Why traditional non-green products appear to be cheaper?
Buying commercial chemical infused or chemically processed products are easy on the wallet and most of us are used to it. These products are cheap because extensive R&D and marketing dollars have already been spent and recouped by the major consumer products companies. But the total price we pay to buy and use these products also includes the damage done to the environment during the production, packaging, transportation, usage, and disposal of the used product in the form of green house emissions, fossil fuel usage, energy use, recycling and trashing. These costs are real and tangible and we all pay for it one way or other but it does not show up in the product cost and in many cases the companies profiting from these products do not even have to worry about these social costs.
But green products maybe better economically for the society
Green and eco friendly products on the market today may appear expensive but they have internalized the social costs to a large degree. Which means that the costs of environmental damage and remediation have been substantially reduced by using these products. Which is a good news made even better when you consider that you and your children will be able to live in a greener world and breathe cleaner air.
But this is not all. Increasing acceptance of these products will drive down the prices lower as the R&D and overhead costs in the production and supply chain of these companies start to spread out. Economies of scale will also make the production process more efficient. While it is difficult to put numbers to this, it is not inconceivable that even in purely economic terms (not counting the environmental benefits), a green and eco lifestyle may overall be a cheaper lifestyle. Health benefits of going green are another positive.
Wouldn’t that be something to look forward to?
And all it takes is to continue to support companies and businesses that provides eco friendly products and services.
meant for the counter-top. You can use them (usually ceramic with filters) for food scraps and then spread the resulting compost in your garden.
5 Ways Going Green Can Improve Your Health
When you make small changes to live a little greener, you aren’t just helping the environment. In fact, there are some green changes that you can make to can improve your health as well. You might be surprised to learn how much better you feel, in terms of your health, when you make a few changes to live more sustainably. Here are 5 ways going green can improve your health:
1. More Exercise, Fewer Emissions
One of the best ways to improve your health while helping the environment is to exercise more as you go to work or run errands. Walking or biking to work provides you with more heart-healthy exercise, while at the same time you are putting fewer pollutants into the air since you aren’t driving your car. You can even use a bike to run errands, since there are specially made “riders” — grocery bags that you can use with your bike.
Even if you don’t walk or bike all the way to work, you can get a little more exercise while reducing emissions by taking public transportation. Walking to and from the bus stop increases your exercise, if only by a little, and using public transit means that you are helping to reduce overall emissions.
2. Less Meat, More Produce
While you don’t have to go vegetarian or vegan to be greener and live healthier, you can improve your health by reducing your overall intake of meat. As a society, we have been adding more and more meat to our diets. If you replace just one meat entree a week with a vegetarian dish, you can lower your cholesterol a little, increase your intake of fiber from more natural sources, and reap other health benefits. And, because the process of raising meat for the dinner table takes more energy and produces more emissions that raising vegetables, you can add your bit to better sustainability.
3. Buy Locally Grown Produce
When produce is shipped in from thousands of miles away, the trucks that carry it put out a lot of emissions. On top of that, the produce is often picked early so that it does not spoil on its journey of thousands of miles. Some nutritionists claim that fruit and vegetables that haven’t ripened on the vine offer fewer helpful nutrients than produce that is picked closer to peak ripeness. Buying local — at farmer’s markets or at the local grocery — can mean produce that is better for you, chock full of nutrients. And it also means that fewer emissions went into getting it to your table. Bonus if you can get locally raised meat.
4. Gardening: Exercise and Nutrients
One of the ultimate ways to get locally grown produce is to grow it yourself. Gardening is a good way to get exercise for your body, as well as a good way grow produce that you can pick at the proper ripeness for all the nutrients. You can also control what pesticides are present, and you will be reducing emissions since you won’t even have to drive to the store or market for your produce. Produce from large gardens can be frozen, preserved for later in the year, and it is even possible to grow a few things in small spaces and containers for those who live in apartments.
5. Reduce the Chemicals in Your Environment
Studies have shown that chemicals in the environment can affect the health of you and your children. The products you buy for your children, and for use in your home, are not just bad for the environment. They can also be bad for your family. Look for greener toys and consider the types of chemicals you use in your home. Many household cleaners can be replaced by water, vinegar and lemon juice — all of which are less harmful than the chemicals you buy in the store. Breathing in some chemicals can result in respiratory problems, and some irritate the skin, causing rashes. You can increase your overall health just by being aware of what you are bringing into your environment and reducing the harmful items.