Ways to Green Your Kids

I found this interesting story about "greening your kids" on TakeApart ... " ... a new cause-related site designed to help you explore today’s issues and get involved ... with the right information and tools for action, individuals can—and will—make a difference. "

"Being green ... can be fun, even for kids ... extend your green lifestyle to include them by using everyday consumer choices as opportunities to educate them and build a sense of responsibility and empowerment..."

Image by liewcf via Flickr

There are 10 ideas on their site - here are 2 ...

Clothing ..." ... smaller companies pledged to human rights and environmental conservation. ... WeWe Clothing ... offers an alternative to clothing mass-produced at environmental cost ... "

Batteries ... "kids go through batteries ... Over 720 tons of household batteries are disposed of each year. Recycling and conservation keeps heavy metals out of landfills and prevents groundwater pollution ... use power adapters and travel chargers whenever possible ... consider rechargeable batteries ..."

Via: TakeApart LINK

Walmart to Provide "eco rating" for its Products

Walmart is looking to provide consumers with eco information about the products offered in stores so they can make informed decisions and shop greener.

" ... will ask its suppliers to provide environmental information on all products carried in its stores ... use that information to label each item with an eco rating, designed to measure its environmental friendliness."

"... change how we make and sell products ... make consumption itself smarter and sustainable."

" ... latest effort by Wal-Mart to create a greener landscape .. already strived to make its own stores environmentally friendly ... an effort to create more sustainable electronics devices to reduce the amount of items dumped into landfills.

Via: cnet news LINK

Pistachio - Green Stationary, Apothecary and Gifts

I saw Pistachio paper and writing products in my local Barnes and Noble bookstore and was intrigued by the advertising poster. They offer a very green product line and are driven by environmentally friendly policies.

" ...Pistachio began with a simple idea – being generous, environmentally sensitive and engaged with life is good for us and good for the planet ...creating, using, and reusing things intelligently ..."

"... doing our best to ensure what we do and what we offer customers has the least impact on the Earth ... using safe, honest materials certified for authenticity."

The page that details their environmental standards has some good descriptions of variouse green terms ... check it out LINK.

Via: Pistachio LINK

Timberland Teams with Green Rubber™

Disposal of used tires is usually accomplished by dumping then in landfills as rubber is not easily recycled. It is estimated that there are over 7 billion discarded tires worldwide and approx. 1.2 billion more disposed every year.

" ... Timberland Company ... will launch ... footwear collections featuring outsoles made using recycled rubber from discarded tires ..."

" ... 1.2 billion tires being disposed in landfills every year ... Recognizing that rubber is a ... reusable resource, Timberland will be the first footwear manufacturer to commercialize Green Rubber technology ..."

Timberland is " ... committed to connecting successful commerce to environmental responsibility, ... great opportunity for us to share our commitment to sustainability with our customers."

See related article on this blog LINK - Green Rubber™.



Via: Timberland Teams with Green Rubber™ LINK

Zero Impact® - Environmental Awareness

Want to know more about your environmental impact? Want to know your environmental impact and ways to change it or offset it? Check out Zero Impact® 's on-line environmental impact calculator - LINK.

" ... quantifies the environmental impact of activities, companies, products and people, calculating emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases and helping to reduce and offset CO2 emissions with ... new forests ..."

" ... a company, a family, a person can easily calculate how much CO2 they are emitting into the atmosphere, and decide to offset the emissions, helping to rehabilitate and protect green areas."


Via: Zero Impact® LINK

eco friendly bikini

Who says you can't be eco-friendly and look sharp ? It is still summer in the northeast U.S. - here is a way to enjoy the sun and be environmentally friendly at the same time !
Check out Deux fm's Mysytic bikini ... " ... made of eco-conscious remnant fabric with organic cotton rope ties ... entire collection makes use of environmentally friendly, re-used and recycled fabrics while utilizing fair labor practices ... committed to the global cultural movement for a sustainable future ..."

Via: deux fm LINK

Every wonder just how a solar cell works today .. and how they might work in the future?

Listen to this video from" Paul Altivisatos, interim director for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at UC Berkeley, ... how the solar energy of the future, via a solar fuel generator that converts energy the same way plants do, can become more efficient. ..."




Via: ZDNet News LINK

econscious wearables with value(s)

As more consumers are looking for products that are eco-friendly companies are responding with offerings that are both green / eco-friendly and good looking.

