Carol asks…
Do people care about how their everyday products are made?
Just curious. Since people seem to be going through this “natural, organic, eco–friendly, reduce reuse recycle” phase, do they really care about these sort of things? I mean a product might be labeled as eco friendly, but it might only be the ingredients and the packaging that’s eco friendly. The place the product was made might not be and the forms of transportation used to get the product from there to here might not be eco friendly. Are people interested in knowing more about how their products are made so they understand the affects of the product on the world or no?
The Expert answers:
As my old Daddy used to say, If you knew what went into a hot dog, you would never eat one.
Most people do not really understand what all those terms mean anyway. They try to do their best and hope that the people telling them it is natural, organic, and eco-friendly are telling them the truth. We have enough to worry about without thinking about if the factory or transportation is also eco-friendly. I, for one, know they are not. I, however, know there is nothing I can do about it. Even at a certified organic farmer’s market, not everything will be totally eco-friendly. Even if the produce was transported by horse and cart, even if it isn’t washed before it is sold. Somewhere along the line, there will be a step that will not be considered eco-friendly.
I put out my recyclables every week. However, it is picked up by a large gas guzzling truck. I have no control over this and can only take comfort in the fact that I have done my best.
This is all that any of us can say.
Nancy asks…
Eco-Friendly and/or Cruelty-Free Liquid Bleach Alternative?
I have been looking for a product that is an alternative to liquid bleach. I have a front loading, high-efficiency washer and I can’t use a powdered bleach alternative in my washing cycle. I would like to know if there is a liquid bleach alternative on the market that is eco–friendly and cruelty free? I usually dry my white sheets in the sun, but now that the frost is here, I can’t do that anymore. I’d love to keep my whites white in the cold months as well.
The Expert answers:
Brilliant Bleach and Biz Stain activated non chlorine bleach. Brilliant Bleach is manufactured by Soapworks and it is nontoxic, user and earth friendly, cleaning, laundry and personal care products. Their Fresh Breeze Laundry Powder was originally designed for people with severe allergies and asthma and the products they have made since then are just as gentle and biodegradable. They have a website www.soapworks.com and a toll free # 1-800-699-9917
Michael asks…
How do I make my own cleaning products?
I’d like to try making some cleaning products that are eco–friendly. How do I make ones that actually clean?!
The Expert answers:
I used to use Windex for cleaning so many things. Besides windows and mirrors it is good to clean appliances, stainless steel, etc. But now it seems to leave everything streaked. Now I just take a 32 oz. Sprayer and add 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide and fill with water. It works so much better than Windex. If you can’t handle the smell, you can add a drop of essential oil. I don’t because the smell will go away. You can also use baking soda for a scrubber where you would usually use soft scrubs. It works well in the fridge.
Mary asks…
How Has Toshiba Chosen to become more Eco-Friendly?
Has Toshiba reduced the number of Toxic Materials in their products and approximatly by how much? (Most recent Data would be great). And also how have they made their products energy effecient and have they reduced their se of energy?
It would be great if anyone could answer these questions. I was unable to find this information in the Toshiba environmental Handbook. Again thanks if anyone can fill me in on this information.
The Expert answers:
Parle français!
Ken asks…
If the gov. forced companies to become more eco-friendly, wouldn’t that hurt the economy?
The major complaint by environmentalists is that businesses emit massive amounts of pollution through the elimination of waste, pollution from production itself, and the vehicles they use to transport their products. Sure the government could place restrictions on emission levels, but how would they prevent the economic loss that would cause when the companies can no longer produce as they have been? Please someone lend an idea. Thanks!
The Expert answers:
Congress has made it abundently clear that EPA can’t enact rules and regulations without a cost/benefit analysis. If the costs exceed the benefits, business continues as usual.
So if the tree huggers got their way, yes, it would mean the end of the US as we know it. But that is not going to happen.
A clean environment isn’t free, and we pay more for it, but the return on investment is less money spent on healthcare. (Healthcare is so enormously expensive that quite a bit can be spent on the environment and we would still come out ahead.)
The fuel efficiency standards are on the margin of any cost/benefit, and originally came about because of OPEC, not for any reason of pollution abatement.
The cost/benefit on CO2 regulation is so expensive, basically destroying the entire American economy to prevent some really nebulous future possibilities, that no politician in America wants to touch it. So business as usual. Maybe build some nuclear power plants.
The EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory showed many businesses how incredibly sloppy they were running their operations, letting valuable materials evaporate into the air and pollute the water. Stuff that made economic sense to recover.
Tree huggers may want to go back to the stone age, but don’t assume business is always rational. Sometimes you have to hit them over the head with a 2 x 4 to get them to do something in their own self interest.
By the way, you don’t see anyone rushing to regulate and/or remove pharmaceuticals from drinking water.
No one in America is going to give up their drugs.
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