8 Ways of Becoming a Zero-Waste Society

There has always been a series of discussions regarding zero-waste societies and how we can achieve it. Some goes against the idea but I think there is still a way in attaining a society with zero-waste. It all depends on how we define the term waste and how we look at it.

According to www.dictionary.com, waste used as a verb actually means - being gradually consumed. Therefore in a much micro-perspective, to be consumed means to be used as much as possible as long as it is still usable to some living thing. Whether it is between both humans or between bacterias, as long as it serves it's purpose, I think that is the best way in understanding the word waste.

So, I made up a list that I think is the best way for us to attain zero-waste culture, and here they are.

8 Ways of Becoming a Zero-Waste Society:

1. Minimize Product Packaging - Whenever I go to any store, whether an appliance store or a retail store of shoes, it seems that the packaging of most items are made to impress people just to make them feel that what they are buying is pure quality. I believe that minimizing the product's packaging will zero the waste since while maintaining it's allure to the consumers. Added benefit is that the manufacturer can save a lot from raw materials in packaging their products. There are brands that are commendable in reducing the total cost as well as the raw materials used when they are packaging their items. I believe as consumers, we can influence the manufacturers way of producing these packaging by being effective product stewards in choosing the most cost-effective and eco-friendly items in the stores.
2. Go For Biodegradable Items - if you are planning to go for a camping trip or family picnic, or do something that you only do once or twice, try purchasing biodegradable items so that just in case your friends or family members throw it away carelessly, you are assured that somewhere in time, those items are eco-friendly and are easily converted to biodgradable form.
3. Composting: Not Rocket Science - some won't go for composting because they think they can't do it or it's difficult. Well, I say it's not and it's actually fun when you get used to it. All your compostable waste will turn into FREE FOOD for your plants. :) Just follow the proper waste seggragation scheme.
4. Reusable Containers are the Future of Pack Lunches - I went to the supermarket the other day and I just found out that there is a dedicated rack for reusable, microwavable containers in different sizes and colors. I think this is a good way in zeroing out waste since it will help us reduce our consumption of plastics.
   
5. Recycle - this is an obvious suggestions.Try to recycle all items that you think is recyclable. If you are unsure of an item if it can be recycled then go online. Search for the product specifications and where is the nearest factory that can disposed of that item in your area.
6. Go for Long Term - when buying a product, go for brands that you think will last you the longest. I know that there is an economic crisis today but when you look at it at a bigger perspective, the longer you have it, the more savings you will have since you won't go buying the same expensive item over and over again.
   
7. Effectively Dispose Non-Usable Leftovers - for items that are no longer usable, try to separate them from your other usable items and practice searching for best ways in disposing them. Online communities are great when it comes to that. Your junk might be a treasure for someone else. :)
8. TAKE THE FIRST 7 STEPS AND PUT IT IN YOUR HEART - the first 7 steps are useless if you don't take it yourself to care. So start caring!

A Low Impact Woodland Home

Ecological crisis is not a future possibility but a current reality. As we open our doors to globalization and free trade, we also allowed the technological changes that comes with it. But it was not foreseen that technological changes is not equal to a sustainable environment. Majority of our human lives are dependent on fossil fuels to motorized our community. As we urbanized our environment, we also increased our usage of hazardous materials in order to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

Now as I stumble upon websites, I managed to see this site named A Low Impact Woodland Home. It features a house created by a family to fight global warming. I know it's not a five star type house but it really helps the environment and also teaches us (human beings) how to be sensitive in the world we live in. It teaches us how we should adapt a lifestyle that is productive and efficient while assuring the future generations that we can still live comfortable lives.

Anyway, visit the site and be amazed on how these people put up this "green" home together with friends, family, and even travelers who happen to pass by their area.

Climate Change May Drown Cities

Is this photo familiar? Yes, you got it right! It is a scene from the movie, A Day After Tomorrow - a horrifying version of the world drowning because of sudden climate change.

This movie made me realized how valuable the environment is and how we should focus our attention in downsizing the effect of greenhouse gasses. Erratic thunderstorms and rising of sea levels are some of the signs that there is indeed a shift in our temperature and it's not good. More obviously, it is not good when it comes to cities that are near the ocean or are residing near the sea.

