Decision Earth
Decision Earth, also referred to as Decision: Earth,<ref name="ERIC_RecordDetails-ED3541_Decision: Earth">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> was an environmental education teachers resource for junior high school students issued by Procter & Gamble in 1997.<ref name="ABC(Australia)_www.abc.net.au_science_slab_beder"/> It has been controversial.<ref name="ABC(Australia)_www.abc.net.au_science_slab_beder">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Release of "Decision Earth"
Its asserted aim was assisting students to make informed consumer product choices, and to educate then in the environmental impact of their choices:<ref name="ERIC_RecordDetails-ED3541_Decision: Earth"/>
The unit focuses on the concept of consumer product life cycle analysis, an approach to assessing the environmental impacts of a product at each stage in its life from raw materials extraction through disposal. Using this approach, a product is evaluated in terms of energy consumed, atmospheric and waterborne emissions generated and solid waste created for disposal.<ref name="ERIC_RecordDetails-ED3541_Decision: Earth"/>
Procter & Gamble have claimed the package builds critical thinking skills<ref name="SeattleTimes_20Jan1994_CorporateTeachingAidGetsLowMarks">Template:Cite news</ref>
Criticism of "Decision Earth"
It has been asserted that "Decision Earth" included a series of controversial claims about waste disposal, mining and forestry issues which was distributed by the Procter & Gamble corporation to roughly 75,000 schools in the United States.<ref name="ABC(Australia)_www.abc.net.au_science_slab_beder"/><ref name="SeattleTimes_20Jan1994_CorporateTeachingAidGetsLowMarks"/><ref name="LATimes_13Nov1995_FrankKing_DecisionEarth">Template:Cite news</ref> Procter & Gamble argued in its package that disposable diapers are no worse for the environment than cloth diapers, a claim based on scientific studies funded by the company, which is the world's largest manufacturer of disposable diapers. The package described garbage-fueled incineration processes where energy is recovered as "thermal recycling" without mentioning the toxic ash or emissions that result.<ref>name="ABC(Australia)_www.abc.net.au_science_slab_beder"</ref>
Decision Earth package
The materials given to teachers and students include overhead transparency masters, student worksheets, and a teacher's guide.