In a world concerned with its carbon footprint and ever-striving for new ways to reduce environmental impact, hemp is one of those products that comes up time and again with new alternatives. This time around it’s “Hemcrete”–a new concrete-like substance developed by U.K.-based Lhoist Group, Tradical® Hemcrete® made from hemp, lime and water.

Here’s a new building material that is not just carbon neutral, but is actually carbon negative. What makes it carbon negative? There is more CO2 locked-up in the process of growing and harvesting of the hemp than is released in the production of the lime binder.

Hemcrete® is 100% recyclable, is seven times stronger than concrete, weighs half as much, and is less prone to cracking. It’s also waterproof, fireproof, insulates well, and does not rot. Demolished Hemcrete® walls can actually be used as fertilizer.

Hemcrete® has been available in the UK for years but it’ll take a while before it hits North America since it’s currently illegal to grow the species of hemp used in the mixture (although I’m not sure if it’s illegal in Canada… hmmm). If the market in Europe becomes profitable though, it’s likely that lawmakers might re-access their own laws to consider this alternative building material as well.

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I’ve been sitting on this blog post for a while now and it almost got left unpublished. I came across it just after getting back from San Diego Comic Con. I spent a week there, exhausting myself to new degrees of human fatigue… and I loved it! So, when I saw a new post in my RSS feed titled “Dark Horse Goes Green” supported with a comic strip promoting it, I was enthusiastic!

“Of course! why NOT?!” I thought. Comics are paper, right, so using recycled paper, or partly recycled paper might make sense–at least in concept.

I was wrong.

As I read the companion strip my enthusiasm turned to over-whelming disappointment. The concept of “greenwashing” has been a topic I’ve been talking to Nikki about for almost a year. I’ve wanted to write an article about greenwashing after collecting dozens and dozens of news posts over the last year. Then the topic seemed to loose some steam in the blogging world and I thought: “Hum… maybe companies are aware of their deceptive or ignorant practices and smartening up.”

Then this: Not only did a respectable company like Dark Horse take a leader step forward, commanding respect and encouraging others to follow… they also did it wrong and even backed up their reasons for NOT going green! Absurd! Especially when tied to a green PR stunt meant to draw the awareness of green enthusiasts.

Just to break down what “greenwashing” is for people who are new to the term (including those at Dark Horse marketing presumably), here’s a definition:

Greenwashing is a term used to describe the practice of companies disingenuously spinning their products and policies as environmentally friendly. It is a deceptive use of green PR or green marketing.

Let me breakdown the ways Dark Horse and the strip above wantonly stride with ignorant abandon into the land of greenwashing:

1. High-quality bags: At the con, “schwag bags” are handed out like Halloween candy to Con-goers with seemingly endless sweettooths to take EVERY bag they pass by. Dark Horse making “high-quality reusable bags” isn’t that big a deal. The argument that they aren’t “plastic bags that’ll go in the trash” doesn’t make them bags that WON’T go in the trash by those who have no interest in keeping a dozen bags from different companies with promo art on them after they get home from the Con. I, for example, have high-quality PLASTIC bags that I reuse constantly as grocery bags. Some of the plastic bags I saw being handed out at the Con were equally reusable by those with the mindset to REUSE them. It’s not the bag’s material–it’s the bag holder’s choice.
2. What else does Dark Horse do for the planet: They have their comics on Myspace and the iPhone. Congratulations. This isn’t being done to “help the planet”, so please Dark Horse, don’t lie to yourselves and don’t confuse consumers. These same comics are also printed. The online options are just that: Options. They don’t fully replace paper comics, they help reach new readers who might come into a comic store and buy paper comics. If they were series that were ONLY digital, then they win this point. If not… shame… moving on…
3. But Dark Horse still prints comics! What about all the waste!?: Comics become waste. Sure, there are collectors who will save them for decades (and eventually over a century when their kids take the collections over), but at the end of the day: Comics are a waste product. Just like G.I. Joe toys, He-Man toys, My Little Ponies toys, vinyl records, stamps, Bazooka Joe bubble gum strips–you get the point I hope. An object “being a collectible” doesn’t exempt it from eventually going the way of the trash bin, or recycling bin.
4. Trying recycled paper, but it’s not good enough quality: Thinking it’s OK to use virgin paper for comics because you THINK they aren’t “bound for the landfill” doesn’t mean that the possibility they WON’T end up in a landfill doesn’t exists. You’re ignorant otherwise.
5. Paper is recyclable: Congratulations for pointing that out. Defending the choice to print on virgin paper by saying it “is a renewable resource” does NOT make your actions green! You know what ELSE is a renewable resource? RECYCLED paper… oh right… too bad you aren’t happy with the paper stock. Fail.
6. At Dark Horse, they love the environment: This may be true… but don’t PR that you’re “going green”. This is not acceptable from a publishing company with such a great history in the industry. It’s disappointing to someone who considers this publisher to be one of the comic industry “lead voices”. Doing something like this is a huge strike against the company from my opinion–and that sucks for me to say.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to suggest that Dark Horse’s intentions weren’t good. They jumped onto the green choo-choo train without having a better strategy than the one above. As a comic book lover, I’m a fan of good quality books, sure–I love books that stay in good condition for as long as possible. Any book. Would I purchase a comic on less quality comic paper? Sure, just make it cheaper as well. Would I purchase ONLY digital comics if the right technology was out to support it–cough Quicksilver cough–abso-frikkin-lutley. But I’d still by the trades for the collections I liked.

