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.

 

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This week, the movers and shakers of Los Angeles met to honor those who have been working to green the city for the rest of us. Green LA Coalition celebrated Michele Prichard, Cecilia V. Estolano, and the Teamsters Joint Council 42 for their recent efforts in the green world. And they did so right in the heart of downtown Los Angeles at hipster hot spot Cuidad.

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When it comes to vacations, celebrities know exactly how to do it up green. Last year, we reported that Johnny Depp purchased Little Hall's Pond Cay, a 35 acres island in the Bahamas that has been outfitted with grid-independent solar hydrogen system. Is he taking an eco spring break this year? Much to my utter dismay, I have yet to procure information on Depp's private whereabouts. However, if he were to ever voluntarily outfit himself with a GPS system, I may or may not be known to step into his frame once and a while.

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