About karmafarm online

KARMAFARMS 14 Eco Standards:
1. Energy Saving Using- this product will cut down the energy you use in everyday life, either compared to a non-energy saving alternative or will help to reduce the energy you might be wasting elsewhere. Without purchasing anything from Karmafarm, you can save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save money. Here's how: Take the five light bulb challenge -Challenge yourself to replace at least five incandescent bulbs in your home with CFLs. You won't just be doing the environment a service—you'll save $25–$45 in energy costs for each CFL you use. Turn off your appliances -according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Environment (ACEEE), home electronics and small household appliances that require direct current—such as televisions, VCRs, answering machines, cordless telephones, stereos, and others—can actually leak electricity when they're turned off. The average US household leaks 50 watts of power constantly, which adds up to around 400 kWh per year, says ACEEE. You can make this easy by plugging several items into one surge protector. Turn down your refrigerator -the refrigerator is the biggest energy consumer in most households—adding up to a quarter of an average home's energy use. The recommended temperature setting for refrigerators is between 37 degrees and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and 5 degrees Fahrenheit for the freezer section. Optimize heating and air conditioning -about 44 percent of the typical US household's energy bill goes toward temperature control, according to the US Department of Energy. Turn the thermostat or air conditioner down when you're away from the house. Programmable thermostats can store as many as six temperature settings per day, returning to pre-set schedules automatically. Use rechargeable batteries- Americans toss over three billion small consumer batteries into the landfill every year, according to Real Goods' Solar Living Sourcebook, the majority of which are one-time-use alkaline batteries. You can save energy—and money—and reduce toxic waste by using rechargeable batteries. Go one step further to encourage the green energy future and buy a solar battery charger. Look for the Energy Star® appliances -when you do buy new items, look for those labeled with the Energy Star®. Energy Star® is a voluntary program run by the US EPA designed to identify energy-efficient products. Dry clothes with less energy -the second largest electricity-using appliance is your clothes dryer. Use cold water instead of hot water to clean clothes. Despite popular misconception, your clothes will still be clean, but so will the environment. You can reduce your carbon emissions by 600 pounds by switching to cold water for every load.(reference http://www.greenamericatoday.org/programs/greenenergy/whattoknow/efficiency.cfm)

2. Recyclable- The materials that this is made from can be recycled at the end of its useful life, so conserving valuable resources.

3. Biodegradable / Degradable/ Compostable- The materials in this product will revert back to nature at the end of its useful life and so will not contribute to landfill problems. The world of green, like any other industry, has its own language - for the person trying to make some environmentally changes to their life, it can get awfully confusing - take for instance the terms degradable, biodegradable and compostable when used in relation to plastics. There is a difference between the terms and it may play a role in your purchase decisions. Biodegradable Plastics- Biodegradable products break down through the action of a naturally occurring microorganism, such as bacteria,  fungi etc. over a period of time. These products are usually made from plant or animal sources. Examples of biodegradable include paper, vegetable scraps and some forms of plastics made from ingredients such as corn starch. There are some disadvantages to biodegradable waste. When dumped in landfills, it's often dug under where the "good" bacteria can't survive in the oxygen depleted environment. It then breaks down under anaerobic conditions which creates methane, a greenhouse gas with over 62 times the GWP (Global Warming Potential) of carbon dioxide. Also, biodegradable waste can contain toxins. For example, human and animal waste, which is considered biodegradable may contain traces of all sorts of toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides depending on the person/animal's diet. Degradable Plastics- Degradable plastics are oil based and break down through chemical reactions rather than the activity of micro-organisms, so they can degrade in an anaerobic environment into water, CO2, biomass and trace elements. Compostable Plastic- This is pretty close to biodegradable plastic but "greener". According to the  American Society for Testing & Materials, for plastic to be considered as compostable, it must be able to break down into carbon dioxide, water and biomass at the same rate as paper. It also needs to look like compost, should not produce any toxic material and should be able to support plant life. Compostable items are made from plant materials such as corn, potato, cellulose, soy and sugar. So: Biodegradable - green, but can leave traces of toxins. Degradable - made from oil, but breaks down into harmless materials. Compostable - green from start to finish.. Perhaps. It looks like the greenest choice is clear - compostable plastics are the most earth friendly option. Or is it? Green plastics still have challenges....read on at http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/197/1/Degradable-Biodegradable-Compostable.html

4. Recycled -This product is made from recycled materials. Recycled stuff saves energy, landfill, and makes you feel good! If you are not buying recycled you are not really recycling.
 
5. Sustainable Sources - Refers to the care with which plants are grown, harvested, and used; it refers to the ecological, social, and economic impacts of a plant's use. For example, palm oil is a common ingredient in cleaning products and palm trees can be replanted as needed. However, it is often not sustainably harvested. As the demand has grown, natural habitat has been destroyed to create plantations of palm trees to meet the demand. This is not sustainable for the ecosystem - including other plants and animals - that are dependent on that larger ecosystem.

