Posts Tagged ‘recycled’

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Tips for a Green Halloween

Monday, October 24th, 2011

green halloween wishes1 300x225 Tips for a Green Halloween

It’s only one week away. How about some tips to go green this Halloween?

1. Use the WHOLE pumpkin: Don’t just carve it and throw it in the trash November 1st. Use the pumpkin seeds and the carved out pieces for food. Pumpkin seed recipes are all over the web and make for a delicious snack. Puree the pieces of pumpkin you carved out for recipes that call for fresh pumpkin. And if you have a backyard compost pile, throw the rest of the pumpkin in there after Halloween.

2. Skip the expensive costumes: Save some cash by avoiding those expensive plastic costumes in the retail store. Make costumes made of reusable or recycled materials. Check out Green Halloween for ideas.

3. Use recyclable bags for trick-or-treating: Avoid using the orange plastic Jack-O-Lanterns that are used for a couple hours and discarded in the trash. This will also save you money too! Reuse plastic bags or even better, how about those cloth bags you have lying around? They’re strong and can hold more candy than you can dream of your kids bringing home for you.

4. DIY Decorations: DIY means Do It Yourself!. Making your own decorations is fun and expands your creativity. Give a little character to your decorations this year. It’s also a fun activity to do with the kids. Great Dad has some great ways to decorate DIY for Halloween.

 

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Mattel Shifts to Greener Packaging

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

greenpeace barbie ken mattel rainforests 300x155 Mattel Shifts to Greener Packaging

Responding to a campaign by Greenpeace, toy giant Mattel announced Wednesday that it will stop buying paper and packaging from Asia Pulp and Paper. The environmental group has linked Asia Pulp and Paper to rain forest deforestation in Indonesia.

Going forward, Mattel will increase the amount of recycled and sustainable fiber used in its packaging and products. The move will focus on using post-consumer recycled content whenever possible and avoiding virgin fiber from controversial sources. The toy maker also said it intends to increase the amount of recycled paper it uses, and to increase the use of wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

By the end of 2011, 70 percent of Mattel’s paper packaging will be made from recycled material or sustainable fiber. It aims to raise that to 85 percent by the end of 2015.

Mattel’s earlier environmental changes included eliminating plastic-coated wire ties that used to be used to secure Barbie dolls and other goods to their boxes. That effort was spearheaded by Wal-Mart.

Indonesia has one of the fastest rates of forest destruction in the world. Indonesia’s rain forest, the largest in the world after those in the Amazon and the Congo, is home to orangutans, tigers, elephants, clouded leopards and scores of other endangered plants and animals. The Indonesian government estimates that nearly 2.5 million acres of rain forest is being lost every year, according to Greenpeace.

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More Evidence of Green Packaging Growth

Friday, August 26th, 2011

green world 300x300 More Evidence of Green Packaging Growth

World demand for green packaging is expected to rise 5.7% per year to $212 billion in 2015. We’ve been tracking these projections for a couple of years now. Without becoming redundant, it should be noted that these growth numbers have been consistent. A lot of speculation rose over the green packaging market a few years ago that is was a passing fad. But surviving a terrible world economy is a tell tale sign that the demand is real.

This new growth projection for green packaging comes from a new study by the Freedonia Group. The study shows recycled-content packaging as being the largest product type by far. However, recycled-content packaging will see the slowest increases due to the maturity of products such as metal cans and glass containers. Reusable and degradable packaging will experience above-average growth with degradable packaging in particular seeing double digit annual growth rates. Though degradable packaging’s demand will increase significantly, it will only make up approximately 1% of the overall green packaging market by 2015.

The largest regional green packaging market in the world will remain Asia/Pacific at $79 billion because of its large food and beverage industries. Asia will see some of the fastest growth in India, China,  and Indonesia. Other countries such as Russia, Turkey, Brazil, and Mexico will see healthy gains as well.

Accounting for 23% of the green packaging market in 2010, the US has the largest market share by a long shot. Other mature markets can be found in Germany as well as Japan though Japan’s growth is expected to slow down quite a bit.

