Footprint Evaluation

My first three goals for reducing my Ecological Footprint were to:

1. Unplug everything in my room and kitchen when they're not in use.
2. Buy local at the Food Coop
3. Eat meat only 3 days a week

So far, my goals are going fairly well. Ghosting my electronics has been very easy - there were a number of things that I had plugged in that I rarely actually used. I've tried to get my roommates to participate, but I always find the kitchen appliances left plugged in. In unplug them whenever I can. My second goal is also going relatively well. The Coop is a lot more expensive, but this encourages me to spend less on junk I don't really need and in turn I've been eating significantly healthier. I also shop occasionally at Trader Joes and sometimes Fred Meyer, but I try to stick to the organic section where many of the same brands can be found at the Coop. Eating meet three times a week has probably been the most difficult goal to maintain so far. I don't eat a ton of meat, but I did like to come home from school and eat a turkey sandwich most days. I've switched to veggie sandwiches, however, and this has helped a lot.

My new goal for reducing my Ecological Footprint is to limit my shower time to under 8 minutes. I already take the shortest showers in the house (typically 10-12 minutes), but I'm going to try to make it even shorter. I have also been encouraging my roommates to turn the sink water off when they're scrubbing dishes, brushing their teeth, or washing their face. These are all easy ways to reduce water use.

Timeline of the Far Future

www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/timeline-of-the-far-future

Solar Box

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/london-phone-box-goes-green/index.html

Green Global Travel

http://greenglobaltravel.com/

Mary Gabbett and Bret Love founded this virtual magazine after travelling to South Africa's Kruger National Park on safari. Their experiences with wild animals in their natural habitats changed their lives and they were inspired to help preserve these natural habitats and the wildlife that live in them.

Green Global Travel's site is full of green tips, information on endangered species, history, cuisine, photos, videos and more. Bret and Mary use their words and their images to promote ecotourism and inspire people to travel sustainably.

I was inspired by their story and have recently started a virtual internship for the magazine in which I am responsible for promoting their site via StumbleUpon and other social media platforms.

Efficiency = Profitability

In an article titled It's time to stop managing waste and start preventing it, Frank E. Celli and Rick Perez write about waste within businesses. They discuss how many companies' focus in terms of the waste which they produce currently lies on managerial methods through traditional means of recycling. Recycling materials such as paper, plastic, cardboard, glass and aluminum are commonplace but they are simply not enough; they do not help the underlying problem of waste production, nor do they target the largest component of municipal solid waste - this component being food. Food waste "accounts for a significant portion of the U.S. methane emissions" as millions of tons of food are dumped into landfills every year. Reducing waste in this area as well as all others through efficient practices can benefit businesses by reducing companies' overall expenses since they will be consuming less resources and simultaneously generating less waste. The issue is that many businesses are not thoroughly informed about their own production, consumption, and disposal. They blindly believe that taking the initiative to learn about these aspects to potentially reduce them would be expensive and time consuming. The opposite is actually true. Analytics tools are available to businesses to monitor their "performance metrics" and these metrics can easily assess what could be reduced and where. A company that fully understands its consumption patters will be able to save time and money by implementing more sustainable and efficient operational practices. As the zero waste movement gains popularity and the technology to make it happen becomes more readily available and recognized, we can hope that businesses will take a turn for efficiency.

http://www.greenbiz.com/article/its-time-stop-managing-waste-and-start-preventing-it

Cosmetics Are Carcinogens, Too

Of the cosmetics that I use on a daily basis, I chose to look into the toxic danger posed by my Eucerin lotion. I've been using this lotion on my face, arms, and legs on a daily basis since it was recommended to me by my dermatologist when I was 13 years old. After watching The Story of Cosmetics (1), I started feeling a little concerned as to what chemicals I've been putting on my body for so long. After all, many of the ingredients on the label sound foreign to me. Even if I had taken the time to read the list, I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to pronounce the words let alone know what they were or, most importantly, what danger they pose to my health.

