http://www.chrisjordan.com/

Kinda puts things in perspective for me.



Depicts 8 million toothpicks, equal to the number of trees harvested in the US every month to make the paper for mail order catalogs.


Depicts two million plastic beverage bottles, the number used in the US every five minutes.

Detail at actual size:


Depicts 60,000 plastic bags, the number used in the US every five seconds.

Detail at actual size:

Come on!

Let's debate!

Takers?

I'll try to be nice.

Any good recycling stories out there?

I think companies can do several things to be more proactive in this.

For one thing, they can reduce packaging in general, and use more degradable packing when they cannot get rid of it. They (and we) can also purchase more post-consumer recycled materials, which is a necessary aspect of this recycled goods economy (the demand).

Another thing is to encourage better practices inside their industries. I know many more companies have been moving toward the "paperless office" but improvements can still be made.

Both of these ideas could be good PR too.


on a side note, I still don't think the study/story I posted is irrelevant to this discussion. I don't intend it as Teh Vegetarian Propaghanda!!1! but merely as a point our habits play a major role in the reduction of waste, both in purchases and in how we support industry trends. I don't think it's necessary for everyone to become non-driving hairshirt Level 15 Vegans or anything, just to be aware of things like how our habits affect the environment, and the initial use of resources is as important as recycling.