General

Amazon

A shocking investigation by ITV has revealed how millions of new, unused, or returned goods end up in bins destined to be discarded and burned. According to a report from a former employee, the company is sending Dyson fans and hoovers as well as Apple Mac Book’s and i-Pads to landfill or destruction. Other items headed for the bin included unopened and unused face masks to protect people from Covid-19. 

These revelations ridicule Amazon’s claims that it is committed to being a zero-waste organization.

Why does Amazon throw away or destroy completely good products?

    The answer is Amazon’s highly “successful” business model. Many sellers choose to store their products in Amazon’s vast warehouses. According to this model, shelf space in warehouses becomes more valuable than the items themselves. The faster the items can be sold or destroyed, the faster space can be made for more products – and the greater the company’s profits.

Chetan Welsh of Greenpeace himself told us: “This is an unimaginable amount of unnecessary waste, and it is simply shocking to see a multi-billion pound company getting rid of stock in this way”.

“Stuff that’s not even single use but not being used at all, straight off the production line and into the bin. As long as Amazon’s business model relies on this kind of disposal culture, things are only going to get worse. The government must step in and bring in legislation immediately. In an interview before he knew about our investigation, Amazon’s UK boss John Boumphrey told ITV News the amount the company destroys is “extremely small.”

    Destroying unsold stock is not a new practice. Fast fashion companies have long been known to burn unsold or returned inventory. Indeed, most corporations that manufacture consumer products have a serious problem with overproduction, which usually leads to wasteful practices. Overproduction badly affects our environment and is terrible for the people who are involved in extracting the materials. The cost to our overloaded waste system cannot be forgotten either. It is well known that Amazon does not pay its fair share of taxes – taxes that are sorely needed to safely dispose of such waste, which itself can be complex and environmentally damaging.

Throwing away millions of products is not only a complete waste of precious resources and human labour – but these things are also not even used at all. Thousands of children do not have adequate learning equipment such as laptops or computers. While only a year ago, the country plunged into crisis because of a shortage of personal protective equipment. Throughout all this, a company owned by the richest man in the world is throwing away brand new items to protect its profits. At the same time, Amazon’s employees continue to suffer from poor working conditions and increasingly frequent injuries during busy periods. 

Can it be stopped?

Other countries already have laws in place to prevent this kind of waste, and our government when asked if the UK was considering changing its laws to stop activities such as those of Amazon, said: “We are looking at the regulations to see how we can increase reusing and recycling for things like electrical goods.”

While Boris Johnson said the investigation “sounds incredible” to him, before adding: “an indictment of a consumerist society, if it’s as you say, we will look into it. Obviously, we don’t like stuff going to landfill under any circumstances that’s why we have the landfill tax and landfill credit scheme, and everything else.”

In Germany there exists a law that stops Amazon from destroying new products. But an early investigation by Greenpeace Germany demonstrates that Amazon is already finding ways around this law – such as forcing workers to cut clothes so the company can legally destroy them. Exposing the company’s terrible policy of destroying millions of pieces of unsold stock will go a long way to forcing change. And forcing Amazon to do better will force other companies to think more carefully about their business models and waste management plans.

If we get Amazon to stop the waste, it could be the start of a real change across the country – where companies cannot just throw responsibility away. Do you want help? Sign the petition at Greenpeace.

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to utilize the land or trees. It refers to the decrease in forest areas across the world that are lost for other uses such as agricultural croplands, urbanization, or mining activities. The land is then often converted into farms, plantation, roads, housing, and other city uses. Considerably deforestation has been accelerated by human activities, negatively affecting natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and the climate. 

Deforestation can also be seen as removal of forests leading to several imbalances, both ecologically and environmentally. However, harvesting, forest fires, and insect infestations is not seen as deforestation because the affected areas will eventually grow back. In some countries, such as Canada and America, all areas harvested must be reforested either by replanting or through natural regeneration. 