The ingredient list on my bottle of Eucerin reads: 
- Water
- Mineral Oil
- Isopropyl Myristate
- PEG-40
- Sorbitan Peroleate
- Glyceryl Lanolate
- Sorbitol
- Propylene Glycol
- Cetyl Palmintate
- Magnesium Sulfate
- Aluminum Stearate
- Lanolin Alcohol
- BHT
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone
- Methylisothianzolinone

Like I predicted, I haven't a clue what any of these are. After searching for the lotion on the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Database, I discovered that Eucerin Original Healing lotion scores a 4/10 on the hazard scale that the site provides for each cosmetic (2). Despite my relief that the score was not that high, this lotion still poses a moderate threat to my health. Of the ingredients listed, the most hazardous is BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) - scoring a 6 on EWG's site. This ingredient is used for preservation in both food and personal care products and has several health-risk factors such as irritation, allergies, and organ-system toxicity. In high doses, BHT has been shown to cause cell mutation, developmental effects, respiratory irritation, and tumor formation in animals (3). I'm an animal, too! Although BHT is not specifically mentioned in Okala Practitioner, the text reads that the "Effects on laboratory animals are usually similar to those observed in humans at comparable doses" (4). A small exposure to BHT would be harmless, I'm sure, but what happens when this small exposure is added to every day and accumulates for years? "Harmless," at that point, might be an understatement.

According to an article from Berkeley Wellness about BHA and BHT, there is insufficient evidence as to the real harm or lack thereof in these preservative compounds. Although some studies have shown BHT to be a potential carcinogen, there are other studies that show it may actually reduce cancer risks and also act as an antioxidant. At this point it's just difficult to tell. What Berkeley suggests is to keep an eye on your consumption of the preservatives, but it's not necessary to go out of your way to avoid them (5).

There's no denying that I will reconsider every time I apply Eucerin to my skin from here on out. For now I have decided that I will continue to use it (at least until my $12 bottle runs out), but in the meantime I will search for a better and healthier lotion alternative. In my opinion, moisturizing my skin is one of the most essential parts of my daily cosmetic ritual, by in no way am I limited to Eucerin. I'm sure there are countless lotions out there that have much less health uncertainty.

This study has also inspired me to look into the toxicity in all my other cosmetics. After all, I use a number of them: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial wash, shaving cream, detangler, deodorant, foundation, mascara, and toothpaste. The chemicals from all of these could potentiate, bioaccumulate, and pose many threats to my health. It's time to be more careful!

Sources

1) http://storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-cosmetics/
2) http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/464326/Eucerin_Original_Healing_Soothing_Repair_Lotion%2C_Fragrance_Free/
3) http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/700741/BHT/
4) Okala Practitioner. Chapter 15: "Understanding Toxicity."
5) http://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/food-safety/article/two-preservatives-avoid

My Ecological Footprint

According to the Center of Sustainable Economy, my ecological footprint was calculated to be 3.33 Earths. This means that it would take 3.33 Earths in order to be sustainable if everyone lived the way that I do. Considering the fact that I live in an extremely environmentally conscious city and actively try to live a relatively green life, this number is shocking. What's even more shocking is that my footprint is about 52% of the average American's. In other words, the average American would need over 5 of our planets to sustain their lifestyles. Yikes.

Of the different sections, my Food Footprint was the largest contributor at 52.59 global acres. Being an omnivore, I eat an assortment of all kinds of foods including meat, seafood, and poultry. The majority of the food that I buy is organic, but unfortunately I have a habit of shopping at stores such as Fred Meyer or Haggen instead of the community food co-op.

The portion of my footprint that was closest to the country's average was my Carbon Footprint. This one doesn't surprise me too much since I drive myself to school every day, to work every couple days, and home to my parent's house about once a month. I'm embarrassed to admit that I hardly ever use public transit or methods of active transport.

As for my housing footprint, this section is almost entirely out of my control since I am currently staying in a fairly old rental home. It is lacking in energy efficient appliances and fixtures, and I'm sure it was not made out of sustainable materials when it was built. However, as a household we try our hardest to recycle all that we can, keep the thermostat down low, and leave lights off as often as possible.

To reduce my footprint, I vow to:
1) Only eat meat 3 days a week
2) Unplug all appliances in my bedroom and kitchen every night (besides the fridge)
3) Buy all my food from the Community Food Co-op

I hope these things will help my lifestyle grow a little greener. As I make small adjustments like these, one step at a time, I will be working towards a more sustainable future for not only me, but those (such as my roommates) whom I am able to influence along the way.