What’s the most ethical protein, brah? Last week I published a graphic showing different kinds of butter, dairy and non-dairy, ranked from 0 to 5 Green Stars. Following up on that, here’s a graphic showing ethical scores for various sources of protein in our diets. Continue reading Sustainable Food: Ethical ratings for different protein sources
I’m sharing a post from Ethical Bargains that evaluated Ivy’s Reserve carbon-neutral butter. UK-based Wyke Farms launched this butter in 2023, a year after releasing “the world’s first carbon neutral cheddar.” In the end, I scored Ivy’s Reserve butter 2/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact and at the same time realized that this is close to the maximum score that I’d give a dairy-based butter product. Is this fair? Continue reading Butter: I can’t believe it’s not ethical!
Which third-party certifications are effective and worth supporting? Third-party certifications can be a cornerstone of ethical consumption so it’s important to know which ones are effective – especially when governments don’t value the environment and allow corporations to run amok. Here’s a summary of eleven certifications that have been evaluated here on the Green Stars Project. Continue reading The GSP guide to third-party certifications
Compostable plastics vary in their environmental footprints but some of them are significantly better than petroleum-derived plastics in key respects. Of course we need to use reusable items as much as possible, but the inherent benefits of compostable plastics suggest that they are worth backing. Continue reading The environmental impact of compostable plastics
There has been a lot of scare mongering about seed oils from social media influencers, but they are not all equal. Some cooking oils have a very high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats, which may be problematic, but there’s one notable exception: canola or rapeseed oil. A mix of canola oil and olive oil actually looks like a great choice from the three perspectives of value, health, and sustainability. Continue reading Cooking oil drama! Is this seed oil blend actually ideal?
This post examines a correction to a seminal paper by Oxford University scientists Poore and Nemecek on the environmental footprints of food. It shows that, of all the products we make, including the massive amounts of cement and steel used for construction, beef is categorically responsible for the most GHGs, by a very wide margin. Continue reading A mammoth adjustment to beef’s carbon footprint
As my last GSP post was about B Corporation, I thought I would share a recent Ethical Bargains post on a B Corp certified company. Follow your Heart began as a tiny juice bar and sandwich shop in 1970’s LA. 55 years later, the company has been acquired by Danone, a certified B Corp that has been ramping up its plant-based repertoire. Continue reading Follow Your Heart vegan blue
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?
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”
The Green Stars Project 