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The start of the New Year is a good time to resolve to contribute to a
more sustainable world. During the holidays we collectively generate
mountains of waste. According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, Recycle Works,
the US alone purchases over 2.6 billion holiday cards each year.
(enough to fill a football field 10 stories high). Between Thanksgiving
and the New Year, Americans throw out an extra million tons of trash
each week (a 25% increase). and 38,000 miles of ribbon are discarded
each year–enough to tie a bow around the Earth.
Powerful
improvements can be made through relatively simple business
innovations. Each year, 50 million Christmas trees are purchased in the
U.S. and about 30 million go to the landfill. During the average 15
year life span of a fake Christmas tree, a real tree user will put
about 1/2 ton of waste into landfills. Fake trees are even more
destructive to the environment as they are made with polyvinyl chloride
(or PVC, otherwise known as vinyl), one of the most environmentally
offensive forms of non-renewable, petroleum-derived plastic. Fake
Christmas trees are also know to have several carcinogens, including
dioxin, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride. Fake trees also contain
lead and other additives that have been linked to liver, kidney,
neurological and reproductive system damage.
The most
eco-friendly way to enjoy a Christmas tree is to buy a live tree with
its roots intact from a local grower. As reviewed in a recent A recent
New York Times article, Scott Martin, a landscape designer in California, has established a business that
rents living Christmas trees to LA homes using biodiesel trucks. After
the holidays, the trees are picked up and planted on industrial
properties.
The start of the New Year is also a good time to
resolve to contribute to a greener world. Here are a few suggestions
for sustainable resolutions in 2010. Whatever you resolve to do, find a
way to get involved in the green economy:
Inform yourself about sustainable business
Raise awareness about sustainable business
Lobby your legislators on behalf of the green economy
Get a green degree
Get a green job
Invest in sustainable stock
Start a sustainable business
Make your existing business more sustainable
As
consumers we can resolve to make better informed, responsible buying
decisions. As entrepreneurs and business owners, we can make our
businesses more sustainable. Resolve to adopt the triple bottom line of
planet, people and profits. Incorporate principles of sustainability
into each of your business decisions. Supply environmentally friendly
products or services that replace the demand for non green products
and/or services. Be greener than traditional competition. Make an
enduring commitment to environmental principles in your business
operations. (for more specific information on sustainable business
frameworks and guidelines see ISO14001).
Whether you are a business owner, entrepreneur or consumer, resolve to look at the earth as a whole living eco-system.
