A concern with any third-party certification is that it will sell out to some extent. B Corp risked ruining its good reputation by certifying Nespresso. All things considered, is B Corp certification a good indication of sustainability? Continue reading Does B Corp certified mean ethical?
A group of writers and data scientists, nicknamed the New Optimists, have been communicating on how life has improved in many ways. Poverty and violence are down while longevity and health have improved significantly, especially in recent decades. Pros and cons of an optimistic perspective are discussed. Continue reading Should we listen to the New Optimists?
Last year, scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab reported that the carbon footprint of plastic production is around 2.2 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalents. That’s more than double previous estimates, amounting to more than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If the plastics industry continues to grow at the current rate, it will be one of the biggest drivers of climate change by 2050. Continue reading The astonishing carbon footprint of plastic production
I will examine the science on whether third-party certifications such as the Marine Stewardship Council, Friend of the Sea and Fair Trade are helpful for consumers seeking responsibly-caught seafood. However, before we look to certifications there are two other important factors that we should consider. Continue reading Are seafood certifications useful? Consider these two steps first!
I’m sharing this Ethical Bargains post as a continuation of last week’s discussion on whether we should support organic agriculture. It examines a product from Earthbound Farm, a company labeled by Michael Pollan as “Big Organic.” Continue reading An ethical rating for “Big Organic”
Industrial agriculture threatens soil integrity and biodiversity. It exacerbates the biggest threat to agriculture – climate change – and also our susceptibility to that threat. Organic agriculture, on the other hand, has lower crop yields and therefore requires more land. So, what’s it to be? Continue reading Certified organic: Should we really support it?
Certifications by reputable, independent organizations are extremely important when governments don’t value the environment and allow corporations to run amok. Certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is designed to assure consumers that forestry-related products are produced without causing environmental damage. But is FSC certification effective? Continue reading An evaluation of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification
Moving from WhatsApp to Signal is an important action, right now. WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, has been involved in several cases of election interference: America in 2016, Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, and Brazil in 2018. Mark Zuckerberg has apologized in the past but now, since his post-election dinner with Trump, wants “a culture that celebrates the aggression a bit more.” Continue reading Signal – an ethical replacement for WhatsApp
The level of shade cover is one of the best ways to determine if forest habitats are being maintained. The good news is that shade-tolerant crops such as cacao can tolerate over 30% shade cover with no reduction in crop yield. The bad news is that the Rainforest Alliance standards on shade cover have weakened over the years – 15% cover is now considered adequate. This begs the question: Is the Rainforest Alliance worthy of your support? Continue reading Is Rainforest Alliance an effective certification?
Many of us are overwhelmed by the political situation in the US – feeling helpless on the sidelines, watching as new horrors unfold every day and wishing there was something we could do. Well there is! Don’t allow annoying, unstable people ruin our long-term plan of saving the only home we have. Continue reading The most vital action to take in America, right now
The Green Stars Project 