Stay tuned…..although at this point we can predict the same type of story in the next study.

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iPad Cases Made From Bernie Madoff’s Clothing

Friday, August 12th, 2011

BERNIE MADOFF IPAD HOLDERS 13129961781 241x300 iPad Cases Made From Bernie Madoffs Clothing

Frederick James designs and manufactures fashion iPad cases made out of luxury rescued and vintage fabrics such as Cashmere, Silk, Rayon, Organza and Wool. Now, they’re taking these recycled iPad cases to the next level- using Bernie Madoff’s salvaged clothing. Yes, that’s right…..Bernie Madoff’s salvaged clothing.

The iPad case collection called “The Bernie Madoff” uses a limited number of personal clothing items belonging to the notorious felon, Bernie Madoff. After his arrest, US Marshalls seized and auctioned thousands of items from his New York homes. Each iPad case is one-of-a-kind and they range in price from $250 to $500…..Wait, how much does an actual iPad cost? $500? Ok… Founder John Vaccaro warns purchasers that the cases are strictly for fashion use and should not be trusted to keep an iPad safe in the case of a drop.

And if you’re wondering “Who is that guy?”, Bernie Madoff is the admitted operator of what has been described as the largest Ponzi scheme in history. He was sentenced to 150 years in prison in 2009.

 

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Chair In The Box

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

chair 05 292x300 Chair In The Box

It’s lighter than a magazine, easy to set up, holds a person up to approximately 200 lbs, and is made out of corrugated box material. So what is it? It’s Chair In The Box. Yes, a simple box that is opened and easily folded to make a chair.

The chair is very functional. The corrugated boards are composed of recycled secondary fibers like used newspapers and old boxes. There are several environmental benefits with Chair In The Box. It encourages the use of recycled materials and helps in saving paper. The product also provides a good alternative option for metal products which are non-renewable resources.

chair 021 300x194 Chair In The Box

chair 03 300x170 Chair In The Box

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Consumer Interest in Green Products Rises

Monday, June 27th, 2011

greenbrands Consumer Interest in Green Products Rises

The annual Global Green Brands Study revealed that interest in green products has increased significantly in the past year. The research polled over 9,000 people in 8 countries.

Personal care, grocery, and household products still have the greatest presence among companies in the Top Ten Green Brands List which was produced from the survey (See the list below). This is due to the increased intelligence consumers are getting on green products. Interestingly, the study also found that consumers are ready to take their green purchases to the next level by spending money on big ticket items such as cars and technology.

TOP TEN GREEN BRANDS LIST:
1. Seventh Generation
2. Whole Foods
3. Tom’s of Maine
4. Burt’s Bees
5. Trader Joe’s
6. The Walt Disney Company
7. S.C. Johnson
8. Dove
9. Apple
10. Starbucks, Microsoft (tied)

Just like last year’s study, more than 60% of the consumers polled said they wanted to buy products from environmentally responsible companies even if that meant paying more for them. In fact, consumers in developing countries were willing to pay up to 33% more for green products.

PACKAGING STILL A CONCERN
Another interesting finding from the poll was the concern over packaging, especially among US consumers. 71% believe companies use too much material in packaging while about 50% feel that packaging that can be recycled is more important than packaging made from recycled or biodegradable materials. Only 34% of US consumers polled said they consciously purchase products that use less packaging.

Packaging was also critical as a communication tool. Communicating product benefits to US consumers was vital. Packaging helps explain why a product is green and how green a product is. 40% polled say that packaging is their PRIMARY source for information on environmental issues regarding products.

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A Greener Christmas

Friday, December 24th, 2010

green christmas 300x225 A Greener Christmas
The holiday season is very close, with Christmas being tomorrow. The thoughts of candy canes, cookies, ornaments, decorations, and presents dance in the air. Along with the holiday cheer comes added waste. Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s as compared to the rest of the year. This extra waste amounts to 1.2 million tons per week. Although this time of year produces so much waste, there are ways to help reduce the amount and help the environment.

