Biofuels: Boon or Bogus?

In the face of oil-related wars and environmental disasters, biofuels are often touted as a socio-enviro-friendly fuel. Unfortunately, the most popular biofuel in the U.S. is ethanol, which is chock-full of its own socio-enviro problems. American ethanol is heavily subsidized — and mostly made of another heavily subsidized commodity: corn. Much of this corn is grown unsustainably on industrial farms, using chemical pesticides and fertilizers made of polluting, non-renewable resources.

In addition, because corn ethanol requires so much energy to produce, the end product is barely more eco than petroleum itself. The entire U.S. corn crop would only produce enough ethanol to replace 12 percent of our current gasoline use, according to Rolling Stone. And while some biofuel enthusiasts are pinning their hopes on cellulosic ethanol that can be made from non-food plant matter, this fuel isn’t commercially available yet.

Other biofuels — such as biodiesel made from palm or soybean oil — also pose their own conundrums. Enviro-news site Grist points out that in Brazil and Southeast Asia, rainforests and peatlands are being turned into palm-oil and soy plantations, destroying ecosystems and releasing tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. U.S. soybeans, for their part, are often genetically modified and pose many of the same problems as industrial corn.

This leaves us with recycled biodiesel and veggie oil, made with used grease collected from restaurants or homes. Biodiesel yields the same per-gallon mileage as diesel while creating less pollution, and recycled veggie oil doesn’t cramp our food supply. A growing number of eco-activists are stepping up to make recycled biofuels, so look for a greasoline group near you to get you running. Or de-car altogether and declare energy independence.

Bioplastic: Bio-Magic or Boondoggle?

When San Francisco banned plastic bags last year, bioplastic bags were touted as a much greener alternative. After all, plastics are forever, while bioplastics — made of organic materials like corn — biodegrade relatively quickly.

Not everyone’s in love with bioplastics, however. In Santa Monica, Calif., plans are underway to ban both plastic and bioplastic bags. Why? Basically, these biobags are too much like their plastic counterparts: one-use items that create litter and pollute the ocean. Sure, bioplastics biodegrade, but before they do these bags can still harm marine life.

Of course, bioplastic bags should be properly disposed of and composted, not flung out to float in the Pacific Ocean. But if the dismal one to five percent recycling rate for plastic bags is any indicator, chances are slim that the average consumer will recycle their biobags. After all, most cities don’t even have a bioplastic composting facility — much less a network of conveniently located bioplastic recycling bins. And because biobags look so much like regular plastic bags, would-be recyclers could easily dump biobags into the plastic recycling bin, throwing a monkey wrench into the system.

While bioplastics are undoubtedly better than regular plastics, a simple switch from one to the other ignores the elephant in the room: Our addiction to disposable goods. Most bioplastic products — from bags to forks to cups to plates — are intended for just one use. Considering the fact that most households already have reusable alternatives to all these single-use products, it makes a lot more sense to bag a bad habit rather than to switch to a slightly less bad habit. Don’t just ditch the plastic. Ditch the one-use lifestyle, and embrace your reusable to-go mug and organic cotton tote instead.

Bamboo Clothes: Eco-Blessing or Bamboozle?

Bamboo clothes have gone fashion-forward. Gone are those linen-like muumuus; now we have soft bamboo T-shirts, plush bamboo robes and silky bamboo socks. Many environmentalists praise bamboo because it’s a fast-growing plant that shoots up and thrives without requiring any chemicals or pesticides, making it a sustainable, regenerating resource. And to the joy of eco-fashionistas who can’t afford Loomstate’s $55 organic cotton T-shirts, many bamboo items are very affordably priced.

So what’s the eco-conundrum? The problem is in the processing. Read the latest controversy here. Most bamboo clothes are made using a process that requires strong chemical solvents, such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide. Both of those chemicals are linked to health problems for the workers making the stuff, as well as the wearer who’s unknowingly absorbing the lingering toxins. Plus, the reason bamboo clothes are often so cheap is that most are made in China — which brings up all manner of fair labor and workers’ rights concerns.

