Partnerships between the environmental community and leading manufacturers are among the vital ways to stop global warming. As I stated in this column’s earliest weeks, if we are to succeed in our quest to stop global warming, we must make the solutions cultural. Doing so involves driving the debate so that the phrase Stop Global Warming becomes common parlance, just as Acid Rain was 20 years ago in North America and western Europe.
In capitalist economies such as the western world has, manufacturers and their retail partners are large contributors to the culture with their products and advertising methods. Neither government nor the environmental community can drive our culture alone. We must have commercial partners. This is one reason why the Sierra Club alliance with Clorox is a milestone event.
To be clear, there are strong (and in some cases vehement) divisions within the Sierra Club leadership and larger environmental community over this new partnership. While I remain plugged in to Sierra’s internal operations, what I state in this column is as a journalist, not a former Sierra leader.
Carl Pope is a good man. He leads the Sierra Club and does so with aplomb. He speaks openly about solutions to environmental challenges and global warming tops his list consistently. Here is what he had to say about his new official relationship with Clorox.
“The Green Works line will make it easier and more affordable for Americans to buy eco-friendly products. The Sierra Club is excited to help influence the buying behavior of millions of Americans who want to do the right thing by purchasing safer products. People are out there looking for solutions, and we’re eager to give a giant kick-start to the market for green affordable household cleaning products.”
In short, I respect Mr. Pope’s leadership. I have not the slightest doubt that he understands the gravity of the challenges we face in our quest for ways to stop global warming. In fact, it is his grasp of the scope of the problem which has led him to align the Sierra Club with Clorox. For this reason, when they become available in April, the Kroehler household will use Green Works natural cleaners.
In conclusion, while there are certain absolutes in judging a campaign or product as green washing, many assessments must be relative. I leave it to you to review the Clorox Green Works website to determine how green the products are. Clorox has a disturbing history of pollution but I trust Carl Pope’s view that this manufacturer now is worthy of his proud organization’s imprimatur.
http://www.greenworkscleaners.com
After reading the above URL, if you find yourself unmoved to purchase these new Clorox products, I recommend that you examine Seventh Generation for your cleaning needs.
http://www.seventhgeneration.com
Sustainable Justice For All!
Corbett Kroehler
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