Green Washing on the Internet

I have been looking at setting this blog up as a self-hosted one. For me, that decision involves choosing a “green” website host (that offers WordPress).

Well, this is not such a simple task! I kind of knew it would not be as I have had a look at green website hosting in more general terms before. Have any of you gone through this process? What results did you get?

There are a number of larger website hosts offering WordPress “green” hosting plans/options. Unfortunately, most of it is just green washing. All they do is buy RECs. You could just choose a web host and buy some form of carbon offsetting yourself, whether it be actually paying a business that specialises in carbon offsetting certificates or actually investing in tree planting programs and or switching to renewable energy inputs as well as making sure all your other protocols are green.

I live a pretty “green” lifestyle, to the fullest extent I can given my current circumstances. Actually, we got our electricity bill yesterday. Our power usage, compared to the average, is very low. We are a four person family in a three room house. We are all home most of the time as we homeschool the kids. Our usage was comparable to the average usage of less than a two person household. I thought that was not too bad.

OK. So back to my search for a green website host. I would love to hear about anyone’s recommendations (please say why). I found a couple of articles written within the last four months on options green website hosts. I did a Google search. Now I need to try and compare apples not a fruit salad.

I’ll let you know how it goes!

Peace to all,

KISS for Life,

Miriam.

Sustainability & Green Washing

I was not entirely sure what to call this post. Read on to find out about my dilemma last week.

I want to tell you all about my recent research into disposable cups for a new aspect of the business. I will be required to use either recyclable or compostable disposable cups for the drinks I will be serving.

Being a Permaculturalist in business, I fully support such an ethically sustainable business practice. At least I thought I did – until I examined the so-called “compostable” disposable cups we have here in Australia. Do not get me wrong – there is nothing wrong with the notion of “compostable” disposables. It is the way this gets accomplished that irks me. As well as the fact that the term “compostable” is, well, misleading.

Firstly, let me tell you a bit about the two cup options. There are fossil fuel based plastic recyclable cups. Then there are paper cups coated in plastic. The plastic is chemically very similar to the other recyclable cups BAR the plastic is derived from either corn starch or sugar cane. It can be composted. This is the same as bio-plastic bag material.

That sounds awesome! I hear you say. I thought so too. BUT WAIT, there is composting and there is composting. These disposables are only compostable in a “commercial compost facility”. Oh, ok, so we will just take them to one. NO! There are none in Australia.

What the … you heard me right. So, they have to be sent to landfill! They cannot be recycled or composted. But it is not quite as bad as it sounds because the bio-plastic will break down – ahem, eventually (as does fossil fuel plastic) – and then the paper underneath will breakdown and there will be nothing left to worry about.

Just do not ask how long it all takes nor how much farming land for human feed is given up to make these non-compostable compostables.

Deary, deary me – the anguish of trying to do the right thing and be sustainable in all decisions.

Peace to all, 

KISS for Life,

Miriam.