Columbus Dispatch Interview - Kim Carlson 5/09
How did you get started?
I started my first business 25 years ago and thought it was impossible to combine my passion for protecting the planet with business opportunities. In 1992 I figured out how to do it and took my first business green. Now I have 5 businesses and all are built on green fundamentals and I've taken the same enthusiasm and know-how that it took to green my businesses to the general public. My mission is to spread happy green behaviors and attitudes through out the land. I do that through writing, speaking to consumer and business groups, media appearances in addition to modeling green behavior in my business operations. I use the term "happy green" because green is something that inherently can make us feel good. When we behave greenly, we are acting out of love "for" rather than "against" something.
In your research and observations, what concerns stand out most to you when interacting with people who'd like to become more environmentally conscious?
Most people would like to be greener but are struggling with fitting it into their over-scheduled lives. It's one more "have to" on a jam-packed to-do list that can feel overwhelming. I tell people to do what they can, when they can and where they can. They don't have to go green all at once - do it little by little.
We get so entrenched in our habits of going about our daily routines that we forget that there may be a greener way to do something or a healthier product to buy. It can be as simple as knowing about the alternative and then simply making the greener choice.
One of the barriers to making greener choices when shopping is that there is a lack of clear information about what makes something green, for example, many people are still confused about which clothing fabrics or wood materials in household products are greener options. That is why I started my latest business, a green consumer product certification called Certified EarthSmart Consumer. I have been working on this for over 2 years with a team of scientists, academics and retail experts to bring a definition to green products for both consumers and retailers. The products that we buy shouldn't hurt people or the planet.
Will you briefly list a few lost-cost things that people can do to get started?
• Read labels each time you buy personal care products and avoid phthalates (sometimes labeled as "fragrance") and parabens both have been linked to disrupting the endocrine system causing reproduction and fertility birth or developmental effects.
• Buy at least two locally grown food items each time you go to the store. Not only does it require less energy to get to your table but it tastes better and food purchased soon after harvesting contains more nutrients.
• Remember to turn electronics like computers off nightly before bed to reduce my phantom load. On average, 40% of all electricity is used to power home electronics and appliance while they are turned off.
• Check your tires for the proper pressure once a month. If all four tires are under-inflated by only 2psi, fuel efficiency will drop by 4%.
• I will buy six concentrated or bulk products to replace my usual choices to save packaging and reduce what I throw away.
What advice would you recommend to persons when they're enjoying outdoor cultural events this summer?
• Use non-toxic bug repellent for those summer evenings. Look for repellents that contain plant oils like citronella, lemongrass or peppermint. If you use a DEET repellent do not spray it on yourself while on the grass or near other people.
• Get to your festival using public or human transportation. Call ahead and ask if they have a locked bicycle coral or are providing shuttle buses from a nearby transit stop.
• If there is no recycling at the festival, bring a small collapsible bag to carry your recyclables home.
• Pack a waste-free picnic with re-useable lightweight plates, flatware and cups. Be sure to bring enough water in a non-toxic thermos or stainless steel container.
• If you are going to be grilling, choose propane over charcoal briquettes for a smaller carbon footprint.
• Support local community food vendors over national chains. Choose organic if it is available.
Can you offer additional tips for individuals currently committed to being more environmentally conscious?
• Eat one less meat one less time per week to cut down your dietary carbon footprint (one calorie of beef uses 33% more fossil fuel to produce than one calorie of vegetables).
• Sign up for your local electric utility's renewable energy program promoting wind, water, biomass or solar. Conventional electricity production is the leading cause of air pollution and the largest source of CO2 emissions which are linked to global warming.
• Convert part of your lawn from turf to landscaping with drought tolerant and native plants to reduce my water use. Xeriscaping not only saves water, it also saves time and money -- no mowing, very little water or maintenance costs.
• Plant a tree. Trees help convert pollution into oxygen, help reduce erosion and absorb carbon dioxide helping to reduce global warming.