. Read More:Bioplastic, Liquid WoodSay No to Plastic – All Plastic – in the Microwave!December 2nd, 2008 - Leslie Billera
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According to a recent study from the Milwaukee’s Journal Sentinal, so-called ‘microwave-safe’ plastic actually leaches toxic Bisphenol-A (BPA). So if you’re a plastic-by-the-numbers person, the recommendation is to throw it all out the window and forget about plastics altogether when it comes to microwaving: the study showed that BPA was found to leach from containers with recycling #s 1, 2 and 5, the plastics numbers we’ve been told are safe bets for avoiding BPA. So when it’s time to ‘zap,’ opt for an old-fashioned dinner plate! Via: Plenty Read More:Say No to Plastic – All Plastic – in the Microwave! |
Plastic bottles are bad news. Sure, the water inside might be from a “natural spring” but the bottle itself is risky business.
Governor David Paterson has signed 
Okay, going green can get pretty creative, like making 
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