Blog: Green Forests, Cool Planet

Over the last two years, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has saved $10 million by consolidating delivery trips, thanks to a new transportation optimization system. The savings came from a very limited number of test markets, so the national potential for cost savings is much, much higher.

This is important to the fight against junk mail since USPS depends heavily on revenue from marketing mail, and cites financial concerns whenever someone proposes new rules or pricing for catalogs and direct mail. And, USPS estimates that for every 1-cent increase in gas prices, it pays $8 million a year, so budgets are strained these days

USPS has been using the Highway Corridor Analytic Program (HCAP), created in conjunction with IBM (PDF), since 2006. Developed with the ILOG CPLEX optimization software, the program helps the USPS determine the best way to allocate mail among its transportation resources. Using the HCAP, the USPS inputs its existing network and routes, and sets constraints such as pickup and delivery times, truck capacity and start and end points. The program analyzes existing operations and figures out alternative loads and routes to reduce costs.

USPS piloted the program in select areas, finding savings of $1.3 million annually in Chicago, $3.7 million annually on the West Coast and $400,000 annually in Greensboro and Pittsburgh, adding up to more than $5 million and about 615,000 gallons of gasoline saved a year. USPS plans to continue using the program to develop efficient routes and loads elsewhere.

Let’s hope the next step for USPS is to upgrade its fleet to get off of gasoline!

This year AIDS Walk Los Angeles is making a big effort to promote its Green Walker program, which allows walkers to opt-out of printed and mailed materials and instead do all of their registration, fundraising, and communication about the walk online. And their efforts are paying off. AIDS Walk LA organizers expect that more than 30,000 people will participate in the October 19th event and more than 40% of the walkers will register for the Green Walker program.

With expanded efforts to recycle, minimize waste and reduce consumption along the 10-kilometer route and through partnerships with 41pounds.org and other environmental organizations, AIDS Walk LA is targeting a 25% reduction in environmental impact this year. The thousands of people who have signed up for the Green Walker program are helping AIDS Walk LA to raise money for the fight against AIDS, save paper and postage, and make the event’s footprint a bit greener.

Walk on Los Angeles!

~ Margie

41pounds.org has joined author and activist Bill McKibben (author of Deep Economy, The End of Nature, and Enough) in Brighter Planet’s challenge to actually achieve the global goal — reduce our global warming emissions by 350 parts per million.

Yes, it *is* doable. And stopping junk mail is a part of it. By stopping junk mail, we keep more trees in the forest absorbing CO2 and providing oxygen for us to breathe. And, we cut down on the amount of paper that is processed, printed and shipped — which means we save a lot of energy that produces CO2.

New research shows that junk mail’s contribution to climate change equates to nine million cars on the road, or the heating of nearly 13 million homes for the winter! That’s a huge amount of greenhouse gases — all entirely unnecessary.

When 41pounds.org joined the global blogging effort in the “350 Challenge,” Brighter Planet donated money to offset 350 pounds of CO2. Meanwhile, Brighter Planet is gathering a wide range of products and services that help create a sustainable future for the planet and its people. We’re glad to help out!

If you’re a blogger out there, why not become a part of this?

~ Carolyn

I just heard that Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree™ Partner program has brought in more than $5 million in donations, which helped to offset more than 2 billion pounds of CO2 emissions. That’s impressive! 41pounds.org is a proud partner in their program, now entering our second year.

Some of the other CarbonFree partners are a little bit bigger than 41pounds.org… including Dell, Live Earth, Volkswagen, Avis/Budget, Lancôme, Discovery Networks and Allstate Insurance. Fortunately, Carbonfund.org’s program is not a “one size fits all” approach!

Hats off to Carbonfund.org and all of the companies and individuals who are taking action to both reduce their carbon footprint AND offset what they can’t reduce!

I encourage businesses large and small to learn more about the program and sign up.

~ Carolyn

New research shows that junk mail’s contribution to climate change equates to nine million cars on the road, or the heating of nearly 13 million homes for the winter! That’s a huge amount of greenhouse gases — all entirely unnecessary.

This new figure, reported by the respected nonprofit organization ForestEthics, is more than three times the previous estimate. It gives us all even more motivation to stop junk mail right now!

Download the report at: http://donotmail.org/downloads/ ClimateReport.pdf

While you’re at it, take a minute to sign Forest Ethics’ petition asking for the creation of a national Do Not Mail Registry, like the very successful Do Not Call Registry, at DoNotMail.org.

~ Carolyn

Last summer, artist Barbara Hashimoto asked a small business in Chicago to start collecting its junk mail. After 12 months of shredding, Hashimoto amassed more than 3,000 cubic feet of shredded material, all delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to this one small business.

Hashimoto’s labor-intensive process inspired a series of sculptures, installations, performances and collaborations (watch the video!) performed in Los Angeles and Chicago. The Chicago Arts District now sponsors Hashimoto’s junk mail exhibits. Come watch the process anytime through 45-foot floor-to-ceiling storefront windows. For night-time strolls, the exhibition is lit up. And mark your calendars now for the Junk Mail holiday reception in December!

We are inspired by this artist’s creativity, and her efforts to use art to bring to life the mind-boggling issues associated with junk mail. If you’re in the Chicago area, check it out and let us know what you think. Personally, I thought heaping shredded junk mail on top of the piano player while he plays classical music (it’s in the video) is fabulous!

