Reusable Bags News

Imagine for a moment, a future world where all the paper products we consume can sprout into a flower if planted in soil.  Like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory where everything is edible, except in this ideal world: all the paper is seeded and sproutable, and the schnozberries still taste like schnozberries!  As it turns out, seed paper makes this possibility a reality.

If you’ve never heard of seeded paper, you’re not alone; who knew paper made from seeds could produce a flower or any plant for that matter? Yes, despite the paper making process, the seeds can still germinate which allows them to sprout when planted.  Seed paper is a beautiful, attractive, and easily recyclable product that can include a variety of plant seeds.

But why should we use and spread the word about recyclable seed paper and all recycled paper for that matter?  According to the CWAC (Clean Water Action Council) the answer is because of the environmental damage caused by the paper industry, which is much more than just deforestation:

8 major environmental damages caused by the paper industry (CWAC.net):

• Contaminated Sediments, Fish & Ducks — major source of toxic chemicals in rivers.
• Continuing Toxic Pollution — major source of toxic chemical pollution.
• Conventional Air Pollution — large source of  air pollutants like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxides, carbon monoxides and particulates.
• Energy Consumption — energy intensive, drawing larges amount of electricity from public utilities, or forcing mills to build their own power plants.
• Water Consumption — uses a great deal of water.
• Solid Waste — generally produces a large amount of solid waste
• Deforestation — Worldwide, enormous tracts of forest are affected by the paper industry, contributing to the world’s tragic deforestation trends.
• Corruption of Democracy — The paper industry is a special interest and is well taken care of by the politicians and government.

Most of us are aware of global warming, man’s ever-growing carbon footprint, and harmful man-made pollution of all kinds.  We see with our own eyes the harmful toll on the environment caused by the cumulative effects of our individual human actions and habits.  We want to reduce, reuse, recycle, and make this world a better place for future generations, but sometimes we need to be encouraged, inspired, and reminded.  Seed paper is a great way to inspire each other to go green.

If you’re a business professional, environmentalist, business owner, salesperson, or just sending your annual holiday letter to friends and family, using seeded paper as your correspondence stationary is a great way to convey your personal or organization-wide commitment to reducing your carbon footprint while also saving trees.   Every time you give out your seed business card, or send out your holiday seed cards you are spreading the good news about seeded paper, recycling, and the absolute necessity for all of us to live and be eco friendly.  As the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day approaches (April 22^nd), there has never been a more appropriate time for companies to show their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint by adopting green practices to make this world a better place for future generations.

So how’s that 2010 new years resolution going? Well, if you’re like many or even most of us, you may have already given up.  It can be extremely difficult to change one habit.  In fact, we may go year after year making the same promise to ourselves to break a bad habit.  Then we break the promise of breaking that habit (sound familiar smokers, habitual soda drinkers, or fast-food eaters?).  It’s a vicious cycle! How do we break it?

I propose we adopt a strategy of changing a variety of simple and easy things in our lives, right now, instead of having just one goal for change.  What if changing in just one way is not enough? As we make decisions to change, even in small ways, we gain momentum and confidence in our ability to make positive changes regarding some of the more difficult things like working out regularly and finally losing that extra weight.  So let’s start building that confidence!

I see two simple yet significant ways I can change our planet and myself.  First, I’ll use eco friendly reusable or recycled shopping bags instead of plastic and paper bags when I shop.  Secondly, I’ll remember to use stainless steel water bottles. You may be surprised by what a positive influence these two easy habits can have on the world.

These habits are simple, easy and affordable.  Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, plastic containers and bags are not addictive (we promise, no withdrawals or cravings)!  Many aren’t mindful of how our usage of these products affect our planet’s health.  Once upon a time not long ago, we weren’t mindful of the harmful effects of cigarettes.  We accepted cigarette smoke as the status quo.  Some of us still smoke or live in communities where smoking is allowed in public indoor spaces.  Using reusable grocery bags and reusable water bottles can be new healthy habits and so easy compared to something like quitting caffeine, high fructose corn syrup or eliminating fast food from our diets.  Keep a stash of eco friendly recycled bags in your car, backpack, or shoulder bag.  Make a small investment in a stainless steel reusable water bottle and bring it with you everywhere you go.  You will not only reduce the harmful affects of disposable bag and disposable bottle waste in our environment, you will also inspire others to make these simple changes in their lives as well.

