Consumer Choices Affect Our Environment

by Carey Mason

It is a well known fact that our actions affect our environment and that it is our responsibility to care for the world we live in. Many times people feel that this is a problem for corporations and government to handle, but can a single individual really make a difference?

The answer of course is "YES." A single individual can make a difference through their actions as a consumer and a recycler. Choices made when purchasing and using products do affect the environment around us. Being aware of packaging and concentration of those products can make a huge difference. The difference is being environmentally friendly.

Buying from a company that is Carbon Neutral shows a concern for the planet. One such company has been nationally recognized by Oprah, Racheal Ray, The Today Show, Good Morning America and many national publications as being environmentally conscious and carbon neutral. That company is Shaklee.

http://www.shaklee.net/carymason/prodHou

Shaklee has been around for over 52 years and has always had a major focus on caring for the earth and for people. Products such as Shaklee's well know Basic H has long been admired for it's cleaning power, while remaining biodegradable, non toxic and free of chemicals. These features of course are great for the planet, but also for the person using the product.

An example of how Basic H is good for the environment is that its super concentrated solution comes in one small bottle that would be the equivalent of 728 bottles of one nationally recognized window cleaning product. The purchase of one bottle of Basic H can effectively eliminate over 700 bottles from landfills. Think of how much money that saves consumers, buying one bottle rather than 728!

When cleaners are free of chemicals, perfumes, and toxins, they are not only ridding the home of germs and dirt, but also keeping the home free from the poisons of chemicals and toxins that are found in many common household cleaners.

Doing what is right for the environment of the planet and for the people in it is one of the best choices a consumer can make. Everyone of us has a responsibility to care for the world we live in and the choices made at home is one of the best places to start. Start now being environmentally friendly through your actions.

http://www.shaklee.net/carymason/prodHou

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Cary Mason http://mysite.verizon.net/res0ndam/goldenticket/ carysmemories@msn.com 805-518-9052

About the Author

The health of our environment is a top issue that the people of the world are dealing with today. Actions of individuals as consumers can make a difference. Consumers need to be environmentally friendly.

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The New Organic Dream Bean Has Come True

by Trevor Dalley

In a way, Organic Soya Beans started as a dream: A healthier lifestyle within everyone's reach. And to get there, we started with the humble Soya bean.

Whilst the Chinese knew about the benefits of Soya centuries age, it was not until relatively recently that this nutritious bean started to become popular in the west.

The Organic movement has been an important leader in achieving this thanks to its founder Phillippe Vandermoorttele.

In 1975 in a pilot factory in Belgium, he developed an exclusive production process that used the whole Soya Bean. As Soya doesn't need much water to grow he aimed to tackle the nutrition problems faced by many Third World Countries by introducing this amazing Organic Bean.

An early project in Madagascar saw the construction of an Organic Soya production plant that looked more like a large tin shack than a factory. The idea was a great one but endless battles with logistics meant the project had to be discontinued.

Most of the large Organic Soya production is in a fine balance and it is becoming increasingly harder to produce this purely Organic Bean under today's Organic agricultural practices.

The environmental programme sent up over 15 years ago by the World Food Council had an impact on the process, products and packaging.

Participating in large-scale projects to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, in the larger Organic Soya Bean production plants has become the major considerate to most producers of this fine bean.

The larger factories are generating their own green electricity from Bio Gas; furthermore, the main producers of Organic Soya Beans hope to become CO2 neutral by 2020.

The Organic Soya Bean in its essence of production has full respect for the natural and human resources of our planet and in its development will carry on sustaining all living beings on earth.

Many of the larger Organic Soya Bean Producers sources their beans from GM Free, Organic farms across the world where crop rotation is practised in accordance with Organic farming methods. This is a system whereby the crop is grown on a different plot of land every year to avoid impoverishing the soil.

It is the policy of all Organic Soya Bean producers to provide you the consumer with an all-Organic product that meets the highest standards in terms of purity, quality and reliability. And because Organic also stands for non-GM, all producers of Organic Soya Beans do not use any genetically modified raw materials and ingredients.

To guarantee that only the purest Organic Soya Beans are used the trace ability system is implied by a third party independent organisation. Organic or bio means that the food is produced in accordance with the Organic agricultural production method, without the use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or chemicals and without artificial fertilizers, ect.

Many more nourishing Organic Recipes at our website at NEW! Guide to Organic Cooking! - The Healthy Way of Living!

About the Author

Trevor Dalley has been growing and preserving his own fruit for 40 year, most of the preserves are sold in his Organic Farm Shops in Herefordshire England. Did you find those tips on Organic Food a way of Life useful? You can find out more at NEW! Guide to Organic Cooking! - The Healthy Way of Living!

