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A Cup of Tea in Low Impact Living

Posted on Aug 16 2008 at 12:20AM by Filzah

Theme: Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Waste & Pollution, Local and Sustainable Food

Views: 1578

Winner:  BEST MONTHLY ENTRY - 2008 competition

If we all switched to using tea leaves instead of tea bags we could save a lot packaging that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Tea bags, while being convenient, are a hazard to the environment and switching to tea leaves is simple and helpful.

How many of us drink a cup of tea every day? In my mom's case it's more like 5 cups a day. This is what got me thinking. Nowadays it seems everyone has a serious tea or coffee addiction. But when you make your cup of tea do you think about the environmental impacts of this everyday action. Or maybe you don't make your own cup of tea? Maybe you always get a cup at your local Starbucks or Tim Hortons. I am sure I don't have to tell anyone the evils of fast food. But even if you do make your own cup of tea, don't think that this isn't harming the environment. For every cup of tea you make you use one tea bag: A tea bag wrapped in paper mesh attached to a string, attached to a tag. All of which is going to end up in some landfill. In the UK alone, 165 million cups of tea are consumed every day. 96% of these cups of tea are made with tea bags. 96% of 165 million is over a 158 million. Think about it. More than a 158 million tea bags are being thrown into the garbage everyday--from just one country. What happened to good old tea leaves? Why did we stop using those? If we used tea leaves instead of tea bags not only would you be reducing the packaging and materials needed to make all those tea bags but you could put your tea leaves straight into your compost. Tea bags on the other hand end up in the garbage--and then in a landfill. As if tea bags weren't a big enough problem already tea companies are now introducing a "nylon tea bag" and hoping to completely replace the traditional paper mesh ones. These nylon tea bags are petroleum based and are not biodegradable. If these end up in a landfill they will take years to break down. Tea companies it seems are actually going in the opposite direction for the environment. And speaking of tea companies consider the one you are buying you tea from. Is it fair trade certified? Fair Trade means that farmers and workers get fair compensation for their work and product--instead of corporations ending up with all the money. According to a research study in 2006 it was shown that up to 2 million tea growers and pluckers have been living on extremely low incomes. Lipton--the worlds best selling tea brand--aims to buy all it's tea from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms--a sustainable, ethical source--by 2015. So maybe it's time for some of us to switch tea brands? Consider where your tea comes from? The farther away it comes from the more miles it has to travel which means more CO2 emissions--well we all know why we should buy locally--and these same reasons exist for buying tea that has traveled as little as possible to get to you. I am not enough of an idealist to believe that tea bags will be eliminated entirely--they are far too convenient. And in today's world that's what most people seem to be looking for--convenience. But that doesn't mean that those of us who know better shouldn't start buying tea leaves instead of tea bags, fair trade certified tea brands, and tea that has traveled less to get where it is. And also that doesn't mean that we can't try to inspire those around us who don't know better--and perhaps they will switch tea brands as well. (I am still working on my mom.) After all it's all about taking one step at a time.

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A Cup of Tea in Local and Sustainable Food

Posted on Aug 16 2008 at 12:20AM by Filzah

Theme: Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Waste & Pollution, Local and Sustainable Food

Views: 1578

Winner:  BEST MONTHLY ENTRY - 2008 competition

If we all switched to using tea leaves instead of tea bags we could save a lot packaging that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Tea bags, while being convenient, are a hazard to the environment and switching to tea leaves is simple and helpful.

How many of us drink a cup of tea every day? In my mom's case it's more like 5 cups a day. This is what got me thinking. Nowadays it seems everyone has a serious tea or coffee addiction. But when you make your cup of tea do you think about the environmental impacts of this everyday action. Or maybe you don't make your own cup of tea? Maybe you always get a cup at your local Starbucks or Tim Hortons. I am sure I don't have to tell anyone the evils of fast food. But even if you do make your own cup of tea, don't think that this isn't harming the environment. For every cup of tea you make you use one tea bag: A tea bag wrapped in paper mesh attached to a string, attached to a tag. All of which is going to end up in some landfill. In the UK alone, 165 million cups of tea are consumed every day. 96% of these cups of tea are made with tea bags. 96% of 165 million is over a 158 million. Think about it. More than a 158 million tea bags are being thrown into the garbage everyday--from just one country. What happened to good old tea leaves? Why did we stop using those? If we used tea leaves instead of tea bags not only would you be reducing the packaging and materials needed to make all those tea bags but you could put your tea leaves straight into your compost. Tea bags on the other hand end up in the garbage--and then in a landfill. As if tea bags weren't a big enough problem already tea companies are now introducing a "nylon tea bag" and hoping to completely replace the traditional paper mesh ones. These nylon tea bags are petroleum based and are not biodegradable. If these end up in a landfill they will take years to break down. Tea companies it seems are actually going in the opposite direction for the environment. And speaking of tea companies consider the one you are buying you tea from. Is it fair trade certified? Fair Trade means that farmers and workers get fair compensation for their work and product--instead of corporations ending up with all the money. According to a research study in 2006 it was shown that up to 2 million tea growers and pluckers have been living on extremely low incomes. Lipton--the worlds best selling tea brand--aims to buy all it's tea from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms--a sustainable, ethical source--by 2015. So maybe it's time for some of us to switch tea brands? Consider where your tea comes from? The farther away it comes from the more miles it has to travel which means more CO2 emissions--well we all know why we should buy locally--and these same reasons exist for buying tea that has traveled as little as possible to get to you. I am not enough of an idealist to believe that tea bags will be eliminated entirely--they are far too convenient. And in today's world that's what most people seem to be looking for--convenience. But that doesn't mean that those of us who know better shouldn't start buying tea leaves instead of tea bags, fair trade certified tea brands, and tea that has traveled less to get where it is. And also that doesn't mean that we can't try to inspire those around us who don't know better--and perhaps they will switch tea brands as well. (I am still working on my mom.) After all it's all about taking one step at a time.

