No way! WHY WHEY??!!
Just when you think you’re doing something good for the earth, or at least choosing a lesser evil, news hits you in the face that your good intentions and conscious choices are not always in line with your values.
Today, thanks to the o so cool folks at FoodFight, I learned that Seventh Generation Paper Towels are made with whey! In case you’re unaware, that stuff that Miss Muffet ate before she was freaked out by the spider — curds and whey — comes from cows’ milk. When cows’ milk is coagulated, as in the cheese-making process, a solid protein (the curd) separates from the liquid protein (the whey). Curd is made into cheese. Whey? I guess it’s made into paper products. Why? Well, here’s the sticky wicket… Seventh Generation uses recycled paper in its paper products. Apparently, in the paper recyclcing process gummy adhesives on some paper as on envelopes and Post-it sticky pads must be removed. What is used in the paper recycling business to remove that gummy stuff? Whey! Why whey? I have no frickin’ idea.
In addition to paper towels, other eco-friendly companies make household products with whey in its list of ingredients. Seventh Generation states that their non-paper products are whey-free but Ecover makes dishwashing detergent with whey. I haven’t looked further, but there may be others.
I’m no expert, but I think that if whey is used in recycled paper for Seventh Generation paper towels, then all recycled paper is subject to the same process — one of the many industries which exploit dairy cows. Perhaps there’s another way to get adhesive off of paper without using whey. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I imagine there is. Hopefully I’m not the only one – hopefully there’s another dreamer out there with a science degree!
From my perspective, Seventh Generation has been very upfront about their association with a paper-recycling company which uses whey in its recycling process. They seem to be committed to cruelty-free business. The problem does not lie with them, imo, but with the reliance on animals our world is unwilling to reevalute.
This is yet another example that we don’t nor will we ever live in a perfect world. If you’re using film in that camera of yours, that film likely has animal-derived gelatin in it. If you’re driving a car (even Hybrids and electric ones!) your tires contain animal fat. That birthday card Mom sent you? The envelope contains glue that likely came from an animal source. And that envelope you will dutifully put in the blue bin at the curb or the compactor room will likely be recycled using whey.
And with that, dear reader, we have come full circle.
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