Even though recommendations for living a more eco-friendly lifestyle are made with the best of intentions, often times there are unforeseen side effects leading to confusion and inaction. In an effort to mitigate some of this, here are what industry experts consider to be the "best" choices for some common quandaries.
Bottled or Tap
Tap water is better than bottled. No plastics, waste or shipping involved and the quality is usually the same if not better than bottled. If you have iron-rich water, lead pipes or for whatever reason your tap water is not potable, simply use any one of the many filtering options that are now available.
Paper or Plastic
People bringing their own bags to stores don't receive "free" ones, which has led to an unforeseen spike in sales for garbage bags and bin linersand that negates the whole purpose of BYO. So the best answer is to find ways to reduce waste, such as buying only what is necessary and reusing and repairing possessions. Having said that, taking your own recycled, reusable bags to the store is better than paper or plastic.
Click here for statistics on paper and plastic bags.
Click here for a list of unique, reusable bag options.
Hybrid or Standard
Since hybrid vehicles have a higher embodied energy and initial cost, they are a better value for high-mileage drivers. They are particularly gas-efficient for stop-and-go city driving where a standard engine is not. Low-mileage drivers and long-distance drivers using a constant speed are usually better off with a small, lightweight standard car, public transportation, or joining a car-share program. Many more factors come into play here, but this is simple information that can help to guide you.
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Cloth or Disposable
Cloth diapers often contain pesticide-laden cotton and require a lot of energy-intensive washing. Disposables contain plastic and cellulose and clog up landfills. So a hybrid approach of reusable cloth outers that can be used several times before washing combined with biodegradable inserts is now the way to go (check out "gDiapers" at www.gdiapers.com). In situations where disposables are needed, look for brands that are baby- and eco-friendly such as Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com/Diapers) and Tushies (www.tushies.com). Easier said than done, the best (and most affordable) solution is to potty train as early as possible.
Dishwasher or Hand-Wash
New water-efficient dishwashers use 50% less water than hand-washing, assuming the machine is fully loaded. If you have to wash dishes before loading them into the dishwasher, you might as well skip the dishwasher.
As you can see, these are not exhaustive. Even the "best" solutions leave plenty of room for further debate. Consumption has many complexities. So what is really the best answer? Rejecting a throwaway mentality and only acquiring what you absolutely need and then buying, using and discarding as responsibly as possible.
