Tag Archives: sustainable

Philippe Van Den Bossche & 3 Reasons To Buy Organic Strawberries

When talking about the best types of food to purchase organic, one can imagine that all of them would be useful. While this isn’t necessarily wrong, what are some of the more important components that can be looked into by those who may not have as much money to spend? Are there certain foods that Philippe van den Bossche, as well as others, can support more so than others? Strawberries stand as a great option and here are 3 reasons why purchasing them organically is the best move to make.

1. Strawberries have rigged exteriors that should be taken into account. In fact, these are some of the most common traits to look into, apart from the bright red look of the berries in general. If you were to wash conventionally grown strawberries, you may have trouble trying to wash them of their pesticides, which is why going organic is for the best. This is especially true when you take into account that there are 13 known pesticides that could reside on strawberries, which serves as another reason to go natural.

2. Philippe van den Bossche will most likely be able to tell you about the components that help to make strawberries that much more healthful. There are many different vitamins and minerals to take into account but what are some of the specifics on the matter, you may wonder? Vitamin C is a great example, not to mention one of the most commonly known. However, the free radical-fighting anthocyanins are worth looking at as well, seeing as how they can aid in the prevention of cancer, as supported by names such as Philippe.

3. Is it possible that strawberries can come into effect in order to prevent memory loss? It seems as though this is the case, as the Annals of Neurology published that they could potentially delay the impact of cognitive impairments by 2.5 years. Strawberries have been proven useful in other fashions, one of them being the reduction of cancer risk. With the idea of mental health being helped as well, organic strawberries have proven themselves to be that much greater of an investment in the long term.

As one can imagine, there are other benefits to take into account as far as strawberries are concerned. That being said, the reasons listed above were the ones that stood out to me the most and for good reasons as well. Not everyone can purchase all of their food organically, which is understandable when considering the prices that they stand at. However, if you are able to make the change to just one food item out of the bunch, this is a choice worth looking into.

Get in touch with Philippe van den Bossche if you are interested in learning more in regards to the incentives of organic agriculture.. Free reprint available from: Philippe Van Den Bossche & 3 Reasons To Buy Organic Strawberries.

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Philippe Van Den Bossche & The Most Vital Flowers

There are many factors to consider when it comes to preparing a garden and amongst them is the absence of pests. You want to be able to take care of them as quickly as possible and you may find that there are actually a number of flowers that can help here, as well as in other respects. What are some of the methods to take into account, you may wonder? If you would like to learn more, Philippe van den Bossche may be able to offer greater insight.

Prior to going about this endeavor, though, Philippe van den Bossche will tell you about the methods that shouldn’t be put to use. While organic soil is a product that serves a tremendous purpose, it seems like there are many conventional growers that would rather stick to synthetic growths instead. The problem here is that your garden will wind up looking disappointing, to say the least, as it isn’t receiving enough natural nutrition. The importance of organic products is heavily supported by names like Philippe.

What are some of the best flowers that can help to enhance your garden in all senses, you may wonder? Sunflowers are great for this purpose but what are some of the specifics associated with them? It’s possible that you’ll be happy to know about the way that sunflowers can attract ladybugs, which are able to feed on aphids, amongst other small insects that can be categorized as “pests.” The peaceful ladybug can be integrated into your garden and the benefits will be great, as Philippe van den Bossche will support.

Cosmos are another type of plant that you should consider if you want to make your garden even better. Keep in mind that, unlike other flowers, cosmos do not require nearly as much maintenance so you can easily set your focus on other plants while leaving said cosmos alone. These flowers are also able to hold their own during periods of drought. Add in the fact that they are rather useful in terms of attracting butterflies and the plants in question are made that much better.

It’s important to keep in mind the importance of many flowers, as they can offer many different benefits to your garden. These will vary from one plant type to another but it is up to you to take the effort to cultivate them in the best of ways. You are going to need to attain soil but not just any soil; make sure that you invest in the type that is organic, as it will last. Understanding tips like these will help you to bring life to the best garden imaginable.

Please contact Philippe van den Bossche if you would like more information about sustainable and organic agricultural processes.. This article, Philippe Van Den Bossche & The Most Vital Flowers has free reprint rights.

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Gardening Tips By Philippe Van Den Bossche

Gardening can be done for many reasons, as you can very well imagine. There are a number of benefits associated with it in terms of health, as it can offer not only a lighter form of exercise but a way to relieve stress as well. It is also very possible that crops can rise to the surface, which can only expand on the idea of health that much more. With that said, though, what are some of the tips that Philippe van den Bossche can offer you in order to bring about the best garden?

What are some of the most important qualities to consider as far as soil is concerned? Philippe van den Bossche will be able to tell you all about them, amongst them being the moisture that is associated with the healthiest types of soil. What about the deepness that it possesses as well? These are just a couple of aspects to look to and I am sure that authorities such as Philippe can tell you that there are ways to easily see if your soil is not of the utmost quality.

