ELEMENTS

Title: Biodegradable what?

Words: Jennifer Homcy

Pull Quote: "’BioDegradable plastic’ is an oxymoron!” 

The green movement is taking off like a fleet of fighter jets defending

our country, except some of the pilots are not qualified to fly.  The false

claims to being "eco" this and "environmentally friendly" that are as

common as rubber slippers in Waikiki. 

This labeling epidemic is commonly referred to as "green washing."

Sourcewatch.org defines greenwashing as "the unjustified appropriation of

environmental virtue by a company, an industry, a government, a politician,

or even a nongovernment organization to create a pro-environmental image,

sell a product or a policy, or to try and rehabilitate its standing with

the public and decision makers after being embroiled in controversy." 

With greenwashing in mind, I offer you this food for thought: What does biodegradable

mean? And why do biodegradable plastics exist? According to Webster's Dictionary, biodegradable –means that a material is capable of being broken down, especially into innocuous products, by the action of living things (microorganisms).  For a plastic to be biodegradable, it must be capable of degradation by living organisms. Does this mean that living things eat plastic and the chemicals that they are composed of? What?

Living things, in general, cannot and do not degrade plastic.

To claim that a product is bridgeable, companies add cornstarch to plastics so that

living organisms can eat the cornstarch out of the plastic, thereby

breaking the plastics down into smaller microplastic particles. Can you say “greenwashing”?

At this point, you may be asking, "What's wrong with that?" Here are a few facts:

1. Plastics, when heated or cooled, release carcinogenic dioxins into

liquids.

2. DDTs, PCBs, and other dangerous carcinogenic toxins bond to

plastics, which hyperconcentrate in the food chain (bioaccumulation).

3.  All marine life begins with primary producers (plankton) and small

fish and invertebrates, most of which filter feed (you guessed it—now on

to plastic).

4. Because these particles become so small over long periods of time,

they become less obvious and nearly impossible to remove.

We as consumers are being fooled daily by deceptive labeling and

marketing. Even the local health food stores have sadly announced their

switch to "biodegradable plastic bags." This labeling is currently under review by the

Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Since very few standards and regulations exist in the green products

industry, take your time to investigate the labeling claims. 

How a product is packaged says a lot.  Look for materials and printing that

are minimal, easily recycled, made from post-consumer recycled materials,

and that may have an alternative use. POM Tea is bottled in a glass  that can be used for drinking at home. (Reuse, reuse, and reuse again!)

When looking for alternatives to plastic, focus on things like

"biocompostable" and "made from corn" (such as Styrophobia and World

Centric). The best advice is for consumers to support local businesses that have made a sincere commitment to high environmental standards. Isn't your health and the health of the planet worth it?

 Green fundraising raises funds and awareness 

Did you ever think about the true cost of a fundraiser? It’s ironic how many fundraisers neglect to consider the social and environmental impact of their activity, when many of the funds they are raising will be used to support a social or environmental issue. The true cost of fundraising considers the economic, environmental, and community impact of the fundraiser.  Some things to consider:

Does your fundraiser use locally produced and sustainable goods and services? Selling locally produced products and services has a greater positive effect on the local economy. For example, when a fundraiser sells a bucket of popcorn made on the Mainland, the dollars used to purchase the popcorn leave the island. Better to buy from a local popcorn producer. Better still to purchase from a local popcorn producer that uses locally grown corn. Then more money stays in the economy, and you support local farmers.

Does your fundraiser have a negative environmental impact?  Look for products that are sustainably produced, or have zero carbon footprint. Many fundraising items are made overseas. But these items are often produced in poor work environments and must travel a few thousand miles to arrive in Hawai‘i. Consider making leis from local renewable plants and selling them as a fundraiser. This will reduce the need to ship items long distances, and reduce the carbon footprint. And you can easily track the environmental impact if the product is produced locally.

Does your fundraiser make the community better? Selling goods and services that support the community is better for the community. Selling throwaway items, such as candy or cheap trinkets, encourages people to be unhealthy and wasteful. Consider selling items that encourage health, or that encourage people to take positive action.  Make sure the fundraiser is in line with your organization’s mission and vision.

The 2010 HonuGuide (www.honuguide.com), set to launch in October 2009, is one example of a green

fundraising tool. It offers local, green discounts and resources that encourage support for the local economy, while educating people on how to live more sustainably. The environmental impact (or carbon footprint) of the publication has been offset by using Evolution Sage services, and it was printed locally with Hagadone Printing. And fundraising with the HonuGuide supports the community by encouraging people to visit local farmers’ markets and to shop at locally owned stores. It’s something that you feel good about selling.

To find out more about local, green fundraising with the HonuGuide, visit www.honuguide.com.