Laurie David - Imagine It: A Handbook for a Happier Planet

Example Draft Letter to be sent to a CEO

Your name

email or address

To: David S. Taylor, President and CEO of Procter & Gamble

Subject line: Stop flushing forests down the toilet

Dear Mr. Taylor,

As a consumer concerned about our environment, I was upset to learn that Charmin toilet paper is still being sourced from 100 percent virgin trees, many of them from Canadas beautiful boreal forest.

Not only does the Canadian boreal forest store vast amounts of carbon, its also home to hundreds of Indigenous communities and to the iconic boreal caribou.

It is unconscionable for majestic old-growth trees to be cut down to make a disposable product that could just as easily be made with recycled fiber.

People look to a brand as venerable as Procter & Gamble to leadto be an example of innovation toward protecting our planet. You have the power to change this destructive paradigm on a massive scale by reducing the overall use of virgin pulp content in your products.

Until you stop making products that are harmful to our ecosystem, I will be buying my toilet paper and other of your products from a more responsible brandand doing all I can to encourage others to do the same.

Thank you.

B Corps

Certified B Corporations are businesses that commit to consider the impact of decisions on workers, customers, suppliers, the community, and the environment. The Certified B Corporation designation is a legally binding designation that means the company must comply with all environmental safeguards. Examples of Certified B Corps: AllBirds, Stonyfield, Danone Yogurt, Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, Uncommon Goods, Bombas, Frank & Oak, BeautyCounter.

Behavioral contagion,

sometimes called social contagion A type of social influence; the tendency for a person to copy the behavior of others whom they have been exposed to and admire.

BPA (Bisphenol A)

An industrial chemical used to make certain plastics and resins that has been linked to cancer, obesity, and other health issues. It can be found in the lining of canned foods and drinks, plastic water bottles, and cash register receipts.

Carbon footprint

The amount of carbon dioxide emitted through the burning of fossil fuels as a result of the activities of a person or business.

Circular economy

An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and continually reusing resources.

Climate change

A change in climate patterns attributed largely to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels. This term was coined during the George W. Bush administration to describe our climate crisis because it sounded less threatening than global warming. It was widely adopted thereafter.

Climate crisis

What were in right now. An umbrella term for global warming, the impacts of climate change, and their consequences.

Compost

Decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer. Compost is rich in nutrients.

Cradle to cradle design

The term cradle to cradle was developed by Professor Michael Braungart and architect William McDonough and has since become a respected sustainability concept. Cradle to cradle is a designation that indicates there is no waste. The goal of this designation is to inspire a new industrial revolution that ensures production and manufacturing have a positive impact on society, the economy, and our planet.

Deforestation (clear-cutting)

The removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to a non-forest use.

Eco-anxiety

Eco-anxiety or climate anxiety was described by the American Psychological Association in 2017 as a chronic fear of environmental doom.

Environmentalist

A person who acts with intention toward the environment and is concerned with and/or advocates for the protection of the environment.

Factory farm

A system of rearing livestock (poultry, pigs, cattle) indoors and in confined conditions.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Pioneers of forest certification, this council was set up by a voluntary group of businesses in response to the lack of an agreement to halt deforestation at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. The FSC promotes responsible, respectful management of the worlds forests.

Fossil fuel

A fuel (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) that was formed from the fossilized remains of prehistoric plant and animal life and which emits high levels of carbon dioxide when extracted and burned to provide energy.

FSC Certification

This certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. The FSC logo is a world standard and is applied to products made through sustainable practices.

Global warming

The ongoing rise of the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere, generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

Green living

The adoption of a sustainable lifestyle that is designed to protect the planet and its diverse inhabitants.

Green marketing

Communicating to a customer that a product or service is beneficial for both the environment and the user.

Greenhouse gas

A gas that absorbs radiation, traps heat in the atmosphere, and contributes to the greenhouse effect. According to climate scientists, our human activities are the primary cause of the increase in greenhouse gases over the last 150 years.