Comments on: How do you know what’s green and what’s not? http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/ Business, Better. Since 2005 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:43:02 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kimberly Lancaster http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/comment-page-1/#comment-9910 Kimberly Lancaster Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:44:31 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/#comment-9910 One of the issues I have with any Buy Green logo program is this interchangeability of green and organic. Just because a product is organic does not make it green - or vice versa. One item being ignored altogether in a Buy Green program is buying local food. The proliferation of organic in retail chains has hurt local organic growers who have traditionally practiced community agriculture, animal humanity and local economics. These small farmers are being damaged by "big organic" firms whose non-green business practices, energy/fuel consumption, and industrialized food processes are hidden by marketing jargon consumers believe. I live in RI and without exception I believe we have access to some of the greatest native food: oysters, lobsters, cheese, milk, heirloom tomatoes, apples, pumpkins and I am so sad when our farmer's market rolls around every season and I hear about another local farm that just didn't make it. When it comes to buying food, I think we should all think local, and if you can find local organic all the better. But ultimately, buying your food locally is good for your local economy, good for family farmers, good for your health, and good for the environment. That's my idea of a buy green program. One of the issues I have with any Buy Green logo program is this interchangeability of green and organic. Just because a product is organic does not make it green – or vice versa. One item being ignored altogether in a Buy Green program is buying local food. The proliferation of organic in retail chains has hurt local organic growers who have traditionally practiced community agriculture, animal humanity and local economics. These small farmers are being damaged by “big organic” firms whose non-green business practices, energy/fuel consumption, and industrialized food processes are hidden by marketing jargon consumers believe. I live in RI and without exception I believe we have access to some of the greatest native food: oysters, lobsters, cheese, milk, heirloom tomatoes, apples, pumpkins and I am so sad when our farmer’s market rolls around every season and I hear about another local farm that just didn’t make it. When it comes to buying food, I think we should all think local, and if you can find local organic all the better. But ultimately, buying your food locally is good for your local economy, good for family farmers, good for your health, and good for the environment. That’s my idea of a buy green program.

]]> By: Melanie St.James http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/comment-page-1/#comment-9909 Melanie St.James Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:51:35 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/#comment-9909 Hello Bloggers- 3p is covering our event so I throught to check out topics- good thing! Harnessing this moving target is exactly what we will do at www.theglobalsummit.org planning symposium Nov. 17-18, 2008 at the Presidio Golden Gate Club in SF. On day 1 we'll be establishing a platform collaborative open standards of sustainability across six mutually supportive social & economic sectors, your input is most welcome. In collaboration, Melanie Melanie St.James, MPA Managing Director The Global Summit‚Ñ¢ Tel. 310-392-6909 msj@theglobalsummit.org www.theglobalsummit.org Hello Bloggers- 3p is covering our event so I throught to check out topics- good thing!
Harnessing this moving target is exactly what we will do at http://www.theglobalsummit.org planning symposium Nov. 17-18, 2008 at the Presidio Golden Gate Club in SF.
On day 1 we’ll be establishing a platform collaborative open standards of sustainability across six mutually supportive social & economic sectors, your input is most welcome.
In collaboration,
Melanie
Melanie St.James, MPA
Managing Director
The Global Summit‚Ñ¢
Tel. 310-392-6909
msj@theglobalsummit.org
http://www.theglobalsummit.org

]]> By: Thomas Schueneman http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/comment-page-1/#comment-9908 Thomas Schueneman Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:21:43 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/#comment-9908 Yes, regarding Andrew's comment, I've learned that there's really not much point in engaging folks like him. It's tough to counter willful ignorance. Yes, regarding Andrew’s comment, I’ve learned that there’s really not much point in engaging folks like him. It’s tough to counter willful ignorance.

]]> By: Dix Henneke http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/comment-page-1/#comment-9907 Dix Henneke Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:14:47 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/#comment-9907 I have heard Mike Italiano of the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability speak a couple of times on a SMaRT product certification his organization has been working on for several years. It is intended to be for products what LEED is for buildings. Seems to have all the criteria for a very workable standard, but unfortunately, I have seen no mention of it anywhere but on the MTS website. Check it out at: http://www.sustainableproducts.com/mts/smartstandards.html I have heard Mike Italiano of the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability speak a couple of times on a SMaRT product certification his organization has been working on for several years. It is intended to be for products what LEED is for buildings. Seems to have all the criteria for a very workable standard, but unfortunately, I have seen no mention of it anywhere but on the MTS website. Check it out at:
http://www.sustainableproducts.com/mts/smartstandards.html

]]> By: Doug http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/comment-page-1/#comment-9906 Doug Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:09:27 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/#comment-9906 Hi Everyone, I work for a company called Greenopia who is in the process of launching a product rating feature on our website (www.greenopia.com) in the next week or so. I appreciate the discussion here and we have tried to incorporate some of the things mentioned like take-back programs for electronic goods and scaling our weighting based off a rough life cycle of the product's impact. When we do launch next week, we would also appreciate any feedback about the usefulness of our product rating and also feel free to check out our city guides where we rate the environmental performance of local businesses. Thanks. Hi Everyone,
I work for a company called Greenopia who is in the process of launching a product rating feature on our website (www.greenopia.com) in the next week or so.
I appreciate the discussion here and we have tried to incorporate some of the things mentioned like take-back programs for electronic goods and scaling our weighting based off a rough life cycle of the product’s impact.
When we do launch next week, we would also appreciate any feedback about the usefulness of our product rating and also feel free to check out our city guides where we rate the environmental performance of local businesses.
Thanks.