The best part is how you will feel about yourself when you realize you’re now part of the solution, rather than the problem.  Check out the stats and facts:

Disposable bag usage:

• Plastic bag waste pollutes our lands, forests, ponds, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
• Just since the year began (as of March 1st, 2010), it is estimated that over 82 Billion plastic bags have been consumed in the USA.
• According to the EPA this contributes to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of marine mammals (who ingest and subsequently choke or die of starvation as a result).
• In California alone, an estimated 19 billion plastic bags end up in landfills each year.
• Although there is debate about which one (plastic vs. paper) is worse for the environment, there is no debate that the widespread adoption of reusable eco bags is by far the best solution for this significant environmental problem.

Plastic bottle usage:

• According to the Container Recycling Institute (CRI), more than 21 billion beverage cans and bottles have been landfilled, littered and incinerated so far this year (yes just since 2010 began).
• CRI also reports that Americans purchase an estimated 34.6 billion single serve plastic bottles every year and hundreds of millions end up in the same places that disposable bags end up.

We all dream of a day when we finally break loose of our bad habits:  quitting smoking, eliminating fast food in our diet, or just getting off the couch and working out!  You know you can do it!  Determine what you can easily change now, and act on it.  So make a simple change in your life today: Adopt a reusable shopping bags and stainless steel water bottle habit and start building momentum for greater changes that are beginning in your life right now!

I’d like to welcome Heather and her company Extinct Design to our eco community.  With a dream of taking forgotten designs from the past and weaving imagination into a new era. Here’s some more from Heather on her unique designs…

Recycled Vintage Clothing

What you wear can say a lot about your individual style, your creativity and now even your beliefs! Recycled clothing and vintage handmade eco fashion garments help reduce the need for mass produced “quick fix” clothing.

Extinct Design has been set up to celebrate this individual style, recycling of ideas and clothing whilst promoting quality on trend eco-fashion. The couture range has been hand-crafted and are all hand finished pieces incorporating vintage, pre-owned material in an imaginative and truly personalised way.

There is a range of exquisite dresses from the 50s, 60s, and 70s that will add colour and quality to your wardrobe.

Every girl deserves the perfect dress and Extinct strives to bring you just that! Quality handmade pieces that are meant to last more than one season. Heather Jones, Designer and Owner of Extinct says “I love making things, producing one-off pieces designed and tailored just for you. Making items to order rather than producing any unnecessary wastage. All neatly packaged up
using recycled materials.”

I would love to hear from anyone who is interested in creating their own home-made garments or re-styling their clothing, re-using the materials. A feature soon to be added to the site will include tutorials on updating items you may already have – free of charge.

You can always browse the store to update your look with stylish items such as our vintage coloured tights, handbags or shoes! Also unearthed treasures harking back to a bygone time where men were princes and ladies were glamour pusses can be found to adorn your home. www.extinctdesign.co.uk ~ breathing life back into forgotten clothing,
vintage dresses whilst restyling material into modern wonders….

Visit Heather’s visionary website today and check out all of her cool designs and read more about her vision.

I’d like to introduce Cindy and Sarah’s Essence whom offers AromaMists, Bath Salts, Jojoba moisturizers. Here’s more from her on the wonderful products they offer to put your mind, soul and body at peace…

Discover the aroma of pure essential oils to enhance your life with Sarah’s Essence®, created by Cindy Wolk-Weiss as an extension of her healing practice and interest in aromatherapy. She began hand-creating unique massage blends and aroma mists for her clients. Due to her concern about the ingredients she found in “natural” body care products and her own sensitivity to fragrances and chemicals she began her search for healthier products. Cindy then expanded into luxurious bath salts, gentle body powders and Jojoba blend face and body moisturizers.

