Sustainable agriculture group asks Congress to act on climate change legislation
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition joined seventy-six other sustainable agriculture and environmental groups to urge Congress to pass climate change legislation during this current congressional session.
In a letter delivered today to the US Senate, the Coalition said any climate change and energy legislation “must include measures to increase the use of sustainable and organic farming systems to increase the ability of our nation’s agricultural soils to sequester large amounts of carbon.” These systems would, the group said, improve the soil, lower farmers’ contribution to greenhouse gas levels and help farmers adapt to and survive rapid changes in climate.
For more on this story, see http://3.ly/r6sw.
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Earth Creations offers eco–friendly fashion
Approximately one-third of a pound of chemicals are used to grow the cotton in one t-shirt. There are an array of harsh chemicals that are used throughout the garment manufacturing process, most of which are toxic to humans. These include chlorine, sodium hydroxide, heavy metal salts and formaldehyde. Residuals of these toxins stay in the fabric. They also find their way into wastewater systems, particularly in developing countries.
Many dyes that are excluded from the Organic Standards contain toxic components, said Martin Ledvina, co-founder of Earth Creations, Inc. Most conventional dyes don’t comply with EPA regulations so they’re sent overseas. The products that use these dyes, often made in sweatshops, make [...]
Cereplast meets consumer demand with new bioplastics
Known for their quality line of bioplastic resins, Cereplast Inc. has bowed to consumer demand by introducing eleven new grades of bioplastic resins.
I’ve written a few posts on the varied use of bioplastics in consumer products (see http://3.ly/bQ3P and http://3.ly/GKcW). Cereplast’s resins are used to produce products as diverse as tableware and cutlery, toys, healthcare/hygiene products, bottles/containers, bags, packaging, gift cards, printed displays, straws, and pipes, conduits.
In the wake of the disastrous BP oil spill, consumers are demanding more sustainable solutions that rely less on petroleum, says the company.
Cereplast anticipates this demand will result in the company shipping approximately 16 million pounds of bio-plastic resins to customers this year, a 400 percent rise in shipments and 190 percent [...]
Nestle to quit buying palm oil linked to deforestation
Seems like the sustainable bandwagon is moving ahead. Contrary to my less than optimistic view when Unilever announced they’d stop buying palm oil from an Indonesian planter involved in deforestation, now Nestle is joining the party.
After a two month campaign by Greenpeace, Nestle announced plans to stop buying palm oil from Sinar Mas Group, an Indonesian lumber and chemical products conglomerate accused by Greenpeace of illegal deforestation practices. Nestle says it has partnered with The Forest Trust, a non-profit organization that works to help companies establish sustainable supply chains. to “focus on the systematic identification and exclusion of companies owning or managing high risk plantations or farms linked to deforestation.”
Nestle has set a goal of making [...]
UK company promotes sustainability through “green oil”
As the current environmental disaster of unchecked oil spewing from a wrecked oil rig unfolds in the Gulf of Mexico, the importance of non-fossil fuel is growing exponentially.
UK-based Carbon Credited Farming PLC (CCF PLC), a green energy company, has been making headway with their worldwide focus on developing “green oil” from jatropha (juh tro’ fa) plants.
“Our goal and vision is to provide alternative renewable energy sources through a sustainable commercial framework that benefits everyone – from farmers to governments to end users – and benefits our environment with conservation and sustainable practices,” said Gregg Fryett, CEO of Carbon Credited Farming PLC.
To achieve this, CCF has been operating jatropha plantations in Thailand, Cambodia and Africa. [...]
Trader Joe’s to shift to sustainable seafood
According to an “Action Issue” posted on their website, Trader Joe’s announced they plan to shift their seafood purchasingto sustainable sources by December 2012.
Joining the ranks of Safeway and Target. the retailer is responding to consumer feedback and demand. They plan to incorporate seafood traceability as part of their new seafood policy.
Way to go, Trader Joe’s. And score another one for demanding aware consumers!
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Link Sunday
A download of our favorite stories and links from the past week. Enjoy!
1. From Scraps to Seedlings explores how to use eggshells, cardboard, and other household waste to grow vegetables. Hooray for reuse! And cool photos.
2. The Double-Edged Sword of Incentives for renewables, an excellent look at what is needed to really help the renewables industry grow (and what would be well-intentioned but could lead to collapse.)
3. Ok, it’s not hard news, but this video of a golden retriever in a small boat watching orcas swim mere feet away is a GreenPress editor’s favorite. Give it a shot! Some cute on a Sunday never hurt anyone.
4. Climate Change in the [...]
Kohl’s recognied as 2010 Energy Star® Partner of the Year
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have named Kohl’s Department Stores the 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Energy Management for the company’s commitment to energy management and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program, Kohl’s will receive the award March 18th at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Kohl’s has implemented a wide range of sustainable business practices. This commitment led Kohl’s in December 2009 announce their plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by the end of 2010. Last year the Environmental Protection Agency recognzied this family-focused Wisconsin-based company as a 2009 Green Power Partner of the Year.
Expect to hear more about Kohl’s [...]
Unilever to stop buying palm oil from Indonesia
Top consumer goods manufacturer Unilever has reportedly told dealers to stop buying palm oil from Indonesian planter Duta Palma due to concerns over rainforest destruction.
Unilever, who has been one of the world’s foremost palm oil buyers, halted their contract with the planter shortly after a documentary aired by the BBC which showed Duta Palma staff clearing rainforests for oil palm estates that produce the oil used in Unilever products including Dove soap and Stork margarine.
The consumer products giant uses around 1.3 million metric tons of palm oil annually. Targeted by environmentalists sand green-minded consumers for their deforestation and peatland clearance practices, Unilever has pledged to only purchase from certified sustainable palm plantations after 2015.
Indonesia and Malaysia produce at least 80 percent [...]
Travel-sized necessities go Green
To satisfy consumer demand, manufacturers have created small, travel-size versions of our favorite products. At the same time, Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles per hour! It’s an environmental scourge – harmful to wildlife, threatening our oceans and marine life, and scientists believe it will take hundreds of years to degrade.
Los Angeles-based Minimus recently introduced its Eco-Traveler Gift set, packed to the gills with an array of small-sized products. Yet almost everything in this gift box is eco-friendly – either reusable, recyclable, biodegradable or it uses paper made and certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
For more on this super-useful and elegant product, go to http://3.ly/1Yby.
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