" ... company is serving a growing demand for organic and sustainable apparel and accessories that are durable, comfortable, and great looking. ... Enjoy our extensive and focused collection of organic cotton and recycled polyester blank apparel and accessories."

"Corporate Responsibility is woven into the fabric of econscious. ... We are part of a worldwide movement towards "responsible capitalism." ... affiliated with some of the world's leading sustainable trade organizations. ..."

They are a member of "1% for the Planet"


Via: econscious LINK

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• Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Eco-Friendly Bikini (takepart.com)

Xerox - Cartridge Free Dry Inks

Laser and Ink Jet printers are great for producing quality prints - but they leave a significant waste. Most manufacturers now make it easy to return cartridges for refilling but providing pre-paid mailers. These used cartidges are then reconditioned into new product.

Some manufactures are going to dry or non cartridge inks. these typically have significantly less packaging and of course - no cartridge to deal with.

"Solid ink technology uses fewer material resources and less energy across the product lifecycle, ... solid ink waste is primarily a small amount of packaging, which can be recycled locally ... Cartridge-free solid ink is a true consumable, producing 90% less waste than comparable color laser devices. ... after printing 22,000 pages a month for 4 years, a solid ink product’s waste amounts to 88 lbs. vs. a whopping 815 lbs. of waste from a laser device.

Via: Xerox LINK

1% for the Planet

Businesses that want to make a positive impact on the planet and advertise that fact should look into !% for the Planet.

" ... exists to build and support an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet. ... about understanding that the true cost of doing business can be mitigated by a simple pledge to the planet."

"Since 2002, 1% For The Planet has inspired members of the business community to contribute 1% of sales to environmental groups around the world. "

Check out their 1% for the Planet online store with books, clothes and other items related to the environment.

On the main page is a map of the world and you can see by region the number of members and nonprofits and drill in to see who belong.

Does your company belong ?


Via: 1% for the Planet LINK

Green Rubber™

Modern tires are a wonderful thing ... the last a long time and make modern auto travel possible ... however the same long lasting aspect makes them hard to safely dispose.

Land-filling tires is a waste of valuable resources and piles of tires can breed mosquitoes and / or catch fire - emitting toxic smoke.

" ... vulcanised rubber is nearly impossible to recycle ... Last year 1.3bn tyres were thrown away,..."

"Green Rubber provides an environmentally friendly alternative ... rubber can be devulcanised and made into new products. ... process will also significantly reduce their costs at a time when virgin rubber prices are at a record high. ..."


Via: Green Rubber™ LINK

Timberland's Green Index™ Rating

Timberland is very environmentally friendly and makes great efforts to let consumers know the environmental impact of their products. Their web site is full of information about their ideas and news of their contributions to GREEN activities.

Their shoes has a Green Index™ Rating that os a composite "Score" based on Climate Impact, Chemicals used and Resources used.

" ... committed to manufacturing products and conducting business in a socially responsible way ... introduced the "Green Index" – a measure of the environmental impact of our products. ..."



Via: Timberland LINK

SunChips® are Powered by the Sun in Modesto, California

In addition to packing SunChips® in plastic bags made from plants and working on a compostable packing bag ... SunChips® are made with solar energy ( see LINK).

" ... plant in Modesto, California, solar collectors track the sun from dawn to dusk, gathering all the energy they can ... transfer that energy into heat, ... you get a snack that's not only better for you, but better for the planet as well."


CLICK to download a pdf to learn how they did it !


Via: Sunchips® LINK

Greener Car Rentals - at Vroom Vroom Vroom

Vroom Vroom Vroom is making car rentals GREENER.
In addition to allowing you to shop for the best rate at major agencies ... they will help offset your carbon emissions. They will also help you book green hotels.

" ... rental booking engine combines every major US Car Rental Supplier into one simple search. ... guaranteed the cheapest price on the best vehicles every single time."

"... is paying for all of the carbon offsets for all car rentals reserved through VroomVroomVroom.com. ... average contribution to offset carbon emissions for each car rental is $3.32. ... continue to be

Image via Wikipedia

"environmentally responsible" and drive to a "Green Hotel" available in every price range in almost every city. "

" ... iin the US from Avis, Alamo , Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty, at the lowest price possible. ... with over 2,000 car rental depots throughout the USA ..."

" ... one gallon of gas produces approximately 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) ... VroomVroomVroom estimates the amount of carbon produced by each car ... on average mileage driven ... "

Via: vroomvroomvroom.com LINK

Green Practices at Anheuser-Busch

Anheuser-Busch has several environmentally friendly practices that they follow ... including recycling more aluminum cans than they use, recycling grain for animal feed and creating methane gas ... check out the neat videos about A-Bs Green efforts.