~ Debbie

When 25,000 people marched through Golden Gate Park in San Francisco last week and raised $4.5 million for AIDS Walk Foundation, to fight and prevent this disease, the front-page news was the Green Walkers program.

Green Walkers opted not to receive any printed or mailed materials — and refused the printed materials typically handed out at such events. Walkers also recycled and composted.

The next AIDS Walk is in my hometown of Los Angeles, on October 19, 2008. 41pounds.org is proud to partner with AIDS Walk Los Angeles, to encourage its Green Walkers to not only reduce paper generated during the fundraising process, but also to stop their household junk mail. And, 41pounds.org will donate $15 to AIDS Walk Los Angeles each time someone signs up to stop their junk mail and selects AIDS Walk Los Angeles.

It’s exciting to see what’s possible when we collaborate — finding creative ways to reach common goals!

~ Debbie

Exciting forest news from Canada that affects all of us: Premier Dalton McGuinty has banned all mining and logging in half of the boreal forest (an area half the size of California!) and restricted the other half to a “sustainable development” plan worked out with First Nations (a coalition of native people). The policy helps address climate change, since the boreal forest is a major carbon sink, absorbing about 12.5 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year.

The area to be protected (more than 86,800 square miles) is home to the largest untouched forest in Canada and the third largest wetland in the world. It has remained virtually undisturbed by human activity since the glaciers retreated, home to only 24,000 people. It’s one of the world’s largest intact ecosystems, with more than 200 imperiled species such as polar bears, wolverines and caribou as well as migratory birds.

According to Forest Ethics, right now Canada’s Boreal Forest is being logged at a rate of 2 acres a minute, 24 hours a day. U.S. companies consume more than half of all the trees logged in the Boreal — and much of that goes to produce catalogs and junk mail. No doubt, this amazing forest is much more valuable than junk mail!

You can do your part to protect the Boreal by participating in Greenpeace’s Kleercut campaign. They’re working to persuade Kimberly-Clark (the parent company of Kleenex, Scott and Cottonelle brands) to stop using virgin forests to create these tissues and use recycled paper instead. Greenpeace has put together a cool Kleercut campaign kit you can use to replace Kleenex in your home, business or school with recycled alternatives.

So, use your handkerchief with pride and make sure your employer, health club, school system, movie theater chain, etc. etc. are using toilet tissue made from recycled paper.

~ Carolyn

This summer is an ideal time to stay local: Beat the cost of gas and concern about CO2 emissions … and truly appreciate the wonders of Northern California. Whether you live here or are visiting, BayNature.org gives you an online guide to the most beautiful and biologically diverse urban area in the United States.

At BayNature.org, you can quickly:

• Discover great places to explore from 2,000+ parks.
• Learn about your local environment from 700+ articles.
• Choose from hundreds of local nature-related events and outings.
• Track seasonal changes in local plants, wildlife and weather.
• Watch videos about nature nearby.
• Connect with more than 300 environmental organizations.

With the help of BayNature.org, you’ll enjoy new places and rediscover favorite places. Local naturalists and experts will guide you, courtesy of Bay Nature magazine’s vast collection of articles, images, maps, videos, and other resources, to a deeper understanding of the natural world of Bay Area. At this virtual gathering place, you’ll also tap into a wealth of local organizations and events … plus opportunities to join with others to protect wildlands and wildlife. You can count on Bay Nature for accurate and accessible information and for inspiration to make your own discoveries. Season after season, you’ll come to know and enjoy our unique corner of the world more than ever.

Start right away at www.baynature.org.

~ Carolyn

Summertime is picnic time, and the supermarket aisle is jammed with paper plates and napkins, plastic forks, plastic cups, vinyl tablecloths…all stuff you’ll use for a few minutes or hours, and then get tossed into the trash.

Here are some ways to reduce your picnic trash and keep the planet healthy so your grandkids can also enjoy a summer picnic in a few decades.

• Plates, cups and utensils that are biodegradable and compostable. Ecowise (a fabulous online store) has plates and cups made from bagasse, which is sugarcane fiber remaining after extracting juice from the sugarcane. Their utensils are made primarily from non-GMO corn starch.
• Napkins made from recycled paper. I’m a big fan of Seventh Generation, a company that was offering super-Green products long before it was trendy. Their napkins come in unbleached or white. If you’re hosting a big event, check out the selections at EcoProducts where you can buy in packages of 400 to 10,000.
• Tablecloth made of actual cloth instead of vinyl or paper. I like the pink daisy one I found at One Mom and a Party (an eco-friendly party supply site). But a sheet, sarong or home tablecloth works fine.
• Water fountains. Remember water fountains? Many picnic areas still have them. Check and see before you buy a case of plastic water bottles. If there’s no water supply nearby, simply remind your guests to bring their own full water bottle (I prefer the beautiful aluminum ones made by Sigg or Klean Kanteen) and have a fun large jugs of water handy for refills.
• Non-toxic insect repellent. Stores like REI have several options. I can vouch for All Terrain’s Herbal Armor.
• Non-toxic ant solution. There are so many easy, safe ways to keep the ants from spoiling your summer fun. Check out Earth Easy’s tips and bring along the dried mint or citrus oil.

You can shop online and stock up for a whole summer of fun. Meanwhile, make sure to talk to the manager of your local grocery store and encourage them to stock these items year round!

~ Carolyn