There’s always going to be paper products for people like me. I wouldn’t want publishers like Dark Horse or any other to change their distribution model to 100% digital. What I would like to see though is companies of all kinds to STOP this kind of Green PR tactic just to be part of the trend train. Think before your market.

It always affects me negatively when I read headlines that seem to be degrading to the human race in general. I sit baffled at my computer reading and wondering: But how?! HOW can this be an issue considering what goes into STOPPING it from happening? It can’t be a question of organizations saying “we need more money”–I mean, it just can’t, not in my opinion–and I want to stress that this is all it is!

I’m not a professional statistician or world-wide animal activist or committee head. I’m just a guy frustrated at the human race. Most people spend their time concerned about themselves and getting ahead in life that they forget that parts of the world are in trouble until it’s plastered all over CNN or Fox News.

So let me start this blog post very simply, with statistics that are easy to scan over and consume. The short of it is that rhino poaching worldwide is poised to hit a 15-year-high driven by Asian demand for horns which for the most part are believed to have medicinal value. The report was presented by the WWF, IUCN, and TRAFFIC to the 58th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Standing Committee in Geneva (July 6-10, 2009) and further discussed at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, which will be held in Doha, Qatar March 13-25, 2010. The call to actions was for local governments to acquire “an accurate and up-to-date picture of the status, conservation and trade in African and Asian rhinoceroses … so that firm international action can be taken to arrest this immediate threat to rhinoceros populations worldwide.”

Here is a breakdown of other stats I’ve gathered online:

• An estimated three rhinos were illegally killed each month in all of Africa from 2000-05, out of a population of around 18,000. In contrast, 12 rhinoceroses now are being poached each month in South Africa and Zimbabwe alone (WWF)
• Growing evidence of involvement of Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai nationals in the illegal procurement and transport of rhino horn out of Africa. (WWF)
• Rhino poaching is also problematic in Asia. About 10 rhinos have been poached in India and at least seven in Nepal since January alone—out of a combined population of only 2,400 endangered rhinos. (WWF)
• Almost all rhino species are listed in CITES (the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in Appendix I, which means that any international trade of any rhino parts for commercial purposes is illegal. (WWF)
• Increased demand for rhino horn, alongside a lack of law enforcement, a low level of prosecutions for poachers who are actually arrested. (Steven Broad, Executive Director of TRAFFIC)
  • In September 2008, a gang of four Zimbabwean poachers who admitted to killing 18 rhinos were also freed in a failed judiciary process.
• The biggest threat to the surviving five species of rhino in Africa and Asia is poaching for their horns to make into traditional Oriental medicine. It is also used for the handles of ceremonial daggers. (Save the Rhino Foundation)
• The current international moratorium on rhino horn trade did not prevent officially permitted hunts taking place – “but the hunters will not be able to sell these horns”. (Dr Dave Balfour, a senior official at the Eastern Cape Parks Board)
• In one case, the rhino horns are suspected to have been sold to the eastern market between R18 000 to R25 000 a kilogram with the horns weighing between 8 – 11 kilograms. (TravelWires.com)

