HomeMy WebLinkAboutbioware pricesPrice Comparisons: Traditional v. Eco-Friendly Products
December 7, 2016 Page 1 of 3
Meal Related Disposable Items: For a meal that uses a fork, a knife, a spoon, a plate, a bowl, a cup and a napkin, the
most eco-friendly set (in green) costs 5 cents more than the traditional set (first rows).
forks/spoons/knives (not bendy)
Store Brand ₵/piece
Costco Solo 2 plastic
Costco.com Eco Kloud 5 Compostable
Smart & Final Trellis Sustainable 5 Biodegradable
paper plates (not paper-thin)
Store Brand ₵/plate
Costco Dixie - 10” 10 prints – ink contains metals or other substances not good for
biodegradability
coated – plastic
Costco.com Eco Kloud – 10”
Eco Kloud – 9”
12
8
Sugar cane – renewable, tree free
Compostable
No print
No coating
Smart & Final Sun Harvest – 9” 12
paper bowls 12oz
Store Brand ₵/bowl
Costco Dixie 6 prints – ink contains metals or other substances not good for
biodegradability
coated – plastic
Costco.com Eco Kloud 6 Sugar cane – renewable, tree free
Compostable
No print
No coating
paper cups for hot and cold 12oz
Store Brand ₵/cup
Costco Dixie 11
Costco.com Eco Kloud 9 Compostable
paper napkins
Store Brand ₵/sheet
Costco Kirkland 1
Costco.com Marcel 1 100% recycled
Smart & Final Sun Harvest 1 100% recycled
80% post-consumer recycled Trader Joe’s Trader Joe’s 2
Sprouts Sprouts 1
Price Comparisons: Traditional v. Eco-Friendly Products
December 7, 2016 Page 2 of 3
Other Items
paper towels
Store Brand ₵/sheet
Costco Kirkland 1
Costco.com Seventh Generation 2 100% recycled
50% post-consumer recycled
Smart & Final Sun Harvest 1 100% recycled
80% post-consumer recycled Trader Joe’s Trader Joe’s 2
Sprouts Sprouts 2 100% recycled
80% post-consumer recycled
Unbleached/brown
toilet paper
Store Brand ₵/sheet
Costco Kirkland 0.2
Costco.com Seventh Generation 0.3 100% recycled
50% post-consumer recycled
Smart & Final Sun Harvest 0.2 100% recycled
80% post-consumer recycled Trader Joe’s Trader Joe’s 0.2
Sprouts Sprouts 0.2 100% recycled
80% post-consumer recycled
Paper wrap, no plastic
others
Store Brand
Costco Kirkland Dish soap
Biodegradable
Trader Joe’s Trader Joe’s
Costco Kirkland
(green bottle) Laundry detergent
Trader Joe’s Trader Joe’s Dishwasher detergent Biodegradable
Paper box
Sprouts a variety Hand soap Biodegradable
Post-consumer recycled bottles
Fair trade
Amazon.com a variety Trash bags Biodegradable or compostable
Products compared:
• Traditional: the cheapest (may be the biggest pack), not sale prices.
• Eco-friendly: the most eco-friendly option at each store, not sale prices, online prices include shipping.
• Styrofoam is not considered because it’s banned in many cities.
Price Comparisons: Traditional v. Eco-Friendly Products
December 7, 2016 Page 3 of 3
Good Features
Plastic free
Biodegradable
Compostable
Non GMO
Organic material, not petroleum based.
No chemicals or other ingredients to damage the soil or ocean (down from the drain).
Compostable is better than biodegradable.
Tree free Renewable materials: plant fiber, sugar cane, wheat straw, etc.
Paper products from trees contribute to deforestation:
“Mostly plundered by lumbering or oil and gas exploration. Scientists recently found that in
less than a century, there could be no wilderness left—nowhere for untouched evolution or
natural carbon storage, or human escape.”
http://time.com/4527296/2016-election-other-issues/
Post-consumer recycled True recycling, from our recycle bins.
Pre-consumer recycled is “reuse” leftover from other productions.
Fair trade Fair trade certification covers a number of things, including sustainability, no middleman,
no child/slave labor.
The invisible part to consumers is where the ingredients are from. For example, Swiss
chocolate has sugar and cocoa from third world countries, where labor and environment
are treated differently, possibly unethically.
FAQs
Plastic or paper Plastic is a fossil fuel product, not biodegradable, stays in landfill forever.
Some recyclers no longer take plastic. “Cheap oil has compelled plastics manufacturers to
use more virgin material made directly from petroleum instead of recycled plastic”
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/green-life/hey-mr-green-why-are-some-recyclers-no-
longer-taking-plastic
Disposable or reusable Every new item, to say the least, from production to shipping, generates lots of carbon and
other greenhouse gas emissions.
Disposable items, typically a quick use, have permanent environmental impact. Except
Styrofoam, everything is recyclable. But the recycle centers cannot catch up with the speed
we consume. Meantime, one open space after another becomes landfill.
The biggest FAQ about reusable is washing. Technology has helped us get creative with
waste water, for landscape and other purposes. Another FAQ is cost. Buy used helps. For
example, silverware at Salvation Army is $1 for 8.
Recent news on environment and humanity:
“In September the atmospheric concentration of CO2 permanently passed the 400 parts per million threshold–a
problem, considering many scientists now believe the level needs to be at 350 ppm to avoid catastrophic climate
change.” http://time.com/4574484/trumps-presidency-end-livable-climate/
“The U.N. Environment Program said the world needs to slash its annual greenhouse gas emissions. ‘The growing
numbers of climate refugees hit by hunger, poverty, illness and conflict will be a constant reminder of our failure to
deliver.’” http://www.ocregister.com/articles/climate-404384-ocprint-greenhouse-efforts.html