Psychology 101. How do you convince more people to do green deeds? Make them follow the crowd. WSJ covers Most Popular Lists and how they affect what people do.

“Other recent studies have quantified the popularity of popularity in other settings. Signs telling guests at a hotel in the Phoenix area that towel reuse was the No. 1 choice among their peers increased the rate of this practice by 34%, compared with other signs with messages stressing the impact on the environment. Arizona State University psychology Prof. Robert Cialdini and colleagues found that rates went even higher when the signs specified that most prior guests in the same room reused towels.

“To the extent you can convince that, not just a lot of people are doing this, but a lot of people like [them] are doing this,” you’ll get greater buy-in, Prof. Cialdini says.”

Want to help other go green? Make them feel like they need to follow the majority.

photo credit: Deco Fernandes

I have noticed that many products are now labeled as containing Omega 3 fatty acids.  Everything from yogurt to cereal to even eggs.  Center for Science in the Public Interest did a good job analyzing some of the claims.

“DHA and EPA, the omega-3s found in salmon, trout, other fish, and algae, are linked to a lower risk of heart disease. Another omega-3, ALA, found in flaxseed and to a lesser extent, canola and soy, may not have the same benefits. But that doesn’t stop companies from loading products with ALA and bragging about their omega-3 content.”

“A six-ounce serving of Atlantic salmon has more than 3,000 mg of DHA and EPA, over 100 times what you’d get in a serving of DHA-fortified yogurt, milk, or soy milk.”

Looks like more green washing marketing claims.

photo credit: Kris Cohen

Wheat bread is another one of those meaningless terms because most bread is made from wheat.  Some wheat bread is ‘faked’ by using brown packaging or dyeing the bread with molasses or brown sugar. White bread is made using refined grains that are not as healthy.

Most people should equate whole wheat to including both the inside wheat germ and outer wheat bran.  USDA Certified Organic wheat is even better. This type of bread will have more fiber than other breads. Look for whole wheat, whole oats, or 100% whole wheat as the first ingredient on packaging, not wheat flour.  Some items have the Whole Grains Stamp making whole grain products easier to identify.

The swine flu has generated a run on hand sanitizer. I saw some Organic EO Hand Sanitizer at Whole Foods and decided to look into it.  They use Organic Lavender Essential Oil, Organic Alcohol (non-GMO),  and Aloe Vera.  It is not tested on animals.  The small Corte Madera,  California company that makes it is struggling to keep up with demand.

photo credit: Newone1970

Tyvek Envelopes are made of a special rip proof high density polyethylene that can be recycled.  Tyvek is also used in home construction. You can mail the envelopes to Dupont and they will recycle them.  Waste Management also recycles them. Not convenient, but better than nothing.

Tyvek is also used in shoe covers, boot covers, hoods, lab coats, aprons, sleeves and pants, which can be recycled here.

We recently got an REI item shipped to us in a big plastic envelope. It was not Tyvek and lacked a recycling plastic number on it.  We did verify with REI that it is recyclable.