There needs to be a proper punishment for poaching. Plain and simple. These animals are endangered species, none of this should be going on. I’ve read comments on some of the blogs posting the WWF news by individuals who are ignorant enough to believe it doesn’t matter and that people come first. Listen, this isn’t about starving people–that’s it’s own problem (mainly caused by crappy distribution models, not a lack of food in the world). This is about preserving life in the general sense to reflect on the positive aspects of what it means to be human. It’s about breaking laws, especially internationally accepted laws. And finally it’s about inhumane actions that have no place in this world, against people or otherwise. Period.

Rhino horn poaching persists because the punishment for getting caught still makes it a profitable opportunity. In January 2009, a joint operation by various disciplines of the South African Police Service including the Mpumalanga, Limpopo & North West Organised Crime Units, the Gauteng Provincial Task Team together with South African National Parks who have arrested and charged 11 suspects of various nationalities in connection with the poaching of black and white Rhino. With the assistance of a dedicated specialized prosecutor the team is attempting to securing convictions as well as the severest punishment possible for all the suspects.

Here’s to hoping that the upcoming discussions at the international meetup Conferences helps start a new trend in international laws that benefitthe preservation of endangered species.

Sources:

• World Wildlife Foundation
• International Rhino Foundation
• TravelWires.com

Creative Commons Attribution: “White Rhinos“, Flickr, Martin Pettitt

[Watch Video on YouTube]

This UNICEF video discusses the vulnerability of children with respect to climate change.  It takes a dual approach in this, asserting in one sense the physical vulnerability of children who are more likely to “die in a natural disaster or succumb to malnutrition, injuries or disease in the aftermath”.  In another sense, the video notes that the changing climate undermines social and economic development, which in turn affects children and other individuals’ access to food, clean water, and in turn, education.

This is a great, provocative video.  Whether you believe in the reality of climate change or not, sustainability has many arguments for being a necessary step in economic development, including improved efficiency and longevity.  In addition, engaging the community–especially youth–in any form of development is valuable for fostering “social capital”, or the community infrastructure to support working together for development, as well as a sense of worth, skills and knowledge that can be later reapplied.

The video finishes with a positive note and further thought-provoking commentary — “While many of the world’s resources are threatened by climate change, one resource remains untapped: the power of young people to affect change and reduce our carbon footprint”.  Imagine what could happen if we invested more in the youth around the world.

Why hire a guy on a lawnmower when you can rent 200 goats to do the same job? I’d have to imagine going the gas-powered lawn mower route would b the cheaper option–but for Google, making a statement about the environment goes side by side with their company slogan of “Do no Evil”.

Google’s Mountain View headquarters is taking a low-carbon approach this spring by swarming their fields with a weed-chewing and bio-fertalizing alternative to lawn care. These rented goats come from California Grazing, where they drop them off for a week to do the dirty work of… well be a goat.

Hey, I have to respect their eagerness to be green friendly. Google just does not kid around! (Get it? “kid” around?… baby goat…? no…? Ya that was lamb lame.)

[Moosnight from Green Thing on Vimeo.]

I can’t express how much I am inspired by the work on the Do the Green Thing website. The videos are all top quality and exist to motivate people to living greener lives.

This Moosnight special report featured some best of breed production including lighting by Richard Laing, cow heads by Jeff Cliff Model Effects, sound by Stuart Bunce, sound mix by Iain Grant, graphic sequence by A Productions, post production by Magic Films and writing and direction by the inimitable Michael Wright. No humans were harmed or eaten during the production.

I hope this community grows; I’m looking forward to seeing more great stuff in the future! Sign up for their newsletter and get content right in your email box! Just awesome.