In various countries deforestation is most severe, such as the Amazon, Borneo, Congo Basin and the Russian Far East.  Over half of the world’s forests have been destroyed over the last 10,000 years, the majority in just the recent 50 years. If they’re not reforested, they inevitably end up as wastelands directly from soil erosion and desertification.

Deforestation is directly caused by agricultural expansion, wood extraction and infrastructure expansion such as road building and urbanization. Wood-based industries such as paper, matchsticks, and furniture need a substantial quantity of wood. Lumber and charcoal are common examples of trees being used as fuel. Cooking and heating all around the world use these resources, and half of the illegal removal from forests is thought to be used as fuelwood.

There are many causes of deforestation.

Deforestation causes can either be direct or indirect.           

Among direct causes are:

• Natural causes as hurricanes, fires, parasites and floods
• Human activities such as agricultural expansion, cattle breeding, timber extraction, mining, oil extraction, dam construction and infrastructure development.

Among indirect causes are:

• Insufficient political actions and governance failure as inadequate land tenure system, corruption, wrong public administration investments
• Political and socio economic causes as population growth, military conflicts and climatic changes

The main causes of deforestation can actually be lead back especially to:

• Agricultural Activities: As earlier mentioned in the overview, agricultural activities are one of the significant factors affecting deforestation. 
• Mining: Oil and coal mining requires a considerable amount of forest land. Apart from this, roads and highways have to be built to make way for trucks and other equipment. The waste that comes out from mining pollutes the environment and affects  nearby species.
• Paper:  Approximately 640 million trees represent the paper thrown away each year. By using recycled paper, we allow the forests to remain as an ecosystem and wildlife habitat. If we recycled, we could save 27.5 million tons of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere. 
• Overpopulation. Due to overpopulation, more land is needed to establish housing and settlements. As well as more roads and highways are being built in order to accommodate a larger sum of people driving. With more people, food intake is increased and there is a need for food and farmlands to grow and raise livestock—resulting in deforestation. 
• Forest Fires: Another valid example would be forest blazes; hundreds of trees are lost each year due to forest fires in various portions of the world. It happens due to extreme warm summers and milder winters. Fires, whether caused by man or nature, result in a massive loss of forest cover.

Effects of Deforestation

It is  estimated that deforestation is responsible for around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions and 1.5 billion tons of carbon is released every year by tropical deforestation.

• Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Trees help to mitigate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, but they become carbon sources once they’re cut, burned, or otherwise removed. 
• Acidic Oceans. The oceans are becoming more acidic with an increased supply of carbon dioxide from deforestation and burning fossil fuels. Oceans are already 30 percent more acidic since the Industrial Revolution, putting ocean species and ecosystems at an extreme risk.
• Climate Imbalance and Climate Change: Deforestation also affects the climate in many ways. Forests are the lungs of our planet. Trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen and water vapor in the air, and that is why tropical rain forests are extremely humid.

• Erosion: Erosion also causes contaminants in the soil to leak into the water supply which greatly decreases the quality of our drinking water.  
• Flooding: When it rains, trees absorb and store a large amount of water with the help of their roots. When they are cut down, the flow of water is disrupted, and the soil loses its ability to retain water. It leads to floods in some areas and droughts in others.
• Increase in Global Warming: Trees play a major role in controlling global warming. The trees utilize greenhouse gases, restoring the balance in the atmosphere. With constant deforestation, the ratio of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased, adding to our global warming woes.

There are several ways you can take over and help to reduce deforestation

• Educating others who are completely unaware of this global problem we’re facing and increasing awareness and making an impact.
• Use Renewable Wood Resources. We can plant trees as a source of wood or use wood from second-growth forests.  Sustainable, locally sourced wood can be used and charcoal for cooking or heating homes and is a great alternative to fossil fuels—if locally sourced.
• Eating Less Meat. Agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation. Actually having a meatless Monday or only eating meat for one meal a day will make an extremely positive impact on the environment.
• Forest-derived Products. Make sure they’re 100% post-consumer content materials that are any material derived from forestry for direct consumption or commercial use, such as lumber, paper, or forage for livestock.
• Reduce Consumption and paper consumption. 
• Forest-Friendly Policies. Purchase from companies who are committed to reducing deforestation.
• Forestry Certification. If buying products from virgin forest fiber, make sure it bears a seal from a credible forestry certification system. Such as the Forest Stewardship Council.

