The Ecoist Notepad

In keeping with the back to school theme Ecoist has done it again!! This super cute notepad is great for a student of any age. This is the perfect accessory for you eco-savvy people who prefer to be environmentally-adorable! The pad is made from recycled newspaper and covered with a natural laminate that is handmade by a Brazilian Fair Trade Co-op. The Notepad is only $10.00, which is extremely affordable, so there is no excuse why everyone shouldn’t have one! The slim pad can fit into many sized book bags, briefcases and even handbags! Wouldn’t you rather whip out this eco-awesome notepad instead of the same-old boring not environmentally friendly notebooks that have been sold for decades?

School Supply Essentials

 

Back to school season is finally on! School is a great time to get your children involved in the green movement. They have a chance to be an example to other students and faculty. Environmentally friendly products are no longer drab and boring. You can purchase excellent quality items that look just as cool as the rest of the back to school items sold at every store this time of year. You and your child have a chance to positively impact the impressionable individuals your children interact with everyday!

Here are some inexpensive eco-supplies I found on my Back to School hunt:

1. The EcoStapler- There is no need to remove metal staples before shredding or recycling your documents. The eco-friendly, staple-free stapler can fasten up to 5 sheets of conventional paper together and is incredibly easy to use. It’s a great  & safe for children.

2. Banana Paper Recycled Binder Filler – This 100-sheet pack of sustainable, Binder Filler Banana Paper is bleach-free, acid-free, and made from 80% post-consumer waste paper and 20% banana leaf fibers. The paper is 3-hole punched, measures 10.5″ x 8″ and is available in either College Ruled or Wide Ruled sheets.

3. Terracycle Frito-Lay Wrapper Binder- This durable Frito-Lay binder by TerraCycle keep papers in place with a 3-ring binder and easily wipes clean with the swipe of a damp sponge. The binder is made out of used chip bags that could not be recycled but are remade into a functional and creative product. The used chip bags are washed and sanitized before the product is sewn to ensure the cleanliness of this product.

4. Green Apple Eco-Friendly Highlighter Pencils – These biodegradable highlighter pencils are jumbo-sized and feature a hexagonal shape and natural wood finish. They come in a 4 pack of assorted colors and will not smear ink or bleed through textbooks or dictionaries.

5. TreeSmart Biodegradable Ruler & Recycled Pencil Set- The biodegradable green plastic ruler (12 inches) holds two TreeSmart Recycled Newspaper Pencils along with an eraser & pencil sharper (all included).

6. TreeSmart Recycled Pens- Made from a combination of biodegradable plastic, bamboo, and recycled paper, the TreeSmart Pen is writing its way to a greener future for everyone.

Bendant Lamp by Mio

The Ultimate Green Store Home Accessories

Description:

Are you interested in decorating your home as eco-friendly as possible? I love finding cool enviro-conscious decor to put in my home. For some reason these crafty eco-designers not only make environmentally friendly products they make them interesting to use as well. Material and process guide the Bendant Lamp’s design, making it a true example of eco-centric design. The size of the lamp, shape of the cuts and flat packaging are a result of material and manufacturing efficiencies. In addition, the lamp welcomes the user as co-designer pushing the boundaries of design and self-assembly. Bendant shade’s are made from laser-cut, powder coated steel. The lamp comes in silver, white or chartreuse. An energy-saving 20W globe is suitable for use; lower electricity consumption and longer life. (Not included). Accepts standard socket bulbs up to a maximum of 300W. Designed to ship flat and get maximum use of standard metal sheet goods. Design eliminates unnecessary cutting and waste. Recycled Content +Recyclable + Environmentally Preferable Finish.

Pregnancy Pampering Kit

Pregnancy Pampering Kit

There are alot of gifts out there for expectant families now but isn’t it just as important to treat yourself organically as well as your baby-to- be? Anyone expecting needs some pampering before it all becomes about the baby. Your body may be putting you to the test, that’s all the more reason to treat yourself to the Pregnancy Pampering Kit. This is a perfectly natural pregnancy gift no matter what type of birth is being planned. These products help you through morning sickness, itchy stretch marks, swollen feet and prenatal hemorrhoids. And there’s even a sampler box of Earth Mama Angel Baby’s best-selling USDA Certified 100% Organic and Certified Kosher teas formulated for pregnancy’s most common discomforts.