" ... our tradition of environmental stewardship dates back to ... the late 1800s, ... recycling leftover grain from the brewing process, using it for cattle feed, a practice that continues today."

" ... recycle more than 99 percent of the solid waste we create. ... recycling more than 27 billion cans annually. ... Bio-Energy Recovery System (BERS), ... provides up to 15 percent of the fuel for nine of our U.S. breweries, ..."


Via: Anheuser-Busch LINK

Ace Hardware - Helpful Earth Choices Program

Ace Hardware's Helpful Earth Choices TM can help you become more sustainable and eco-conscious ... they have easy ways to go green, projects (like how to build a composter) and tips for conservation and lots of earth-friendly products.

At their Helpful Earth Choices web there are facts and tips about being green as well as a Green IQ quiz.

Image via Wikipedia

Take the quiz ... a combination of facts and trivia ... like how much longer a CFL lasts compared to an incandescent bulb and whether it is more energy efficient to stop / start a car then let it idle for 10 seconds at a stoplight.

>>> Did you take the Quiz?
>>> How did you do?



Via: acehardware.com LINK

Patagonia - Footprint Chronicles

Our *** 75th post ***

Long known for its very functional outdoor clothing and its policy of giving 1% of sales to environmental programs, Patagonia is, as you might expect, focused on the environment and environmental awareness.

" ... measure water consumption as well as energy consumption, waste, carbon emissions and distance traveled for chronicled products ... list "Product Footprint" data for a large portion of our products so you can make a more informed purchasing decision..."

" ... Footprint Chronicles examine Patagonia's life and habits as a company. ... give more of our practices some air ... been in business long enough to know that when we can reduce or eliminate a harm, other businesses will be eager to follow suit."

Check out the footprint chronicles ... and see how some of their products travel the globe during production and what is good and possibly not so good about each ... and what Patagonia is looking to do to lessen the environmental impact.


Via: Patagonia LINK

Abundant Forests - Learn about Renewable Resources

Go to the LINK and " ... roll your mouse over each room [by the white arrows] to see ways to make your home more renewable"

Abundantforests encourages people to look for and purchase / use wood based products as they are renewable and reusable / recyclable.



Via: abundantforests LINK

Do It Yourself Insulated Curtain Panels - Save Energy and A/C

One way to save energy is to keep the heat out in the summer (when you are trying to cool the house with A/C and keep the heat in in the winter (when you are trying to heat the house).

Home with large expoanses of glass can bring in light and warmth in the winter but cvan aslo make it expensive for A/C to kleep cool in the summer. Keeping heat out is a great way to keep the A/C bilss and cost down.

" ... to keep out the summer sun and keep your energy bills down, consider making a DIY insulation panel ... using reflective material to keep the scorching sun out ... constructing simple wooden frames and stretching reflecting insulation over them, ... five huge panels cost under $200 and took five hours to build."


Via: LifeHacker LINK

Franklin Square, Philadelphia Recycling Bins

Yesterday I spent lunchtime walking through Franklin Square in center city Philadelphia.

The square looks great ... lots of new benches and tables to sit at while eating ... and to encourage recycling they have a unique recycling bin shaped like

Image via Wikipedia

a liter soda bottle with the words "When we recycle, everyone wins".

Philadelphia is encouraging recycling and has installed the Solar Big Belly (look for a post on this shortly... ) in much of center city ... Franklin Square has something a little different but very effective.



Via: YourGreenQuest LINK

Sunchips® - Plant Based Plastic Bags and Soon to be Compostable Bags !!

SunChips - made by Frito Lay - is committed to lessening their impact on the planet ... in this example they are addressing packaging.

Their new bags are made with plant based plastic and by next year then plan to have a fully compostable bag ... 14 weeks in a well tended compost pile and it is ... compost !!

" ... we dream of a world with less waste ... we knew we had to create a better bag. ... found the answer in nature ... 33% of every 10 1/2 oz. size SunChips® bag is made with renewable, plant based materials. ... first step to reduce the amount of non–renewable materials we use for packaging."

"... in 2010, we plan to introduce the first fully compostable chip bag of its kind. ... are designed to fully decompose in about 14 weeks when placed in a hot, active compost bin or pile."

Check out the cool video on their website at this LINK ... click on compostable packaging on the right.



Via: Sunchips LINK