Forced Green

Newton’s Eco-Friendly Packaging a Snug Fit

I know that we have been gritchin about the packaging of stuff that we buy. Well
as 2009 starts, the following have taken the public’s opinion to heart and has done
something that is just the cat’s meow!

Boulder-based Newton Running has found an alternative to traditional printed cardboard
shoe boxes. They worked with TDA Advertising and Design to come up with a new
way to package their running shoes. Instead of the normal cardboard box with tissue
paper, they are now using a molded carton made of 100% post consumer recycled material.

We, the consumer, come out on the plus side. They created a carton that will fit closely
to the shape of the shoes. Instead of tissue paper, they have stuffed a pair of socks
into the shoes to keep their shape and have a reusable shoe bag for each shoe.

Their site is: www.newtonrunning.com/index.php This is pretty cool as it really lets
you look the shoe over from all angles.

Other shoe retailers, like Nike and Adidas are also working on how to use resources to cut
down the packaging waste.

On the other end of the spectrum, FinishLine.com was recently exposed by a blogger for
its ludicrous shipping practices. And you thought us bloggers were not paying
attention!

So what do you think? Is this the type of packaging that is helpful to you?

EPA Put Environmental Fugitives on Most-Wanted List

WASHINGTON (AP) - The government is starting a different kind of most-wanted list - for
environmental fugitives accused of assaulting nature.

These fugitives allegedly smuggled chemicals that eat away the Earth’s protective ozone
layer, dumped hazardous waste into oceans and rivers and trafficked in polluting cars.

And now the government wants help in tracking them down.

In its own version of the FBI most-wanted list, and the first to focus on environmental
crimes, the Environmental Protection Agency is unveiling a roster of 23 fugitives,
complete with mug shots and descriptions of the charges on its Web site: www.epa.gov/fugitives

A top EPA enforcement official said the people on the list represent the “brazen universe
of people that are evading the law.” Many face years in prison and some charges could Read more…

Their mission stays the same, as they ensure that the cooperative spirit remains
embedded within what they mean when they say green: social and economic justice,
community and environmental health, people and the planet.

Today’s interconnected crises (economic, climate, food, water, health) require
solutions from an economy that works for both people and the planet — which means
that their work together is more important that ever.

For the past 25 years, together with their members and allies, they’ve worked to
build the green economy into what it is today, and for the next 25 years, they’ll interconnect all of their green economy work with two overarching goals: Read more…

I was going to make this a short and sweet New Year’s message, then I heard this
news and …. well, pardon me while I digress from the holiday message a moment.

Today Lake Superior State University released it’s annual list of ‘Banished Words’.
Number 1 on the list is ‘GREEN’, AND any variations of the word. Number 2 on the list
is ‘CARBON FOOTPRINT’ and/or ‘CARBON OFFSET’.

‘GREEN’, is an easy generic word for anything having to do with healing and Read more…

Seventy-six percent (76%) of all electricity generated by US power plants goes to
supply the Building Sector. Buildings are responsible for almost half (48%) of all
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually.

With this in mind, Architecture 2030, a non-profit independent organization, was
established by architect Edward Mazria in 2002. 2030’s mission is to rapidly
transform the US and global Building Sector from the major contributor of GHG to a
central part of the solution to the global-warming crisis. Read more…

American Wind Projects

The U.S. wind industry is on its way to charting another record-shattering year of
growth. That capacity will generate over 60 billion kWh of electricity in 2009,
enough to serve over 5.5 million American homes and eliminating the burning of

* 30.4 million short tons of coal (enough to fill two 1,000-mile-long coal trains),
* 91 million barrels of oil per year, or
* 560 Bcf of natural gas (about 9% of the natural gas used for electricity generation)

Hull, Massachusetts - Offshore Wind Turbines
This resort town, population 11,000, plans to moor four 260-foot-tall turbines a Read more…