Can Big Business Really Be Green?

In case you haven't heard, green is the new black. But what does green mean? Low C02 footprint? Keeping garbage out of landfills? Hybrid, Electric, Air-powered cars? Solar, wind, hydro power? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Hemp underwear? Or is it just the newest way to market yourself?

Can big business really ever be green? Honda claims to be green by focusing on alternative fuels in their cars and lowering fuel consumption in all their vehicles. Okay, I'll buy that. But still not as green as riding a bike to work. Continental Airlines created a C02 emission calculator so it's passengers can try and offset their carbon foot print. What!? Suncor found a cleaner way to extract oil from tar sand. Nothing seems greener to me than open pit tar sand mining.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not perfect. I own two old SUVs. My house could use more insulation. But I recycle when I can. I drink my water out of the same Dasani bottle every day. I try to buy locally. I like fixing up old cars and really old houses (great forms of reusing). I want to leave the world a green place for my kids. I know every little bit helps, but when some of the biggest polluters in the world start to claim to be green I get a little red.

What does green mean to you? Here are a two ends of the spectrum if you would like to know more.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0703/gallery.green_giants.fortune/index.html

http://www.treehugger.com/buygreen/

- Dillon (see my page)