]]> By: marlowe http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/comment-page-1/#comment-9905 marlowe Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:40:21 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/#comment-9905 I like the concept of making green purchases easier, but I don't think this site goes far enough. <br /><br /> Just looking at its Green Standards briefly, I was dissapointed that the disposal section only talks about biodegrading and recycling. What about corporate product take back, ease of disassembly, ability to retrofit or upgrade? We need to get more life out of products before we send them to be crushed. <br /><br /> Also, the idea of their products being biodegradable in a capped landfill is very suspect (not to mention products that break down in the landfill produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas). I like the concept of making green purchases easier, but I don’t think this site goes far enough.

Just looking at its Green Standards briefly, I was dissapointed that the disposal section only talks about biodegrading and recycling. What about corporate product take back, ease of disassembly, ability to retrofit or upgrade? We need to get more life out of products before we send them to be crushed.

Also, the idea of their products being biodegradable in a capped landfill is very suspect (not to mention products that break down in the landfill produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas).

]]> By: Paul Smith http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/comment-page-1/#comment-9904 Paul Smith Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:42:56 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/#comment-9904 Uh oh. It's clear Andrew wants a fight. Don't give it to him! Mario, you make many valid points. The BuyGreen people acknowledge their work is one in progress, and are open to improvements on it. Uh oh. It’s clear Andrew wants a fight. Don’t give it to him! Mario, you make many valid points. The BuyGreen people acknowledge their work is one in progress, and are open to improvements on it.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/comment-page-1/#comment-9903 Kevin Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:13:04 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/#comment-9903 Andrew, we're all only f_cked if cynical, lazy people like yourself are the majority and give up. While you're blowing the future for everyone's children and grandchildren, the rest of us will be out there fighting the good fight. As to your statement, "there's never been a single shred of scientific proof that global warming is real.", I can only say that you are either joking, or a completely ignorant person. There is, of course, an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence about global warming being real, and virtually the entire scientific community now agrees that it is not only the greatest issue facing mankind, but created by mankind. Have you been living under a rock? Andrew, we’re all only f_cked if cynical, lazy people like yourself are the majority and give up. While you’re blowing the future for everyone’s children and grandchildren, the rest of us will be out there fighting the good fight.
As to your statement, “there’s never been a single shred of scientific proof that global warming is real.”, I can only say that you are either joking, or a completely ignorant person. There is, of course, an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence about global warming being real, and virtually the entire scientific community now agrees that it is not only the greatest issue facing mankind, but created by mankind.
Have you been living under a rock?

]]> By: Mario Vellandi http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/comment-page-1/#comment-9902 Mario Vellandi Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:00:56 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/#comment-9902 Any certification process should be consensus-based, transparent, credible, third party audited, and recurring. Secondly, it needs to identify the attributes for which it is certifying products. GreenSeal, GreenGuard, FSC, USDA Organic, EcoLogo, TransFair are all excellent standards that certify based on a variety of single attributes. For comprehensive multi-attribute standards, there's a few out there including SMaRT from MTS. I definitely understand the helpfulness of an overarching standard that grades products on a weighted scale, especially for those that are complex like furniture. Any certification process should be consensus-based, transparent, credible, third party audited, and recurring. Secondly, it needs to identify the attributes for which it is certifying products. GreenSeal, GreenGuard, FSC, USDA Organic, EcoLogo, TransFair are all excellent standards that certify based on a variety of single attributes. For comprehensive multi-attribute standards, there’s a few out there including SMaRT from MTS. I definitely understand the helpfulness of an overarching standard that grades products on a weighted scale, especially for those that are complex like furniture.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/comment-page-1/#comment-9901 Andrew Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:43:15 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/10/how-do-you-know-whats-green-and-whats-not/#comment-9901 I think we're blowing this whole green thing out of proportion. Gas is cheap again and there's never been a single shred of scientific proof that global warming is real. So I will continue driving a suburban, leaving lights on, buying disposable and burning garbage. I am the typical American. We're all fucked. I think we’re blowing this whole green thing out of proportion. Gas is cheap again and there’s never been a single shred of scientific proof that global warming is real. So I will continue driving a suburban, leaving lights on, buying disposable and burning garbage. I am the typical American. We’re all fucked.

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