I encourage editors of future Green Halifax editions to develop more stringent criteria for the listing of "sustainable" food businesses. In its present state I fear the Green Guide will not help people "limit their impacts," but rather aid and abet greenwashing. A grocery store only now taking steps to offer cloth bags should hardly be commended for this meagre step. A restaurant that uses napkins made with recycled paper products is nothing to get excited about. The fact is, most of the food businesses included in the guide have made little to no effort to reduce their impact and it is an injustice to lump them in with businesses that have truly taken steps to improve their environmental performance. Leading us into believing all of the businesses listed are offering "sustainable" solutions gives a false sense of security. This damages the very purpose of Green Halifax.
By Emma Point
