If each of us as consumers make the time to learn about environmentally-friendly products and practices that will help us understand the full cost of what we buy, then we as a society can make better choices. That will result in our not choosing products that will deplete our planet or contribute to global warming when more appropriate choices can make a positive contribution. For example, ice cream maker, Ben & Jerry's, uses organic cotton (grown by farmers who use biologically-based rather than chemically-dependent growing systems) for its line of tee shirts sold in company stores and scoop shops. Another example from the past is when McDonald's teamed up with Global ReLeaf, an education and action program of Washington-based American Forests, to distribute 9 million seedlings to customers nationwide.
On a much smaller scale, TheMarkePro is undertaking corporate directives as well by:
- Buying recycled office, kitchen and bathroom paper products.
- Shredding waste paper to use in shipping cartons instead of purchasing "packaging popcorn or peanuts".
- Using the back side of waste paper for messages and internal documents.
- Requesting the landlord of our office complex to provide paper recycling receptacles for waste paper not needed for packaging purposes.
- Using real china and utensils in our office kitchen instead of disposable paper plates, plastic cups and plastic utensils.
- Re-purposing existing office supplies and furnishings instead of "going shopping" whenever possible.
- Dedicating ourselves to learning about and searching for products and production methods which are more environmentally-friendly to offer to our customers.
- Suggesting organic, recycled, recyclable and biodegradable alternatives whenever possible so that our customers can choose between traditional and "green" products.
These may seem like small efforts to those of you affiliated with larger organizations, but that is our point…every bit can make a difference. Let's all make a difference today!
Sources:
Print Solutions Magazine, May 2003.