Outsourcing Meat Production to China
While out searching for farmland one day, I encountered an elderly woman at the bus stop and struck up a conversation with her. When our conversation turned to farming, she recalled that she used to grow vegetables and raise chickens, and that this practice significantly reduced the amount of pests she had to deal with. The chickens pecked at the ground, eating the pests, and the seeds (and roots) of weeds. By simply feeding themselves, the chickens helped her to dramatically reduce pest and weed problems without using any chemicals!
In the past, many farmers also raised pigs that were fed with plant waste. This created another win-win situation. The plants and parts of plants that humans didn’t or couldn’t eat were used to fatten up pigs. Plant waste was recycled as pig feed. Kitchen waste (that now makes up 40% of the garbage going to our landfill) was also turned into pig feed. According to the SCMP, the recent increase in the garbage going to our landfill can partly be attributed to the reduction in the number of pig farms in Hong Kong. Continue reading “Outsourcing Meat Production to China”
Paper Books vs. Online Content
This article will explore the widespread belief that e-books and online content is environmentally more friendly than hard copy paper books. First, however lets take a look at the history of technology.
The invention and adoption of every technology is a response to a problem that existed in the past. Today, we tout the coming age of (clean energy powered) electric or hybrid cars as solution to reducing the fossil fuel consumption, air pollution and CO2 emissions caused by internal combustion engine powered cars. The car however was itself a response to an even earlier environmental problem – the vast amounts of manure on city streets caused by the horse and buggy.
At the time of the invention of the internal combustion engine, no one considered CO2 emissions or climate change to be a problem. This illustrates the law of unintended consequences. We cannot foresee all the environmental impacts of technology, let alone foresee how it will be used. The internet is prime example, invented by the military for fast, secure communications, it has become a worldwide tool for commerce, social interaction and political movements (as well as porn, online gambling and Facebook poking).
The proliferation of this technology has resulted in enormous data centres, communication networks and billions of end user devices (computers, iPads, iPhones) consuming vast amounts of energy. According to Yale, Since 1990, household energy consumption has been rising worldwide at 3.4 percent a year, in large part because of the rapid spread and increasing sophistication of electronic devices. At this rate, household energy consumption doubles every 20 years.
Lets compare the environmental impact of the production, transportation, use and disposal of paper versus electronic content. Remember, all electronic content is stored on and accessed through electronic devices. This is the elephant in the room. Continue reading “Paper Books vs. Online Content”
Response from Timberland
A few days after publishing our last article, Earthkeepers or Landfillers? we received a response from Timberland. In addition to offering to replace the boot, they wrote us a long detailed email about their social and environmental sustainability efforts. Please see the below excerpt. We leave it to you to make your own judgement.
We would like to assure you that Timberland is committed to making products that are of high quality and dependability. We pride ourselves in our continuous innovation to constantly improving performance and sustainability, making products that are outdoor-proven and long-lasting; at the same time practical and fashionable. Continue reading “Response from Timberland”
Earthkeepers or Landfillers?
PRICE HK$699 at the Timberland Outlet Store in Tung Chung
PRODUCT RATING Atrocious quality. Within 3 months, the boots lose their waterproofing, the soles begin to detach from uppers and the fabric tears in multiple locations. On the positive side, the fit is excellent and the boots are very comfortable.
GREEN RATING Greenwash. The most important attribute of an environmentally friendly product is durability. I can imagine nothing worse than sending a product to the landfill after 3 months of use. Nevertheless, I do appreciate that the bag it came in was made of 30% recycled paper.
My experience with Timberland started on a very positive note. I was in love with the fit, comfort and lightness of the boot. I was also attracted by the green image of the company. I remember watching an interview on a financial news channel, where the CEO said ‘although less than 10% of customers considered Timberland’s green initiatives when making their purchasing decision, it was none the less important that company to do the right thing environmentally’ (or something to that effect).
After less than a month of use, my positive feelings began to change when the boots lost their waterproofing and my feet started getting wet. (I have now been informed that Timberlands perform very well when used in environments such as shopping malls and city sidewalks. Being naive, I actually believed the advertizing and tried to use the boots outdoors.)
Shortly after this, I noticed the soles detaching from the uppers and the fabric begin to tear. Continue reading “Earthkeepers or Landfillers?”
Why is organic food so expensive?
As an organic farmer, I am often asked “Why is organic food so expensive?”
The simple answer is that it’s not. It is that conventional (chemical) food is cheap. Or more accurately, the price of conventional food does not reflect its true cost. Let me explain:
The introduction of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides dramatically increased yields and lowered labor input costs, thereby decreasing the price of food. However, they also imposed costs that are not reflected in the price consumers pay for food, what economist call externalities.
Chemical fertilizers are cheaper and more potent than organic fertilizers, resulting in widespread overuse. The use of these highly concentrated fertilizers has created vast dead zones in our oceans, rivers and lakes. This is a cost, but we as consumers don’t pay for it. To grow an equivalent amount of food, organic farmers need to transport and spread much larger quantities of slow-release, low concentration fertilizer on their fields which results in increased labor costs that is paid for by the consumer.
Chemical pesticide and herbicide use is contaminating ground water worldwide. Atrazine, one of the world’s most widely used pesticides, wreaks havoc with the sex lives of adult male frogs, emasculating three-quarter of them. So while the price we pay for conventional food is cheap, the cost to the environment is not. Without chemical pesticides, organic farmers suffer greater crop loss from pests. Since consumers will not accept blemished fruits and vegetables, organic farmers end up with significantly less salable produce. Hence, they need to sell the salable produce at a higher price in order to survive.
