5 biggest misconceptions I learned about sustainability since blogging about it

Julie Hancher, Editor-in-chief and co-founder, Green Philly Blog Posted: Monday, November 16, 2015, 9:59 AM

After years of feeling like I was making the 'right' choice, my world was turned upside down.

I've been recycling since I learned the 3 "R's" (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in elementary school. Taking the time to carefully sort the recyclable plastic from plastic film, I became one of those people who would carry a soda can home if there wasn't a recycling bin on site. Yet one day, I discovered that my employer was throwing our recycling bin's contents RIGHT into the trashcan.  

For most people, they may have shrugged it off and called it a day, moving on to more difficult decisions like which reality show to watch later that night. But for me, I was determined to turn this epiphany into a moment of defiance.

My reaction? To gather my forces and make a difference: by sitting behind a computer screen and starting a blog about it.

My colleague and I founded Green Philly Blog in 2008 to educate Philadelphians about recycling and other green issues. Yet sustainability is way more complicated than composting and LED lightbulbs. Or as my Dad calls them, "Al Gore Lightbulbs. Uh, you know. The twisty corkscrew ones."

What are the biggest ways people misunderstand sustainability? Here are the biggest sustainability lessons from the past 7 years.

Top 5 common misconceptions about sustainability 

Buying from sustainable brands is always better. Just reading Clorox "GreenWorks" doesn't mean it's green – instead, the product line contains many harmful ingredients. Greenwashing is rampant in your neighborhood grocery store. Third party guides such as the Environmental Working Group break down brand ingredients to decode what's really in your products.

Going natural has to be expensive. Speaking of sustainable cleaning products, cleaning your house with baking soda, vinegar and lemons (and different combinations of each) are way cheaper, limited ingredients and healthy for your household – and you don't have to worry about spending $6 per bottle on 'sustainable' brands.    

Plus, shopping at farmers markets late in the day and switching to public transit can save you in the bank, too.

Recycling plastic water bottles makes it OK to use them. One of the biggest misconceptions is that if you recycle your plastic water bottle, you're cleared of your sins of buying a plastic water bottle in the first place. However, it takes almost half a water bottle in oil just to produce one for your consumption, in addition to the amount of energy it takes to recycle it.

Does that $25 stainless steel price tag seem like a lot? You can save $550 a year switching to a one-time investment instead of plastic water bottles. 

Buying organic is the only way to go. Recent years has pushed organic produce – and for good reasons. Who wants loads of pesticides in their tomatoes? (yum..)

However, some customers hear that organic is the only way to go and choose to buy raspberries from California. Although organic is best, buying local saves way more on your carbon footprint.

Visit your local farmers market and ask how they farm – often, they can't apply for organic standards. (It's costly and the sometimes the strict nature of standards can be worse for the farm.)

For example, Chilean nitrate is commonly used in organic farms as a form of nitrogen for plants. However, Michael Ahlert, owner of Red Earth Farm, explained why this may not be a more sustainable choice:  "Chilean Nitrate is a non-renewable, fertilizer shipped from South America. It's organic, but hard to argue it's sustainable." 

You can recycle a pizza box. You can't recycle the grease-stained areas of a pizza box – they can contaminate the entire recycling stream since we recycle single-stream here in Philly. But, you can cut and toss the stained portion into the trash and recycle the clean cardboard.

These are just five of the lessons I've learned over the last few years. I'm excited to be a part of Green Space and share my knowledge with you.

To learn more about other local, sustainable businesses, resources and events, visit mymilkcrate.co. Have your own green living tips you want to share? E-mail us.

Julie Hancher Editor-in-chief and co-founder, Green Philly Blog Twitter | Email
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