A Chip off the Old 'greenwashing' Block

OK, I admit it. I bought into the marketing hype hook, line and sinker. Even with twenty years experience in advertising sales and some finely tuned marketing radar, I still couldn't resist adding the bag of SunChips to my shopping cart.

I had seen the ad on TV weeks before. It showed a SunChips bag laying in the soil and slowly disintegrating, ultimately becoming compost. Yup... they had my attention. Fast forward to my local supermarket with its extensive natural and organic options, and there, on an endcap: SunChips in huge bags, sporting the 100% Compostable logo and a special reduced price. After much deliberation, ("well, I can at least write about this on my blog"), I actually returned a box of organic, seeded, whole grain crackers to the shelf, and replaced the carb content of my cart with this super sized, crinkly, compostable bag of artificially colored snack food.

Now, as far as snacks go, SunChips may not be the worst addition to your kids' lunchbox compared to Frito Lay's other products, but let's face it: health food it's not. I haven't seen Yellow Lake 6, Yellow Lake 5, Blue 1 or Red 40 on the nutritional food pyramid lately. But this brand is no stranger to clever marketing hype.... peruse some of SunChips' print advertising from last year (before the focus on environment), and you'd swear it was part of an FDA recommended healthy heart diet!

My intention is not to slam this product, or judge FritoLay's environmental efforts as solely opportunistic. I truly believe that everyone can only start where they are, and that each step in the right direction deserves encouragement. Their solar powered plant, compostable bag, and educational website explaining how to compost, is certainly a start.

But caveat emptor... buyer beware. When you judge a product by its marketing slogan when it comes to your health and the health of our planet, you are at risk. We need to dig deeper, read the fine print, and think holistically about the impact of our choices.

The best snack foods - like fruits, nuts and veggies - come in their own biodegradable and compostable packaging. And instead of empty calories, along with the sweet, savory and/or crunchy satisfaction, you will benefit from the vitamins, nutrients, sustained energy and a sensual experience of smells, tastes and textures that only nature can provide. Make that snack organic, and you're further supporting the health of your body, the planet, and a sustainable economy.

With all that said, the bag of SunChips now sits empty on the counter. My belly is a bit disgruntled from the experience, but what's a little suffering for the sake of an educational experience?

Tomorrow, that bag goes into the compost heap. I hope it's better at digesting this product than I am.

EARTH DAY's 40th ANNIVERSARY

"Earth Day is the first completely international and universal holiday that the world has ever known. Every other holiday was tied to one place, or some political or special event. This Day is tied to Earth itself, and to the place of Earth in the whole solar system" - Margaret Mead, 1977

The first Earth Day was April 22^nd, 1970, and was founded by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson in an effort to bring environmentalism into the political mainstream. Industry was spewing toxic sludge, V8 engines were guzzling gas, and the industrial revolution was moving ahead full force with little regard its impact on the Earth.

Sen. Nelson saw how successful grassroots efforts and “teach ins” were impacting the Vietnam war, as well as the civil and women’s rights movements, and thought, “hey, we can do that!”

This is what was written in the NY Times 3 months prior to the event:

"Rising concern about the environmental crisis is sweeping the nation's campuses with an intensity that may be on its way to eclipsing student discontent over the war in Vietnam...a national day of observance of environmental problems...is being planned for next spring...when a nationwide environmental 'teach-in'...coordinated from the office of Senator Gaylord Nelson is planned...."

And what a success it was: 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment! The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts. It is definitely something to celebrate.

Here we are, 40 years later, and we still have our work cut out for us to clean up and protect Mother Earth. This perfect confluence of (still) breathable air, drinkable water and an amazing ecology that supplies us with food and the raw materials to support our lives, is at risk. And we are the ones who have to do something about it.

So today, make a commitment to change ONE thing in your life that not only helps support the health of our environment, but likely your health as well. Decide to bike or carpool to work/school one day a week, or hang your clothes out to dry on the line, or use a refillable water bottle instead of buying plastic, or remember to bring your own bags when you go shopping, or buy an energy star appliance for your next household purchase, or a hybrid car, or start composting your kitchen waste, and of course, keep recycling.

Choose ONE thing, and really commit to it. And if you already do all these things, your work is not done. Do more. Talk to others and encourage and educate them. Make noise. Get involved in your community, your office or your school.

Earth is our only home.

Make a change in your life to take better care of it.

Make Earth Day, every day.