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Greetings!
Is Paper Dirty or Clean?
(Yet Another "How Green Is It" for Green Talk Radio)
First time getting my newsletter? Read on. Been here before? Proceed to next paragraph. I frequently find that people want simple answers to complex questions - especially as it relates to sustainable solutions and sustainability in general. For the most part - the answers are just not that simple and it's usually about making a "greener" choice. Case in point: is paper good or bad? Does making it destroy our forests? Is it bad for the environment? Is recycled paper ALWAYS better for the environment than virgin paper? OMG - that green conundrum thing again!
First real question to ask: how many times a day do you touch something made from paper - starting with the first bathroom visit in the morning? The answer is: lots. So when my friend and major Mrs. Green supporter, Cathy Rankin (Temco Air) invited me to attend a luncheon about the printing industry and sustainability, I didn't hesitate. It was hosted by a great locally owned business called West Press. Little did I know the places we would go learning about paper, printing and the complexity of yet another issue where facts can get in the way. Ready to get a few myths debunked?
Here goes...Does making paper destroy our forests? Not if your paper is sourced from companies that use sustainable forest management. In FACT, paper companies that use these practices plant about four trees for every one harvested. How do you know? They tell you by using little tree symbols that say things like "FSC" - Forest Stewardship Council or Rainforest Alliance or Metafore. And it's as easy as turning over a box in the grocery store to read the label - all you have to do is look. Check out www.spicers.com for some great info about paper sourcing. Lots of great content on their website.
Are all virgin fiber papers bad? No. Again, sourcing virgin fiber paper from companies with responsible forest management practices can be as green and sustainable as using recycled content paper. Think about it - we don't want the good guys to stop planting trees. Recycling paper for printing and writing grades can actually consume MORE energy than producing paper from virgin fibers. And besides, the forests managed responsibly create wildlife habitat for all those little critters Mrs. Green loves so much.
If paper is biodegradable in a landfill, why bother recycling? First of all, there is a HUGE demand for paper globally. Secondly, conditions in a landfill site can result in paper taking fifty years to break down and guess what folks? We are rapidly running out of landfill space. Too much trash, not enough places to put it.
Sustainable Paper Costs More. True and false. It can cost more. And if it's produced in the USA, it probably will cost more. So then it all comes down to choices. The EPA has lots of rules and regulations governing the manufacturing of paper. I am going to go out on a limb here (pun intended) and just venture a guess that paper being imported from China might have harmed the environment at more than one place through-out the manufacturing stages. Ya think?
At the end of the day, when all is said and done, it boils down to the same thing: choices. Re: the three Rs. Always remember the first R is reduce. If you don't have to print something, don't. Use both sides of the paper for printing whenever possible. And get rid of those paper towels! Rags work. Re: costing more, my buddy Cathy flat out said her company is more than willing to pay the additional costs for just about anything (within reason) that is made in the USA. The good news is that more and more people are feeling that way and buying American made is trending up in many sectors. |
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Three Things You Should Know about Habitat for Humanity's HabiStore!
Other than Terry Dee being one of my favorite people on the planet (not even a tiny exaggeration), here are three things you may not know about the HabiStore:
- They divert more than 200 TONS of materials from the landfills each year by selling new and used cool stuff like home improvement materials, appliances, and furniture - including really awesome patio furniture and light fixtures.
- The revenue generated from the HabiStore is used to build houses for low income families who qualify. At press time, they have over 14 houses under construction in Tucson. Are you kidding me right now? Talk about ending cycles of poverty forever - home ownership does that.
- The HabiStore is green from the inside out! They have HETs (high efficiency toilets from Big John the Toilet Guy). They have gone solar! In a partnership with GeoInnovation, the HabiStore received a grant from the Arizona Department of Commerce to install enough solar to provide 30% of their electricity (huge savings each month) and they are working on rain water harvesting.
Leave it to me to cram at least SIX things into THREE things you should know about my featured entity. I love my Mrs. Green partners. What can I say?
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Mrs. Green Goes to YouTube!
We are still excited about our YouTube green news magazine. Second in our series of YouTube videos, Mrs. Green interviews Jason Tankersley, CEO of The Fairfax Companies about construction waste. They discuss ways to reuse construction waste, including turning discarded wood into decorative mulch.
 | | Oh, Construction Waste, Where Art Thou? |
Calling All Staycationers!
We are now live with our fun summer contest: My Best Summer Staycation Ever! We want to hear your stories and we know you have one you can share. You can tell us about one you took, about one you are planning to take this summer or even share with us what your dream Summer Staycation would be. Please read about the ones already submitted, then join the fun and invite friends and family to do the same. Maybe they will invite you to share their Summer Staycation with them. And did I mention the prizes are outstanding?
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Upcoming Shows
 5/28
Bob Schildgen aka Mr. Green! (not My Mr. Green) Bob was managing editor and book review editor of Sierra magazine for many years, and continues to write Sierra's popular "Hey Mr. Green" environmental advice column. A native of rural Wisconsin, where he grew up on a farm, Schildgen now resides in Berkeley, California, where he indulges his passions for gardening and thrift by growing two dozen types of vegetables in his backyard. Now if I can just say his name correctly, a great, green time will be had by all. This show sponsored by Chapman Tucson.  6/4
Paul Bonavia, CEO, TEP and UniSource
As head of one of the most distinguished and innovative energy companies in the industry, Paul Bonavia will discuss the many solutions UniSource is developing to the long-term challenges facing their industry. They carry out their operations with great respect for the environment and actively pursue a future powered by clean, sustainable resources. Paul will not only share some information about the specifics of these programs but give us his candid, articulate thoughts on his view of the industry from 30,000 feet. I love to interview this honest, brilliant man! This show sponsored by TEP.
 6/11
Live remote from Renee's Organic Oven (formerly Eclectic Pizza)
Mrs. Green will interview Renee Kreager, owner of this great dining establishment, to talk about why the name change, what it means to be a gluten free kitchen. We will also interview a representative from New Belgium Brewing Company, maker of Fat Tire, about why they are considered one of the greenest, most sustainable companies in the world. Come out or tune in - either way you will learn and have fun.  6/18
David Blume - Alcohol Can Be a Gas
David has one of those bios that is about four pages long. So let it suffice to say he has done quite a bit since showing up on the planet. We will spend time talking with David about his book which is being hailed as the bible of alcohol fuel production. I have heard him speak and trust me when I say there shall not be a dull moment! Tune in and get ready to learn and have some fun. This show sponsored by Chapman Tucson.
6/25
Neb Yonas, Chapman Tucson - National Trends in the Auto Industry Neb Yonas, General Manager, Chapman Tucson. With gas prices inching up to $5/per gallon before summer and with the impact of the Tsunami on Japanese imports, Neb will have lots to share with us about what car buying trends he is seeing in the industry nationwide. Neb has his finger on the pulse of this constantly changing, volatile, fast-paced industry. This show sponsored by Chapman Tucson. |
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Mrs. Green's World GREEN TALK RADIO Show
Please remember to tune in to Mrs. Green's World every Saturday at 12:05 p.m. Arizona time on NEWSTALK 790 KNST AM or live, streaming on the internet at www.mrsgreensworld.com.
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Mrs. Green welcomes your comments and feedback:
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 | | Mrs. Green joins Raytheon for Earth Month festivities |
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