6. Reusable -  At the end of its useful life this product can be refilled, or used for another purpose.

7. Low Transport Miles - From manufacture to our warehouse, this item has not traveled too far.

8. Low Carbon Footprint -  Taking all factors into account, its production, its use, how it gets here, embodied energy, this product does not produce a huge amount of CO2 Low Carbon Emissions. calculate your own Carbon Footprint at http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator1.html .

Here's a list of simple things you can do immediately

1. Turn it off when not in use (lights, television, DVD player, Hi Fi, computer etc. etc. Turn down the central heating slightly (try just 1 to 2 degrees C)

 2. Turn down the water heating setting (just 2 degrees will make a significant saving)

 3. Check the central heating timer setting - remember there is no point heating the house after you have left for work

 4. Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load - this will save you water, electricity, and washing powder

5. Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need

6. Do your weekly shopping in a single trip

 7. Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it

8. Sign up to a green energy supplier, who will supply electricity from renewable sources (e.g. wind and hydroelectric power) - this will reduce your carbon footprint contribution.

As well as your primary carbon footprint, there is also a secondary footprint that you cause through your buying habits.

1. Don't buy bottled water if your tap water is safe to drink

2. Buy local fruit and vegetables, or even try growing your own

3. Buy foods that are in season locally

4. Don't buy fresh fruit and vegetables which are out of season, they may have been flown in

5. Reduce your consumption of meat

6. Try to only buy products made close to home (look out and avoid items that are made in the distant lands)

7. Buy organic produce

8. Don't buy over packaged products

9. Recycle as much as possible

10. Think carefully about the type of activities you do in your spare time. Do any of these cause an increase in carbon emissions? e.g. Saunas, Health clubs, restaurants and pubs, go-karting etc. etc...

9. Recycled Packaging - This product comes in packaging that is made from recycled materials (what %) and is recyclable.

10. Ready to Use Products -  Unpack the box, take the item out and start using it! we love when suppliers take the time to re-think shipping and make it less. For instance, Eco-tech, our electric bicycle manufacturer, ships all bikes completely assembled, minus the handle bars. There are no extra smaller boxes or bags for the nuts, bolts and accessories. In our "some assembly required" society, we all know how much extra packaging comes when we have to build it ourselves. So, for this standard, we feel, less is always more!

11. Makes a Difference Using - this will make a difference – think global, act local! Often there are products that will do the same thing another product does, just in a more Eco-friendly manner. Those are the products we like to offer our customers. A purse can be purchased anywhere, but when you buy a purse that is manufactured under the guidelines of the Fair Trade Federation, your purchase really does make a difference. Learn more about fair trade by reviewing The Fair Trade Federations Code of Practice at http://www.fairtradefederation.org/ht/d/sp/a/GetDocumentAction/i/12162 (cut and paste this link in to your Browser).

12. Organic -  Produced without the need for chemicals and we're not just talking fruits and vegetables. Cosmetics that contain certified organic ingredients generally contain mainly natural ingredients, including those that have been grown without the use of toxic pesticides. Unfortunately, organic doesn’t necessarily mean problem-free. Even organic companies need to keep their products from rotting away on store shelves, in warehouses, and in your medicine cabinet. Some may turn to synthetic chemicals to keep their products fresh and useful. Be sure to check the ingredients list on your favorite organic products. read the entire article at http://www.greenamericatoday.org/pubs/realgreen/articles/cosmetics.cfm (cut and paste this link in to your Browser). The best way to check your cosmetic ingredients is using Environmental Working Groups Skin Deep website at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.

13. Water Saving -  cuts down the amount of water e.g.: low flow, water butts, tap magic, shower timer.

14. Certified, Recognized or Environmentally Responsible-All of Karmafarm Suppliers fall into this category.  Some suppliers are certified by the USDA, or the OCIA(Organic Crop Association International).  Some Suppliers are recognized by Green America and the Fair Trade Federation because they follow the strict guidelines set forth to bring consumers awarness and help prevent the act of "green washing".  Our other suppliers are chosen based on their evironmental responsibility by giving back to thier communities and supporting organizations such as the World Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club or 1% for the Planet.

There is a lot of confusion in the green marketplace about the use of the words Fair Trade and fair labor. Both Fair Trade and fair labor provide a fair wage, safe and healthy work environments, and a workforce free from forced and child labor.  However, Fair Trade also includes building direct, long-term, and empowering relationships with economically and socially marginalized producers that live in developing countries, and supporting community development and cultural diversity (see www.fairtradefederation.org). There are two types of organizations in the Fair Trade arena: those that certify products through the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) (www.fairtrade.net) and its affiliates, such as TransFairUSA (www.transfairusa.org), and those that evaluate companies through the World Fair Trade Organization (www.wfto.org) and its partners such as the Fair Trade Federation. If your labor criteria is based on paying a fair wage in an environment where workers are treated fairly, this is a "fair labor" rather than "fair trade."

 A GREAT QUOTE TO LIVE BY.... 
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake, the great affair is to move."- Terry Tremblay(1943-2003)I Love & Miss You Dad!!! 

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS AND FOR SUPPORTING AN ECO-FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE!!! Much love, Angie and Tiffany.

 Karmafarm LLC - 1225 Palmetto Road, Eustis, Florida 32726

352-357-KARMA (5276)