Read more on this topic »

I Want to Fly in Natural Habitats and Wildlife

Posted on Aug 19 2008 at 08:31PM by Filzah

Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, My Opinion, Global Warming

Views: 1527

This is just a poem I wrote about the how different our world looks because of all the changes humans have made to it. This poem shows that animals can probably see and feel the changes as well. I want to fly through the sky A bright blue sky, filled with clouds I want to fly over the mountain peaks I want to fly over the ocean, vast and endless Its waves rushing by I want to fly over the treetops that look so tiny from up above Yet are home to a million creatures I want to fly over the Earth and everything that is a part of it So I pick up my wings and soar I fly over some buildings, and then some more I see the city skyline but its blocking the sunset I see endless stretches of grey roads And on them a million little cars But where is the ocean? I see some more buildings And these ones have smoke coming out of them I look for some green, but all I see is grey I go back to my favourite tree, but in its place is a row of houses Each one the same as the one before I wanted to fly over the earth And everything that was a part of it I wanted to see the wonders of nature from up above But this is not the earth I want to see So I close my eyes, My wings will soar no longer.

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I Want to Fly in My Opinion

Posted on Aug 19 2008 at 08:31PM by Filzah

Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, My Opinion, Global Warming

Views: 1527

This is just a poem I wrote about the how different our world looks because of all the changes humans have made to it. This poem shows that animals can probably see and feel the changes as well. I want to fly through the sky A bright blue sky, filled with clouds I want to fly over the mountain peaks I want to fly over the ocean, vast and endless Its waves rushing by I want to fly over the treetops that look so tiny from up above Yet are home to a million creatures I want to fly over the Earth and everything that is a part of it So I pick up my wings and soar I fly over some buildings, and then some more I see the city skyline but its blocking the sunset I see endless stretches of grey roads And on them a million little cars But where is the ocean? I see some more buildings And these ones have smoke coming out of them I look for some green, but all I see is grey I go back to my favourite tree, but in its place is a row of houses Each one the same as the one before I wanted to fly over the earth And everything that was a part of it I wanted to see the wonders of nature from up above But this is not the earth I want to see So I close my eyes, My wings will soar no longer.

Read more on this topic »

I Want to Fly in Global Warming

Posted on Aug 19 2008 at 08:31PM by Filzah

Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, My Opinion, Global Warming

Views: 1527

This is just a poem I wrote about the how different our world looks because of all the changes humans have made to it. This poem shows that animals can probably see and feel the changes as well. I want to fly through the sky A bright blue sky, filled with clouds I want to fly over the mountain peaks I want to fly over the ocean, vast and endless Its waves rushing by I want to fly over the treetops that look so tiny from up above Yet are home to a million creatures I want to fly over the Earth and everything that is a part of it So I pick up my wings and soar I fly over some buildings, and then some more I see the city skyline but its blocking the sunset I see endless stretches of grey roads And on them a million little cars But where is the ocean? I see some more buildings And these ones have smoke coming out of them I look for some green, but all I see is grey I go back to my favourite tree, but in its place is a row of houses Each one the same as the one before I wanted to fly over the earth And everything that was a part of it I wanted to see the wonders of nature from up above But this is not the earth I want to see So I close my eyes, My wings will soar no longer.

Read more on this topic »

A Cup of Tea in My Opinion

Posted on Aug 16 2008 at 12:20AM by Filzah

Theme: Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Waste & Pollution, Local and Sustainable Food

Views: 1578

Winner:  BEST MONTHLY ENTRY - 2008 competition

If we all switched to using tea leaves instead of tea bags we could save a lot packaging that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Tea bags, while being convenient, are a hazard to the environment and switching to tea leaves is simple and helpful.

