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.
Poor Heidi.