Here are 8 ways to make the holiday season greener:
1. Consider no-waste gifts such as music or sports lessons, gym memberships, or concert tickets
2. Buy products made from recycled or organic content
3. Purchase vintage clothing or accessories from consignment or second hand stores
4. Give potted plants, flowers, or trees
5. When shopping, bring reusable cloth bags
6. Make your own wrapping paper by using old maps, posters, newspapers, or magazines
7. Use email for holiday greetings, photos, and letters
8. When entertaining, use washable utensils, plates, glasses, napkins, and table coverings. You can also send leftovers home with guests in reusable containers or donate them to local shelters or soup kitchens

By using a little imagination and putting in some effort, we can all contribute to a greener holiday season and hopefully reduce the amount of waste we produce during that time.

Merry Christmas!!

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The Future of Packaging, Part 1

Friday, August 13th, 2010

greenworld 300x240 The Future of Packaging, Part 1

Like many other industries, the packaging industry has suffered through the current recession. Sustainable packaging, however, has showed impressive growth from 2008 to 2009, and has been immune to the economic downturn. Sustainability has helped companies cut costs and reduce packaging waste by using recycled and reusable materials. Europe and the U.S. represent the largest regions for sustainable packaging, together accounting for more than 70 percent of the global market.

Sustainable packaging is projected to reach $142.42 billion globally by 2015, according to a report from Global Industry Analysts (GIA). Drivers for growth include increased awareness about environmental hazards related to disposal and recycling of packaging wastes, government initiatives to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and stringent regulations.

As eco-friendly packaging becomes mainstream, many companies are implementing green packaging as a marketing tool. Manufacturers also are under pressure to use environment-friendly materials, and adopt methods that require low-energy consumption and reduce environmental impact of packaging.

In terms of market segmentation, recycled material accounts for the largest packaging category, contributing nearly 90 percent to the total demand in the United States. However, biodegradables represent the fastest growing segment in the packaging industry. Biodegradable materials are easily decomposed by microorganisms, and reduce packaging waste, while the materials preserve food products and sustain freshness. Among biodegradables, bioplastics are garnering the greatest attention in the green packaging market. As questions loom about the limitations of bioplastics, the demand continues to swell, presenting an opportunistic market as bioplastics evolve.

Markets using sustainable packaging include cosmetics and personal care, food and beverage, food service and shipping markets, and healthcare. As an example, the study cites more than 600 new beauty products with a green label were introduced in Europe alone during the past two years, driven by consumer preference for eco-friendly plastic packaging materials.

27 percent of products at major U.S. retailers are estimated to have sustainable packaging in 2010, and by 2015, this figure is projected to reach 37 percent.

To be continued…..

Check out: Green Packaging 365

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The 3 Ring Binder, Functional and Eco-Friendly

Friday, January 8th, 2010

You may have out grown your trapper keeper days, but it’s unlikely that you’ll outgrow the need for a 3-ring binder.   It keeps you organized, efficient, and did I mention eco-friendly? That’s right, this little contraption is so much more that you imagined.

various binders tn The 3 Ring Binder, Functional and Eco Friendly

The way you organize often depends on how you think.  To some it makes sense to place things alphabetically. To others it makes sense to organize according to time, project, client, or subject matter.  Luckily any system that works for you will work for the binder.   Within your system of organization you can further organize by using tabs or separating sheets.  You can also attach cd holders to store masses of information.  You may be thinking, “I know a binder’s organizational uses.”  Fair enough, but do you know all of the ways it can make you eco-friendly?

We’ll start with recycling. Many of the dividers and CD holders are being made of recycled material.  Additionally, they’re being made of material that can be recycled.  The binders themselves are also being made of recyclable material, whether it be from recycled plastics or papers.   For example, take our eco-binders.  They are made from 75% post-consumer recycled material and are functional as well as dirt and grime resistant. Additionally, you can reuse binders from one project to the next making them an efficient way to stay organized.

eco binders 300x188 The 3 Ring Binder, Functional and Eco Friendly

For more information visit our store at:

Sunrise Store

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What Feature Do You Look For Most in Packaging?

Monday, October 19th, 2009
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