By Dana Sitterson // Everything in Japan is tiny and individually packaged. That’s good for the waistline, because the first time you open the fifth quarter-sized cookie, and see the pile of wrappers, you feel like a pig. The next time, you only have three. While it’s slightly better for your health to over-package these treats, it’s extremely bad for the environment.

Living without a car is unfathomable for most Americans. To get from home to school or work and back again, a car seems essential. Unless you’re living in a big city, the thought of using public transportation seems scary. Many American cities are so spread out that...