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Greenwashing Explained (and What You Can Do About It!)
You may have noticed that many consumer products have a little tree or recycling logo on the packaging. Do these symbols indicate that products are good for the environment? Are companies using these graphics or other “green” jargon as a deceptive advertising tactic to draw customers to their products? You’re wise to be skeptical — marketing a company or product to seem more environmentally friendly than it truly is has become a widespread practice. It even has its own name — greenwashing. Greenwashing can take many forms. In some cases, companies use misleading language or imagery to make products or services seem more environmentally friendly than they really are. Sometimes…
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Earth Day Call to Action: Request Responsible Legislation for Environmental Stewardship
As women of faith, our ethic of environmental stewardship is informed by prophetic counsel. For example, President Russell M. Nelson proclaimed: “We should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generations.” Likewise, MWEG’s Principle of Ethical Government (2f) states: “Governments and members of society have an obligation to exercise responsible stewardship of the earth, thereby protecting not only the wellbeing of their citizens, but also that of both future generations and other citizens of the planet (see D&C 59:18-21 and D&C 104:13-15).” We are at a critical juncture for taking effective action and implementing policy to mitigate the effects of climate change. This…
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The Global Problem of Plastic Waste — and How to Reduce It
Plastic production and consumption is a global problem. From 1950 to 2015, the world produced 8.3 billion tons of plastic. In 2015 alone, the production of plastic was 380 million metric tons. Of all this plastic, over half was designed to be used only once then discarded. Most of this plastic does not get recycled. The rate of plastic recycling from 1950 to 2015 was only 6%, and despite significant gains, the recycling rate in 2015 was only 20%. Further, much of the recycling of plastic waste from the U.S. is diverted to other countries, many of which are unable to manage their own waste or do not want it.…
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Principles of Ethical Government: The Environment and Sustainability
Mormon Women for Ethical Government’s Principles of Ethical Government (2)(f) states: Governments and members of society have an obligation to exercise responsible stewardship of the earth, thereby protecting not only the wellbeing of their citizens, but also that of both future generations and other citizens of the planet (see D&C 59:18-21 and D&C 104:13-15). We are blessed through our physical and spiritual connections to the earth, and we are accountable for treating it in a manner that honors the creator. Further, our treatment of the earth is interconnected to our treatment of other people. Climate change threatens a wide range of human rights and needs to be addressed through systemic…
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Recycling: The Whys and the Hows
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that in 2017, 35.2% of waste generated was recovered through recycling. Within individual categories, paper and cardboard were recycled at about a rate of 66%, and yard waste/grass clippings were composted or recovered at a rate of 69%. Materials like plastic and glass came in at only 8% and 27%, respectively. Contrast these statistics with the estimated time it takes each of these materials to biodegrade: Glass takes a whopping 1 million years to decompose! Plastic can take upwards of 500 years to decompose, with some types taking less time. Cardboard can take as little as a few months to biodegrade if soaked, shredded,…
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Food Waste: The Impacts, and Ways to Reduce It
Sustainable management of food is a systematic approach that seeks to reduce wasted food and its associated impacts over the entire life cycle, starting with the use of natural resources, manufacturing, sales, and consumption, and ending with decisions on recovery or final disposal. Sustainable management of food can save money, help those in our communities who do not have enough to eat, and conserve resources for future generations. Building on the familiar concept of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” this approach shifts the view on environmental protection and more fully recognizes the impacts of the food we waste. “Most people don’t realize how much food they throw away every day — from…
