The list of companies claiming natural and green efforts grows every day, and often, unfortunately, these companies have little to offer.  Two national companies, however, showing progress in their sustainability practices are Reynolds and Kerr Drug.

What do these two companies have to offer?

Reynolds finally caught on to recycled foil.  For an Earth Day promotion, they gave away coupons for a free roll of their 100% recycled aluminum foil.  I am partly excited by this because I do think Reynolds foil is often better quality than many off-brand foils.  Plus, Aluminum, which can be recycled countless times, is a great way to practice your Rs.  When you finish with using foil, you can recycle it or reuse it yourself.  No matter what, make sure you clean off the foil.  Any foil with residual grease and oil cannot be used by recycling facilities, and you certainly do not want to reuse sticky foil.

Kerr Drug, which I never thought I would be giving thumbs-up, sent a “Naturally Kerr” flier in the mail this week.  Claiming to carry “over 3,000 natural and organic products for a healthy lifestyle”, I opened the paper and gave it a look.

Honestly, I was thrilled to see how many legit products they stock.  From organic groceries such as sugar, Late July brand crackers, FEED granola, JASON and Avalon Organics toiletries, natracare tampons and organic cotton pads, Seventh Generation products, Amy’s Organics, gluten-free foods, vegan foods, and even Pirate’s Booty snacks (I wonder if they carry Tings), Naturally Kerr by Kerr Drug is setting a standard for what a chain pharmacy/store can provide for their communities.  Who knows where this chain can go and where they are headed!

If you have not noticed, I rarely give chains a shout-out, so this post is a big deal for me.  Naturally Kerr, which is located at Harvest Plaza, 9650 Strickland Road, Suite 105, Raleigh, and 1124 Patton Ave. in Asheville, even had an Earth Day celebration today.  They gave away free reusable tote bags filled with natural and organic goodies.  The store also had drawings for a free mountain bike, as well as gift certificates to my absolute favorite Raleigh restaurant Irregardless Cafe and Flying Biscuit (never been).  I love the local aspect of this.

So, Kerr and Reynolds, cheers.  Keep up the amazing progress and set even higher standards.  Ready, set, go!

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue

A friend nicknamed me Q-tip last year; a nickname earned during an unexpected run-in at a warehouse store.  Needless to say, I have a massive stock of Q-tips.  But I will only use a certain brand.

It is not that I am particularly loyal to a particular brand or that I am a label-snob ~ especially not regarding my cotton-swab provider.  I have noticed, however, that as wasteful as these swabs are, paying attention to one tiny detail makes a teeny difference to the environment:

Buy cotton swabs that are not made of plastic.  I know my method of ear-cleaning is wasteful regardless, but I feel better knowing that my all paper-and-cotton swab can eventually break down.  Swabs made with pretty plastic rods will never disintegrate in nature.  I was reminded of this upon seeing one on the sidewalk.

Also, you could purchase organic cotton swabs.  Or check out this link for creative reuses for your swabs, even post earwaxed.

Or ultimately you can clean your ears without swabs, either for the environment or to avoid death by swab, by pouring a bit of hydrogen peroxide in your ear, letting it sit a few minutes, then rinsing out.

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue

Another area of debate and balance for new parents, are cloth diapers the only way to feel guilt-free in an eco-conscious world?

According to two great posts by Allie at Allie’s Answers, using cloth diapers and cloth toilet-product (think: wiping your booty with flannel instead of TP and washing it later) actually leaves a LARGER carbon footprint than using disposables.

WHAT?!  We all assume cloth diapers are better for the environment than disposable diapers.  Luckily for us, Allie reminds us of a couple brands that make disposable diapers less toxic — for both our children and our Earth.

Something for you parents to consider… read what Allie found out.