Although many will most likely say that their individual purchasing decision will have a minimal impact, it is all of our responsibility to understand and educate others about the environmental effects of deforestation. Choose carefully and live carefully.

Climate change refers to significant, long-term changes in the global climate.

The global climate is the connected system of sun, earth, oceans, wind, rain and snow, forests, deserts, a mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem, and everything people do. 

Climate change is the changes in the usual weather found in a place. These changes depend upon how much it rains in a place usually  in a year or temperature for a month or season. It is also considered as Earth’s climate or Earth’s usual temperature. Or it could be a change in where rain and snow usually fall on Earth.

Change in weather takes place in just a few hours. Usually climate changes take hundreds or even millions of years. The Earth’s average temperature is about 15 C but has been much higher and lower in recent years. There are natural fluctuations in the climate but scientists say temperatures are now rising faster.

Carbon dioxide is the main cause of human-induced climate change. It has been emitted in vast quantities from the burning of fossil fuels and it is a very long-lived gas.  It means it continues to affect the climate system during its long existence  in the atmosphere.

The primary cause of climate change is burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal which emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere—primarily carbon dioxide. When burnt, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide into the air, causing the planet to heat up. This climate change is because of human activity.  Other human activities, such as agriculture and deforestation, also contribute to the proliferation of greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

The main causes of climate change are:

• Humanity’s increased use of fossil fuels – such as coal, oil and gas to generate electricity, run cars and other forms of transport, and power manufacturing and industry
• Deforestation – because living trees absorb and store carbon dioxide; when they are cut, we lose this functionality of theirs.
• Increasingly intensive agriculture – which emits greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide

Impacts from climate change are happening now. 

Climate change may cause erosion, decline in organic matter, salinization, soil biodiversity loss, landslides, desertification and flooding.  This is as a result of an imbalance between incoming and outgoing radiation in the atmosphere. 

More frequent and intense droughts, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live, and people’s livelihoods and communities. As climate change worsens, dangerous weather events are becoming more frequent or severe.

These impacts extend to  increase in temperature, affecting ecosystems and communities in the United States and around the world. Things that we depend upon and value like water, energy, transportation, wildlife, agriculture, ecosystems, and human health are experiencing the effects of a changing climate.

Water

Changes to water resources can have a big impact on people’s lives. In many regions, floods and water quality problems are likely to be worse because of climate change.

Food

Our food supply depends on climate and weather conditions. Although agricultural practices may be adaptable, changes like increased temperatures, water stress, diseases, and weather extremes create challenges for the farmers and ranchers who put food on our tables.

Health

Human health is vulnerable to climate change. The changing environment is expected to cause diseases like  heat stress, an increase in waterborne diseases, poor air quality, and diseases transmitted by insects and rodents. Extreme weather can compound many of these health threats.

The environment

Ecosystems are also affected by climate change. Habitats are being modified, the timing of events such as flowering and egg laying are shifting, and species are altering their home ranges. Climate change is recognized as a serious threat to ecosystem, biodiversity, and health. It is associated with alterations in the physical environment of the planet Earth and affects life around the globe

Changes are also occurring to the oceans. The ocean absorbs about 30% of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. As a result, the ocean is becoming more acidic and marine life is affected. Rising sea levels due to thermal expansion and melting land ice sheets and glaciers put coastal areas at greater risk of erosion and storm surge.

Humans are facing the problem from climate change today, and the one who are causing these conflicts are from humans. It is impossible to stop global warming, but people still can reduce and slow down this problem. 

You can reduce climate change by

• Put a price on carbon.
• End fossil fuel subsidies.
• Build low-carbon, resilient cities.
• Increase energy efficiency and use of renewable energy.
• Implement climate-smart agriculture and nurture forest landscapes.