According to a recent study, half of Asia will suffer if a rise in sea level happens. This will force third world countries to evacuate their sea-residing cities and move it somewhere high which in return will cause another problem of overpopulating these areas.

The people of Dhaka, main city of Bangladesh, are now aggressively using CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) in their vehicles in order to battle global warming. This alternative is producing less greenhouse emissions and way more environmentally cleaner than petrol. Dhaka is one of the 3,000 cities identified by UN Habitat's State of the World Cities 2008/2009 as cities that are faced with the possibility of sea-level rise and induced-flooding. A very alarming situation since what the photo above is showing is most probably will happen in the near future if we do not act today.

Now looking at the demographics of these cities, Asia will cater 50% of the cities facing this "possibility" while 27% comprises Latin America and the Caribbean, 15% in Africa, 2/3 in Europe and 1/5 of all cities in North America are in the low elevation coastal zone.

Just think, if ever this world faces the tragedy depicted in "The day after tomorrow" - no policy or legislation will ever save us then... Only Action can spare us from this and only Action can minimize the effect of global warming... So ACT now! Stop Global Warming!

Starbucks Wastes Millions Of Litres of Water a Day

I just recently read an article over the Internet that Starbucks are wasting millions of litres of water everyday. The report indicated that as part of their company policy, they have to keep the tap water on in order to prevent bacterial infection and build up in their utilities. I was shocked when I read this article because I often go to Starbucks for my hot coffee. And just right now, I realized that these people are really leaving the tap on and since I'm just buying coffee, it did not occur in my mind that they do not intend to close it for the whole duration that their coffee shop is open.

So I went immediately to the nearest Starbucks and saw that the tap was on. I asked around why do they have to leave it on and they did confirm that it was company policy. That no one in the working staff may touch that valve to close the faucet. I was really irritated when they told me that since I know that most African countries and other countries who are experiencing drought has less water to live on.

A recent study before showed that 3 minutes of carelessly wasted tap water is equal to a whole day of drinking water for an average African to live. What a shame for Starbucks since they have so many credentials telling people how "green" their business is and how they ensure people that a part of their earnings go to the environment protection and preservation.

Little do they know that they are causing more harm than they think they don't. Which also made me realize the other coffee shops who followed Starbucks structure as a successful coffee chain around the world.

So if I were you, I stop buying from Starbucks! Stop patronizing these companies who do not value the importance of the environment. Go to the Starbucks near you and witness for yourselves the countless water being wasted in their drainage just to give you the ultimate "frap" of your life.

For more information on the subject, please visit and click this Link.

Solution To Climate Change - Virtual Assistants

The Internet surely changed the way we see things. Started as a military device, it was cropped down to consumer levels in order to build a whole new sector in the market place. Today, you can almost do anything with it. You can surf for information, see places in just a few clicks, shop on an online store open 24/7, and now you can even let someone do your job or personal things for you - ONLINE!

Virtual assistance is now an in thing for most people specially the younger generation. It offers a lot of benefits since the only money the person has to shell out is his/her electric consumption and provisions for high-speed Internet connection. One can accept jobs literally from all over the world. Like me for example, I live in the Philippines but I have a part-time job doing Marketing Research for a US based company and we only communicate through my web messenger account. We negotiate through an online website that host this kind of activities so that both parties are ensured when it comes to the output work.

Some say it's a solution to climate change since majority now will only have to stay at home to do work cutting down the usage on oil when commuting towards their offices. Since renewable energy is a hit thing today, most power providers are now looking for cheaper and more Eco-friendly alternatives therefore one can now assure himself of the electric consumption are now being produced from renewable sources.

In the long run, I can see that this can be an additional aid in lessening greenhouse emissions since majority can now stay at home with their families. Virtual assistants can go beyond limits when you look at it at a bigger perspective and I hope that someday, we can all start telecommuting and start being productive where we are.

Stop global warming! Start acting! Help the environment heal itself by lessening the chances of potentially increasing dangerous climate change.

