FEBRUARY 22, 2006
Several
years ago a group of enterprising people put together what they called the "Green Pages." They compiled a variety of listings as do the business Yellow Pages folks, and you could access non-profit environmental organizations, government websites, safe cleaning products, organic suppliers, and a host of other environmentally sound products.
For example: If you wanted one stop shopping for high post consumer waste, recycled or plant paper - there were about five vendors to choose from. Today, as we did 20 years ago prior to the Green Pages, all of us must remain diligent in our efforts to access those products that do less or no harm to the environment.
One catalogue called Real Goods out of Ukiah California offers a myriad of products that do less harm, yet work well. You can reach them at www.gaiam.com or 1-800-869-3446.
However today, hard ware stores, department stores, discount stores and the large commercial grocery stores do not make it easy to find products made from recycled materials.
The box stores like Wal-Mart, Costcos, Home Depot or Lowes are getting more and more of our business as we seek to buy our staples at reduced rates. I am not a great fan of these mega-stores because they often disrupt and dislodge people in small communities. However, if you do patronize these stories ask for recycled paper, organic food, or wood products made from certified wood at the store you normally visit. Consumers have power, but only when it is exercised. We need to consume to exist, but we need to always be wiser and more pro-active about our choices.
I wish the Green Pages had remained economically viable because today we have to create our own green database. Perhaps you would share where you get stuff you need that has the green seal of approval, or share with us about a product that you have found that benefits the environment. I will post information as I receive it.
--Peter