3p Contributor: Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Recent Articles
BetaCup Challenge Contest Winner Not a Cup
The BetaCup Challenge Contest was created to generate ideas and sustainable solutions to reduce paper cup consumption and waste. According to the website, about 58 billion disposable paper cups are thrown away each year in the United States. About 20 million trees are cut down to make those cups.
The BetaCup Challenge
Anyone 13 or older could participate in the design competition by submitting ideas online. More than 430 entries were submitted between April 1 and June 1, 2010. The entries were then rated by viewers from June 1st to June 15th. On June 17th, the winners of $20,000 in cash prizes were announced on June 17, 2010.
Elements Naturals Compostable Baby Wipes Made from Plants
All else being equal, if you had the choice of using an oil-based product or a compostable, renewable plant based product on your baby’s delicate skin, which would you choose?
Elements Naturals uses plant-derived products in a completely compostable baby wipe. Unlike many other baby wipes, these products are free from synthetic chemicals, foaming agents and harsh preservatives. The wipes, chemical and chlorine-free, are EcoCert and Natural Products Association certified. Soft enough for a baby’s bum, the durable wipes also contain certified-organic aloe vera and purified water.
Emeco’s 111 Navy Chair Constructed out of Plastic Bottles
The next time someone asks you to “pull up a chair,” you may want to take a second look. It could be made out of plastic bottles. In an effort to show the value of recycled plastic, Coca-Cola and Emeco are working together to create some pretty cool furniture – beautiful chairs made out of recycled plastic bottles.
According to the company website, Coke approached furniture maker Emeco with an idea several years ago. The world’s largest beverage company had a new recycling plant in South Carolina and wanted to put the spotlight on the value of recycled plastic. Combining the iconic Coca-cola contour bottle package with the classic Navy Chair design, the super-sleek 111 Navy Chair was created.
First Cat Food with Sustainably Sourced Fish Soon Hits European Shelves
Several cat food brands that use sustainably sourced fish will soon be hitting the shelves in Europe. Touted as an industry first, Mars Petcare Europe recently announced it will be launching its Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified pet food as part of the company’s commitment to use only “sustainably sourced fish by 2020.”
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), unsustainable fishing is “decimating” the world’s fisheries, destroying marine habitats and incidentally killing billions of fish and marine animals annually. The fish used in the company pet food products will be caught in a sustainable manner, without further threatening dwindling stocks.
Working with the WWF, other fish sustainability commitments include “using 100 percent sustainable wild catch and aquaculture sources, replacing all wild catch whole fish and fillets with sustainable fish by-products and using only sustainable alternatives to marine fish ingredients.” According to a company press release, MSC-certified fish will be used in SHEBA and WHISKAS fish variety cat food brands throughout Europe and will be available by the end of the year. The MSC also makes it easy for human consumers to spot sustainable seafood – just look for the blue MSC label.
The Lemon Lady’s Inspirational Campaign Against Hunger
It all started when stay-at-home mom Anna Chan and young daughter Ava were taking a spin in the family’s SUV. Like many parents, Chan often took short road trips around the California neighborhood to help calm her colicky daughter. In February 2009, Chan noticed many of her neighbors’ fruit trees were loaded with delicious fruit. But she also noticed the ground was scattered with rotting lemons and oranges. Surely, something could be done with all that fruit?
Determined not to let all that fruit go to waste, Chan created and distributed fliers on the doorsteps of homeowners asking residents for permission to collect the fruit and take it to local food pantries. Amazingly, people began calling and Chan began picking. Whether it was lemons, grapefruit, avocados, pears and oranges, she picked them, one-by-one and loaded the fruit into the back seat of her SUV. Chan picked over 100 pounds of fresh, homegrown lemons and oranges the very first day! And in just one month’s time, this very special mom on a mission distributed approximately 2,000 pounds of citrus fruit from Concord and Clayton to local food banks and pantries.
Green Choice Campaign 2010: Rate & Review Green Charities
If you have had experience with environmental non-profit organizations, why not share your story with the world? Whether your experience was fabulous, mediocre or somewhere in between, the GreatNonprofits Green Choice Campaign 2010 is asking for your input. Now is your chance to review that green non-profit and share your experience. Your review may help others make informed decisions prior to donating or volunteering with particular charitable organizations. Over 800 reviews were submitted on more than 100 organizations during the 2009 Green Choice Campaign.
Turning off Computers Will Save Ford Millions
Ford Motor Company recently announced the launching of a new program that is expected to save the auto company millions. According to a company press release, the PC Power Management program is expected to save the company approximately $1.2 million in power costs and will reduce its carbon footprint by 16,000 to 25,000 metric tons annually.
PC Power Management Program
According to Ford IT project supervisor, Keith Forte, about 60 percent of Ford employees did not shut off their systems at the end of the day, resulting in wasted energy. By updating computer software during off-hours, shutting down Windows’ systems during the evening hours, weekends and when the computers are not in use, power consumption will be reduced and money will be saved. Each computer will have a “Power Profile” which will monitor usage patterns and determine when the system can be safely turned off. The program will also automatically save any Microsoft Office products that remain open prior to shutdown. The PC Power Management program, developed with 1E Inc’s NightWatchman software, will be available this month in the United States and will be rolled out worldwide later this year.
Brooks Sports Offers Cutting-Edge Running Shoes with Sustainable Soul
Brooks Sports, Inc. designs and manufactures high performance running footwear for men, women and children. The company, known for its breakthrough advancements in running shoes, also incorporates sustainability practices into its products and manufacturing processes.
Green Silence
One of Brooks’ newest products, Green Silence, is a high performance, sustainable competition racing flat. Every component in the shoe has a sustainable element. Seventy-five percent of the materials used in the eco-friendly shoe are post consumer recycled (PCR). Other features of the Green Silence shoe include:
- Packaging is 100 percent PCR
- Only non-toxic dyes, colorants and water-based adhesive labels are used
- The outsole is made out of 30 percent recycled rubber
- While similar running shoes are comprised of 54 components, the Green Silence shoe contains 26 parts, saving oil and energy
- Heel counters are partially made out of recycled CDs
- Shoe laces, webbings and meshes are made from recycled water bottles
Burgerville Adds Compostable Cups and Lids to Menu
F
ast food chain, Burgerville, recently announced it is switching to commercially compostable cups and lids as part of its goal to divert 85 percent of the company’s waste stream from landfills. Burgerville is the first fast food chain to use compostable paper cups company-wide.
The compostable “ecotainer” soda cups and lids, developed by International Paper in cooperation with Coca-Cola, are made from fiber from sustainably-managed forests that meet the Sustainable Forestry Institute (SFI) guidelines. A corn-based coating, NatureWorks Ingeo, is used in the cups and lids to create a water-resistant barrier. And ecotainer products require less energy to produce than traditional paper cups.
Burgerville has also teamed with the Portland Roasting Company in an effort to bring Farm Friendly Direct coffee to all its customers. Proceeds from coffee sales help improve the lives of coffee farmers and their communities though the building of community centers, schools and water treatment centers.
Dumpster Diving Day Saves Burt’s Bees $25K Annually
The old adage “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” sure rings true for a North Carolina-based earth friendly natural personal care products company. In 2008, employees from Burt’s Bees took part in Dumpster Day, an event held to educate employees about waste reduction.
Trash destined for the landfill was collected for two weeks and divided into three categories – items that should have been recycled but were not, things that should be recycled and garbage. With about five tons of stockpiled trash dumped onto the parking lot, employees donned Hazmat suits and dove in to find out what they could dig up.
Recent Comments