Bonfire of the Vanity Fair Green Issue
Vanity Fair is due to publish a “green” issue featuring eco-celebs such as Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, et. al. coinciding with Earth Day on April 22. One tiny hitch: The rag will not be using recycled paper like it said it would.
From Muckracked:
So, when you pick up the May issue of VF and start reading the eco-friendly articles, don’t feel too smug about your increased environmental consciousness.
That single issue involved the destruction of thousands of trees and it was printed using chlorine and other chemicals. Specifically, that issue probably used up to 2,247 tons of pulp, and produced up to 4,331,757 pounds of greenhouse gases,13,413,922 gallons of wastewater, and 1,744,060 pounds of solid waste throughout the printing process.
That’s according to our calculation of VF’s monthly circulation times the weight of its paper and then inputting that tonnage into the Paper Calculator, which was developed by Environmental Defense to calculate the environmental impacts of printing.
A spokeswoman for Vanity Fair did not return calls for comment.
Hey Ethan Hawke, what’s the definition of “ironic” again? Maybe Vanity Fair’s Graydon Carter should give out these vinyl Earth balls free with every issue, too. Angiosarcoma of the liver for everyone!
Collect all the catalogs you get in the mail but don’t really need (you can always browse their stores online), clear a half hour on your calendar, and start calling the 1800 numbers listed on their back pages to get yourself taken off their mailing lists. Acres of forest will thank you. (Victoria’s Secret is the worst culprit when it comes to wanton deforestation, so if you have to pick just one company to pull the welcome mat from under, choose this one.)
The Worsted Witch » Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down said,
April 3, 2006 at 8:56 pm
[...] Bonus: The rag is printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper that is processed chlorine-free. (I’m not too keen on the fact the paper comes all the way from Denmark, however, but I guess the extra fuel cost is less damaging than the rampant deforestation needed for virgin pulp.) [...]
Laurie said,
April 4, 2006 at 9:34 pm
You know what’s really bizarre? I’m about to give Gaiam a ring about their catalogs. I mean, my God, how many a month does anyone need? And they’re supposed to be all about health and yoga and organics and sustainable energy and …aughh, you’ve gotten me started and it’s time to go to bed.
The Worsted Witch » VegNews Goes Recycled said,
September 26, 2006 at 12:28 pm
[...] How’dja like them organic apples NOW, Vanity Fair? [...]
marie aka the FertilityBitch said,
September 28, 2006 at 9:25 pm
I get stacks of Gaiam catalogs too!!!!
The Worsted Witch » Money Quote said,
December 7, 2006 at 10:52 am
[...] Related articles: 1. Mail Call: Eco Scrapbooking 2. It’s Getting Hot in Here: Act Now 3. Simply Green Giving 4. Bring Your Ever-Lovin’ Own 5. Bonfire of the Vanity Fair Green Issue (Chekhov’s Eco Tip) 5. Junk the Junk Mail [...]
The Worsted Witch » A Greener Brown Paper Package said,
June 6, 2007 at 8:22 am
[...] Sometimes we can’t help but order something online, especially when we can’t get something we need in a nearby bricks-and-mortar store. But rather than encourage excessive waste and nonbiodegradable, polluting packing materials such as styrofoam peanuts—plus your inclusion on catalog and junk-mail lists—you can make yourself heard by including a note with your online order. (This way, you can also tell if the company actually pays attention to its customers, and, thus, if it’s deserving of your moola.) [...]
jemi said,
March 28, 2008 at 6:39 pm
GAIAM is the absolute worst. I have made repeated calls to them over the past two years to stop the onslaught of their catalogs from their various stores like Real Goods, Harmony, Mind and Body, etc. Nothing seems to work. They have some marketing thing that allows your name and address to spring back to life at their will. They are the biggest hypocrites, positioning themselves as all about sustainable living, spirituality, simplicity, environmentalism…but it’s a load of baloney. Check out the board of directors…all of them are corporate fat cats lining their pockets while spouting peace, love and understanding. The whole notion that a company can be green while pushing unwanted paper in your mailbox month after month is a hypocritical ludicrous joke. I will never buy from them again.