All Sarah’s Essence® products contain the finest therapeutic essential oils that has been blessed with Reiki energy and assistance from Divine guidance into each individually hand blended product. Vibrational qualities of essential oils and gemstones are incorporated to influence the energetic body. All products are perfume free, no synthetic ingredients and most are organically grown or wildcrafted. ONLY the purest and quality tested essential oils are used not synthetic perfumes or fragrances. Products are made in small batches to maintain freshness. You will find these mists pleasantly mild and not heavily scented. Simple is best!

We give back and so do YOU! Sarah’s Essence® is committed to creating an environmentally sound product. We are serious about our commitment to the environment so we DONATE a percentage of all profits to The Jane Goodall Institute (and at times other quality groups). Jane Goodall’s mission is similar to ours, to advance the power of individuals to take informed and compassionate action to improve the environment for all living things.

May Sarah’s Essence bring you peace, joy & healing

Visit their website today to browse the many aromatherapy products and you will be at ease!

Trees and Tots is an organic/natural web-based boutique that carries a spectacular array of merchandise for babies, children, teens and a few for the home.  We are a quaint company ran by a family raising our own children a beautiful shade of green, conscious of the environment and healthy.  We are very aware of the of the harmful chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, carcinogens and toxins in so much of the food we eat, clothes we wear, cleaners we use, bedding we sleep in and toys our precious children play with.  We realized that the safest, healthiest way to raise our family was organically and naturally; from food to clothing, cleaners to bedding and shampoos to toys.  Parents do want the best for their children and we can help you achieve this.  We at Trees and Tots want to help you raise your family green while being mindful of the world we live in and share.   We are dedicated to helping babies, toddlers and children lead a balanced, healthy and happy lifestyle while educating Mommies and Daddies on how and why to do so.  We want to be your one stop shop for all your wee one’s organic natural, safe and healthy needs.  Our web-store is open 24/7/365; you can’t beat those store hours.  We at Trees and Tots believe in doing our part to make our land a cleaner, healthier environment and are always striving to lessen our carbon foot print. 

We care about the trees and tots in the world and their prosperous future, so therefore do what we can to preserve Mother earth.  We appreciate all she gives us, her sheer beauty and want our great grandchildren to enjoy the same wonderful natural amenities.  We  make a conscious effort and it a common business practice to reduce, reuse and recycle.  We carry 100% certified organic clothing, 100% all natural products and everything is earth friendly.    Our company policy is to only purchase and support fair trade products and small handmade toy makers because I feel they are made of superb quality and are unique. 

We are always looking out for new amazing and safe products to carry in our on-line retail store to offer parents.  A goal of ours is to help clean up our planet, have less pollution and chemicals emitted in the air we breathe, save the nearly extinct animals, have a few less diseases to attack us and to live a longer meaningful life.  Our simple mission now is to provide excellent products and superior customer service, while being mindful of the earth we live in and share.  We have a resourceful Blog, insightful green living articles, organic kid-friendly recipes and also sell previously loved organic clothing and toys to give them a second life and keep them out of the landfills.  We truly do care about the trees and tots in the world!

This is courtesy of Tracy at Trees and Tots. Welcome Tracy and thank you for your dedication to the environment and children, the two most important aspects of our Future!!

I’d like to welcome Sadhu and his Eco Farm Govardhan Gardens to our eco community. Here’s a brief summary of their vision…

Govardhan Gardens is a popular eco-farm on the west coast of Puerto Rico. It is the home of the most diversified collection of tropical fruit and nut trees in the Caribbean. To help preserve and spread biological and genetic diversity in the tropics, the Garden’s nursery offers seeds of over 100 types of organically grown tropical fruits and nuts which are shipped internationally. Recently, about 40 species of structural, edible and ornamental bamboos have been added to the collection and nursery. Yearly, hundreds of visitors enjoy tours through the property. The farm serves as an educational role model for anyone interested in alternative tropical agriculture. Workshops and seminars about tropical fruit and bamboo are offered locally. The owner, Sadhu Govardhan, helps land owners in the entire Caribbean to develop eco-farms and he regularly holds conferences about sustainability, exotic tropical fruits and the importance of bamboo.

