Results tagged “going green” from iVillage - Supermarket Guru
Practically every retailing or food focused conference includes at least a half dozen sessions on sustainability. Companies large and small, and consumers democrats or republicans all seem to be aligned around the fact that unless we initial major efforts to help the environment, our plane and people are doomed.
However, what I do not see a lot of discussion around is just how we are going to keep the population of the plane fed. And there is no more important issue surrounding sustainability than that.
By 2050, the world's population is estimated to reach 9 billion, which is 40 percent higher than today's population. At the same time, the world's dietary interests are expected to continue changing. For example, since 1980, global production of meat has more than doubled. In the developing world, meat consumption has tripled. Production of meat and dairy, which are major dietary sources of protein, uses 30 percent of earth's land surface, 70 percent of agricultural land, and accounts for 8 percent of water use, mostly to irrigate feed crops.
I recently attended the Canadian Canola Council's Annual Meeting and met with very passionate farmers who quite effectively have increased their production output; but their passion did not come from increased volume - it came from their dedication to offering one of the healthiest oils to the world population. These farmers are looking at their crops holistically - and that is exactly what we need to do when it comes to putting sustainability into practice.
One of my concerns is as we look to be more sustainable, a lot of discussion is centered on "local". But the truth is that there are not enough foods grown or animals raised within 100 miles of every person on the planet to make local a reality. What we must do is to finally define what sustainability means for the food world, and then educate retailers, manufacturers and shoppers.
One aspect of sustainability that needs clarification and education is plant biotechnology. This, as I heard from the Canadian farmers, is the key to increasing productivity per acre, and not just in the United States or Canada. According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, the total crop production gains globally for the four principal biotech crops (soybean, maize, cotton and canola) was 32 million metric tons in 2007, which would have required more than 20 million additional acres had biotechnology not been used. We will have to rely on smarter science to enhance productivity in a sustainable way. Simply producing more on the acre is just one component. The real goal should be using fewer key resources.
By achieving that goal, we'll be well positioned to help meet the growing food demands of our growing population, sustainably.
Reuse and Reduce
To-Go Ware is a reusable utensil kit made up of natural bamboo cutlery that includes a knife, fork, spoon and chopsticks, all stored in a closeable plastic pouch that's easily thrown into a bag or glove compartment. The plastic pouch is made entirely of recycled plastic by CONSERVE, which employs rag pickers in Delhi, India, to collect discarded plastic bags--providing a form of employment and easing the landfill burden by repurposing millions of plastic bags into useful products.[WATCH VIDEO: To-Go Ware]
The Benefits of Bamboo
The petrochemicals in plastic cutlery create dioxins and other environmentally harmful substances as they sit in landfills, whereas bamboo is a highly durable resource that can be grown and harvested sustainably.
Mark down this day, Tuesday November 20, 2007 as one where yet again, the Bay Area leads the food world. Northern California has given us Alice Walters and Chez Panisse, Tiburon’s cutting edge ban on Trans Fats and now the nation’s first ban on plastic grocery bags.
It was almost three years ago that the city’s Board of Supervisors considered a 17 cent tax on each petroleum-based plastic grocery bag to force supermarkets and drug stores to use alternative materials that would have less of an impact on the environment and landfills. In San Francisco alone, last year there were about 180 million plastic shopping bags distributed – which, according to the San Francisco Department of the Environment and Worldwatch Institute took roughly 774,000 gallons of oil to produce.
In a deal with the California Grocers Association, the Board of Supervisors agreed to not impose the tax if large supermarkets would reduce the amount of bags given to shoppers in 2006 by 10 million bags, just a little over 5 percent of the total. Two years later the group said they had reduced the amount by 7.6 million, but fell short of giving the city the proof it had asked for.
So the ban takes effect today.
A lot has happened since the issue was first discussed, and with a renewed interest led by Al Gore and his Academy Award-winning documentary in our sustainability and global footprint San Francisco’s ban should make a significant impact.
While the opposition to the ban cite higher prices for consumers, that tack just isn’t going to work this time. I know of no shopper who actually finds the typical plastic bag useful or comfortable. We have lived with them when we have no choice. But choices are abundant. Reusable canvas totes, compostable bags made from corn starch, paper bags made from recycled paper are all better options. Tesco’s new Fresh & Easy stores actually offer shoppers canvas tote bags “for life” after the initial purchase.
By April of next year, drug chains will also have to comply with the ban; and there is little doubt that the smaller stores which are not covered by the ruling will follow suit as the new compostable bags become widely available.
It appears that 2008 will be the year that being green is in, hip and becomes mainstream (sorry Kermit!). It seems that the ground swell against plastic beverage bottles, plastic bags and plastic packaging in general will finally force a change for the good of our planet.
