If it is a question posed to me, I can only answer based on my own practices and the context that I am living in and I would call for a third party to decide. I am quite fortunate to live in an area where the recycle bins are just within a short walk away. My attitude toward products is that, I don't just use the contents but I will try to re-use the packagings, which means I will recycle them (I am a big fan of BodyShop!). I will put paper packs, plastic bottles, tetra packs, glass etc in a separate bag, not with the waste where you categorise it as rubbish. Oh yeah, not to mention, aluminiums. It's so important to recycle them as it takes a lot of energy to produce aluminiums cans from scratch and it takes many times fold of reduction in energy usage to simply recycle them.
I am constantly questioning myself what are the impacts I am producing with my sheer existence. Our modern lives are detrimental towards the environment, no doubt about it. That is the price to pay for our growing thirst for comfort and self-entitlement. I will think of Buddhism and the concept of karma. Whatever I am aware of, I will try to put it into practice except that I can't quit my job even where the industry is claimed to have contributed towards global warming. I wonder what industry won't except if you choose the noble path of social services and education.
I am trying to cut down on meat. I told my friends I want to become a vegetarian. But I think it's not easy. I did survive a few days without meat and I was fine. I will continue to avoid meat whenever and wherever possible. But sometimes, you might not get enough support. I was really touched when a great friend ordered a vegetarian pizza on a recent gathering. I take it as someone really cares and of course, not to mention the taste, which everyone agreed was good.
If I see the tv, decoder, radio and washing machine are on standby mode, I will switch them off completely. Standby mode uses as much as 40 per cent of energy when these appliances are switched on. There is plenty of room for improvement.
I use only one bath towel and a floor towel (to avoid accidental slip) whenever I stay in a hotel. I carry my own soap now as I find it wasteful to open new ones just for a couple of wash. I also try to carry a re-useable shopping carrier (courtesy of Zone Duty Free of KLIA) for groceries shopping but sometimes, I need those plastic bags for rubbish too. I try not to pack my food but to have it there when I am out. If I need to pack food, I will try to stop them from packing with unnecessary paper and plastic.
I try not to print anything into hard copies now and go digital thanks to my hubby who recently bought me an iPhone and I adore it tremendously as I can store many important information in soft format now. I always re-use envelopes and papers printed only on one side for my work, the rest, I rely on my iPhone.
I think the bottom line is, there are many more people out there in an advanced stage of practicing green. Just be sensible with our existence and try to curb our appetite for more materials. We can still live large even with very little. Avoid wastages as the term suggests, it's always a waste.
I am not sure whether it really makes any difference but I think a little effort if multiplies, can be sufficient to make an impact.
