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Green Business is Here to Stay
How important is it to you that a business is locally and
independently owned, or that it engages in green practices? How important is it
to you that you work for an environmentally friendly company? Or that your
office space or production facility is sustainable and healthy? The answer may
change depending on where you live and work. What cannot change is the
interconnectedness and interdependence of society, our environment, and the
economy.
Empowering Sustainability THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR
The majority of people in the world understand that human
behavior is driving serious disruptions of the natural systems we rely on for
food, water, and all other resources. Concern about these issues is on the
rise: opinion polls show that most Americans think we should do more to
preserve and protect the environment. Unfortunately, this concern is not enough
because real and perceived barriers prevent us from taking action.
Research in psychology describes three types of barriers:
Read “Green” to Your Kids
The key to getting young people fired up about
environmentalism is to present them with a balance of information and plausible
solutions. This fresh crop of books is intended to give kids clear and
achievable ways to contribute to saving the world.
Eco Babies Wear Green by Michelle Sinclair Colman, illustrated by Nathalie Dion, shows savvy newborns composting their cheerios, running on solar energy, and carpooling on the back of mama's bike. A witty primer for the very youngest eco-warriors.
Greening My Child’s School: A Local Story
Cafeteria waste contributes immensely to our ever-growing
landfills. Considering this, it was easy for me to implement no-waste lunches
in packing for my three school-age children, but I thought we could take it one
major step further and reduce the waste for their entire school: Edina
Highlands Elementary. After reading an article about Hennepin County initiating
an organics recycling program in their schools, I called John Jaimez at
Hennepin County for more information, and Highlands began an organics recycling
program too.
The Science of Green
For years now, issues about the environment have remained an important topic in society. As scientists continue to learn more about the world around us and the impacts of our choices, there is an abounding amount of new information to be absorbed. From water and soil issues to recycling and pollution, the plethora of data to keep up with can be overwhelming. Do It Green! Magazine disseminates environmental information and adapts it into digestible articles. This Environment section focuses on the scientific aspects of green living.
Two Green Seals of Approval in Minnesota
Knowing what products or services are truly
environmentally preferable isn't always easy. In today's retail
sector, we encounter "green" everywhere! As a Minnesotan, you can feel confident
that there are two great resources available to you to find truly green
retailers, businesses, and organizations that have passed a strict criteria.
The Minnesota Green Pages Directory
and the Blue Sky Guide coupon book both offer
transparency.
Minnesota GREEN PAGES Directory
New Green Businesses
As the green movement flourishes, so does the green retail
sector. Stop by to visit some of the new green businesses throughout the Twin
Cities and Greater Minnesota to find some new, hip and green goods, carbon
saving devices for your home, new modes of transport, and tasty treats!
Twin Cities Green and Sunny Day Earth Solutions. These new green stores offer a wide array of recycled, reclaimed, and earth-friendly products for home, play, and a green lifestyle: wallets and bags made from
Green Weddings: Celebrating Mindfully
A marriage ceremony and reception are among the most memorable celebrations in a person's life.
Traditionally, weddings evoke memories of lavish flowers, extravagant gowns,
sparkling diamond engagement rings, elaborate meals, wedding favors, and guests
from around the world. What most people don't envision is the immense cost
financially and environmentally that "perfect weddings" incur. Luckily, there
are plenty of ways to reduce the environmental impact of a wedding and
consequently save some money while maintaining the
Fashionable, Functional, and Light on the Earth: GREEN CLOTHING
Making clothing, like any other product, has an impact on the
environment. In order to reduce the negative impact, buy reused clothing from
thrift stores or good quality, long-lasting new products that are made from
recycled content or unconventional fibers. Organic cotton or alternative
fibers, such as bamboo or hemp, don't require as many chemicals to grow.
Seven-year-old Kasia Bednarski of Minneapolis is wearing the REI Terra Tee ($24.50) in violet, which is made from 100 percent organic cotton, and the REI Fairhaven pant ($32.50) in sesame, which is made
Buy Green but Beware of Greenwashing
Green is much more than a shade of healthy grass these days.
The buzzword describes everything from hotels to gasoline. Like the widespread
use of the word "organic" prior to USDA regulation, products labeled or
referred to as "green" may not represent an item that is truly safe and
sustainable for your home or the environment.
We are bombarded with marketing messages every day and there are more and more green marketing messages out there. There are currently products on the market labeled green even though they have few, if any, environmental or
