≪今回のworkshop≫
参加人数：20名（うち新人の方：7名）
今回は多くの新人さんが参加してくださり、直近3年間で最多記録となりました🎉
初参加は不安かもしれませんが、ほとんどの方がお一人で参加されていますし、幹事もできる限りフォローしますので安心して遊びに来てください！！
マテリアル内容の説明後、別室にも分かれてグループディスカッションを行いました。
（詳しいディスカッションの様子はInstagramへ）
≪FIRST HALF≫
Latte Money
In the famous movie “The Devil Wears Prada”, the boss, Miranda Priestly, demands that her assistant, Andy, bring her a Starbucks latte every single day. Like Miranda, many of us buy drinks or snacks daily to help us power through a busy schedule.
“Latte money” refers to small, habitual daily expenses—like a $5 coffee—that seem insignificant at the moment but add up to a large sum over time. This concept highlights how cutting back on these minor, often unnecessary expenditures can help you redirect money toward savings or investments to build long-term wealth.
What are your thoughts on “Latte money”? Let’s share our perspectives in the discussion.
<Questions>
Q1. What is your “Latte money”? What kind of small, habitual expenses do you find yourself making? Please explain what you buy and the situation.
Q2. Do you think it is okay to spend “Latte money” every day? Is it a necessary “investment” in your happiness/productivity, or is it a waste of potential savings?
Q3. Depending on your stance, please answer one of the following:
– If you are PRO-spending:
If you buy a Starbucks latte (500 yen) every day, how do you justify the cost to yourself? What value does it bring to your day?
– If you are CON-spending:
How do you manage the impulse to buy these small luxuries? What are your strategies for resisting the temptation?
≪LATTER HALF≫
Greenwashing and Greenhushing
Today, almost every company wants to look “green.” We see words like “eco-friendly”, “sustainable”, and “carbon-neutral” on products and advertisements. This sounds positive, but sometimes the message is bigger than the action. When a company exaggerates its environmental efforts, or makes a claim that is not really true, we call this “greenwashing”. A brand may use green colors and nature images while doing very little for the planet. As a result, it becomes hard for ordinary people to know which companies are truly responsible.
Recently, the opposite trend has also appeared. Because customers and the media now criticize false claims very quickly, some companies have decided to stay silent. Even when they are doing good things for the environment, they choose not to talk about it. This is called “greenhushing”. They worry that if they speak, people will look for mistakes and attack them. But silence also hides useful information, and it can slow down honest conversation about real progress.
This leaves us in a difficult situation. Saying too much can become greenwashing, but saying nothing can become greenhushing. Meanwhile, we as consumers must make daily choices with limited and confusing information. Some people believe stronger rules and clearer labels are the answer. Others think honesty should come from companies themselves, not from regulation.
So, who is responsible for the truth about “green” products: the companies, the government, or us? And in a world full of both loud claims and careful silence, how can we decide what to believe?
<References>
“Survey Finds Most Companies Going Quiet on Green Goals” South Pole (2024)
https://www.southpole.com/news/survey-finds-most-companies-going-quiet-on-green-goals
“Greenhushing: Are businesses staying silent about climate pledges?” BBC (2025)
<Questions>
Q1. How do you choose products in your daily life? Have you ever bought something because it looked “eco-friendly”? What made you trust it or doubt it? (approx. 10 min)
Q2. Greenwashing and greenhushing are opposite problems. Which one do you think is more harmful for society, and why? (approx. 10 min)
Q3. Who should be most responsible for honest “green” information — companies, governments, or consumers? What could each of them realistically do? (approx. 15 min, to be shared after discussion)
Q4. Imagine you run a company that is making real but modest eco-efforts. Would you speak about them, or stay quiet? What would you actually say?(If there is spare time.)
*****
今回のマテリアルも、人によって違った答えを持つ、正解のない問いでした。
特に後半マテリアルでは、ディスカッション中に「日本人の持つ印象と、環境問題に高い関心がある欧米ではまた違った見方ができるのでは ？」という意見も挙がり、とても考えさせられました。
普段あまり意識しない様なトピックに触れると、様々な意見に触れることができとても勉強になります。
参加された方々、お疲れさまでした！