People around the world are participating in sponsoring Govardhan Garden’s tree planting project. For a minimal amount, people can have a special tree planted in their names. Sadhu Govardhan’s recently published “Oro Verde – Securing the Future of our Food” has helped change the view about ecological farming in the tropics and is used by hundreds of students, farmers and agricultural educators. If you ever plan to buy land in the Caribbean, Sadhu can help you with finding, analyzing and developing the land. Farming-related e-mail questions are answered for free.

Visit Sadhu’s website for more information on how you can get involved and if you are in search of any land in that area.

I’d like to welcome the innovators at Rishi Tea to our eco community. They produce only authentic loose leaf teas straight from tea gardens across Asia using ancient artisanal practices, organic cultivation methods and fair trade practices. It began in 1997 by a man named Joshua Kaiser, a long time traveler and student of asian tea-making techniques and the 1000′s of years of history behind tea-making in the far east. He had a vision to bring this unique taste to North America.

Each year Rishi Tea travels thousands of miles to find the points of origin where the tea leaves are harvested creating personal bonds with the families who have been cultivating the leafs for generations and setting up relationships that benefit the tea farmers and helps them sustain their industry and ancient techniques. Here’s Rishi’s dedication to sustainable organic manufacturing of their teas…

Rishi Tea’s commitment to sustainability is a core company philosophy that stems from the organic tea gardens where our teas are harvested. Our firsthand experience in many tea-growing regions led to our heightened awareness of the dire need for social responsibility. Rishi Tea was among the first to earn organic certification under the USDA’s Natural Organic Program in November of 2002 and at the forefront in the advancement of Fair Trade Certified tea, becoming one of the highest payers of social premiums from the sale of Fair Trade tea. The TransFair USA Fair Trade Certified projects with which Rishi partners directly support a better life for the tea-farming families and their communities through fair prices, fair wages, safe working conditions, environmental sustainability, education and community development.

Visit Rishi Tea and browse all of their different unique flavors and blends. You will notice a distinct difference in flavor and quality when you taste the true origin of loose leaf tea from asian tea gardens.

I’m honored to add Solar Richard to our eco community. He is an innovator in the field of solar energy whom is running many projects across the world to implement energies from the sun for building efficient houses to helping third world countries sustain electricity. He has actually stood on the North Pacific Gyre and witnessed first hand the extent of the repercussions on the waste society is creating.

SolarRichard is Tacoma Washington, USA’s own answer to how to make solar energy work in homes and offices, even in the Pacific Northwet, where, “We don’t Tan, we Rust.”  As the name implies, SolaRichard has devoted a good chunk of his adult life (over 30 years) to solar energy.  He has been speaking and teaching on the subject for some time. He was honored at the 50th Annual Solar World Conference in Orlando, Florida, USA at “2005 Solar World Congress” as a Solar Pioneer with more than 25+ years in the solar industry. See his Summer Solstice party.

Most recently, he spoke on Solar Energy and LED Lighting at “Solar Nigeria 2007″ in Abuja, Nigeria, Africa.  He is now working on a plan to electrify rural Nigerian villages with solar energy and bring them LED lighting. He offered to build a solar production plant using materials from Nigeria and allow Nigeria to become a World player in the photovoltaic market.

He is a font of solar ideas.  You can see his idea for using solar LED light to illuminate the Tacoma Narrows Bridge at www.NarrowsBridgeLights.org .  He has been published in Solar Today, REfocus, the Kiplinger Report, Mother Earth News, and interviewed by several TV stations, radio and newspapers.  Locally, he is working with students at Bellarmine High School on solar projects that have won 1st place at the INTEL Science Competition for Solar Engineering these past four years.