How many of us drink a cup of tea every day? In my mom's case it's more like 5 cups a day. This is what got me thinking. Nowadays it seems everyone has a serious tea or coffee addiction. But when you make your cup of tea do you think about the environmental impacts of this everyday action. Or maybe you don't make your own cup of tea? Maybe you always get a cup at your local Starbucks or Tim Hortons. I am sure I don't have to tell anyone the evils of fast food. But even if you do make your own cup of tea, don't think that this isn't harming the environment. For every cup of tea you make you use one tea bag: A tea bag wrapped in paper mesh attached to a string, attached to a tag. All of which is going to end up in some landfill. In the UK alone, 165 million cups of tea are consumed every day. 96% of these cups of tea are made with tea bags. 96% of 165 million is over a 158 million. Think about it. More than a 158 million tea bags are being thrown into the garbage everyday--from just one country. What happened to good old tea leaves? Why did we stop using those? If we used tea leaves instead of tea bags not only would you be reducing the packaging and materials needed to make all those tea bags but you could put your tea leaves straight into your compost. Tea bags on the other hand end up in the garbage--and then in a landfill. As if tea bags weren't a big enough problem already tea companies are now introducing a "nylon tea bag" and hoping to completely replace the traditional paper mesh ones. These nylon tea bags are petroleum based and are not biodegradable. If these end up in a landfill they will take years to break down. Tea companies it seems are actually going in the opposite direction for the environment. And speaking of tea companies consider the one you are buying you tea from. Is it fair trade certified? Fair Trade means that farmers and workers get fair compensation for their work and product--instead of corporations ending up with all the money. According to a research study in 2006 it was shown that up to 2 million tea growers and pluckers have been living on extremely low incomes. Lipton--the worlds best selling tea brand--aims to buy all it's tea from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms--a sustainable, ethical source--by 2015. So maybe it's time for some of us to switch tea brands? Consider where your tea comes from? The farther away it comes from the more miles it has to travel which means more CO2 emissions--well we all know why we should buy locally--and these same reasons exist for buying tea that has traveled as little as possible to get to you. I am not enough of an idealist to believe that tea bags will be eliminated entirely--they are far too convenient. And in today's world that's what most people seem to be looking for--convenience. But that doesn't mean that those of us who know better shouldn't start buying tea leaves instead of tea bags, fair trade certified tea brands, and tea that has traveled less to get where it is. And also that doesn't mean that we can't try to inspire those around us who don't know better--and perhaps they will switch tea brands as well. (I am still working on my mom.) After all it's all about taking one step at a time.

Read more on this topic »

A Cup of Tea in Waste & Pollution

Posted on Aug 16 2008 at 12:20AM by Filzah

Theme: Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Waste & Pollution, Local and Sustainable Food

Views: 1578

Winner:  BEST MONTHLY ENTRY - 2008 competition

If we all switched to using tea leaves instead of tea bags we could save a lot packaging that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Tea bags, while being convenient, are a hazard to the environment and switching to tea leaves is simple and helpful.

How many of us drink a cup of tea every day? In my mom's case it's more like 5 cups a day. This is what got me thinking. Nowadays it seems everyone has a serious tea or coffee addiction. But when you make your cup of tea do you think about the environmental impacts of this everyday action. Or maybe you don't make your own cup of tea? Maybe you always get a cup at your local Starbucks or Tim Hortons. I am sure I don't have to tell anyone the evils of fast food. But even if you do make your own cup of tea, don't think that this isn't harming the environment. For every cup of tea you make you use one tea bag: A tea bag wrapped in paper mesh attached to a string, attached to a tag. All of which is going to end up in some landfill. In the UK alone, 165 million cups of tea are consumed every day. 96% of these cups of tea are made with tea bags. 96% of 165 million is over a 158 million. Think about it. More than a 158 million tea bags are being thrown into the garbage everyday--from just one country. What happened to good old tea leaves? Why did we stop using those? If we used tea leaves instead of tea bags not only would you be reducing the packaging and materials needed to make all those tea bags but you could put your tea leaves straight into your compost. Tea bags on the other hand end up in the garbage--and then in a landfill. As if tea bags weren't a big enough problem already tea companies are now introducing a "nylon tea bag" and hoping to completely replace the traditional paper mesh ones. These nylon tea bags are petroleum based and are not biodegradable. If these end up in a landfill they will take years to break down. Tea companies it seems are actually going in the opposite direction for the environment. And speaking of tea companies consider the one you are buying you tea from. Is it fair trade certified? Fair Trade means that farmers and workers get fair compensation for their work and product--instead of corporations ending up with all the money. According to a research study in 2006 it was shown that up to 2 million tea growers and pluckers have been living on extremely low incomes. Lipton--the worlds best selling tea brand--aims to buy all it's tea from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms--a sustainable, ethical source--by 2015. So maybe it's time for some of us to switch tea brands? Consider where your tea comes from? The farther away it comes from the more miles it has to travel which means more CO2 emissions--well we all know why we should buy locally--and these same reasons exist for buying tea that has traveled as little as possible to get to you. I am not enough of an idealist to believe that tea bags will be eliminated entirely--they are far too convenient. And in today's world that's what most people seem to be looking for--convenience. But that doesn't mean that those of us who know better shouldn't start buying tea leaves instead of tea bags, fair trade certified tea brands, and tea that has traveled less to get where it is. And also that doesn't mean that we can't try to inspire those around us who don't know better--and perhaps they will switch tea brands as well. (I am still working on my mom.) After all it's all about taking one step at a time.

Read more on this topic »