I just walked back from the restroom, where I looked at myself in the mirror. My thoughts, which I am putting here, make me sound like a grumpy, old man filled with anger toward the world. But I don't have much gray, I don't look like I'm in my 80's, and when I checked my drivers license, it said I am 45.

Seems to me the green washing is getting worse and worse. More so, I see this website, a site that I love because it's about subject matter I love and feel passionate about, being used as a green washing tool and I get rather angry!

Look at the articles here. Pepsi, touting about their "eco-friendly" cups. In my mind, at least in part, this claim is not only wrong; it's irresponsible for an organization with the clout and brand recognition. For example, the rPET cup, which they claim is recyclable..... IS IT??? According to the Green Guides:

"(d) Recyclable: It is deceptive to misrepresent, directly or by implication, that a product or package is recyclable. A product or package should not be marketed as recyclable unless it can be collected, separated or otherwise recovered from the solid waste stream for reuse, or in the manufacture or assembly of another package or product, through an established recycling program. ........... A product or package that is made from recyclable material, but, because of its shape, size or some other attribute, is not accepted in recycling programs for such material, should not be marketed as recyclable."

I seriously doubt that a rPET cup will be reclaimed at a MRF. In fact, from what I've learned, read, listened when others spoke, is that this cup will almost never been reclaimed, as a MRF cannot tell what type of resin the cup is. I've also made my feelings known on composting. While I like it in principle, the reality is almost nobody does it. Thus, a vast majority of these cups are bound for a landfill. In one case, I do like what Pepsi did, and that is in using recycled fiber (although 20% isn't enough, it’s at least a start).

Their is the Fisher Nut package. Made from PET, I believe the same argument I just made with the Pepsi rPET cup holds true here. Will it really be recycled at MFR's??? I don't think so.

Finally, as I said months ago, I hate the concept of diverting food for fuel and feel the same about diverting food for packaging! It's a bad policy, a bad direction and it is not socially responsible! Corn, wheat, soybean are close to record highs. 40% of the US corn crop is now going toward ethanol, and the impact on all crops because of this is horrific! Moving packaging in this direction only compounds the problem!

Sorry everyone... but when I read some of these stories, all I can think about is how organizations are manipulating the sustainable movement in order to make a buck! What "purists" like me believe is that organizations need to take a socially responsible approach, to protect the environment, to properly manage our resources and instill a level of social awareness, from corporations to communities, on what can be done, what is being done and how all can make a difference.

At least when I looked in the mirror before, I could do so with a clear conscious!