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By: vanajemian
Business:	Yes on 17 Clubs	Posted On:	17 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	We received a mailer at the house today from the "Yes on 17" committee in California. I saw the symbol indicating that the mailer was printed in a union shop, but there was no indication of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. We as individuals and organizations in America tend to be unidimensional, that is, we focus on one issue as if it were not connected to anything else. Just as insurance rates, the subject of Proposition 17, affect everyone, so does the use of paper and ink to send out a "Yes on 17" mailer. This is not the twentieth century, when we thought that we had the luxury to be wasteful because we thought that the planet had the capacity to absorb our waste.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	League of Women Voters of Calif. Education Fund Clubs	Posted On:	17 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	A booklet containing pros and cons on the propositions for the coming June California election was mailed to the house by the League of Women Voters. The League must be applauded for attempting to educate California voters, more so in light of deceptive campaign advertising. // As for the environmental friendliness of the mailing, there was no indication of that other than, perhaps, that the booklet had been printed on newspaper stock. There was no indication of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. Also, I was surprised that there was no reference in large print to the League's "Smart Voter" Web site. // The League would benefit from having an innovations officer, somebody with a mandate to test ideas with local Leagues, in order to both increase voter knowledge and environmental friendliness. (Why an innovations officer? Recently, Common Cause instituted a program by which a donor would not donate until a candidate pledged to abide by certain rules. A variation of that had been put to the League a few years ago, but the program has not been implemented.)

