Jessica Alba Loves Kids, Hates Chemicals

You might have seen Jessica Alba kill a bad guy with a stiletto heel in the gory action flick Machete. You might also have spotted her on the cover of Maxim (twice). But fewer people probably caught her on C-SPAN lecturing Congress about the urgency of passing laws to regulate the chemicals in the products we buy. A staunch environmental advocate, the 31-year-old star recently launched the Honest Company, which makes nontoxic, ecofriendly baby gear. She took some time to answer our questions about her commitment to safe chemistry. 

Q: Why did you go to D.C. to lobby for the Safe Chemicals Act last year?

A: Basically, it's legislation that hasn't been reformed in more than 30 years. It's about regulating chemicals in everyday products. There are more than 80,000 chemicals in the U.S. marketplace right now — only five have been banned. In Europe, 1,100 are banned because they're not safe for humans. When they're creating and selling new chemicals, companies aren't thinking about how they affect people's health — it's about their bottom line.

"Just test the chemicals to make sure they're safe before exposing our children to them."

Q: You had asthma as a kid, right? Does that make you worry more about air pollution?

A: I grew up with asthma and allergies, among other health issues. That forced me from a very early age to look at my environment in a different way. I don't take things at face value. I don't automatically trust the conglomerates. I question processes, I question ingredients, I look for a better way. I always try to find a more natural and holistic approach before just slapping on a Band-Aid. Better to prevent something bad from happening in the first place.

Seven Eco-Friendly Options at Fast-Food Chains

We weren't surprised when food guru Michael Pollan politely declined our request that he recommend fast-food fare that environmentalists can order with a clear conscience. "The single most eco-friendly item at the average fast-food restaurant," Pollan responded through his assistant, "is the tap water." At the risk of contradicting the wise omnivore, we put the same question to a handful of quick-fix connoisseurs. Here are their suggestions.

JAY FRIEDLANDER directs the Sustainable Business Program at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. Before that, he was COO of Stonyfield Café (formerly O'Naturals), America's first organic fast-food chain.

"When I need a fast-food fix, I indulge myself at FIVE GUYS. While hardly healthy, their french fries are vegan and delicious. The fries greet you at the door as bags of potatoes and are cut fresh — no freezers here. Without processing, they minimize energy input, and the packaging is just a paper cup and an unbleached paper bag. The salty, deep-fried flavor reminds me of walking on a seaside boardwalk as a kid." More than 900 locations in 46 states and Canada

MATTHEW CORRIN is the founder and CEO of Freshii, a fresh-food-to-go chain with nearly 100 locations open and in development in about 20 cities around the world. Freshii's menu incorporates organic products whenever possible.

"The mixed-berry frozen-yogurt parfait from RED MANGO is loaded with vitamin C, protein, and calcium. It's made with live and active cultures that are blended with organic, nonfat, perfectly spiced pumpkin-flaxseed granola and fresh strawberries, bananas, and blueberries to make a wholesome, hearty snack. This colorful, tart, sweet, creamy masterpiece is pure nature." More than 150 locations nationwide

MICHAEL WANG is the founder of Boston's Fóumami Asian Sandwich Bar, which opened in 2010. Wang grew up working in his father's Chinese restaurant and has more than 20 years of experience operating eateries.

"I'm a big fan of CHIPOTLE's fast-casual Mexican fare and respect that they're bringing environmentally conscious business practices to a large national chain. Chipotle aims to use natural meats, hormone-free chicken, and organic beans, as well as eco-friendly design elements and biodegradable tableware. I order the burrito bowl with chicken — sometimes steak — black beans, vegetables, a dab of sour cream, cheese, and lettuce." About 1,000 locations nationwide

Viral Videos May Bring Quick End to Slow Loris

It's no surprise that the ultra-cute, saucer-eyed slow loris has become a star. In viral video clips, the tiny nocturnal primate appears docile and drowsy as it clutches a cocktail umbrella or gets tickled. But the charismatic creature may be too cute for its own good — increased demand for pet slow lorises threatens to wipe out the species in Southeast Asia.

All five species of the primate were already listed as vulnerable or endangered due to fragmented habitat and poaching before hitting YouTube stardom. It is believed that the slow loris has supernatural powers that ward off evil spirits; organized crime syndicates profit from the demand in East Asia for animal parts.

While the slow loris might not possess magical powers, the animal does have sharp teeth and venom, which it produces in a gland behind its elbow. Poachers make quick work of removing the teeth after capture, which can can lead to infection and death.

Already highly sought as pets in Russia and Japan, recent videos of a slow loris toting a little umbrella have helped slow-loris mania spread to Europe and the United States. Despite laws against trafficking endangered species at both local and international levels, the illegal trade continues to thrive from Thailand to Jakarta.

Second Growth

David Kienholz was once an old-growth logger. He worked with his lumberjack dad until his mid-20s, when he lost the heart for clear-cutting the forests of Washington state. He cringed at all of it, especially the waste: "We were only supposed to send 'the best' to town," Kienholz says. The leftovers — mountains of logs — were chopped into firewood.

Now, as the sourcing manager for Seattle custom sawmill Green Tree Mill, Kienholz uses only wood that's been salvaged or grown and harvested under strict Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guidelines. For Kienholz, his work is atonement, but it's also good business. Green Tree's customers clamor for its sustainable flooring, cabinetry, siding, and other furnishings, despite paying a premium of up to 20%. Clients include Nordstrom, which ordered salvaged-wood display tables, and Starbucks, which wants FSC-certified countertops for its U.S. outlets.

