June 9, 2021
By Bartosz Balbuza
Staff Writer
The impact of big companies on the environment is difficult to ignore. Some of the most recognizable brands are also the worst polluters.
Senior Faiza Chowdhury, who is president of the Environmental Club, said one must make conscientious decisions to be an eco-friendly consumer.
“Consumers should focus on local products from small businesses rather than products marked as ‘eco-friendly’ by large corporations,” Chowdhury said. “The latter is usually undergoing greenwashing, where products are designed to seem environmentally friendly when they really aren’t.”
Chowdhury said small, local businesses often have a stake in their community and have more of an incentive to refrain from actions that can hurt their communities and local ecosystems.
“[M]oney going into small businesses usually goes back into community programs and education,” Chowdhury said.
However, there are still some companies that are working towards more sustainable products that cause less pollution.
Senior GianCarlo Garcia, a member of the Environmental Club, said he supports 4ocean, a company that produces apparel made from recycled and sustainably-sourced material.
“4ocean is a great company that cleans coastal and oceanic regions,” Garcia said.
Since 2017, over 14 million pounds of trash have been cleaned up by 4ocean. The company uses a portion of its profits to fund these missions, promising to clean a pound of trash from the ocean for every bracelet sold.
With companies like this making positive impacts on the environment with eco-friendly apparel, it begs the question of why sustainable products tend to be less popular than their polluting counterparts. There are many notable reasons why, ranging from minor deterrents to deal-breakers.
“The biggest turn off for a lot of people is both convenience and tradition,” Garcia said. “It’s a lot more convenient to grab and throw away one plastic straw than to keep a metal straw with you at all times.”
Business teacher Mrs. Weckstein said one major reason existing eco-friendly products tend to be less popular is price.
“I wish they would make eco-friendly products less expensive,” Weckstein said. “In many instances, the products that are better for the environment cost more.”
Encouraging the use of sustainable, eco-friendly products requires conscious spending decisions and increasing demand by spreading awareness of their ecological benefits.
With companies like this making positive impacts on the environment with eco-friendly apparel, it begs the question of why sustainable products tend to be less popular than their polluting counterparts.
“To encourage use of eco-friendly products, more and more people can request that companies produce them [and] use them in their packaging,” Weckstein said.
With the conscientious decision to support such products in mind, there are many ways one can go about supporting new technologies and processes that leave behind less carbon and pollution.
Bamboo is one important option to consider as a replacement for various kinds of materials. Bamboo plants can be harvested for a solid wood, which can be a great substitute for single-use plastics such as cutlery and dishes. Along with being lightweight, the wood is extremely durable, meaning that it can be easily reused, and the waste when it is eventually thrown away is biodegradable.
“Bamboo toothbrushes and other bamboo products are especially interesting because bamboo grows so quickly that deforestation shouldn’t be a concern,” Chowdhury said.
Bamboo produces 30% more oxygen than an equivalent mass of trees. It can be much more sustainable than regular wood and definitely pollutes less than plastic, so supporting its use can be a significant help to the ecosystem.
“Fabric can be made out of bamboo, and the fabric is very comfortable,” Weckstein said. “[It] almost has the qualities of cotton.”
From buying bamboo products to purchasing clothing made from recycled materials, Garcia said in the race to save the planet, everyone has the ability to step up as a role model.
“One of the best things people can do to encourage others is to use [eco-friendly products] themselves,” said Garcia.
INFOGRAPHIC BY FAIZA CHOWDHURY