To Slow Global Warming, Install White Roofs

If you ask an architect or a civil engineer regarding cost-efficient roofs, they will normally tell you to paint it white. Obviously for two reasons - white colored roofs will reflect heat, meaning lesser chances of using the air conditioning unit, and it's cheaper to paint it white (since you only need one color unlike other colors, which needs white as a primer or initial color before applying it). But scientist today found one more benefit - slowing global warming.

According to a data released during the Fifth Annual California Climate Change Research Conference, if the 100 biggest cities installed white roofs and change their pavements from asphalt-based materials to reflective materials, the global cooling effect will be massive.

Since 2005, the Golden State has required all flat commercial infrastructures to have white roofs. Next year, new and retrofitted residential and commercial establishments, whether flat or sloped roofs, will have to install heat reflecting materials in compliance of the energy-efficient building code. But still, there are no provisions or legislation pertaining to heat-absorbing asphalt pavements, which is a cheap byproduct of oil refining.

According to Hashem Akbari, a physicist with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a 1,000 square-foot roof - the average size of an American home - offset 10 metric tons of planet-heating carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere of dark-colored shingles or coatings are replaced with white material.

According to recent statistics, Globally - roofs account for 25% of the surface of most cities, and pavements account for 35%. Considering these data, if all major urban cities shifted to these kind of materials, an estimated 44 metric gigatons will offset the production of greenhouse gasses, which have been trapping heat in the atmosphere and altering the climate for a potentially dangerous scale.

That is more than all the countries emit in a year. Installing these heat-reflective materials will induce cooler atmospheres thus offsetting 10 years of emission growth even without slashing industrial pollution.

"I call it a win-win" Akbari said. "First, a cooler environment not only conserves energy but induce comfort. Second, cooling a city by a few degrees dramatically reduces smog. And third, is offsetting global warming."

Apple Did it Again!

Apple did it again! Introducing their newly engineered notebooks, Apple is proud to release their latest line of portable notebooks that adheres to the highest standards of environment protocols. Redesigned to minimize energy consumption and allowing 100% recyclable materials, these new gadgets are changing the way we see computers.

The new gadgets are the 13-inch MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro portable notebooks. Significantly changing the industry standards, these handy gadgets are slimmer, hipper, and more cost-efficient than previous laptops.

Apple believes that improving their environmental performance of their business will start from their products. From ipods to iphones to notebooks - Apple indeed set the standards for this industry.

Some of the environmental feature of their new notebooks are:

• Mercury-free LCD display
• Arsenic-free display glass
• Brominated flame retardant-free
• PVC-free internal cables
• Highly recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure
• 37% smaller packaging
• Meets Energy Star Requirements
• Reduced electric consumption equalling 1/3 power of a light bulb

For more information of their new products, go to the Apple website. For the environmental report, click here.

Climate Change Triggered Human Evolution?

Climate change triggered human evolution - some scientists believe that ancient climate changes acted as powerful evolutionary drivers for human beings forcing our ancestors to stand tall on two legs, grow large brains and develop other human traits. (for related reading: "was Darwin Wrong")

When you look at the environment section of the newspaper (global or local), climate change is mostly the central issue everyone is focused on. Whether rightist or leftist, both groups agreed that there is a movement of dangerous climate change all over the world that needs immediate attention.

Now deviating to a lighter side - I realized that there are also positive side effects of climate change (according to some scientist). And I want to discuss the aspect of human evolution as a byproduct of climate change.

According to a recent study posted by National Geographic, the early human species, so the theories go, was concentrated in periods marked by fluctuating environmental changes. Other theories suggests humankind emerged independently of climatic swings, with adaptations arising, for example, out of competition between or within species.

While more evidence is needed to settle the debate, experts say that the answer may lie at the bottoms of ancient African lakes. Now the challenge for researchers is to prove and find out that prehistoric shifts in climate coincides with key stages of development in the early human fossil record.

Records of ancient global climate change come mainly from ocean sediments. These suggest cooler, drier, and more variable conditions kicked in some three million years ago.

Did climate change trigger human evolution? some say yes, others no. Just like the people who believe that climate change is either man-made or independently evolving by itself with no contribution from man-kind or whatsoever. Personally, I believe that whether or not we evolved from erratic climate changes, still we should know best on how to mitigate its effects just to make sure that our environment - the world we live in - is still a safe place for our kids and for future generations. That's what we have to thank for during the prehistoric climate changes - it gave us large brains therefore we should use it to the full extent to do what we can today to save what is already at the brink of despair (our environment).