Cotton, although a very eco friendly product, does have an environmental impact.  Like other crops, cotton farming can lead to land clearing, soil erosion and contamination, and loss of soil biodiversity. Poorly managed soils can lead to the loss of soil fertility and declines in productivity.

However, organic cotton doesn’t have this negative impact.  Organic cotton means cotton that is grown without using harmful pesticides, chemicals and synthetic fertilizers. As  compared to conventional cotton production the impact of water pollution of organic cotton is 98% less . 

Is organic cotton environmentally friendly?

As organic cotton is grown without chemical pesticides or harmful fertilizers, when it comes to environmental effects, organic cotton is usually highlighted as the better of the two.

Cotton’s environmental impacts result from the use of agrochemicals (especially pesticides), the consumption of water, and the conversion of habitat to agricultural use. Diversion of water and its pollution by cotton growing has had a severe impact on major ecosystems such as the Aral Sea in Central Asia, the Indus Delta in Pakistan and the Murray Darling River in Australia.       

Environmental impacts on:

• Water Scarcity

Production and processing of cotton uses a large amount of water. Cotton is the largest user of water among all agricultural commodities. Surface and ground waters are often re-routed to irrigate cotton fields, leading to freshwater loss through evaporation, and inefficient water management.

• Soil Erosion and Degradation

Cotton cultivation severely devalues soil quality. Cotton production has depleted and degraded the soil in many areas. Most cotton is grown on well-established fields, but their exhaustion leads to expansion into new areas resulting in the destruction of habitats.

• Pollution

Cotton production is the cause of heavy pollution. Cotton is a crop most heavily sprayed with chemicals in the world.  The use of pesticides threaten the quality of soil and water, as well as the health of biodiversity in and downstream from the fields. Heavy use of pesticides also raises concern for the health of farm workers and nearby populations.

• Water Contamination

Draining away pesticides, fertilizers, and minerals from cotton fields contaminates rivers, lakes, wetlands, and underground aquifers. These pollutants affect biodiversity directly by immediate toxicity or indirectly through long-term accumulation.

Hazardous pesticides commonly used for cotton production are often found in nearby water resources. Around 85 percent of the population suffers from poor health as a result of unsafe drinking water.

• Water footprint of cotton

In developed countries, most of the water footprint from our consumption of cotton is virtual water. Virtual water is the water “hidden” in the products, services and processes people buy and use every day. Virtual water is the water embodied in the production of food and fiber and non-food commodities, including energy.

For Japan, 95% of the water footprint of cotton consumption is located outside Japan with the highest use of virtual water in China, Pakistan, and India.

In Europe, about 84% of the water footprint of cotton consumption is external with impacts especially in India and Uzbekistan.

For the US, about half the water footprint from cotton is virtual water with impacts mainly in India, Pakistan, and China.

• Raining with pesticides

A study of rain water in a Brazilian cotton region found that rain water contained 19 different pesticides – 12 of which were used in cotton production.

Where does the water go in cotton production?

The water used in cotton production is mainly used in either the agricultural stage or the production stage.

In the agricultural stage, there are three types of water uses:

• evaporation of rainwater collected for growing cotton
• withdrawal of water for irrigation (ground- or surface water)
• water pollution caused by runoff pesticides, fertilisers and other chemicals.

In the industrial, production stage, there are two types of water uses:

• extraction of ground- or surface water
• pollution of water from industrial processes.

In total, the water footprint of cotton is divided approximately like this:

• 42% blue water (groundwater)
• 39% green water (rainwater)
• 19% Grey water (polluted water / dilution water).

Other social and environmental issues with cotton

• Cotton cultivation causes soil degradation and erosion as well as loss of forest area and other habitat.
• The use of child labor and slavery is common in the industry.
• Cotton production is responsible for the emission of 220 million tons of CO2 annual

At Go Eco Love, we source our cotton very carefully.  We try to buy organic cotton so that we are assessing the environment of our sourcing carefully.  Have a look at our collection of cotton hand bags at: Go Eco Love