cradle to cradle

I have to say, I'm very excited about this book. It's been recommended to me numerous times, and while I've meant to read it before, I never have. I was already familiar with the basic subject matter of the book, but it immediately surprised me just how in-depth it is. Both of my parents are dedicated environmentalists (i.e. they both have the word "sustainability" in their job titles) and have been since, as they put it, "before it was cool." As such, I was raised in a house where we turned the lights out when leaving the room, recycled everything (even had to get an extra Rumpke bin to fit it all), and walked, bused, or biked just about everywhere. Suffice to say, I feel that I am a bit more aware of my impact on the environment than most Americans. Nonetheless, some of information in the introduction of this book surprised me. I never considered the tiny little particles that come off of my furniture and into my nose, or the fact that my shoes will never serve another purpose. I love the idea of finding environmental solutions that don't limit people's lives. This year, I made a New Year's resolution to never use new plastic bags when I buy things. So far, I've slipped up once, and overall, not using the bags provided for free has made me feel a bit self-conscious. It's not normal to buy groceries and then load them up in a big messenger bag. I don't really care if other people find it strange, but I can see why most people prefer to just use the bags provided. I've not bought a single beverage that came in a plastic container since the beginning of the year either. My beverage choice is now down to water, coffee, milk (from a cardboard container of course), tea, and (occasionally) alcohol. It's not a big deal, but it does kind of suck to be unable to partake in the variety of options offered. I think that's what I find most exciting about reading this book; the idea that there are solutions (or at least could be solutions) to help both the environment and the individual, rather than limiting one or the other.