We have moved on from the days when you had to harm the environment to grow your company or to protect the environment. Today’s world has seen a convergence of the environment and business as scientists and governments emphasize the importance of green initiatives. Being green is not an overly extravagant idea. It is a necessity which drives innovation, creates business opportunities and generates income.
It is becoming increasingly popular to integrate environmental concerns into daily life and business operations. Businesses are eager to reinvent, reframe and restructure their existing products and technology to offer green alternatives that use less environmentally harmful or depleting raw materials. However, ‘green’ has become the new branding buzzword, and some people may use it casually to entice customers rather than researching and proving the true environmental impact of their products.
All products and services require the extraction of natural resources as well as the production of emissions and wastes. Both of these are likely to have a negative effect on the environment. As a result, just because a product or service is labelled as green doesn’t mean it can fix the environment or have no environmental impact. It simply means it has a lower environmental footprint than similar products.
Because of the ‘green’ label, many products, services, and activities are now considered beneficial and conscientious. Not all things that are green are useful. You can make better and more informed choices by debunking some common green myths.
Myth 1 – Get an electric or green vehicle
While driving an electric vehicle does not cause carbon emissions and does little to reduce air pollution, have your considered the environmental impacts of the manufacturing process? The production of the Lithium Ion batteries that power them emits significant amounts of CO2. The concept of an electric vehicle has the potential to transform the automotive sector, but it won’t be the most cost-effective until manufacturing and battery production are more efficient.
If you’re sincere about reducing your carbon footprint and commuting responsibly, you can take public transportation, carpool, bike, walk, or even avoid buying cars for the sake of it.
Myth 2 – Switch to green cleaning products
We’re all aware that many common household cleaners contain chemicals like ammonia, chlorine, and alcohol, which can be harmful to our health and the environment. To emphasize the harmless nature of their products, brands may use terms like ‘natural,’ ‘eco-friendly,’ and ‘green.’ Instead of purchasing green products and being uncertain about what goes into them, we can create a few effective solutions at home.
A mixture of vinegar, baking soda and hot water can be used as a mild cleaner. To give it a pleasant smell, essential oils can be added. Borax powder can be substituted for vinegar to make cleaners. Borax powder is completely natural and does not have any toxic properties. Other items such as hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove stain, bleach, and clean up. You can also use tea tree oil, water for mold removal, and disinfection.
Myth 3 – Miyawaki plantation can be an alternative to traditional forests
The Miyawaki technique involves densely planting in small places in a very short time. Although this technology can increase urban green cover, it cannot replace traditional and natural forests. This system can support ten times as many trees as traditional forests. However, large trees such a mango, neem, or guava require plenty of space to grow. Their growth is hindered if they are planted in restricted areas. This strategy can be used in congested areas, but it cannot match the complex ecosystems of a forest. Grow-Trees.com encourages large-scale afforestation across the country to restore forests for the exact same reason.
Myth #4: Biodegradable items can be thrown everywhere
We often throw a banana peel onto the road, believing that it will naturally decompose and not harm the environment. We don’t realize that green living means proper garbage disposal, as well as reducing our waste generation. Because landfills are densely packed, biodegradable waste can take a while to break down. Anything biodegradable needs to be broken down by microbial activity. To stop the creation of garbage, the best option is to stop its production.
Views expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the website.
Supriya holds a Master’s in Environment Science from the University of Mumbai and has a post-graduate diploma in Urban Environmental Management’ from WWF-National Law University, Delhi. She is passionately interested in current issues of environmental governance, and strives to find sustainable solutions for the many social challenges. Grow-Trees.com is where she assists corporations to mobilize the resources necessary to adopt the triple bottom line for their businesses. She also develops social impact-driven projects. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting various sanctuaries throughout India, traveling to unknown places, and spending time with her pets.
Supriya holds a Master’s in Environment Science from the University of Mumbai and has a post-graduate diploma in Urban Environmental Management’ from WWF-National Law University, Delhi. She is passionately interested in current issues of environmental governance, and strives to find sustainable solutions for the many social challenges. Grow-Trees.com is where she assists corporations to mobilize the resources necessary to adopt the triple bottom line for their businesses. She also develops social impact-driven projects. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting various sanctuaries throughout India, traveling to unknown places, and spending time with her pets.