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By: SBWright
Business:	La Quinta Hotels	Posted On:	16 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Other - Styrofoam
Review Detail:	The communal breakfast kitchen uses all styrofoam products. I would suggest switching to paper, and if composting is available in the area, I would suggest offering compostable products. Even better would be to offer ceramic, reusable items. The flow rate of the shower was very high. I would suggest replacing the shower heads with high performance, low-flow shower heads. Aerators could also be inserted into the sink faucets, as well.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Californians Vote Green Clubs	Posted On:	13 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	A nicely-done political mailer came to the house today from "Californians Vote Green". There was a reference to the Forest Stewardship Council in type so small that it BARELY could be read WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS. There was no indication that recycled paper had been used, that the mailer was biodegradable, that soy ink had been used. There was no mention of planting trees or offsetting carbon emission. Californians Vote Green could have done much better. Seeing that Proposition 16 was highlighted, my thought was that this mailer was really by proponents of Proposition 16. The mailer's lack of environmental care might make a person want to vote against Proposition 16.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Verizon Telephone	Posted On:	13 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	A charity which which I work and whose mail I open received an unsolicited mailing from Verizon. I was pleased to see a statement on the envelope, "Our printing supports wind power", with a reference to www.renewablechoice.com. The enclosed literature had the statement "Please Recycle" with the recycle symbol. // It is laudable that Verizon buys carbon offsets which fund wind power, but I do not see how that reduces the number of trees cut down. Also, there is nothing said about recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. Those are directly related to Verizon's mailing and I ask that Verizon directly address those. // Also, Verizon could stand out as an industry leader if it announced that it had appointed an "assistant manager for green practices" for every one of its offices, who could green all activities, from keeping things bright with sunlight to dispensing with disposables. Thank you.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	American Express Credit Card	Posted On:	10 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	I received a mail solicitation from American Express for its "Premier Awards Gold Card". There was no mention on the envelope or contents of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. American Express is a major company; its action will lead to action by others. I encourage American Express (a) to use e-mail instead of mail, (b) to set an example of environmental leadership whenever a mailing be necessary, and (c) to appoint in every office a person to be the "assistant manager for green practices", whose job would be to look at every action and find ways to conserve. Thank you.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Democratic National Committee Clubs	Posted On:	10 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	My mother received a survey in the mail from the Democratic National Committee. I was pleased that the image for recycled paper appeared on the envelope and on the enclosed letter and survey. At the same time, there was no indication of biodegradability, soy ink or the planting of trees. As for the recycle image, I urge the committee to display it more prominently. // Two additional suggestions: (a) use online surveying as much as possible so that paper be avoided completely and (b) appoint and draw attention to a "vice chair for green practices", whose job would be to continually look for ways to green the DNC and its communications, then tell the public about it. An additional thought for (a): it would be interesting to see how many youth and young adults would survey their parents and grandparents online if the DNC asked their help to do an environmentally-friendly survey. // Thank you.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Deluxe for Business Misc	Posted On:	7 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	Deluxe for Business is a large national company with a proud history. Today I received two mailings from the Deluxe office in Lancaster, California. While each mailing was for a different service, the two could have been combined to save paper and money. I looked on the envelopes and the literature, but was unable to find any mention of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees to offset the trees used to make these mailings. // Deluxe helps communities in the areas of education, the arts and human services. Deluxe can be a leader with regard to health and the environment by setting an example for the public and other businesses. Alongside doing eco-friendly mailings, Deluxe might get mention in the WALL STREET JOURNAL by appointing staff to become "assistant managers for green practices", so that somebody in every office be focused on greening every business routine possible. Thank you.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Yes on 16 Clubs	Posted On:	7 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Recycle, Other
Review Detail:	There is a vigorous campaign in California in favor of Proposition 16, to be voted by the public on the June ballot. An 8.5" x 11" mailer came to the house today, printed in color on each side on card stock. There was no mention of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees to offset the consumption of trees. // We have a tendency to compartmentalize our lives: we attempt to shine as heroes in one aspect of our lives and fail in others. I ask the "Yes on 16" people to do better, because they can do better, as they have the funds to do so.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Wayne Direct Insurance Services Insurance	Posted On:	4 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Recycle, Other
Review Detail:	I received an unsolicited mailing from Wayne Direct Insurance Services for life insurance. There was nothing in the mailing about recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. // Buying an address list from the California State Bar and then doing a random solicitation belongs to the twentieth century, not the present day. // There are three things which Wayne Direct can do: (1) buy only lists in which the intended recipients' environmental preferences are stated; (2) use paper which is recyled, biodegradable, printed with soy ink and in exchange for which trees have been planted, all of this stated on the paper; (3) appoint for the office an "assistant manager for green practices" who takes to heart her / his responsibilities.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	CareMore Medical	Posted On:	1 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	My parents, both retired, switched in April to CareMore, a health insurer, which provides better coverage for their needs than does Blue Shield. CareMore has incorporated certain efficiencies to cut its costs, but, quite surprisingly, not in its communications with members. // The sales agent gave my parents sizable directories when they signed up. CareMore itself mailed each of my parents sizable directories. Considerable waste in paper and mailing, and no indication of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. // Unfortunately, this inefficiency continues. CareMore can e-mail us and doctors when an authorization is given for a doctor visit, but chooses to mail notices, which, with the envelope and postage, might cost fifty cents more than the labor needed for e-mail. With millions of authorizations going out to members, that fifty cents become a large number. Again, no indication of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. Also, there has been a duplicate authorization, issued by the primary-care physician and the CareMore office. I hope that CareMore immediately institute changes, as it has a computer network with which to track communications with members. // It would be a fine example if CareMore (1) appointed a person in each of its offices and each of its care facilities to be an "assistant manager for green practices", (2) announced this during the summer, and (3) deservedly boasted next Earth Day about the savings.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Boys and Girls Clubs Los Angeles County Alliance Clubs	Posted On:	1 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reduce, Reduce
Review Detail:	Boys and Girls Clubs, like many other nonprofits, has struggled because of the recession. During the last week of April, the Boys and Girls Clubs Los Angeles County Alliance mailed us a donation solicitation. There was no mention of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. Unfortunately, the solicitation included address labels, which we added to the five hundred other address labels from Veterans of Foreign Wars and Paralyzed Veterans of America. It would help all Boys and Girls Clubs, as part of its programs, to have youth become "assistant managers for green practices" at BGC facilities, with the expectation that there would be some savings mixed with education from green living. Also, it would help if Boys and Girls Clubs added a program for families about green living, thereby attracting support from the environment crowd. It might get some headlines if youth planted trees to replace those used for BGC mailings and found alternatives to bottled water and paper plates--such alternatives exist.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Boys and Girls Clubs Los Angeles County Alliance Clubs	Posted On:	1 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Other
Review Detail:	Boys and Girls Clubs provide a good program, but, like many organizations, they are hurting because of the recession. Typically, an organization does not innovate, but, rather, falls back on traditional fundraising, as the Boys and Girls Clubs Los Angeles County Alliance did the last week of April with a mailed donation solicitation to our house. Unfortunately, the organization sent us address labels, which we put in a folder with those from Veterans of Foreign Wars and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	US Bank Banks	Posted On:	1 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	On April 16, a message went to US Bank about greening its communications with customers. US Bank is big; unnecessarily sending two mailings in the place of one results in a huge waste, more so because there is no mention of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. With regard to waste, lightning struck twice, unfortunately. About a week later, a mailing came from US Bank, saying that a Visa card from the old bank was to be replaced by a US Bank Visa card. Then, on April 26, a letter came giving deadlines as to when to redeem points from the old Visa card. Certainly these two mailings could have been combined. Again, there was no mention of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. Interestingly, the envelope of the April 26 mailing had "recycle" printed on the back in a corner, but that is not the same as "printed on 100% recycled paper". US Bank, as a for-profit company, can do much better. Internal coordination should be possible through its computer network. US Bank could and should immediately become a leader; it is time to have a corporate huddle and get a memo out to everyone. And every office, every bank branch, should have an assistant manager for green practices who is obsessive about turning the office or branch into a green showcase, even inviting people to an open house next Earth Day.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Other	Posted On:	1 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	This follows the message to VFW dated April 23, about the organization's donation solicitation to my father. Just a week later, on April 30, the organization sent another mailing. More note pads, more address labels. This time there were birthday and sympathy cards, a pen, and some ribbon included. The additions make for a good change, but, nevertheless, everything in the mailing is wasteful. No indication of recycling, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. And could VFW fundraise, saving trees and expense, by arranging for the public to send e-cards? It would be wise for VFW to address these quickly, as "business as usual" is weakening America. Certainly, VFW does not want to be seen as uncaring about the legacy which we leave to coming generations.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Paralyzed Veterans of America	Posted On:	1 May 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Reuse, Other
Review Detail:	My father receives donation solicitations from Paralyzed Veterans of America. Typically, there is a small gift. This time there was a note pad. Veterans of Foreign Wars, also, sends note pads. Our family has more than enough note pads. "The times they are achangin'" The contents of the solicitation should be biodegradable and / or recyclable, and a conspicuous statement should state as much. There should be a large, proud statement that soy ink was used. If PVA looks for home-income opportunities for paralyzed people, there might be an opportunity associated with producing items to remind people to go green. These items could be produced with desktop computers and printers. The charities with which I work would assist in the development of such an opportunity. PVA, like VFW, must make a quick and substantive change in its solicitations. "Business as usual" is hurting America.