Similar operations — such as Urban Timberworks in Portland, Oregon, and Elmwood Reclaimed Timber in Smithville, Missouri — are also thriving. "I don't think we'd be doing as well as we are if we weren't using sustainable wood," Kienholz says. "We're proving the model works." 

--Maria Dolan

Hey Mr. Green, Don't Electric Cars Guzzle Coal Power?

Hey Mr. Green,

You've pointed out that electric vehicles (and plug-in hybrids) are only as clean as the fuel that generates their electricity. But since power sources vary from region to region, how do you check your utility's power sources and emissions levels before deciding on an EV or a plug-in?

--Stan in Carson City, Nevada

This is a smart, important question (typical of Sierra's astute, informed audience). Coal, a dirty fuel often gouged out and processed in ways that play hell with nature, generates 42 percent of U.S. electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. And you're right about big regional variations. My local utility in California, for example, relies on coal for just 7.6% of its electricity generation. To find out how much coal your utility burns, check the EPA's Power Profiler.

Even utilities that use a lot of fossil fuels or nuclear energy might offer juice from renewable sources, though, so ask your provider about its clean-energy options. If EV fans' zeal for clean power ever starts to match their religious devotion to their cars, they might quickly push utilities and politicians toward saner energy sources. 

Got a question for Mr. Green? Submit it here.

This article has been corrected.

Hey Mr. Green, How Big ARE the Oceans' Trash Patches?

Hey Mr. Green,

The world's oceans have gyres, where much of our trash ends up. Is most of this debris plastic? What's the estimated tonnage in these trash patches (some of which are said to be larger than the entire U.S.), and how densely are they packed?

--Georgene in Clinton, Washington

There's a popular image of the oceans' garbage patches as huge, solid islands of disgusting trash, but only somebody who thinks he's Jesus would be crazy enough to try to walk on one. In fact, clots of closely packed debris are rare in the vast oceans, except in occasional eddies where fishnets, bottles, balls, and toothbrushes — and much more — agglomerate.

Between 60 to 95% of marine litter is plastic, and about 270 species are harmed or killed by becoming entangled in it or ingesting large pieces. Nobody knows the total tonnage, but some estimates say that 7 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year. (One whale washed up on the coast of France with a whole ton of plastic, including supermarket bags, in its belly.) 

America's Worst Superfund Site, Still Not a Pretty Picture

It's not such a pretty picture. . . nor is the story behind it, but writer-director Matt Myers, who grew up just 25 miles away, could find no peace until he told it.

Tar Creek is a hard-hitting environmental documentary of a prideful mining community and the Quapaw Indians who call this corner of Oklahoma their home — homes that sit right on top of America's largest Superfund site.

Once the most productive lead and zinc mining site on the planet, now only an environmental wasteland remains.

Set to the guitar twangs of blues legend, Watermelon Slim, Tar Creek follows a complex trail of shady deals, politicians, government agencies, and the folks caught on the front line. Designated a Superfund site in 1983, the EPA spent 30 years and more than $200 million to clean up the area, but ultimately they opted to buy out and relocate the entire community. Even now, the work is far from over.

Watch the trailer and read a short interview with the director below the fold.

 

Green Your Diet: Think Vegetarian

Happy 2012! Losing weight is a wildly popular New Year’s resolution. With that in mind, this week’s tips will help you slim down – the green way. 

Tip #2: Think vegan and vegetarian. 

Aside from the heath and weight benefits of a plant-based diet (vegans and vegetarians are at lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer), the choice to refrain from eating meat — or simply being mindful about eating less of it — helps the planet tremendously. Considering that livestock production is the cause of nearly 20% of the world’s greenhouse gases — more than the entire transportation sector — and that animal factory farms pollute U.S. waterways more than all other industrial sources combined, it's clear how it would behoove us all to eat less meat. If you think you'll having trouble making the switch, try some carnivore-recommended faux meats.

Tell us: Do you plan to eat less meat in 2012?

Facing the Hangover: How Much Did We Throw Out Over the Holidays?

Hey Mr. Green,

Is it really true that we throw away 25% more stuff between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day? What is the source of this information?

--Philomena in Racine, Wisconsin

The source of this information is the Use Less Stuff (ULS) report. And it’s certainly plausible that we'd toss that much more during the holidays, what with our traditional feasting, gifting, and regifting. Collectively, Anericans generate almost 250 million tons of trash, according to the EPA’s latest data on our dumping habits. The per-capita rate of waste has zoomed up from 2.7 pounds per person per day 50 years ago to more than 4.4 pounds per day. We are, however, recycling a lot more, up from a mere 6.4% 50 years ago to 34% now.

Over the holidays, food and paper are obviously biggies in the waste stream, and they make an interesting contrast in recycling progress and stagnation: Of the 71.3 million tons of paper used, we recycle 62.5%, By contrast, 33.8 million tons of food waste goes to the dump every year, with less than 3% making it to municipal composting facilities. Just something to chew on.

Got a question for Mr. Green? Submit it here.

Green Your Holiday Shopping: Bag the Bag

‘Tis the season for consumption. This week’s tips are about how to be generous while staying green.

Tip #4: Decline the bag. 

At big-box-type stores (think Target, Walmart, Borders), it’s all but automatic for the cashier to throw your plastic-wrapped purchases into a flimsy plastic bag after sliding your credit card and before thrusting your new possessions into your waiting hand. Be alert enough to interject before the bag’s whipped out and, with a wink and a smile, tell the cashier you’d prefer to save the plastic by using your own reusable bag. Then hand over your own reusable bag — you did remember to bring your own reusable bag . . . right?

Tell us: How do you prevent waste while holiday shopping?