After reading all of the below, my general conclusion is that Tetrapaks are not particularly less sustainable than all the other packaging we use — but that a lot of the packaging we use is seriously unsustainable.

>> Tetrapak’s pluses: Less energy wasted on refrigeration, less food wasted on spoilage, less fuel wasted in transport compared to heavier packaging, less space taken up in landfills than other containers.

>> Tetrapak’s minuses: Even when recycled, tetrapak’s downcycled as a lot of the materials can’t be reused. All the paper fiber comes from trees, not recycled paper, because new fibers are needed to make the containers strong. The stuff’s rather complicated and arguably expensive to recycle.

>> Natural Life magazine has, IMHO, the most balanced take on the Tetrapak issue.

>> The popular green blog Treehugger has vocal bloggers on both sides of the issue, with one calling Tetrapak “the most elaborate greenwashing scheme ever,” and another dedicating a post to defending TetraPak. Treehugger also reports Tetrapak’s embraced FSC-certification for the paper portion of its packaging — in some European countries.

>> Green biz blog TriplePundit‘s also taken up the Tetrapak issue.

>> Many local cities, including Santa Monica and West Hollywood, collect Tetrapacks for recycling.

Do you use Tetrapak? Opt for it over other types of packaging? Why or why not?

Photo by Tetra Pak

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>> Remember the kerfluffle over Brazilian Blowouts? The formaldehyde-laden hair straightening products got into trouble — and got a slap on the wrist. Now, Brazilian Blowout must “put warning labels on their products, telling users that the product releases formaldehyde gas.” At least one environmental group, Women’s Voices for the Earth, is pushing for a recall.

>> EPA beach pollution rules allow 1 in 28 to get sick. Yep, that’s right. Reports LA Times’ Greenspace: “The EPA proposal, released in December, would allow 1 in 28 beachgoers to experience some gastrointestinal illness after swimming, rather than the 8 in 1,000 that were previously acknowledged. It’s mostly a tale of numbers, but the NRDC is trying to force the EPA to better the odds.”

Photo by Danielle Moler

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Apparently, traveling car-free is the in thing in L.A. for 2012.

>> NRDC’s Jessica Lass gets to her Santa Monica offices by bike — and wants you to “Make biking to work your 2012 resolution.”

>> Angeleno Jenny of The Next Big Ng recently spotted Ed Begley Jr. on Metro — and hopes for more celeb sightings on public transportation.

>> All the hipsters are riding the Metro night trains to bars and clubs, according to LA Times.

What’s your de-car-ing resolution for 2012?

Photo by Fire Monkey Fish

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>> The City of Los Angeles wants yet more studies on the effects of bag bans before taking any action — nevermind that many, many studies have already been done and many L.A. County cities AND L.A. County have already banned the plastic bag.

>> According to LAist, “Several City Council members have pledged to get the measure passed before March 31, 2012 – before the state Legislature’s spring break.” Let’s hope that really happens.

>> Heal the Bay, the local nonprofit spearheading the bag ban effort, sounds optimistic. Mark Gold, head honcho at Heal the Bay, seems to believe that the city’s call for more studies “sends a loud message to Sacramento to move forward with a statewide ban.” That statewide effort failed back in August 2011. Think it’ll happen in 2012?

>> Last but not least — Santa Monica banned the plastic bag in September, and I’ve noticed many people are either bringing their own bags or doing without at stores since that time. What’s your experience been so far?

Earlier: Styrofoam and the City: The fate of plastic bags and polystyrene in LA

Photo by Kate Ter Harr

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>> Santa Monica Bike Center opens this Friday! Pedal over to Colorado Ave. and 2nd St. to check out the full service spot with bike valet, bike rentals and repairs, and even showers and lockers for members.

>> The Downtown Burbank Metrolink Station got a Bike Stop. According to Metro’s The Source, “the new unattended facility features 40 bike parking stalls, a bike repair stand and small classroom area.”

>> Metrolink’s added bike cars! These are “passenger railcars outfitted with space for at least 18 bicycles.”

>> L.A.’s got a new bike sharing program — as part of Occupy LA. Local biketivist Roadblock, who set up the program, says “If Occupy LA is to achieve some of the most important goals of the movement, people are going to have to learn to reduce their oil dependency – the very addiction that keeps our country involved in endless foreign wars.”

>> Two new studies link bikes and money. One study published in Environmental Health Perspectives says bicycling in cities can save billions, while another study by an urban planning student shows better bike infrastructure can mean increased sales for local businesses.

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