To read more about the topic posted by National Geographic, click here.

Carbon Tax to Solve Global Warming

According to a top US economist last Thursday that in order to fight global warming, carbon taxes and not cap and trade market alone will lead the technological changes the world's energy system needs.

Spending almost $65 billion a year for permits to emit greenhouse gasses, cap and trade has been the dominant choice to slow global warming. The European Union, under the Kyoto Protocol, even adopted the policies as well as other US companies who volunteered for the program which by the way, are the major carbon polluters.

Jeffrey Sachs - a special advisor to the U.N. Secretary General and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University - told a panel last Thursday that it is much more cheaper and simpler to put carbon tax on energy production rather than  putting a cap on tens and thousands of polluters. This carbon tax will somehow focus at an oil wellhead or refinery. 

As the world prepares to form  a successor agreement for the Kyoto Protocol by the end of next year, focus is sharpening on how well is the cap and trade markets are fighting emissions. Carbon taxes will quickly cut emissions across all sectors of the economy, including vehicles and manufacturing, said Sachs. It could be more efficient than spreading the trade of permits across the financial system.  

Clean Energy Act of The Philippines

Manila, Philippines - with the passing of its Renewable Energy Act - the Philippines can save over US $2.9billion according to a recent study by WWF and the University of the Philippines. This legislation took 19 years in the making and now, the senate has reach a decision to push with the bill.

The savings would come from increasing the country's renewable energy share in its power generation mix from 0.16% to 41% from wind, solar, ocean, run-of-river hydropower and biomass. Today 26% of the country's power comes from burning oil. Last year the country has imported 101.4 million barrels of oil alone, costing a staggering US $7.5billion.

In passing this landmark legislation, the senate has paved the way in attaining energy independence and low-carbon growth. By tapping into massive clean energy sources - the Philippines is now moving towards an era of sustainable development while contributing to the global efforts in to prevent dangerous climate change. This will also give the Philippines an advantage in focusing the $3 million rebate into other programs that needs attention.

The landmark legislation aims to accelerate the development and use of the nation's vast renewable energy resources through fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to investors. It also assures investors in wind, solar, biomass, ocean, and run-of-river hydropower of premium rates in electricity generated from these clean sources through feed-in tariffs.

Other incentives include duty-free importation of equipment, tax-credit on domestic capital equipment and services, special realty tax rates, income tax holidays, net operating loss carry-over, accelerated depreciation, and exemption from universal change and wheeling charges.

A Cleaner Way In Turning Sea Water To Drinking Water

Dr. David Kreamer's vision is to return old ships to the seas where they belong. Together with a new purpose, he wished to see these ships produce drinking water from sea water using desalination facilities installed aboard.

Having a PHD in hydrology, Kreamer's goal is to produce potable drinking water for areas in the world scarce of water supply. He has addressed the issue of contaminating the seashore and nearby habitats by land-based factories using the desalination process. He claims that if these are mobile ships producing water then they could evenly spread out the extra salt content all over the ocean to minimize the effect. Also, he adds that being a mobile ship, one major advantage is that it can automatically moved to different locations making sure to avoid catastrophic typhoons and the like. He also wants to use renewable energy to run these ships, suggestions are wind and solar power.

For more information, click here.

Sarah Palin on the Environment

This coming November of 2008, the world will witness history in the making as democrats and republicans fight again to claim the presidency of the United States of America. Bush will no longer run this time and will allow two parties with different viewpoints clash and seek supremacy at the end of this year. But let me cut down the chase and focus on the stand of republican Governor Sarah Palin running for the vice-president position regarding the environment.

She claims that "climate change is not to be attributed as man made" during an interview with news week. Her state (Alaska) is by far the one who is affected most of it but still she insist that this is a natural phenomenon that is not solely blamable to mankind's actions. Now my position on that... BULL@#$%!