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By: Aldenwicker
Business:	Jamba Juice Deli & Fast Food	Posted On:	29 Apr 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Other - Styrofoam
Review Detail:	Couldn't you use a cup that isn't polystyrene? That's why I go to juice generation instead even though you are much closer!

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By: vanajemian
Business:	United Auto Workers Unions	Posted On:	26 Apr 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Recycle, Other
Review Detail:	My father is a retiree of the "UAW", United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. He periodically receives mailings from the union. I am so happy that the UAW REGION 5 REPORT, which is a newspaper mailed to my father, is printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper. At the same time, my father received a letter dated April 14, 2010, because a union representative's name was left out of the newspaper. I ask the UAW to implement two things as quickly as possible: (1) proudly display the eco-friendliness of the newspaper on the front page of every issue and, without hesitation, ask readers the question, "Can you help by telling advertisers and other newspapers that you want them to be green, because green is good for America?" Go so far as to invite readers to report on success in getting others to go green; (2) make a new policy of which all nonprofits and government would be made aware through the news media, namely, that every shop have a green assistant to the shop steward and every office have a "green practices" adviser; with such a person, we would have avoided the mailing mentioned above, perhaps substituting a postcard on recycled paper, which would have saved UAW money. Thank you.

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By: vanajemian
Business:	Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Other	Posted On:	23 Apr 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Other
Review Detail:	My father donates to Veterans of Foreign Wars, "VFW", which mails address labels and note pads to donors. However, my father now has five hundred labels, and that pile keeps increasing as VFW continues to mail labels. (Remember Lucille Ball and conveyor belt with nonstop chocolates?) 1. There is NO indication that VFW (a) recycles, (b) reuses, (c) uses biodegradable material or (d) plants saplings in order to offset the trees lost to its mailings. There is a deplorably huge waste. 2. Going green could turn into an opportunity for VFW and the veterans whom it serves: (a) what useful, ecologically-friendly item could VFW insert as it solicits donations via mailings? My charities would help VFW find a substitute for address labels; (b) could veterans participate in the production of that item? (c) could veterans be paid to plant trees or even to grow substances which substitute for paper from trees, as there is quite a variety of substitutes for tree-based paper, like plant starch mixed with water-soluble adhesive? Van Ajemian

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By: elliekehmeier
Business:	Embassy Suites Hotels	Posted On:	22 Apr 2010
Review:		Review Type:	Reduce, Recycle, Other - Styrofoam
Review Detail:	We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Crystal City for 7 nights with our family. Loved the full breakfasts and bowl of fruit in the reception area (encouraging more fresh fruit is great), but we have a few suggestions on environmental stewardship. First, although there was a sign that said that if we hung our towels up they would not be washed, it appeared that all towels were replaced daily. In fact, we left our "do not disturb" sign up two full days just to ensure that the towels and sheets were not washed. Secondly, we saw way too many people taking styrofoam cups for coffee or juice in the morning instead of using the ceramic mugs and glasses. You could make them less available and have a sign up about using the washable mugs; and you could switch to a less polluting form of cup for people who want to take their coffee with them. And I would encourage you to find other ways to reduce trash and overall consumption in the breakfast room. It pains me to think of all the waste multiplied by hundreds of hotels in thousands of cities across the country. At least you use ceramic plates and bowls; many hotels use all paper and plastic! Another suggestion is to have recycling containers in each room for newspapers, other recyclables.