What’s your take?
When Kermit first uttered this now famous line, he didn’t even imagine the implications for supermarket shopping. But now, as more of us want to do our fair share to protect the planet and ease the impact of products’ global footprint by choosing wiser, we need a bit of help to really understand what these labels do (and don’t) mean.
USDA Certified Organic – organic foods seem to be everywhere, but did you know there are different designations?
100 percent organic - Organic standards require that the land used to grow organic crops go through a three-year "transition period" to make sure the crops are free of synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. All organic agriculture prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, irradiation, sewage sludge, and growth hormones, and no genetically modified organisms can be contained in anything labeled organic.
Organic— is defined by the USDA as containing 95 percent organic ingredients.
Made with organic— may be used on the front of the product label that contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients. Note: products with less than 70 percent organic ingredients are only allowed to list the organic items in the ingredient panel.
Oregon Tilth – you may have seen in addition to the USDA seal, another one for Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO). This seal is an internationally recognized symbol of organic integrity which some organic producers feel has even stricter standers than the federal rules. OTCO provides a system that combines strict production standards, on-site inspections, and legally binding contracts to protect the producers and buyers of organic products, to ensure that the agreed upon conventions of organic agricultural systems are being practiced not only by the growers or producers, but also by all the people who handle and process organic food, feed and fiber on its journey to the consumer.
You may have noticed that many products are now touting the fact that they are “local”.
Local – while there is no legal definition for what is and isn’t “local”, the general consensus seems to be that these foods are grown or processed within approximately 200 miles of your location – typically, somewhere you can drive to and from in one day.
One of the most overused, and confusing terms that first appeared on foods back in the 1940s is “all natural”
Natural/ All Natural - the phrase "all natural" can mean just about anything; it actually has no nutritional meaning whatsoever and isn't truly regulated by the FDA. Natural in most cases means unprocessed food that has undergone no or minimal processing and contains no additives such as preservatives or artificial coloring.
Labels, labels and more labels:
Cage-Free or Free-Range – is not a health claim — this just means that the chickens are not locked in cages, and are "free" to roam. "Free-range" means the chickens are allowed to roam outdoors. Read the label carefully and look for more detail; sometimes "cage-free" eggs come from hens packed side by side in massive sheds with access to the outdoors.
Grass Fed - The Department of Agriculture has announced standards that would for the first time allow meat to be labeled as grass fed only if it came from animals that ate nothing but grass after being 
weaned. But the trade association representing many raisers of grass-fed livestock, which has long sought regulation of labeling, criticized the standards, because they do not restrict the use of antibiotics and hormones and do not require grass-fed animals to live on pastures year round. The rules, which take effect November 15, 2007 would require animals to eat nothing but grass and stored grasses like hay, and to have access to pasture during the growing season, which is defined as the time from last frost to first frost. In some places that could mean from as late as May to as early as October. The new standards require growers to have their farm and records inspected by the Agriculture Department before they could use a “U.S.D.A. Process Verified” seal. Meat could also be labeled as grass-fed, but without the seal, if the growers submit documents showing their animals were raised according to the standards.
Fair Trade - Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based model of international trade which promotes the payment of a fair price as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of goods. The movement focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries, most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit etc. Fair trade's strategic intent is to deliberately work with marginalized producers and workers in order to help them move from a position of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency.
Food allergies are on the rise, with almost ten million people now suffering from some reaction!
As of January 2006, all food products must clearly say on the package if they contain any of the foods that are responsible for most allergies: milk, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, wheat, egg, crustacean shellfish or fish. And with more than 170 foods already identified as allergens, it's critical to read not only the front of the label carefully, but also each of the ingredients. One troubling designation is when you see the words “may contain” which is an unregulated label which is little more than a safety net for what's called unintentional "cross-contamination" of a food product. That is, a chocolate bar may not be made with peanuts, but it may have been contaminated with a trace amount of peanut because it was produced on the same manufacturing line as a peanut candy bar.
Gluten Free - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending that voluntary standards be established for the first time that would govern how gluten-free products are sold and labeled. The first draft of the FDA proposal suggests that "companies may label foods ‘gluten-free’ if they don't contain wheat, barley, rye or their hybrids, or if they contain fewer than 20 parts per million gluten." Currently, some companies use the label to describe products that are naturally gluten-free, such as fruits or meat — which fuels the deepening nutrition confusion taking place in our grocer’s aisles. Under the FDA's proposal, that would be misbranding. There is also confusion about cross-contamination, the gluten contained in oats, and also that modified food starch often contains gluten. A food with a "gluten-free" label may not be gluten free at all. Such products may contain trace amounts of the wheat protein — enough to trigger a reaction in some people.