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

After my quick post questioning Costco as being a blessing or a blight to the communities it serves, I intended to write on more general levels for follow-up posts.  Which will happen…

Then, however, Jo commented regarding a Costco proposal for New Brunswick.  The Costco in question could be destroying wetlands in order to bring forth their mega-store.  Many residents are rallying to defeat the giant from entering their community.  On the other side, some citizens support the expansion.  From the previously linked articles to a Facebook group regarding the controversy, comments show support both for and against Costco.  Philip Lee is chronicling the advances and debate within the community (like here, here and here).  The comments section from the Daily Gleaner article chronicles those that simply hate Costco, those that blindly love it, and those that think it will be good for their community, but not at that location.  Anywhich way, this is certainly of major concern for environmentalists.

It is hard to label a company as leading corporate America in sustainability if they build a gasoline bar in a wetlands lot.  On the contrary, perhaps that is a sign of corporate America… not perfect, but progressing.

Turns out, Costco alone seems to deserve a thorough look-over on Green Grounded.

To be fair, I am starting with support of Costco because I feel like positive is the natural start in a compare and contrast.  Maybe that is just me, but I am not apologizing for it.

The Good of Costco (through my perspective):

~ Rwanda’s President recently thanked Starbucks for using Rwandan coffee and boosting the farm community there.  Starbucks became involved with Rwandan coffee farms upon suggestion and coordination from Costco’s CEO Jim Sinegal.

~ Costco is a big fan of solar energy, both using and selling.

~ Costco CEO Jim Sinegal works to put transparency in his company.  Huge.  Pays their employees well with great benefits. Some stakeholders aren’t impressed.  Yet, Costco, unlike one of their major competitors, is known for taking good care of their staff, even encouraging “van pools” to reduce gas use and price-effect for employees.

~ Though most produce and florals are not local, many are still supporting great environmental causes.

~ Costco takes your unwanted electronics, and even pays for some, for recycling.

~ My personal joys:  they have many biodegradable soaps and products from great Triple-Bottom Line companies, they carry a large variety of hormone-and-antibiotic-free meats for Marc, they have organic juices and fairtrade chocolates I can get for gifts or for our home, and, yes, I like things being cheaper there… meaning…

~ Many people in the lower-rung of the middle-class are upon very difficult times.  People are out of jobs, people who have jobs are taking pay and benefit cuts, yet we still have to pay all of our bills and buy groceries and buy gas to get to work.  These are real issues, right now, for a growing sector of our society.

Now with the bad of Costco:

~ Mega-box chains do perpetuate suburban sprawl.  Lots of people still do not mind sprawl, but it is inherently bad for a community.  The chain is always more concerned with making money than protecting that individual community, meaning location choice can be quite damaging.  Such as with the Fredericton, New Brunswick case.

~ For every item Costco sells that is eco-friendly and sustainably-oriented, they also continue to sell “a totally unnecessary product with extraordinarily bad consequences”, such as air-in-a-can convenience office-cleaning product.

~ As with today’s greenwashing trends, Costco, like many other retailers, does carry some products that market themselves as “green” but are highly skeptic, if not disproved, by the environmental community.

~ Costco carries plastic bottled water.  I get it, people like their plastic-bottled water.  Regardless, it bites.

~ Costco carries a large number of “individually packaged” products.  Drinks bottles, cheezy poofella pouches, etc. for easy lunch-box packing or for mass crowds.  These items have their use, but that does not make them environmentally sound.

~ Even buying a major national pharmaceutical product there (like we do ~ as it is much cheaper) hurts a local business owner who you could be buying from.

Costco shopping round up:

Buying from the local coop, or even the local Earthfare / Wholefoods just is not a realistic option for many Americans right now.  I blew through money buying local organic fairtrade in 2008.  Some of those products came from Costco.  Now, Marc and I are really having to decide where and what we can buy.  Basically, we are having to decide on a case-by-case basis, every day, what our priorities are in accordance to what we can afford.  That is unfortunate and true.

I am not advocating throwing one’s hands up at spending more for local / organic / fairtrade, but we each have to find the balance we (individually) can afford with the reality of today.

Today, I heard a coworker saying he does not support Wholefoods because they carry produce from Chile.  While that environmentally is a valid energy concern, I feel we cannot hang Wholefoods’ Chilean produce as hypocritical to the green movement if we consumers are drinking coffee or tea in our daily routine.  Or consuming chocolate.  Those products are grown down the road.

