Common misconceptions about eco-friendly products
Organic cotton
A cotton bag might seem like an environmental-friendly alternative to a plastic grocery bag, for instance, but the truth is that they consume a lot more resources to produce.
Electric cars
Indeed hybrid cars, and electric vehicles in general, have low or zero emissions. But the jury is still out on how they're produced, how the electricity is sourced, and how the batteries are disposed of after they die.
Organic produce
Organic produce need more land when compared to conventional farming, meaning that more land needs to be clear for plantations. Plus, some produce have to travel longer distances, increasing the carbon footprint. The alternative? Buy from local producers whenever you can.
Going vegan/vegetarian
Yes, it is true that livestock has a huge impact on the environment. However, land also needs to be destroyed and cleared to make up space for vegetable crops.
Non-GMO foods
Genetically modified food (GMO) sounds like the name of some evil plan to change nature. But could GMO foods actually be better for the environment?
E-readers
Okay, you might save some trees by reading an e-book instead of a paperback, but how about the resources used to actually make that e-reader?
Farmed fish
Aquaculture is a great way to control fish population and avoid overfishing, right? Well, not quite. Fish farms can actually damage local ecosystems.
Bamboo fabric
It is true that bamboo grows fast, easily, and doesn't require lots of resources, including chemicals. But this doesn't necessarily make it eco-friendly to wear. The process of turning bamboo into fabric is an energy-intensive one. Plus, it involves heavy caustic solvents.
Eco-friendly cleaning products
Items such as lemon, vinegar, and baking soda are still the most natural ways of cleaning.
Sea sponges
They are harvested exhaustively, which is not great. Especially if you consider the fact that these are food for some species, including the endangered Hawksbill sea turtle.
Cloth diapers
In fact, the energy used to produce them, and then the electricity, water, and chemicals you use to wash them, can have quite the impact on the environment.
Recycling plastic
Yes, recycling plastic is much better than just throwing it in the garbage. But there is an even more eco-friendly alternative: reuse it.
Ethanol fuel
To produce ethanol you need crops, which means that vast areas of land must be cleared. Not to mention the heavy use of water and chemicals.
