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Environmental Choices
Environmental issues face us daily and our choices aren't always easy, and sometimes it's really a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils. What Christmas tree choice do you make: artificial, live -- or none? Where do you stand on the paper versus cloth napkins? Do you always use recycled paper, or do you sometimes go with virgin paper? And the bigger issues like air conditioners, and energy and water conservation measures? Balance the various aspects going into your decisions and do the best you can. Being an environmentally active person isn't easy, but it is important.
A recent article about fresh-cut versus artificial Christmas trees started me thinking about the environmental choices we face each day, all day. There are so many variables going into each decision that there's rarely one right conclusion for any question. That's comforting to me because it acknowledges our different needs and realities, and it's discouraging because it takes the black and white out of life that can make life seem easier.
Let's look at the fresh-cut vs artificial debate for a minute. Fresh-cut trees take years to grow to attain sufficient height to be harvested, may have pesticides applied to them, and are only used for one season. But, fresh-cut trees clean the air and produce oxygen during their growth and can be chipped to make mulch to supplement the soil. Artificial trees are made of petro-chemicals and off-gas for years. But, fake trees don't deplete forests and can be used for years. Which is the better choice for the environment? It depends on your chemical sensitivities, your stance on the use of petro-chemicals, and whether you can donate your tree to a community mulching program or to the landfill. It depends on your aesthetic sensibilities, your ideas about Christmas, and how much storage area you have.
What other environmental choices are you faced with daily?
Paper cups break down more readily than foam cups, except for the coating on the paper to make it water-proof. If foam were truly recycled, and people bought the resulting plastic goods made with recycled foam, foam wouldn't be quite as environmentally harmful. But, bagasse--sugar cane paper--products are even better because they don't have the coating that doesn't decompose, so bagasse composts completely.
Buying wild seafood depletes natural resources, unless you buy from a harvester who uses sustainable fishing methods. Farmed seafood tends to create an unnatural situation and the results on the fish and the environment are still unknown, though indications are that there are cascading negative effects on ocean environments and other sea life.
Are free-range chickens happier and healthier? Are their eggs more nutritious? It would stand to reason the answer would be yes. But, it costs more to let chickens roam free rather than being cooped up.
How is the balance of paper vs cloth napkins managed? Cloth napkins require laundering while paper can be thrown away or composted. Cloth napkins can be reused numerous times while paper napkins are
generally a one-time use items. Paper napkins are made from trees and often involve bleach and other chemicals. Napkins are made of cotton or man-made fabrics, and can have chemicals used in their
manufacturing. Which is better? Which fits your property's image better?
Is recycled paper with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled paper better than virgin paper? Buying recycled paper keeps paper out of the landfills, but may not be as sturdy, white, or copier-/fax-friendly as virgin paper. But virgin paper requires wood and chemicals in its manufacturing, depleting forests and polluting the environment. Some of your uses may require virgin paper, while other times recycled paper works well.
It's generally accepted that air conditioning a building is more energy consuming than opening windows. But open windows makes it harder to provide clean air to your guests. And what about in the car? Running the AC in you car lowers your mileage, thus wasting energy, but driving with open windows also lowers your mileage, thus wasting energy. See, there isn't always a clear, easy answer.
Life is full of trade-offs. Being a environmentally sensitive is full of trade-offs. Each person who wants to better the world they live in is faced with making decisions every day that impacts the environment. Which choice is the lesser of two evils? Which choice works for you? It seems that if everyone made one decision each day, with the intention of limiting their environmental impact on the world, the world would be a better place.
Maybe you can opt to not even have a Christmas tree. That could be the best environmental decision on that issue. Not all of your decisions will be that easy.
Running a hospitality venue challenges you to environmental choices on small and large scales. Converting your property into a water and energy efficient one will often create refuse that can be recycled in a variety of ways, rather than being dumped in a landfill. There may be up-front costs, but those are offset by big savings. It's a big balancing act, being environmentally active. Do your best, and act for the environment more than not, and make a difference to your world.
Posted by Kit Cassingham
