There is one thing I’ll promise you—never in this blog will I quote a certain amphibian—shaped puppet on the difficulties of going through life having skin of a certain hue. Firstly, because it is an over-used quote, and secondly because it isn’t true.
It’s pretty easy being green. Maybe not all-out, put up a windmill and solar panels, drink rainwater, take yourself off the grid, Al Gore-green, but achieving a nice seafoam, even Granny-Smith apple kind of green doesn’t really take much work. Currently, I’m that kind of green. I do what I can, but honestly, it’s just the bare minimum and some of it is more for easing my conscience than saving the planet.
My wife and I have an SUV. We leave the heat a little bit higher when we’re not home, so the dogs don’t get cold (I know, they’re dogs, they have fur, but you try to win that argument in my house). We recycle some things, but not everything, and of all the light bulbs in the house, only one is energy-efficient.
On the flip (green) side, when the SUV came along we went from two cars to just one. We take the train into Philly for work each morning and home again at night. We walk to most places within a mile or so. And even though the light bulbs are old-fashioned, when we’re not in a room they are turned off.
I’d give us a C or maybe a C+—which I fully admit that isn’t good enough. So, in an effort to change myself a little, the world a little, (and maybe a few of you a little), I will start to look at what can be done, both personally and within the context of my company. The goal will be to highlight more environmentally friendly products, business practices and plain-old everyday habits in an attempt to darken my seafoam lifestyle a little. You’ll have to tell me if it sounds reasonable or not.
Charles
(Oh, and if you don’t know what the “off the grid” means, you should.)
Next post: The Promo Marketing team gets a green report card and I’ll give you an update on that dog-thermostat thing.
Industry Watch: Check out these companies and products that are going green.
Bag Makers Inc. Introduces Eco-Friendly Bag Line
Senator Launches Super Hit Eco and Innovator Eco
ECORITE Introduces 100 Percent Post-consumer Plastic Bottles
Shades of Green is a great resourse for those of us looking for green products. However…not everyone prints with eco-friendly ink (water based or non-plastisol). Can you recommend suppiers that do imprint using eco-friendly inks? We currently use Gemline who is a good source and we are aware Vantage Apparel offers an eco line but we would like to find more suppliers who offer this kind of imprint. <br />
Thanks…Amy V