Companies have a tremendous ability to make an impact on the environment and we have an ability to make an impact on them. I'll save talking about the ones that are clearly helping to destroy it for another time. I am sure you have your hunches.
True, some companies' owners decide on their own to be good corporate citizens, but we can encourage them to do more and nudge others to go green. When companies see public concern they worry that we'll start talking with our wallets instead.
McDonald's admitted that it was such concern over solid waste that spurred their change of heart in going from foam plates to paper wraps and recycled boxes. That change has made a big difference, and Citizen Hunters made it happen by demanding it. FedEx has a bunch of new fuel-efficient trucks and plans on rolling out even more.
When Starbucks started using 10% post consumer recycled paper cups and offered coffee sleeves so folks would stop "double cupping," 5.5 million less pounds got sent to landfills.
Starbucks has made a lot of effort to go greener and I have often seen them sponsoring environmental events that I attend. So when I went in this morning to get my chai, and instead of taking it with me sat down to relax, I was surprised when there was nowhere for me to recycle my cup or newspaper.
I lodged a quick complaint with the guy working behind the counter and resolved, as I was walking out, to either take the stuff with me next time and recycle at home or just have it in those nice colorful ceramic cups they have.
I noticed a bunch of pamphlets on the way out and one of them was a comment card, complete with postage and addressed to Starbucks' corporate headquarters. I took exactly one minute and scrolled "thanks for doing all your great work on enviro. Please have a place for folks to recycle - I was disappointed and would hate to have to take my business elsewhere." I am pretty sure if they got tons of those they would take notice. It would be great if Citizen Hunters would send such a card next time they get their morning cup of java, but this is about even more than that.
The point is we often don't take action because problems seem so big and we don't have the time or fear we don't have the ability to effect change. Taking one minute counts too, you know, and it can be more powerful than we realize. Keep your eyes peeled when you are out and shopping and while waiting in line, lodge a comment or write a note - it takes very little time. For all the student Citizen Hunters reading, why in the world have cafeterias not gotten the memo that styrofoam is not only bad for the environment, it is so yesterday? Bring them into the 21st century please!
Visit buyblue.org to see how the companies you shop at have rated on the environment and other important issues, and make your decisions accordingly.
Leading by example resonates far louder than any shouting voice. My thanks to Flavia Colgan for tireless work on many fronts critical to the well being of our planet and species, collectively and individually. And my thanks to all who take an extra moment to simply recycle, and to voice their opions to businesses and companies to do so themselves and make it easier for us. You all restore my faith in our species. Keep hope alive, re-cultivate this planet so it may thrive, and we can together celebrate and survive.
Posted by: david walden levin at July 24, 2006 07:13 PMMaybe having one basic concept to guide our species/environment relationship would be helpful for keeping focus on our goals, despite the morass of problems we face:
The third amendment of the MAPSEAM, the Maximization Of Representation for ALL, or the MORALL in America Amendment, includes an environmental standard in the first section of part four, Environment and Energy:
NURSE:
Need an Untainted Renewable Sustained Environment
(Levin, The MAPSEAM, The Messiah Amendment Party
Solutions for Earth and AMerica, Copy 2006)
I go every morning. Will make sure to get the ceramic cups from now on. I can not tell you how much I love these little ideas to do something positive. I know I have no right to feel proud since it is not much, but when I do this little stuff everyday on CH it makes me feel good that I contributed something.
Posted by: Julie at July 24, 2006 07:43 PMThat's what it's all about. After reading this post, the LCpl came by to ask if I needed my trash can emptied and I thought to myself, "there's not much trash in my can today, so it can wait until tomorrow." I know it's just one plastic bag, but multiply that by thousands everyday, everywhere, and it adds up.
Posted by: joe at July 24, 2006 08:05 PMThanks Joe you just gave me an idea. I can use the paper bags from the grocery store for trash bags at home and make sure to conserve as much as I can when I go to the store.
Posted by: Kevin at July 24, 2006 09:25 PMStarbucks is one of those interesting cases of companies that liberals love to hate, but when you really start looking into the Scylla from Seattle, it gets harder. They do a lot in their shops (in terms of fair trade and community service) and they also spend a lot of money to help coffee growers around the world. Sure, they brag about it endlessly in order to help their public image, but the bragging doesn't hurt anyone.
