Going Green - Can Little Old Me Really Make A Difference?

I'm all for the whole "green" movement.  I love nature and the environment.  I love supporting companies who really care about these things.  I love everything the whole movement stands for.   

But at the end of the day - (in my case likely a 12-hour work day) can I, one lone person, really have any effect?   I have zero spare time.  The name of my game is - "make it convenient" more than it is "make it green."  I care, really I do.  But Is there really anything one person can do?  I'd like to help....but.....

The greatest challenge to the green movement isn't that people don't care.  It's inertia.  People have other priorities.  So what can you do?  Tie in "being green" with things that ARE a priority for people.

That's why I love the Big Green Purse website.  They make this stuff real on a personal level.  Do moms care about buying toys that are NOT made in China?  Oh yeah.  Do women care about lipstick that has unsafe products in it?   You bet.   

Want to get people to take action?  Talk about something specific that's a priority for them.

Want to get companies involved?  Check out Mary Hunt's post about what Wal Mart is doing to get not only their company, but their employees involved.

Here's the kicker - companies that create more green or "sustainable products" are more successful than other companies.   

Can I save the earth?  Probably not.  Can I buy a different tube of lipstick?  THAT I can handle.

Comments

[Mary Hunt]

Holly - you just made a BIG difference in my day. Thanks for the chuckle and the reality check on why busy women will go green. Mary

[Diane MacEachern]

Holly,

Great Post! You totally nailed the Big Green Purse concept. We can use our money to make a difference that matters to us. And when we do, we force manufacturers to listen up and ultimately improve their products. Thanks for getting the word out. The more women realize how much power they - we - have, the faster the marketplace will change. Diane MacEachern, Founder, Big Green Purse

[Susan Reid of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai"]

You're absolutely right about the importance of green being practical and convenient. It's the same with organic. I'm all for organic (and green) though don't want to go through machinations to get it! Make it green. Make it easy.

[Bill Bailey]

I really do think that one person can make a difference. There are more ad more people that are going green! Even companies are becoming green, like Global Joe Coffee which not only has great coffee (I've tasted it!) but also plants trees.

[John White]

Great blog!

I'm from england and we've only just started recycling here. Now they collect it alongside the rubbish (trash). Some cities apparantly throw it away though, so it's a waste of time really!

How do you make your blog so popular? Do you use any of the tools from James Brausch?