Distillers, suppliers, please respond

[Guest guest]

Tony Burfield commented on the Stern Report on Climate Change today,

and I'm wondering if any of us have thought about the role of natural

perfumery in global environmental issues. Since I have seen the

number of members of this list who have started distilling increase

greatly in the past few years, I thought I'd ask if you have

considered the issues Tony itemizes. Solar powered distillation

sounds cool. Wonder what other types of green energy sources you

could use. Buying locally-sourced oils is going to become a reality

in the next few years, I believe. Boycotting? Will probably never happen.

What does everyone -- not just the distillers and suppliers on this

group, but also the end user -- think of the following?

Hi all,

The Stern Report on Climate Change is just out - hailed by some as

the most important world happening of the last 10 years. It calls for

radical change to our way of life to avert environmental catastrophe

and the imposition of green taxes on individuals to reduce their own

personal carbon footprint (e.g. punitive taxes on air travel,

petrol-guzzling cars, inefficient electrical items etc. etc.).

Regarding our UK position, virtually all we have managed to achieve

so far is some limited recycling, remembering not to leave the TV on

standby, and a small decrease on carbon emissions, but not nearly

enough to make a difference. Kyoto failed to make much impact (3.3%

reduction in global emissions to date) and shamefully, many

important countries are not signed up for it, although islands all

around them are disappearing under rising sea levels.

A mixed reception for drastic action is inevitable - the main CO2

emitters (countries like the US & China, then Russia, India, Brazil

etc.) are populated by both sympathisers of this position, and those

in complete denial of it. Without straying too far into politics, few

over here expect US policy to change until Bush goes, although

Clinton seems a little to the North of Al Gore on this one, so who knows...

So, assuming for a moment that the Stern Report has to be acted upon,

although it has probably actually underestimated the true seriousness

of the global situation, what is the aromatherapy/natural community

going to do about it? The choices are:

1. Do nothing, as usual.

2. It could talk about policies to reduce " essential oil miles " .

3. It could challenge the notion that items are organic if they have

travelled across thousands of miles to get here.

4. It could ask bodies like NAHA, IFPA, IFA etc. what their policy is

in these (changed?) circumstances.

5. It could source materials closer to home.

6. It could support any distillers using solar power or green energy

sources for production

7. It could boycott essential oils which use excessive energy for

their production i.e. sandalwood attars, which take 2-3 weeks of

continuous distillation ( & therefore excessive CO2 emission) to

produce one batch.

8. It could invite essential oil producers, distributors, end-users

etc. to conferences and ask them to explain how they are greening

their positions

9. Persuade eco-tour/essential oil tour operators to use eco-friendly

(including non-aviation) modes of transport.

For my own part I intend to completely abandon air travel and explore

more eco-friendly ways of getting about - it may take longer, and I

will definately need to invest in a (recycled) bicycle pump.

Over to you.....

Tony.

www.cropwatch.org

Anya McCoy

Anya's Garden of Natural Perfume http://anyasgarden.com

Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild http://artisannaturalperfumers.org

Natural Perfumers Chat Group

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