Blog Posts by OneGreenPlanet.Org

Signs of Greenwashing
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1. The term "Natural" has no meaning. Really, none. Unless it is certified Organic by a "domestic" certifier and backed by a specific and recognized certifying body, which has a defined meaning for the word "natural", this word only means "buy me". Buyer be-aware!

2. Look at the size of packaging. It is really great that you want to buy a vegan protein or greens powder to reduce meat consumption so you can save the planet. But, hold on: is that vegan company really making good choices? The BIG tub the powder comes in is only half full (costing and wasting more to ship it), is not recyclable and the plastic tub and top are made in China (so much for 'local' buying)! In fact, most packaging is now done in China due to cheap labor and lax environmental laws. Vegan does not equal green.

3. Be bag aware. If you feel good about buying a store-branded-feel-good recycled plastic shopping bag, ask yourself where was the bag made? These

sustainable materials eco-friendly wicker bamboo banana leaf abaca bamboo jute rattan
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Living green is more than just a passing fad and there's no better way to truly embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle than at the most basic foundation of our society. Yes, sustainability should start at home! Here are a few eco-materials you should consider incorporating into your home:

1. Abaca: Fiber Strength Similar to bamboo, abaca is grown widely in many tropical countries. It is one of the many species of banana native to the Philippines, and it is also extensively grown in Borneo and Sumatra. The strong fiber is also known as "Manila hemp" and is used to make currency bills, twines, ropes and clothing. A home can enjoy this eco-friendly material in the form of woven cloth, place mats and curtains to small furniture such as center and side tables.

2. Bamboo: The Versatile Grass Strong, resilient, beautiful, abundant and affordable, this humble grass is one of the best materials that one can explore when it comes to achieving

green roofs

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There's nothing more effective and ecologically sensible than covering the unused spaces of today's urban structures with living, breathing green roofs. From simple homes to towering buildings, green roofs are more than just aesthetically pleasing - they are becoming a driving force towards eco-living and sustainability.

Urban areas throughout the world are covered with concrete and other materials, which have the highest heat retaining and releasing capabilities. This results in structures having to implement energy consuming cooling and heating systems to combat heat loses and gains. In addition, almost every day, thousands of structures are being built over natural habitats, killing, if not eradicating the natural flora and fauna. Green roofs promote low level energy consuming systems, and there's nothing better than replacing damaged ecosystems with an alternative environment for vegetation and animals to thrive in.

calcium vegan plant based strong bones

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Our earliest ancestors didn't drink milk and didn't need to worry about calcium at all. Milk didn't appear in human diets until around 10,000 years ago, and even then it was common only in certain population groups. But anthropologists speculate that the diets of early humans were rich in calcium-with intakes higher than today's RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for this nutrient-because they dined on calcium-rich greens.

Many of the wild greens they ate are lost to us now, but we still have a variety of calcium-rich veggies plus wonderful plant-based foods that are fortified with this nutrient. Calcium is only part of the story, of course. Strong bones depend on a variety of diet and lifestyle factors. By following a few guidelines-which apply to anyone on any kind of diet-it's easy to keep bones strong and healthy on a plant-based (vegan) diet.

Aim for 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day-the recommended calcium intake for

Why is it okay to eat plants and not animals

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Really?? OK, we secretly don't mind this question, and we especially like it when an esteemed newspaper like the New York Times publishes an article covering this topic (in their 'Science' section no less!) . If they can, why can't we? This question allows us to get into a quasi-scientific debate with people and helps us make a few valid points about what's wrong with eating animals in the process.

So let's not waste time mocking the question. It can be a legitimate one (if you put common sense aside). Let's not also get caught up in scientific studies that claim to discover new facts, only to be debunked by the next scientific study. Let's just focus on a few basic questions:

Are plants like animals?

Can cows fly? Seriously, plants are fascinating and complex organisms that exhibit behavior that could be perceived to imply sentience (the ability to feel and perceive, to experience pleasure and pain), but they're

10 ways you can help japan
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On March 11, an earthquake of 8.9 magnitude hit the northeastern part of Japan, with devastating results. The quake was almost 8,000 times stronger than last month's destructive quake in New Zealand and triggered a massive tsunami that caused extensive damage to life and property. While the earthquake and tsunami have passed, the recovery efforts have just begun. Although help is desperately needed, volunteers are discouraged from entering the country as Japan's normally highly efficient transportation system has been crippled and power and water shortages are widespread. There are, however, many ways that you can immediately help.

1. Donate Money to relief organizations: The Salvation Army in Japan has sent teams to the severely affected areas, where they are distributing basic necessities to survivors and assessing the damage and potential next steps. You can Text the words "Japan" or "Quake" to 80888 to make a $10 donation or visit

office recycling
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So, you're conscious about what you buy, you try to reduce your energy consumption at home and you are fanatical about recycling. But what about your workplace? Whether you are self-employed, run your own business or have a 9-5 job in the corporate world, the hours you spend toiling away at work could be having significant negative consequences on the environment. This is especially true in large offices that require tremendous energy use to run air-conditioning, multiple computers and other electronic equipment that keeps the workplace efficient. However, there are simple steps that you and your employer can take to minimize the damage. If done right, acting sustainably in the workplace will not only limit your environmental impact, but can also save you or your employer a lot of money, by reducing energy consumed, office supplies needed and the amount of waste generated. Keeping with the theme of the three R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle),

composting
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If you cook a lot (especially vegetables), you probably also have a food scraps problem.Preparing your food from scratch, with all that peeling, chopping and scraping can leave you with quite a bit of biodegradable waste. So what can you do about it?

Firstly, you might want to think about the fact that you don't really need to skin too much off your veggies:a good scrub can render the average potato or carrot quite clean and edible without the waste of peeling, especially if you are buying organic. However, with the risk of pesticides lingering on the surface of veggies, it is advisable to do some peeling and give those veggies a good wash.

Composting your scraps, via a process of aerobic decomposition is the best way to return to mother earth the energy that went into growing and preparing your food (especially if you have a veggie garden). If not, maybe after you master composting, you might feel like starting a small garden. This can