The Green Factor

Much is said these days about living "green" and buying "green" products. Companies in the states talk in great detail both internally and externally about minimizing their global "foot print". There is constant pressure from world organizations and NGO's to monitor the way we live our lives. This concern has come into focus even more as China, India, and Eastern Europe continue to grow and modernize. It's good that millions of people are rising out of poverty and are able to live prosperous lives. With that though comes increased consumption, particularly of fossil fuels and food. This increases prices, and thins out the available supply for the population.

Germany definitely does its part to monitor their global "foot print". This was apparent before I even touched down in Cologne. As my plane from Amsterdam approached the Cologne airport, there were fields and fields of wind turbines literally as far as the eye could see. The country has really dedicated itself to harnessing wind power. There are only two turbines that I can think of in MN, the one off 169 near Princeton, and one sitting in downtown Maple Groove. To note though, MN ranks in the top 5 in the US for wind energy. I believe the majority of the turbines are in Southern MN.

Germany, as well as most of Europe, has great public transportation. The rail system here is extensive and efficient. Traveling from town to town and within the city is very easy. This decreases the need for automobile travel, which decreases CO2 emissions. Many times you'll hear people in the states say that it wouldn't work there based on the structure of our cities, but I think that is incorrect. To me, it makes more sense based on the fact that our urban sprawl is so aggressive. If you set up rail from many large hubs, and then create park and rides and bus routes at those hubs, I think people would see the added benefit. It would decrease highway traffic, and the high cost of owning, operating, and maintaining a car.

Germany is also very good when it comes to recycling. In my flat, I currently have four trash cans. One can is for all paper products, right down to empty toilet paper rolls. Another can is for plastic, and tin. Another is for glass, and another is for general refuse like banana peels or anything that can't be recycled. Outside of my building, there are then four separate large trash cans that we empty our waste into. Again, it's very efficient, and it's something to feel good about at the end of the day.

Plastic and glass drinking bottles are another benefit by themselves. Most grocery stores will accept and refund returned bottles. This includes everything from the normal bottle of Coke you get out of the pop machine, to the large container of water you purchase during your grocery trip. Returns are processed at the checkout of most discount stores, while non-discount mainstream stores have large machines you insert your bottles into. The machine then prints out a ticket with the amount to be refunded, which you then hand to the cashier at checkout.

An added side benefit to this process is that poor and bargain hunting citizens often scour streets and trash cans for bottles to return to the store for refunds. You can't imagine what this does to improve the cleanliness of the city. Basically, they're paying pseudo workers to clean up the city. The "workers" are then compensated when they return the bottles to the store. Many times when we are walking along the street and drinking a water, soda, or beer, we'll simply just leave the bottle sitting on the ground next to the trash can. This is so the people looking for bottles can easily see them, and so they don't have to look through the trash to find them. Believe me, they pick them up pretty quickly!

Regarding grocery stores, if you shop in Germany, then you better bring bags with you to carry your stuff home because they don't have stacks of free bags sitting there for you. Many stores will sell you large plastic bags for 1 Euro (roughly $1.65), but I haven't been to one yet where they were free. I love this policy. Many people have these rolling carts they bring with them to carry their goods home. I just bring my school bag with me as I shop periodically throughout the week.

I know some of you are saying this wouldn't work in big box stores back home, but there are still ways to help. For one, set up plastic and paper bag recycling bins at all stores: discount retailers, grocery, and convenience. It's easy, and it's something a 16 year old working for $9 an hour could maintain. Second, sell or encourage people to bring in their own cloth or environmentally friendly bags to shop. Cap their size so they are easily recognizable and prevent shortage from those who try to sneak goods out by hiding them in their bags. There is a concern about the cleanliness of personal bags and the health risk they pose, but the option is still worth considering.

It kills me back home when I buy $50 worth of goods, and walk out of the store with 10 plastic shopping bags. It takes quite a bit of energy and fossil fuels to create those bags, and minimizing their use would be so easy. Even though it takes a long time for plastic bags to degrade, paper isn't that much better either as it occupies more space in land fills. Even though the resources used to create them are sustainable, you can't really grow a tree overnight.

Ok enough carrying on. The main point of the post was to point out the great lengths Germany goes through to help minimize their global "foot print". You can see it on their streets, in their parks, and particularly in their river. After visiting half the countries of the EU, I can say Germany seems to be the leader.

As this issue becomes more and more popular, it wouldn't surprise me to see companies in the states become more public about the things they are doing to help out. Not only is it the right thing to do, it is an easy way to gain a competitive advantage over competitors, especially in a tough market like right now. I'm also proud to say that the option of recycling in MN is very easy for its citizens, and something I will take more advantage of when I return home.