He is a font of solar ideas.  You can see his idea for using solar LED light to illuminate the Tacoma Narrows Bridge at www.NarrowsBridgeLights.org .  He has been published in Solar Today, REfocus, the Kiplinger Report, Mother Earth News, and interviewed by several TV stations, radio and newspapers.  Locally, he is working with students at Bellarmine High School on solar projects that have won 1st place at the INTEL Science Competition for Solar Engineering these past four years.

And, as one might expect, he was the first in Tacoma to have a solar tracking grid-tie that allows his electric meter to go backwards.  He uses a photovoltaic solar tracking system so that his solar array is always facing the Sun at the optimal angle for peak efficiency.  He has number of solar demonstration projects, including a 1.8KW remote solar power system in his Chevy Suburban to solar power Al Gore’s movie, “An Inconvenient Truth” at local libraries and schools. He also has a solar electric scooter, solar massage chair, solar attic fan, solar LED security lights, solar Stereo/CD and more.  He will be using his solar know how to power the PA system for the Daffodil Parade and provide solar power for the Jazz & Blues Music Festival later that afternoon.

This is just a small subset of Richard’s breakthroughs in utilizing solar energy on a mass scale. Keep up the good work, you are setting the table for our sustainable future Richard!

Susan with Eco Artistic Products is our latest eco friend. Eco Artistic has many pieces of beautiful unique hand crafted jewelry and gifts.  I particularly like their primitive wood crafts. Here is what Susan has to say about Eco Artistic’s vision

Eco Artistic Products wishes to share with you a superb collection of exclusive handmade, eco-friendly, natural and colorful artwork, which stands out in not only in terms of quality and warmth, but uniqueness (no single piece is alike) and utmost beauty in craftsmanship. It is considered nature’s art.

Our “Unique handcrafted Jewelry” is one of the largest, natural wholesale jewelry collection (necklaces, bracelets, earrings) you will ever find in the online retail world, not only in variety, but also in combination of materials, showing their superior colors, grain, carving (soft rectangles, squares, ovals) and sanding styles, all satin smooth finished. The impact of our artisans’ famous art work has resulted in exposing their “wood bowls” in galleries and many private collectors around the world

Each item’s background goes beyond its skillfully assembled artwork, factoring the environment in their work. When searching for this natural art, it is frequently only accessible by driving long hours along beautiful tropical scenery and exotic wood forests. Our artists have embraced the idea of sustainable development to create original exotic wood pieces from only found fallen logs on farms or beaches or from plantation raised trees, as they are saving their heritage and respecting nature and protecting their ecological richness. This leads to promote flourishing communities and a more sustainable environment.

I love Susan’s commitment to natural art coming from of our Planet’s most majestic forests. Visit Eco Artistic Products and browse their beautiful eco handcrafted artwork.

I’d like to welcome Theresa with five ACCESSORIES to our eco community. They have a unique approach that mirrors our own by fully supporting the countries where their bags and other accessories are manufactured. Here’s what Theresa has to say about their approach to sustainable business.

Designer handbags

five ACCESSORIES is a socially conscious company featuring handbags and accessories sourced through fair trade practices in FIVE countries.  Our mission is to help generate income for individuals in developing areas, donate a substantial portion of the revenues to worthy causes in those areas, and to foster the use of sustainable materials in fashion. $5.00 from every handbag sale is given back to the country it originated in.

In addition to our work with artisans in Bali, India, Honduras, and Cambodia, five ACCESSORIES is also partnering with several local organizations.  In April 2009, we launched an accessory line titled ‘Off The Street’, which is sourced and produced by vendors of StreetWise, a Chicago based social enterprise designed to help elevate severely impoverished men and women out of poverty.  By employing individuals that have formerly been homeless and using littered material “off the streets” of Chicago, we are offering a unique eco-friendly accessory line consisting of bracelets, buttons, belts, pins and picture frames constructed and adorned with items such as transit cards, bottle caps, ticket stubs from sporting events and other urban refuse.  As with all of our accessory sales, 15% of gross income will be donated back to the local organization, StreetWise.