PaperlessKitchen Blog

Barnacles at Risk from Plastic

When we think about protecting wildlife from pollution and the effects of man, we often imagine endangered species, large animals like the Black Rhino, the Mountain Gorilla and the South China Tiger. A new study shows that we should also be considering the risks to some of the smallest members of the food chain.

Scientist Miriam Goldstein of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography recently studied the intestinal tracts of gooseneck barnacles collected from an area in the Pacific known as the North Pacific Gyre. Roughly 33 percent of the 385 barnacles examined had ingested plastic particles.

At this time, the exact effects of plastic on barnacles is unknown, but scientists are concerned that it could have long-term detrimental effects that could disrupt the food chain that includes many aquatic birds, large fish and dolphins.

University of Illinois Making Their Own Paper

                Prairie Grass one of the crops being used to make paper at the University of Illinois            

A project called The Fresh Press at The University of Illinois is putting agricultural waste to good use and helping the college save paper. The project is run by two professors and two research assistants.

The team gathers waste from various sources, including the on-campus Sustainable Student Farm. Then, the waste is chipped, soaked, cooked, mixed, screened and pressed into paper. Various projects on campus have made use of the paper produced by the team, and some of their handmade papers are now being used by the university's Book Arts Co-op club.

Funded by the university, The Fresh Press is making good use of waste, protecting trees and spreading an important environmental message. Way to go, U of I!

The Importance of Responsible Flushing

At Paperless Kitchen, we offer a number of unpaper towels that are disposable. After reading an article in the Chicago Tribune about a problem affecting the Tinley Park neighborhood of Chicago, I wanted to do a quick blog post to discuss the best ways to dispose of these products after use.

The article discusses how flushable wipes and feminine care products are wreaking havoc on the sewage systems in the Chicago neighborhood and about the problems that can arise when these items are disposed of in toilets. A representative of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies was interviewed for the piece and explained that the problem is common throughout the United States. Even though these flushable items are biodegradable, many do not break down rapidly enough after flushing and end up clogging sewage systems.

When you ditch paper towels and use one of our paper towel alternatives instead, make sure that you don't toss them in the toilet, even if you've used them for cleaning. Like flushable products, our paper towel replacements are biodegradable, but they could clog up your own plumbing or the public sewage system. Instead of flushing, you can use them for composting, collect them with other waste to drop off at a composting facility or simply throw them away, as they will break down quickly in landfills.

Research Institute Uses Food and Paper Waste for Energy

A recent story published in The New Indian Express shows how organizations and institutions can use paper waste to reduce their costs. The Institute of Wood Science and Technology has implemented a plan to transform waste paper and food scraps into biogas on their campus.

The research institute studies forest health and timber applications, so paper conservation has always been a priority for the Bangalore-based organization. With the new plan, waste is collected in special bins on roughly 85 buildings on the campus. The food is then processed onsite into biogas and stored for later use.

With the gas, the Institute of Wood Science and Technology is able to produce enough fuel to power the appliances in the campus cafeteria. Yard waste collected by the maintenance facility is also processed for biogas. In the future, the institute may expand the scheme to include more waste, as currently only 10 percent of their kitchen waste is being turned into gas.

Need Another Reason to Ditch Paper Towels? How About the Sumatran Rainforest?

Phillippe Cousteau recently filmed a very eye-opening special on the Sumatran rainforest for CNN. In "Expedition: Sumatra," Cousteau explored much of the Indonesian rainforest, examining man's impact on the environment there and the areas of raw unspoiled beauty in the region.

From watching the special, you get a clear picture of the devastating impact of deforestation in the region. Cousteau found that over a 22-year period, 48 percent of the Sumatran rainforest has been decimated. Indonesia now produces one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions related to deforestation, decreasing air quality throughout Southeast Asia and contributing to climate change.

Many of the species that are native to the region, including Sumatran tigers, are now in danger of extinction, and many indigenous villages have been forced to relocate as the forest has been cleared.

The deforestation of the Sumatran rainforest is being driven by western demands for paper products like toilet paper and paper towels, palm oil and plywood. Surprisingly, extracts from rainforest woods are even used in latex products and cosmetics.

The story highlights the importance of reducing our own dependence on paper. The less of a demand for products made from the rainforest's natural resources there is, the more likely deforestation is to slow.

                                                                  Phillippe Cousteau 

You can check out an article by Cousteau on CNN.com and see clips from "Expedition: Sumatra" on the CNN website.

McDonald's Switches from Plastic to Paper

This week, McDonald's announced that every location in the U.S. will soon be using paper cups for hot beverages instead of plastic. The move is meant to be a positive one for the health of the planet, but it's evident that the fast food giant still has a long way to go to truly be more environmentally responsible.