Pampering Kit Includes:

•Mama-To-Be Tea Sampler 1 Box
•Happy Feet 140 g. (5 oz. net wt.)
•Natural Stretch Oil 30 ml. (1 fl. oz.)
•Earth Mama® Bottom Balm® 30 ml. (1 fl. oz.)
•Earth Mama® Body Butter® 60 ml. (2 fl. oz.)

Newspaper Armchair

VivaTerra – Eco Living with Style.

 

I love the idea of this chair! How awesome would it be to come home after a long day to sit in your environmentally conscious chair and relax completely!! This chair is beautiful! It  is made from tightly woven recycled newspapers to resemble a wicker chair. We have seen this done many times with handbags, containers and even door mats. The only major downside to this comfy looking sit-upon is the price. High priced items like these, I think, are what deters non-greenies from purchasing greenly. It fulfills that terrible myth that going green is a more expensive way of life. As much as I would personally love to own this chair I would never do it because I think that buying into this type of green lifestyle sends the wrong message. I am on the search for other lower priced items like this chair to furnish my home and I encourage others to do the same. You do not have to spend a fortune to do the right thing. As soon as I find a comparable chair I will let everyone know. As for now we can all stare at this pretty picture.

Rerun Messenger Bag

Receive 10% off orders over $40 this Back to School Season! Use code 2009AFBTS at checkout. Expires 9/10/10.

Back to school season is already upon us and it feels like the summer just began. There is still time to be responsible about your school supply purchases. You can still be cute and conscious with the Rerun Messenger Bag!! It is perfect for school, organization and saving the planet!! Each bag keeps at least 10 plastic water bottles out of our landfills.

Product Description:

* Convertible from messenger bag to back-pack
* Lead free, PVC Free insulated matching lunch tote included
* Multiple organizational pockets, including mesh side pockets for water bottles
* Reflective tape accents
* Exceeds CA Prop 65 standards for lead and other toxins
* PVC-free/Teflon-free

About Fleurville:
Fleurville is an environmentally conscious company, dedicated to the creation of stylish, modern solutions that appeal to both parents and children. Intelligent construction and a strong fashion appeal are what make Fleurville products a pleasure to use.

It’s never too late to start your spring cleaning!

Even though the end of July is near that doesn’t mean it is too late to do some spring cleaning! You can clean out much more than your closets to feel completely renewed and refreshed. Even though you have gotten rid of last years flip flops and some frayed towels try cleaning out your mental closet to get ready for a new greener healthier life.
Here are some quick tips to make your summer and self have greener:

1. The Summer is the perfect time to eat lighter and healthier! It’s too hot to cook heavy meals in the kitchen. You want to cook outside and keep yourself cool. Try sticking to local & organic fruits and vegetables if you can. When or if cooking meats find lean, organic meats for summer grilling. Try new things with your healthy diet to keep you interested and learning how to stay healthy. You can carry your summer healthy habits over into fall and winter with the more you know. Melissa’s Everyday Cooking with Organic Produce: A Guide to Easy-to-Make Dishes with Fresh Organic Fruits and Vegetables

2. Be Inspired! The warmer months inspire everyone to want to get into better shape. Take advantage of the warm weather by eating outside, going on walks, riding bikes, or going to the beach.   Enlist a friend for support. It is sometimes easier to stay motivated when you have some one to share your “thin-spirations” with. Start a routine by yourself and with a partner use the DVDs  and equipment that sit back of the closet collecting dust. The days are longer and the nights are perfect for evening swims or after dinner walks. Try 10 FREE at-home, online yoga classes. Yoga expert Rodney Yee guides your one-on-one practice through videos and podcasts!

3. Get involved! Again with this wonderful weather you are afforded the advantage of outside events. Children are off from school have a yard sale or bake sale. Get the block involved and have a summer block party for everyone to enjoy. Talk to local charities about helping with fundraising or volunteering. Talk neighbors and families about going on group day trips together. How about home wind turbines?

4. Clean out the crap! Go through your kitchen cabinets, pantry, refrigerator , freezer and donate or throw away anything that will not help keep you on your summer healthy track. Change curtains, wash rugs, open windows or grow some in door plants. Than clean your house from top to bottom. While doing this get rid of/donate anything you don’t need or haven’t used in the past 8 months or so.  If you cannot find a way to reuse any of these items there is no reason to hold on to them. Go to your locak Goodwill or drop box and donate!

