Normal Green: How Far Is Too Far When Going Green?

A recent article on Julia Roberts' alleged over-the-top green habits quoted an ex-security guard who told Star magazine (yes, take with heaps of salt) that the actress apparently likes to save water by not showering. “She likes the smell of her natural oils,” the bodyguard said. “She also says that she can’t wash her hair too often because it’s dry.”

If that's the case, I've been green for years, at least since 2002 when my first child was born.

In all seriousness though, last night I got together with a group of girlfriends to watch the Golden Globes. Green issues (in addition to snarking on the fugly dresses) were our topic of the night. What if the celebrities wore ready-to-wear dresses and donated the difference to charity? How many arrived in hybrids?

A particularly heated discussion erupted as a commercial for Jell-O came one. Our very own Cat Lincoln declared that individual serving-sized Jell-O cups should be banned for being environmentally disastrous. We all agreed that making gelatin or pudding was not hard, and if you had to sit down and eat the whole bowl? Well, that was preferred to adding to landfills. We were willing to sacrifice for the cause.

As we scrutinized empty, pre-used Ziploc bags to see what leftover party fare we could safely packed into them, I started to wonder, "How far is too far when going green?" Are we at the point when we feel guilty taking showers even with low-flow showerheads, timers, and low-sudsing soaps and shampoos? When will we feel we've gotten enough use out of a plastic bag? Will one time do the trick or is five or 10 times better? Will awards shows be as deliciously fun to watch if celebrities are wearing dresses or tuxes made from recycled plastic bags ?

If you are reading this site, then your commitment to green causes is unwavering. But what say you, dear Tonic readers? How far is to far when going green? Or, have we not gone far enough?