April 28, 2010: Franzia, because wine in a box is more environmentally friendly!

A friend of ours came by not too long ago and brought a box of Franzia over with her. It's been sitting on my desk all week since she left it there, and I keep reading the side panel of it where it lists all it's ecological achievements. They are as follows.

1. Significantly less CO2 emissions
2. Significantly less packaging waste
3. Smaller carbon footprint
4. Less wine waste

I don't know how many other people have random Franzia boxes on their desks for them to look at while they're procrastinating, but I found myself laughing at Franzia. Wine-in-a-box is suppossed to be the least classy of wines, but I hear it's a good wine. However, that's not on it's list of things they feel they've accomplished. It's more important that they market that the box is better than the bottle for the environment.

But I digress, the environment is definitely something that people should really consider now. Before, we didn't have the knowledge that we do now, and we should move forward. A lot of people say, "Oh, I recycle my cans" or "I use reusable bags at the grocery store". Well a fat lot of good that does when you're driving your HUMMER across country for whatever stupid reason you've got.

We should stop undoing the good we're doing, because it looks like for every step forward we take, we also take a half step back. It's really important that we continue to learn more about our environment, how to take care of it, and more economical ways to live our lives. But at the same time, we need to incorporate those things on a daily basis. We're not going to save the world tomorrow, of course not. But every step backwards we take is just going to make it take longer.

Also, stop looking at band-aid solutions. Really think about what you're doing and whether there might be a better, friendlier alternative. I'm not saying I don't love reusable bags or recycling, but maybe getting a friendlier car to drive around town in might be a better idea? Not only that, but it'll save you some money.

Nowadays, it's easier on your pocket in the long run to be environmentally friendly. But if you think for just a second, is that two extra seconds it's going to take you really that bad anyway?

Love, Polly.