Finally, there is no such thing as organic herbicides, so the organic farmer must manually or mechanically remove weeds. This again, increases the cost of production and needs to be paid for by the consumer. Continue reading “Why is organic food so expensive?”
Non-petroleum Moisturizer
PRODUCT Coconut Oil
PRODUCT RATING Good. It doesn’t have the creamy texture that we have become accustomed to in conventional moisturizers, but it’s not greasy like baby oil either. The fragrance will be familiar to those that enjoy coconut candies and desserts.
GREEN RATING Deep Green. Coconut is a sustainable fruit with many uses. I feel much safer putting an edible oil on my skin than I do using conventional moisturizers. Skin is our largest organ, why take chances by putting synthetic chemicals on it.
AVAILABLE AT The fair trade, organic version pictured above (HKD 159/200ml) is available online at Fair Circle. You can also buy a large bottle (HKD $32/1litre) from your local Indonesian grocer that caters to maids. They use it for cooking, but the shopkeeper told us that the lifeguards at the nearby pool use it as suntan lotion. (NOTE: It comes in a large plastic soda bottle so needs to warmed and the put into a container with a wider mouth for easy use.) According to this website, it is important to buy pure coconut oil, that is not hydrogenated, because it has a lower melting point and will not clog your pores.
Most mass market moisturizers are petroleum-based and contain an ingredient list that requires a chemistry degree to make sense of. Petroleum is a non-renewable resource that is a primary cause of climate change. As petroleum becomes scarcer, we will expand extraction into more fragile ecosystems, such as the arctic. The scarcity of oil has already resulted in the nightmare that is the Canadian tar sands. Continue reading “Non-petroleum Moisturizer”
Natural deodorant: Does it work?
PRODUCT Mineral crystal deodorant stick HK$20-30. They are sold under various brands such as Crystal or Naturally Fresh.
PRODUCT RATING Very good (when used correctly – see below). It doesn’t prevent you from sweating, by clogging up your pores, like antiperspirants and it doesn’t cover up the smell with a strong fragrance, like conventional deodorants. It lets you sweat naturally, but inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes body odour.
GREEN RATING Quite Green. The crystals occur naturally and do not contain synthetic chemicals like conventional products. The packaging is excessive, however the product is much smaller in size and last significantly longer (up to 9 months) than conventional products thereby producing less garbage overall.
WHERE TO BUY IT Sasa
Sweat is important in allowing the body to naturally cool itself, but many of us are concerned about smelling bad. Antiperspirants use an aluminum based compound to prevent sweating. Aluminum ions are drawn through ducts in your skin into your cells. The ions bring water with them, causing the cells to swell and squeeze the ducts closed so sweat can’t get out. For those that sweat alot, this may permanently shrink the sweat gland, decreasing the amount of sweat it can produce. To read more about how they work click here.
In contrast, deodrants use strong fragrances to cover up smell and contain hazardous anti-bacterials like Triclosan to inhibit the growth of the bacteria that causes odour. Conventional deodorants and antiperspirants contain a myriad of chemicals that may or may not be good for your health.
This recommended alternative is made of naturally occuring mineral salts. When a thin layer of salt is applied to your skin, it can prevent the growth of bacteria, and thus control odour. Continue reading “Natural deodorant: Does it work?”
Eat Light
Price HKD 110 for a set meal that includes soup, main and coffee or tea. Food rating Very good. Simple, light fare that is tasty. HK Magazine’s restaurant review gave it a 4-star rating (out of 5). The chef was previously a volunteer at World Peace Cafe. The veggie soups are great, not thick like the puree most western restaurants serve and not watery like most Chinese soups. Green rating Quite green. … Continue reading Eat Light
Second Life Furniture
SERVICE PROVIDER Nobanker Youth Commune,NYC PRICE Free, but donation is welcome SERVICE RATING Great Idea.The first of its kind in Hong Kong. The service helps you comply with the Vacant Possession clause when moving out of your apartment. Everything collected from your apartment will be sent to its warehouse. Anyone can then drop by to take the items free of charge. GREEN RATING Deep Green. Rescuing furniture and stuff … Continue reading Second Life Furniture
Low Energy Warm and Cozy
PRICE RANGE Electric heating pads range in price from HKD 200-800
PRODUCT RATING Great. Most heaters dry the air, making your skin itchy and sinuses uncomfortable. Electric heating pads keep you warm and toasty without drying the air. There is nothing more comforting on a cold night then climbing into a warm bed.
GREEN RATING Quite Green. Our previous room heater consumed over 2000 watts of electricity. The electric heating pad uses less than 100 watts.
The Hong Kong Observatory forecasts a colder winter this year due to climate change. As climate change increases occurences of extreme weather, we will consume more energy trying to keep our environment within our comfort zone. As we consume more energy we inevitably drive the climate to even greater extremes.
By becoming smarter consumers, we can find ways to stay comfortable while reducing our impact on the environment (not to mention our wallets). The electric heating pad is an example of how we can remain comfortable while drastically slashing our energy consumption. It keeps us warm without needlessly heating the space under our bed or near the ceiling for example. Continue reading “Low Energy Warm and Cozy”
Go Green Hong Kong 