Saturday, June 19, 2010

A Review of the New Line of Eco-Friendly Peter Rabbit Products


Did you know that the tales of Peter Rabbit have been being published and reprinted for over 100 years? Yeah, for over 100 years parents and children have been enjoying rabbit tales thanks to Beatrix Potter.

That means several generations of children have grown up with the stories of Peter Rabbit, they are childhood classics. One of those stories you can't really avoid. I know I have a copy of this book from the 1930s that was my mother's when she was a small child. I also have copies from my childhood and I think each one of my children has had their own version over the years.

It is remarkable that some stories are so timeless that they survive the generations and continue to be loved through all the changes, through all the years.

Another thing that is remarkable about the Tales of Peter Rabbit is the author.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Disposable and Earth Friendly Tableware

Disposable and earth friendly are not two words that normally go together.

If you are into being green then you probably try to avoid as many disposable products that you can. More waste equals less green, which is not eco-friendly at all.

Parties and get-togethers often involve the use of disposable plates, napkins and cutlery- from bridal showers to engagements parties, to weddings or simple backyard barbeques- worrying about a bunch of dishes to wash after the party is the last thing you may want to deal with. Yet your conscience may nag at you that you are not doing your part to be eco-friendly.

Thank goodness that there are now eco-friendly options in disposable tableware. That's right- the best of both worlds- eco-friendly, sustainable products that are disposable.

Keep reading here.

Give Clothes New Life on BigWardrobe.Com

Here's a great green idea for the eco-Fashionista's out there.

Don't send your unworn clothes to Goodwill and definitely don't send them to the landfill, instead swap them for something else on BigWardrobe.com.

In frugal times you can still have a new wardrobe by swapping items with others. This is a great way to recycle and Freecycle your stuff without the actual "recycling" plus you can look for something special, unique and in your size and swap your stuff.BigWardrobe.com was launched in the UK in May of 2008 now they are branching out into the US. On average 5000 new items are added each week with up to 300 swap offers per day. BigWardrobe.com is a great way to shop without spending much of your hard earned cash. You can even swap "Bottom Shelf" items like books, DVD's, toys, iPods, mobile phones, cameras, and CDs. There's even a vintage area for those Fashionistas who love timeless classics and fun vintage goods.

Click here to keep reading.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

TerraCycle's EcoNation Products Are a Hit with Tweens and Teens

TerraCycle is a company known for eco-innovation. They take trash and upcycle it into great, green goods like backpacks, notebooks, folders, tote bags, wallets and pencil cases along with yard and garden products.Now they are creating a line of eco-gadgets under the Eco-Nation sub brand. "Eco-nation is staying ahead of the fashion curve with a conscience: big impact on your gadgets, small impact on the planet."

These new green gadgets will help you "groove greener".

The TerraCycle Eco-Nation gadgets start out as candy wrappers from M&Ms, Skittles, Starburst and other candies and get transformed or "upcycled" into awesome speakers and boomboxes. These handy upcycled speakers come as flat, folded cardboard that you fold into a boombox or set of speakers and attach to your iPod or other mp3 player. The speakers and boombox run off the mp3 power supply so they need no batteries.

Click here to keep reading.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Thinking electronic gift for dad? Think green!

Dads tend to love electronic gadgets and on Father's Day, who doesn't want to give dad what he craves? The challenge is fulfilling dad's wishes while staying aware of the environmental issues raised in the making, using and disposal of electronics.

The best gadget would use solar or human power, be made locally of recycled materials, come in no or minimal packaging (which is compostable), contain no harmful materials and would be fully recyclable when dad is done with it.

Dream on!

We have yet to reach electronics nirvana. But there are options that meet at least some eco-expectations. Choosing one of these is certainly better than ignoring the issue.

If given the choice between two items that perform in the way your dad wants, see if one of them is better on the green front.

Look for:
Products powered by the sun, gravity, human power or at the least, rechargeable batteries. Solar chargers are widely available as are items like cool, hand cranked flashlights and radios.

Products that are comparatively energy efficent. Computers, TVs and printers are some of the products that companies are working to make better in this department. Check out Energy Star labels where available.

Products made with fewer hazardous materials. All electronics contain hazardous materials (PCs, for example may contain lead, cadmium, mercury and flame retardants in plastic casings). This is why they should never be thrown in the trash. Look for electronics that meet European standards which, while not perfect are better.

Products containing recycled content. Moblie phones and computers are just two of the items available that use some percentage of recycled materials.

Another great idea is to upgrade what dad already has instead of buying a new unit. Adding a larger internal hard drive to his computer, paying for a professional "tune up" so the computer will run faster or purchasing extra memory for a camera are all eco-friendlier alternatives to buying new. And of course, buying the item used, but usable is another green option.

How about gifting dad with a surge protector that turns off power to idle devices eliminating electricity usage and saving money?

As a bonus gift for dad, whether buying electronics or not, offer to recycle any he's ready to get rid of. Electronics make up 70 percent of all hazardous waste and very little of what could be recycled actually is.

So collect dad's outdated gadgets, head to Earth 911 and find out how to recycle them close to home.

Enjoy a happy, green Father's Day!

~Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net