An important story was overlooked when the US Postal Service (USPS) announced in June it had achieved Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certification at the Silver level for much of its Priority and Express mail packaging (including their Tyvek envelopes). Most publications (Treehugger, Green Options, LA Times and others) reported the story without offering much beyond the basics of the certification and the USPS press release. The real story centers around the tremendous complexities faced by all parties involved in achieving a credible environmental certification.
With increasing consumer interest in sustainable products and packaging, companies and suppliers are eager to do anything to offer products or services that cater to this segment of the market. The demand for such products and services and lack of any universal standards or guidelines inevitably leads to unverifiable claims from manufacturers, and even greenwashing. This fosters the need for standards and certification processes to allow people to independently assess a product or service. Obtaining a certification such as C2C can also become a core component in a company’s green marketing strategy. The success of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification program for paper and wood products is a perfect example of this marketing tool in action.
Plastic Shopping Bags: Is there an Obvious Solution to Reducing their Use?
WHY DO SO MANY CASHIERS GET MAD WHEN YOU ASK FOR NO BAG?
BY RIDER THOMPSON
This has been an interesting week for the plastic shopping bag. As we reported the other day San Francisco has passed one hurdle in banning all petroleum based plastic shopping bags. Earlier this month IKEA started charging extra for plastic bags in all its US stores. On Tuesday I was reading a posting over on NYCO on the Wegmans supermarket chain making an effort to get consumers to buy their reusable bag for $.99.
For Alchemy Goods founder Eli Reich, having to move his two and half year old business out of the bottom floor of his house to a new location is a good thing. The 29 year old Reich recently settled into his new digs in warehouse space in Seattle’s SoDo district. His company needs the space to continue its growth. In a recent phone interview, he talked about his new location and how his company has grown so rapidly. Reich described Sodo (South of Downtown) as a “charming old industrial part of town.” The new space allows Reich & his staff of four employees much needed room to store materials and work in less cramped surroundings. “We were on top of each other in the old space,” said Reich.
Online Pet Store offers wide range of natural and eco-friendly pet products
The Only Natural Pet Store is a Colorado based Pet Store that is making a splash online offering people nationwide a one stop source for natural and organic pet products. Couple things we like about these guys right off the bat 1) They buy 100% Green wind energy to offset their company's electricity use on the grid (just like we do from People's Power and Light). 2) their packaging is minimal and reused when they can and their boxes are stuffed with packing peanuts made out of 100% cornstarch (see photo above) which means you can discard them in the compost bin or simply wash them down the drain.
The selection of pet products at Only Natural Pet Store is large with a wide range of choices for both dogs and cats. Their selection is chosen to offer healthy, natural pet care products that are consistent with a holistic approach to pet health. All of the products they offer are natural. On a recent order we were pleased the items arrived quickly and the pricing is less than what you will find at the large pet stores nationwide, with shipping you are paying about the same price - the difference is the selection of natural products is huge at Only Natural Pet Store. Many of the products they have in their inventory are difficult to find locally so their online store provides an source for the pet owner determined to provide natural products to their pets. Their selection of holistic medicines and remedies is also quite impressive. On a recent order we got some organic cat treat and natural hairball remedy - a welcome find compared to the normal petroleum-based ones available at most places.
On a side note we also like the fact the Only Natural Pet Store offers shipping by USPS (United States Postal Service) their priority mail is fast and efficient - we support USPS. We are not impressed with UPS lately, personal experience with UPS along with feedback from readers highlight a number of problems from long shipping times to them refusing to leave items at residences. We are also concerned they are trying to steer people towards their new feature at UPS Stores where they will "sign" for your packages if your not home. So we support businesses that offer consumers a choice with shipping options. We especially like USPS and DHL.
splendakills.com, victimsofsplenda.com, splendatoxicity.com are all domain names owned by the makers of Splenda - see below for extensive list
Image is everything today, if you don't believe that statement, just look at the lengths the companies who produce the artificial sweetener Splenda® are going to control potentially negative information on their product. Tate & Lyle, manufacturer of Splenda®, along with its US based co-developer Johnson & Johnson have bought up potentially negative domain names by the hundreds. The three top level .com domain names mentioned above sound like something out of a medical examiners post mortem but they are actually domain names owned by the sweeteners own makers. Why?
Realizing how times have changed and how now a simple Google search can yield consumers a wealth of information on a particular product both good and bad it appears Tate & Lyle and Johnson & Johnson are taking steps to control potentially negative information by buying domain names that could be used to post such information. Is it brilliant corporate strategy or a plan that could backfire tremendously down the road? Are the makers of Splenda® outwitting potential critics, or are they themselves documenting their own products’ shortcomings and risks by buying these domain names?
An important story was overlooked when the US Postal Service (USPS) announced in June it had achieved Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certification at the Silver level for much of its Priority and Express mail packaging (including their Tyvek envelopes). Most publications (Treehugger, Green Options, LA Times and others) reported the story without offering much beyond the basics of the certification and the USPS press release. The real story centers around the tremendous complexities faced by all parties involved in achieving a credible environmental certification.
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