5. Help your environment! Get your family to grow an organic garden to help you save money and eat healthier. Talk to your family about composting and collecting rain water. Learn about your environment by hiking, visiting parks, beaches or go camping. Use the time to observe your local environment, this way you can understand what it takes to keep your environment greener. Take the time to visit local farms, you can get excellent tips and ideas for your garden at home. Try to maximize your effort by keeping track of your carbon footprint.

6. Stay positive! Making any changes in life can sometimes be difficult. But holding on to what isn’t working for us won’t help either. Set goals for yourself in short and long time-frames, you don’t have change everything all at once but you want to stay motivated in the right direction. Make your own goal related affirmations to remind you of what you have done, where you are and want to be. Keep a journal of the entire process. Being negative doesn’t help you feel better ever, don’t waste your time with it. 160-Page Recycled Paper and Sugarcane Journal

Solar Garden Lights at Night

Soji Modern Solar Lantern

Now that it is summer it’s party time!! If you have a back yard, deck, porch or balcony it’s finally the perfect weather for a get together. When the sun begins to set these are the perfect lanterns for any event! The Soji Modern Solar Lanterncollects energy during the day and comes to life at nigth. The simple design makes them elegant for every party.

Product Description:
Introducing the Soji Modern solar lantern! Modern design meets sustainable solar for the ultimate in elegant outdoor lighting. Created in a layered wave-like form, Soji Modern lanterns are unique, portable, efficient and will never require stringing of unsightly electrical wires. Creating the effect of a solar powered chandelier, the Soji Modern lantern will turn itself on at dusk to cast a stunning golden glow night after night.
All lanterns are constructed of a hard plastic and are equipped with two high powered Amber LED lights, solar panel, AAA rechargeable battery and stainless steel hardware. Soji Modern lantern comes fully assembled.
Available in Pure White and Mineral Motif (white with grey floral pattern).

Soda Stream

SodaStream Home Soda Makers

So I am a huge water drinker. I need water with me 24/7. I bring bottles with me everywhere I go. My one green downfall is seltzer. I love seltzer. I need the bubbles. My sadness over all of the plastic bottles I would take to the recycling center forced me to find an alternative. I tried to go back to plain water but it just wasn’t the same. I had to find an answer to my seltzer issue and I did! SodaStream is a great way to make your own sparkeling water or soda at home! I’m not a fan of soda , it is too sweet for me but you do have quite a variety of flavors to choose from.

Ofcourse before I made any purchases I had to make sure they were really green. This is their corporate website http://www.sodastream.com/earthfriendly, this is just a portion of what they are trying to do:

SodaStream is an “Active Green” company. Our solution when used by consumers is actively saving CO2 footprint. The more the system is used on a daily basis, the more the user actively saves. This differs from “Passive Green” brands, which use green-friendly production processes, but their products are not inherently helping the consumer save on their daily footprint.

Because SodaStream uses water straight from the tap, the system makes traditional store-bought beverage bottles obsolete. That means, less plastic manufactured, less plastic waste and less transport of bottled beverages.

Globally, 206 billion liter of bottled water was consumed in 2008 (Zenith International Global Bottled Water Report, 2008); the energy required to make water bottles in the US only, is equivalent to 17 million of barrels of oil in 2008 (Container Recycling Institute, 2002); The bottle industry consumed 100 barrels of oil each year, excluding transportation.

According to the US Recycling Institute, more than 80% of bottles in the US do not get recycled and end their lives in landfills. Eliminating bottles in the US each year would be equivalent to taking 100,000 cars off the road and eliminating 1 million pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere.

We all know in a world of disposable that reusing is the way to go! We have reusable grocery bags, reusable eating utensils etc why not add a little fizzle to your drinking while helping decrease your carbon foot print!! Check SodaStream out!

Too Little Trees Stationary

Too Little Trees: Confetti Collection Little Jots Cupcake

Since July is my birthday month, and yes I celebrate all month, I was searching for cupcake themed party things and saw this extremely cute stationary set! This set is printed on recycled paper and for every item you buy from Too Little Trees they plant a tree! That is reason enough to buy all the items they sell.

Product Description
Confetti Collection Little Jots Cupcake; Buy a book… we will plant a tree. It really is that simple. And it is true for more than just books. In fact, we are planting a tree for every single Too Little Trees product sold. So pick up a notepad, or a journal, or some notepaper, or an organizer, or any one of our other Too Little Trees environmentally friendly paper products. We’ll be planting a tree every time you do.

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