Looking at her platform on "environmental reforms", she is pro-oil drilling in the ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) because according to scientist, Alaska holds approximately 10.3 billions bbl of "recoverable undiscovered oil," which will make it the largest onshore oil deposits in the US. With her running mate Mccain who was quoted "if you want to drill, drill, drill, ANWR is where you will start" . 

ANWR is home of bears, gray wolves, sandhill cranes, and a herd of caribou. Now when you look at it in a very simplistic manner, opening up an oil-drilling center in that area will cause a domino effect in the ecology. You have to realize that in order to establish that oil-drilling activity, one must invest in transportation (thus creation of unwanted service roads), waste disposal and operation of heavy machinery that can add to the daily carbon emissions. Even though she promises to tapped only a portion (19 million acre) of the undiscovered oil, this will still make a dent in the surrounding areas. 

She is now even with Bush when it comes to environmental reforms and when you look at it, Bush even change his position today regarding climate change. He is now pro to capping the gas emissions of major companies to a minimum in order to minimize and eventually decrease the production of these gasses. 

There was even an instance that Sarah Palin sued the Federal Government for stating a fact that the polar bears are threatened species due to warming. Her act of suing is no doubt self-service since this statement can stop the policy in opening the ANWR for oil-drilling. 

Even though she claims that this will help the Americans solve the energy problem, most economist claim that this action can only cause a minimal change in the long-run. There is no guarantee that pushing for the onshore drilling will cause a rising effect in their economy.

To know more about her position for the environment, click here.

As for me, I say NO to Sarah Palin!

8 Ways to Practice Product Stewardship

Product Stewardship is the process of evaluating the life cycle of the products we buy and use. It involves how they are made, how they arrive at stores, how you use them and what happens to them when you no longer need them. As a consumer, it is our right and obligation to know these things because this will not only help the quality of products being manufactured but also helps in improving the manufacturing process for a greener earth. Here are 8 ways to ensure that you are being a good product steward.

1. Stay Informed  - wherever you are, as a consumer you are being bombarded with different marketing campaigns telling you how "green" their product is or how their product qualifies for an "environmentally-safe" insignia just to sell their goods. We also have to understand that there are different levels of being "green" to keep in mind. While a carbon offset is a nice gesture by the company to think of the environment, a change in manufacturing to remove harmful chemicals is probably more meaningful in the long run. Companies play a huge role in product stewardship but without the proper endorsement of informed consumers, these means nothing.
2. Extra Spending Won't Hurt You - price is a huge factor when you are shopping, but keep in mind that product stewardship costs everyone money. Companies spend more to manufacture eco-friendly products so if you can afford the extra cost, the environment (and the future generations) will thank you. 
3. Locate Your Products  - imported cheese from France may taste great, but what is the cost for the environment when it is shipped to you. Consumer products list where it comes from on the package, so take a look the next time you buy a product. An eco-friendly solution is to shop at a farmer's market at least once in a while. This will not only lessen the toll on the environment but also supports the local economy.
4. Check the Ingredients - with all the fad diets today, almost everybody is checking the nutritional panel at the back cover to check for carbohydrates and trans fats. Why not do this for other consumer goods. The next time you buy a product, check for it's composition. One thing to look out here are the products that contain lead and mercury which are chemicals that can wreak havoc to the environment. 
5. Reduce Your Packaging - when was the last time you bought something not wrapped in paper or plastic? To be more eco-friendly, try using a reusable canvas bag when you shop at the groceries or try buying in large quantities the products that you normally use to lessen the packaging being thrown into landfills. This will also help the companies to change their packaging cost to a minimum to be more environmentally friendly.
6. Recycle - do I need to say more? :)
7. Take Advantage of Take Backs - a lot of companies today, specially electronic goods (like laptops, mobile phones, pda's, etc) offers a free service of taking back the used battery or any part that can be recycled so that consumers need not to worry about disposing this hazardous parts. Some even offer monetary compensation for old parts.
8. Close the Loop  - the recycle symbol has two purposes: first is to tell you how the recycling process is done and the second is what is being made of that recycling procedure. The recycled content will then be sold again to maximize profit and at the same time helping the environment. Buying recycled is how you close the loop; otherwise it becomes less important that it was recycled in the first place.]

So what are you waiting for? Start being a productive and efficient Product Steward today!!!!