I argue the answer lies in finding the balance.

If you can afford to buy only local / organic / fairtrade, kudos.  Further, advocating conscientious buying habits amidst your peers is always Rockstar.  Questioning corporations and demanding transparency, promoting progressive goals, and striving for triple bottom line standards is necessary.

Whether or not you can afford to buy only local /organic / fairtrade, considering our fellow humans, both those working on farms, and those living two blocks over, is the most important part of community.  My organic coffee helps workers not be exposed to poisons and gives them a decent wage to live on.  The fact that my in-laws (both jobless due to unavoidable circumstances) cannot afford to indulge in such things as $10 lb. coffee is also something I refuse to hold against them.  I do what I can, and they do what they can. 

…and what I “can do” is becoming increasingly less during this time of my life.

I, for one, will continue my Costco love/hate membership for a third year.

I will do my best with what they offer and what I can afford to buy elsewhere.

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

…or is Discover Card just one troll in the jungle of jerks advocating over-spending, under-consumption, throw-it-away-and-buy-a-new-replacement mindless drivel?

Have you seen their new commercial?  It makes me sick.

First, you are full of it.

When the first words of your commercial are “We’re a nation of consumers… and there’s nothing wrong with that,” I KNOW you KNOW what jerks you are.

You could have said “… and that’s OK” or the likes, but oh no…

you said “… There’s nothing wrong with that.”

That is an admission of a guilty conscious if I have ever heard one.

It’s right up there with the LG commercials that ticks me off…

All of these ads wreak of mindlessly chucking what works perfectly fine just because something shiny caught your eye.

“The only thing standing between you and your new LG french-door refrigerator… is your old refrigerator.”

LG evil ad

Really?  How about the decency of believing in actually using what works until it no longer works or truly utilizes too much energy… then switching to something new and energy efficient?

And when I was searching for a clip of the commercial, I actually ran across this great post from Cause and Defect asking, Did Lucifer design LG’s new ad campaign?

All I know is I expect us as consumers to think more about the messages fed to us by giant corporations that benefit tremendously by a society that believes everything is disposable… including our integrity, our souls, our minds, our Earth, and our financial stability.

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue

So, last year when I found out that Raleigh (nor anywhere else in the Triangle) recycles yogurt cups despite being #1 in the little recycling triangle, I was skeeved.

Yes, it seems that much of NC will not recycle recyclable plastic ~ not unless it is shaped like a bottle and thus has a “neck” smaller than the body.  Not even plastic peanut butter jars will be recycled.

But, thanks to We Love Durham NC, I just found out that the Museum of Life + Science IS taking yogurt containers, drink pouches (remember Capri Sun) and even energy bar wrappers.

So, get an extra container or bag and chuck your washed out yogurt cups, foil drink pouches and empty wrappers in it.  Then you can drop them off (or mail them) at the Museum of Life + Science who in turn will send them to Terracycle who will donate money to the museum in return!  Now if only I could find WholeSoy big containers of yogurt again… Silk yogurt bites, and I hate buying a bunch of teeny yogurt containers.

Everyone wins!  I am so excited to recycle my yogurt cups again… no thanks to NC government.

I just stumbled (twittered, actually) onto the coolest website called Green Mom Finds.  I had as much fun finding this as when I found Raise A Green Dog!  Just like Raise a Green Dog, Green Mom Finds is a really grounded way to get info on healthy living, fun finds, eco-responsible shopping, and just in general living fun! 

It is not just for families… being human is the only characteristic you need to dig this site.  Actually, even Johann and the other pooches will love the push for pesticide free lawns!

Love it, definitely going on my blogroll… check it out!

Further, Living Green in a Red State is not as in-depth as Green Mom Finds, BUT this one is a one-woman show, chock full of great personal insight as to cleaning products, diapers… or even being “diaper free” (well worth the read for all moms and upcoming moms!).  She’s another on my blogroll who can def tell you about greening the family…

So check out all three (Finds, Dog and State) and get a jump on the Rockstar easy ways to get healthier, for you, your fam and your environment!

