Are theyreally good to the environment?

Here are ten suggestions on how to protect our environment from websites concerning environment issue. They look pretty attractive and it seems that these stuff will show my responsibility toward living more efficiently and greener. But when I calm down and analyze them with EWOT, things are not that good.

<1> Produce and bulk food bags
"You can make your next trip to the grocery store even greener by avoiding those single-use disposable bags in the produce department and bringing your own reusable produce bags to take home fruits and veggies. You can further eliminate food packaging waste by buying items in your store’s bulk food section – like beans, grains and dried fruit – and transporting them with your own small cloth bags."

My thoughts: We use material to produce food bags and think about the implicit trade-offs of these bags---they are not the paper money you pay for them, but the unseen clothes, paper, or other staff. What's more important is my concern of health. If you are careless or simply unwilling to wash the food bags regularly, the food bags can become the worst place to carry the food because of a bulk of bacteria.

<2> Coffee filters
"Sure, you can compost your used coffee filters, but wouldn’t it be better to reduce that waste entirely? Cusp Natural Products’ reusable coffee filter is made from hemp, a rapidly renewable resource, and, if rinsed after each use, can last for years."

My thoughts: well it seems attractive, but Results indicate that high yield of hemp may require high total nutrient levels (field plus fertilizer nutrients) similar to a high yielding wheat crop.

Besides, think about the alternative use of hemp.

Approximately 44% of the weight of hempseed is healthy edible oils, containing about 80% essential fatty acids (EFAs) Proteins (including edestin) are the other major component (33%), second only to soy (35%).  The proportions of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid in one tablespoon (15 ml) per day of hemp oil easily provides human daily requirements for EFAs.Hemp oil has been shown to relieve the symptoms of eczema. It also has various use in building, paper production, jewelry and fabric. Now we use such useful material just to produce coffee filter, whose uses are ridiculously limited. Is it worth the effort?

<3> Wrapping paper
"Reusable gift wrap is not only a greener wrapping option, but it’s also just as convenient as tossing your present into a conventional gift bag: There’s no tape, ribbons or bows to add."

My thoughts: Think about the incentive of paper companies, less demand of paper incentivizes them to plant fewer trees. Most of the used wrapping paper is not complete, so in order to reuse them to wrap the package, you will have to collect enough paper and spend some time and energy trimming the paper with scissors and glue.

<4> Gum stimulator

"Béa Johnson, who runs the popular Zero Waste Home blog, recommends this reusable gum stimulator as a replacement for disposable dental floss. Like floss, the stimulator massages your gums and removes food particles and plaque, but only the tip needs to be changed occasionally."

My thoughts: think about the marginal cost for you to use a far more expensive gum stimulator.

<5> Drinking straw
"Kick your family’s throwaway straw habit with this reusable stainless steel drinking straw from Ethical Ocean. Perfect for smoothies, milkshakes or juice, this straw is dishwasher safe and will last a lifetime."

<6>  Cotton balls
"Whether you use cotton balls for removing makeup or for dabbing medication on wounds, replace your disposable cotton balls with these reusable rounds, and you’ll have one less thing to throw away each day."

<7>  Sandwich bags
"Ditch the disposable sandwich baggies with LunchSkins’ reusable sandwich bags, available in a variety of colorful designs. The dishwasher-safe bags are lined with food-safe polyurethane that is free of lead, BPA and phthalates and meets the European Union’s requirements for food contact."