Paper vs. Plastic: The Controversy Continues

It’s the dreaded question you’re asked every single time you head to Central Market. “Paper or plastic?” Suddenly hit with a wave of insecurity and unsureness, you desperately grapple for the “correct” answer. You want to be green! You want to recycle! You want to show the cute hipster cashier that you care about the environment! Which choice is truly better, then? To give you some much-needed insight, this week’s blog series will focus on the production processes and environmental impact behind paper bags and plastic bags. Read on, conflicted grocery shopper!

Paper is made from the pulp of logs (known on the street as trees), which are felled in forests at a rate of 14 million per year. After their 3-year-long drying process is complete, the logs are hacked into itty-bitty 1″ cubes, and stored for later use. When it’s time for the cubes to grow up and become paper, they are cooked with tons of heat and pressure, and are “digested” with limestone and sulfuric acid. Thousands of gallons of fresh water are then used to wash and bleach the pulp, which is cut into finished sheets of paper. Cutting, printing, and packaging of paper bags can be quite expensive and labor-intensive, requiring much time and energy.

Plastic, on the other hand, is a by-product of oil refinement, and burns through 12 million barrels of oil a year. Plastic bags are made from a certain genus of plastic called “polyethylene,” which comes in the form of charming resin pellets. Machines heat the pellets until they can be pulled out into long, ultra-thin tubes, which are then burned with a hot rod to separate one bag’s end from another bag’s beginning. Bags are separated individually, and then handle-holes are cut out with a large stamp.

Overall, plastic is actually cheaper to produce, and requires less dangerous, exhausting labor. Plastic also uses less energy, operating off electricity alone, whereas paper requires massive amounts of natural resources like trees and water. However, plastic bags create 4 times the solid waste that paper bags do, and they can last forever. Even “biodegradable” plastic bags will never truly break down- just separate into millions of tiny, obnoxious, immortal pieces.

If you’re thirsty for knowledge on what paper and plastic recycling is like, stay tuned! More fascinating facts about your not-so-mundane grocery bags are coming up in our next blog post tomorrow.

Holiday Gift Guide

‘Tis the season to be shopping! For the environmentally-conscious consumer, however, that can be an absolute nightmare. How do you find products that are socially responsible? Where are all the ethical companies hiding? Which gorgeous piece of recycled Fire & Light glassware should I get my mother? Don’t fear, Greener Gooder– we’ve got answers in store for you! To kick off our Holiday Gift Guide, we’d like to introduce four important things you should pay attention to when choosing to make a purchase.

1. Quality of Finished Product

This one is self-explanatory. Poorly-made products are easy to spot, and although they may be more affordable than their high-quality counterparts, that cheapness comes at a price. Additionally, a gift should be functional. Useable, high-quality gifts (like any of our baby products) mean less waste in a landfill, and more cheer in your holiday. To find out what contributes to the quality of a finished product, read on!

2. Quality of Manufacturing

Planned obsolescence is a widely-used practice in the manufacturing world in which a designer purposely plans a product to have a limited useful life. This can be done in a myriad of ways, such as making a new version of software incompatible with an old version of software, or manufacturing a product to break within a certain length of time. This method is a strain on consumers and on the earth, as it generates massive amounts of pollution and waste. Well-manufactured goods should be backwards-compatible (meaning they can interact with older versions), and should not require replacement parts or repairs.

3. Quality of Materials

Is the prospective gift sturdy and made of recyclable materials, or flimsy and made of non-biodegradable plastic? Certain materials, such as coltan, have a reputation for being harvested in nefarious ways, which makes any manufacturer who uses them guilty of contributing to unethical labor issues. Other seemingly-innocent materials, like the parabens so frequently used in personal care products, put consumers directly in harm’s way. Always research the materials listed in the products you buy, and ensure that you are not supporting business who exploit their suppliers– or endanger the consumer.

4. Labor Practices

Does the company have a reputation for being discriminatory in their hiring practices? Are any laborers forced workers? Are any laborers children? Is their work environment safe and healthy? Is overtime work consensual? Does the workers’ compensation adequately cater to their needs? The answers to all of these questions should factor into your choice to buy from a certain company. When labor practices are ethical and fair, productivity and quality are both increased– which means better stuff for you, and better gifts for your loved ones!

For more tips on buying gifts for your holiday season, check our blog throughout the week! We’ve got lots of fairly-traded, well-manufactured, good-material’d, high-quality goodies coming your way! Remember: at The Greener Good, it’s all good.