As you can probably imagine, soil itself is very dark in color, which is a good indicator of just how healthy it is. What this means is that this type of soil should be put to use in order to bring some of the best possible crops to the surface. While the type of soil is vital, there is also a level of importance to keep in mind when it comes to the ways in which crops can be brought to the surface. There are a couple of points to consider as far as this idea is concerned.

One of said aspects is to give your plants and crops enough room so that they will be able to grow more effectively. One of the biggest rookie mistakes that anyone can make in the way of gardening is to place seeds too close together, which can impede growth. Instead, try to space seeds out as much as possible. In addition, if you are concerned about pests negatively impacting what it is that you are growing in the long term, crop rotation can be looked into as well.

If you want to maintain the best possible garden, these tips are more than worth taking into account. These are just a few nuggets of information that, in my view, Philippe van den Bossche can support. To me, though, it’s just a matter of making sure that your garden is maintained over the course of several days. If you are able to work on it each day without fail, it’s easy to say that your ability to grow crops will prove to be that much greater.

If you would like to learn more regarding organic agriculture and the positives it can offer, please get in touch with Philippe van den Bossche for further details.. This article, Gardening Tips By Philippe Van Den Bossche is available for free reprint.

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Are We Ready for Genetically Modified … Trees?

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Are We Ready for Genetically Modified … Trees?

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Green U: Staying Sustainable on Campus

College is a great time to discover different ways to begin living a sustainable lifestyle. Living in a small community such as a college town provides you with the opportunity to take ownership of a small part of your life that can have a big impact on the environment. Many universities and colleges have sustainability initiatives that many students can take advantage of. Here are 5  examples of sustainable living that can be easily implemented into your normal routine around campus.

1. Carry a Reusable Water Bottle

Reusable filtered water bottles. Photo: flickr/rubbermaid

Carry a reusable water bottle with you to stay hydrated and reduce unnecessary plastic waste. A single water bottle takes the place of over 450 12oz. bottles over the course of a semester. A bottle like this one from Rubbermaid is easy to bring to class, the library, and the gym. There are a multitude of water bottles that are made from recycled plastic you can use, or even check the campus book store to find something has a bit more school spirit.

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Green U: Staying Sustainable on Campus

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Green Label Guide: What Is EcoLogo?

The EcoLogo label helps manufacturers and consumers easily identify environmentally preferred products. Photo: EcoLogo.org

EcoLogo is one of the oldest and most trusted eco-labeling programs that you’ve probably never heard of. So what is EcoLogo, and why should consumers care?

Established more than 20 years ago and acquired by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in 2010, EcoLogo is currently the only North American eco-labeling program approved by the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), an association of third-party labeling organizations dedicated to improving transparency in environmental products and services.

The label helps manufacturers and consumers easily identify environmentally preferred products and is used for everything from building materials and furniture to cleaning products, paper products and toys.

A multiattribute certification, EcoLogo tells the story of a product’s environmental performance throughout its entire life cycle. This allows shoppers to pinpoint holistically greener products and provides supply-chain traceability to manufacturers seeking to meet sustainability goals.

The voluntary standard indicates a product has undergone rigorous scientific testing, exhaustive auditing or both to prove its compliance with stringent third-party performance standards, according to UL Environment.

These standards set metrics for a wide variety of criteria including energy, manufacturing and operations, health and environment, product performance and use, and product stewardship and innovation.

Visit UL Environment online to learn more about the criteria for attaining EcoLogo certification, or check out their Sustainable Product Database to search for certified products.

From the Vault: Top 10 Green Labels Guide

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Green Label Guide: What Is EcoLogo?

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McDonald’s will shift (very slowly) to sustainable beef

McDonald’s will shift (very slowly) to sustainable beef

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We aren’t suggesting that you try this, but should you venture into a McDonald’s a few years from now and order a hamburger, some of the beef you end up eating may have come from a sustainably raised cow.

The fast-food giant’s first planned purchases of frozen beef patties from “verified sustainable sources” will begin in 2016, the company announced today. That’s an important step because McDonald’s is a huge international dealer in beef — it sells more than $5 billion a year worth of Big Macs and less iconically branded hamburgers. Here’s more from Joel Makower at GreenBiz:

“Our vision is to buy verifiable, sustainable beef in the future for all of our beef,” said Bob Langert, McDonald’s vice president, global sustainability. “We have achieved internal alignment and energy around that aspirational goal, which is a big task,” he told me during a November visit to the company’s headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill.

Langert says McDonald’s isn’t yet ready to commit to a specific quantity it will purchase in 2016, or when it might achieve its “aspirational goal” of buying 100 percent of its beef from “verified sustainable sources.” (The company will only say that, “We will focus on increasing the annual amount each year.”) Realistically, it could take a decade or more to achieve the 100-percent goal.

