Many people get caught up with the notion that recycling is the extent of the effort to go green. In fact, recycling should be the second-to-last option for eco-conscious consumers; it still uses energy and resources to ship containers to a plant, melt them down and reconstitute them, after all. The old mantra of the 3R’s “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is slowly being replaced with the next step in thinking about how we deal with waste. Add “Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Repurpose, Recycle, Revend,” to your vocabulary, and you'll have a lot less to throw out or recycle at the end of the day.

Admittedly the list of R’s is a bit long, but the reality of our times is forcing us to expand our thinking beyond the logic that put us in our present situation of a disposable society.  Tragically the 3R’s haven’t been enough. The additional R’s gives average citizens a focal point to exercise the power of consumerism in a positive way that benefits people and the planet.  In fact, the bookend actions are quite powerful in this respect.

Refusing to purchase products or services sends a clear message to producers. In short, you will not support harmful and destructive practices that threaten the biodiversity of our planet and/or violate humanitarian principles derived during any stage of a product or service life cycle. Consumers must become more diligent with purchasing habits and ask, “When I purchase this product or service and assume ownership of it, what am I really supporting?” And, “When I’m done using the product or service, then what happens?”
Revending suggests that if a product cannot be dealt with through Reuse, Repair, Repurpose, or Recycle, then find a new vendor. This action should include a brief message to the current vendor that conveys your reason for not supporting its product in the future.
Repurposing is about creative reuse, on a personal level (using a pile of old car tires to create a vertical tomato garden planter) or on an industrial one (using leather scraps from couch manufacture as detail on a handbag).

Consumer advocacy is not a new concept, and sorting out all of the global implications can be overwhelming. The best approach is to continue seeking out relevant information and educate each other so we can grow into responsible consumers. And of course recycling, reusing, reducing, and doing our best to use (a lot) less than we did the month before.

 

Way before I knew anything about the coming solar and wind energy revolution, I was using the sun that comes through our kitchen window to defrost frozen fish, heat up burritos and plump up bread dough. I'd dry my hair by riding my bike downhill. On hiking trips, I "cooked" our food in the perfect solar cooker-my car dashboard on a summer day. I also used to set my ceramic artwork out in the sun to harden and dry-instant kiln! Sure, these techniques took more time than zapping something in the microwave, plugging in the hairdryer or heating up our gas oven, but it's fun and free to work with nature.

Read More »

I've avoided it for 24 years, thanks to living in big cities, but now that I'm moving back to Connecticut, I can no longer deny it - I need to buy a car. Unfortunately, cars are not like houses, which you earn equity on. The moment you drive a brand new car off the lot, it starts to depreciate in value drastically. Of course, we can't forget the eco-implications of having a car: oil changes, burning fossil fuels, buying something that is mass produced … etc. Thanks to my car-need realization, I began delving into the world of green automobiles last month. You know what I found? Numerous choices, most of them out of my price range. Add on the choice of what type of eco-car to buy (gas hybrid, electric hybrid, ethanol-ready, biodiesel-ready … etc) and you've got one frustrated consumer. If I had the opportunity, I'd save for the new Chevrolet Volt, which is scheduled to be released in 2 years. Reality check: That is 2 years from now. I need a car in 3 months. So, back to the drawing board - and to the Yahoo! Autos Green Center. Those little Smart cars are adorable - I could pick one of those up in NYC after I get back to the East Coast. Reality check: Those suckers are small! For just a bit more, I could get a brand new Prius. I doubt a Smart car would handle the Connecticut winters very well either. Having a Toyota Prius Hybrid or a Honda Civic Hybrid would be a joy! Reality check: they both start around $23,000 for a 2008 model. Then it hit me … used cars. Duh! While buying a used car can be a stressful process (if you work with an obnoxious used car dealer), it will cost you much less and save from having to use fresh resources to build a new car. Yes, there is the undeniable issue of fuel efficiency, but there are a number of ways to improve that. If you are willing to make an investment, you can buy a kit to turn you current vehicle into a hybrid (or pay someone to do it for you). You can also shop around, and compare MPG's of used cars- be sure to check the engine type and any options packages (sports options can make a fuel-efficient car into a bit of a guzzler) against published reports. Some smaller cars can have very good fuel economy, even it they aren't hybrids (the Honda Fit is an example).

Read More »