In case you hadn’t heard, Raleigh banned sink garbage disposals, but after outcry and various town meetings, Raleigh is now repealing the ban and ALLOWING garbage disposals.

No $25k a day fines.  No need to gripe.  No issue for builders.

I’ll stick with my buddy, Doug, on the final sentiment I have:

My debate was cleared up once the Mayor touched on the fact that greasy meats and bones produce 20% of the city’s grease blockage. I was not aware of this and the argument does make more sense now that information has been divulged.

I do urge Raleigh residents to think twice before pouring grease down the drain and disposing of bones and greasy meats in their garbage disposals. It can cost us several thousand dollars in repairs and can cost us on the back-end, as taxpayers, when the city has to repair blockage in the lines.

I still think they’re crap.  Wish I didn’t have my own… anyone want mine?

Photo provided by abc11.com.

My can of worms for you:  Walmart is getting in on green. 

With the new Clorox line of environmentally-safe cleaning products (second can, now open) at a cheap price (more…)

In case you’ve been hiding from media for the last few days (thanks to Toastie, then Johann and then Doug, all of whom keep me in the loop), Wholefoods has announced that by this April’s Earth Day, the grocery chain will no longer offer plastic bags for toting your goods.

What?!  But I want my plastic!  Paper emits so much more pollution into the atmosphere!  And I can reuse the plastic bags for doggydoo and my bathroom q-tips and trash!  Those PR-hungry jerks!

OK, so that’s not my stance, but that’s part of the conversation going on over at my buddy Doug’s blog.  In fact, one commenter states:

I doubt this is done purely out of the goodness of the Whole Foods heart — it’s just marketing in tune to helping folks thing they’re doing something good for the world. And of course, expect any increased cost of those 100% recycled paper bags to be reflected somewhere on grocery receipts.

OK, so this commenter (Lee) has some points on the pollutions emitted from recycled paper bags.  And I sincerely give Lee props for finding ways to give his plastic grocery bags another go.

My issues with the plastic, however, reach deep into the petroleum used in creating them.  Nonrenewable, environmentally polluting (via drilling and export), nonbiodegradeable petroleum…

…Petroleum-based plastics, made with toxic chemicals that slowly leach into our ground… 

…Plastic bags that end up all over, and I do mean all over… in parking lots, streams, Lake Jordan (and every other lake), roadsides and even up in trees.  I see it ALL THE TIME.

For God’s sake, academy award winning American Beauty devotes a whole poetic scene to that glorious piece of litter ~ a plastic bag dancing in the wind.  Here’s a great recap by Meanie Greenie:

If you really want to get in on pedestal-standing soapbox-ranting, get a canvas totebag(s) like Babyrific to lug your groceries home. She says:

My immediate reaction was frustration for having to buy a resuable bag to lug our picture frames and shelves to the car. But now, I love my very handy bright blue reusable IKEA tote for carrying detergent to the laundromat and groceries up and down the stairs. It definitely beats having to use those annoying plastic bags that create more harm than convenience… So, the next time you hear paper or plastic, the greenest answer would be neither. Reuse, reuse, reuse.

According to the Wholefoods website, reusing your own bags is their ultimate goal anyhow:

When you come to shop, bring any bags you have on hand. Really, any bag will do – old, new, paper, plastic, fabric, even backpacks or woven baskets!

And, let’s not forget that Wholefoods has a long-standing policy of discounting your total grocery bill for supplying your own bags instead of using theirs… and their reimbursement price just went up!  They reward you for the ultimate in reusing! 

So.  If you want to use plastic… feel good about not emitting the air pollution associated with paper bags while you can.  Your time will soon be up, as all retailers will stop having them (tick tick matter of time), no matter how solid your argument for choosing plastic.

If you use paper, feel good about the lack of chemicals and petroleum used in your bag.  Just remember that that bag likely won’t biodegrade (you’ll need to recycle it too essentially).

If you spend the $10 and invest in great reusable canvas bags (that you won’t have to reinvest in for years (if not decades)), cheers to you. Double kudos if it’s organic material.

And use some corn-starch plastic if you must have wastebasket liners and poobags.