How to Pack a Climate-Friendly Lunch

"Carbon neutrality" is the enviro-buzzword of the moment. Countries, corporations, institutions and individuals are discussing how to become carbon neutral.

What does that mean? Let's first talk about the first word-- carbon-- which actually refers to the toxic gas, carbon dioxide (CO2).

CO2 emission happens naturally through such processes as volcanic eruptions and animal respiration, among other things. CO2 is a necessary gas--plants use it for the process of photosynthesis, which gives off oxygen for humans to breathe.

The problem with carbon dioxide in the modern world is that we are producing too much of it unnaturally. Unnatural ways that CO2 is created are through the combustion of fossil fuels like petroleum, natural gas and coal. In other words, through things like driving, heating/cooling our homes and heating our showers. It is also created through many manufacturing processes, most notably, the manufacture of plastic.

And what's the problems with too much CO2? It concentrates in the atmosphere, creating a figurative "glass dome" around earth, through which heat from the sun's rays can enter, but can't exit, thus heating up the earth's surface like a greenhouse. This phenomenon is known as global warming.

And what's the problem with global warming? Just a few degrees warmer results in cataclysmic climate changes: melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, floods, droughts. These changes result in such problems as food and water shortages and loss of habitat, not just for polar bears, but for people as well.

Carbon neutrality is not about getting rid of all CO2--that's not possible, and, as stated earlier, the environment actually needs CO2 in order for plants to create oxygen for us. The goal of carbon neutrality is to get the CO2 output back down to a level that is "neutral" in that it doesn't have a destructive effect. Scientists have identified the acceptable level of CO2 as 350 ppm (parts per million). Currently, we're at 387 ppm.

In order to accomplish this goal, which is critical to the very survival of the human species, everyone needs to do their part. Yes, that includes YOU.

Your action can be something as simple as revising the lunch you pack for your child.

Remember that the manufacture of plastic is a major producer of CO2? OK, so reduce the amount of plastic in your child's lunch and you've taken positive steps toward mitigating the negative impacts of climate change.

Here's how to pack a positive lunch:

--Buy in bulk. This avoids purchasing excessive, unneeded packaging such as that in individually wrapped or packaged items like yogurt, crackers, chips, puddings, etc. (Hey, I'm not advocating for chips or puddings, but this is an article about climate change, not nutrition...)

--Use re-usable containers (i.e., Tupperware) to pack the bulk items as individual lunch servings.

--Ditch the tinfoil or zip locks (these get thrown out) and put sandwiches in Tupperware as well. There are also some nifty cloth wraps that can be used for sandwiches.

--Do not buy individual drink boxes. Too much packaging, PLUS the hateful plastic straw. Instead, send a re-usable thermos containing your child's beverage. If your child is going to buy a beverage at school, suggest that he or she selects something in a glass bottle.

-- Stop packing plastic utensils! Send real utensils or tell your child to use the metal utensils at school.

--Pack the lunch in a lunch box.

--Choose locally grown foods--this cuts down on trucking and air transport, which is a major emitter of CO2.

Explain to your child why you are packing their lunch like this and ask them to do their part, too, which is to not complain, not buy packaged foods at school and to bring home all the re-usable items you just invested in!