“Clean” coal is a fallacy appeasing the minds of energy users in the U.S. and around the world.  This Is Reality tells a different story:  while there are clean coal technologies being developed and tested at the moment, there is currently no such thing as clean coal in America.

Pollution from burning coal is a leading contributor to climate change issues in the U.S., making up a whopping 32% of the total U.S. carbon emissions.  This is larger than the combined carbon emissions from gasoline and diesel transportation.  Obviously, burning coal for electricity is a major challenge to climate change.  So what are we waiting for?  This video is great for raising awareness about the energy aspect of climate change–debunking myths about the environment is step one to finding a solution.   For more information on finding a solution check out We Can Solve It.

Consider the following statistics from Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB), a branded, re-usable bag program:

• North American consumers go through over 110 billion plastic bags a year—equivalent to greater than 12 million barrels of oil.
• For the most part, these bags are not biodegradable and therefore break down into smaller toxic bits that contaminate our soil, rivers, lakes and oceans.
• Hundreds of thousands of hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food.

As BYOB and many other environmentally conscious organizations assert, reducing plastic bag use can make a big impact on our landfills and in turn, our environment.

Accordingly, the Loblaw-owned grocery chain Zehrs celebrated Earth Day today with a bang by implementing a new policy to charge customers 5 cents for every plastic bag requested. The new policy is part of an environmental campaign started January 12, 2009 in the Toronto Loblaws stores. The objective is to reduce plastic consumption by nudging shoppers into reuseable bags.  In addition, cash from the fees will go towards WWF Canada for the next three years for a grand total of $3 million. According to the company, the remainder will be invested back into the business to help keep prices low and used to cover the costs associated with the new program.

As I grocery shopped today and complimented the new policy to the cashier, I was disappointed with her response. She commented that I was one of a few customers that had positive feedback for the new policy.  While I maintain that every day should be treated like Earth Day, for the average consumer this is not always the case. Apparently the new policy left many customers with a negative word or two to share.  The cost of the program for a consumer who purchases ten bags of groceries per week would be $26 per year.

Beyond my experience, however, The Record and The Niagara Falls Review have found that many customers are indeed willing to accept the new policy, even if somewhat begrudgingly.  According to an article published by Centre for Civic Governance on a bag ban, polls have shown that 75 to 80 per cent of Canadians are willing to make environmentally friendly changes, including reducing plastic bag use—let’s see if Zehrs customers can put their money where their mouth is!

Comparatively, Zehrs’ competitor Sobeys does not plan to charge for plastic bags, noting that it would rather offer customers a choice. The company maintains its participation in a provincial campaign to reduce plastic bag use, selling reuseable bags, and accepting used plastic bags for recycling ensures that it does its part.

So far the Loblaws campaign has seen success—according to the Zehrs website, after 6 weeks, all participating stores showed an average 75% decrease in plastic bag usage compared to the same time period in 2008!

Complimenting Loblaws’ new policy is a new Toronto bylaw that will force all retail stores to charge a nickel for every plastic bag requested as of June 1^st. According to The Record, it is uncertain whether councils in Waterloo Region (TheGreenRocket’s home base!) are able to regulate plastic bags, noting that Toronto council has special powers for such bylaws. Something worth writing to your MP about to find out? I think so.  In the meantime, bringing your own bag to the grocery store is certainly worth thinking about.

Keep checking in for our upcoming article on the details of plastic bag consumption, including its impact, detailed information and case studies about how the fee works, and alternative strategies.

Creative Commons Attribution: “stop using plastic bags“, Flickr, inga_beretta

[View on YouTube]

This creative Greenpeace video on the importance of clean air in our environment is amusing and entertaining. Without being prolific in its obvious connotations, it succeeds in being controversial enough to become viral based solely on the audio and visual cues. The audio definitely does not make this “safe for work”. It’ll have the whole office looking at you with puzzled curiosity as your face turns red like a ripe tomato!

[View on YouTube]

This creative Greenpeace video on the importance of keeping our oceans clean captures a soothing, yoga-inspired, moment of reflection. The stop motion video captures are varied and all represent the awesome nature of our oceans. Unlike some of there more controversial videos, this one does the trick without being in your face.