Why not a greener choice?

Yes, it's true. I've been known to have a very vocal response to everyday experiences that stretch the boundaries of my eco-tolerance. This sometimes manifests itself in what some might consider a rant, but what I hope serves as a catalyst to get myself and others thinking and acting in more green ways. Today it was the unavailability of eco-friendly business card stock on the shelves of a popular office supply store. To their credit, they did offer an option to have cards custom-printed on recycled paper, but in quantities and on a timeline that did not meet my needs.

Now, that alone may not be cause for a rant, but it is the larger observation that these types of goods are not yet commonplace which spawned the reaction. While recycled content products are more prevalent than ever before, they are sometimes still completely absent as a choice or the selection is very sparse. As we encourage more people to recycle – whether at work or at home – we also need to encourage them to think beyond that one step in the larger cycle of sustainability. Where do the products we use come from and how are they produced? Where do the products go that we discard in the recycle bin? How do they re-appear as new and eco-friendly purchasing options? And if we do not see them re-appear then we must ask: Why not?

I believe people will actually make the greener choice, if presented with the choice and the opportunity to understand the choice.