But what is sustainable beef, exactly? (Is it ground off the hide of an ever-suffering but immortal cow, perhaps?) There is no clear definition, so McDonalds is working with other food giants and the World Wildlife Fund to try to figure that out. They’re collaborating through a group known as the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Again from GreenBiz:

The group developed six draft principles that the membership is currently considering, along with multiple criteria within each of those principles. The principles cover people (human rights, safe and healthy work environment), community (culture, heritage, employment, land rights, health), animal health and welfare, food safety and quality, natural resources (ecosystem health) and efficiency and innovation (reducing waste, optimizing production, economic vitality).

This is part of a bigger push by McDonald’s to be more green and socially responsible:

Beef isn’t the only sustainability issue the company is looking at. For years, the company has been addressing the environmental and social impacts of its supply chain, one ingredient at a time. The company’s Sustainable Land Management Commitment, unveiled in 2011, requires suppliers to gradually source food and materials from sustainably managed land, although there are no specific timelines, and it is initially focusing on beef, poultry, fish, coffee, palm oil and packaging. Notably missing for now are pork, potatoes and other produce.

There’s plenty more that is notably missing, including a willingness to pay workers a living wage.

Still, the beef shift should bring some real environmental and climate benefits. Watch for more on that from GreenBiz later this week, in parts 2 and 3 of its series on McDonald’s and beef.


Source
Exclusive: Inside McDonald’s quest for sustainable beef, GreenBiz

John Upton is a science fan and green news boffin who tweets, posts articles to Facebook, and blogs about ecology. He welcomes reader questions, tips, and incoherent rants: johnupton@gmail.com.

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McDonald’s will shift (very slowly) to sustainable beef

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Vote For America’s Top Green Restaurants

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Vote For America’s Top Green Restaurants

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Syngenta to take a continent to court to upend pesticide ban

Syngenta to take a continent to court to upend pesticide ban

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Dead bees? Who cares?

Syngenta is preparing to spray its lawyerly might all over Europe in a bid to be allowed to keep killing bees.

The agro-chemical giant announced Tuesday that it would haul the European Commission before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg in an effort to block the looming suspension of its neonic insecticide thiamethoxam — aka Cruiser.

The commission voted earlier this year in favor of a two-year ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, beginning in December, because scientists have found that they slaughter the bees that suckle at the stamen of treated plants.

Syngenta’s lawyers and executives claim that the company’s product does no such thing — even though killing insects is exactly what it’s designed to do. From an AFP report:

“The Commission took the decision on the basis of a flawed process, an inaccurate and incomplete assessment by the European Food Safety Authority and without the full support of EU Member States,” the company insisted. …

Syngenta said the EU suspension was causing deep concern among farmers, who once the two-year-ban takes effect in December will need to replace “an extremely effective, low dose product (with) much less sustainable alternatives.”

Sustainable, you say? Not many things could be more critical to a sustainable food supply than thriving pollinators.

John Upton is a science fan and green news boffin who tweets, posts articles to Facebook, and blogs about ecology. He welcomes reader questions, tips, and incoherent rants: johnupton@gmail.com.

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Syngenta to take a continent to court to upend pesticide ban

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Obama Is Actually the Third President to Install Solar Panels at the White House

Photo: AgnosticPreachersKid

While the Obamas are away on vacation this week, ABC reports, their famous residence will be outfitted with energy-saving solar panels. But this is actually the third time that a sitting president has had solar panels installed on White House. In the past, however, solar installations at the presidential mansion have been met with less support—and less fanfare.

Jimmy Carter was ahead of the times. In 1977, he declared that the country was entering an energy crisis. To set a good example, he set about installing 32 solar panels on the White House in 1979. Carter declared that, “a generation from now, this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people; harnessing the power of the Sun to enrich our lives as we move away from our crippling dependence on foreign oil.” 

When Ronald Reagan took office, however, he promptly stripped the residency of its recently installed solar panels: his chief of staff reportedly thought the panels were “a joke,” says the Washington Post. Ten years later, those downtrodden panels were given a second though less glamorous chance at life, this time at Maine Unity College’s cafeteria.

In 2003, George W. Bush, seemingly acting out of character, brought solar back to the White House. American City and Country reported on the development a decade ago:

The National Park Service, which manages the White House complex, installed a nine kilowatt, rooftop solar electric or photovoltaic system, as well as two solar thermal systems that heat water used on the premises.

Two solar thermal systems, one to heat the pool and spa and one to provide domestic hot water, were also installed.

“With solar systems popping up on homes, businesses and farms across the country, it’s most appropriate to have solar providing energy for America’s most recognizable home,” said Glenn Hamer, executive director at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

With the Obama administration’s latest additions, the White House will increase its solar capacity with 20 to 50 new panels, USA Today reports. The administration added that the installation should pay for itself within eight years.

More from Smithsonian.com:

Can Solar Survive the Solyndra Swirl?  
Energy Efficiency at the White House

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Obama Is Actually the Third President to Install Solar Panels at the White House

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