These posts take examples of everyday items and examine a few social and environmental factors to consider in each case. The goal is not to be the authoritative guide to ethical consumerism. Rather, the Green Stars Project is all about user-generated ethical consumerism: I eventually want to see Green Stars reviews on the sites we all use (Yelp, Amazon, etc.) so that they are visible to everyone. So, these posts aim to help you to make your own decisions, wherever you live. And please consider incorporating a Green Stars rating next time you review something!
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 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?
Third-party certifications provide one of the more accessible ways to practice ethical consumption. They provide a means of communicating to the consumer that a corporate supply chain maintains certain social or environmental standards. This topic is highly relevant right now because of the systematic undermining of regulations, environmental protections, human rights, and corporate oversight that is taking place in America. Continue reading Should you support fair trade?
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