Cloth or Paper Napkins?
I received what appeared to be a great"green" idea from an anonymous poster asking why my One Napkin Revolution couldn't be "Cloth Napkin Revolution".Here was the comment:
How about using cloth napkins at home--you save paper and they're reusable. You just toss them in the wash. And if you get the flannel kind they're absorptive and don't need to be ironed!
My response to this is:
Cloth Napkins ... hmmm. Sounds pretty good, but there is actually evidence out there that disposable paper goods are better for the environment than reusing cloth napkins. When you consider what is required to grow cotton, turn it into fabric, and then the amount of water and energy to wash them, it may actually be better to use paper disposable napkins. Click here to understand why cloth may be worse for the environment than paper:
This leads to a very interesting reality: Sometimes the better thing for the environment isn't what you think it is!
Consider energy efficient light bulbs. All CFLs are filled with Mercury, a poisonous metal that never goes away. Mercury is a neurotoxin, the same poison that made the Mad Hatter mad (Alice in Wonderland). What do you do with these bulbs when they go out? You can't just use these light bulbs to help the environment, you must dispose of them properly otherwise they fill a landfill (or your home) with mercury. Which is better? Less energy used or more mercury in the food chain? The debate rages on (see here for more)
There is also some evidence that using disposable cups are better (or at least equivalent) for the environment than washing a mug over and over again. See here for evidence.
I want to go green, but it may not be as easy as one thinks it is, and things we "think" are helping may not be. A big part of the "green" revolution is pure marketing to get us to buy things. Be careful and do your homework.
One thing is for sure ... when we use less of something we typically waste (like .. say .. a napkin) we help the environment. Use one napkin only when eating out! Join the One Napkin Revolution!
Do you know of any other "green myths" that need to be explored and shared?
Mark
Here are some other links:
Review of The Skeptical Environmentalist
New York Post On Green Myths
Posted by MarkM on at
4:19 PM
2 Comments:
EVERYTHING IN MODERATION- I agree with you - if you use less of what you would normally waste, you're helping the environment. All this reminds me of this past year when they were talking about real vs. artificial Christmas trees - which one is better... I'm allergic to christmas trees (tried SEVERAL different kinds over the years- none work - and the fresher they are, the worse they affect me), I have to have a fake one otherwise what would be a most joyous occasion with friends and family would send me into a coughing, can't breathe, hive infested trip to the hospital --- people can debate all they want whether or not it's better for the environment, but it's definitely better for MY environment and health!!!!!
i think your totally right mark,we should save green.we should try to use less trees.just because you should use less doesn't mean you have to stop.we can use them but not as much.
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