Dairy Free - "Free" labels, such as "peanut free" and "gluten free," aren't regulated by the FDA. "Dairy free" can be particularly tricky. On the front, a product may say "dairy free," but on the back, casein/milk may be listed under ingredients. Examples of food advertised as "dairy free" that may contain milk: coffee whiteners, whipped toppings, imitation cheeses and some soft-serve ice creams.
And one of our favorite supermarket secrets is in the produce department!
The "PLU" label is that annoying little numbered sticker that is now on every piece of produce you buy. That’s called a “produce look up” (PLU) number that is designed to help the cashier properly identify the item. But it also has a secret code: Organic adds a '9' in front of the four digit PLU code. Example: an organically grown standard yellow banana would be '94011' and genetically engineered foods add an '8' in front of the four digit PLU code. Example: a genetically engineered standard yellow banana would be '84011'.
When time and labor are of the essence, it's easy to choose paper plates over conventional dinnerware that requires washing, drying, and returning to someone's cupboard. So, too, glass tumblers or goblets, silver-plates or stainless cutlery … they all require washing and storing and, for big crowds, several people may be called upon to bring the necessary number of plates and cutlery needed to serve the number of people at your school, office, or family event.
And yet---it's difficult to not be aware that disposable plastics and paper goods put an extra burden on our already compromised environment, but the good news is that disposables aren't what they used to be.
Many eco-friendly manufacturers have really stepped up to the plate (ouch!) and created tableware that's truly environmentally friendly. Look for items made with "compostable" elements such as vegetable (potato starch) or bagasse (sugar cane fiber).
Many new paper products contain up to 100% recyclable paper, or are made from a combination of GMO-free 90% sugar cane fiber and 10% wood pulp. Think of compostable products as those which were made from previously composted materials and those which can easily be tossed into a compost for natural recycling.
Opt for plasticware made from PLA (polylactide) which is a clear plastic-like polymer made from biodegradable corn. The PLA products first use the dextrose processed from the vegetable starch which is fermented, condensed, and distilled then turned into a polymer which can be shaped into cutlery, cups or plates.
Look for the ASTM label that indicates that biodegradable products meet ASTM standards for products made from renewable resources. ASTM International is the American Society for Testing and Materials, a voluntary standards development organization.
The better news is that there are great ways to ease the burden of quantity paper and plastic goods at home or away at organization events, community gatherings or other occasions.
Here are just a few ideas to make them all "green":
- Choose recycled paper decorations and party favors rather than plastic.
- Choose paper over Styrofoam every time. Even choose plastic coolers; they last a really long time and are so much better than Styrofoam. Styrofoam takes eons to disintegrate. In fact, we're still waiting…
- Opt for re-useable plastic plates, cups and cutlery over paper. Then, do wash and reuse. Many brands can withstand multiple re-uses without compromising strength or style.
- Use cloth napkins and avoid the waste when people take bunches of paper napkins and leave most unused. If you're a guest, bring your own cloth napkin!
- Bring your own cup and use it at the office, at vending coffee machines, or at the local coffee shop (imagine how much paper that will save!)
- It's long been a girlie thing to bring your own teacup to tea parties where part of the conversation is how you got your cup and what its story is all about. Rinse and take home, then wash.
- If you're at a family event where the best china, silverware, and goblets are used, mind your manners. Offer to help with the dishwashing. Hey, everyone else cooked, decorated, and presented the buffet, so pitch in with cleanup. You'll feel good giving back, you'll be newly aware of all the time and effort it takes for holiday dinners, and you'll make your mom so proud!
If you do – now’s the time that we need your voice as the Farm Bill is about to be renewed.
Maybe it's because of the almost daily headlines about food recalls, food safety issues or the latest food and health report that more of us are waking up and starting to care about how our food is grown, delivered and sold in our supermarkets. Or maybe it's being led by those 76 million baby boomers, who as they start to turn 65 in 2010 have decided it's time to start worrying a bit more about our world’s sustainability. But it really doesn’t make much difference as to “why”!
The Farm Bill, one of the most complicated (and some might argue outdated) pieces of legislature, has a huge effect on all of us – it's all about health, hunger, rural communities, the environment, food safety, labor practices, childhood obesity and immigration.
As we feverishly debate “local vs. organic” over a cup of fair trade coffee at our local Starbucks it's time for a reality check and time to take an active role to help our small farmers, clean up our air and water and use this legislation to spur a new generation’s eating habits and get our diabetes, cancers, heart disease and obesity under control.
Log on to Farm Bill 2007 Official Comments to learn about the proposal and budgets. Although the time for public comments is closed, if you want to urge your Congressional representatives to support farm and food polices toward an equitable and sustainable food system, go to healthyfarmbill.org.