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A Greener Home Begins in the Kitchen

by Virginia Ginsburg

Copyright (c) 2008 Virginia Ginsburg

There is a lot of information in the news today about global climate change and the challenges associated with it. The human race has always put a strain on natural resources, and for decades scientists have been concerned about the affect this has on the health of our planet, but at no time has it been the mainstream concern that it is today.

When we think of big concerns like the entire planet, it can be difficult to imagine how any single individual can make an impact, but the old adage of "think globally, act locally," has never been more appropriate. You can in fact make a difference in the world by making a few simple changes in your home to reduce your negative impact on the world.

1. Buy organic The US organic food community has been slowly building a multi-billion dollar alternative to industrial agriculture over the past three decades. In addition to some of the trail blazers, mainstream brands are also jumping on the bandwagon as they recognize consumers' demand for organic options. You can now find organic produce in most grocery stores. Remember that there are organic options for almost every item in your pantry, including staples like flour, pasta and canned goods, that can be produced without toxic pesticides.

2. Bigger packages; less packaging Whenever possible, buy products in bulk to avoid the plastic packaging that goes into most food items. The recent trend towards 100-calorie snack bags may be great for our waistlines, but it can increase the packaging of the same amount of product by 20 times. Instead, buy in bulk and repackage smaller quantities in reusable packaging. It ends up being a benefit to your wallet as well!

3. Recycle Many of the items used in the kitchen can be recycled, and it is a natural place in which to house your recycling bin. Most cities easily accept cans, bottles and paper products. Check your local recycling center for other packaging products like plastic and Styrofoam. Keep your recycling bin right next to your trash can, and always consider which bin it belongs in before automatically tossing it in the trash.

4. Use recycled products From paper towels, a staple in most kitchens, to paper napkins, paper plates and other paper-based materials, you can close the loop on your recycling efforts by choosing products made from recycled products. Recycled products are usually made up of a percentage of recycled content such as newspapers, and they work just as well as traditional products.

5. Green energy Your appliances can use a significant amount of electricity, so the next time that you are replacing them, look for the Energy Star seal, which means that the appliance has been certified to have a low rate of energy use. Also look into your lighting - if you have traditional incandescent bulbs, replace them with one of many energy saving alternatives. As with many "green" choices, you will save your wallet as well as the Earth!

6. Shopping bag savvy How much plastic do you waste every year by using shopping bags only once? You can reuse the free shopping bags that you get from the grocery store for years if you take care of them properly. When it comes to shopping bags, the options are many, and bags range from trendy to basic, from canvas to recycled plastic or even, in some cases, vintage clothing refashioned into stylish totes. Keep 5-10 in your car at all times, and, more importantly, use them!

If everyone in the U.S. took just one of these six steps, the damage that we are doing to our environment would be reduced. So think about it - what can you do today to make an impact on tomorrow?

About the Author

Virginia Ginsburg is an expert on green living and socially-conscious investing. In addition to writing about sustainable products, she runs Green Baby Gifts http://www.greenbabygiftsonline.com , which provides ready-to-go, beautiful gifts for new babies.

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Say No to Paper or Plastic- Go Green!

by Suzanne Macguire

Environmental degradation is one of the greatest causes of concern spearing up its head these days. A little cooperation on our part can work wonders to save the environment. Cooperation can begin at individual level by ensuring that the articles of daily use are environmental-friendly. Research suggests that almost 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed and discarded annually worldwide! This is alarming indeed as plastic bags are not biodegradable- they break up into smaller toxic particles, contaminating both soil and water. So the next time the clerk at your favorite grocery store asks whether you prefer paper or plastic, give an environmental-friendly answer by choosing "neither".

People, in general, are under the misconception that paper bags are better than the plastic ones. But this alternative carries its own set of environmental problems. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, in 1999 the U.S. alone used 10 billion paper grocery bags- which adds up to a lot of trees! This is no good news for environmental activists who promote afforestation and tree-saving tactics.

The solution to this problem lies in the use of high quality reusable bags, emitting no residue to harm the environment during its production and can be easily reused. These bags are usually comprised of 80% post-consumer waste. Reusable grocery bags have a washable surface and are more spacious. Fashion conscious people can also take their pick of the wide range of eco-friendly bags available in soft and natural hues. These bags use natural fibers, which consume less energy during the production process. For instance, corn-based bags break down in landfills or composters in four to twelve weeks. This way the environment is kept safe of the disastrous hazards of plastic bags.

A number of eco-friendly companies have now come up with unique reusable bags- thereby acting as tools for increasing popular awareness for saving the environment from artificial hazards. These ethical alternatives can thus be a life-saving effort, not just for a few but for the multitude!

About the Author

Suzanne Macguire is an expert writer and an environmental activist, promoting the use of reusable shopping bags.

You can also find the article here http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/article.cfm?articleid=375719

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