Staying Green on the Holidays

As the seasons change, the autumn and winter holidays approach, bringing a slew of options for celebrating. Here are some tips for maintaining your eco-friendly integrity throughout the revelry!

When shopping for loved ones’ gifts or food for festive feasts, choose neither paper NOR plastic, and bring a reusable bag! Our Bridgette Recycled Newspaper Bag is super-durable, and has the additional perk of being chic as all get-out. Our newspaper bags have an additional leg up on the common “reusable shopping bag” because they’re made of salvaged materials, instead of polypropylene (a plastic polymer used to make lame bags like these).

Give gifts that are one-of-a-kind, not manufactured en masse in dimly-lit factories. These Jenny Krauss belts are an excellent example, as each embroidered wool belt is handmade by women’s cooperatives in rural Peru. Instead of working in a crammed warehouse, women are able to embroider in the comfort of their own homes, creating a unique work of art that will tickle the fancy of your favorite fashionista!

Buy Fair Trade products! What better reflects the spirit of giving than supporting a company that assists workers in developing countries? Our gorgeous Lily and Laura crocheted bracelets are not only fashionable, but their purchase directly benefits a team of Nepalese artisans, who are paid fair wages. This leads to an inspired, high-quality product– and a village elevated from poverty! Who could possibly say “bah humbug” to that?

Not Just A Gift Guide…

It’s crunch time for finding Mother’s Day gifts!!  So to help you out, we didn’t just make a gift guide — we made a gift guide and put everything on it on sale!!

Let your mom curl up and relax on her day in Yala pajamas or make her feel fashionable and fabulous in Yala apparel!

Comfortable Mom – 30% Off

Fashionable Mom – 30% Off

Yala Apparel – 30% Off

Perhaps your mother would appreciate some new bedding?  What kind of question is that, of course she would!!  That is why all bamboo bedding is 25% off right now!

Bamboo Bedding – 20% Off

Trust me, every mother that comes into The Greener Good admires the cork handbags.  And we can’t blame them, the bags are beautiful, lightweight, and surprisingly durable!

Cork Handbags – 20% Off

The Andean Collection jewelry is still my favorite new addition to The Greener Good.  Who wouldn’t love to receive jewelry made from natural materials, but still looks amazing!!

Andean Collection Jewelry – 15% Off

Lastly, Roma boots and flip flops are on sale!!  This is a great deal because they are brand new to our store.  Moms will love comfortable flip flops or rain boots that all provide shoes for children without appropriate shoes!

Roma Shoes – 15% Off
Buy One, Give One

Do you have some idea as to what to get that wonderful woman in your life?  If you want to look at all of the sale items click HERE!  And remember, the sale ends of Mother’s Day, so hurry in!!

Get Ready For Black Friday Deals!!

When you check out on Friday you’ll be able to draw for the amount off you can get!!

Plus there is a gift with purchase and the treats get better the more you spend!

Fair Trade at The Greener Good

While shopping, it is more important than ever to buy fair trade products.  This helps people in developing countries learn the importance of business and using their resources to help their community.  Fair trade goods put a face behind products, instead of ignoring the fact that the laborer could be in poor labor conditions.

Fair trade goods always come with a fun story and it creates a stronger bond with the items.  For example, Global Crafts produces bracelets that I would buy again and again just because of their purpose.  The jewelry is made in Chili and the business is providing people with jobs!

The next time you’re out shopping, make sure to stop and think about who made the product you’re about to buy.  Once you incorporate that thought into your buying process it is amazing the changes you will make to better our planet!!

ShopSmart Gift Guide!

It seems The Greener Good has quite a selection of smart Christmas gifts!!  ShopSmart Magazine did a section of Feel-Good Gifts in the December issue. You can find some of these gifts at our store!!

This bottle opener with a recycled bicycle chain is a great idea and a wonderful gift!  Instead of letting old bicycle chains go to waste, they are used to create this bottle opener. Get your bike chain bottle opener here!!

Second, the Bead For Life jewelry is featured as a gift idea.  Not only is the jewelry fun and colorful, it also funds the Ugandan women who run this jewelry-making business.

Now we realize these aren’t the same bracelets exactly, but if ShopSmart deems guitar string bracelets a thoughtful gift, then who are we to argue??  Eye on the Sparrow jewelry is jewelry made of guitar strings.  You can get bracelets, earrings, and even necklaces!  This is such a great gift idea for the musician in your life.

What a great gift guide from ShopSmart!  So many great ideas.  Thankfully, you can get these select items from us at The Greener Good!!