点废成绿 Greening the Beige (GtB) is an eco-minded arts collective and not-for-profit community network dedicated to nurturing awareness of environmental issues. 点废成绿 GtB promotes and celebrates earth friendly artists and organizations in Beijing.
"Why are we being forced to choose between the economy and the environment? We tend to forget that without an environment we would not have an economy, as everything we consume and I mean everything comes from our environment."
~ Franke James (contemporary artist, photographer, writer)
Beijing's landfills are getting full fast! Reduce the "trash" you throw away by purchasing products with minimal packaging. Look for reusable, recyclable, and biodegrable items and remember to carry your reusable shopping bags!
Our all-time heroes at Greenpeace China recently launched "DETOX", a campaign designed to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from major clothing brand supply chains, and the entire life-cycle of their products by 2020.
An investigative report released earlier this year found alkylphenols and perfluorinated chemicals(PFCs) present in wastewater samples from two facilities located along the Yangtze River and Pearl Delta region, a primary source for the nation's water supply.
According to the report, this is "a cause for serious concern, as these chemicals are known hormone disruptors and can be hazardous even at very low levels."
International brands Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Bauer Hockey, Calvin Klein, Converse, Cortefiel, H&M, Lacoste, Nike, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH Corp) and Puma, and the Chinese brands Li Ning, Meters/bonwe and Youngor, have all had products manufactured at one or the other of the facilities.
Building on the success of the 2007 Green My Apple Campaign, Greenpeace is going after major corporate polluters. Two of these heavy hitters, Puma and Nike, have now signed commitments to detoxify Chinese rivers and join the campaign.
Greenpeace is also calling for government intervention that would adopt a political commitment to 'zero discharge' all hazardous chemicals within one generation, based on the precautionary principle and a preventative approach to chemicals management.
As far as the public's concerned, several consumer awareness raising events have been staged, including a striptease at The Village, Beijing and appearances at major events such as Shanghai's Zebra Music Festival.
Anyone and EVERYONE in the world with an internet connection can help outreach the DETOX goals by signing the petition at the bottom of their campaign page and/or downloading the support banners, posters and buttons there, too.
Comments
Nike Commits
Hi Green friends,
I just wanted to share that Greenpeace's campaign has hit a key target. On Aug 17 2011, Nike has officially committed to eliminating all hazardous chemicals across its entire supply chain, and the entire life-cycle of its products by 2020. See here: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/Nike-vs-adidas/