Planet Savers blog

It’s a big question many of us are struggling with and one that global exporters are feeling the need to justify. With regards food, soft fruit are one of the most obvious of the unseasonal items we see in the supermarkets. The English soft fruit season is a short one yet strawberies are now available all year round. Whilst it is true that much can be achieved by heating a greenhouse, much of this produce comes through imports. And should I be more worried about the carbon footprint of the foreign imports or the carbon footprint of heating the greenhouse?

In the case of strawberies, my ethics say buy local and buy seasonal, and thank the sun for what we receive.

But what about bananas? If we stop importing them, what happenes to the economy in the Canaries? What about red wine? We can’t grow those kind of grapes here in the UK, so have been importing wine from Europe since we cultivated civilisation. But now it comes from South Africa, Australia, California, and Chile…

South Africa relies on exports of fruit and wine. The UK is a viable market for them so would it be ethical to stop buying their goods? The answer is much bigger than us as individuals for we can decide for ourselves if it is OK to buy imports or not. But how should we react as a country or wider still, as a community of Eruopean countries. Or what would happen if every nation decided that importing was wrong and we cut out foreign freight altogether? Every economy would collapse and the UK would be hard pressed to feed its own population.

So, for the time being at least, I feel I can justify enjoying last night’s glass of Fairtrade Organic Melbec from Argentina! Thanks Rob :>)

… ran the headline that caught my eye.  “Junk mail’s carbon footprint equals nine million cars”. These are figures for the US where there is a growing campaign to stop junk mail. In 2005, junk mail overtook first-class post as the most delivered item. And the carbon footprint of all this is ridiculously high.

So, what can we do about it here in the UK?

Well, the IEMA are looking into it. Unfortunately, the time for comments is passed but lets hope some sanity is forthcoming.

My suggestion? I’d like to see all unaddressed mail banned, it’s always junk anyway (with the exception of the sensus forms for the Electroal Roll). All bill payments, organisations, etc., to give you the option for email instead of post (most do but this should be compulsory). All drop outs in papers and magazines should be banned, there’s only so many paper darts you can make.

Here’s a question: Does anyone ever read drop-outs? I mean, who voluntarily puts up their hand and says “Here I am! Please advertise to me.” If you are looking for something, you will go to the web or look for adverts in an appropriate magazine. Gratuitous drop-outs drive me mad and go straight into the re-cycling. I’ve also taken to returning junk mail to sender. It seems to be the most effective way to stop it coming.

This will be an interesting blog to watch:

Chris Jeavans of BBC is going to live without buying anything plastic for the whole of August.