Students from around the world calculated their class mean and standard deviations for their footprints and posted them on our world map.
Do you see differences across the globe? If so, why do you think those differences exist?
Did you use the calculator to try to reduce your footprint down to the average from a citizen of another country? What changes would you have to make to lower your footprint in this way? Are you going to try and take some of these actions in your daily life?
Student Footprints >
Reusable Starbucks
Starbucks has begun offering plastic reusable cups to replace their plastic or paper cups. You can fins these cups at almost any location and they only cost $1. And when you bring in your cup to Starbucks you get 10 cents of of the total cost. My family was one of many who were always on the go. We had a stack of paper cups and sleeves for all of our morning coffee and tea. We switched to the Starbucks cups and i can't hep but feel a little proud when i think of all of the cups we're saving. I suggest that everyone who drinks as much tea as i do joins in.
this is a really good idea, but i believe that we can make it even better by maybe telling local establishments this so they can make something similar, so places in the world that don't have starbucks can help the environment a little more.
Those are awesome ideas Bridget and Cassandra! I think that having local businesses around the world join in on reusable bottles could make a major impact on our environment. In addition, you both reminded me about bringing reusable bags to grocery stores. Whenever I go grocery shopping or my family goes grocery shopping, we bring our own reusable bags for our groceries. Many stores now charge for plastic or paper bags, and I think if local businesses and grocery stores around the world started doing this as well, many people would start to bring reusable shopping bags wherever they went. This would minimize the negative effects plastic bags have on our environment greatly. Investing in reusable bags is just as rewarding as investing in reusable containers is, and I really like how you both brought up the fact that many businesses are starting to become eco-friendly. I think if more business saw the economic and environmental opportunities that came with reusable products, they would definitely join in on our journey towards an eco-friendly world!
Cassandra, that is very true. Starbucks is setting a good example but the more locations this idea can spread to the more effective its purpose will prove to be. And Madeleine, I've heard a lot about charging more for extra bags and I think it serves as a good motivator to bring your own. I was with my aunt recently and she was sad to see that her local grocery store had taken this tax away because she said it always made her think twice about how she could reuse.