Green Tipster

Local, organic or fairtrade?

Another week and another great question. This time from Louise. Take it away Louise:

Hi Al,

I'm not sure there IS a definitive answer to this question, but it's one my partner and I struggle over endlessly! Which is better to buy: Fair Trade or organic?

Thanks for your input!

Louise

This is a great question and one I get asked a lot. Not sure there is a definitive answer though. And it gets murkier when you also include the local option too.

For example: would you pick the locally grown non-organic apples, the organic apples from the other side of the world or the Fairtrade & organic apples from the other side of the world?

Personally I would choose the locally grown non-organic apples.

Local wins for me because food miles, and the carbon emissions they produce, affect us all immediately with regard to Climate Change.

Next come the ethical option, i.e. Fairtrade or fairly traded, as that directly affects and improves the lives of generally less fortunate others.

Last for me is the organic option as that predominantly affects my own body first and then others and the environment in general where the produce was grown albeit to a lesser degree than ethical or local selections affect the bigger picture.

I am sure many would swap the latter two around and it is certainly murky and subjective.

How do you like them apples? Organic, Fairtrade or local?

Until next time...

Keep it green...

Al

Shades of Green

Had a great response thus far and will slowly try and get round to all your questions but for now here is another great one from Claudia.

Hi Al, I think I am pretty environmentally friendly. I'm almost vegan, shop local, avoid packaging, recycle everything I can, don't use the heating much, don't drive a car, don't wear clothes from sweat shops, don't use much water and all the other usual stuff. Is there more I can do?

Wow Claudia, great question and let's face it...you are far down the green path so this one is a toughie.

I think that there is always more that we can do and I have some great ideas for you and any other advanced, or dark, greens out there.

FOOD
Why not consider trying to grow some simple vegetables in either your garden or an allotment. Start small and see how it goes. A good place to start for more info is the Beeb's Gardening site.

FOOTPRINT
Another area that we can all improve on one way or another is by calculating our eco-footprint and working on those areas that have room for improvement.

Check out this site for an easy eco-footprint assessment. You might also enjoy my EveryDay Green series of 10 articles over at The Ecologist Blog which walks you through how to assess your footprint and suggests a variety of simple, and mostly free I might add, ways to work on reducing your impact in specific areas.

SPREAD THE WORD
Of course one key thing you could always be doing more of, having greened your own lifestyle pretty well thus far, is offering help to others on earlier stages along the path to greendom. Those who are a lighter shade of green. Remember to be supportive and positive though - using guilt and being judgemental is definitely not the way to go. You will just turn them off caring. Help them and support them and their committment will grow over time.

Couple of ideas for you:

1) Why not start an Eco Team and work with others in your area to help each go greener.

2) You could even keep a collective diary of your experiences for free online by starting a group blog. Not only will it help you keep track of your own progress but it will also help others see the different paths you all took.

To be honest if you just manage to do one of those mentioned above you will have achieved much. In fact you have already done well so far and you should be patting yourself on the back right about now. Always more to do though so good luck with the journey. Do keep me posted.

As usual I am interested to hear your additional suggestions folks. And remember to keep those questions coming...not all will get published but I will try and respond to them all though as fast as possible.

Don't forget that the £50 voucher has got to be won by someone...it could be you.

Until next time...

Keep it green...

Al