EPA Report Says Sustainable Production Will Decrease Greenhouse Gas Emissions
posted by: GinaMarie Cheeseman 97 days ago
The way goods and services are procured, produced, delivered, and disposed of in the U.S. accounts for 42 of the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to a new report by the EPA. Producing materials in a sustainable way and implementing better land management practices could help the U.S. meet a GHG emissions reduction target of 83 percent by 2050.
The report cites a number of examples, including the following:
- Doubling recycling of demolition and construction debris would save 150 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year, equal to the annual carbon emissions from North Carolina
- Reducing packaging by half would save up to 105 million tons of carbon a year
- Increasing a computer's lifespan by 25 percent could reduce GHG emissions by 15 million tons a year
- Sixteen to Twenty percent of GHG emissions related to land management policies. Fourteen percent absorbed by soil and vegetation
“This just verifies what we thought all along,” said Heidi Sanborn, the executive director of the California Product Stewardship Council. “Manufacturers need to reduce the lifecycle cost of their products.”
Stolaroff wrote a white paper on the same subject for the Product Policy Institute (PPI). The white paper included the impacts from products produced in other countries that are consumed in the U.S. which increases the total of GHG emissions from products and packaging to 44 percent.
Some companies are setting targets to decrease their GHG emissions through developing more sustainable products. For example, Procter & Gamble (P&G) included in its sustainability targets, developing $50 billion in sales of sustainable and innovative products. The original target was $20 billion. The original goal was to create products with a 10 percent reduced environmental footprint, but the target is a 20 percent reduction.
P&G plans to achieve the 20 percent reduction through reducing its energy consumption, water usage, and waste. The company has a long-range goal of achieving a 50 percent reduction over the next decade.
Read more: global warming
comments
Use less, produce less, with less pressure on the environment. With that which is produced be involved in complete recycling of all parts and materials after initial use, to reduce and land fill waste and the heat it produces. Then perhaps we can start to see within, as to what the owner of this world wants, and become his good stewards.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
P & G are simply cutting their bottom line... companies are now realizing that being efficient in terms of the environment is just good policy with the current trends in mass culture. So do not sing the praises of a sociopathic organization such as P & G.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
PROCTOR & GAMBLE ARE NOT AN ETHICAL COMPANY
from Green America... http://www.greenamericatoday.org/programs/responsibleshopper/company.cfm?id=279
Procter & Gamble has been criticized for failing to remove unsafe and potentially carcinogenic ingredients and from its personal products.
Environmental groups have criticized Proctor & Gamble for working to weaken Europe's laws regarding toxins in household products and for funding an organization that fought GMO disclosure laws.
And labor rights organizations have accused Procter & Gamble's Guangzhou factory of forcing "temporary" employees to work 12 hour days and lobbying against minimal labor standards in China.
ALSO... from http://www.organicconsumers.org/starbucks/032103_fair_trade.htm... Proctor & Gamble "refuses to pay Fair Trade prices for its coffee"
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
What! Proctor & Gamble? Excuse me if I hit the roof! You are obviously nice people, please see...
Uncaged - http://www.uncaged.co.uk/pgtesting.htm
Uncaged - http://www.boycottpandg.co.uk/testing.asp
Change -http://animalrights.change.org/blog/view/are_you_boycotting_procter_gamble_yet_time_to_start
In Defense of Animals (IDA) - http://www.idausa.org/shop-ida/pdfs/lit-viv_bro2.pdf
In Defense of Animals (IDA) - http://www.pandgkills.com/main.html
Save Animals From Experiments (SAFE) - http://www.safe.org.nz/Campaigns/Against-Procter-and-Gamble/
Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) - http://www.all-creatures.org/wlalw/fact-product.pdf
Care2.com discussions...
Topic: Vote on the worst corporation ever!
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=3637&pst=130755
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/362322391 - "Pledge to boycott Procter & Gamble products until they cease testing on animals!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCfAGkcnV2Y
USE CRUELTY FREE ALTERNATIVES see...
http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDontTest.pdf
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Now P & G needs to stop animal testing and then I can support them. It's also sad that we have a target of 2050, do they realize how much worse things will be already by then if we keep putting everything off or only reducing by a small amount in the meantime? I absolutely appreciate the effort, but as usual it's too little too late. We all need to take much more drastic steps if we are going to have a chance at a viable and sustainable future on this planet as we know it.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Thank you P&G, for taking steps to reduce your environmental footprint. Let's hope others will follow your lead.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Obviously!
What a relief; EPA has done a great enlightenment job.
Hopefully, those who decide on the main features of the face of this world would quickly acknowldege these findings and act resolutely and consequently thereupon.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Change isn't all that scary. Changing to sustainable production will mean less waste, less pollution, and a better, healthier planet. This is the only planet we've got -- it makes sense to take care of it.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account:
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
1258301