I guess the big objection to Starbucks is their impact on local coffee shops. Some local coffee shops are good and some are lame, but I don't think any of them can offer health insurance to part time employees. Starbucks does. That pushed me over the edge. I don't hate Starbucks at all anymore. I'd probably go there more often if:
a) one was convenient to my life,
and b) their coffee wasn't so darn bitter and burnt tasting!
right on, this drives me crazy! the starbucks near me, that i rarely go into, is the same way. all sorts of earth friendly recycling nonsense everywhere... but not a single place to recycle. the cups have please recycle on them, yet there are no recycling containers???? argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The reason you don't see Starbucks, or most to go food places for that matter, with recycling containers is becuase the rules of recycling vary from county to county, township to township, etc. In one place maybe you can throw all your recycling in one container, in another, you have to separate it, in another only certain things are recyclable. Then there are many places where you have to pay extra to recycle. Do you want to pay extra for that soy latte JUST to have a recycling container convenient to you? Since Starbucks can't institute a blanket policy for all their sites, they leave it up to the consumer. So if you really care about recycling, DO IT YOURSELF! Take the flippin' cup to your green hybrid car (oh, wait, what do you drive?) and find a place to put your stupid cup! Probably would take less time than whining about it. You could also just use a travel mug like tons of people do. By the way, Flavia, how much time did you waste complaining to the poor Starbucks guy about a policy that he can't change?
Posted by: Jennifer at July 25, 2006 08:45 PMHmmmmm, maybe the key would be the economic benifit to starbucks to recycle. They could sell the recycled material. How many tons could they collect and sell.
Posted by: steve at July 25, 2006 10:23 PMInteresting because I was just at Starbucks in Washington DC and they had a recyling container for newspapers. You would think they would do this throughout the chain.
Posted by: Larry at July 26, 2006 11:49 AMThe comment cards are meant for suggestions like having recycling bins. I think they would be interested in recycling if enough customers showed interest. I know I am interested in recycling and I would be a happier customer if I could do something good for the environment.
Posted by: gavin at July 26, 2006 11:51 AMGavin, that is exactly what my Starbucks did after I mentioned it. Put in a bin to recycle the newspapers. The comment cards are for things such as that, as I mentioned, it has been just that type of information from customers that has led to change in the past.
Jennifer makes a good pt. about different recycling standards in different states, but in my case, I found that the foks who work there are more green than I am and were happy and excited to offer folks a ceramic mug, in fact after telling Dan (the nice kid who works there) he was the one who gave me the idea.
I don't think having a 2 minute long conversation about the environment while I wait for a chai is a waste of time. I made a friend and maybe in some small way a change will happen.
I agree that if they do not get recycling bins for the cups one should recycle on their own if they can, which I do.
By the way, the travel mug is a great idea! No one is whining Jennifer and none of us have all the right answers, the point of Citizen Hunter is for us to talk and find away to help each other in humble and large ways where we can. I think you had a few great points and things for folks to do, but i think all of us could do without the "tude" as my 16 year old sisiter would say.
Posted by: Flavia at July 26, 2006 12:44 PMKudos to noticing the little things Flavia. Usually I'm so bleary eyed in the morning when I order my venti vanilla latte w/ extra shot that I can barely remember what name to give them.
PS - Jennifer, I hear bucks has a pretty good decaf. Maybe you should give it a try
Posted by: JSM at July 26, 2006 06:56 PM
Wow. Flavia definitely did not waste time telling the dude at the counter (or dudette, I don't know) that they ought to recycle. Starbucks is a responsive company and while s/he couldn't change the policy, I guarantee the folks upstairs have ways of finding out about repeated customer comments.
More importantly, people should speak up about things. Yes, Flavia should not be cross with the guy at the front counter since he has little power (but somehow I have a feeling that she was probably beyond the opposite of cross - my guess is that said counterperson enjoyed the brief conversation). No, staying silent when you have an opportunity to speak to a representative of a company who could make a small change that would make a big difference isn't right.
And on this whole notion of wasting someone's time... the whole Starbucks idea is that they want you to hang out in their stores. Burn time. Talk to people. All the time. As long as you want.
Wasting time? One time I was in a Starbucks and showed vague interest in the pretty pictures on the front of a bag of coffee, and received an unsolicited discourse from the barrista (while others were waiting) about the particularly flavorful virtues of that bag of coffee (all of which I tuned out as soon as it began).
If they've got time to educate me on the ins and outs of Zambian versus Paraguyan versus Martian coffees, they've got time to hear Flavia say: "Why not recycle cups, yo?"
And y'all ought to say similar things in similar situations, too!
-Brady
Posted by: Brady Russell at July 27, 2006 09:40 AMThis is a good topic: good manners, good citizenship, good environment. Makes for a great community. I'm glad to be a part of it.
Posted by: joe at July 27, 2006 12:24 PMIn New Jersey we do not recycle paper which is food contaminated such as pizza boxes, KFC buckets and coffee cups.
The fact that Starbucks buys new cups made from recycled fiber is a great start.
Also, if you're reading this blog than you're probably a recycler in your day-to-day life. For that I say THANK YOU!!!
Posted by: chilly at July 27, 2006 01:06 PMIn my opinion...
Recycling:
- Cans = Best
- Glass = Good
- Paper = Worst
The amount of energy and chemicals needed to recycle paper is crazy. Plus, we have tree farms for paper and landfills a plenty.
Posted by: ef-the-earth at July 27, 2006 03:33 PMI'll bet this is comforting for you every time you order one of your chai tea lattes, Flavia.
Posted by: D.J. at July 28, 2006 03:29 PM