Pitching mother nature

From Cassie Kutzli

In Griffin's defense, regardless of if the customer actually recycles the boxes – it might've been advantageous to mention in the article the facts of biodegradability (sourced from Wikipedia):

Paper takes 2-5 months to degrade
Tetrapaks take about 5 years
But a plastic bottle… takes 1,000,000 years!

Her product concept may not be any friendlier to the ozone that the average water bottle, but it does provide a better alternative for the environment in terms of waste reduction for future generations…

Defining Green is a tricky subject. With the apparent issue of "greenwashing" growing – I'm surprised you would want to take a stance either way because of the risk that you might only be sending the impression that you think you are an expert on the subject. This then opens you up to another whole mess of issues involving zealous reader complaints.

Good for Griffin – at least she is trying to provide choices for a better planet. That is more than most…

From jeff

can someone say greenwashing??

From Nick, Patra, Greece

That means Aqua2Go imposes the same environmental costs (depletion of scarce oil, greenhouse gas emissions) as 100% plastic bottles, only in reduced proportion.
This paragraph must be the single most self-contradicting statement I've read in a long, long time. If the costs are "in reduced proportion" how can you characterize them as "the same"? Of course there are environmental impacts in every activity. The key is the size / proportion of the impact, from one activity to the other.
Also, I don't regard the depletion of oil as an environmental problem. An economic problem, yes, but not an environmental one. If all oil was suddenly depleted today it would, probably, be great for the environment (but catastrophic for the economy).

From M.T. Eastchester, N.Y.

Response to C.J.: If the "most environmentally sound" way to get a drink of water is to use a drinking fountain, then "environmentally sound" does not always equate with the most healthy. Even if a municipality's water meets safety standards, the safety of the water one drinks from a fountain or his/her kitchen tap also depends on factors such as the route it took (eg lead or rusty pipes),how close one is to the point where chlorine is added, etc. Some municipal water supplies bottled may be a lot safer than others. Aren't cancer and other health impacts of drinking tainted water costly? Likewise the recommendation to replace incandescdent with compact fluorescent and LED bulbs- they use less energy, but has anyone determined how safe they are for the eyes? Recycling is great but in terms of its use what holds together recycled materials and does it emit formaldehydes? Alternative packing- does it leach harmful substances into food & drink? Locally grown produce makes sense IF the soil has no major contaminants and is good. While the purpose of environmental soundness and sustainability may be that we and subsequent generations enjoy a healthier planet, the immediate health impact needs to be evaluated separately.

From jim Kittery, Me

Fuller Brook Eco-Community

Fuller Brook is a small eco-community nestled in the woods close to the ocean in Kittery, Maine. We have chosen to work in partnership with nature using the best of knowledge and technology to create warm, comfortable living experience. Recognizing the diverse desires and needs of homeowners, we have created an eco-community where green, sustainable materials and design with respect for the ecology are central. Individual home ownership is maintained. This eco-community encourages building small, utilizing sustainable materials and keeping our ecological impact to a minimum.

We have chosen to work in partnership with nature using the best of knowledge and technology. We can provide design and construction assistance if you so choose. Our goal is to work with each homeowner to achieve the best possible situation for all within the community. Our interest is to live within the environment. We are happy to discuss your thoughts and our community.

From CJ Wilton CT

The most environmentally sound way to ge a drink of water is from the drinking fountain. All of the issues about the shortcomings of the Aqua2go packaging are insignificant relative to this point.

From Bob Johnson, San Diego Ca

Many cities offer benefits and incentives to maintaining a "green" business. I know in San Diego there is such a program.

Jeff
http://www.readtheanswer.com/index.php?RTA=web2