Still, bamboo clothes are an eco step up from most conventional clothes, which too are often chemically processed and made with pesticide-intensive crops or synthetic non-renewable materials to boot. And unlike pesticide residue, which can remain in your conventional cotton clothes for years, the chemicals used in bamboo processing aren’t permanently embedded in the clothes. In fact, many bamboo products carry the Oeko Tex Standard 100 certification, which shows that the end product is chemical-free — and safe for you to wear.

To make sure your favorite bamboo T-shirt’s as green as possible, do your best to check up on the environmental and labor practices of the company you’re buying from. The very best companies are members of the Fair Trade Federation or have Co-op America's Business Seal of Approval.

Mineral Makeup: Pretty Toxic?

Environmentalists want beauty without cruelty to people, animals or the planet, making mineral makeup look like the natural choice. Compared to conventional makeup, which often contains all sorts of unpronounceable ingredients, mineral makeup is typically free of weird fragrances, chemical additives and dyes. Add to that the fact that many mineral makeup lines look and feel just as nice as the chemical-ridden stuff, and opting to go mineral seems like a no-brainer.

That said, mineral makeup isn’t worry-free. In fact, the consumer watchdog Environmental Working Group says “mineral-based products raise more questions about their safety than answers.” The problem? Nano-size ingredients. These teensy bits — which are 10 to 1,000 times smaller than their regular counterparts — can become quite damaging when absorbed by the body, even causing emphysema-like symptoms when they get into the lungs.

Some mineral makeup also contains irritating preservatives and bismuth oxychloride — a byproduct of lead refinement — used to lend a pearly sheen to the skin. The SPF 15 rating given most mineral makeup can be misleading as well: although titanium dioxide and zinc provide some natural sun protection, experts say it would take a heavy handed application to achieve an SPF of 15.

To stay on the safe side, do your best not to inhale mineral-based cosmetics, and avoid using them on damaged skin where they can be more easily absorbed. Avoid those brands with bismuth oxychloride and look for sun protection elsewhere. Beyond that, until we have better FDA regulation of personal care products, evaluate each item on a case-by-case basis. EWG’s cosmetic safety guide Skin Deep provides hazard scores on over 25,000 products to help you make smarter decisions.

_{Siel blogs about her love for the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market at greenlagirl.com.}

Now that we’ve sifted the promising from the PR, here’s our short guide to products that walk the green mile.

CFLs
The Philips Soft White CFL gets the green light from Grist for its recyclable packaging, warm glow and — according to Philips — the claim that it contains the lowest mercury levels of any CFL on the market, while both the NY Times and Popular Mechanics think N:Vision Soft White bulbs are a bright idea. To find a CFL disposal site near you, visit earth911.org.

Locavorism
You really can’t beat anything organic, locally grown and purchased from your neighborhood farmers’ market. ‘Nough said.

Hybrids
According to Consumer Reports, the Toyota Prius (48 mpg city/45 mpg hwy) leads the hybrid pack for a fifth straight year in a row. The Honda Civic Hybrid (40 mpg city/45 mpg hwy) also places high according to U.S. News and World Report, CNET and others.

Biofuels
Not everyone’s got the chemistry skills to whip up a vat of greasoline in their garage. Not to worry. Find your local “hillbilly biodiesel” co-op at biodieselamerica.org.

Bioplastic
Since biobags are basically bunk, opt instead for a durable, reusable carryall like the compact, stuffsack-able ChicoBag or the roomy Baggu tote.

Bamboo clothes
CERTAINTEES is a socially responsible bamboo brand that is as soft and cute as the baby panda bears that are born every time you buy one. Just kidding about the last part.

Mineral makeup
We don’t think women have to suffer for beauty, that’s why we like Larénim Mineral Makeup and Afterglow Cosmetics, both free of nano-particles and bismuth oxychloride.