McDonald's explained that by switching from plastic to paper, the company will be able to recycle more of its cups. Plus, paper cups that are carried out of the restaurant and end up in the garbage will break down more quickly in landfills unlike the current plastic cups that do not readily biodegrade.

While there's no doubt that paper is more biodegradable than plastic, concerns about deforestation should be considered when evaluating the true sustainability of McDonald's plan. The company has stated that they will be using "more" recycled content in the paper cups than in the plastic ones, but has not specified how much more.

A far more green option for McDonalds and other restaurants is natural non-paper recyclables, such as corn or sugar cane-based products. So far, none of the major fast food restaurants have experimented with using these types cups, but doing so could make a big impact on the planet.

What do you think about McDonald’s announcement? Does it make you more likely to eat there than you are now or less likely?

Obama Administration Reaffirms Commitment To Lower Power Plant Emissions

A year ago, President Obama unveiled a plan that would force power plants to reduce the amount of emissions given off by their facilities. The plan has been met by resistance from utility products, Republic opposition and even some members of the general public. In fact, this summer, a contestant on "America's Got Talent" sang a song about coal that many believed railed against this type of regulation.

With so much criticism and backlash, some pundits speculated that Obama might back down from the proposal, but this week, the administration once again made their commitment to it clear.

Gina McCarthy, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, announced this week that the EPA will be enforcing guidelines that will require all new natural gas power plants to give off 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per megawatt hour or less and all new coal power plants to give off 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour or less. This is a marked reduction, as currently coal power plants average emissions of 1,800 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Although the rule changes will be costly for utilities, the EPA and the Obama Administration argue that it is a necessary step. The administration cites evidence about climate change, stating that regulations must be passed to reduce emissions and reduce our impact on the environment.

The proposed rule change is now entering the 60-day waiting period, during which it will receive comments from industry and the public. We'll keep you updated on what happens next.

Salon Exposes The Dangerous Influence Of The American Chemistry Council

The American Chemistry Council, pictured here, is located in Washington, D.C. just blocks away from Capitol Hill. (Sarah Whitmire/Center for Public Integrity) (Credit: Sarah Whitmire/Center for Public Integrity)

This week, Salon wrote an in-depth exposé revealing how involved the American Chemistry Council is in Washington politics and political activities at the State level. The powerful group lobbies Congress to help prevent restrictions on certain known toxic chemicals from ever being passed.

The piece discusses key legislation that has either been tossed out or greatly threatened by the activities of the ACC. The article points to the power that special interest groups have when it comes to shaping policies that affect environmental health and makes it clear that all of us must be more vigilant when it comes to anti-toxin legislation.

The only way that special interest groups like these can be challenged is with a unified, powerful voice from lawmakers' constituents. If you haven't taken the time to let your state and federal lawmakers know where you stand on toxins and other environmental issues, take some time to do so this week. You can be sure that the ACC and similar groups are not waiting to contact your Congressmen and Senators.

Also, be sure to check out the piece in the Salon and let us know what you think.

Free Tool Helps You Select the Most Eco-Friendly Paper

Even if you're committed to reducing paper usage as much as possible, it's not always possible to eliminate paper completely. If paper must continue to play a role in your business, finding the type with the smallest environmental impact can help you stay in line with your eco-conscious while still meeting the needs of your business.

The Paper Calculator from the Environmental Paper Network is a free tool designed to help you make the best possible decisions about the paper that you use. The calculator makes it simple to compare different grades and brands of paper to find the ones that have the smallest eco-footprint, taking into account its percentage of recycled content and its manufacturing methods.

The calculator also creates a report that details the findings and fully explains the environmental impact of making various paper choices. The tool is free to use, but you must register and agree to cite the calculator when you present any of the findings from the app.

To try out The Paper Calculator, visit the Environmental Paper Network's website.

Once you have, stop back and tell us what you learned in the "Comments" section.

Palm Oil Waste New Raw Material for Paper

Recently, the Malaysian company Palm Republik announced the development of a new tree-free paper made from waste leftover from the manufacturing of palm oil.

Used for cooking throughout many parts of the world, palm oil is a staple of many cuisines. The palm oil industry produces up to 200 million tons of waste per year, mostly in the form of the leftover husks that remain once the oil is extracted.

Palm Republik has developed a new method of transforming these husks into paper. The fibers found in the husks are very similar to those of timber. To produce the palm paper, the husks are shredded and then mixed with post-consumer recycled paper pulp. Then, it is compressed and dried. The resulting product is 100 percent biodegradable and compostable. Unbleached, the palm paper is now being used to produce boxes and heavyweight stationery like note cards.

At this time, Palm Republik is only selling its paper to industrial customers but has hopes of making their products available to consumers in the near future.