Name: Paper beats plastic? How to rethink environmental folklore
Uploaded: 2014-02-11T15:59:58Z
Duration: 17 min 53 s
Description: Most of us want to do the right thing when it comes to the environment. But things aren’t as simple as opting for the paper bag, says sustainability strategist Leyla Acaroglu. A bold call for us to let go of tightly-held green myths and think bigger in order to create systems and products that ease strain on the planet.

Methane Emissions From Landfills

As Waistlines Grow, So Do Refrigerator Sizes

Here I mention that fridges are growing larger by a cubic foot every year, but this is actually true for every decade. In 2014, refrigerators averaged 22.5 cubic feet, up from 19.6 cubic feet in 1980, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

Food wastage footprint: Impacts on natural resources

The Progressive Increase of Food Waste in America and Its Environmental Impact

I say that the UK government produced the "Soggy Lettuce Report." In fact, it was published by Prudential PLC, an international financial services group based in the UK, and was mentioned in a report by WRAP, a government-funded not-for-profit agency in the UK.

Soggy Lettuce Report: Are We a Nation of Wasters?

Does Peak Phosphorus Loom?

At a Glance: The Role of Energy in Food Security and Climate

The rise of the machines: A review of energy using products in the home

Habits of a Lifetime

Saving Water in the Kitchen

Here I state that "one day of extra energy use from boiling kettles is enough to light all of the streetlights in England for a night." Actually, the [Energy Saving Trust] (http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Take-action/Energy-saving-top-tips/Changing-your-habits-room-by-room/Saving-water-in-the-kitchen) concluded that if everyone in the UK boiled only the water they needed each time they use the kettle for one year, it would save enough electricity to power their street lights for two months. Subsequent articles have come up with different figures based on EST's report but that's the most accurate so far!

Mobile Phone Access Reaches Three Quarters of the Planet's Population

Cisco Visual Networking Index: Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update, 2013–2018

Electronics Waste Management in the United States Through 2009

Fast facts about MobileMuster

I mentioned that in Australia there are 22 million unused phones in people's drawers. In fact, the most recent report from MobileMuster (which recycles phones in Australia) put that figure at more than 23 million unwanted mobiles in Australia, which is a staggering amount!

Urban Miners Look for Precious Metals in Cell Phones

E-waste: An assessment of global production and environmental impacts

Minimising Impact: How legislation and sustainable design can reduce the environmental cost of a mobile phone

Environmental impacts of shopping bags

Paper Making and Recycling

Most of us want to do the right thing when it comes to the environment. But things aren’t as simple as opting for the paper bag, says sustainability strategist Leyla Acaroglu. A bold call for us to let go of tightly-held green myths and think bigger in order to create systems and products that ease strain on the planet.

Paper beats plastic? How to rethink environmental folklore

Many common beliefs about what’s environmentally friendly actually miss the bigger picture. For example, paper bags can cause more total harm than plastic when their full life cycle is considered. Everyday products like refrigerators and kettles waste massive resources due to poor design and human habits. Tackling sustainability requires looking past simple fixes and redesigning systems from the ground up.