Are You Green, or Are You Just Hip?

There's the "LOW FAT - NON FAT" trend still going on. Yes, it's trendy to eat tofu and fish! This marketing trend helped launch lots of new fat-free products.

This advertising alerted unsuspecting souls of trans fats; good thing, right? But do we stop and think...hmmm...if they've taken out the fat, what have they added in place of it? Yes, more sugar.

My point here is that trends are just that, trends. They come and go because fresh new trends offer a platform to launch NEW products and services. Advertising sells, yes?

The Green Movement is no different. Yes, it's a fantastic trend to move us all in the right direction, protecting our earth for future generations. There are some eco-friendly products that market themselves as being earth-friendly, but they come with a price, too.

Example: Oceanside GlassTile uses 20-86% recycled content (Metropolis Design Magazine advertising, page 53 of January 2007 issue). This is good news that we are recycling glass, but I can't help wonder...why are we encouraging people to rip out their perfectly good bathroom and kitchen tiles, throw them in the landfill, and put in NEW, TRENDY, recycled glass tiles? Does this make any sense?

No more sense than eating 10 fat-free chocolate chip cookies!!

Let's be green. But let's not throw away what is perfectly good and fill our landfills just to be current with design trends.

Here in New Hampshire, we are known for our beautiful fall foliage, 9 miles of breathtaking Seacoast, and the White Mountains to ski and hike. Our grass may be greener than other more urban states, but we can still join together and each do a little bit to protect our earth right here, too.

Thank you, Oceanside GlassTile for recycling; no harm intended here.

Staged First Impressions, Hampton, NH